June 24, 2010
BOSTON - After losing nine seniors following a trip to the America East Championship and semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational, second-year Boston University men's basketball head coach Patrick Chambers has signed seven newcomers - including three guards, three forwards and a center - to the 2010-11 roster. Henry Gaskins, D.J. Irving, Dom Morris, Mat Piotrowski, Travis Robinson, Mike Terry Jr. and Malik Thomas join a team returning three lettermen and three transfers who are eligible to play this upcoming season.
"We're really fired up about this year's incoming freshmen class," said Chambers. "They have big shoes to fill with what the nine seniors accomplished last season, but I know they will continue to carry the torch and take pride in BU basketball."
Three of the men played together at Friends Central High School in Philadelphia. The 5-foot-9 Gaskins served as point guard and vocal leader of a team that won a Friends' School League championship and two straight Pennsylvania Independent School State titles while also making an appearance in the National High School Invitational. He played alongside two McDonald's All-America nominees, the 6-foot-5 Robinson and 6-foot-7 Morris.
Two other newcomers also join the Terriers from the Philadelphia area. A 6-foot-0 guard at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, Pa., Irving helped his team to the PIAA state title as a junior. He earned first-team All-AAA State honors in each of his last two years. Another 6-foot-0 guard, Terry was a McDonald's All-America nominee at Northeast Catholic High School, helping the team capture the Catholic League title his sophomore year before earning two first-team All-Catholic awards.
The last two freshmen are from New Jersey and New York. A 7-foot-1 center and McDonald's All-America nominee at Atlantic Christian School in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Piotrowski helped his squad capture two TSCAC Conference championships. Thomas, a 6-foot-7 swingman, graduated from Frederick Douglass Academy. However, he played for the Wadleigh High School basketball team, which won four Manhattan Borough titles. He was named New York Daily News first-team All-Manhattan each of his final two seasons.
Last year, BU finished with a 21-14 record that included wins over Indiana, Oregon State, Morehead State and Northeastern. The Terriers were led by rising senior John Holland, who became the first-ever Terrier to lead the America East in scoring at 19.2 ppg and received first-team all-conference honors. Rising junior Jake O'Brien was placed on the third team, recording 13.8 ppg in addition to a team-high 6.4 rpg.
