LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University's men's basketball team signed a key member of its 2014 recruiting class today, when Coach Scott Davenport announced that Augusta (Ky.) High School star Brent Bach will join the Knights this season.

Bach, a sharpshooting 6-1 guard, was one of the top scorers in the state this past season, averaging 31.2 points per game for the Panthers while finishing his career as Augusta's all-time leading scorer with 2,615 points. He was named the 10th Region Player of the Year, picked up 2nd Team All-State honors, and was a McDonald's All-American candidate among a slew of other accolades.

"We are extremely excited to have a tremendous winner like Brent in our program," said Davenport.  "He took Augusta High School to championship level basketball against great competition. When you study Brent as a player, he is all about team and team performance. He elevated the play of his teammates to a very high level.

"Brent has a great love for the game, a skill that all great players possess. He is a great get for our program!" Davenport added.

Bach, who had interest from at least 10 different Division I schools, said he thought Bellarmine was a great fit.   "Coach Davenport is a great coach and his assistant coaches showed a lot of interest and are really good at what they do. I feel that the way they play is the way I play. I'm just thankful for the opportunity to come be a part of the team and try to bring home another national championship."

"Coming from a small school, having the opportunity to play for a championship is something I'm really excited about," he said. "I want to improve my game, but I know I have a long way to go. I have to get bigger and work on my passing. I know there are several really good big guys on the team, and I want to be able work with them and make them happy, too."

Bach's high school coach Jason Hinson said he knows the work ethic is there to make him successful.  "People don't realize the extra time and the extra effort that he put into all of this," Hinson said, adding that Bach would regularly be at practice an hour early or stay an hour late. "When he struggled with free throws, he'd shoot 200-300 and want to stay all night long, not wanting to go home--wanting to sleep here…that never happened but he would have."

With Bach's signing, Coach Davenport has shored up his backcourt with the 2014 recruiting class.  Joining Bach is 6-1 guard Jarek Coles (Omaha, Neb.) along with Division I transfers Josh Sewell (6-4 guard, Trinity H.S./Miami University) and Chris Whitehead (5-9 guard, New Albany H.S./Fordham University).