With the start of the 2010-11 season beginning today, Appalachian State University men’s basketball received commitments from two players to enroll as freshmen in Fall 2011.

Tabarris Hamilton (Winston-Salem, N.C./Fishburne Military School) and Michael Neal (Greensboro, N.C./Oak Ridge Military Academy) signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, ASU head coach Jason Capel announced.
“We are very excited about the two young men that we’ve been able to sign,” said Capel. “They come from great families and represent Appalachian State and what we are building here. They are solid student-athletes and young men with high character. Both are going to come in and bring a lot of attributes that will be welcome additions to the program. More importantly, they are great kids and talented basketball players, and they will contribute to the overall fabric of what we’re building.”

Tabarris Hamilton • 6-3 • 180 • Guard
Hamilton attends Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Va. and plays for coach Ed Huckaby, Jr. this season after transferring Winston-Salem’s West Forsyth High School. Considered a combo guard, the athletic shooter can play both wing positions. He spent the summer playing for coach Julio Williams’ NC Athletics squad and was ranked the second-best shooter in the recruiting class in North Carolina according to the Star Hoopers recruiting service.

“Tabarris Hamilton is a high-character kid that works really hard on the court and has a natural scoring ability,” commented Capel. “He can get up and down the floor and has the potential to be a very good defender as well. Both of our recruits come from strong basketball programs where they have been taught to play the right way.”

Michael Neal • 6-2 • 185 • Guard
Considered one of the top guard prospects in North Carolina, Neal plays in his second season for coach Stan Kowalewski at Oak Ridge Military Academy. Neal transferred to Oak Ridge from Greensboro’s Northern Guilford High School, where he also played for Coach Kowaleski. Neal spent the summer playing with his Oak Ridge team as well as the NC Gators squad. He is considered an offensive threat with a solid ability to get to the rim. He has good ball-handling skills but his versatility allows him to play off the ball as well.

“Michael Neal is someone that we have recruited for some time and he is one of the most high-character kids you could bring to represent the university,” Capel said. “He is a combo guard, a very talented scorer and a lockdown defender. He is a guy that really fits what we’re trying to build here in our basketball program.”

The pair joins sophomore transfers Brian Okam (Enugu, Nigeria/Rutgers) and G.J. Vilarino (McKinney, Texas/Gonzaga) in the 2011-12 class for Appalachian. Both Okam and Vilarino are enrolled at ASU this year but must sit out the season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. The Mountaineers tip off the 2010-11 campaign on Friday at Tulsa in an 8 p.m. EST contest.