PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball coach Patrick Eberhart has added two talented players to his roster for next season. Vaughn Gaines and Daniel Pierce both signed National Letters of Intent to play with the ThunderWolves last week.

"We are very happy to get both these guys," said Eberhart. "I expect each of them to be able to come in and help our team right away."

Gaines, a 5-11 point guard from Tacoma, Wash., spent last season at Highline Community College. He put together a very solid freshman campaign at Highline, averaging 14.5 points and four assits per game. Two years ago, Gaines averaged 26.5 points per game his senior year at Bellarmine Prep, where he was named First Team All State and Marows League MVP.

"Vaughn will give us a big-time scorer at the point guard position. He can shoot the ball well and get into the lane and make plays. He brings a lot to the table," said Eberhart. "He and (CSU-Pueblo senior guard) Ty McTyer are going to provide match-up problems for a lot of teams."

Pierce is a 6-6 forward from Moriarty High School in New Mexico. He was named First Team All-State by the Associated Press after leading all 4A players in scoring at 24.7 points per game and rebounding at 12.1 boards per game. Pierce, who also led the state of New Mexico in scoring as a junior, finished third in the balloting for the Gatorade New Mexico High School Player of the Year Award.

"Daniel is a talented player. I feel really good about having him as part of our program," said Eberhart. "He is a guy with good size that can score in a variety of ways. I think his best weapon is his ability to shoot the 3-ball. That's really going to stretch the defense out and take the pressure of our post players."