Heading to Alaska

This blog will be quiet for awhile! I will be off in Alaska for a couple of weeks, taking a vacation with my wife! During this time, it is unlikely that I will be posting about the Big Sky... for the reason that I won't be on the computer much of all!

Feel free to send me any news in the conference, or post a comment on this post. It would be much appreciated to make sure that I don't miss anything important!

Thanks all!

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North Dakota Lands Chad Calcaterra

North Dakota's weakness heading into next year was in the frontcourt, but perhaps that is a little stronger after last week's apparent signing of big man Chad Calcaterra. Calcaterra is a 6'10'' center that played last season at Western Nebraska Community College after spending a year at Colorado State.

Calcaterra then transferred to WNCC, where he saw limited playing time. Calcaterra averaged 8 minutes and 3.6 points per game as a sophomore.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete who possesses the height and strength,” Beck said. “He can finish on the rim. He’s also a great student and person. I think he can have a lot of success there — maybe even more than he had here.

“At a JuCo, sometimes teams don’t have 6-10 players and matchups become difficult. I imagine (at UND) he’ll see more players his size and play more extended minutes.”

Last year, he averaged 3.6 points per game in eight minutes. His freshman year at CSU, he averaged 3.5 minutes and 1.4 points per game in 15 games.

He has good athletic skills, but doesn't really seem to have developed that into strong basketball skills. He will have two years at North Dakota to do it, and will provide quality depth at the very least.

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Spencer Coleman Arrested For DUI

Off the court, it already was not the best offseason for Montana and coach Wayne Tinkle. Things got a little bit worse this week when senior forward Spencer Coleman was arrested for a DUI - his second alcohol-related offense in four months.

Spencer C. Coleman, 21, was cited for driving under the influence, a misdemeanor. In February, before he turned 21, he was cited for speeding and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Coleman was arrested at about 2:45 a.m. Monday after a Missoula police officer spotted a broken tail lamp on his 1997 black Nissan Maxima, which was stopped in the middle of the 200 block of Ryman Street, according to the affidavit in the case.

Wayne Tinkle had a comment:

“We’re evaluating the situation,” said basketball coach Wayne Tinkle. “Obviously we take those things very seriously. We’ll follow the student conduct code and act as swiftly as we can given the circumstances.”

This is alarmingly becoming a trend for the Grizzlies. Off the top of my head, there are two incidents with Coleman, a DUI for guard Kevin Henderson earlier this year, and the incident involving Keron DeShields and Will Cherry last month. Regardless of whether the verdicts are eventually guilty or not guilty, it certainly reflects poorly for the Grizzlies.

While this probably doesn't warrant a dismissal from the team, I would expect a lengthy suspension for Coleman, given that it is a second offense so soon, in addition to all of the problems players have been finding themselves getting into. They need to put an end to this publicity, and the best way would perhaps be giving Coleman a swift and steep punishment. Hopefully that would be enough to help convince Coleman that there are serious consequences to his actions, and help deter the rest of the Grizzlies from making similarly poor decisions.

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Idaho State Signs Ben Wilson

Last week, Idaho State added to their big recruiting class with the signing of junior college guard Ben Wilson. Wilson is 6'6'', and attended North Platte Community College the last two years.

Just signed my NLI to Idaho State university ! Thanks to everyone who ha helped me get to this point twitter.com/bjwilson92/sta…
— Ben Wilson (@bjwilson92) May 13, 2013

He averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last year, but drew a ton of praise from his coach for the intangible things that he brought to the court. Among the quotes:

“Ben was instrumental in helping our team qualify for the National Tournament as a two-time All-Conference player and an All-Region IX selection this year,” said head coach Kevin O'Connor. “He was one of the best leaders to ever play for our program and was a very good all-around player. In addition he was a 4.0 student academically. We will miss Ben and wish him the best of luck at Idaho State University.”

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“He was the big reason our chemistry was so good,” the coach said. “He was a really good teammate. He wasn’t interested in scoring as much as getting his teammates involved in the offense.”

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“He probably leadership-wise was as good as we’ve had,” O’Connor said. “He was a good all-around player both offensively and defensively.”

