Warhawk basketball signs two

MONROE, La. --- Addressing a pair of needs on the opening day of the spring period, the ULM men's basketball team and head coach Orlando Early announced the signing of center Fabio Ribero and point guard Warren Fuselier to National Letters of Intent Wednesday afternoon.

Needing depth in the post, the Warhawks added the 6-10 Ribero as a running mate for sophomore forward Rudy Turner. A native of Caetanopolis, Minas Gerias, Brazil, he has spent the past two seasons at New Mexico Junior College.

"Adding Fabio to our team is a definite boost," Early said. "Over the years, we haven't had enough depth or size in the post and what he brings us is a 6-10, athletic, skilled post player. He has been playing college basketball for the last two seasons and will come in ready to compete and make us better immediately. As good a player as Fabio is, he is also a good student with a 3.4 grade point average."

A starter in all 30 contests, Ribero averaged 6.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest in helping NMJC to a 21-9 record as a sophomore. A defensive presence in the post, his 6.2 defensive caroms per contest were the second most in the league and helped the Thunderbirds lead the conference in total defensive rebounds per game.

Ribero also ranked sixth overall in total rebounds, 31st in blocked shots per game, and 34th in offensive rebounds per game in the league.

The Warhawks remained in the junior college ranks with the addition of Fuselier, a 5-9 point guard who played the last two seasons at San Bernardino Valley College in California after prepping at Northside High School in Lafayette, La.

"Point guard is a position that over the last few years we just haven't had the depth we have needed," Early said. "Kenneth Averette has played solid for us, but Brandon Roberts getting injured and Brandon Williams being a freshman really hurt us. We are really excited about what Warren is going to bring to that position. He has the ability to score as well as make guys better."

With Fuselier running the show, SBVC won the Foothill Conference championship with a 27-9 overall record, advanced through the playoffs, and made it to the state finals where the team fell in triple overtime.

In garnering all-conference honorable mention honors for the Wolverines as a sophomore, Fuselier averaged 11 points and 4.3 assists per game.

"Warren is a guy that we have targeted from the first year we arrived at ULM," Early said. "We went down and saw him in the state championship against Ouachita. Warren was most outstanding player in the game. He is a talented point guard from Lafayette and does a great job of making his teammates better. Looking at his record, he is a guy who just knows how to win."

A prep star at NHS, Fuselier led his team to a state title and 36-5 overall record in his junior season after averaging 13 points per game. The point guard was named MVP of the tournament after leading his team past Peabody HS and upcoming ULM teammate Rudy Turner.

One year later, the Fuselier-led NHS squad advanced back to the state's Top 28 tournament with the point guard being named all-parish and all-Acadiana Most Valuable Player. He averaged 14 points as a senior.

Ribero and Fuselier join a Warhawk signing class that includes transfer Hugh Mingo, a 6-3 guard who prepped at West Monroe HS, and Colby Carr, a 6-4 guard named New Orleans area player of the year after averaging 15.4 points per game as a senior at O.P. Walker HS.

"We have always tried to focus on our state," Early said. "In the early signing period we added Hugh Mingo from West Monroe and Colby Carr who was the city player of the year in New Orleans. To be able to sign a kid the caliber of Warren from Lafayette, with ULL's program being one of the premier programs historically in our league is a great sign."