Seven-footer from Denmark to play hoops at ODU

Old Dominion's basketball team picked up another big man and added more international flavor to its roster after getting a commitment from Anton Larsen, a 7-foot, 235-pound incoming freshman from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Larsen visited last week and decided he didn't need to go anywhere else, he said Tuesday.

"Basketball is small in Denmark. It's been my dream for a long time to play in the States," he said. "I was talking to some other schools, but after the trip I was sure I wanted to go to ODU."

Southern Illinois and Florida International also were recruiting Larsen, who will turn 21 in August and is a member of the Danish national team. Larsen played pickup games with current ODU players and was impressed with his future teammates.

"The way they played basketball was way different than in Denmark," he said. "Much quicker, must faster."

Larsen said he liked the coaching staff, and he pointed to the program's previous success with international players as a factor in his decision.

Larsen described himself as a typical European center, more comfortable facing the basket than in the low post. That evaluation was seconded by Morten Thomsen, a former national team coach who has seen Larsen play often.

"He's a face-up guy, not a banger," Thomsen said. "He runs the floor well, has great hands, and can shoot anything from the 3-point line in. He'll need to adjust defensively, and to the physical style of play, but he's going to be a nice freshman."

Larsen joins a crowded frontcourt, one that features five players who are 6-8 or taller: starters Gerald Lee and Frank Hassell and reserves Keyon Carter, Chris Cooper and Nick Wright. Wright redshirted last year and Cooper might this season. Larsen said he has discussed the possibility of redshirting with ODU's coaches.

Larsen will be one of two newcomers next year, joining Josh Hicks, a 6-2 guard from Winston-Salem, N.C.