Colorado State University Athletics
Rams add three on first day of early signing period
11/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State's men's basketball head coach Larry Eustachy announced Wednesday that the Rams have signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on the first day of the early signing period. The Rams add a talented class for the 2015-16 season with commitments from a trio of high school players in versatile guards Prentiss Nixon and Anthony Bonner, as well as athletic forward/center Nico Carvacho.
"We are really excited about the class that we've assembled," said Eustachy. "All these guys align with the core values of our program, and they are very good basketball players, and great character guys, who are excited about the opportunity to continue their playing careers, and their educations at Colorado State.
"To be able to sign a class of this caliber is testament to the progress that has been made here at CSU. We've been able to get to a level where we consistently attract top talent because of the support we receive from the athletics department, the university administration, and our fans. The players we've signed chose Colorado State over offers from several very good schools."
Prentiss Nixon | 6-1/180 | Guard | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook High School)
Nixon, a four-star recruit according to ESPN.com, comes to the Colorado State as one of the top prep players in his class, rated as the No. 9 player in the state of Illinois, the No. 31 overall recruit in the Midwest region, and the No. 25 point guard in the class of 2015. As a junior in 2013-14, Nixon helped the Bolingbrook Raiders to a 22-6 mark, averaging 18.2 points, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Nixon chose Colorado State over offers from Bradley, Drake, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, SMU, UIC and Wright State, and was also recruited by several Big Ten schools, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin.
Eustachy on Nixon: "Prentiss can really shoot the ball and has great athleticism at the guard spot. He has a chance to be a great defender at this level, and is a guy that is capable of playing both guard positions for us."
Anthony Bonner | 6-2/170 | Guard | Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence High School)
Bonner is a versatile guard who joins the Rams from the same Lawrence High School program that produced CSU great Dorian Green. As a junior in 2013-14, he averaged 16.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 49 percent from the field overall, including hitting at a 42 percent clip from beyond the arc. As a sophomore Bonner averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Lions. Bonner, rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, chose the Rams over offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Missouri State and UMKC.
Eustachy on Bonner: "Anthony has a very high IQ and has a great feel for the game. He is also very good shooter and has the ability to get quality shots, not only for himself, but for his teammates."
Nico Carvacho | 6-10/225 | Forward/Center | Frisco, Texas (Sunrise Christian Academy)
Carvacho, from Frisco, Texas, will come to Colorado State after his senior season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan. As a junior last season at Frisco High School, prior to his transfer to Sunrise Christian, Carvacho averaged a double-double, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds per contest, helping the Raccoons to a 19-10 record. Carvacho was born in Santiago, Chile, and also boasts international experience playing with the Chilean national team at the 2013 FIBA U-16 Americas Championships.
Eustachy on Carvacho: "Nico has a tremendous work ethic and really wants to be a good player. It is so rare to get guys his size that also possess that level of good skill. And he is one of those guys that really enjoys playing the game."
The fall early signing period continues through Wednesday, Nov. 19.
