| Finland Product Mikko Niemi Joins Team |
| Thursday, September 8 2005 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Youngstown – Youngstown State Head Basketball Coach Jerry Slocum announced the addition of Finland native Mikko Niemi to the Penguins 2005-06 roster on Thursday. Niemi, whose name is pronounced (ME-ko Knee-em-ME), is a 6-2, 180-pound freshman point guard from Kangasala, Finland. He played for the Finnish Under-20 National Team and attended Sammon Lukio High School. Niemi is a 20-year-old freshman having recently served a year in the Finnish Military. As a member of the Under-20 Team, he helped Finland place eighth out of 20 teams at the European "B" Championships in Bulgaria. Slocum said Niemi fits a key backcourt need for his team. "He is a great addition for us and gives us some much-needed help at the point-guard position," Slocum said. "He has great international experience. Overall, he has a solid total game and is exactly what we needed in terms of backcourt help." Niemi becomes the first Finnish player to become part of the Penguins since Kimmo Heinonen (Laitila, Finland) was a member of the program during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 campaigns. Niemi said he picked Youngstown State for a variety reasons. "It seemed like a very good program," he said. "There is a new staff here and a lot of new players. The town seemed good because it isn't too big or too small. And the school is academically really strong." Also, guards Brian Williams (Columbus, Ohio) and Craig Wellman (Masury, Ohio) have joined the program as walk-ons. |