Massachusetts Signs Kouyate, Freeman

Massachusetts Head Coach Steve Lappas announced this afternoon that he signed two more recruits, Alassane Kouyate, a 6-8, 218 pound combo/power forward from Walsh Jesuit High School in the Cleveland area, and Rashaun Freeman, a 6-8, 240 pund center from Schenectady (NY) High School.

Kouyate was having a tough time making a decision between UMass and Duquesne. He was originally scheduled to announce his decision on Monday but cancelled that announcement. He also cancelled a press conference for today; instead he brought the signed National Letter of Intent to school and faxed it to UMass this morning.

Kouyate visited UMass the last weekend in October. Prior to that, it looked like he was headed to Duquesne where his housemate from last year, Aly Samabaly, is now a freshman on Danny Nee's team.

Other schools he considered where Marshall, East Carolina, Florida State, Kansas State and Miami (FL).

Kouyate averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds as a junior last season. He carries a 3.0 GPA and scored 890 the first time he took the SAT.

Freeman averaged 15.1 points per game as a junior last season as he led Schenectady to the 2001 New York Class A state title. He played with Jim Hart's Albany City Rocks, and led that team to the state's 2000 17's and 16's AAU championships.

Earlier, the Minutemen announced they received signed NLIs from Mike Lasme, a 6-0, 187-point guard from Life Center Academy in Burlington, New Jersey, and Stephen Briggs, a 6-8, 215 pound power forward from Westside H.S. in Houston, Texas. Lasme had verbally committed to UMass in July, then reconsidered following an official visit to Amherst, MA, then re-committed to the A10 school in October. His signing, along with Briggs', was announced on day two of the early signing period, November 15, 2001.