May 5, 2011

Fullerton, Calif. - John Underwood, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound sophomore from the University of Missouri has signed a grant-in-aid to continue his basketball career at Cal State Fullerton.

The Phoenix, Arizona, native will have two years of eligibility with the Titans beginning with the 2012-13 season.

"John will give us an extremely long, shot-blocking presence," said CSF Assistant Coach Julius Hicks. "He will help us protect the basket in a way we haven't seen in some time."

Underwood played minimal minutes in 14 games as a freshman in 2009-10 for the Tigers and 4 games this past season before leaving Columbia in December due to family issues.

"We are saddened to see John leave the program," said Missouri Coach Mike Anderson in December. "He was really developing and we were seeing great signs from him every single practice.

"With that being said, basketball often takes a backseat and it needed to in this situation. We want him to know he will always have a family here at Mizzou and we will do whatever we can to support him in life and in basketball."

Underwood blocked more than 200 shots during his high school career at Alhambra High in Phoenix before transferring to Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, for his senior year. There he averaged 10.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8 blocked shots for a team that advanced to the state tournament. He earned Class 4A-1 all-state and all-regional honors. He then played one season at Princeton Day Academy in Lanham, Maryland, where he averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and 8 blocked shots for a 33-3 club that was ranked No. 7 nationally.

His biography on the University of Missouri website is located at: http://www.mutigers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/underwood_john00.html. He turns 21 years old on May 6.

Underwood becomes the 40th Div. I transfer into the Fullerton program since 1975 and the third from Missouri, following center Stan Ray, who played for Fullerton in 1979-80, and forward Todd Satalowich, who played three seasons (1991-94) with the Titans.