COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Steve Payne’s 2012-13 signing class has expanded once again with a commitment from Ammanuel Diressa, a 6-4 multi-position player from Eastern Commerce high school (ECHS) in Toronto, Ontario.

"Manny is a big time shooter,” Golden Eagle head coach Steve Payne said. “He has a tremendous feel for the game and is a good ball-handler and distributor. We are looking to use Manny as a big two-guard who could possibly slide to the one.”

Under head coach Kevin Jeffers at ECHS, Diressa averaged 17.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his senior campaign, and played every position on the court over the course of his high school career. He also added 4.5 assists and 2.1 steals per contest during the 2011-12 season.

“The entire Diressa family is definitely happy that Manny made this decision,” Jeffers said of Diressa’s commitment to Tech. “The school fits him well.

“We watched a number of Tech’s games on ESPN-U this past season, and Manny was incredibly intent on breaking down the Golden Eagle offense and defense. When I asked him if he thought he would be comfortable playing at that level, he was confident with his response that he definitely thought he could contribute at Tech. He loves the style of play.”

As do all of Payne’s signees, Diressa has proven not only his ability to execute an offense and lead his team on the floor, but also his potential to bring intangible characteristics to the roster.

“He is very hardworking and dedicated, not only to the game of basketball but also to his academics,” Jeffers said. “He’s competitive, inquisitive, and is always asking the right questions. He’s very eager to continue learning about the game at Tennessee Tech.”

With the addition of Diressa and last week’s commitment from transfer Josiah Moore, the incoming 2012-13 class has grown to seven. Diressa and Moore joined DeOndre Haynes on the list of spring commitments, while Shaq Calhoun, Anthony Morse, Jay Johnson and Eric Weisenbach comprised the fall signing class.