RICHMOND, Ky. – Dillon Avare, a 6-0 guard from Lexington, has signed to play basketball at Eastern Kentucky University, head coach Dan McHale announced on Wednesday, April 13

Avare is a transfer from the University of Louisville, where he played two seasons under head coach Rick Pitino. As a redshirt freshman in 2014-15, he notably came off the bench and hit a key free throw in the second half of the Cardinals’ NCAA East Region championship game against Michigan State.

As a sophomore, Avare knocked down a pair of three-pointers and finished with a career-high six points versus Hartford on November 17.

“We are very excited to add a player of Dillon Avare’s stature,” McHale said. “Anytime you can add a veteran guy who has been in a top-notch program like Louisville the last couple of years, it’s special.”

A 4.0 student at Louisville, Avare impressively graduated in three years with a degree in economics, and he will pursue a master’s degree in sports administration at EKU. Avare is eligible to play immediately, and he will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Avare enjoyed a standout prep career at Lexington Catholic High School, just 30 minutes up the road from Richmond. He buried 82 three-pointers and averaged 11.2 points-per-game, 2.8 rebounds-per-game and a team-high 4.3 assists-per-game as a senior in 2012-13, helping the Knights post a 22-12 record and reach the 11th Region championship game.

Avare was also part of a LexCath team that went 24-8 his junior year and 27-8 his sophomore year, winning the 11th Region title. He hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Knights over Lafayette in the district finals his junior season.

Avare won the three-point competition at the 2013 Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic all-star game.

“Dillon brings immediate experience and leadership, and he has won at the highest level of college basketball,” McHale added. “The LexCath product is a big-time shooter, and his all-around game will enhance our backcourt tremendously.”

Avare joins incoming freshmen guards Asante Gist (West Orange, New Jersey) and Parker Chitty (Columbus, Indiana) in EKU’s 2016 signing class.

McHale’s up-tempo Colonels, who finished this past season with an overall record of 15-16 (6-10 in OVC), ranked 18th in the country in scoring offense (80.5 points-per-game). EKU also broke the school single-season field goal percentage record (49.1 percent).