July 1, 2009
USM adds NCAA D-II transfer for 2009-2010

(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The University of Saint Mary men’s basketball program has announced the addition of Nick Fisher for next season. Fisher is transferring from RMAC member Colorado Christian University where he played in 18 games this past season. He posted a season high in points and rebounds against Oakland City University in the NCCAA National Tournament when he netted 10 points and had nine assists in 30 minutes of action.

Fisher, a 6’3” guard, adds another scorer on the perimeter for the Spires who are looking to replace 2009 KCAC Player of the Year and 2nd Team All-American guard Carvelle Taylor. Head Coach Jon Bishop thinks Fisher is a huge piece of the team puzzle that he and his staff is trying to put in place to better their 19-10 record and second place finish from last year. With a loss of so many players from last year’s squad, Fisher will be looked upon to be a scorer and a leader on next year’s team.

“Nick was someone we thought we were getting last year from Metro State but Colorado Christian jumped in at the last minute and convinced him to stay closer to home. When he called me inquiring about the possibility of transferring to USM this summer, we were elated at the possibility of getting him one year later,” said Bishop.

Fisher came on a visit to USM a couple of weeks ago with his family, liked what he saw, and he committed to come back in the fall.

Bishop, when he was coaching at Pratt Community College, actually saw Fisher play two years ago at an AAU tournament in Jackson, Miss., when he played for Tree Rollins.

“Having been very impressed by Nick as a player and person almost two years ago when I saw him play in Mississippi, I feel very comfortable about him being an impact guy for us on the court,” Bishop said. “He has the ability to stretch defenses with his shooting ability and he’s got an unbelievable passion to play the game. At 205 pounds, he can also give us an added dimension around the basket because he is such a good athlete.”

Fisher will have three years of eligibility left to play at USM and will major in mass communications.

With the signing of Fisher, that brings Saint Mary’s recruiting class of 2009 to nine players. USM has also signed 6’0” Chandler Schaake (Basehor-Linwood HS), 6’3” Jared Brailsford (Bonner Springs HS), 6’4” Korie Fisher (Highland CC), 6’2” JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth HS), 6’6” Chase Cook (Piper HS), 6’10” Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward HS), 6’2” John Hale (Kansas City Kansas CC), 6’7” Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy HS).

The University of Saint Mary men’s basketball program has also announced that Winston Frazier will not return to the team next season as he has completed his NAIA eligibility when it was found that he had enrolled in two full time semesters at Kansas City Kansas Community College prior to enrolling at Saint Mary in 2006. Frazier will graduate in December with an English degree at the University of Saint Mary and will help with the men’s basketball program in the fall.

Aug. 3, 2009
Saint Mary inks impact player in Avant

(Leavenworth, Kan.)—The University of Saint Mary men’s basketball program has signed Eric Avant to a letter of intent to play basketball for the 2009-2010 season. Avant is a transfer from Neosho County Community College where he played as a freshman and helped lead the Panthers to a fourth place finish in the rugged KJCCC Eastern Division. The 6’5” guard will have three years of eligibility for the Spires and should have a chance to be an immediate impact player in the KCAC.

“Getting a player the caliber of Eric is a huge step in the right direction for our basketball program. Our staff feels like he has all the abilities to be one of the best players in our league and to have him for three years only makes it better for us as well as him,” said head coach Jon Bishop. “Eric came highly recommended to our staff from numerous coaches. After competing in the Jayhawk league this last year, we know he is going to be ready from the start for us. We are depending on Eric to be a go-to type of guy for our team.”

For Avant, getting back to the Kansas City area and closer to home made Saint Mary even more appealing.

“I looked at other schools and in the end liked the direction Coach Bishop and his staff has gotten the basketball program at USM headed in. Having three years to play in their style of offense was really attracting to me and my family,” said Avant. “I’m glad to have this decision behind me and excited to get there and start preparing to get Saint Mary to the next level.”

