Moraga, CA – Saint Mary’s head men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett announced today the signing of four players to National Letter’s of Intent to play for the Gaels for the 2009-10 season. The four players include Tim Harris from Valley Christian High School in San Jose, and three players from the Australian Institute of Sport; Matthew Dellavedova, Jorden Page, and Mitchell Young.
“This is a very important recurring class for us. We needed to bring in players that can contribute right away, as we lose five players from the 2008-09 team,” said eighth year head coach Randy Bennett. “We feel these four players can contribute immediately, which is what we will need from them next season.”
As a junior at Valley Christian HS, Harris, a 6-4, 190-pound wing, averaged 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He was an Honorable Mention West Valley League selection as a junior, and returns as one of the top guards in the league this season. According to ESPN’s profile on Harris, he is one of the better two-guard prospects out West, and his main strength is his ability to knock down the 3-point shot, both in the half court offense and in transition. He has an explosive first step and he can finish with either hand.
Jorden Page, is a talented and athletic 6-2 guard that will come to Saint Mary’s from the AIS. Page represented Australia at 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, the William Jones Tournament in Taipei and, and the world qualifiers against New Zealand. In the tournament in Germany, he started all by two games and averaged 14.2 points per outing.
A native Nambour, Queensland, Australia, Page played in 22 games for the AIS in 2008, and averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Page has been said to have a good feeling and understanding of the game and can score effortlessly. He connected on 43.6 percent of his shots from the floor, including 36.0 percent from 3-point land, while adding 25 steals.
Matthew Dellavedova, a resident of Maryborough, Victoria, Australia, will come to Saint Mary’s after two years at the AIS. During the 2008 season, the 6-3 guard, competed in 18 games and averaged 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) play. He scored in double figures in 16 of the 18 games, with five 20-point performances.
Before attending AIS, Dellavedova was a member of the Maryborough club team that won a gold medal at the Australian U-20 Men’s National Tournament. During the tournament, he was the team’s leading scorer, and second overall in the event, averaging 18.4 points per game. He closed the tournament by scoring a game-high 25 points in the gold medal game. He had an outstanding youth career and was selected to play for the U-20 Australian National Team the Emus in April of 2008. He helped the Emus’ capture bronze at the 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, when he averaged 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, after scoring 20 against the USA team in the bronze medal game. Also, he competed in the 2008 FIBA Oceania U-19 men’s qualifier, helping Australia defeat New Zealand 3-0 in the series, averaging 10.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in the three games.
Mitchell Young returns for his second season at the AIS and will join the Gaels for the 2009-10 season. A Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia native, Young is a 6-9 forward that should evolve into a dominate inside presence. Prior to his time at the AIS, Young was a starting post player for the U20 Australian National Team the Emus.
In his first season at the Institute in 2008, he averaged 9.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He started 24 games for AIS in SEABL play, and scored in double figures 12 times. Young shot 45.6 percent from the floor while tallying 95 rebounds, 43 offensive, and recorded a team-high 35 blocked shots to average 1.4 blocks per game.
