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May 14, 2008

Los Angeles, CA -Drew Viney, a freshman at Oregon in 2007-08, will be returning home to southern California as the former Villa Park High School standout has announced he will transfer to Loyola Marymount this fall. Viney becomes the second transfer and third player to sign with new Head Coach Bill Bayno this spring.

Viney, like fellow transfer Larry Davis, will redshirt the 2008-09 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Viney will be a sophomore and have three seasons of eligibility with the Lions. Davis will be a junior and has two seasons.

"Drew committing to LMU is similar to Larry and LaRon's commitment in importance to the foundation and future of our program," said Bayno, who has now earned commitments from Viney, Davis and incoming freshman LaRon Armstead from Fremont High School. "He is a high major player and is an important step into rebuilding this program into a contender for a conference championship."

In 12 games with Oregon, Viney came off the bench to average 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds, going 4-for-12 from three and 6-for-18 from the field as a true freshman.

"Drew is a mobile, multi-position player who at 6-7 can shoot the three and is as good of a quick, athletic forward you will find in the West Coast Conference," said Bayno. "More importantly, he is a high character kid from a good family that has instilled in him the work ethic and desire to be the best player he can be."

As a senior at Villa Park High School, he averaged 31 points and 12 rebounds per game, improving on his 18-point and 12-rebound per game average as a junior. His career in high school included a 44-point game as a senior. He was a three-time all-state performer and was ranked a four-star recruit - tabbed as the 20th-best small forward in the country by Scout.com and listed in that service's top 100 recruits overall.

"He has been ranked one of the top players coming out of southern California and it is important that he his coming home and doing so by coming to LMU," said Bayno. "He could have played anywhere in the west, but chose to be a Lion. That is an important statement for our program."

Born James Andrew David Viney in Whittier, Calif., and the son of Jamie and Mona Viney, he played for Kevin Reynolds at Villa Park and was also a member of the boys' volleyball team in high school.

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