NEW YORK—Columbia men's basketball coach Jim Engles officially announced the program's 2022 recruiting class as the Lions will welcome Zinou Bedri, Avery Brown, Kenny Noland, and Blair Thompson to the 2022-23 team. All four players will enroll at Columbia as first-years.
 
"We are excited to welcome all four players to our program this fall," Engles said. "I am very excited to announce the newest additions to our program. These four young men will be great representatives of Columbia University both on and off the court. I'm proud of the work our staff has done on the recruiting front this past year, developing relationships with these young men and their families. I am excited to officially welcome them to Columbia, and I look forward to working with them in the Fall."
 
The foursome will join 12 returning letterwinners to the 2022-23 Columbia men's basketball team. Here is a look at Columbia's four newcomers:
 
2022 MEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES

Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Class	Hometown/Previous School
Zinou Bedri	Forward	6-9	220	Fr.	Tebessa, Algeria/DME Academy
Avery Brown	Guard	6-4	180	Fr.	Beacon Falls, Conn./Northfield Mount Hermon School
Kenny Noland	Guard	6-3	185	Fr.	Apex, N.C./The Hotchkiss School
Blair Thompson	Forward	6-7	190	Fr.	New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon School

 
ZINOU BEDRI
Forward | 6-9 | 220 | Tebessa, Algeria/DME Academy
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2022 graduate of the DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla. … Played a post-graduate year at DME Academy for its Blue Team … Averaged 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game during post-graduate year … Scored 36 points and grabbed 22 rebounds vs. Feltrim Academy in 2021-22 … A June 2021 graduate of Spring Creek Academy in Plano, Texas … Played three varsity seasons for Head Coach Mounir Benzegala at Spring Creek … Earned 2021 TCAL First Team All-Tournament honors … Earned Big Shot 2021 First Team All-Tournament honors … Averaged 12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game at Spring Creek … Led the Spartans to the TCAL state championship … Averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game as a freshman in 2018-19 … Played AAU basketball with the Southern Assault … Member of the National Honor Society.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Zine Eddine Bedri on October 15, 2002 in Tebessa, Algeria … Son of Abdelkrim Bedri and Houda Amrani in Tebessa, Algeria … Has two siblings: Asma Bedri and Abderraouf Bedri … Prefers to be called Zinou … Can speak three languages: Arabic, English, and French … Hobbies and interests include traveling and playing video games … Role model is his father because he taught him everything and gives his best in everything he does … Best part about playing basketball is it teaches one to be selfless and to be prepared to sacrifice for the team to achieve its goal … Favorite sports memory: celebrating in the locker room after winning a championship … Favorite sport other than basketball is soccer … Favorite sports figure is Kobe Bryant … Chose Columbia to be a part of a great, and diverse community and improve himself as an individual, student, and athlete … Also mentions the connection one can make with people who will be successful in the future … Enrolled at Columbia College.


 
AVERY BROWN
Guard | 6-4 | 180 | Beacon Falls, Conn./Northfield Mount Hermon School
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A May 2022 graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon High School in Gill, Mass., where he played three years of varsity basketball for Head Coach John Carroll … Earned First Team All-New England Prep School Athletic Conference honors as a senior … Set school's single-game assist record with 17 during senior year … Averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game in 201-22 … Scored a season-high 38 points vs. Vermont Academy during senior year … Registered seven 30-point games during his senior year … Earned four varsity letters and served as team captain in 2021-22 … Led the Hoggers to a national championship finalist appearance and first place finish in the Founders Division in 2022 … Helped lead Mount Hermon to a school-best 33-6 season, 11-3 league record, and national championship game appearance in 2021-22 … Guided NMH to a NEPSAC championship during his sophomore year in 2019 … Played his freshman season at Fairfield Prep in Connecticut … Played AAU basketball for the PSA Cardinals and also with the New York Gauchos … Rated among the nation's top-150 players in their class by Rivals.com … Four-star recruit and three-star prospect by 247sports.com and Rivals.com.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Avery Mack Brown on December 10, 2002 in Bridgeport, Conn … Son of Antonio Brown, Jr. and Joy Brown … Has an older brother Austyn and younger sister Autymn … His entire family played basketball … Has been nicknamed Ace or Dukes, both childhood nicknames given to him by family and friends … Owns a clothing line … Hobbies and interests include designing clothes, fashion, making music and cooking … Played on same prep school team as Columbia teammate Blair Thompson … Favorite actor is Damson Idris and Halle Barry … Cousin Larry Johnson played in the NFL for Kansas City Chiefs … Favorite home-cooked meal is fried chick mac and cheese and greens … Favorite musician is Sofaygo … Role models are his parents because they showed him what hard work was and sacrificed so much for his dreams … Chose Columbia to become the best version of himself in the classroom, basketball court and as a human being … Selected Columbia over offers from Indiana, Arizona State, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado, Penn State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, St. John's, and Fairfield … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Business.
 
