By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Head men's basketball coach Brian Wardle has added a third member from the state of Wisconsin to his 2012 recruiting class, as Milwaukee Pius XI senior Carrington Love signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to play collegiately at Green Bay.

"He is long with great quickness, and he can really guard," said Wardle. "He has a lot of intangibles that you look for with a guard, and this year he proved that he can really score the ball and shoot the ball. He is a leader and he wins, and we love guys that know how to win."

A 6-foot-1 guard, Love led Milwaukee Pius XI to the WIAA Division II state semifinals as a senior and scored 20.7 points per contest during the state tournament. Love averaged 18.5 points per game and was an Associated Press third-team all-state selection.

"It was really exciting. I had verbally committed awhile back but was just waiting on today to come to make it official," said Love. "When I took my unofficial visit [to Green Bay] back in the fall I felt really comfortable. During my high school season, I really bonded with coach [Jimmie] Foster and coach Wardle and they made me feel like part of a family. I am just a kid that loves to win so hopefully I can just help the program get more wins and championships."

After a stellar senior campaign, Love was also named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association D2 All-State team, selected as the state's top point guard as part of the WSN Senior Boys Basketball Awards and tabbed as the Player of the Year in the Classic Eight Conference.

"Carrington is a guy who really learned to run a team this year," said Pius head coach Joel Classen. "He was a score-first kind of point guard his first couple of years here, but he really created a great chemistry for us this year. He has recognized the importance of the point guard spot. He can get to the basket, hit from mid-range and step out and hit the three. He has all three facets of the offensive game and sees the floor really well."

Love joins two other Wisconsin high school standouts - Jordan Fouse from Racine St. Catherine's and Nick Arenz from Onalaska High School in the Phoenix recruiting class. Love played AAU basketball last summer on Playground Elite as a teammate of Fouse.

"[Green Bay's staff] has made tremendous strides coming down I-43 to get kids," said Ike Wilson, who coached both Fouse and Love on Playground Elite. "Having a Milwaukee guy like (assistant coach) Jimmie Foster on coach Wardle's staff - he has a great staff with (assistants Brian) Barone and Chrys (Cornelius) - they did a great job with the state this year."

Quotes:
Brian Wardle: "One of Carrington's biggest strengths is that he is a gym rat. He is a kid who has continually improved every year of high school. When a kid gets better and better each year and has a great feel for the game, their room for improvement is huge. Carrington is like that, so I think his best years are ahead of him."

Joel Classen, Milwaukee Pius XI head coach: "I think it is a great move for Carrington. He always wanted to stay in state, and when Green Bay started showing interest he really got excited. I think it is great for him and great for Green Bay."

Carrington Love on joining other in-state recruits: "It makes it more comfortable having other guys from the state," Love said. "Jordan and I are friends and I know once Nick joins the group we will all be close."

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