Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Bryce Drew announced today that E. Victor Nickerson, a 6'7" swingman from Atlanta, Ga., will join the Crusader program. Nickerson, who played for two seasons at Charlotte, will sit out the 2013-14 season due to NCAA transfer regulations and have two seasons of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2014-15 campaign.

"E. Victor is a unique player, being that he's 6'7", but handles and shoots the ball like a guard," said Drew. "His athleticism and skill with the basketball should be a great addition to our program. With four seniors leaving after this coming season, his experience will be much needed next year."

Nickerson appeared in 30 games for Charlotte as a sophomore in 2012-13, starting 15 times and averaging 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. As a freshman, he played nearly 17 minutes per game for the 49ers.

Nickerson played his prep basketball at Norcross [Ga.] H.S., helping to key the 2011 5A Georgia state championship squad. An Honorable Mention All-State recipient as a senior, Nickerson averaged 11 points and seven rebounds per game and scored 15 points in Norcross' title game victory. He appeared in ESPN's Top 100 rankings for the class of 2011 and was tabbed the 17th-best small forward in the nation.

Drew also announced on Wednesday that Alex Rossi will not return to the Valpo basketball program in 2013-14. The Winnetka, Ill. native played in nine games for the Crusaders last season, scoring 19 points.