GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Brennan Cougill and Josh Humphrey have signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to play college basketball at Green Bay beginning in the 2011-12 season, head coach Brian Wardle announced on Tuesday. Cougill and Humphrey join previously signed Aaron Armstead, Greg Mays and Kiefer Sykes to give Green Bay five players in the recruiting class of 2011.

"The two things that I really look for in recruiting are competitors and winners, and I think these two guys and all five of the players in the recruiting class have won big in their careers and love to compete," said Wardle. "They all bring something different to the table and to the program, and I think that is why they are going to fit in and gel so nicely. It is an exciting class to have because I think the sky is the limit for those guys."

Cougill, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, played this past season at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is a 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward who averaged 14.6 points and nine rebounds per game and was named a third-team National Junior College All-American in 2010-11. Cougill also has experience at the Division I level after playing at the University of Iowa in 2009-10.

"I just like the atmosphere around Green Bay Basketball, and the reputation that city has of always having dedicated fans," said Cougill. "When I came down for my visit, I really got along with the guys and we played pretty well together. The coaching staff is young, but they have a lot of energy and you know the program is going in the right direction."

A native of Chicago, Ill., Humphrey spent this season in prep school at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wis. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 12 points while playing for head coach Brian Richert and the Lancers. He graduated from Crete-Monee High School in 2010.

"I decided on Green Bay because they have been recruiting me for a long time," said Humphrey. "I have been there before, and I got to see a lot more about Green Bay this last trip. I am real comfortable with the staff, they play in a great conference, and it is a place to get a good degree. It felt like the right fit because they really wanted me and they were loyal to me throughout the whole process."

The Phoenix recruiting class includes four Chicago natives and players with numerous connections to each other and the current Green Bay squad. At Kirkwood, Cougill played in the same program where senior Jarvis Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.) played in 2009-10 and current assistant coach Jimmie Foster previously coached. Humphrey was a high school teammate of both Mays (at Crete-Monee) and Armstead (at Hales Franiscan).

BRENNAN COUGILL
Height: 6-foot-9
Position: Forward
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
High School: Sioux City Bishop Heelan HS
Junior College (Former College): Kirkwood Community College (University of Iowa)

Accomplishments

• Named a Division II National Junior College Athletic Association Third-Team All-American
• Helped Kirkwood CC to a fifth-place finish in the national tournament and a 31-6 record in 2010-11
• Averaged 14.6 points and nine rebounds at Kirkwood Community College this past season
• Averaged four points and three rebounds and made 18 three-pointers as a freshman at Iowa in 2009-10
• Named 2009 Iowa Mr. Basketball and first-team all-state twice by the Iowa Newspaper Association
• Averaged 18.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per game as a senior while leading Bishop Heelan HS to a 3A state championship
• Posted career totals of 1,602 points, 1,033 rebounds and 252 blocks in high school career

Quotes
Brennan Cougill: "I think I will bring a little bit more scoring down low. I excel with my back to the basket and I can also step out and shoot the three. I can be a back to the basket kind of big guy for the program."

Brian Wardle: "He fills a big need for this program with a big body, frontline guy that can hold his ground and bang on the blocks, but the nice thing about Brennan is he is also very skilled. He can play on the perimeter, he can shoot, and he can pass and can put the ball on the floor. He knows how to play and has a good feel for the game."

Gina Cougill, Brennan's mother: "I am very excited for Brennan. It will give him a chance to play in a system that will work with him where he can have his back to the basket and show his perimeter skills as well. It was important to us in our decision, and having a relationship with Coach Wardle and his staff have been huge with Brennan and I. We were very excited about the opportunity that Green Bay is giving him, and I hope and know that Green Bay will not be disappointed with what he will bring them."

Doug Wagemester, head coach, Kirkwood Community College: "We are excited for him. From talking to Brennan and the staff that it seems to be a really good fit for him. During the process, Brennan made it clear and we discussed the fact that we wanted to find a place that was a good fit for him before we concerned ourselves with the level. He had some high-major interest, but he is truly excited about playing for Brian and Green Bay and hopefully being an impact guy in the Horizon League.

"He is a big body so you have to start with that. He is a guy who knows the game very well. You have to guard him three-point line and in and be accountable for him defensively because he can shoot the ball, he can post and score over both shoulders and he can distribute the ball because he is a good passer. He is a threat to score the ball and immediately brings that to the table. He has a very good basketball IQ and is a good teammate that wants to do whatever he can to help the team have success. He has fought through some stuff, and I think he is going to be a better person and a better player because of it. He appreciates the chance to be back at that level."

JOSH HUMPHREY
Height: 6-foot-5
Position: Guard
Hometown: Crete, Ill.
High School: Crete-Monee
Prep School: St. John's Northwestern Military Academy

Notes

• Averaged 12.6 points per game at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy
• Helped SJNMA to a 14-11 record in 2010-11
• Attended Crete-Monee High School with fellow Green Bay recruit Greg Mays
• Helped Crete-Monee High School to regional title in 2010
• Ranked No. 28 in the state of Illinois Class of 2010 according to ChicagoHoops.com

Quotes
Josh Humphrey: "I am a very versatile player who can play the one through the three and guard the one through the four positions. I am athletic and unselfish, and I can get on the floor and do whatever coach wants me to do. I hope to bring all of those things to the horizon."

Brian Wardle: "Josh is a stat-stuffing guard. He can do a lot of different things. He has an ability to make plays off the dribble and his unselfishness on offense is really going to help us. He is going to help us tremendously defensively on the ball and off the ball with his length and his rebounding and shot blocking. I am really excited about having a big guard. He is a great student and kid that will fit right in."

Darryl Humphrey, Josh's father: "I think it is a great opportunity academically and considering that he took classes at Wisconsin-Wauskesha, he will get a head start academically. It is a good opportunity athletically with the size of the team and his versatility and because he has played with Greg and Aaron. He is familiar with Terry Johnson and some of the other players, so it will be kind of a home away from home. He feels really good about the coaching staff and so do I about them giving him an opportunity to come and help the team and develop his game."

Brian Richert, head coach, St. John's Northwestern Military Academy: "I have all the respect in the world for Coach Wardle. We are good friends and go way back and always stay in touch. He is a first-class coach and one of the young guys that is up and coming in the business. When they showed interest in Josh, and he talked about it, I told him to take a careful look but I was excited because I would always like to have a player go to Green Bay. Josh fell in love with Green Bay a long time ago when we made a trip there, and on the way home he just told me he loved the whole atmosphere. I told him you have to work hard because it is the Horizon League and a great program. When he called and told me that he was offered a scholarship, I was so happy for him because that is why he worked so hard. His dream was to come to St. John's and sign a Division I scholarship, and now he is fulfilling his dream.

"He is very versatile and can play three positions. He started at the three for us, but he also slid over to play the guard positions. He is extremely athletic and long and can get to the rim and can finish. The way you are going to be able to get on the floor as a freshman is defending and doing the dirty work, and he is working to get bigger and stronger because he knows at the Horizon League you have to be able to guard. He knows for him to get on the floor, it is going to be on the defensive end. He is extremely long, gets in the passing lanes and was one of our key defenders. We played against Hargrave Military Academy, South Kent School and Notre Dame Prep, schools with McDonald's All-Americans, and he fit right in with them. He never backed down from any challenge. He is one of those Chicago kids who is mentally strong and not going to get rattled. He is a 4.0 student and that tells you right there what kind of kid he is. It is a great fit for both Josh and for Green Bay. They need some players that can play a couple of positions, and he is that utility guy."