April 12, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University head men's basketball coach Scott Trost has announced the signing of two outstanding high school players to a National Letter of Intent.

Lonnie Lawrence, a 6-foot-4 forward from Bloomington High School, recently signed with Lewis. Lawrence joins York High School product Steve Crane, a 6-8 post who signed last fall, in the Flyers' 2007-08 recruiting class.

Lawrence helped lead Bloomington to a 23-5 record and the Big 12 Conference championship this season. He averaged 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds and shot 59 percent from the field and 73 percent at the foul line.

"Lonnie is a very athletic and aggressive forward who is as good a rebounder as I saw all last year," Trost said.

Crane averaged 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds and shot 53 percent from the floor and 74 percent at the foul line as a senior.

"Steve is a young man with tremendous potential," Trost said. "In Division II, it's hard to find someone of Steve's size who also possesses his level of athleticism and ability."

Lawrence played for Jamie Codron at Bloomington, while Crane was coached by Al Biancalana at York.

"Both young men come from outstanding high school programs," Trost said. "We're very excited to add them to the Lewis family."

Lewis, a member of NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), made significant strides during the 2006-07 season. The Flyers posted a winning record (15-13) and qualified for the GLVC postseason tournament for the first time in three years in Trost's initial campaign at the controls.

Among the Flyers' returning players for 2007-08 are guard Brandon Dagans, the GLVC's leading scorer and an All-GLVC and All-Great Lakes Region first-team selection; forward Stephan Bolt, a 2006-07 All-GLVC honorable mention; and forward Jason Genova, the GLVC's sixth-leading scorer.