Coach Bishop added that Avant “has been well coached throughout his career beginning at an early age from his father who does a great job with the KC Heat. With Eric’s size and athletic ability, it should be fun coaching him and watching him grow as a player.”

Avant played in 20 games for Neosho County as a freshman where he averaged over 5 points while grabbing 4 rebounds per game. He will be familiar to Leavenworth fans as he played his prep career at Olathe South High School where he earned First Team All-Conference honors in the Sunflower League as a senior in 2008.

With the signing of Avant, that brings Saint Mary’s recruiting class of 2009 to ten players. USM has also signed 6’0” Chandler Schaake (Basehor-Linwood HS), 6’3” Nick Fisher (Colorado Christian University), 6’3” Jared Brailsford (Bonner Springs HS), 6’4” Korie Fisher (Highland CC), 6’2” JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth HS), 6’6” Chase Cook (Piper HS), 6’10” Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward HS), 6’2” John Hale (Kansas City Kansas CC), 6’7” Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy HS).

(Leavenworth, Kan.) — Basehor-Linwood High School standout Chandler Schaake has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Saint Mary for the fall of 2009. The 6’0” point guard will be a freshman for the Spires after finishing his high school career as one of the most decorated Bobcats in Basehor-Linwood High history.

Head Coach Jon Bishop was pleased to announce the signing of Schaake for his program. “Chandler is a key piece to our team next year. Our staff really felt like getting Chandler will add a point guard who can not only run a team but can also shoot the ball and score when the opportunity presents itself,” Bishop said. “Chandler has experienced winning and knowing what all it takes to accomplish success as a team and that is something our staff has looked for in building our team and program for the future.”

Schaake finished his career at Basehor-Linwood High this year as the career leader in assists and free throw percentage for the Bobcats. As a senior, he averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Schaake started all 26 games while Basehor-Linwood High won the Kansas Class 4A State Basketball Championship.

Some of the honors he received from his high school career include being named a three-time All-Kaw Valley Conference selection, 2009 Topeka Capital-Journal Class 4A 1st Team, 2009 KBCA Class 4A 2nd Team, and 2009 GKCBCA Metro All-Star selection.

With the signing of Schaake, that brings Saint Mary’s recruiting class of 2009 to nine players. USM has also signed 6’3 Nick Fisher (Colorado Christian University), 6’3 Jared Brailsford (Bonner Springs HS), 6’4 Korie Fisher (Highland CC), 6’2 JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth HS), 6’6 Chase Cook (Piper HS), 6’10 Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward HS), 6’2 John Hale (Kansas City Kansas CC), 6’7 Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy HS).

The University of Saint Mary men’s basketball program announced the signing of Bonner Springs High School basketball standout Jared Brailsford for the upcoming year. Brailsford has signed his letter of intent and plans on enrolling at the university for the fall of 2009.

Brailsford, an athletic 6’3” wing, led Bonner Springs High this year in scoring at an average of 12.4 points per game. Showing his versatility as a player, Brailsford led his team in rebounding while grabbing nine rebounds per game and also gathered over two steals per game as a senior. He started every game both his junior and senior year.

“I looked at the direction Coach Bishop and his staff has the USM basketball program headed and that made me and my family really excited to have a chance to be a part of that for the next four years. Their style of play really suits me and my abilities on the court,” said Brailsford. “I get the chance to play closer to home so my family can watch me play and hopefully help build on the momentum that Coach Bishop and the other players have created.”

For his part, USM Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jon Bishop is excited to add Brailsford to his roster.

“Jared was the type of kid that every time our staff was around him whether it was watching him play or just talking with him and his family, we wanted him to be a part of our program more and more. He got better and better each time we watched him play and that rarely happens,” Bishop said. “He played in a very up-tempo system in high school and with his length and athleticism our staff feels he can make the adjustment to the collegiate level faster than most high school kids. Jared’s a great kid that possesses the personal toughness that we were looking for.”

Jared will pursue an athletic training degree at the University of Saint Mary.

