UW Out To Replace Sanford Bender Hopes To Add ‘Athletic Type Forward’

Mark Sanford’s decision to enter June’s NBA draft leaves the University of Washington with weighty questions to answer as Bob Bender prepares for his fifth season at the school.

Bender hopes to address some of those questions during the late signing period beginning Wednesday.

“We’re looking for an athletic type forward, similar to Mark,” Bender said. “So, hopefully we can continue to get the kids we want in that regard.”

The staff is focusing on two players in particular, 6-foot-8 forward Jermaine Ousley from Tyler (Texas) Junior College, and 6-9 power forward Johnny Mitchell from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, another junior college.

Ousley is considered by many as the top junior college player in the country and will decide between UW, Cincinnati, Fresno State and UNLV, with national champion Arizona fading. A legitimate NBA prospect, Ousley would be the highest rated player ever signed by Bender at Washington.

Mitchell is raw offensively, but at 235 pounds he bangs the boards. He is being pursued by UW, Western Kentucky, Idaho State and Middle Tennessee State. Some junior college scouts consider Mitchell a poor man’s Horace Grant, a power forward who can play facing the basket.

“Mitchell is an athletic player with a good medium-range jump shot,” said Mark Mayemura, managing editor of Recruiting USA, which tracks high school and JC talent. “He gets up and down the floor, but sometimes he needs to play with more intensity.”

As for the returning Huskies, 7-footers Todd MacCulloch and Patrick Femerling, a pair of juniors, will be asked to pick up Sanford’s inside scoring load. Bender said more emphasis will be placed on the perimeter, where UW returns two starters in senior point guard Jan Wooten and junior Donald Watts. Also, swingman Mike Johnson of Ballard and point guard Dan Dickau of Prairie, both signed by Washington during the early signing period in November, will see considerable action as freshmen.

“It puts people into positions to have an opportunity to step up in their production,” Bender said.

In the Huskies’ favor is a planned trip to France, Aug. 18-28, the kind teams traditionally use as a springboard to a successful season. California took a trip to Europe last summer and went 23-9, including a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“It couldn’t be better timing for us to have the foreign trip coming up,” Bender said. “It gives us a chance to see some things and see how these kids react before we even have practice in October.”