After leading Fort Bend Dulles to a 34-5 record and an appearance in the state championship game, Abel and Thomas Galliguez signed letters of intent Thursday to play basketball at John Brown University, a NAIA Division I school in Siloam Springs, Ark.

The twin brothers, both 5-feet-8, feel that the signings caps off a dream season. “It’s icing on the cake,” Abel said.

During his senior campaign, Abel averaged 15 points per game including 37 percent from three-point range. At the end of the year, he was selected to play in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.

“God blessed me to get a scholarship, and to go with my brother to the same school is also exciting,” Abel said.

Thomas also had an impressive season averaging 10 points per game, while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc. At the end of the year, he was selected to play in Thursday night's Houston Area Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game at Kingwood Park.

“It’s like I’m living a dream,” Thomas said. “To go to state in my senior year, to play with my brother all four years in high school and now go to the same college together, you never realize something like that would happen,” Thomas said.

Both brothers started playing varsity for the Vikings as freshmen in the 2004-05 season, and had plenty of time to adapt to the Princeton-style offense head coach Mike Carrabine implemented that led Dulles to a 21-0 start last season and big playoff wins over Elkins, Madison and Klein Forest in the state semifinals.

“I’m extremely proud,” Carrabine said. “Not that they’re just great players, but great kids as well. It makes me feel good that I had some part in their success.”

Also known for their defensive prowess, both took over 100 charges in their high school career.

The Galliguez brothers are also excited to go to a program with a lot of success in basketball. John Brown won the NAIA title in 2005 and head coach Clark Sheehy feels the twins will make an immediate impact on the program.

 “They are both extremely competitive and skilled students of the game who will be a great addition to the John Brown University men’s basketball program,” Sheehy said.

The signings took place at the school library with the brothers, their mother, Annabelle, Carrabine and assistant coach Mark Rosenbalm.

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