Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball signs Atlanta product Josh Swan
04/13/2011 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
April 13, 2011
By Tom Weber
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois men's basketball coach Chris Lowery announced Wednesday that Atlanta-product Josh Swan -- a 2,000-point scorer in high school -- has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Salukis next season.
Swan, who will be a freshman at SIU in the fall, averaged 21.2 points per game last season for Pace Academy and led his team to a 26-4 record. The 6-foot-2 guard also averaged 8.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.4 steals. He was named First-Team All-State, First-Team All-City and was a McDonald's All-America nominee.
"What stands out immediately is his ability to run and jump and score the basketball," Lowery said. "But as you watch him, you can see how well he understands the game. He's more than just an incredible athlete."
As a junior in high school, Swan averaged 22.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals. He was also the Region 5A Player of the Year and First-Team All-State.
"The most important part of my decision to come to SIU was my relationship with Coach Lowery," said Swan, who met Lowery last summer on the AAU circuit. "I feel like I'll be in good hands with him."
Swan joins a freshman class that already includes forwards Treg Setty, Dantiel Daniels, Antonio Bryer and center Harry Whitt, who all signed last fall.
Lowery said he emphasized character in assembling this year's class, and Swan is no exception.
"Josh is an exceptional student who was just as excited about our School of Business as he was our basketball program," Lowery said. "We wanted to get back to recruiting guys who are hungry for success as students -- guys like our Academic All-Americans Jamaal Tatum and Bryan Mullins."
