DePaul inks three for 2010 class

CHICAGO - DePaul basketball coach Jerry Wainwright announced today that Moses Morgan, Walter Pitchford and Brandon Young have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play at DePaul University. The trio heads to Lincoln Park next season from Las Vegas, Richmond, Ind., and Washington, D.C. to join the men's basketball program.

"All three of these kids can really shoot, can score, and they're long," said Wainwright. "We needed to get taller, longer and more athletic. All three kids are excited about the opportunity to play in the BIG EAST."

Morgan, a 6-5 guard/forward, enters his senior season at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, Nev. and brings an outside shooting presence to Chicago. The son of former Indiana Hoosier Winston Morgan averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds during his junior year while shooting just under .500 from the field. He led Palo Verde to the Nevada state championship game a year ago and also plays for the ICAN All-Stars AAU program and is the 33rd-ranked small forward by Rivals.com. The ICAN All-Stars also produced current Blue Demons Krys Faber and Tony Freeland.

"Moses is a big-time shooter. He can shoot with anyone in the country, said Wainwright. "David Booth saw him play and told me: 'I think this kid has a BIG EAST body and is a BIG EAST shooter.' He's the son of Winston Morgan, who played for Bobby Knight at Indiana. Moses was recruited by Arizona State and visited Indiana. It helped that Moses knew Krys Faber and Tony Freeland. We needed depth and size at the guard position, and to get these two kids was fabulous."

Pitchford is currently playing for New Creations Christian School in Richmond, Ind. and is a 6-10 center. Raised in Chicago, he returns to the Windy City next season to add depth to DePaul's post position. Pitchford played on the AAU circuit for the Michigan Mustangs and Team Detroit and also played at Oak Hill Academy before enrolling at New Creations.

"Walter is every bit of 6-10, and he can also really shoot the ball," said Wainwright. "He gives us athleticism as the forward position. He is a terrific kid from a great family."

Young, a 6-4 point guard, is from Edison-Friendship Collegiate School in Washington, D.C. Ranked No. 29 by Scout.com and No. 33 by Rivals.com for the point guard position, he played for Team Takeover on the summer AAU circuit.

"Brandon was the first one to commit. He's a 6-4 point guard who is really comfortable with the ball in his hands," said Wainwright. "Billy Garrett had seen him early on and did a great job following up on him. What sold me on him was when I saw him practice. He was also being recruited by Georgetown, Virginia Tech and USF."