Men's Basketball

May 11, 2007

Men's Basketball Signs Birr To National Lett Of Intent


COLCHESTER, Vt.- Saint Michael's College men's basketball coach Tom O'Shea has announced that Nate Birr (Burnsville, Minn./Saint Thomas Academy) has signed a National Letter of Intent and will play for the Purple Knights beginning this fall. Birr is the second member of Saint Michael's Class of 2011, following the signing last month of Chris Hurley (Watertown, Mass./Boston College HS). In addition, Sebastian Brandstetter (Newport, Vt./North Country Union) will join the Purple Knights in the fall as a recruited walk-on.

"Nate comes to Saint Michael's from a great high school program," said O'Shea, who enters his 11th season at the helm of the Purple Knights in the fall with a 149-137 career record. "He is well-drilled in the fundamentals and is an excellent defender, and is versatile on both offense and defense. He has wonderful size for a guard, and we look for him to contribute immediately next year."

"I'm really excited about my decision to come to Saint Michael's," said Birr. "I'm looking forward to joining the Saint Michael's family, both on and off the court, and should be a great four years."

The six-foot-three-inch Birr was a three-year standout at Saint Thomas Academy playing for coach Mike Sjoberg. As a senior captain in 2006-07, Birr guided Saint Thomas to a 30-2 record and the Minnesota Class AAA state championship. Birr earned a Saint Paul Pioneer Press Third Team All-State honor and a First Team All-Defense accolade, and he was named the Player of the Game in the state championship contest. Among his many awards that he earned as a senior, Birr was named his team's Most Valuable Player and earned All-Conference honors, as he helped Saint Thomas to an undefeated conference record and the Section 3AAA championship.

In addition to his senior year accomplishments, Birr was an All-State Honorable Mention and Pioneer Press Second Team All-defense as a junior, again earning All-Conference honors. Saint Thomas finished third in the state his junior season, and also won conference and sectional championships. As a sophomore, Birr was an All-Conference Honorable Mention and the team's Most Improved Player, as he helped Saint Thomas to conference and sectional runner-up honors.

Saint Michael's went 16-13 last season, the program's first winning campaign since 2000-01, and earned its first postseason victory in six seasons before falling in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals.

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