Western signed two prospects Friday to National Letters of Intent as part of college basketball’s early signing period.

Stephon Drane of Raleigh, N.C., and Kene Anyigbo from Belaire, Texas, joined Head Coach Ken McDonald’s 2010 class and will enter as freshmen next fall with four years of eligibility. McDonald said this class is just the start of filling the Toppers’ roster with players that fit the second-year coach’s system.

“I’m very pleased with the efforts by the assistant coaches with our second true class that we’re able to figure out what’s best for our team,” McDonald said. “We try to get as many guys with size and skill in our system that will do well.”

Drane, who averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds in his junior season at Word of God Christian Academy, played on a team McDonald said signed eight Division I players, including Kentucky’s John Wall.

According to McDonald, sometimes players don’t put up the numbers they’re capable of when surrounded by such talents, and that’s the case with Drane.

“That definitely happens some,” he said. “It’s probably similar to our team. We’ve got good players. Last year, Orlando (Mendez Valdez) gets a lot of attention, A.J. (Slaughter) gets a lot of attention and you forget how good of a player Steffphon Pettigrew is.”

Anyigbo also received offers from Houston and Memphis.

Another highlight of the early class, McDonald said, is that both players already have good character — something the coach said he learned to look for after finalizing Western’s 2009 class.

Terrence Boyd and David Laury, highly touted recruits with questionable personalities, failed to make it through last summer and were released from the team.

“I think you learn a lesson in every recruiting situation,” McDonald said. “I’m very pleased with the character coming in, and it’s definitely a focal point in recruiting because you don’t want sleepless nights when you’re recruiting guys — you really don’t. We don’t have to have that here, and it’s great.”

McDonald was not sure as to whether he would ink a third player during the early signing period, which runs through next Wednesday.