Valparaiso men’s basketball head coach Bryce Drew announced today that 7-0 center Moussa Gueye (Thies, Senegal/Alabama/Lake Land [Ill.] College) will join the Crusader program for the 2013-2014 season.  Gueye graduated from Alabama this spring and will be immediately eligible at Valpo for his final season of eligibility.

Gueye was a defensive presence in the post for a 23-win Alabama squad last season, starting 27 of the Crimson Tide’s 36 games and averaging 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.  Gueye earned 16 starts in Alabama’s 18 SEC games, averaging 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, third-best in the league, within conference play.

Gueye saw action in 12 games during the 2010-2011 season in his first year at Alabama after recovering from injury, making three starts.  Prior to arriving at Alabama, Gueye was at Lake Land [Ill.] College, where he tallied 10.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a freshman and was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

“We’re very pleased to be adding Moussa to our basketball program,” said Drew.  “As a coaching staff, we are very excited to get him on campus and to start working with him.”

Gueye will be the seventh newcomer next season for the two-time defending Horizon League regular season champion Crusaders, joining incoming freshmen Jubril Adekoya, Nick Davidson, Alec Peters, Lexus Williams and Clay Yeo and transfer Keith Carter.