Vandal men add two signees
Don Verlin has brought two more basketball players into the fold -- Matt Borton from West Valley of Yakima and junior-college standout Deremy Geiger. The Vandals are expected to have one more signee, Stephen Madison of Jefferson High in Portland. His letter of intent should come in next week. Read on more for more.
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MOSCOW, Idaho - University of Idaho head coach Don Verlin announced Idaho's two late-period signees on Thursday, as freshman Matt Borton and junior Deremy Geiger join the Vandal men's basketball program.
"I am very pleased with the effort of the assistant coaches," Verlin said. "Both these young men are very good shooters and I am excited about that. They are great kids both on and off the basketball floor."
Borton is a 6-5, 185-pound wing from Yakima, Wash. He scored 1,331 points during a four-year varsity career at West Valley High School. His senior year in 2008-09, he averaged 21.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and led the Columbia Basin League in scoring two years in a row.
Borton led West Valley to back-to-back CBL titles in 2008 and 2009 and earned three first-team all-CBL honors. As a senior, he was one of 10 Washington players selected for the WIBCA All-State Game and was also a McDonald's All-America nominee. He was also an outstanding student, as he graduated high school with a 3.75 grade-point average and was a member of the National Honor Society.
"Matt is a versatile basketball player who can do many things," Verlin said. "He understands the game and can shoot the ball well from the perimeter. We are excited that Matt has chosen to stay close to home and come to Idaho."
Borton attended the Impact Basketball Academy at Las Vegas, Nev., for the 2009-10 season after rehabilitating from a knee surgery in early 2009. He averaged 16.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists while competing against top prep schools from around the U.S.
"I am excited to be a part of the Vandal basketball program," Borton said. "It will be great to help build something special there."
Geiger comes to Idaho as a junior from Las Vegas, Nev. The 6-0, 170 guard was a sophomore last season at Grayson County (TX) College, where he was the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 18.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals and shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 46.8 from 3-point range and 78.9 percent from the free throw line.
"We are very excited about what Deremy brings to the Vandal program," Verlin said. "He brings toughness, can play either guard spot, and he's a consistent 3-point threat."
Geiger led GCC to a 22-9 overall record and 10-4 clip in league play. As a senior at Canyon Springs High School, he earned Sunrise Region MVP and second-team all-state honors after averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He led CSHS to a 22-7 overall record and a semifinal showing in the regional tournament. His junior year, he led the Pioneers to the semifinal round of the 4A state tournament. He finished his career at Canyon Springs as the school's all-time leader in points, assists and 3-pointers made.
Borton and Geiger, combined with early-period signees Gary Winston (Walla Walla, Wash./Walla Walla HS), Idell Bell (Lakeland, Fla./North Idaho College) and Renado Parker (Fairwood, Wash./North Idaho College), give Idaho five total signees for the 2010-11 basketball season.