Huskers Sign 6-11, 315-pound Center for 2010-11

Lincoln --- Fourth-year coach Doc Sadler has added a big recruit for the 2010 signing class as 6-11, 315-pound Andre Almeida has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Nebraska and join the Husker basketball team next fall.

One of the top post players in the junior college ranks last year, Almeida will add to what is expected to be a huge front court for the Huskers next season as Nebraska currently has three freshmen and sophomores who stand at least 6-10.

“Andre is as talented as he is big,” Sadler said. “He has good hands and footwork and he knows how to get around in the paint and score. He has tremendous strength, and when you’re that big, it’s hard to be moved around. Andre will help us when we get into Big 12 play where we’re facing great big men every night. He also has a tremendous work ethic and I think Nebraska fans will enjoy seeing him play alongside some of our other younger big guys.”

A 2010 NJCAA Division preseason All-American, Almeida is the fifth international player to sign with the Cornhuskers under Sadler. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Almeida recently played for current Nebraska assistant coach Walter Roese, who served as the head coach of the Brazilian U24 national team that competed in the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, in July.  Almeida also played under Roese on the 2006 U18 national team that competed at the Copa America tournament in San Antonio, Texas, qualifying Brazil for the Junior World Cup in Belgrade. Brazil finished in fourth place in the world that year.

During his first season in the United States,  Almeida led Arizona Western College to a 26-6 record in 2008-09, including an 18-4 mark in conference action, as AWC finished the year ranked 17th nationally in NJCAA Division I. The Matadors won their fourth regional title in five years before falling in the district finals. Almeida led the way as he averaged 13.8 points over 32 games while ranking first in the nation in field-goal percentage by hitting an outstanding 71.0 percent (184-of-261) from the floor. He also led the league in blocked shots with 3.5 per game (112 total) while adding 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.

After finishing with 11 double-doubles on the year, Almeida was honored as a second-team All-American and a first-team all-conference and all-region selection. He was also named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year after helping coach Kelly Green and the Matadors to their second straight league regular-season title. Earlier in the season, Almeida was named the NJCAA Division I Player of the Week on Jan. 19 after averaging 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while hitting 81.0 percent from the field over two games