Baron Adds Two More to Revamped Canisius Squad

When Canisius College hired Jim Baron as their new men's basketball coach in April, they were expecting steady improvements and better results over his tenure.

They may be getting those results and improvements a lot earlier than expected.

Since taking over the program just a few short months ago, Baron has added four new players to complement the three transfers that will be eligible this season.  Freddy Asprilla, Isaac Sosa, and Jordan Heath all will look to make immediate impacts after sitting out the entire 2011-2012 campaign.

Billy Baron, son of Jim Baron joins the program after transferring from Rhode Island (where Jim Baron last coached).  His NCAA waiver was recently granted making him eligible immediately.  Baron started 14 games while with Rhode Island last season averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

"I'm really excited to have Billy on a personal level and we are extremely happy to have him join our program at Canisius" said Jim Baron.

Canisius also announced last week that Tyrel Edwards (Hamilton Ontario/Olney Central College) and Dominique Raney (Oklahoma City, Okla./Navarro College) will be joining the team and eligible to play immediately.

Edwards (6-5, 195 lbs) averaged 12.3 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the floor in the 2010-2011 campaign at Olney Central College.  He red shirted this past season.

Raney (6-4, 180lbs) averaged just under four points this past season at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.  His Bulldogs that year finished 25-11 and earned a berth into the 2012 NJCAA National Tournament.

Phil Valenti, a 6-7 forward from Aquinas Institute averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds his senior season.  He will be coming in as a freshman and looking to improve and learn under many of the upperclassmen and seasoned veterans.

Jermaine Johnson (Stone Mountain, GA) rounds out the list of players new to Canisius this season.  Coming in as a freshman, Baron is pleased to have Johnson.  "We are excited to add Jermaine to our program.  We like his speed and ability to handle the ball, and he's not afraid to work hard, both on and off the court.  This is the kind of student-athlete we are looking to add to our program here at Canisius."

The 5-10 guard says that Canisius fit him best.  "When I met the players and coaching staff on my visit, I felt like they were a family and I really loved the atmosphere."

Leaving the Canisus programs includes Gaby Belardo, Tyler Funk, Sean Ezeamama, David Santiago, and Franklin Milian.