BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn men's basketball head coach Derek Kellogg has announced that three highly recruited players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the LIU Brooklyn basketball family for the 2018-19 season. Ousmane Ndim, Mark Freeman and Gary Solomon will all come to downtown Brooklyn to play for the Blackbirds next fall.
Kellogg's three early signees, plus the addition of former UMass player Tyrn Flowers, who will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules, will bring immediate national recognition to Brooklyn.
Ousmane Ndim, a 7'0" center from Thies, Senegal, is currently attending Aspire Academy in Louisville, Kentucky. Ndim is ranked a top-50 center in the country by ESPN, and was ranked the seventh best player in the Texas-by-Texas Hoops Report, before leaving Saint Anthony's in San Antonio. Ousmane played his summer basketball on the Adidias Gauntlet Circuit playing for Yes2Success. Before signing with the Blackbirds, Ndim received over 20 offers, including Oklahoma, Memphis, LSU, and Virginia.
"Ousmane is a strong, physical, skilled post player that brings an immediate presence on the floor," said Kellogg. "We could not be more excited to add someone of Ousmane's caliber, not only the player he is on the floor, but also the person he is off the floor."
Mark Freeman, a 6'0" point guard from Southwind High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is a lightning-quick point guard that influences the game on both ends. Freeman is the sixth-rated player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN.com and a three-star recruit. A dual-sport athlete in basketball and football, Mark has proved he can play with the best competition in the country and succeed. Playing his summer ball with M33M on the Adidas Circuit, Freeman picked up a variety of offers before deciding to call Brooklyn home.
"Not only does Mark bring physical tools to Blackbird Nation, but he also has a great mind for the game of basketball," Kellogg said. "Mark's speed and quickness fits into our style of play perfectly. I've always loved following Memphis basketball and am thrilled to be able to grab a player that can play both on and off the ball."
Gary Solomon, a 6'5" athletic wing from Detroit, Michigan, rounds out the early signings for the Blackbirds. Solomon is a four-year varsity letter winner from Detroit Edison Public School Academy. Last year Solomon was named first team All-City and All-State, and is a candidate for Mr. Basketball in Michigan. Gary averaged 19 point per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 6.0 assists per game and 4.0 steals per game in 2016-17.
"Gary brings such versatility from the wing position," said Kellogg. "His length, skill, and athleticism allow him to play multiple positions. He has the natural ability to score and we could not be more excited to add him to our roster."
The Blackbirds host the College of New Rochelle, Wednesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. for their home opener in the Steinberg Wellness Center.