Booker, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound power forward from Fort Wayne, Indiana, still has a year left at Wayne High School, but he decided to sign early with MVNU. He helped the Generals to a 13-9 record last year, but he spent a good deal of the year rehabbing from a knee injury.

"This is an exciting signing for both me personally and for our basketball program,” said MVNU coach Matt Moore, who will enter his first season with the Cougars this year after serving as an assistant coach at Grace (Ind.) College. "Daz is my first recruit as a head coach and his willingness to sign with us before the school year demonstrates his commitment to MVNU basketball. He is such a dynamic player for a big man with untapped potential as an athlete and a basketball player. I believe he will be an impact player in our league in the years to come.”

"This is an exciting time for me as I commit to play college basketball at Mount Vernon Nazarene University,” said Booker, who plans to major in Sports Management. "MVNU’s players and the coaching staff made me feel welcome and truly took an interest in not just my game but me as a person. I really like Coach Moore and can’t wait to play for him in front of the Cougar Crazies next year.”

MVNU finished the 2008-2009 season with a 23-9 overall record as the Cougars qualified for the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the fourth straight year and the eighth time overall. The team also topped the 20-win mark for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons and has consistently been ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Top 25 during that span.