UAlbany Basketball Announces Three Student-Athletes Have Signed Letters of Intent for 2010-11 Season

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown announced on Friday, April 30 that three student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2010-11 academic year. Luke Devlin, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward from Sydney, Australia (Newington College H.S.), Theo Hatcher, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Central Arizona College / New Creations Christian School) and Russell Moore, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard from New Orleans, La. (John Logan College / St. Augustine H.S.).

Devlin was a 2009 Australian Schoolboys' Basketball Team member after he averaged 23.9 points and 14.7 rebounds as the Newington College MVP. He led his team to the Australia State Championship, plus a Combined Independent Schools title and a Greater Public Schools Conference crown. Devlin was named all-conference three times and twice was a combined independent school all-star.

In 2009, Devlin represented New South Wales at the under-20 national championships. He led that squad to a gold medal, received tournament MVP honors and was the team's leading scorer (14.3 ppg) and rebounder (10.3 ppg). Devlin, who also served as captain for the second straight year on the 2010 New South Wales under-20 team, scored at an 18.6 clip when his squad played a seven-game United States tour in December 2009.

"He has a tremendous skill set for a big man and likes to play physical," UAlbany coach Will Brown said. "He has range to the three-point arc and is very clever in the low post. He possesses a very strong feel for the game, plus can pass the ball."

Hatcher averaged 13.1 points as a sophomore for a Central Arizona College team that finished 17-13 overall. He was ninth among the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference leaders in rebounding (7.8 pg) and second in three-point field goal percentage (.458). He received the school's Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award.

In 2008-09, Hatcher scored at an 11.6 clip and shot 45.4 percent from the three-point arc. He was named to the NJCAA All-Region 1 freshman team. He totaled 15.0 points and 9.8 rebounds as a scholastic senior at New Creations Christian School in Richmond, Ind. The Flyers won the 2008 National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) national championship.

"He is a long, wiry combo forward," Brown stated. "He has the potential to be a match-up problem and is an excellent three-point shooter. Theo will be able to post up small defenders and take bigger defenders out on the perimeter. He is an active rebounder as well."

As a freshman at John Logan College, Moore earned second-team All-Region 24 and second-team All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference honors. He averaged 12.8 points and 4.2 rebounds for a squad that finished with a 20-10 record. Moore helped the Volunteers finish first in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference with a 24-7 record, including a 14-2 mark in league play, as a sophomore. He averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds on a team that was No. 13 in the final NJCAA Division I national poll.

Moore was named the New Orleans Times-Picayune District 10 Player of the Year as a high school senior. He led St. Augustine High to the 2008 Class 5A state quarterfinals and a 28-6 record. The Purple Knights were coming off a losing campaign the previous season.

"Russell is a hard-nosed perimeter player who gets the job done on both ends of the floor," Brown offered. "He has the ability to be a lockdown defender with his quickness and athleticism. He is a good three-point shooter and is tough at attacking the basket."

2010-11 University at Albany Men's Basketball Signings

Luke Devlin, F, Fr., 6-8, 235, Sydney, Australia (Newington College H.S.)
Theo Hatcher, F, Jr., 6-7, 210, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., (Central Arizona College / New Creations Christian School)
Russell Moore, G, Jr., 6-3, 200. New Orleans, La. (John Logan College / St. Augustine H.S.)


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information