He naturally draws some comparisons to former Bengal Chase Grabau, since they are similar physically and both attended North Platte CC. The Bengals would be thrilled if he had the same impact Grabau did, as he was one of the best players in the conference his senior year. At the very least, he should be a solid teammate and could be a contributor for the Bengals. Given his leadership ability and praise from coaches, he will add a nice dynamic to the Bengals.

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Montana Lands Washington Transfer Martin Breunig

While it won't help their frontline this year, Montana made a big step towards improving the frontcourt for the next couple of years, landing Martin Breunig, a transfer from Washington.

"We are very excited about signing Martin Breunig at the University of Montana," Tinkle said. "He's a strong, athletic post player, and he really adds good size and strength to our front line."

Per transfer rules, Breunig will have to sit out a year, and will be a junior eligibility-wise when he suits up in 2014-15. He originally committed to Maryland before landing at Washington, so it is a caliber of recruit that usually isn't seen on the Big Sky level.

He played less than 200 minutes in his two seasons at Washington, but figures to have a much better shot of cracking the rotation for the Grizzlies. Here is a scouting report from a couple years ago, when he was scheduled to be playing for Maryland:

Strengths:
Breunig is an intriguing post prospect with a variety of tools and good upside. He has good hands and feet, able to catch cleanly in congestion and pretty mobile for a player his size moving both side to side as well as up and down the court. He has good touch around the basket and can face up to consistently make mid-range jumpers and even stretch the defense out to the three-point line at times. Physically, he has a ripped frame with good muscle mass as well as definition.

Weaknesses:
Breunig is much more comfortable facing the basket outside the paint than he is battling inside around the rim. While he has a very strong body he is still getting adjusted to the physicality of the American game and not yet assertive enough against contact. He needs to become a more consistent rebounder and finisher inside the paint and more of a low post scoring threat. He also needs more consistent shooting mechanics to capitalize on his touch facing the basket as his form and release point can both be inconsistent.

Bottom Line:
Breunig may not be ready to make an immediate contribution upon reaching Maryland but given a year or two of development he definitely has the tools to eventually be a productive big man in the ACC.

Come 2014-15, all of a sudden, the Grizzlies should have a deep and experienced frontcourt.

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Austin Hansen Joins Northern Colorado Staff

I don't write a ton about assistant coaching changes, but Northern Colorado has gone through a big staff shake-up this offseason. Ry Martin was let go, and two other coaches (Shawn Ellis and Logan Bean) left the program for various reasons. Joel Davidson from Casper College is one guy that was brought in, and now Austin Hansen from South Dakota State has joined the staff.

"Austin has been a big part of South Dakota State's success and move from Division II to Division I," Hill said. "He's done a great job of recruiting for them and been a great part of that staff. Anytime you can get a guy who's been through the same transformation we have and has had a lot of success, that's a big coup for us. We're excited to have Austin and his recruiting experience at the Division I level. His ties will be really great for this program."

It is a big year for BJ Hill and the Bears, and they have a couple new assistant coaches to try to bring a fresh perspective. It just adds more intrigue to the Bears.

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Marquette Transfer Juan Anderson Considering Weber State

Weber State has an open scholarship, and Juan Anderson is a candidate to fill it. Anderson played two years for Marquette, and is a 6'6'' SF. Last year, he played 13 minutes per game, averaging 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles, who went to the Elite Eight.

He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, and here was one scouting report on him:

If Anderson can consistently stick the outside shot, he'll definitely be able to contribute at the high-major level. He affects the game on many levels and he plays with purpose. His frame has filled out and as a result he plays much bigger now at both ends. At this stage he may be the top 3-man in the west, although it's not a formidable group of wings for his class.

He is a good athlete that can do a little bit of everything for a team. Add in the fact that current three man Davion Berry will be graduating after next season, and Anderson would be a huge pickup for the Wildcats. Last week he said he was down to four choices:

@jeronnemaymon not on a school yet. Oregon, cal, weber state, and Arizona state
— Juan A. (@juanonjuan10) May 7, 2013

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Montana Signs Forward Chris Kemp

The Montana Grizzlies entered the offseason with a need for frontcourt help, and they helped address that with the commitment of forward John "Chris" Kemp out of West Texas College.

Kemp is 6'7'', and will be a junior this year.

"Chris is a very, very explosive post player and extremely strong around the basket," said Tinkle, who has guided UM to a school-record three NCAA berths during his tenure. "He has the potential to be a dominating defender and rebounder - areas which we really need to improve upon in the post.

