Brett Comer

Bernard Thompson

, a 6-5 combo guard from Charlotte, N.C., signed a National Letter of Intent in the early signing period on Wednesday to join the FGCU men's basketball program starting in 2015-16.The uber-athletic Tucker has soared up the national rankings as he is currently listed as the 39th-best player at his position in the country by ESPN, which also tabs him as the fourth-best player in North Carolina. Tucker has been rated as high a 4-star recruit and a top-100 player nationally in his class and is currently No. 118 by Rivals.Earlier on Wednesday, USA Today named Tucker as its No. 1 sleeper in the nation from the early signing period ( complete article ). The other four players on the list had committed to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Baylor and South Carolina, further re-enforcing FGCU's status as an up-and-coming destination for high-major talent."We're excited to have Rayjon join the program. He's a great competitor who has a lot of potential and who hasn't come close to reaching his ceiling," said FGCU head coach. "Our job now as coaches is to have his skills catch up to his terrific ability. Rayjon comes from a great family, and we're appreciative of having the opportunity to coach him. We're looking forward to having Rayjon do a lot of great things at FGCU."Tucker chose FGCU over offers from several ACC programs after helping lead Northside Christian Academy to the state championship last year as junior when he averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. Led by head coach Byron Dinkins, Northside Christian advanced to the quarterfinals of this past spring's Dick's Sporting Goods High School National Basketball Tournament.After finishing the season 28-2, Tucker's team was seeded No. 3 among an elite group of high school programs throughout the nation, and while his team lost to Oak Hill Academy in the quarters, Tucker's stock started to rise as he scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and issued a team-high four assists against the eight-time national champions. Additionally, Tucker landed at No. 3 on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays for a put-back dunk against Oak Hill."As a coaching staff, we were happy with Rayjon's decision to attend FGCU," said Dinkins. "Coach Dooley and his staff will provide him all that he needs to grow as a person. We are excited to see that growth take place at FGCU."Perhaps even more impressively, Tucker – whose father, Robert, played football at Western Carolina – only started playing basketball competitively two years ago, choosing earlier in his high school career to focus on football. Tucker is one of four Division-I signees on his current team, which is coached by the aforementioned Dinkins – who played at Charlotte and in the NBA – and who is assisted by former Charlotte player Joe Badgett and Jeff McGinnis, who played at North Carolina and later in the NBA.FGCU is expected to lose five seniors to graduation this year, including three backcourt players. The early NLI signing period runs through next Wednesday, Nov. 19.General-admission tickets for all FGCU men's basketball games remain available, including for Dunk City's season opener Saturday at 2 p.m. against Nova Southeastern at Alico Arena. General-admission tickets can be purchased for $10 per game. Tickets will be available in person at the Alico Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., over the phone by calling (239) 590-7145 or online at FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets.Dooley guided the program to its first A-Sun regular-season championship courtesy of a 14-4 league mark in 2013-14. The Eagles participated in the NIT for the first time in program history as FGCU's 22 wins (22-13) marked the second-straight 20-win season and were the second-most in the Division-I era (2007-08). Returnersandwere all named to the Atlantic Sun Conference First Team as Comer is the Division-I active career assist leader (609) while Thompson enters his senior year as the program's all-time leading scorer (1,395) and fifth among all active D-I players in steals with 207.For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram , and "Like" us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB FGCU is led by second-year head coach, who coached three all-conference selections during his first season and guided FGCU to its first Atlantic Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT. Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry ( www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry ) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank ( www.harrychapinfoodbank.org ), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.