June 4, 2004

Lehigh Head Coach Billy Taylor has announced the signing of three student-athletes who will join the men's basketball program in the fall of 2004. Joe Knight (Arlington, TX), Bryan White (Plantation, FL) and Erik Smith (Arlington, VA) arrive in South Bethlehem with impressive credentials and each will be expected to contribute from the beginning.

"Fresh off of a Patriot League regular season championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, it was imperative to continue to recruit at a very high level. This incoming class fills our needs and positions us very well for the coming years," Taylor explained.

Joe Knight, a 6-2 guard, is a transfer student from High Point University in North Carolina where he spent two years before heading to Tarrant County College in Arlington, Texas for one additional year. Knight will enter Lehigh as a junior and brings with him a great deal of experience and success on the collegiate level.

While at High Point, Knight was named the Big South Rookie of the Year for the 2001-02 season while leading his team to the Big South Conference Championship game. He posted double figures in scoring in 19 games as a true freshman, including a game-high 25 points in his first ever collegiate game at Southeastern Conference foe Auburn. During the 2002-03 season, Knight was selected as a Second-Team Big South Conference selection after averaging 16.3 points, including a 40-point outburst at Vanderbilt, which tied the all-time scoring record by a visiting team member in the 47-year history of Memorial Gym. Knight also found success while in high school, as he was named All-State, All-Region and All-District for the state's second ranked team, Columbia Central High.

Taylor offers his thoughts on Knight: "Lehigh has always had outstanding guard play and Joe Knight fits right into that mold. He will need some time to adjust to a new setting, but I am confident in his ability to lead and his determination to succeed."

Bryan White, a 6-6 forward, arrives at Lehigh after completing a very successful high school career at St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As a senior in 2003-04, White was named Second-Team All-State as well as garnering Broward County Player of the Year accolades as named by the Florida Coaches Association. White was also named First-Team All County by several publications in both his junior and senior seasons.

As a senior, White averaged 12.6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 assists per game, while earning All-Tournament Team honors at both the Kreul Classic and the Gulf Shore Shootout. In addition, White displayed his outstanding athletic abilities by winning the Slam Dunk Competition at the Gulf Shore Shootout. White was equally impressive in the classroom, as he carried a 3.2 grade point average.

"Bryan is a terrific athlete who has an excellent understanding of the game. He can play multiple positions with his length and skill, yet is selfless enough to do the little things to win," coach Taylor explained.

Erik Smith, a 5-9 guard, comes to Lehigh from a very successful Bishop O'Connell High School program that won 102 games during his career. Smith earned First-Team All-State accolades three times at O'Connell, as well as an Honorable Mention All D.C. Metro selection and All-Conference honors twice in his high school career. For his career, Smith handed out 558 assists and as a senior, he was named MVP of the Virginia State Tournament as well as MVP of the D.C. City Championship Game.

As a junior, Smith was named First-Team All-Tournament on three separate occasions (The Beach Ball Classic, Les Schwab Invitational and Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament), and he set the record for the most three-point field goals made in the Alhambra CIT. Smith should adjust to the rigorous academic demands of Lehigh rather easily, as he has taken a challenging college prep course load while in high school.

Taylor discusses the addition on Smith: "Erik is a proven winner. His tough minded leadership and will to win will fit in perfectly at Lehigh. Erik has competed and succeeded in big games and has no fear of making the big play."

The Mountain Hawks return nine letterwinners from last season's team that captured its first-ever Patriot League regular season and tournament championships, and they will open their 2004-05 season at in-state rival Penn State on November 19. Game time is set for 7:30.