June 27, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA - La Salle University head basketball coach Dr. John Giannini is pleased to announce that guard Darryl Partin has committed to play for the Explorers and will enroll in classes at the University during the summer session.

Partin, a 6'4 guard who played one season at Raleigh's Sanderson High before prepping at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, NC , will compete for the Explorers during the upcoming season.

A native of Seattle, WA, Partin averaged 23.8 points per game with 4.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds at Charis while leading Crimson Tide to a record of 34-8.

"Darryl gives us a talented and versatile player. He is a good passer and ball handler at the point position but also has the ability to score off the ball," said Coach Giannini. "He has the ability to guard players of different sizes especially the smaller, penetrating type of guards that hurt us at times last season. We feel he is a high-character person and are really looking forward to having him in our program."

Partin is the final addition after an active recruiting season for Coach Giannini and staff who have added six players to the roster over the past eight months. In the fall early signing period guard Kyle Griffin (Allentown, PA/Germantown Academy) and 6'8 twin forwards Jerrell and Terrell Williams (Paterson, NJ/Northfield-Mount Hermon) committed to the Explorers. Just weeks ago 6'9 junior forward Vernon Goodridge transferred from Mississippi State and the 7'3 Jameson Keefe out of Troy, NY (Troy High) signed a letter of intent.

Goodridge will not be permitted to compete until the 2008-'09 season per NCAA transfer regulations.

The Explorers also return five of their top six scorers from the 2006-'07 team including leading scorer senior Darnell Harris (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) who averaged 14.0 points per game and connected on .412 of his three-point attempts.