CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team announced the signing of Silas Xia (G, 5-11 170, Guangzhou, China/Santa Ana College). Xia is the ninth signee for the Golden Eagles, joining Morgan Carter (F/C, 6-7 215, Porthcawl, Wales/Hillsborough Community College), Rafael Carton (F, 6-7 230, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), Ethan Channel (G, 6-4 195, Beaverton, Ore./Portland Community College), Georges Darwiche (G, 6-1 188, Bucharest, Romania/Siena College), Josh Dilling (G, 6-4 180, Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh North H.S.), Leonard Dixon (G/F, 6-7 200, Damascus, Ore./Mount Hood Community College), Jaylen James (G, 6-1 175, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview H.S.) and Hunter Lyman (F/C, 6-8 215, West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo H.S.).

"When Coach Weisse first reached out to me, I felt very welcomed into the program," Xia said. "It was like I have known him for a long period of time. Right after the first phone call, I just knew that this is where I wanted to be. Minnesota Crookston provides me an opportunity in the athletic program, and with the small campus size and environment. It will help me focus more on school work and basketball, and to be the best version of myself. I can definitely see myself bringing great energy and a high level of competitiveness to each practice. With the enthusiasm I bring to the program I will help push myself and the rest of the team to become better players every day. Together I believe we will achieve our goals as a team."

"I was made aware of Silas because Coach (Krayton) Nash coached him back at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy prep school," Weisse said. "Coach Nash talked about his character and how he would do anything to better the team. And after talking with Silas it was easy to see what he was talking about. Silas has had many experiences at different places, and he knows that the people that you surround yourself with will define how you do as a team and in life. And this is an opportunity for him to impact our program on the court and off. Silas will be able to push guys to be their best and be leaned on to bring it every day in practice. Silas makes our team better and our program stronger. I'm looking forward to coaching Silas over the next few years."

Xia's signing further contributes to the international flare of the Golden Eagles, as he is originally from Guangzhou, China. He joins Carter from Wales, Carton from Canary Islands, Darwiche from Romania, and returning Golden Eagle Ibu Jassey-Demba (Sr., F, Birmingham, England). The 2020-21 roster will be one of the most international rosters the Minnesota Crookston men's basketball program has ever carried.

Xia will add to a guard group that returns Brian Sitzmann (R-Jr., G, Savage, Minn.), Tyrese Shines (So., G, La Grange, Ill.), Quintin Winterfeldt (So., G/F, Waupun, Wis.), and Zach Westphal (R-So., G, West Fargo, N.D.). Xia also joins fellow newcomers Channel, Darwiche, Dilling, and James.

"Silas brings the type of character and work ethic that is invaluable to team chemistry," said Assistant Coach Krayton Nash, who coached Xia at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. "I look forward to him bringing that energy to the Golden Eagles."

Minnesota Crookston is looking to build on their best three-year stretch in program history, as they have won 10 or more games in each of the last three seasons. The Golden Eagles had their best season in 2018-19 with a program-record 17 wins, and the program's first-ever trip to the Sanford Pentagon for the NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals after a win over nationally-renowned program Augustana University. The Golden Eagles have a strong core returning that they are looking to supplement in recruiting.

The student-athlete listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to play men's basketball at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.

Silas Xia (G, 5-11 170, Guangzhou, Utah/Santa Ana College)
Xia appeared in 10 games during the 2019-20 season for Santa Ana College. He notched 0.7 points and 0.4 rebounds per game. He had previously played for Impact Academy and prior to that competed for St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wis., where he was coached by Minnesota Crookston Assistant Coach Krayton Nash. Xia had three points in a win over Orange Coast College. He had an assist versus Saddleback College. He had 10 points for Impact Academy against College of Southern Idaho during the 2016-17 season. At St. John's Northwestern Military Academy, Xia averaged 12 points and two assists per game. He played club basketball back in China. In junior college, he was an Academic All-Orange Empire Conference selection. He has also been named Academic Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Given name is Xianjue Xia, but he goes by Silas. His older brother Yang Yue plays professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association. Xia was born Nov. 3, 1998. He plans to major in software engineering at Minnesota Crookston. His father is George Xia and mother is Miranda Zhang. His uncle Qiang played semi-professional basketball in China. One of his uncles runs one of the largest sports agency groups in China, where he has worked alongside former NBA player Yao Ming as a sports agent.