May 25, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It did not take Kevin Nickelberry long to show that he is on a mission to take the Howard University men's basketball program to the next level.  Nickelberry, who has been on the job less that than three weeks, addressed one of the team's biggest needs by announcing the signing of Alphonso Leary  to a national letter of intent and Theodore Boyomo to a written offer of financial aid.

Leary is a 6-10, 200-pound center from Maury High School in Norfolk, VA who will help fill the void left by three Bison frontcourt players who graduated this past May.  Leary averaged 11.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while leading his team to a 22-8 record and the Eastern District Tournament championship.  He recorded a career-high 24 points against Lake Taylor and was an All-Eastern District first team selection.

"I have been recruiting Alphonso for the past three years and he has grown and gotten better each time I have seen him," said Nickelberry.  "We are excited about his potential and what he brings to the program."

Boyomo is a 6-9, 225-pound senior from the Kent School in Kent, Ct.  He was heavily recruited but Nickelberry was able to win out over such competitors as Rutgers, Texas A&M, Colorado and Washington.  A native of Cameroon, Boyomo established himself as one of the premier defensive big men in the New England region and helped the Kent School to new heights, culminating with a Western New England championship this past March.   An outstanding student, Boyomo finished as an honor roll student for six straight academic terms.

"We feel that we fulfilled a need in that area," said an excited Nickelberry.  "He is an unbelievable talent who has a tremendous upside.  We are very fortunate to get a player of his caliber this late in the process.  He will be a key factor in this program and the direction that it is headed."