Mr. Watts Goes to Washington

Ralph Watts of Peekskill is among five newcomers added to the District of Columbia men’s basketball team, according to fourth-year head coach Jeff Ruland, the former Iona College and NBA standout.

Watts, a 6-foot-5 guard who played two seasons at Division 1 University of Albany, will be joined by Austin Cooley, Michael Terry, D'Angelo Johnson and Quasim Jones on a Firebird squad that returns seven players from its 2011-12 team which earned a 22-6 overall record and earned the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid in 25 years.

Watts played in 61 games for the upstate Great Danes, who compete in the America East Conference, and he averaged 15.9 minutes, 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per-game. Last year he led UAlbany to a 19-15 record and helped the Great Danes advance to the America East Tournament semifinals. Watts will have two years of eligibility at UDC.

The Firebirds will open the season at The Pavilion on November 9, where they will take on Division I Villanova as part of the 2K Sports Classic.