UL men's basketball coach Robert Lee called Wednesday the third-happiest day in his decade-long career on the Cajun staff.

He has one of the South's premier prep forwards to thank for that.

"The first was when I was hired (as head coach) and the second was when we won the (Sun Belt) championship," Lee said. "Chris Gradnigo made this one of my best days I've had at this university."

The 6-foot-7 Gradnigo, who averaged 20.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in leading St. Louis High in Lake Charles to the state's top ranking in Class 3A last year, inked a national letter of intent with the Cajuns at an 11 a.m. ceremony Wednesday.

"He was our number one target," Lee said. "His signing has the same kind of impact as when Kevin Brooks signed here. He's that level of player."

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com