Falcons recruit a bunch of winners in men's basketball

After a season in which the Air Force men's basketball team set a program record for consecutive losses, it will welcome a group of recruits that has done little other than win.

Wednesday marked the start of the regular signing period for college basketball recruits. And while Air Force recruits do not sign binding letters of intent due to the academy's appointment process, the players who have verbally committed to attend Air Force comprise what appears to be a talented group. As of Wednesday afternoon, hoopscooponline.com ranked the Falcons' class 85th in the country.

But perhaps more important for a program coming off arguably its worst season ever is the players have a common trait: They're winners.

Take Zach Bohannon of Marion, Iowa. In his senior season, the 6-foot-7 forward led Linn-Mar High to a 23-3 record and a runner-up finish in the state's 4-A (largest) class. Bohannon, who plans to enter the academy directly, also was a starter his sophomore year when Linn-Mar won the state title and his junior year when it placed third after winning the state consolation game.

Then there's 6-6 shooting guard Mike Fitzgerald of Mendota Heights, Minn., another direct-entry recruit. While his St. Thomas Academy team went 18-10 in his senior season, it went 27-5 and finished runner-up in the state when he was a junior and 30-2 and won the Class AAA state title when he was a sophomore. "So he's used to winning," St. Thomas coach Mike Sjoberg said.

So is 6-7 forward Ethan Michael of Toledo, Ohio, who will attend the prep school in the fall. Michael helped Toledo Christian to a 61-10 record in his past three seasons. And from fifth grade through his senior year at Toledo Christian, according to his coach Dave McWhinnie, Michael's teams never lost a home game.

In addition, 6-4 Jordan Finn went 98-26 in four years at Etiwanda High, one of the top programs in the Los Angeles area; 6-2 Todd Fletcher helped Lee's Summit West High in Missouri to a 24-3 record as a senior; and 6-6 Jordan Jahr's Lake Travis squad went 31-4 this past season and at one time was ranked No. 1 in Texas.

"I know a lot of (college) coaches, that's what they look for, players who come out of a program that's used to winning," said Chris Robertson, Bohannon's high school coach.