Apr. 12, 2007
BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University
head men's basketball coach Matt Bowen today
announced the addition of Patrick Cassidy
who recently wrapped up his high school playing career at
St. Bernard's School in St. Paul, Minn. The 6-foot-6 forward
today signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Beavers
and will continue his athletic and academic careers at Bemidji
State beginning in the fall of 2007.
"We are really excited to have Pat as
a part of the BSU basketball program," said Bowen. "I
have been watching him play since he was a sophomore in high
school and know that he possess the kinds of things that can
only help our team."
Bowen continued, "The thing that has
most impressed me about Pat is that he brings a degree of
toughness to the court. He is a strong kid that loves contact,
but he isn't the type of player that is a bruiser and can't
go out on the perimeter and make plays."
Cassidy averaged 13 points per game for the
Bulldogs as a senior en route to All-Tri Metro Conference
and All-State Honorable Mention honors. A self confessed team
leader, the three-year starter helped his team to a 31-1 overall
record and a trip to the Minnesota State High School Tournament.
The Bulldogs rattled off 30 consecutive victories and were
ranked No. 1 in class "A" headed into the tournament
but bowed out to Ellsworth, the eventual state champion, in
the semifinal round.
A three-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, Cassidy
was a four-time letter winner on the grid iron and earned
a pair of varsity letters in track and field.
Cassidy claims his decision to play for Bowen
at BSU was an easy one.
"I am just really happy to be a part
of this new era in Bemidji State basketball," commented
Cassidy. "I really like the coaching staff and the players
at BSU. They seem like a tight-knit family." He added,
"It is good to be in a place where you are surrounded
by people you are comfortable with."
Not unlike Bowen, Cassidy is the son of a
basketball coach and played for his father, Ed Cassidy, at
St. Bernard's. That fact alone is something that adds to the
appeal of Cassidy for Bowen.
"Coaches kids understand the nuances
of the game. They know what it means to be a good teammate
and fill a role on a team. They have likely watched their
dads put in that extra time on the weekends or at nights and
because of that they understand all the little things that
it takes to make a great team."
Cassidy joins Cass Lake-Bena High School
standout Brady Fairbanks as members of Bowen's first incoming
class at Bemidji State. Fairbanks, who averaged over 28 points
and 10 rebounds per contest en route to a Minnesota High School
scoring championship and led his CLB Panthers to the Class
A State title game, signed with the Beavers yesterday.
Together, the two combined for 61 wins and
just three losses last season and will be looked at to bring
that tradition and of winning to BSU.
"Winning is contagious as is losing
and kids that are used to winning usually don't accept losing
very well. In Brady Fairbanks and Pat Cassidy, we have a couple
of players that have been a part of some tremendously successful
programs. If you assemble a group of that kind of players
together, they will find a way to win."
Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji,
Minn., is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Beavers are coming
off a season in which they were 5-23 overall and posted 5-13
record in NSIC play. Entering his second season at BSU, Bowen
looks to return 10 players from his 2006-07 roster.
--bsu--
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