He averaged 7.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, but played limited minutes because of the rotating system of the team he played on. From all accounts, he is very athletic and tough, and seems to be well-rounded on both ends of the court. The stat line doesn't look like much, but that seems to be more of a function of minutes and the system he played in.

If he can provide some defense, rebounding (he led his team in rebounding with 6.6 per game), and athleticism upfront, it will be a great pickup for the Grizzlies, and exactly what they need. He should be an immediate contributor for the Griz, and it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him starting.

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Idaho State Signs Marcus Bradley

Idaho State's big recruiting class got bigger this week, as they signed 6'7'' power forward Marcus Bradley.

Bradley played his freshman year at UC Irvine before transferring to San Bernadino Valley College, where he averaged 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season.

“We are excited to have Marcus join our program,” Idaho State coach Bill Evans said. “He is a guy that can score the basketball and he will fit in well with our team. We look forward to having him in Pocatello.”

Michael Clay of RM Hoop Review had this to say:

6'6 Wing Marcus Bradley of SBVC in Cali has committed to Idaho st. He is ultra athletic,extremely strong with a great perimeter touch. #huge
— Michael Clay (@RMHoopReview) May 3, 2013

One thing is for sure... the Bengals are going to look a lot different next season! Bill Evans is doing a really nice job getting some talented players into Pocatello.

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Ranking the Big Sky Arenas

Jason Karp at Stadium Journey did a nice ranking of the basketball arenas of the Big Sky Conference, one that is worth a read. Here is how he ranked the arenas:

1. Weber State - Dee Events Center
2. Montana - Dahlberg Arena
3. North Dakota - Betty Engelstad Sioux Center
4. Northern Arizona - Walkup Skydome
5. Sacramento State - The Nest at Colberg Court
6. Montana State - Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
7. Southern Utah - Centrum Arena
8. Eastern Washington - Reese Court
9. Portland State - Stott Center
10. Northern Colorado - Butler-Hancock Hall
11. Idaho State - Holt Arena

I have only been to two of the arenas so I am afraid my opinion on this subject isn't worth anything. For everyone else, what are your thoughts on the rankings?

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Southern Utah Signs Trey Kennedy

Southern Utah added to their recruiting class with the signing of guard Trey Kennedy earlier this week. Kennedy played at powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas (some guy named Shabazz Muhammad played there.

Last year he averaged 12.7 points, 6.3 reobounds, and 4.7 assists last year. He is 6'3'', and was a team caption of the 29-3 Gaels last year.

"We are excited to welcome Trey and his family to Southern Utah," SUU coach Nick Robinson said. "Trey comes from a great family, a championship high school program, and has been well-coached during his career. He brings additional leadership and versatility to the Thunderbird backcourt."

Kennedy fits the mold of guys that Nick Robinson has brought in - players that can do a little bit of everything. He should be a solid contributor for the Thunderbirds.

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Northern Colorado Adds Two Recruits

Within the past week, Northern Colorado has added two good-looking recruits to their program.

The first was last week, when 6'5'' wing man Dominique Lee committed to play for the Bears. Like fellow signee Corey Spence, Lee played as Casper College. Former Casper College coach Joel Davidson is now an assistant at UNC.

Last year, Lee averaged 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds, and is described as having versatility similar to Derrick Barden (though not quite that level of explosiveness). While he should be a nice piece offensively, he will arguably be an even bigger force on the defensive side.

"I'm also really excited about what he brings defensively. Those same qualities he brings on offense are going to allow us to do some of the same things that we did with Derrick [Barden] this year – switching ball screens, doing different things like that because [Dominique] has such great athleticism and feet."

If Lee can bring that type of versatility, UNC suddenly has the core of a good defensive team, with Barden and Spence in there as well. He can play many positions, which will help offset the loss of Emmanuel Addo upfront. He should have an immediate impact and will be solid in his two years for the Bears.

The other signee was a freshman-to-be big man named named Jeremy Verhagen. Verhagen has incredible numbers, although it appears it was against a little lower competition in Arizona. He led all high school players in the state in blocks and rebounds last year. His stat line was - 17.6 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 7.2 blocks per game.

