Miami Men's Basketball Team Inks Van Buskirk and Peavy
11/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio-Miami University's men's basketball team signed two to national letters-of-intent, head coach Charlie Coles announced Monday. Slated to join the RedHawks in the fall of 2003 are 6-foot-8 forward Eric Van Buskirk (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and 6-foot-8 forward Nathan Peavy (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne).
"All of them have great potential, and I'm very happy to sign them," says Coles. "This may be one of our best classes yet, and when you combine them with our current junior class-it's going to be pretty exciting."
Van Buskirk is a three-year letterwinner and two-year captain for the Tigers. As a junior, Van Buskirk averaged 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while pacing Loveland to a 20-3 record. During his sophomore stint, Van Buskirk tallied 11.2 ppg and 10.1 rpg, helping the Tigers to a 20-2 mark. Loveland has won two league titles and captured the section title last season. Van Buskirk is a two-time first-team all-conference selection and earned special mention all-district and honorable mention all-city accolades. In addition to his prowess on the court, Van Buskirk is a National Honor Society member and has earned three all-conference academic awards.
"Eric Van Buskirk is a power forward with the ability to shoot from the outside," says John Stovall of Prep Spotlight Magazine. "He is ranked the No. 3 power forward and the No. 15 player overall in the senior class of Ohio."
Peavy is a four-year letterwinner and captain for the Eagles. As a junior, Peavy averaged 11.6 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game. Following his junior campaign, Peavy earned third-team all-area honors, was an honorable mention all-Southwest District selection and garnered second-team All-Greater Catholic League accolades. In addition to his basketball honors, Peavy also is a three-year letterwinner at Chaminade-Julienne in cross country and a two-year letterwinner in track and field.
According to Stovall, "Nate Peavy was THE sleeper of Ohio in the spring. He has improved over 50 percent in the last 12 months. He is definitely on the upswing and has more potential to fulfill. Nate is ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 11 player overall in this year's senior class of Ohio."
