Mark Halsell will transfer to Park University for the 2009-10 basketball season from the University of Kentucky, where he played in 2008-09.

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Park University head men’s basketball coach Jason Kline has announced the program’s 2009-10 men’s basketball signing class, including six junior college transfers, one freshman with high school experience and a pair of transfers from NCAA Division I schools.

One of the two Division I transfers comes to Park from the University of Kentucky, where Mark Halsell, a 5-foot-11 guard, played in six games last season for former UK head coach Billy Gillespie.

Halsell made his UK debut last season against Lamar University and later scored his first Wildcat point against the University of Indiana. His only 3-point attempt was a made triple in a Kentucky win over Tennessee State. In all, he averaged 2.5 minutes per game for Kentucky on a squad that finished the season with a loss to Notre Dame in the National Invitational Tournament.

Juston Hairston will also transfer to Park from an NCAA Division I school after playing in one game last season for Western Michigan. Hairston stands 6-foot-5 and will push for playing time in the post as a junior in 2009-10 at Park.

The Pirates’ junior college class includes a pair of transfers via Kansas City Kansas Community College and Alexandria, La., as 6-foot-4 wing man Travis Fairley averaged 15 points per game last season for KCK, and 6-foot-1 point guard Derrick Howard passed out 4.5 assists to go with 7.5 points per game as the Devils’ court general.

Park also gains a pair of twins from New York’s Nassau Community College in Brandon and Michael Ferguson. Both players are 6-foot-6 forwards, with Michael Ferguson averaging 9.4 points per game and 5.7 rebounds. Brandon Ferguson scored 5.7 points per game while grabbing five rebounds per contest.

Goldeng Deng, a 6-foot-2 forward, enters the Park men’s basketball program after averaging 7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season at Southeast Nebraska Community College, and Jordan White is the third 6-foot-6 member of the signing class, coming from Otero Community College where he averaged 5.2 points and five rebounds per game.

Blayke Ladd, a freshman from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Okla., rounds out the signing class after being named to the All-Oklahoma City East All-Star team at the end of his high school career last spring. Ladd, a 5-foot-9 guard, will also push for playing time at the point.

“Our incoming class will really help us in what will be a tough season both in and out of the conference,” Kline said. “It’s going to be very tough in the AMC, and our non-conference schedule isn’t light. We’ll have to bring everything we have every night this year, and the new guys will be a key part in that.”

Park begins the season in early November, opening the year at home against Central Methodist on Nov. 3 before taking on Avila and MidAmerica Nazarene Nov. 6-7 in the Jeff Uphaus Classic at Bell Family Arena in Olathe. Conference play begins Jan. 7, when the Pirates host Missouri Baptist University.

For Park’s complete men’s basketball schedule and future news on the Pirate men’s basketball program, visit www.parkathletics.com and click on the men’s basketball tab.