May 11, 2004

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner has announced that Cody Lewis has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Southeast next season.

Lewis, 6-8, 215, will transfer from Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., where he was a medical redshirt last season because of a broken foot. He played his freshman season of junior college basketball at Illinois Central where he averaged eight points and five rebounds per game.

As a high school senior at Ridgeview High School in Colfax, Ill., Lewis averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game while earning all-conference, all-area and all-state honors.

He established a new Clinton Christmas Tournament rebounding record when he pulled down 23 rebounds in one game during his senior season.

"We're excited about adding Lewis to our squad," Garner said. "He is a big forward who can really score from the outside. He plays extremely hard and should be able to help us immediately."

Lewis, who will be a sophomore in eligibility, chose Southeast over Long Beach State, Jacksonville State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Garner indicated he expects to sign one or two more players.

Southeast had previously announced the signing of 6-2 junior college guard Ryan "Fuzzy" Belcher, 6-0 guard Paul Paradoski from Vianney High School in St. Louis and James White, 6-7, of Southwestern Illinois Community College.