Jan. 16, 2003

Columbia, Mo.- University of Missouri head basketball coach Quin Snyder announced on Thursday that Jason Conley will enroll today for the winter semester at Mizzou. Conley, who is transferring from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), averaged a nation-best 29.3 points per contest and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 2001-02.

Initially a partial qualifier at VMI, Conley is guaranteed eligibility through the second half of next season (2003-04) and will likely earn back his fourth year of competition for 2004-2005. He will be eligible to practice immediately with the Tigers and able to play starting in the second semester next year.

"Jason is a tremendous addition to our program. He is a great competitor who is hungry to get better," Snyder said. "We will look for Jason to be a great defender, rebounder and leader for us, in addition to the offensive presense he provides on the floor. He is a quality person and a very good student. We are thrilled to have him as part of our family at Mizzou."

Conley, a 6-5 guard/forward had a truly amazing freshman year last season for the Keydets of VMI. Besides leading the country in scoring, Conley led the Southern Conference in steals (82) and was tied for third in rebounding averaging 8.0 boards per contest. He was the Southern Conference freshman of the year and was named to ESPN basketball analyst Dick Vitale's All-Diaper Dandy team joining T.J. Ford of Texas, Channing Frye of Arizona, Julius Hodge of North Carolina State, Rick Rickert of Minnesota, Chris Thomas of Notre Dame and Dajuan Wagner of Memphis on that squad.

Conley, who graduated from Montrose Christian High School in Rockville, Md., had nine double-doubles last year and scored 30 or more points in 12 games in '01-02. He did well against some of the best competition in the country going for 38 points against Villanova, 25 points against Virginia and led all scorers in the Keydets game with Kentucky pouring in 24.