PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's John R. Rockwell Head Coach of Men's Basketball, Steve Donahue, has announced his recruiting class for the upcoming 2018-19 season. Four men—Alex Imegwu, Griffin Ryan, Michael Wang and Bryce Washington—will join the Quakers' men's basketball roster this season as freshmen.
 
"I am so happy to formally announce our incoming class of student-athletes," said Donahue, who enters his fourth season at the Quakers' helm after leading them to the Ivy League regular-season and tournament titles last year. "Our coaching staff, as well as our support staff within the athletics department, did a tremendous job in recruiting these young men and developing meaningful relationships with them and their families. It was great to carry the momentum from our on-court success over to our recruiting with the class of 2018.
 
"I am especially excited about this class because they are each special on the court and off the court, which continues to be crucial in the building of our program's culture," he continued. "I think these four young men have a chance to really impact our team early on in their time at Penn. Alex Imegwu will come in and be one of our most athletic players at both ends of the court. Griffin Ryan has the chance to be a really important piece of our program. Michael Wang is the quintessential 'big man' for our offense in that he can really help spread the floor with his shooting and scoring abilities. And Bryce Washington proved during high school that he has an incredible knack for scoring."
 
Penn tied Harvard for the Ivy regular-season crown and then defeated the Crimson in the Ivy League Tournament final at The Palestra to earn its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007. There, the 16th-seeded Quakers were knocked out in the first round by top-seeded Kansas. The Red and Blue went 24-9 overall in 2017-18, the 24 wins a high for a single season since they had 25 in 2001-02. Following the season, Coach Donahue was named Coach of the Year by the Ivy League and the ECAC as well as District 13 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
 
 
ALEX IMEGWU
6-6 / 200
Short Hills, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep
High School: Three-year letter winner in basketball … Head coach was Kevin Williams … Helped Seton Hall Prep to Super Essex Conference title in 2018 (24-3 record) and Essex County Tournament championship in 2016 (29-2) … Earned first-team All-Super Essex Conference (American Division) as a senior after receiving honorable mention recognition as a junior … National Honor Society member … Graduated Magna Cum Laude with First Honors … Chinese Club member.
Personal: Son of Diane and Obi Imegwu … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
GRIFFIN RYAN
6-5 / 190
Winnetka, Ill. / New Trier
High School: Lettered twice in basketball, twice in baseball and once in football … His high school basketball coach was Scott Fricke … New Trier won conference and regional titles in 2018, going 24-6 overall … Named Central Suburban League all-conference as a senior … Named to JWC Media and Team22 All-Area teams as a senior … In baseball, was a part of two conference title teams and New Trier won supersectional title and finished fourth in state his junior year … Member of the Trevians' conference champion football team as a senior … AP Scholar … Illinois State Scholar … National Spanish Honor Society member … Student Leadership Training (SALT) participant.
Personal: Son of Stefanie and Douglas Ryan … Father played college football at Princeton … Older brother, James, was a club volleyball player at Wake Forest University … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
MICHAEL WANG
6-10 / 220
Taiyuan, Shanxi, China / Mater Dei (Calif.)
High School: Four-year varsity basketball player at Mater Dei … Head coach was Gary McKnight … During his career Mater Dei won four Trinity League titles as well as the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section title (2018), were CIF runner-up and Southern California finalist (2017), were Southern California semifinalist (2016), and were state runner-up after winning the Southern California championship (2015) … Mater Dei went 112-20 during Wang's four years on the varsity … Earned first-team All-CIF Southern Section as a senior.
Personal: Son of Juan and Bing Wang … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
BRYCE WASHINGTON
6-4 / 180
Southfield, Mich. / Southfield Christian
High School: Four-year letter winner in basketball and track & field … Head coach in basketball was Josh Baker … Southfield Christian won Michigan Independent Athletic Conference (MIAC) and district titles all four years, were regional champions his junior and senior years, and won the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class D title his senior season … SCS went a combined 84-17 during Washington's career … Graduated with program records for points in a season (573 as a senior) and career (1,685) … As a senior, recipient of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) "Outstanding Senior" award and USA Today All-USA (Michigan) selection … As a junior, named the Associated Press Michigan Class D High School Player of the Year … Three-time all-state selection by the Associated Press, Detroit News and Detroit Free Press, earning first-team honors as a junior and senior after garnering second-team honors as a sophomore … Two-time MIAC Most Valuable Player, as a junior and senior … Three-time MIAC Conference Dream Team, two-time MLive Detroit Dream Team … Two-time BCAM "Best of Michigan" recipient … Two-time BCAM Academic All-State … In track, a member of four conference and regional title teams as well as the 2016 MHSAA Class D champion … Earned all-state honors all four years in the high jump … As a senior, also garnered all-state in the 4x400 relay as well as all-conference honors in the high jump, the 400, the 4x200 relay and the 4x400 relay … MHSAA Athlete of the Month (January 2018) … Graduated Summa Cum Laude … Was President of SCS's Executive Student Council.
Personal: Son of Demetria and Marvin Washington … Older brother, Brock, plays basketball at Michigan State … Older brother, Blake, was a sprinter on the University of Michigan track & field team … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.