ARTICLES
https://www.nhregister.com/sports/article/Hard-work-defines-basketball-standout-Avery-15546901.php
https://www.prospectiveinsight.com/post/avery-brown
https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/article/Beacon-Falls-Avery-Brown-commits-to-play-for-17053594.php
https://www.mycitizensnews.com/sports/sacrifice-pays-off-for-brown/



KENNY NOLAND
Guard | 6-3 | 180 | Apex, N.C./The Hotchkiss School/Apex Friendship H.S.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A June 2022 graduate of The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. … Played for Head Coach Yassine Talhaoui at Hotchkiss and PJ Lowman at Apex Friendship High School … Earned New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class A Player of the Year honors … Played one post-graduate season and served as team captain at Hotchkiss …Averaged 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game in lone season … Registered two triple doubles … Led the Bearcats to a NEPSAC championship and 23-1 record in 2021-22 … First Team All-State honoree as a senior in 2020-21 … Earned Second Team All-Area player by the Charlotte News-Observer … Earned NCBCA All-District First Team honors … Earned SWAC Conference Player of the Year honors following the 2020-21 season … Four-time All-SWAC Academic Team honoree … Set school-record for most points scored in a single-game (37) … Scored over 1,000 points over his career … Played point guard for Apex Friendship High School for six years … Served as team captain as a senior … Averaged 23.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a senior … Scored 37 points in win over Holly Springs … Earned six varsity letters for the Patriots … Led the Patriots to a 17-1 record, 12-0 conference record, and North Carolina Elite-Eight appearance as a senior in 2020-21 … Led the Patriots to three SWAC championships … Averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as a junior … Played AAU basketball for Team Loaded NC 3SSB … Received the Mayor of Apex Gold Coin Award and became just the fifth individual ever to receive it in his hometown … Maintained 4.1 grade point average in high school.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Kenny Salih Noland on December 12, 2002 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico … Son of Marla Peter … Has two sisters Sarah and Sophia and two brothers Ezra and Jimmy … Hobbies and interests include being a card shark, snowboarding, playing golf, and claims to be an elite ping pong player … Role model is his mother because she has worked hard for everything she has and is the most loving person he knows … Favorite sports memory was winning the NEPSAC Class A Championship at Hotchkiss … Not many people know this but he secretly listens to country music … Plays basketball because he loves to compete and win and loves the speed of the game … Fell in love with the Columbia campus while on his official visit … Chose Columbia because of its special combination of high-level basketball along with high-level academics while being on the best city in the nation … Also chose Columbia for its family atmosphere in the men's basketball program and because of the way the coaching staff treats its players … Selected Columbia over offers from Eastern Kentucky, Northern Colorado, UNC Asheville, Lafayette, Massachusetts, Army, Navy, Dartmouth, and Fairfield … Enrolled at Columbia College … Major is undecided.
 
ARTICLES
https://phenomhoopreport.com/commitment-alert-columbias-family-atmosphere-key-for-22-kenny-noland/
 


BLAIR THOMPSON
Forward | 6-7 | 190 | New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon School
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A May 2022 graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon High School in Gill, Mass., where he played two years of varsity basketball for Head Coach John Carroll … Earned First Team National Prep Showcase All-Tournament honors in 2022 … Averaged 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during the 2021-22 season … Averaged 34.7 points per game over three contests (32, 37, 35 points respectively) in NERR Scholar Roundball Classic in 2021 … Scored 37 points vs. Massanutten in the National Prep Championship semifinal in 2022 … Led the Hoggers to a national championship finalist appearance and first place finish in the Founders Division in 2022 … Helped lead Mount Hermon to a school-best 33-6 season, 11-3 league record, and national championship game appearance in 2021-22 … Played freshman football in 2017 as a safety and cornerback … Previously played at Xavier High School in New York City … Played AAU basketball for the New York Jayhawks from 2019-21 … Rated among the nation's top-150 players in their class by Rivals.com … Rated a three-star recruit by 247sports.com and Rivals.com … Member of the National Honor Society in 2020 …. Earned Cum Laude academic honors … Earned High Academic Honors from 2018-21.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born Blair Cameron Thompson on July 21, 2003 in New York City, N.Y. … Son of Andy and Hilary Thompson of Lower Manhattan, New York … Has a brother of Ryan … Played on same prep school team as Columbia teammate Avery Brown … Is the second New York Jayhawks player to join the Lions as Columbia teammate Liam Murphy saw action with the AAU program as well … Hobbies and interests include making music and dancing … Also likes to draw and sing … Nickname is Bompson, given to him by his middle school basketball coach … Role model is his father who has always instilled in him good values and sets the example for him to follow … Favorite food is bacon, egg, and cheese … Favorite home-cooked meal is his mother's pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese … One word that describes him: loyal … Plays basketball for the competition and seeing the ball go through the net … Selected Columbia in order to receive a well-rounded and rigorous education with the benefit in being in his hometown of New York City … Chose Columbia over offers from Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Bucknell, Rice, and Xavier … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Business Management or Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
 
ARTICLES
https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/in-the-news/nmhs-thompson-picks-columbia