Manuel Cass Class: Sophomore Hometown: Carbondale, IL High School: South Kent Conn. HS Height / Weight: 6-7 / 205 Position: Forward

Regarded as a top-50 prep school recruit by HOOP SCOOP Online ... listed as the 29th-best small forward in the country and a national top-150 prospect by Rivals.com ... pegged the no. 21 power forward nationally by Scout.com ... attended South Kent (Conn.) High School as a prep senior after spending three years at Carbondale (Ill.) High ... averaged 15.7 points, seven rebounds, 1.8 assists, 4.0 blocks and 1.6 steals in 2006-07 on a team that had eight players join the Division I ranks ... was a part of a run to three straight state championships at Carbondale ... averaged 17.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 assists as a junior, earning All-State and All-Conference honors ... chosen the preseason Southern Illinois Player of the Year and garnered a multitude of in-season honors, including Massac County MVP and All-State Tournament Team ... also chosen MVP of the Marshall County Shootout (for the second straight year), received the Radar Award at the Urbana Thanksgiving Tournament, and was selected to the Carbondale Holiday All-Tournament Team ... averaged 22.1 points, 9.0 boards, 6.0 assists, 6.0 blocks and 4.0 steals as a sophomore, when he was appointed All-State honorable mention and All-Conference ... missed half of his freshman season with a knee injury but still averaged 24.4 points per game ... high school single-game bests were 35 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists ... also competed in football and track and field in high school ... honor roll student as a prep ... he is left-handed ... full name is Manuel D. Cass ... nickname is "Mannie Fresh" ... parents are Manuel C. Cass and Sabrina M. Hughes ... born 7/22/88 (San Diego, Calif.).