When Isaiah Dahlman and Raymar Morgan were both participants in the Nike All-American Camp this past summer, they talked a lot with each other and formed a friendship.

After Dahlman committed in early September to play basketball for MSU as part of its 2006 recruiting class, he called Morgan, who then committed to MSU less than a month later. Morgan admits Dahlman influenced his decision to become a Spartan.

The two, combined with 7-footer Tom Herzog of Flint, form a recruiting class ranked in the top 20 nationally that will join the MSU basketball team next season.

Dahlman, at 6 foot 6, and Morgan, at 6 foot 7, are proven scorers who can fill the roles of departing senior Maurice Ager and eventually, guard Shannon Brown.

"They both are perimeter players that can play multiple positions," MSU assistant coach Mark Montgomery said. "Both guys are very versatile with their size."

Knowing how to win

Dahlman, ranked No. 106 in the 2006 class by Rivals.com, is a scorer who can play the shooting guard or small forward position. He leaves Braham Area High School as Minnesota's all-time leading scorer and as a three-time state champion.

"It's pretty cool to be in the record books, but it's just a thing that comes along with winning the championships," he said. "It's second to that."

Dahlman said he will bring that championship experience to the college level.

"That will help us because winning becomes a habit," he said. "Let's say we win three in a row in high school, now your goal is to win another one in college so you bring that same intensity at the next level."

Minnesota's Associated Press Player of the Year isn't the only recruit bringing championship rings to East Lansing. Powered by his 25 points, Morgan helped lead Canton McKinley High School in Ohio in its second straight state championship.

But winning championships isn't all the two swingmen have in common. Both plan to be on MSU's campus this summer to start training. Dahlman, who holds 175 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame, said he hopes to come to campus in July and has already talked to coaches about getting a workout plan.

Morgan, who is ranked No. 48 in the 2006 class by Rivals.com, said he hopes to be in East Lansing right after graduation.

"They're kind of on their own (in the summer) but they can work with strength and conditioning coach Mike Vorkapich, take a couple classes and get acclimated to college life," Montgomery said.

The recruits also can play in Lansing summer leagues with other MSU players, he said.

On the hardwood

On the court, the two all-staters bring many skills to the table.

Dahlman considers his best attributes to be his basketball knowledge and scoring ability, and Montgomery says he's a good slasher and a "better catch and shoot" shooter than Morgan.

With his size, Morgan is able to play anything from shooting guard to power forward, but he says the coaches have projected him as a small forward.

"He's probably the best rebounder coming in here for his size," Montgomery said. "Both guys averaged over 25 points per game so they don't have problems getting baskets."

Morgan, Ohio's Associated Press Player of the Year, is quick to say shooting is the weakest part of his game, but that he does the little things teams need to succeed. He said his game will fit into MSU's style of up-tempo offense and tough defense.

"That's how we play at McKinley, and that's how I've always been playing so it's not really going to make a big difference," he said.

What's in store

With the graduation of Ager and Paul Davis, two spots have opened up in MSU's starting five. Sophomore Drew Neitzel is entrenched at point guard and a plethora of big men will battle for the starting power forward and center positions.

If Brown returns, he will take up another starting spot, but that still leaves one starting job open. But Montgomery says to not get overly anxious in picturing Dahlman or Morgan filling that role.

"Let's get them up here, get them in the weight room and get them conditioning," he said. "There's enough pressure for them to come in and play as freshman, let alone start.

"But the bar is raised for those guys."

Tom Herzog photo courtesy of Stuart Bauer/The Flint Journal