CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball program announced the signing of George Blaj-Voinescu (F/C, 6-8 210, Brasov, Romania/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College). Blaj-Voinescu is the 11^th and final signee for the Golden Eagles for the 2020-21 signing class. He joins 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.), Hunter Lyman (F/C, 6-8 215, West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo H.S.), Chandler Reeck (G, 6-1 180, Edina, Minn./Edina H.S.) and Silas Xia (G, 5-11 170, Guangzhou, China/Santa Ana College) as signees for Minnesota Crookston men's basketball.

"I chose Minnesota Crookston because it is a great place both athletically and academically for me," Blaj-Voinescu said. "I feel like I can grow as a basketball player with the help of Coach Weisse and his coaching staff. It is a very good and prestigious university where I hope I will become a better version of myself. I can't wait to get to Minnesota Crookston and start this new year."

"I am very excited to welcome George to the Golden Eagle basketball family," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "We were looking for the right guy to finish this recruiting class and I think George really puts an exclamation on it. He knows our current Golden Eagle Georges Darwiche, as they are both from Romania. I think that was a great connection for him. George can play the four or the five. He has good size, he is willing to defend, rebound, and make his teammates better. With that, he's a guy that can score on the block or from the three-point line. He really completes our depth at the big positions. I'm looking forward to coaching George for the next three seasons."

Blaj-Voinescu can play inside and out, and possesses a strong shot, and the ability to get on the glass. He is the sixth junior college signee for the Golden Eagles, joining Carter, Channel, Darwiche, Dixon, and Xia.

Blaj-Voinescu joins fellow Romanian Georges Darwiche for the Golden Eagles, as the first two Romanians in recent history for Minnesota Crookston. They both contribute to one of the most international rosters in Golden Eagle men's basketball history, joining Carter from Wales, Carton from the Canary Islands, Xia from China, and returning Golden Eagles Ibu Jassey-Demba (F, Birmingham, England).
Blaj-Voinescu joins a post position that brings in Carton, Carter, and Lyman. Jassey-Demba also can play in the post for Minnesota Crookston.

"I am a tough player and a good defender," Blaj-Voinescu said. "I have a lot of energy and I like to play in a team setting. I feel like I can help the team have a better defense. I can shoot the ball very well for someone my size. I am the type of player that will work harder to make sure the opposing team doesn't score. I think as a team we are all going to work hard and be the best versions of ourselves. We have some great years ahead of us and I can't wait for the season to start."

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.

George Blaj-Voinescu (F/C, 6-8 210, Brasov, Romania/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College)
Blaj-Voinescu played in 11 games as a freshman at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in his first season with the Golden Norse. Prior to his junior college year, he played a year of prep school basketball for Combine Academy. Blaj-Voinescu was a U16 Romanian National Team starter in 2016. He was a U18 and U20 National Champion for Romania, as well. Blaj-Voinescu also played for a Best Five National Championship in 2018. He played in Romania for CSU Stiinta Bucuresti. During his time at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Blaj-Voinescu had a season-high 12 points against Western Oklahoma State College. He also added five rebounds versus Western Oklahoma State College. He had six rebounds against Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Blaj-Voinescu tallied eight points versus Central Baptist College.

He was born Feb. 19, 2000. Blaj-Voinescu plans to major in software engineering. He is the son of Vlad and Cristina Blaj-Voinescu. Blaj-Voinescu made the Dean's Honor Roll at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.