Virginia duo strengthen D-I schools recruiting class!

BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Antonio Kalpic of Sibenik, Croatia, Darius Leonard of Raleigh, N.C., and Darren White of Danville, Va., have signed athletics grants-in-aid with Campbell University, head men's basketball coach Robbie Laing announced Wednesday.

The trio joins Trae Bremer of Leoti, Kan., and Trey Freeman of Virginia Beach, Va., who signed last November, in the 2011 Fighting Camel recruiting class.

This signing class represents our attempt to return to a faster style of play, extending the floor defensively through multiple presses and shooting the three-ball," said Coach Laing, who is entering his ninth year at the helm of the program. "Last year our personnel had us trapped into playing a certain way due in part to key injuries. However, we're moving back to the style that put us among the nation's elite in scoring and steals over the last five years."

A 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward, Kalpic joins the Camels from Roane State Community College in Rockwood, Tenn., where he averaged 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 2010-11, while shooting 54 percent from the field (74-138) and 68 percent from the free throw line (48-71).

Kalpic, who hit season highs with 20 points and 14 rebounds on Dec. 11 against Volunteer State CC, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

The former Croatian Junior National Team member played his final two high school seasons at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, N.C. As a senior in 2009, he averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists en route to earning all-conference and Greensboro News and Record all-region honors.

Kalpic's father, Zoran, coached KK Brod-Svjetlost in the Croatian BIBL during 2010-11 and is a former professional basketball player in Europe.

"Antonio is a very skilled player, who will help us return to our up-tempo style," said Laing. "He's a dribble-pass-shoot guy we hope that can help open up the floor. He has a tremendous upside and is really a very savvy player."

Leonard comes to Buies Creek from Kent State, where he averaged 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds, while playing in 30 games during the 2010-11 campaign. After sitting out the 2011-12 season according to NCAA guidelines, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

During his year in the Mid-American Conference, Leonard hit season-highs with 9 points and 9 rebounds in a win over Bryant. He also tallied 7 points in a victory over Youngstown State for the Golden Flashes, who finished 25-12, won the Mid-American regular season title, and advanced to the third round of the National Invitation Tournament.

As a senior at Kestrel Heights High School in Durham, Leonard averaged 16.9 points and 11 rebounds while leading his team to a 37-7 record. He was rated the 35th best senior in the state of North Carolina by the Charlotte Observer and ranked the 118th-best power forward in the country by ESPN.com.

Leonard's cousin, Donald Williams, was MVP of the 1993 Final Four while leading North Carolina to the national championship.

"Darius brings strength, power and bulk to our front line, but doesn't give away any quickness," said Laing. "We have tried to add quickness and length to our team, particularly along the front line. He's an explosive, agile big man, who can shoot the three as well."

White joins the Camels from Midland (Texas) College, which was ranked third in the NJCAA national poll. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound wing averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 54 percent from the floor. The former Virginia high school player of the year scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 8 rebounds against Northwest College.

White spent his first collegiate season at James Madison, where he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team. With the Dukes, he played in 33 games with 20 starts and averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game while hitting 42.4 percent of his shots from the field and 30 percent (35-117) from 3-point range.

He tallied 13 double-figure games, including a season-high 22 points in 38 minutes at Gardner-Webb. White also scored 20 points against both Florida International and North Carolina Central and grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds at Eastern Michigan. He was named CAA Rookie of the Week twice.

Following his senior year at Dan River High School in Ringgold, Va., White was named Group A Division 2 State Player of the Year. He averaged 19 points and 6.4 rebounds during his final campaign when he led the Wildcats to a 24-5 record, the Dogwood District title and a state Group A Division 2 runner-up finish.

In the 2009 state final, White scored 34 points - 16 in the fourth quarter - in a 77-69 loss to Radford. White finished his prep career with 1252 points, 472 rebounds, 178 assists and 140 steals. He was a two-time, first-team All-Dogwood District choice. In addition, he was an honors graduate with a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average.

"Darren is an inside-outside player, good at finishing at the hole as well as shooting the three," said Laing. "He has a great, physical body and we hope to improve our front line rebounding with his presence."

