Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball signs Tennessee guard Joshua Bone
11/09/2005 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2005
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki men's basketball program received a signed letter of intent from Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) senior guard Joshua Bone on Wednesday, the first day of the fall signing period.
Bone (6-3, 185) has played on the varsity squad at Brentwood Academy since his freshman year and has helped lead his team to an unprecedented three-straight Division II state championships. Last season, he averaged 15.0 ppg and 4.0 apg on a team that also featured 6-foot-10 North Carolina recruit Brandan Wright.
"Joshua is a consistent threat from the 3-point line," Saluki head coach Chris Lowery said. "He's a kid with a great body and a great work ethic. I'm very pleased to have him join our family."
Lowery said they got an assist from Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings, who alerted the Saluki staff to the Nashville product.
"Kevin said, 'I know what type of guys you've got, and he's that type of kid,'" recalled Lowery. "Everything he said was true. Some people say Joshua's a sleeper, but you're not a sleeper when you win three-straight state championships. He's a winner, and we want to bring winners into our program."
Lowery said the Salukis' winning tradition was an important factor in the recruitment of Bone.
"When I went to watch him play, he already had several offers at that point," Lowery said. "We got in there late, but he knew a lot about us, that we were winning, and that we're a great program, and that impressed him. He wanted to be a part of the family."