He's 6'10'', and has a lot of room to grow physically. He is skinny, and can play a bit away from the basket. Hill is excited about his rebounding and shot blocking ability:

"Rebounding has always been my biggest stat as a coach," Hill said. "To get another guy in this program who likes to chase it, rebound outside his area is very exciting. Blocking shots hasn't ever been something we emphasize here, but he's obviously going to be a guy who brings that into the mix with his length, timing and feet on the defensive end. It's going to be fun for Bear fans to watch.

He had originally committed to Grand Canyon University, and apparently had some interest from Northern Arizona at one time. With his frame, it's tough to tell how big of an impact he will make right away, but UNC surely has big plans for him.

Not long ago, it looked like the frontcourt was the main weakness for the Bears.With these two signings, things are looking a lot more settled now.

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Duce Zaid to Transfer from Weber State

We have another transfer out of the Big Sky, as Weber State guard Duce Zaid will be moving on from the program, per Jeff Goodman.

Zaid was a junior college transfer that redshirted last year, so he would have had two years of eligibility remaining for the Wildcats. With a crowded Weber backcourt, it would have been hard to say what his role was, so it makes sense that he is looking to move on. Hopefully he can find success at his next stop!

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Early 2013-14 Big Sky Rankings

The start of the season is only about six months away, so it seemed like a perfect time for a way too early rankings for next season! A lot can and will change, but thought it would be fun to take a look at where teams might be ranked if the season were starting today. In some cases, these look a lot like the end of year standings, as a lot of key players will be seniors this year, especially for the top seeds. Please weigh in with thoughts!

The information on who is coming in mostly comes from my recruiting tracker, so let me know if I am missing anyone.

1. Weber State
Who they lose: Scott Bamforth, Frank Otis, Duce Zaid, Wayne Bradford
Who is coming in: Kyndahl Hill (RS), Jeremy Senglin, Richaud Gittens, Josh Fuller
Comments: Bamforth and Otis are big losses, but they have the talent to replace them. Once again, they will be the deepest and most athletic team in the conference, and I have them as an early one thanks to the graduation of Will Cherry and Mathias Ward. In the backcourt, if Gelaun Wheelwright is ready, he will be a natural choice to step into the spot at two guard. If not, they have plenty of other options (Royce Williams, Gittens, Senglin - who is a big-time talent) that can play minutes there. Upfront, Kyndahl Hill is one to watch. He redshirted this year, but is a big-time athlete that is a bit raw. Does that sound familiar? He is a lot like Joel Bolomboy in that way. Speaking of Bolomboy, after a stellar debut, he could be an all-league player. We aren’t even getting into Davion Berry, Kyle Tresnak, and Jordan Richardson, all of whom are among the best (if not the best) at their positions in the conference. They should again be ten deep.

2. Montana
Who they lose: Will Cherry, Mathias Ward
Who is coming in: Mario Dunn, Brandon Gfeller, Riley Bradshaw (second semester)
Comments: I was tempted to pick them to win it, just because it seems like I am always picking against them and being proven wrong. Kareem Jamar will be back, and he could be a two-time League MVP. Jordan Gregory showed signs that he could be the next great Grizzlies guard, and be a potential 13-15 PPG scorer with his ability to shoot outside and drive. His development will be key. It remains to be seen what will happen with Keron DeShields, but he will be a big part of the team as long as he is there. They have a lot of role players upfront (Spencer Coleman, Andy Martin, Eric Hutchison, Mike Weisner), but they need at least a couple of them to take the next step and become solid, consistent starters. I would expect they will also look at bringing another big man in, but we will have to wait and see about that. On paper, you could make the case that they could fall to fourth, but with Wayne Tinkle and Jamar still there, that doesn’t seem likely. Look for them to challenge for the crown again.

3. North Dakota
Who they lose: Jordan Allard, Mitch Willmer, Doug Archer, Dan Stockdale
Who is coming in: Quinton Hooker, Jaron Nash, Alonzo Traylor, Ryan Salmonsen
Comments: They lose some rotational big men, but they should have enough talent in that they won't feel it too much. They thought they would have Nash this year, but he should be a high impact player that could start. He has a ton of athleticism and talent after coming over from Texas Tech. Traylor (who played the first semester before becoming ineligible) and Salmsonsen will also provide depth up front. The biggest key, of course, is the return of Troy Huff. He has a legitimate argument as the best player in the conference, and should have a big senior year. With Aaron Anderson and Jamal Webb back as well, UND might have the best backcourt in the Big Sky.

