Gerald Brown, a 6-4 senior shooting guard from Baltimore's Frederick Douglass High School, told us tonight that he chose the Friars because of his feelings about the coaches. "I am real close to the coaches," Brown said. "From the first time I went up there I liked it. It's the right place for me. I think with me and Donnie (McGrath) we can be one of the best backcourts in the nation."

Brown can put up big numbers in a game. He averaged 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks last season. "I have a 2.7 GPA," Brown said. "I also have a 900 on the SAT."

Syracuse, Providence, NC State, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida State, Delaware, Kent State, Penn State, and Wake Forest were of interest also to Brown. Not all of these schools offered a free ride yet. "Providence will help me succeed in life too," Brown. "Basketball will eventually end."

Brown was named to the Baltimore Sun's 2002 All-Metro First Team. In addition to his competition with the Baltimore Select AAU squad, Brown will be attending this summer's adidas ABCD camp. "Syracuse, Kent, Marquette were some of the other schools I was interested in seriously," Brown said. "I decided to commit early to Providence because it was the right place for me...I liked the fans, the coaches, the town.

"I want to improve my ballhandling and helping others out on the court. Donnie McGrath is a nice guy and I like everything about him. It's going to be great to play with him."

*Russ Blake's information in the coaches service is available ... email Russ if you are interested at rblakeiii@aol.com