Texas Tech University Athletics
Coach Knight Gains Three Commitments
November 14, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2003
Lubbock, Texas - The Red Raider basketball team will welcome three new freshmen beginning with the 2004 academic year.
Philip Harbaugh, a 6'8" 200-pound forward from Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon, Damir Suljagic, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward from Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona, and Martin Zeno, a 6'5" senior at Sulphur High School in Sulphur, Louisiana have each signed their National Letter of Intent to attend Texas Tech University.
Martin Zeno, the District 3-5A MVP as a sophomore, believes competition is a driving force in his athletic career. In addition to solid performances of 27 points, 12 rebounds, and nearly 5 assists per game on the basketball court, he also qualified for the state track meet as a junior with personal bests of 48'4" in the triple jump and 23'4" in the long jump.
"I met Coach Knight and saw the Tech campus on my visit to Lubbock. That's all it took for me! Coach Knight is a cool guy," said Zeno.
Coach Clint LeBato of the Golden Tornadoes said, "Coach Knight has done a tremendous job at Texas Tech and we're very excited for Martin to have the chance to be part of something special as a Red Raider."
Philip Harbaugh echoed his new teammate's thoughts when he said, "I was greatly impressed with Coach Knight and the coaching staff. It's an honor to play for Coach Knight. He's got to be one of the greatest coaches of all time. And, he's got to be one of the greatest basketball minds of all time. I can't wait to become a Red Raider!"
As a junior for the Spartans and coached by Deon Johnson, the 6'8" Corvallis forward averaged 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
Damir Suljagic, the 6'8", 235-pound forward Salpointe Catholic High senior, averaged 18.5 points and 10 rebounds for the maroon and gold Lancers as a junior and has been noted as a top ten or so post player in the west in his class.
"Damir was at Tech and it was all I could do to get him out of Coach Knight's office that day," said Wayne Smith, Suljagic's mentor in Tucson.
The common themes about Texas Tech, basketball, and Coach Knight rang from each new Red Raider..."They have a great basketball program and a great school. The opportunity to play for Coach Knight and the opportunity that he can give afterward is endless."
