April 18, 2008

Fullerton, Calif. - Chris Rhymes, a 6-foot-4 guard from Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas, is the first Spring signee to a national letter of intent to play men's basketball at Cal State Fullerton.

Rhymes averaged 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season for the Tigers, who finished 31-3 and reached the state's Region VI championship game. Rhymes missed the title game after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in the semifinals. He is expected to be ready to play again in November.

"Chris is a tough, athletic wing who can shoot the 3-pointer as well as penetrate to the rim," said Associate Head Coach Andy Newman. "He uses his size and strength extremely well to score around the basket as well as rebound out of his area. His leadership, toughness and abilitly to score in a variety of ways will be a tremendous addition to our program."

As a freshman, Rhymes played at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma. He averaged 12.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists for a 31-2 team that was ranked No. 1 in the nation for three weeks. He followed Head Coach Steve Eck and Assistant Coach Yaphett King, a former Titan forward (2003-04 and 2004-05), from Redlands to Cowley County.

Rhymes is the son of George "Buster" Rhymes, a standout running back and kick returner for the University of Oklahoma (1980-81, 83-84), who played two years (1985-86) in the National Football League with Minnesota and several seasons in the Canadian Football League.

Fullerton loses six seniors off the 2007-08 Big West Conference co-championship team. Fall signees were 6-foot-4 wing player Aaron Thompson from Cerritos College and 6-foot point guard Jacques Streeter from Finley Prep in Las Vegas, NV.