Cress

ADAMS TWP — The Edinboro University men's basketball team recruited Steve Cress hard.

The Fighting Scots' work was rewarded when the Mars senior decided to play basketball for them.

Cress, a 6-foot-6 forward, will make it official by signing a letter of intent next week.

Slippery Rock University and Indiana (Pa.) were among the other schools that showed interest in Cress, the 2008 Butler Eagle Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

"It's a good program," Cress said of Edinboro. "They made it to the national tournament last season and I like their coaching staff and players."

"It's a great fit for Steve," said Mars coach Rob Carmody. "I think that their style and level of play are the best fit for him."

Cress, who will major in a business-related field, averaged 21.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and two blocks for Mars last season. He ended his career as the Planets' all-time leading scorer with 1,208 points.

He will join an Edinboro program that is used to winning.

Greg Walcavich will be in his 20th season as the team's head coach this fall.

"We've won 89 games over the past four years," said Walcavich. "We've finished either first or second in the PSAC West each of the last eight seasons and have made the NCAAs three of the past four years."

The Fighting Scots (24-7) made it to the PSAC finals last season, where they lost to California (Pa.) before bowing out of the NCAA East Regionals with a loss to Millersville.

Edinboro lost two seniors from that team in point guard Devon Knight (11.3 ppg) and center Ryan McLemore (10.7 points and 10.4 rebounds).

"I could see some time as a freshman," said Cress. "Maybe not a whole lot of minutes, but enough to get some experience."