Oct. 19, 2009

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki men's basketball coach Chris Lowery announced the addition of two freshmen to the Southern Illinois University men's basketball roster on Monday.

Diamond Taylor, a 6-foot-4 guard, joined the Salukis after originally signing with Wisconsin. He was an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Second-Team All-State selection after his senior year at Bolingbrook H.S. He averaged 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists a year ago and was a McDonald's All-America nominee. Taylor will redshirt this season and become eligible at the start of the 2010-11 campaign.

"We've known Diamond for a very long time," said Lowery. "His parents are Saluki alumns, and I knew them when I was an undergrad here. He's another guard who can get baskets for us, and he has great length. He's a proven scorer."

Caleb Long is a 6-foot guard from Mt. Zion, Ill. and a lifelong Saluki fan. He was named an IBCA 3A all-stater his senior year after averaging 21 points. He scored a school-record 42 points in one game. Long also compiled a 4.1 GPA and was an Illinois state scholar.

"Caleb is a blue-collar kid and a hard worker," said Lowery. "He's one of the most persistent kids we've ever brought into our program. He has a high level of toughness and great integrity."