James Cripe / Photo by Jim Osborn, The Post

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The tallest player in Northern Kentucky University basketball history will take the court for the Norse next season.

NKU head coach Dave Bezold announced Thursday that he has added University of Dayton transfer James Cripe to the roster for 2006-07. Cripe, a 7-foot, 255-pound center, will have one year of eligibility with the Norse.

Cripe averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 24 games last season for Dayton. His top game was a 14-point, six–rebound performance as the Flyers posted an upset victory at Cincinnati last November.

“James is going to give us a great presence inside, offensively and defensively, and he is a great addition to our program,” Bezold said.

“With his size, he is going to alter a lot of shots. He is also a good offensive player in the post, and I expect him to step in and be a factor next season.”

Cripe will graduate with a communications management major from Dayton next month. He has one season of basketball eligibility remaining because he sat out as a redshirt his freshman year at Dayton.

Cripe will pursue a master’s degree in communications at NKU.

Cripe averaged 14 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game while earning All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference as a prep senior in 2002 at Loveland High School. Since then, Cripe has grown two inches and will be the first 7-footer in Norse history.

“It will be great to have a 7-footer in the paint next season, because we were one of the shortest teams in our conference this past year,” Bezold said.

At Loveland, Cripe was a teammate of current NKU standout Kevin Schappell. This past season, Schappell averaged 11.2 ppg and earned honorable mention All-Great Lakes Valley Conference accolades.

Bezold also has added University of New Mexico transfer Anthony Teague to the roster for 2006-07. A 6-5, 190-pound guard/forward, Teague played in three games for the Lobos last season. He scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds during a 95-42 win against Southeastern Conference member Mississippi as his best effort at New Mexico.

Teague transferred to New Mexico from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, where he averaged 17.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 34.5 percent from 3-point range and scored a career-high 35 points against Labette County Community College.

“Anthony has been in school at NKU this semester, and we’re looking forward to having him on the team,” Bezold said. “He can score from the wing or off the dribble, and he has a lot of experience.”

Teague is a 2003 graduate of Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He averaged 20 ppg as a senior in high school.

Those players will join an NKU team that posted a 17-11 record last season and finished second in the GLVC East with a 12-7 mark.