Continuing the trend of looking both near and far to uncover potential student-athletes, Valparaiso University men’s soccer head coach, Mike Avery announced today the addition of two players to the 2014 Crusader recruiting class.

Jamaica College stand-out, Ramone Howell from Portmore, Jamaica and local product, Alex Fenn, from Crown Point, IN join an exciting recruiting class set to arrive on campus in August for the 2014 season. Howell and Fenn will bring a wealth of national and international experience to a Crusader squad.

“The addition of these two players really adds some spark to an already exciting recruiting class”, said Avery.  “My coaching staff has worked very hard to secure a very talented incoming group that, first and foremost, fits the culture of our university and our locker room.  Both Alex and Ramone will fit right in at Valparaiso, and each has the potential to make an impact very early in their career.”

Fenn and Howell bring the Crusader incoming class to 10 to date.  “We will add one more player in the next week or two as we finalize the details of a transfer,” Avery concluded.  “At that point, we will be done for 2014, and we feel very good about the pieces we have in place for the fall season and beyond.”

Full name:  Ramone Howell

Hometown: Portmore, Jamaica

Position:  MF

Height:  5’11”

Weight: 170 lbs.

Previous School:  Jamaica College

Club Team:  Waterhouse FC

Avery on Howell:  “Ramone is another exciting addition to our program.  We have had some recent success recruiting Jamaica, primarily because of how well our current Jamaican players on the team are doing both on the field and in the classroom – and, particularly, because of how much they are enjoying their experience at Valpo – and our program’s reputation is growing throughout the island’s soccer community.  Ramone comes to us as one of the top high school players in the country out of Jamaica College, and adds some real quality to our recruiting class.  Ramone is a true box to box midfield player, and his ability to cover ground is impressive.  In addition to his success with his school and club teams, Ramone has had time in the youth national system of Jamaica with the u17s and the u23 Olympic side, so these experiences should also help him transition to the new challenges he will face in college.”

Full name:  Alex Fenn

Hometown:  Crown Point, IN

Position:  DEF

Height:  6’

Weight:  170 lbs.

Previous School:  Crown Point High School

Club Team:  Three Lions FC Elite

Avery on Fenn:  “Alex is a player we have kept an eye on for some time, and we are thrilled that our patience has paid off and that he will be coming home to NW Indiana in the fall to play for us.  Alex had a very successful career at Crown Point High School and with his Three Lions club team, and has developed even further over the past year with his time training in England.  Alex is very mature physically, and has the potential to play anywhere across the back four or deep in the midfield.  He is the kind of defender that we value at Valparaiso in that he is technically very sound and adds an element of possession to his steady defensive capabilities.  It’s always very important to me that we are at least in the conversation for top local players, and landing Alex is something that we feel very good about.  He has a bright future here.”