4. Northern Colorado
Who they lose: Paul Garnica, Emmanuel Addo, Bryce Douvier
Who is coming in: Jordan Wilson, Corey Spence, Dominique Lee
Comments: They lose two impact transfers, but I'm not sure it will hamper them too much. Addo was inconsistent for them, and JUCO big Dominique Lee should be able to step in and help there. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Tim Huskisson as more of a small ball four, or perhaps Cody McDavis. Maybe they can just play Derrick Barden 40 minutes a game! In the backcourt, I like what they are thinking... Tevin Svihovec struggled a lot at the lead guard, so they have brought in guys that can take the pressure off. Wilson has gotten a ton of high praise, though I wonder how physically ready he will be to play immediately. Corey Spence is a very good passer and defender, which is what they need. Plus, the Bears still have Tate Unruh and Barden, two of the best returners in the conference.

5. Eastern Washington
Who they lose: Collin Chiverton, Kevin Winford, Jeff Forbes, Jordan Hickert
Who is coming in: Sir Washington, Felix Van Hofe, Drew Brandon, Ognjen Miljkovic
Comments: I'm taking a leap here, but I think EWU will be much improved this year, and they will continue to get better and better as they get more players to fill the system. Either Miljkovic or Van Hofe could have an impact similar to Venky Jois, as they both have the pedigree. They will join Jois, Martin Seiferth, and Thomas Reuter in the frontcourt, to form the most versatile front line in the conference. Drew Brandon looks really good in the backcourt, and he could join Tyler Harvey back there. The Eagles should have good depth and a lot of options. Plus, with a ton of youth, they will get better and better.

6. Montana State
Who they lose: Jeff Budinich, Xavier Blount, Christian Moon,
Who is coming in: Stephen Holm, Vance Wentz, Terrell Brown
Comments: The loss of Blount and Moon hurts on the wings, but the return of Calen Coleman and the addition of Terrell Brown should make up for most of that production. Plus, they can play two PGs at once, as they have three capable ones on the roster (Antonio Biglow, Mike Dison, Marcus Colbert). The biggest reason I have them fifth is their seniors in the frontcourt. Paul Egwuonwu and Flavien Davis were both JUCO transfers that got better and better as the season goes along. As seniors, they will be a formidable frontcourt duo.

7. Sacramento State
Who they lose: Konner Veteto, John Dickson, Joe Eberhard, Jackson Carbajal, Julian Demalleville
Who is coming in: Eric Stuteville, Nicky Hornsby, Case Rada, Zach Mills, Alex Tiffin
Comments: They lose almost all of their frontcourt experience, but they will have one of the best backcourts in the Big Sky. Dylan Garrity returns, and he could be an all-conference player if things come together. Mikh McKinney showed a lot of good things in his first year. They are also high on guys like Dreon Bartlett and Cody Demps, not to mention incoming Case Rada. The frontcourt production will be the key to whether they break through and make the conference tournament.

8. Northern Arizona
Who they lose: Gabe Rogers, Stallon Saldivar, Blake Hamilton, Ephraim Ekanem, Michael Dunn
Who is coming in: Kris Yanku, Zachary Reynolds, Chris Miller, Terry Winn, Terry Meeker, Ako Kaluna, Quinton Upshur
Comments: They will be fun to watch, as there will be a lot of youth out there. In particular, I am excited about Yanku (guard) and Kaluna (center), but I have been told that Quinton Upshur could be the most talented guy in the class. There will be a lot of growing pains, but those should be fun for Lumberjacks fans. Returning is guard DeWayne Russell, who was one of the best freshmen in the conference. He should improve even more and be a potential all-conference guy. Max Jacobsen was a revelation as a junior, and he should anchor the frontcourt.

9. Idaho State
Who they lose: Melvin Morgan, Sherrod Baldwin, Jakub Kusmieruk, Neveij Walters, Dejan Kostur
Who is coming in: Jeffrey Solarin, Scotty Tyler, Justin Smith, Andreij Slavik, Sage Burmeister, Ajak Magot
Comments: To me, ISU looks like Eastern Washington did last year. They are doing a nice job of establishing their identity, but they don't have the players or the experience yet to take the next step and be a good team. Tomas Sanchez will be one of the best all-around guards in the Big Sky, and should form a nice duo with sharpshooter Chris Hansen. The frontcourt remains thin, but should be better with the reinforcements of the recruiting class. This is a program that is trending up, but I think they are a year away from contention for the tournament.

