| Nov. 11, 2004 |
UTSA Men's Basketball signs four to National Letters of Intent
SAN ANTONIO - The University of Texas at San Antonio men's basketball program announced that four players had signed national letters of intent to play for the Roadrunners next season.
The signees include three incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer. Signing with UTSA are 6-6 forward Kyile Byrd from Lon Morris (Texas) Junior College; 6-1 guard Tim Maiden and 6-9 center Nkem Ojougboh from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Christian Academy; and 6-4 guard Eric Young from Eisenhower High School in Houston, Texas.
Byrd, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as a freshman last season at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas.
Maiden, a point guard, averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 assists per game as a junior at Scottsdale last season. He formed half of a significant one-two punch for Scottsdale Christian along with Ojougboh, who averaged 11.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
"Today is a happy day for Scottsdale Christian Academy and other small schools," said Scottsdale Christian coach Bob Fredericks. "Tim and Nkem's are a remarkable story. In four years these two young men have gone from basketball obscurity to state champs and widely recruited athletes. Tim started high school as a 5-1, 110-pound kid without a focus in the classroom. Through hard work he has grown into arguably Arizona's best point guard, a solid student and a campus leader. Nkem had never played organized basketball before his freshman year and did not know a jump shot from a jump rope, but at 6-9 he has turned into one of Arizona's most prolific shot blockers and highly recruited big men. These two young men have honored God and our school with their hard work, attitudes and achievements. UTSA is getting two special young men."
Young, who was recently rated the 48th best player in the State of Texas by Texas Hoops magazine, averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a junior last season at Eisenhower.
"We are excited about all four of these additions and feel that we have improved ourselves considerably for next season," said UTSA head coach Tim Carter. "We have increased our youth with three freshmen and we have added players at each position with two guards, a forward and a center. All four should have an immediate impact on our program when they arrive next season."
UTSA MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNEES 2004-05
| Name | Ht. | Wt. | Pos. | Yr.-Exp. | Last School |
| Kyile Byrd | 6-6 | 215 | F | Jr.-TR | Lon Morris Junior College |
| Tim Maiden | 6-1 | 170 | G | Fr.-HS | Scottsdale (Ariz.) Christian Academy |
| Nkem Ojougboh | 6-9 | 205 | C | Fr.-HS | Scottsdale (Ariz.) Christian Academy |
| Eric Young | 6-4 | 175 | G | Fr.-HS | Houston Eisenhower High School |