Texas Tech signed three basketball players

The Texas Tech men's basketball team signed three players to national letters of intent on Tuesday.

They include forwards Paul Cooper and Javarez Willis, and guard Jamel Outler.

The 6-8, 280-pound Cooper averaged 3.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg while coming off the bench last year as a freshman for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla.

In order to be successful at Tech, Cooper said: "I have to do what I always do -- rebound, play physical and block shots.''

Meanwhile, Outler averaged 14 ppg last year at Houston Bellaire High School. Outler was Tech coach Pat Knight's first commitment in the 2010 recruiting class.

"Coach Knight knows what we go through as players,'' Outler said, "and was honest and straightforward with me about playing for him.''

As far as Willis goes, he originally committed to play for Tech as part of the 2009 recruiting class, but failed to meet the NCAA academic requirements in time to enroll for the current fall session. Last year as a senior at Dallas Pinkston High School, Willis averaged 14.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg.

-- Dwain Price