April 23, 2009

WACO, Texas - Nolan Dennis, a 6-5 shooting guard from Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas, signed to play basketball with the Baylor Bears men's basketball program Thursday.

Rated as high as No. 44 in the nation currently in the ESPNU 100, the 185-pound guard was rated No. 15 at his position nationally by both Rivals.com and Scout.com in the fall and No. 58 overall in the Class of 2009. Dennis originally signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Memphis but was granted his full release earlier this month.

"We have recruited Nolan for some time and have developed a great deal of trust and respect for Carol and the Dennis family," head coach Scott Drew said. "We are very excited to have them as a part of our Baylor family."

Dennis led the 2009 Richland Rebels to a third-place tie in District 3-5A and a 15-15 record overall as a senior. He garnered District MVP honors, averaging a league-leading 21.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, while also ranking second in blocks (1.6), third in assists (3.5) and fourth in 3-point field goals per game (1.1). He was a first-team Boys All-Area selection in 2008 and 2009 by The Dallas Morning News.

As a junior in 2007-08, he led the league in scoring (21.0) and rebounds (10.0), while dishing out 3.0 assists per contest.

Dennis is also the No.1-rated player in the state by Texas Roundball and No. 4 by Mike Kunstadt's TexasHoops.com.

"Nolan is one of the elite players in the state of Texas and the nation," Drew said. "Baylor fans are going to love his versatility and basketball talents. In addition, the Baylor community is really going to enjoy getting to know Nolan as a person as he is an outstanding young man.

Dennis, ranked No. 2 on the 2009 Websider Hoops Top 10 on Rivals.com, joins three members from Baylor's early signing period class in November - Givon Crump, a 6-6 small forward from Wolfeboro, N.H.; Cory Jefferson, a 6-9 power forward from Killeen, Texas; and A.J. Walton, a 6-1 guard from Little Rock, Ark.

BAYLOR CLASS OF 2009 SIGNEES