College basketball

Bulls add one more recruit, lose one

By GREG AUMAN
Published May 28, 2005

TAMPA - One incoming USF basketball player has been lost to academic problems, but the Bulls announced the addition of another Friday: 6-foot-9 forward Aris Williams, who will transfer after one season at Valparaiso.

"He's an extremely skilled player who shoots the ball," coach Robert McCullum said. "Valpo's coach, Homer Drew, told me that Aris was the most athletic player on their team, so to find a player skilled and extremely athletic at the forward position is something we're extremely happy about."

Williams, who averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in a reserve role as a freshman, will sit out a season in accordance with NCAA rules.

Brandon Stores, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Warren, Ohio, will not enroll at USF. McCullum said the Bulls could pursue Stores as part of next year's class if he becomes eligible.

Counting guard/forward Melvin Buckley, who sat out last season after transferring from Purdue, the Bulls will have seven new scholarship players: junior college transfers McHugh Mattis of St. Petersburg College, Melvyn Richardson and David Sills; and freshmen Zaronn Cann of Brandon, Chris Howard and Frane Markusovic.

"From a numbers standpoint, the class is certainly larger than what we'd like, but due to some attrition, the numbers soared," McCullum said. "It's a class we're very pleased with, and we feel we have players that can contribute immediately."

Of USF's four returning scholarship players, only senior guard James Holmes has played more than one season with the Bulls.

McCullum also said he has done recruiting, meaning the Bulls do not expect to land DeLand's Keith Brumbaugh, who has applied for the NBA draft but listed USF among a handful of schools he would consider if he withdraws from the draft.

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]