Nov. 25, 2002

The Siena College men's basketball team received National Letters of Intent from two high school seniors during the NCAA early signing period, filling the void that will be left by the graduation of the two members of the Class of 2003. Broadalbin native Mike Beers will be joined by Philadelphia's Joel Green when Siena breaks camp next fall.

Beers is a 6-2, 185-pound point guard who attends Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. after completing his high school career at nearby Broadalbin-Perth last spring. Widely recognized as one of the area's top long-range shooters during his playing days in the Capital Region, Beers orally committed to the program over a year ago. He averaged nearly 20 points per game his final two seasons at Broadalbin-Perth.

"This is something I've always wanted for as long as I can remember," Beers told the Schenectady Gazette in an interview last November.

Green averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and nearly four blocked shots per game at Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, last season. He currently attends Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. the prep school that produced Korleone Young, who was a second round pick (40th overall) of the Detroit Pistons in the 1998 draft. Green stands 6-8 and checks in at 190-pounds. He figures to add versatility to the Saints forwards.

"It was a very nice atmosphere there (at Siena), and I liked the coaches and players," Green told the Albany Times Union last month. "I felt comfortable with the size of the school and Coach Lanier seems like a great guy."

The duo complete the Saints recruiting class (available scholarships) for next fall barring an unforeseen circumstance.