DETROIT (5/20/2016) -- The Titans stayed in Michigan for two student-athletes then went out west for another, and now their latest recruiting coup has them crossing the border as University of Detroit Mercy head men's basketball coach Bacari Alexander '99 has announced the signing of Canadian forward Cole Long (Orangeville, Ont./Athletic Institute Basketball Academy). 

"Cole is a versatile forward who can play inside and out," said coach Alexander. "What really stands out is how efficient he is as a player and his high basketball IQ. Cole has incredible touch beyond the three-point arc, and that should open the floor for his teammates to make plays."

The 6-7, 210-lb combo forward initially attended Booth Memorial High School in the Orangeville District before finishing his prep career at the prestigious Athlete Institute Preparatory School of Basketball. Throughout his high school career, Long played basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball. 

He recently finished his two-year prep career with the Athlete Institute basketball team under head coach Brandon Lesovsky playing alongside Thon Maker, a potential first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, as well as Jamal Murray, who just finished his first year at Kentucky and is also a potential lottery pick in this year's draft. 

He helped the team win the first-ever Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) championship in 2016 in a league that showcased elite level competition among Ontario's top-ranked teams.

"Cole is capable of playing down low, using his size and strength to his advantage, and capitalizing on mismatches. He will be a key part of our program moving forward, and we are very excited to have him as a Titan," added coach Alexander.

The school was also part of the "The Grind Session" prep/high school circuit, which included 19 other U.S. teams and finished ranked No. 8 overall while traveling to schools in Florida, Michigan, Kansas, Kentucky, New York and Texas. 

Off the court, he was a member of the Principles List at Booth Memorial and earned the 2014-2015 Academic Achievement Award for the highest grade-point average at the Athlete Institute.

Long was ranked the No. 17 recruit in Canada by Hoops Hype Canada as well as No. 22 by North Pole Hoops (NPH). 

He played in the AAU adidas League in the summer of 2015 and also played with Greater Toronto Area Bounce (GTA), participating in such events as the Hall of Fame Invitational (Springfield, Mass.) and the Pit Jam Feast (Pittsburgh, Pa.), leading his squad to the semifinals and finals in the events.  He also attended the Hoop Group Basketball Camp in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was selected to the upperclassmen All-Star Team in that camp.
 
Long played in the Canadian Men's National Championships and was a starter on the U-15 Boy's Provincial Team, the U-17, National League Canada Games Team and the U-17 NL Provincial Men's Team. 

While playing for North Pole Hoops, he was named the MVP of the 2014 East Coast Showcase Circuit, which saw a number of elite players from the five Canadian provinces as well as U.S. players compete. He was the recipient of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Premier Athlete Award, which recognizes athlete excellence in national league athletes. 

While playing for the U-17 squad, he led the team at the Canadian Nationals in offensive rebounding and was second in overall rebounding, scoring and blocks.  

At Booth Memorial, Long was tabbed the team's MVP in 2014, leading the squad in scoring at nearly 20 points per game. During his competition in tournaments, he was routinely named to All-Star teams and garnered All-Tournament status as well as Defensive Player of the Tournament twice. He was the Athlete of the Month in 2013 and was twice nominated for the Athlete of the Year. 

He is the fourth recruit to sign with the Titans in the past week joining fellow freshman Corey Allen (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ypsilanti) as well as junior college transfers Dre Black (Westland, Mich./John Glenn/ Schoolcraft College) and Isaiah Jones (Antelope, Calif. / Center / Mt. San Jacinto College).

Detroit Mercy will host its fifth athletic luncheon of the 2015-16 season on Wednesday, May 25. The event will take place in the Ed & Brooks Room inside historic Calihan Hall at Noon. The event is free, however if interested in attending, participants need to RSVP by Monday, May 23, to Director of Marketing & Promotions Jeremiah Hergott at (313) 993-1700 ext. 7330 or hergotjw@udmercy.edu.