August 15, 2003

FURMAN MEN'S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES
FOURTH FRESHMAN SIGNEE

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman men's basketball head coach Larry Davis today announced the signing of Julius van de Laar to a national letter of intent.

A 6-7, 225-pound forward from Heidelberg, Germany, he joins three other recruits in giving the Paladins four freshmen signees for the upcoming 2003-04 season. Last November the Paladins inked Gerad Punch, a 6-4 wing guard from Phoenix, Ariz.; Eric Webb, a 6-2 combination guard from Grand Rapids, Minn.; and Quan Prowell, a 6-8 1/2 forward from Columbus, Ga.

van de Laar averaged 25.0 points per game as a senior at Urspring High School where he played for Ralph Junge. A two-time German High School All-Star Game selection, he scored 46 points in the South German championship game as a senior following a regular season that included a career high 55-point performance versus Scrwasisch Hall.

He also competed in the United States through the AAU, participating in the Arby's Classic in Bristol, Tenn., where he earned all-tournament honors after helping his squad to a sixth place team finish.

"Julius is a strong player who will provide us with excellent versatility at the forward slots," said head coach Larry Davis in making the announcement. "He comes from an excellent high school program in Germany that has competed in many of the top tournaments in Europe, and he also has playing experience here in the United States. We think he is a solid addition to our program."