Ije Nwankwo Class: Senior Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich. High School: Detroit Country Day Last College: Purdue University Height / Weight: 6-7 / 275 Position: Forward

Ije Nwankwo will have an immediate impact on the Vikings when he becomes eligible at the end of fall semester following his transfer from Purdue. His long arms -- he has a wing span of 7'6" -- and wide-body make him a very difficult player to defend while his upper body strength keys his very physical defensive play inside.

2004-05 SEASON:
• Enrolled at CSU for the spring 2005 semester after attending Purdue University for the previous year and a half.
• Will be eligible at the end of fall semester after meeting NCAA transfer guidelines.

PRE-CLEVELAND STATE:
• Played in 27 games over two seasons at Purdue, averaging 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds a game.
• Set career highs for points (17), rebounds (7), free throws made (13) and attempted (14) and minutes played (17) in a win over Indiana (2/14/04).
• Played in 25 games with three starts as a freshman in 2003-2004.
• First team all-state choice as a senior at Detroit Country Day High, playing for coach Kurt Keener.
• Averaged 18.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.8 steals a game as a senior, helping team to a 21-3 record and the state regional finals.
• Named first team all-state and all-city by the Michigan Coaches Association, a first team all-state honoree by the Detroit Free Press and to the state Dream Team by the Oakland Press.
• Ranked as the third-best forward in the state by MichiganPreps.com, the 65th-best recruit in the nation by PrepStars.com and the 76th-best recruit by Metrohoosp.com.

PERSONAL:
Born Jan. 9, 1985 in Ann Arbor, Mich. . . son of Francis and Hilda Nwankwo. . . is the second of four children, having three brothers. . . brother, Ugo, played basketball for two seasons at Ohio State. . . psychology and sociology major.