10. Portland State
Who they lose: Renado Parker, Lateef McMullan, Michael Harthun, Michael Harvey, Marvin Whitmore
Who is coming in: Zach Gengler, Kyle Benton
Comments: It's tough to see how they improve much, because they lose three senior starters, and they had no freshmen on the roster last year. Aaron Moore and Lamont Prosser will form the basis of the backcourt, and they hope that Gary Winston and Dre Winston can be a good backcourt duo, but they look like a team that lacks depth and explosiveness offensively. Plus, they have been one of the worst defensive teams in the conference over the past few years.

11. Southern Utah
Who they lose: Jackson Stevenett, Damon Heuir, Wade Collie, Zach Ghormley, Jordan Johnson, Julian Scott, Tyson Koehler
Who is coming in: John Marshall, Race Parson, McKay Anderson, Juwan Major, Casey Oliverson
Comments: Nick Robinson did a great job in his first season, but he will have to do an even better job to get the Thunderbirds back in the Big Sky tournament. They lose their top scorers from last year, and there is nobody back who scored more than 6.8 PPG. I struggle to see who will be the lead dog for them. They need AJ Hess and Chris Nsenki to develop a lot this offseason. Their recruiting class has solid guys, but it will take awhile.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Minor updates have been made to clean the article up of any errors. 

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Idaho State Signs Jeffrey Solarin

Idaho State inked 6'4'' guard Jeffrey Solarin last week, a guy with a unique style of play for a guard. He is 6'4'', and played the last two years at Northwest College in Powell, WY.

Last year, he averaged 16.6 PPG and 8.9 rebounds per game, upping that to over ten boards per game in conference play. The 8.9 RPG should clue you in, he is not a traditional shooting guard. His shooting percentages look more like a center... he shot 61.5% from the floor last year, but only shot four threes all year.

He is a guy that will live in the arc and play tough defense, which should be a great fit for Bill Evans. He is the sixth member of their recruiting class, which will go a long way towards making sure they are a deeper team. It is a slow rebuild, but the Bengals are slowly putting some really nice pieces in place.

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Eastern Washington Inks Three

I have already written about Sir Washington, but Eastern Washington has signed three more players within the last week.

The first was Australian forward Felix Van Hofe. He played for Australia's U17 National Team, which finished second (to the USA) in the World U17 Championships, so he has experience playing against a high level of competition. Coach Jim Hayford says he is a "great shooter and solid all-around player." He also calls him the most acclaimed international recruit they have signed.

It continues the Australian pipeline for the Eagles, as they already have Venky Jois and Daniel Hill in the program, with Jordan Hickert having just graduated.

Then they signed 6'3'' JUCO guard Drew Brandon, who played for Sierra College in Rocklin, CA. Hayford says he has the ability to shoot the ball, drive the ball, and pass the ball. He had a fairly ridiculous stat line last year - 15.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Obviously, he has talent.

The signing makes sense too when looking at their roster. With the graduation of Kevin Winford and Jeff Forbes, and the transfer of Justin Crogsile midseason, there are depth issues at the PG spot. Daniel Hill showed some flashes as a freshman, but was up and down. Tyler Harvey can play the spot, but he is more natural off the guard. This gives the Eagles another option at the point, which is very important in Hayford's system.

The guy that perhaps the Eagles are most excited about is big man Ognjen Miljkovic (sidenote: EWU is not doing this Big Sky blogger any favors with making their guys' names be easy to spell!). Miljkovic is originally from Serbia, but played the last two years at Bishop Montgomery High School. He is 6'7'' and will be a freshman. He averaged 17 and 9 last year, but is a big man that can hit the three (notice any trends?) and has a versatile offensive game. He reportedly had some other potential options, so it has to feel good to snag him.

When you are rebuilding a small program that has some disadvantages, sometimes you have to think out of the box. That is what Eastern Washington has done the past couple of years, and I think it will pay big dividends. They have put together another very nice class.

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