With the signing of Brailsford, Saint Mary’s recruiting class for 2009 is already seven players strong. USM has also signed 6’4” Korie Fisher (Highland Community College), 6’2” JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth High), 6’6” Chase Cook (Piper High), 6’10” Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward), 6’2” John Hale (Kansas City, Kan., Community College), 6’7” Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy).

In his two years at Garden City C.C., Davis played in a total of 62 games. As a sophomore for the Broncbusters, Davis was an integral part of their success while he averaged just over four points a game and proved he was one of the top rebounders in the rugged Jayhawk Conference when he also averaged over 4 rebound a game.

“We are extremely excited to bring into our basketball program a player the caliber of Reggie Davis. Our staff felt like we lacked athleticism and toughness with last year’s team and we hit a home run with Reggie on both those needs. He is a high energy athlete that will be an extremely good rebounder in our league,” Bishop said. “Reggie will fit our system very well because of his ability to get out and run the floor and play above the rim. He was a very good player in one of the best junior college basketball leagues in the county and that projects very well in our league.”

Davis was a standout basketball player for Coach Larry Hogan and the Pioneers at Leavenworth High. He finished his career as a Pioneer in 2006 before continuing his education and playing career at Garden City Community College.

“I believed that one of the biggest advantages of taking the job at USM was the talent level in the Leavenworth/Kansas City area. Coach Hogan and his staff do one of the best jobs in the state of producing quality kids that go onto collegiate careers in basketball,” Bishop said. “We have tried to tap into that talent pool. With signing JEB Greenberg earlier and now Reggie Davis, we feel that our program is benefitting from it.”

With the signing of Davis, that brings Saint Mary’s recruiting class of 2009 to eight players. USM has also signed 6’3” Jared Brailsford (Bonner Springs High), 6’4” Korie Fisher (Highland CC), 6’2” JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth High), 6’6” Chase Cook (Piper High), 6’10” Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward), 6’2” John Hale (Kansas City, Kan., CC), 6’7 Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy).

May 27, 2009
Highland's Korie Fisher signs to play for the Spires

Highland Community College's Korie Fisher has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Saint Mary in the fall of 2009. The 6'4 wing/forward will be a junior for the Spires after spending two years playing in one of the most competitive junior college conferences in the nation.

Head Coach Jon Bishop was pleased to announce the signing of Fisher for his program. "Korie is a huge piece to our team next year. Our staff really felt like getting Korie would add an immediate scorer and rebounder to our team. His versatility and ability to go inside as well as out to score is going to make us a difficult team to guard" said Bishop. "I have always wanted players who could play multiple positions because it makes you so much more dangerous offensively and Korie fits that mold very well."

Fisher finished his career at Highland Community College this year as a prolific scorer and rebounder for the Scotties. As a sophomore, he averaged 8 points per game while grabbing over 5.5 rebounds. Fisher started all 29 games this year while playing against some of the best junior college players in the nation.

"I chose Saint Mary because I felt like this was the best place for me to become a better basketball player and the academic situation there would also allow me to become a better student while I earn my degree. The environment there at USM is perfect for me to study and play basketball" said Fisher. "Coach Bishop and his staff have the same passion for the game of basketball that I do and I feel like we have a great chance win in the next two years."

"I know the talent level in the Jayhawk conference very well and a lot of kids come out of that conference after two years of playing and can step into our league and produce very well," said Bishop. "Korie is one we feel can step in right away and produce on the court for us as well as represent our basketball program off the court in the right manner."

With the signing of Fisher, that brings Bishop's class of 2009 to six players. USM has also signed 6'2 JEB Greenberg (Leavenworth HS), 6'6 Chase Cook (Piper HS), 6'10 Tom Richmond (Bishop Ward HS), 6'2 John Hale (Kansas City Kansas CC), 6'7 Jordan Bichelmeyer (St. James Academy HS).

Bishop stated that his staff was looking to sign 3 to 4 more transfer players for the following year before they were done recruiting.