CARBONDALE - Happy with the future look of his team, Southern Illinois University men's basketball coach Chris Lowery signed three players that may give the Salukis better looks from the new 3-point line.

The NCAA moved the men's line back a foot this season to 20 feet, 9 inches, and SIU's three new players for the 2009-2010 year can either shoot there themselves, or set up teammates behind the arc. SIU made 198 triples last season, seventh-best in the Missouri Valley Conference, and got three players Monday that may be able to do more than set up this year's shooters next season.

"We wanted to make sure we got guys who could take advantage of the new 3-point line," Lowery said.

Point guard Kendal Brown-Surles of Harrison (Ind.) High School adds speed to an already fast team. The 5-foot-9 right-hander averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.6 steals and will remind fans of Decatur Eisenhower standout Lewis Jackson, who signed with Purdue. Brown, Lowery's cousin, was a first team all-league pick out of the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference and a top 100 underclassman by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

"We got a jet," Lowery said. "We got a guy who will be the fastest guy on our team, and has a high basketball IQ."

Shooting guard Drew Barham and 6-8 Jordan Myers round out the signing class. Jeremy Felton, a 6-6 forward at Mineral Area (Mo.) College who verbally committed to the Salukis earlier this year, said he would not be signing with the Salukis in the near future, but may down the road.

"Carbondale is still a possibility," Felton said. "I would like to go there, but I don't know if they're going to recruit me. They came to me with it. I wasn't playing Carbondale hard, they said. They said I was playing hard, but not Carbondale hard."

Per NCAA rules, Lowery or any member of the SIU coaching staff can't discuss any negotiations with prospective recruits.

Barham turned down offers from Rice, Belmont, Bucknell, Arkansas State and American to sign with the Salukis. The 6-6 shooting guard led Christian Brothers (Tenn.) High School to the Division 2 AA title game last season and could give SIU another 3-point threat.

Myers also has some touch from the perimeter, and could give SIU another inside-outside presence at the post. The Ferdinand, Ind., native averaged 17 points and eight rebounds a game last season.

"Jordan is a big, skilled guy who can play in and out, and that's kind of the thing we want to get from our combination forwards," Lowery said. "Obviously, our future is Nick Evans at the center spot, but everyone else around him is multi-skilled. Jordan's a kid who has a big body, who has range to the 3-point line, and who is skilled with both hands."

SIU finished 18-15 last season and has started out 2-0 this year. The Salukis have reached the postseason seven straight years.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087

Drew Barham, 6-6, SG, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) HS Averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds for state runners-up. Could give SIU another perimeter threat.

Kendal Brown-Surles, 5-9, PG, Harrison (Ind.) HS SIU coach Chris Lowery's cousin, Brown-Surles could give SIU another quick guard in the Lewis Jackson mold.

Jordan Myers, 6-8, PF, Forest Park (Ind.) HS Power forward can shoot from the 3 as well, and averaged 17 points and eight rebounds a game last season.