CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel head basketball coach Chuck Driesell announced on Friday that Matt Frierson, Trevor Jain, Zane Najdawi and James Pado signed their National Letter of Intent and will join the South Carolina Corps of Cadets as part of the class of 2019.

Frierson, a 6-2, 150-pound shooting guard from Laurel, Md. joins The Citadel from Chapelgate Christian Academy. In the last two years he has led Howard County in 3-point field goals (146) and along the way captured MVP honors at the Maryland Christian School Tournament, as a junior, when he averaged 15.8 ppg, 4.4. apg and 2.0 apg.

Frierson's Chapelgate Christian Academy squad captured the Maryland Christian School Tournament Championship in 2014, after finishing as runner-ups the previous season.

A 6-6, combo player from Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Jain was a two-sport athlete in both track and field and basketball at Pigeon Forge High School. As a junior he earned all-district 3A and all-district tournament honors at the close of the 2012-13 hoops season by averaging 17.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg and 3.0 apg.

In his senior campaign, Jain was named as Sevier County Player of the Year and named as a member of the 3A all-district and all-district tournament teams. A standout track athlete, he placed fifth in the 3A state high jump in 2013 and third in 2014. Jain is currently attending West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Fla.

A 6-7, 205-pound power forward from Richmond, Va., Najdawi averaged 16.0 ppg and 10 rebounds per contest while capturing first team all-conference honors at Crosby High School.

In his first year under Crosby head coach Ron Carr, after moving from Elizabethtown (Ky.) High School, Najdawi led the team in assists, blocked shots and field goal percentage (58%). At the class 6A high school, the largest classification in Virginia, he received second team all-region and honorable mention all-state as a junior.

Pado, a 6-9, 235-pound center from Perth, Australia, becomes the first Australian native to join The Citadel in its basketball history. Pado closed out his high school career at Lumen Christi College where he averaged 15.3 ppg, 12.9 rpg and 2.6 bpg.

As a senior he led his Lumen Christi College team to the Grand Final. Pado also competed for the Western Australian U16 (2011) and U18 (2013) state teams. As with fellow NLI commitment, Jain, Pado is currently attending West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Fla.

"I am very pleased with the class of recruits we signed in the early period," said Driesell. "My staff and I knew we needed help both in the post and on the perimeter and we feel as if we accomplished that with these four young men.

"Each of these players brings something unique and different to our team, but the common denominator among all four is their tremendous work ethic and high character. Each of them come from great families and will be a great addition to our basketball family and the Corps of Cadets."
 

Coach Driesell on Matt Frierson: "Matt came to my attention through former Maryland teammate Adrian Branch. Adrian told me that this young man reminded him of me as a player during our years together at Maryland. It took me all of five minutes to know this young man is special and that Adrian was wrong, he was better than me.

"Matt is an outstanding shooter and knows the game as well as any high school player I have ever recruited. That can be credited to his father Frick Frierson who is also his coach at Chapelgate. Matt sees things on the court, both offensively and defensively, that most players his age don't pick up. His fundamentals are extremely polished, and that will serve him well his first year in college."

Coach Driesell on Trevor Jain: "We are very fortunate to have picked up Trevor in the early signing period. He is an exceptional athlete who plays well above the rim. At 6-6, with a 30-inch plus vertical, Trevor is tough to defend.  He is an excellent jump shooter with a great first step and has the potential to be a solid defender.

"What stood out the most was how high he jumped on his shot combined with his ability to get it off quickly. However, what I liked most about him is his desire to rebound at both ends.  Trevor's work ethic and his relentless pursuit of the basketball is impressive."

Coach Driesell on Zane Najdawi: "Zane is one of those guys who when you see him play you say to yourself, 'I would hate to play against him but would love to have him on my team.' He plays hard all the time and is relentless on the boards. He can help us right away with our interior defense and rebounding presence."

Coach Driesell on James Pado: "James is a true 6-9 center with great balance and athleticism. He is a black belt in karate and at 250 pounds you can see why my staff and I are so excited to have him join our program. James' footwork in the post is advanced, and he has continued to learn the game and gain experience that will make him a solid post player in the Southern Conference."