April 30, 2003

Next season, The Citadel's basketball team could include a future teammate of Yao Ming.

Aaron Xia, a 6-9, 240-pound center from Friendswood, Texas, and a Citadel signee, has been told by Chinese officials that he will play for China's national and Olympic teams, Bulldogs coach Pat Dennis said Tuesday.

Those teams also are expected to include Yao Ming, the 7-5 rookie sensation of the NBA's Houston Rockets.

"They've already told Aaron he'll be on the team," Dennis said. "We're really excited for him, and I think he will be a big help to us in the post."

Xia also has had offers to play professional basketball in China, but is sticking with his decision to attend The Citadel after also drawing interest from Sam Houston State, Tulane and Centenary, Dennis said. Xia averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game last season as a senior.

Xia is one of five high school players who signed last fall with the Bulldogs, who lose six seniors from last year's 8-20 team. Dennis hopes to be able to sign one more scholarship player this spring.

Here's a look at the senior seasons of the other four signees:

-- Anthony Miller (6-1, G, Atlanta) -- Miller averaged 16.1 points, seven rebounds and five assists as Whitfield Academy went 29-1 and won a state championship.

-- J'mel Everhart (6-6, F, Tyler, Texas) -- Everhart was named second-team all-state and MVP of his district after averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds for a team that won 25 games.

-- Joseph Thompson (6-6, F, Whiteville, N.C.) -- Thompson averaged 25 points and scored 41 points in a regional playoff game for Whiteville High.

-- Kelvin Fowler (6-6, F, Garland, Texas) -- Fowler had to sit out his senior season with a knee injury after averaging 13 points and nine rebounds as a junior. Dennis said he's fully recovered.

"We expect a lot of these freshmen to come in and help us right away," Dennis said. "I really think it's one of the best classes we've had since I've been here."

-- Notes -- Citadel center Max Mombollet will play this summer for his national team from the Central African Republic ... Charlie Jones, the 6-5 younger brother of graduating senior Gregg Jones, will walk on at The Citadel, Dennis said ... The Bulldogs will play home games against South Carolina, Central Florida and Army next season, and a road game at Tennessee.

BASEBALL TIMES CHANGE

First pitch for The Citadel's baseball game at Coastal Carolina today has been changed to a 6 p.m. start, and the Bulldogs' key Southern Conference series against Georgia Southern this weekend at Riley Park has been changed to a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series.

The Bulldogs (14-7 in the SoCon) and Eagles (14-9) will play at 3 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Monday. The dates were changed to accommodate exam and graduation schedules at both schools.

After enduring a stretch of seven losses in eight games, the Bulldogs have won five of their last six and are tied for second with UNC Greensboro behind league leader Western Carolina (16-5).

-- Notes -- Citadel sophomore Chris Ard still leads the SoCon in batting at .429 ... Freshman Trent Weathers is ninth at .346 ... Relief pitcher Matt Hamer is 4-0 with one save and is third in the SoCon with an ERA of 2.55.