AVGERINOS OFFICIALLY AN INDIAN

The letter of intent Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner had been expectantly awaiting the last several days finally came Wednesday.

Kostas Avgerinos is going to join the Indians.

Avgerinos, a 7-foot-1, 230-pound center who has spent the last two years at the College of Southern Idaho, has now actually signed with Southeast for the second time. The first time was in 1999, but he failed to meet NCAA eligibility requirements and instead headed to the junior-college ranks.

After seeing limited action at Southern Idaho as a freshman, Avgerinos sat out the entire 2000-2001 season because of a severe concussion suffered during practice, meaning he will have three years of eligibility remaining at Southeast.

"When we signed Kostas two years ago and it turned out he was ineligible, we promised we'd have a scholarship for him," said Garner. "We're very happy that it's all worked out and he's coming here. We're excited about having him in our program. It's not often you get a chance to recruit a 7-1 player who is this skilled. He's a good passer, a good shooter and he's got good hands.

"The main thing about Kostas is he needs to get stronger. Gaining weight and strength will be the biggest thing for him."

Garner credited Southeast assistant coach Tom Schuberth for his persistence in landing a player who at one time was being courted by some major Division I programs.

"Tom has really stayed on him," Garner said. "His persistence made a big difference."

Derek Zeck, the head coach at perennial power Southern Idaho -- the school ranks as the nation's all-time winningest junior-college program -- said the Indians are getting a player with tremendous potential.

"Kostas is a great kid with unlimited potential," Zeck said. "He's 7-1, he can shoot the three, he handles well, he's a good passer. He's very skilled.

"His freshman year he saw limited playing time, but he developed an understanding of the American game. I think he can turn out to be an all-league player (in the Ohio Valley Conference)."

Avgerinos, a native of Athens, Greece, must complete 11 hours at Southern Idaho this summer in order to meet NCAA eligibility requirements, but Zeck said he believes Avgerinos will be able to accomplish that.

Garner hopes so because he's counting on his newest recruit to make an immediate impact next season.

"There's not any question in my mind he can definitely contribute to our basketball team next year," Garner said. "Like any kid you recruit, you never know until they get here, but we really think he can help us right away."

Avgerinos will be Southeast's sixth new player next season, joining junior-college point guard Kenny Johnson; center Adam Crader, a senior at Doniphan High School; guard Brett Hale, a senior at Dexter High School; guard Derek Winans, who redshirted during his freshman season at Southeast; and guard Justin Smith, a transfer from Arkansas State who will be ineligible the first semester.

Because of the new NCAA rule that allows a program to sign only five players during a one-year period, Garner said that Smith will not be on scholarship for the first semester of next school year, instead paying his own way. He will be put on scholarship for the second semester, which would then count against next year's total.

"The new rule does not allow us to put Justin on scholarship until the second semester, but he will still practice with us and be a big part of our team and he'll be ready to go for the second semester," said Garner.

Southeast will have only 11 scholarship players at the start of next season, which is two under the NCAA limit of 13. That number will grow to 12 when Smith goes on scholarship for the second semester.