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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nic’s Myles Signs Letter To Play At Mississippi State

On one of the happiest days of his young life, Todd Myles took time out to remember one of the saddest.

Myles, a freshman guard at North Idaho College, signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at Mississippi State, a Final Four team last year.

As his coach, Hugh Watson, and NIC president Bob Bennett looked on, Myles signed the scholarship documents. Minutes later, Myles’ eyes welled up recounting the recent death of a childhood friend in New York.

“It happened 11 days ago,” said Myles, who grew up in Brooklyn. “I’ve known him all my life. He was a big-brother type.

“He got into an argument with a guy and wouldn’t give up his watch. He was shot, execution style, through the ears.”

Myles said the death put his own life into perspective.

“All my life I’ve taken everything for granted,” he said. “I was spoiled by my mom and dad. You never appreciate what you have until something like this happens.

“I wanted to sign early because tomorrow there’s no promises. I appreciate this environment and being at NIC. Somebody once told me, ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,’ so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Myles must complete 32 credit hours before he can go on to Mississippi State. If he fails to do so, he said he would return to NIC.

Vandal signings

The University of Idaho men’s basketball program signed two players Wednesday and hope to sign two more.

Tacoma Community College’s Dazmond Kinlow, a 6-foot-9 center, and NIC’s Cameron Banks, two players who previously committed, made it official Wednesday.

Kinlow averaged 12.5 points, 12.9 rebounds and 7.8 blocked shots as a freshman. His coach, Carl Howell, said Kinlow has a 7-foot-1 wing span.

“Dazmond is a kid that hasn’t played a ton of basketball. He can really run and jump and we believe he has a bright future,” UI coach Kermit Davis said.

Banks, a 6-4 wing, played his freshman year at TCC with Kinlow before transferring to NIC. Banks averaged 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds last season.

“He fits the mold of what we’re trying to do. He’s very athletic and competitive,” Davis said. “He has a chance to do some nice things.”

UI lost one prospective recruit, a center to Alabama State.

, DataTimes