Index of Sports Press Releases

Oct. 30, 2007

O’Neill Native Long Signs with DWU Basketball

Mitchell, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan University head men’s basketball coach John Hemenway announced Tuesday (Oct. 30) the signing of Mike Long from O’Neill High School in Nebraska to join the Tiger basketball program.

“We are extremely excited about the signing of Mike Long,” Hemenway said. “He is a very talented post player that can play multiple positions.”

Long, a 6’6”, 225 pound forward averaged 19 points per game and shot 63 percent from the field as a junior last season at O’Neill H.S. He has been a Nebraska Class “C-1” All-State Honorable Mention selection the past three seasons in basketball. During his three year career with the Eagles, Long has scored 1,093 points and pulled down 540 rebounds. He is a two-time All-Area selection and was named to the Northeast Nebraska Elite Eight Team last season. Mike’s head basketball coach at O’Neill High School is Wayne Hesse.

“I look forward to coaching Mike over the next four years,” Hemenway added. “I think he has a chance to be a very good GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) player and add to our basketball program.”

Long is also a member of the National Honor Society and earned Academic letter awards. He is the son of Randy and Joan Long of O’Neill.

Dakota Wesleyan finished the 2006-07 season with a 24-8 overall record and qualified for the NAIA II National Tournament for the first time since 1995. The Tigers open up the 2007-08 season on Wednesday (Oct. 31) when DWU travels to Brookings, S.D., to take on NCAA Division I South Dakota State University in an exhibition game. DWU opens regular season play this Saturday (Nov. 3) when they head west to face South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.