The Hatchet has confirmed that both Matt Allbritton (Garland Christian Academy, Texas) and Aaron Ware (Bishop Montgomery High School, California) have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the GW men’s basketball team beginning next season. Each signed with the program on April 16, according to their high school coaches Jeremy Bjornstad and Doug Mitchell, respectively.

In addition to Archbishop Stepinac High School’s Tony Taylor, who signed a National Letter of Intent in November of 2007, the Colonials have three incoming players who have signed. According to the National Letter of Intent program’s Web site, incoming students are guaranteed an athletic scholarship for “one full academic year.”

NCAA regulations allow teams to give out 13 athletic scholarships per year. Last year the Colonials had 12 players on athletic scholarship, but with the departure of senior Maureece Rice and pending scholarships of Allbritton, Taylor and Ware, GW appears to have one too many (14) scholarships lined up for the 2008-09 academic year.

The University has not released any information regarding the departure of or loss of scholarship for any current player. Head men’s basketball coach Karl Hobbs declined comment and calls to Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz were not immediately returned.

—Joanna Shapes contributed to this report.