The Idaho State men's basketball team officially landed its first recruit for the 2008-09 season on Thursday.

After verbally committing to play for the Bengals last month, Eric Segert, a high school senior shooting guard from Tampa, Fla., signed his national letter of intent during the early signing period.

Segert is 6-foot-1 and is a two-star recruit; according to recruiting Web site rivals.com.

O'Brien has known Segert for quite some time. In college, O'Brien played on the same basketball team as Segert's father, Jeff. At about this time last year, O'Brien took a trip to watch Segert play in Florida and instantly liked his ability to shoot from the outside.

With only two scholarships available next season, O'Brien said recruiting a 3-point shooter was a must.

"We wanted to go out and recruit someone who could night in, night out give us a consistent 3-point threat," O'Brien said. "He has done that better than anything else in his game. He averaged 29 points per game last year and hit more than 50 percent of his 3s. That's what I call consistency."

- Kellis Robinett