MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

COURTNEY TRASK

University of Memphis basketball coach Tic Price announced Wednesday the signing of 6-3 point guard Courtney Trask to a national letter-of-intent.

Trask, who prepped at Baton Rouge's Parkview Baptist High School, was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Class 3A Player of theYear after averaging 26 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and two steals this year as a senior.

"I think Courtney is one of the most outstanding point guards in the country," Price said. "He is the epitome of a team player. He has a real good feel for the game. Courtney's size, versatility and will to win make him a very special."

Trask's 26-point scoring average ranked third in Class 3A and he was also named his conference's player of the year. During Trask's four-year career, Parkview Baptist captured two state championships, were state runners-up a third season and posted combined 148-33 record. Parkview Baptist was ranked as high as fourth in the nation during Trask's junior season.

"Courtney's greatest asset is his ability to adjust during a game," said Parkview Baptist coach Don Green. "Depending on what an opponent does, he can get his teammates more involved in the offense or he can score."

"He is an excellent ball-handler and his ability to hit the open shot gave him the opportunity to be the Class 3A player of the year," Price said. "He gives us court savvy and is very dangerous in the open court."

Trask is the Tigers' third signing of the year and second of the spring. He joins Clarksville, Miss., center Earl Barron and Northwest Mississippi Community College forward Shannon Forman in this year's signing class. Forman is also from Baton Rouge, having prepped at Southern Lab High School.

EARL BARRON

University of Memphis basketball coach Tic Price announced Wednesday the signing of Clarksdale, Miss., center Earl Barron to a national letter-of-intent.

"Earl is a tremendous student-athlete," Price said. "He can run and has a good inside-out game. We're very happy to welcome him to the Tiger family."

Barron (6-11, 205) helped lead Clarksdale to a 21-7 season his senior year, averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. He was named all-District 3-4A as well as all-state honorable mention. In a game against Humphreys County this season, Barron registered a triple-double, scoring 17 points to go along with 20 rebounds and 13 blocked shots.

As a junior, Barron averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. His high school coach was Ronnie McBride.

This spring, Barron is 11-0 in mixed doubles for Clarksdale High School's tennis team. He also ran cross country in the fall.

Barron is Memphis' first signee of the spring and the second for this year's class, joining Northwest Mississippi Community College forward Shannon Forman who signed with the Tigers last fall.