May 3, 2008

FAIRBANKS, AK - Alaska men's basketball head coach Clemon Johnson announced the signings of Demetrius Love of Long Beach, Calif., and Kevin Buggs of Compton, Calif. on Saturday. Both players will enroll at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as juniors this fall, and will have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.

Love, a 6'7" forward, joins the Nanooks after playing last season for Compton Community College where he earned a spot on the All-South Coast Conference North Division Honorable Mention team. A physical inside presence, Love finished the season fifth in the state in blocked shots, and ninth in rebounds.

Love spent his freshman season of 2006-07 at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where he saw action in 25 games for the California Collegiate Athletic Association side. A southpaw, Love averaged 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game for the Toros, and recorded 16 blocks: second-best on the team.

"His physique impressed me first, and then when he had an opportunity to come up here and play, I was impressed by the physicality of his play," Johnson said of Love. "He gives us another dimension in the post area. We will look for him to be an offensive presence in the post, a strong rebounder, and a defensive presence in the post, as he has the physicality to push people around."

While attending UAF, Love plans to major in justice and minor in physical therapy, with an eye towards pursuing a Master's degree while with Alaska.

Buggs, meanwhile, also comes to Alaska following a spell at Compton Community College in 2007-08, where he was teammates with Love. Buggs earned second team all-conference with the Tartars.

"His normal position is point guard, but we will try to find different ways to use him as well," said Johnson. "Having him and Emmanuel [Jenkins] here will allow us to put two outstanding point guards on the floor at the same time, which will prevent a lot of the full court traps and things of that nature that people were using on us last year."

Prior to returning to Compton, Buggs spent his freshman season with Division I San Jose State, playing in 29 games and getting 20 starts for the Spartans. With San Jose State, he contributed 3.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, and was second on the team in three-point shooting percentage, hitting 34.0 percent from behind the arc.

Buggs played his high school ball at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, playing four seasons (2002-2006) with the Jackrabbits. Buggs was a member of the school's California Interscholastic Federation's 2002 Division 1-AA championship team, and would make the All-CIF second team in his senior season.

Love and Buggs become the third and fourth signings of the offseason for Johnson and the Nanooks. The duo join Emmanuel Jenkins (Tacoma, Wash.) and Evan Matteson (Lynnwood, Wash.)