DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Thiago Cordeiro, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Pernambuco, Brazil, signed a national letter-of-intent with the University of Dayton this afternoon.

Cordeiro played the last two seasons at Division I junior-college power Barton County (Kansas) and was the nation's top shot-blocker at that level with 145. He averaged 11.6 points and 8.8 rebounds, helping the team to a 27-7 record.

He was sold on UD after an official visit last weekend.

"I felt comfortable there," said Cordeiro, who has spent only two years in the United States. "I love the arena. My new teammates are real nice. And I like that the campus is small and everything looks new."

The Flyers needed at least one more frontcourt recruit to replace Norman Plummer and Desmond Adedeji, who transferred after the season. Cordeiro joins a class that includes top-50 national prospect Chris Wright of Trotwood-Madison.

"I met him," Cordeiro said. "I watched them play 5-on-5 when I was there. He's a real good player."

Cordeiro had scholarship offers from Rhode Island and Pacific. And Barton coach Craig Fletchall said Kansas State and St. John's also made last-ditch recruiting pitches.

"He's a natural shot-blocker," Fletchall said. "He can face up. He can post. He's really long and is just a great kid.

"He's not your typical junior-college kid. He's very low-maintenance. He's got a 3.7 GPA. He's a Catholic kid. He'll fit in great there."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com