Defending Champs Announce Incoming Freshmen Class

St. Louis, Mo., July 2, 2009 – Two-time defending NCAA Division III National Champion Washington University in St. Louis head men’s basketball coach Mark Edwards announced today that seven student-athletes will join the Bears’ program as freshmen for the 2009-10 season.

The seven players hail from five different states: Robert Burnett, West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley) (6-7, 235, forward), James Gill, Chicago, Ill. (Walter Payton College Prep) (6-4, 180, forward), Michael Hoffman, Columbia, Ill. (Gibault Catholic) (6-9, 215, center), Ben Hoener, Ballwin, Mo. (Parkway South) (5-11, 160, guard), Nash Oh, Bethesda, Md. (Walter Johnson) (6-0, 175, guard), Andrew Osborn, Springfield, Mo. (Glendale) (6-4, 185, forward) and Sean Stanley, Winnetka, Ill. (New Trier) (6-2, 180, guard).

"We are excited to welcome the class of 2013.  Each player brings something different to the program, and collectively they make a strong class that will contribute to the continued success of Washington University," said Edwards, the 2002, 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year.

The Washington University men's basketball team captured its second-consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship with a 61-52 victory over Richard Stockton College on March 21 in Salem, Va. The Bears finished the season with a school-record 29-2 overall record, won their ninth University Athletic Association (UAA) title, and made their third-straight trip to the Final Four.

Complete biographies are listed below:
ROBERT BURNETT  •  6-7  •  235  •  Forward  •  West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year letterwinner at Valley High School … Team captain … Averaged 14.4 points and 8.5 rebounds as a senior … First-team all-conference and all-district in 2009 … Academic All-State … AP Scholar … National Honor Society … Presidential Award for Educational Excellence … PERSONAL: Born 5-20-90 … Majoring in pre-med … Son of Robert and Barbara Burnett.

JAMES GILL  •  6-4  •  180  •  Forward  •  Chicago, Ill. (Walter Payton College Prep)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Walter Payton College Prep … Team captain … Averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists as a senior … Four-time all-conference selection … AP Scholar … National Honor Society … PERSONAL: Born 9-16-90 … Enrolled in the Olin Business School … Son of Brian and Peg Gill.

MICHAEL HOFFMAN  •  6-9  •  215  •  Center  •  Columbia, Ill. (Gibault Catholic)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Gibault Catholic High School … Team captain … Averaged 13.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game as a senior … Scored 938 career points and had 907 rebounds and 238 blocks … Played in the IBCA All-State Game in 2009 … Belleville News Democrat All-Area Team … National Honor Society … Illinois State Scholar … PERSONAL: Born 12-2-90 … Enrolled in the School of Engineering & Applied Science … Son of Tom and Ann Hoffman.

BEN HOENER  •  5-11  •  160  •  Guard  •  Ballwin, Mo. (Parkway South)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner in basketball and soccer at Parkway South High School … Three-year team captain in basketball and two-time team captain in soccer … Averaged 21.2 points, 5.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals as a senior … Scored 1,590 career points and dished out 481 assists … Missouri State Quarterfinalist in 2007 and 2008 … Three-time first-team all-conference and all-district … First-team all-state in 2008 and second-team in 2009 … St. Louis County Outstanding Student Leader Award in 2008 and St. Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award in 2009 … PERSONAL: Born 6-17-90 … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences … Son of Kurt Hoener and Susan Amato.

NASH OH  •  6-0  •  175  •  Guard  •  Bethesda, Md. (Walter Johnson)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Walter Johnson High School … Team captain … Averaged 17 points as a senior … Scored 970 career points … Participated in Montgomery County All-Star Game and had 10 assists … Washington Post All-League and Montgomery County All-Star … Second-team  all-Gazette … Scholar-Athlete Award … PERSONAL: Born 8-31-90 … Majoring in business … Son of Mitch and Rhonda Oh.

ANDREW OSBORN  •  6-4  •  185  •  Forward  •  Springfield, Mo. (Glendale)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year letterwinner at Glendale High School … Team captain as a senior … Averaged 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a senior … Team posted back-to-back 20-7 records in 2008 and 2009 … Invited to participate in Gerald Pilz Southwest All-Star Game in July 2009 … Honorable-mention all-Ozarks Conference … Member of the Southwest Missouri Area All-Star Team … 2008-09 MBCA Academic All-State Team … National Honor Society … Principal’s Honor Roll all eight semesters … PERSONAL: Born 5-3-91 … Majoring in pre-med … Son of Dan and Michele Osborn.

SEAN STANLEY  •  6-2  •  180  •  Guard  •  Winnetka, Ill. (New Trier)
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-year letterwinner at New Trier High School … Team captain … Averaged 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals per game as a senior … Also shot 85 percent from the foul line and led team in scoring and three-pointers made … Team MVP in 2009 and Most Improved Player in 2008 … Central Suburban League all-Conference and Pioneer Press all-Area Team in 2009 … Spanish Honor Society …Scholar-Athlete Award … PERSONAL: Born 9-6-90 … Majoring in finance and accounting… Son of Tom and Linda Stanley … Has a black belt in karate.