By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Dayton, OH---Edmond "Junior" Early signed a letter of intent recently to become the second member of the 2013-14 Express men's basketball freshmen class.

He joins 6'6" forward Antoine Bedford from Detroit East English Village in the class.

The 6'1" Dayton Thurgood Marshall senior is considered by many as the best on ball defender in the state of Ohio.

Thurgood Marshall was ranked the No. 1 team in Ohio, regardless of class, for the entire year until the state tournament. Prior to the tournament, their only loss was to the No. 1 team in the USA Today Top 25 poll, Findlay Prep. They finished the season 23-2 and, at one point, were ranked No. 23 in the USA Today Top 25 poll nationally.

Thurgood Marshall boy's basketball head coach Darnell Hoskins called Early "the heart and soul of his team."

Individually, Early averaged 9.5 points, four assists and three steals per game. He was named First Team All-City and played in the District 15 All-Star game.

Additionally, Early is ranked as the No. 14 Ohio point guard in the class of 2013 and a top 75 player overall by TripleDoubleProspects. Rick Bolus Basketball Recruiting ranks him as a Top 50 Class of 2013 player overall in the state of Ohio.

The Express men's basketball team finished 26-10 last season, captured the Region XII/District 11 championship, and advanced to the NJCAA D-II Final Four before falling to eventual national champion Rend Lake in the semifinals.