According to www.myfoxhouston.com, 6-foot-11 center Valentine Izundu gave Houston a verbal pledge on Tuesday, choosing the Cougars over Texas, Marquette, Arkansas, Tulsa and SMU.

"He just told me he committed to the University of Houston," his former coach at Cypress Lakes High, Emmanuel Olatunbosun told the Fox affiliate. "He's excited about staying at home and playing. He's got family and friends here. He's excited about the recruits that they picked up this year."

Izundu is a native of Lagos, Nigeria, the home of former Houston great and NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. He joins a class currently ranked No. 13 on ESPN.com and features two ESPNU 100 prospects, small forward Danuel House and power forward Danrad Knowles.