Red Wolves - IU East

Appropriately, Ian Enriquez wore the No. 1 jersey during his senior season at Lake Station Edision High School.

Enriquez on March 17 became the first signee in the Indiana University East men's basketball 2010 recruiting class, Red Wolves coach Mark Hester announced.

Enriquez, a 6-fot-6 forward, also is the first player from Northwest Indiana to sign with IU East since the Red Wolves joined the NAIA.

"We pulled a good one out of a relatively unknown area," Hester said.

Enriquez led Lake Station in scoring, rebounds and steals to help the Eagles to their first winning season in 25 years this past winter.

He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior, earning all-conference and all-sectional honors.

He also considered Indiana University South Bend.

"The team at IU East seemed more together than any other school I visited," Enriquez said.

"And Coach Hester and my coach (Lake Station coach Bryon Clouse) are like the same person. Coach Hester seemed like a good guy and made the choice real easy for me."

Hester looks for Enriquez to bolster the Red Wolves' front line.

"His size and skill set will be a tremendous asset to us," Hester said. "He's a good person, a basketball junkie, and fits in to what we are looking for."

"We've learned he is an extremely hard worker and extremely coachable, which means he will make the adjustment to the college level relatively quickly if he continues to work hard."

Enriquez says he will bring all-around skills and an all-out desire to win to the Red Wolves program.

"I have a lot of heart," he said. "I hate losing and I will do anything I can to keep the team from losing."

Enriquez hopes to become a dentist after his basketball career ends.

IU East is an NAIA Division II program. The Red Wolves finished 14-14 during the 2009-10 season.