WASHINGTON, DC - Howard University announces its 2011 men’s basketball signings.  Brandon Ford, Brandon Bailey and Oliver Ellison, all local products from the Washington metropolitan area, have signed national letters of intent to attend Howard University in the fall.

Ford, Washington Post 2011 Prince George’s County 2 A Player of the Year, is a talented 6-3, 190-pound guard from Gwynn Park High School.  During the past season, Ford averaged 18.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game while leading the Yellow Jackets to a 17-9 mark and Number 13 ranking in the Washington Post.

Ford was named to the Washington Post honorable mention All-Met team and was selected to the first team PG Gazette All County team.  He led his team to back-to-back 2A South Region titles and was a second team All-Met in 2010.

Recruited by Loyola University and American University, Ford has been selected to play for the Suburban team in the Capital Classic all-star game.

Bailey is a 6-6, 180-pound forward who averaged 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season.  Bailey, who started every game this season, is an outstanding athlete, who has a tremendous upside.  He was recruited by St. Peter’s and St. Francis of PA.  He will join Ford on the Suburban team in the 2011 Capital Classic, April 17.

Oliver Ellison is a 6-8 power forward from Gonzaga College High School, an emerging power in high school basketball.  He is a two-year starter for the Purple Eagles, who finished 26-8 this season and finished Number 5 in the Washington Post rankings.  Ellison was recruited by Robert Morris and Vermont.

“When I first took on this job last year, our major goal was to reintroduce Howard University to Washington, DC area basketball,” said head coach Kevin Nickelberry, who just completed his first season as Bison head coach.  “We have accomplished that by signing three talented players from this area.  We wanted to upgrade our athleticism.  Brandon Bailey may be one of the most athletic players in the area.  Brandon Ford gives us great speed at the guard position.  And Oliver is a great shot blocker who plays above the rim.”

He continued, “If you look at the teams in our conference that have done well, you will find that many of them have been successful by recruiting in this area.”

The triumvirate of Ford, Bailey and Ellison join Simuel Frazier, a highly touted 6-0 point guard form Maury High School in Norfolk, VA, who signed earlier, and Theodore Boyomo, a 6-9 center, who red-shirted this year.  It is important to note that Frazier was selected to play in the First Elite Showcase Basketball Classic at the Verizon Center last month, marking the first time in recent history that the Howard men’s basketball program has had three players selected to play in all-star games.

“It is essentially a four man recruiting class with Simuel Frazier in the mix and it is bolstered by Theodore Boyomo, who will be a part of this after redshirting last year,” added Nickelberry.

Nickelberry is also excited by the addition of two talented transfers, Glen Andrews (Tulsa/T.C. Williams H.S.) and Trey Lee (Coastal Carolina), who will be eligible to play in January 2012.

“All of these additions fit the style that we want to play here at Howard,” said Nickelberry.  “We want to play a pressing, up-tempo style and with these additions, we will be able to accomplish that.”