The more new Robert Morris basketball coach Mike Rice watched film from last season, the more convinced he became that the Colonials need to improve defensively this season.

To underscore that belief, Rice signed two more freshmen for next season.

Robert Morris announced yesterday the signings of guard Khalif Foster and forward Will Royal to letters of intent.

Both are known as defensive players, and they also will add depth. Rice believes one reason the Colonials weren't good enough defensively last season was because the starters played a ton of minutes.

"I'll be able to play more guys now," Rice said. "I want to play [at least] nine guys. Khalif and Will will push people and provide competition."

Foster, 6 feet 3, 210 pounds, is from the Academy of the New Church in Philadelphia. Last season, he averaged 18.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. With 1,322 career points, he finished as his school's all-time scoring leader.

"He brings physicality and toughness to our team," Rice said. "He's kind of like a Tony Lee-type player."

Lee, who will be a senior this season, generally is regarded as the Colonials' most hard-nosed player.

"Khalif will be ready to play right away," Rice said. "He also was a defensive back as a football player. If somebody's beating us [from the outside], we can put him in and shut that guy down."

Royal, 6-7, 230, averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds a game last season for Harmony Community School (Ohio), which finished 40-4 and won the Prep School national championship.

As a senior at Harrisburg High School two years ago, Royal averaged 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

"Another physical guy who will be ready to fill some minutes for us," Rice said. "His strengths are rebounding and defending."

Rice had room for two more recruits because holdovers Kelvin Bright and Colson Senat will transfer in hopes of playing more.

Bright probably will transfer to a junior college. Senat, who will graduate from RMU this summer, has a season of eligibility left and will use that at a Division II school.

Rice also announced the hiring of Jimmy Martelli as an assistant coach. He is the youngest son of St. Joseph's, Pa., coach Phil Martelli.

Jimmy Martelli was an assistant coach last season at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. He is a 2005 graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., where he was a two-season starter at point guard.