May 12, 2004

Four Join Men’s Basketball

Three Transfers, One High School Senior

            Kearney, NE – Nebraska-Kearney head men’s basketball coach Tom Kropp announced today that four players, three transfers and one high school senior, will be joining the Lopers in the fall.

            Transferring to UNK are forward Chad Burger (Northern Arizona U.), forward Chris Dean (Citrus College, Calif.) and center Blaine French (Tyler Junior College, Texas). Recently signing a letter of intent was guard Nick Morrell of Ogallala High School.

            The four join point guard Euvon Turner (Des Moines Area C.C., Ia./Millard South H.S.), who signed last fall, as additions to the Lopers roster.

            French will have four years of eligibility remaining while Burger and Turner have three and Dean two. Kropp expects one more player to sign soon and that UNK may another player after that.

            A 6-6, 205 lbs., forward who can play on the perimeter, Burger appeared in 29 games as a true freshman for Division I Northern Arizona this past year. NAU went 15-14, reaching the finals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

            Averaging seven minutes a night, Burger had his season-high of six points in games at Arizona and at Oral Roberts (Okla.). He also had a season-high five rebounds and scored four points in a win over Division II Western New Mexico.

            At Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Burger was a three-year letterwinner and a two-year starter. As a senior, he averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game while earning all-state and all-league honors. Burger, who led his squad in rebounds, blocks and assists as a junior, helped his team win three league titles and make the state tourney semifinals once during his career.

            Burger’s older brother, Jacob, spent the last 1 1/2 years on the UNK team before retiring the past December due to chronic knee problems.

            Dean, a 6-6, 215 lbs. forward, averaged a double double (15.4 points, 11. 4 rebounds) this year while shooting 55.5 percent from the field. His play helped the Owls to one of its best seasons ever (19-11). 

            In 12 league games, Dean averaged a Western States Conference-best 18.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, which included a 32 point, 13 rebound performance vs. Bakersfield J.C.

            Subsequently, Dean was a first-team all-conference choice and the only Owl to make the prestigious California Community College all-state team (honorable mention).

            A native of Pomona, Calif., Dean prepped at Bonita High School and then spent his freshman season at Antelope Valley College of Lancaster, Calif.

            French, coming in at 6-9 and 230 lbs., redshirted this past year at Tyler J.C. in Tyler, Texas. The Apaches are usually among the best junior college teams in the nation.

            A native of Nacogdoches, Texas (Nack-ah-dough-chess), French was one of seven student-athletes at Tyler to earn a perfect 4.00 GPA during the fall semester. He prepped at Nacogdoches High School.  

            Morrell, a 6-2, 205 lbs. swing man, earned A.P. first-team Class B all-state honors this year after averaging 15.5 points, six rebounds and three assists per game for the Indians. He led his team to an 18-4 record and a berth in the state tournament.

            Also a first-team all-state choice in football, Morrell will play in the Panhandle Prep All-Star basketball game June 12^th at Western Nebraska C.C. in Scottsbluff. In July, he will play in the Shrine Bowl as a member of the South team.

            Morrell’s older brother, Nate, was a pitcher on the UNK baseball team this year.

            UNK lost four seniors, including Division II Player of the Year Nick Branting, from last year’s team that made it to the North Central Regional finals for the second straight season.