Nov. 19, 2009

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University men's basketball head coach Steve Pikiell has announced that guard Dave Coley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and forward Al Rapier (Chicago, Ill.) have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Seawolves beginning in the fall of 2010.

"We couldn't be happier to have Dave and Al join the Stony Brook family," Pikiell said. "Not only are they going to be terrific basketball players for our program but they are also the type of student-athletes that will represent Stony Brook in a way that will make our fans and our University proud."

A 6-2 combo guard, Coley is a three-year starter for head coach Lawrence Pollard at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. Coley helped the Orange Wave to PSAL AA semifinals last year, averaging 11.5 points per game in the playoffs including a team-high 15 points against Kennedy in the semifinals.

"Dave was a top priority for our coaching staff throughout the recruiting period," Pikiell said. "He comes from a tremendous high school program at Thomas Jefferson where his head coach, Lawrence Pollard, has done a great job turning around that program while also developing Dave to make an immediate impact on the collegiate level. I think he will be tremendous player for our program."

This season Coley will be a captain for an Orange Wave squad that is ranked ninth in New York City by Rivals.com. He helped Jefferson to a 23-8 record and the 2008 PSAL AA semifinals as a sophomore, scoring 14 points in a first round victory over Thurgood Marshall. Coley was recently rated among the top 10 players in New York City by Rivals.com.

"Dave is a tremendous student-athlete who does everything you could ask for from a combo guard; he plays really hard, he makes shots and he makes plays," Pollard said. "I think his style of play will fit in well at Stony Brook and I believe he is ready to make an immediate contribution to their program. The coaching staff [at Stony Brook] showed great interest in Dave and we got a really good feeling from them. He is going to have a great career there."

Last season, Rapier played for powerhouse Mineral Area College and head coach Corey Tate, who has had 28 players earn scholarships to four-year institutions over the past five years. Rapier helped Mineral Area, located in Park Hills, Mo., to a 19-12 record and the Region XVI Championship game.

"Al has great size and is a really versatile player who will be able to play multiple positions for us," Pikiell said. "He comes from an excellent program [at Mineral Area] that will prepare him to be a major contributor for us next season."

Rapier was an all-state and all-conference selection as a senior at Perspectives Charter Academy in Chicago, averaging 18 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists per game. The versatile 6-7 swingman was also selected as the #1 player in the Blue West Conference by the Chicago Tribune in addition to being ranked as the #17 forward in the area in MidStateHoops.com final 2008 rankings.

"Al is a player that creates a lot of mismatches; he can put the ball on the floor and make plays in addition to being an outstanding defender and rebounder," Tate said. "As good a player as he is, he is even a better kid off the court. He is a tremendous student-athlete and I think he'll have an outstanding career at Stony Brook."