CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team announced the signing of Javier Nicolau (F/C, 6-10 210, Castellon, Spain/Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM Murcia) to a National Letter of Intent. Nicolau brings strong international experience to the roster after playing in Spain for UCAM Murcia. He is slated to have three years of eligibility for the U of M Crookston.

"We are excited to welcome Javier to the Golden Eagle men's basketball family," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "He will provide our team with more height, length, and add even more depth and competition to our post positions. Javier is an active player that will help us improve our rebounding, something that we struggled with this past season. He is also athletic enough to guard on the perimeter when needed."

Nicolau is the fifth signee for Minnesota Crookston joining Malcolm Cohen (G/F, 6-6 190, Detroit, Mich./Macomb Community College), Ben Juhl (G, 6-1 175, Clive, Iowa/Des Moines Christian H.S.), Brian Sitzmann (G, 6-4 180, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake H.S.) and Joey Meyer (C, 6-9 245, Shullsburg, Wis./Shullsburg H.S.).

"Javier is a team oriented player that will fit into our program's culture and our style of play," Weisse said. "I'm excited to be able to coach him and get working with him and the rest of our players. I want to thank his family in trusting us with their son. He is coming a long way from home, but he will be in good hands."

He is the second transfer to join the program along with Cohen, who joins the program from Macomb Community College in Michigan. He joins Gabrys Sadaunykas (R-Fr., G/F, 6-4 202, Vilnius, Lithuania) as international players on the U of M Crookston roster. Nicolau gives the Golden Eagles another big body in the post to join Gable Smith (R-Jr., F, 6-7 202, Lodi, Wis.), Chase Johnson (So., F, 6-6 217, La Crosse, Wis.), Nate Lorenz (Jr., F/C, 6-7 235, Breckenridge, Minn.) and Meyer.

The five signees join a strong core from last season with nine players returning to the fold. Included are three starters from last season, including NSIC Freshman of the Year Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.), who was also named to the Division II Bulletin All-Freshman Team and was named Hero Sports Newcomer of the Year. Along with Cleary, the Golden Eagles return second-leading scorer Chase Knickerbocker (Jr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) and leading rebounder Gable Smith (R-Jr., F/C, Lodi, Wis.). Chase Johnson (So., F, La Crosse, Wis.) also gained starting experience in nine games last season.

Minnesota Crookston has youth at the core of the roster as they will have no seniors on the roster next season. Nicolau joins a strong sophomore class that includes NSIC Freshman of the Year Cleary, along with Johnson, both who made immediate impacts on the Golden Eagles last season. Nicolau will be the tallest player on the roster for the Golden Eagles at 6-10, with Meyer next tallest at 6-9.

Javier Nicolau/F-C/6-10 210/Castellon, Spain/UCAM Murcia
Nicolau comes to the U of M Crookston after playing two seasons for UCAM Murcia. In 2016-17, he averaged 21.5 minutes per game for his squad. In addition, Nicolau averaged 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. He shot 31.8 percent from beyond the arc and 55.0 percent from the field. In his first season at UCAM Murcia, Nicolau played in 18 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per game. He tallied 5.2 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game. Nicolau was 58.0 percent from the field. He helped lead his team last year to a 13-13 mark overall.

He is the son of Javier Nicolau and Paz Aledon. His full name is Javier Nicolau Aledon. He was born Jan. 21, 1997. He plans to major in marketing at the U of M Crookston.

All signees are contingent upon admission to U of M Crookston and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to release of information.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.