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10:35 a.m., Nov. 21, 2002--University of Delaware's men's basketball coach David Henderson has announced the signing of four student-athletes during the National Letter of Intent program's early signing period.
The Blue Hens have signed commitments from 6-8 forward Henry Olawoye, 6-7 forward Octavius Flowers, 6-7 forward Herb Courtney and 6-9 forward Lebo Maepa.
Olawoye is a Woonsocket, R.I., native who enrolled two years ago at St. Mark's Prep School in Southbourough, Mass., a suburb of Boston. Last season, he earned All-Independent School League honors at St. Mark's, averaging 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Olawoye earned all-tournament honors at the Boys Club of New York Holiday Classic and is also a member of St. Mark's baseball squad.
Flowers transferred to Community Christian Academy in Wilson, N.C., this season after spending the last three seasons at Wayne Country Day School. At Wayne Country Day, he averaged 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.9 blocks and 3.1 assists per game as a junior. Last season, playing on the top-ranked high school team in North Carolina with a 22-3 mark, he earned all-conference honors and honorable mention all-state accolades.
Flowers, a native of Goldsboro, N.C., also earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as his team was ranked No. 4 in the state. He is ranked as one of the Top 35 players in the Carolinas by HoopScoop Online.
Courtney is a native of Hatboro, Pa., and a product of Hatboro-Horsham High School. He averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per contest and earned All-Suburban One League honors last season at Hatboro-Horsham. He is ranked as one of the Top 20 players in the Delaware Valley by HoopScoop Online.
Maepa is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. Because the school year in South Africa ends in January, Maepa has already graduated from Durban High School. He will likely enroll at UD during the spring semester and begin his education. He is not, however, expected to join the roster before next season.
"We are very pleased with our recruiting class," Henderson said. "Obviously, with a couple of our frontline guys graduating this spring, and the youth and depth we have with our current backcourt, we had to stress the frontcourt in our recruiting process. This class is a good mix of strength and natural athleticism. In addition, all four of these young men are expected to be fine student-athletes both on and off the court and believe in the goals we've set for this basketball program."
Henderson's third season as the Blue Hens' coach gets under way Friday night, Nov. 22, when Delaware travels to Philadelphia to take on La Salle. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
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