GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Becoming the third member of Green Bay's 2011 recruiting class, Aaron Armstead has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play collegiately for the Phoenix, head coach Brian Wardle announced Wednesday. Armstead is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard from Hales Franciscan High School. He played his AAU basketball this past summer for Indiana Elite.

Armstead joins two others from the Chicago area to form Wardle's current recruiting class. Keifer Sykes, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Chicago's Marshall High School, and Greg Mays, a 6-foot-9 forward from Crete-Monee High School in Crete, Ill. signed NLIs to play at Green Bay last on Nov. 11.

"Aaron is a very versatile guard that can play multiple positions," said Wardle. "He can play the one, the two or the three, and he can just really score the ball. He has a great feel for the game and knows how to play. He is a great shooter that can score. Like the other two guys, Aaron is another high-motor guy who is a fierce competitor."

As a junior in 2009-10, Armstead averaged 10 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field. He also hit 26 three-pointers and shot over 38 percent from long range. The versatile guard also averaged 3.6 assists per game.

Aaron Armstead
Height: 6-foot-4
Position: Guard
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Hales Franciscan
AAU Team: Indiana Elite

Accomplishments

• Averaged 10 points and 3.6 assist per game as a junior in high school
• Ranked No. 23 in the Illinois Class of 2011 by the City/Suburban Hoops Report
• Ranked No. 35 in the Illinois Class of 2011 by ChicagoHoops.com, as well as the seventh-best player at his position.

Quotes
Aaron Armstead
- On why he chose Green Bay: "I really liked the coaching staff overall. I liked the school and the campus as well as the arena they play at and the overall city of Green Bay. Those were some of the key factors for why I chose to sign with Green Bay.
- On what he is like as a player: I am an overall player who can pass the ball, score the ball and shoot with some range, and I focus in on defense and hustle."
- On playing with other players from Chicago: "If you come from Chicago you bring a toughness and edge to any team, and for Green Bay to have three guys like that is something special."

Phil Armstead, Aaron's Dad: "We're very excited. Aaron was really motivated to sign early with them, and when he makes up his mind like he did that is encouraging. He knew what he wanted. He had some other choices that he could have gone with, but he chose Green Bay. He understood that some high-major schools were going to be looking at him through the spring, but he liked the coaching staff and that they are up front. It was a good fit for him, and coach Barone worked really hard and showed that interest. Some coaches overstep their boundaries, but they were polite and respectful in trying to get the player that they wanted, and that carried a lot of weight for us. I like the way that they follow them academically and have a program set up for them to succeed. My wife is a teacher, and I think she fell in love with that part. Green Bay has a history of graduating their players. It is an exciting time for our family. I think it has made him relax a little bit and it lets him go into his [senior] season focused."

Brian Stinnett, ChicagoHoops.com: "Basically, what Aaron Armstead is going to bring is someone with size, versatility and an someone with an ability to get points both off the dribble as well as with his jump shot."

Gary London, Hales Franciscan head coach: "I think it was a good choice for him. I think the coaching staff made it clear that he was one of the guys he was after. They made him feel that he was really wanted there and it made it easy for him. I always tell the guys to go where you are wanted and also where you are needed, and I think he sees himself fitting in there. One thing that I have liked about Aaron since he was a freshman is that he makes good decisions on the floor. He is never overwhelmed with any situation that is presented out there. He doesn't try to do things he can't do, and that leads him to making sound decisions on the floor. He doesn't turn it over very much and gets the ball in the right place. He has a very solid mid-range game and is a good long-range shooter. I am just really impressed with his decision making."