June 19, 2002

St. Louis - Izchak Ohanon has signed a financial aid agreement to attend the University and play basketball for the Billikens. The NCAA will do its customary review of Ohanon's international experience to determine the number of years of eligibility available to him.

"We are ecstatic to get a player of Izchak's caliber in mid-June," Soderberg said. "A lot of credit goes to our assistant coaches in tracking him, and it shows a great deal of diligence on our staff's part in the recruitment."

"Izchak is a 6-foot-9 player, who can operate inside or outside, and has the potential to be a starter for us" Soderberg continued. "He can shoot it from the perimeter, handle it out on the floor and pass it.

The 22-year-old Ochanon played limited minutes for a veteran Hapoel Jerusalem team this past year after a three-year stint in the Israeli army. He picked up a silver medal with the Israeli Under-20 National Team in the 2000 European championship.

Ochanon joins a recruiting class that includes Justin Johnson (Merrillville, Ind. / Merrillville) and Villanova transfer guard Reggie Bryant (Baltimore, Md. / St. Thomas More).