May 16, 2002

Amadou "Pape" (pronounced "POP") Koundoul, a 6-8, 230-lb. forward, and Modibo "Mo" Niakate, a 6-2, 185-lb. guard, have signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at Cleveland State University, Head Coach Rollie Massimino has announced.

Niakate, a native of Paris, France, will join fellow Frenchman Pape Badiane, a 6-11 forward from les Ulis, on the Viking roster.

Koundoul, a native of Senegal, comes from Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., where he played for Pete Norman. Koundoul averaged 12.0 ppg last season as the Cougars finished 27-6 overall and 10-2 in the Arrowhead Conference. HCC advanced to the Region IV finals of the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament before falling to Kankakee 98-93 in overtime.

"Pape is a talented player who plays different positions on the floor," noted Massimino. "Because of his multiple talents, he gives us an opportunity to use him in various ways in our offensive and defensive schemes."

A two-year player at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, Niakate played for Chad Wintz last season and Tim Duryea, who left to become an assistant at Utah State, in 2000-01. Niakate, who helped the Blue Dragons to a 24-9 mark, scored 15 points against Cowley County in the NJCAA Region VI quarterfinals to help HCC to a 70-56 victory.

"Mo gives us strength in the backcourt because he has the talent to play two or three positions and he became an experienced player at Hutchinson," Massimino said. "He makes extremely good decisions in distributing the ball."

Koundoul and Niakate join Jonathan Burge and Tyler "T.J." Darr as Viking newcomers for the 2002-2003 season. CSU returns nine players from last year's squad.