Washington University Men’s Basketball Announces Class of 2015

St. Louis, Mo., May 18, 2011 – Washington University in St. Louis men’s basketball coach Mark Edwards announced that six student-athletes will join the Bears’ program as freshmen for the 2011-12 season.

The six players hail from three different states, with four from Illinois: Nick Burt, Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township) (6-6, 205, forward), Connor Duermit, Asheville, N.C. (Veritas Christian Academy) (6-5, 205, forward), Kent Lacob, Woodside, Calif. (The Menlo School) (6-0, 160, guard), Matt Palucki, Park Ridge, Ill., (Maine South) (6-6, 205, forward), Peter Szostak, Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North) (6-7, 220, forward) and Brayden Teuscher, Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Christian) (6-3, 190, guard).

“We are very pleased with the new players that we have coming into the program. This year’s recruiting class is as talented as any class we have recruited,” said Edwards, who has a 542-251 overall record in 30 seasons on the Danforth Campus. “It is made up of players who like to compete and bring great intensity to the court. They all have the potential to contribute to the program and they will have the opportunity to make an impact as freshmen.”

Washington University, the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division III national champions, finished the 2010-11 season with a 13-12 overall record and placed third in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 7-7 record. The Bears also secured their 27th-consecutive winning season under Edwards.

Complete biographies are listed below:
NICK BURT
6-6 • 205 • Forward • Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 8.7 points and six rebounds per game at Lyons Township High School … Team captain … Part of winningest class in school history with a 94-7 record … Two-time regional champions … All-conference, all-area and honorable-mention all-State … Academic all-conference … National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society … Illinois State Scholar … PERSONAL: Born 5-2-93 … Enrolled in the Olin Business School … Son of Mark and Janet Burt.

CONNOR DUERMIT
6-5 • 205 • Forward • Asheville, N.C. (Veritas Christian Academy)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged eight points and eight rebounds per game at Veritas Christian Academy … Team posted a 17-12 record in 2010-11 … All-conference selection as a sophomore … Two-time Coaches Award recipient … Four-time A Honor Roll … Principal’s List … PERSONAL: Born 12-27-92 … Majoring in architecture … Son of Mike and Carol Duermit.

KENT LACOB
6-0 • 160 • Guard • Woodside, Calif. (The Menlo School)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 11 points per game at The Menlo School … Led the league in assists … Team captain … Started at point guard as a junior and senior … 2010-11 West Bay Athletic All-League selection … Daily News Bay Area Honorable Mention … Opinions Editor for school newspaper … PERSONAL: Born 9-29-92 … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences … Son of Joseph and Laurie Lacob.

MATT PALUCKI
6-6 • 205 • Forward • Park Ridge, Ill., (Maine South)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 19.6 points and nine rebounds per game at Maine South High School … Shot 81 percent from the foul line and 50 percent from the field as a senior … Four-year letterwinner and team captain … Averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds for his career … Holds the Maine South single game (19), single-season (278) and career (726) rebounding records … 2009-10 Regional Champions, Sectional Champions and Elite 8 appearance … 2010-11 Bugle Newspapers All-Star Game … Two-time CSL South all-conference … Pioneer Press and Bugle Newspapers All-Area First Team … IBCA Fourth-Team All-State … Prairie State Achievement Award in math, science and reading … PERSONAL: Born 2-24-83 … Majoring in systems engineering … Son of Ron Jr. and Mary Lou Palucki.

PETER SZOSTAK
6-7 • 220 • Forward • Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at Glenbrook North High School … Team posted a 19-9 record and was conference champions in 2010-11 … Two-time regional champions … Two-time all-Central Suburban League … National Honor Society … Illinois State Scholar … Central Suburban League Scholar-Athlete … Glenbrook Scholar … PERSONAL: Born 11-22-92 … Enrolled in the School of Engineering & Applied Science … Son of Marty and Mary Szostak.

BRAYDEN TEUSCHER
6-3 • 190 • Guard • Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Christian)
HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 16 points, five rebounds and four assists per game at Rockford Christian High School … Scored a school-record 1,750 points in his career … Ranked #4 shooting guard in the state of Illinois by ESPN Recruiting … IBCA First-Team All-State as a senior and Special Mention All-State as a junior … Placed second in state in three-point shootout … Led team to 32-1 record and a third-place finish in state in 2011 … Four-time first-team all-conference and two-time conference MVP … Team posted a 99-19 record in four seasons, and won two conference and regional championships … National Honor Society … Illinois State Scholar … Class President … PERSONAL: Born 9-3-92 … Majoring in business management … Son of Michael and Janice Teuscher.