Both Leonard and White are products of the Carolina Cobras AAU program.

A 6-foot-9, 240-pound center, Bremer missed all but two games of his senior season due to a knee injury. The Kansas Select AAU team member averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in his brief senior campaign at Wichita County High School.

As a junior, Bremer averaged 12.6 points, 11.6 rebounds (fifth in the state of Kansas) and 4.5 blocks (fourth in the state). He led Wichita County High School to a 14-8 record a Hi-Plains league tournament title and berth in the Class 2A sub-state semifinals.

Under the guidance of head coach Matt Crist in 2009-10, Bremer was named Hi-Plains 1st-team all-conference and honorable mention Class 2A all-state by the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal.

In addition, he was selected 2nd-team all-area by the Hutchinson News and 3rd-team all-area by the Garden City Telegram and earned all-tournament honors at the Scott City Invitational. A two-year team captain, Bremer has also earned three letters in football.

A 6-foot-2, 165-pound point guard, Freeman was named second-team all-state as a senior by the Associated Press and VirginiaPreps.com. He averaged 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the field, 49.1 percent from 3-point territory (26-53) and 82.3 percent (144-175) from the line.

Freeman led Kellam High School to the Beach District regular season and tournament championships and a 27-0 record before the Knights dropped a one-point loss to eventual state champion Norcom, which was ranked 5th in the nation by USA Today, in the regional semifinals.

Freeman scored 32 points in both the Beach District tourney final win over Tallwood and in the opening round of the regional playoffs vs. Granby. In addition, Freeman was named Beach District Player of the Year and first-team all-district as well as to the Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater First Team.

A product of the Boo Williams AAU program, Freeman earned 2nd-team all-district honors in 2009-10 at Kellam. Named team MVP as a sophomore and junior, he was a four-year starter at point guard. The Honor Roll student also earned the Academic Letter Award in each of his first three years.

Ranked 34th among the state's top-50 players in the class of 2011 by VirginiaPreps.com, Freeman averaged 14.8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game as a junior for Coach Norman Hassell's squad.

The 2011 Fighting Camel recruiting class joins a program that has produced double-figure victories in six-straight seasons and counted non-conference wins over Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, UNC Wilmington and Western Carolina among its triumphs last season.

After a 17-year stint in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Campbell returns to the Big South Conference (of which it was a charter member from 1983-94) on July 1, 2011.

2011 Campbell University Men's Basketball Recruiting Class

Trae Bremer / 6-9, 250 / Center / Leoti, Kan. / Wichita County High School

2010-11: Limited to just two games due to injury... Averaged 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks as a senior... 2009-10: Leading scorer (12.6) and rebounder (11.6) on 2009-10 Wichita County High School (Leoti, Kan.) team that finished 14-8, won the Hi-Plains league tournament and advanced to the Sub-State Semi-finals... Finished fifth in the state of Kansas in rebounds and fourth in blocked shots (4.5) as a junior... First-team all-conference in 2009-10... Named honorable mention Class 2A all-state by the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital-Journal... Chosen 2nd-team all-area by the Hutchinson News and 3rd-team All-Area by the Garden City Telegram... Named to all-tournament team at Scott City Invitational... Career: Two-year team captain... Also earned three letters in football... 3 year letter winner in football... Coached by Matt Crist at Wichita County... Full name is Trae Wenlyn Bremer... Son of Mindi Bremer ... Has one sister, Tailar... Member of Kansas Select AAU program...

