ARBONDALE, Ill. - Derek Kellogg announced today the signing of talented Javorn Farrell, a 6-5, 180-pound swingman out of Upper Marlboro, Md. Farrell is the first signee for Kellogg, who won his coaching debut last night in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic. Farrell signs an early National Letter of Intent with the University of Massachusetts basketball program.

"We are excited to get a player and a person with the character of Javorn Farrell to join our program," said Kellogg. "Not only is he an unbelievable student and a great kid, he is going to be a great asset to our basketball program. I love his versatility as a player as he can play the four through the one position. He's a tough, physical hard-nosed player and will be physically ready to come in and help us right away. It is going to be a learning process for him like any young kid as he will have to learn how hard you have to play with the level of practice and the level of the games.

"I'm thrilled to have him coming to UMass. He comes here after playing for a great high school coach in Lou Wilson and a tremendous program at Riverdale Baptist. Javorn played for an outstanding nationally-renown AAU program, the DC Assault run by Curtis Malone. To get Javorn to sign early here with UMass and join our program is a great testament to the coaching staff and the University."

Farrell has been a star in both high school with Riverdale Baptist School and in AAU basketball with the DC Assault. With his 6-5 frame, Farrell is an athletic player who can play tough gritty defense, shoot the 3-pointer along with a very solid mid-range game. He can also slash and drive to the basket, making him an ideal player for the UMass dribble drive motion offense.

The DC Assault has produced some of the top players in the nation recently, including current Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, the NBA's No. 2 draft pick in 2008 out of Kansas State, along with Georgetown's Austin Freeman, Duke's Nolan Smith, Syracuse's Arinze Onuaku Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham of Villanova.

Farrell was named to the All-Tournament team at the Bob Gibbons Tournament in North Carolina and helped DC Assault to the championship at The Best of the Summer Tournament in California. Farrell also was a standout at the adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas over the summer gaining national attention.

In his junior year with Riverdale Baptist in 2008, Farrell was a key contributor for the 31-5 Crusaders as they were ranked third nationally in the NSCAA (National Christian School Athletic Association) polls. Farrell averaged 12.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as a junior. He was named to the NACA 2008 Boys Division I All-Tournament Team in Dayton, Ohio.

As a sophomore, Farrell was named Honorable Mention All-Met by the Washington Post in 2007 while he played for Bishop Ireton.

In the CSTV Next Generation rankings, Farrell was listed as the No. 43 prospect in the nation. He was also recruited by Virginia Tech, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, George Mason and George Washington.

Farrell celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday (Nov. 11, 1990) and is the son of Ingrid and Steve Farrell.

ARBONDALE, Ill. - Javorn Farrell is officially part of the University of Massachusetts men's basketball program after his national letter of intent arrived in Amherst Wednesday.

Farrell, a 6-foot-5 swing man, is one of three players the Minutemen are expecting to get letters from during the early signing period which began Wednesday and lasts a week. The others are big man Raphiael Putney and wing Freddie Riley.

UMass has a fourth verbal commitment from junior Max Esho, but he cannot officially sign until November 2009.

Minuteman coach Derek Kellogg said he is pleased with Farrell's signing.

"We are excited to get a player and a person with the character of Javorn Farrell to join our program," Kellogg said. "Not only is he an unbelievable student and a great kid, he is going to be a great asset to our basketball program.

"I love his versatility as a player as he can play the four through the one position," he added. "He's a tough, physical hard-nosed player and will be physically ready to come in and help us right away. It is going to be a learning process for him like any young kid as he will have to learn how hard you have to play with the level of practice and the level of the games."

Farrell, who turned 18 Tuesday, averaged 12 points and three rebounds per game last year for Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Md. He played AAU for the D.C. Assault program that has produced many Division I players. Minuteman assistant coach Antwon Jackson is a former coach with the Assault.

Kellogg, who has stressed his desire to recruit versatile players, said Farrell fits in nicely.

"He can handle the ball. He's a decent outside shooter and can get better. He's athletic. He's physical. He's a kid that should be able to guard different positions which gives us more versatility on the perimeter," Kellogg said. "He's not afraid to go inside and mix it up. On offense he can get into the lane. He can go inside and make plays."

NEXT UP - The Minutemen's season-opening road swing heads to Tennessee for Monday's much-talked-about midnight matchup with Memphis.

Kellogg will face his former boss and coach John Calipari, who led the Minutemen to five NCAA Tournaments and the 1996 Final Four.

The Tigers open their season Saturday against Fairfield.

MISCELLANEOUS - UMass fell to 0-6 all time against the Missouri Valley Conference with the 80-73 loss to Southern Illinois Wednesday. Salukis athletic director Mario Moccia is married to Heidi Kocher, who was an All-American soccer player and academic All-American at UMass who helped lead the Minutewomen to the 1994 Final Four.

Matt Vautour can be reached at [email protected]. For more UMass coverage, including a UMass sports blog, go to http://www.gazettenet.com/blog/umass-sports.