Oct. 20, 2009

(San Francisco) – After months of anticipation and preparation, USF men’s basketball opened official practice on Friday in preparation for what promises to be an exciting season of hoops on the Hilltop. The Dons, under second year head coach Rex Walters, boast a completely revamped roster, featuring just one player – two-time West Coast Conference scoring leader Dior Lowhorn – who was on the roster for the 2007-08 season.

Walters and his staff have scoured the globe to find players embracing the philosophy of “Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together”. Entering the season, San Francisco has more talent and depth at all positions than in recent memory after landing a recruiting class featuring four players 6-8 or taller and a pair of guards who each earned All-State accolades as California prep seniors.

“So far the effort has been good and the concentration has also been good,” Walters said. “We’ve spent a lot of time on the defensive end of the floor. We’re definitely more skilled which makes the effort on both ends more intense. We’re very young and we have a lot of areas we need to get a lot better. We’re just trying to build on the foundation we’ve laid.”

THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN: Senior honors candidate Dior Lowhorn was put on the preseason all-conference team and was tabbed as WCC Player of the Year in the Sporting News College Basketball Preview. Redshirt sophomore Rashad Green was tabbed as the top newcomer in the league in the same publication.

GREEN AND GOLD GEORGE O’BRIEN SCRIMMAGE: Join USF athletics and the Green & Gold Club as it presents the 25th annual George O'Brien "Green & Gold" Scrimmage games, Saturday, October 24 at War Memorial Gym. This popular event will showcase the extensive renovations to War Memorial Gym and will give fans and alumni a preview of what should be exciting men’s and women’s basketball seasons on the Hilltop. Both Dons teams will be featured in the popular event, with the women's scrimmage set for a 1:00 PM tip-off with the men's immediately following.

THIS WEEK IN USF BASKETBALL: This Week in Dons Basketball is presented by the University of San Francisco Athletic Department in partnership with KUSF. Each Friday at 8:30 PM, join longtime voice of the Dons Pat Olson for a weekly preview of USF Basketball, featuring men’s head coach Rex Walters and interviews with members the 2009-10 squad.

FOLLOW USF ATHLETICS AND DONS BASKETBALL ON TWITTER: Follow USF Athletics all season long @ DonsAthletics for all the latest on all sports representing the Green and Gold on the Hilltop. Also follow Coach Walters and @ HiltpBBallCoach for up to the minute details on Dons Basketball.

COMPLETE 2009-10 SEASON PREVIEW AVAILABLE: USF’s 2009-10 season preview is available at the following link: Dons Preview