Trey Freeman / 6-2, 165 / Point Guard / Virginia Beach, Va. / Kellam High School

2010-11: Named second-team all-state as a senior by the Associated Press and VirginiaPreps.com... Averaged 20 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 60.5 percent from the field, 49.1 percent from 3-point territory (26-53) and 82.3 percent (144-175) from the line... Led Kellam to the Beach District regular season and tournament championships and a 27-0 record before the Knights dropped a one-point loss to eventual state champion Norcom in the regional semifinals... Scored 32 points in both the Beach District tourney final win over Tallwood and in the opening round of the regional playoffs vs. Granby... Named Beach District Player of the Year and first-team all-district as well as to the Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater First Team... 2009-10: 2nd-team all-district selection in 2009-10 at Kellam High School, where he averaged 14.8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game for Coach Norman Hassell's Knights... Ranked 34th in the class of 2011 by VirginiaPreps.com... Career: Four-year starter at point guard and 3-time Team MVP... Honor Roll student, who also earned the Academic Letter Award in each of his first three years... Played for AAU Boo Williams AAU program... Full name is James H. Freeman III... Son of James and Miriam Freeman... Has one sister, Shawna, and two brothers, Aric and Adrian...

Antonio Kalpic / 6-9, 220 / Forward / Sibenik, Croatia / Roane State (Tenn.) CC / Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)

2010-11: Averaged 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 54 percent from the field (74-138) and 68 percent from the free throw line (48-71)... Hit season highs with 20 points and 14 rebounds on Dec. 11 against Volunteer State CC... 2009-10: Red-shirt at Pfeiffer University (N.C.)... Career: Former Croatian Junior National Team member played his final two high school seasons at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, N.C... Averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as a senior in 2009 en route to earning all-conference and Greensboro News and Record all-region honors... Kalpic's father, Zoran, coached KK Brod-Svjetlost in the Croatian BIBL during 2010-11 and is a former professional basketball player in Europe... Full name is Antonio Kalpic... Son of Zoran and Nada Kalpic... Has one brother, Franko...

Darius Leonard / 6-9, 225 / Forward / Raleigh, N.C. / Kent State / Kestrel Heights HS (Durham, N.C.)

After sitting out the 2011-12 season according to NCAA guidelines, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining... 2010-11: Averaged 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds, while playing in 30 games as a freshman at Kent State... Hit season-highs with 9 points and 9 rebounds in a win over Bryant... Also tallied 7 points in a victory over Youngstown State for the Golden Flashes, who finished 25-12, won the Mid-American regular season title, and advanced to the third round of the National Invitation Tournament... Career: As a senior at Kestrel Heights High School in Durham, Leonard averaged 16.9 points and 11 rebounds while leading his team to a 37-7 record in 2009-10... Rated the 35th best senior in the state of North Carolina by the Charlotte Observer and ranked the 118th-best power forward in the country by ESPN.com... Cousin of Donald Williams, MVP of the 1993 Final Four while leading North Carolina to the national championship... Full name is Darius Devon Leonard... Son of Vicki Dunn and David Leonard... Has three brothers, Jay, Travis and Travion... Played for Carolina Cobras AAU program...

Darren White / 6-4, 215 / Guard-Forward / Danville, Va. / Midland (Texas) JC / James Madison / Dan River HS (Ringgold, Va.)

2010-11: Joined CU from Midland (Texas) College, which was ranked third in the NJCAA national poll... Averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 54 percent from the floor... Scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 8 rebounds against Northwest College... 2009-10: Spent his first collegiate season at James Madison, where he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team... Played in 33 games with 20 starts and averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game while hitting 42.4 percent of his shots from the field and 30 percent (35-117) from 3-point range... Tallied 13 double-figure games, including a season-high 22 points in 38 minutes at Gardner-Webb... Also scored 20 points against both Florida International and North Carolina Central and grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds at Eastern Michigan... Named CAA Rookie of the Week twice... Career: Following his senior year at Dan River High School in Ringgold, Va., White was named Group A Division 2 State Player of the Year... Averaged 19 points and 6.4 rebounds during his final campaign when he led the Wildcats to a 24-5 record, the Dogwood District title and a state Group A Division 2 runner-up finish... In the 2009 state final, White scored 34 points - 16 in the fourth quarter - in a 77-69 loss to Radford... Finished his prep career with 1252 points, 472 rebounds, 178 assists and 140 steals... Two-time, first-team All-Dogwood District choice... Honors graduate with a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average... Full name is Darren White... Son of Virginia White and Will Powell... Has two brothers, Bryant and Torrey ... Played for Carolina Cobras AAU program...