Hopson joins Cougs on quiet signing day
Washington State and Idaho both announced official signings as the spring letter of intent period for men’s basketball opened Wednesday.
The Cougars signed point guard Mac Hopson, who had once orally committed to Idaho before changing course after the firing of coach Leonard Perry. Hopson, who spent the last year playing for North Idaho College, led his team with 13.7 points and 3.8 assists a game.
He will be eligible to play three seasons at WSU.
Hopson’s father played at Idaho in the early 1980s, and his family lives in Vancouver, Wash.
“Mac is a welcomed addition to our program,” WSU head coach Tony Bennett said in a statement. “He had an excellent season with NIC. He is a very good student, comes from a wonderful family, and has a burning desire to be at Washington State and compete in the Pac-10. The fact that he is an in-state recruit and has three years of eligibility left excites me all the more.”
Idaho confirmed that Lorenzo Ecford, a junior college transfer from Chicago, will join the Vandals this fall. The 6-foot-9 Ecford started his college career at Missouri State but played most recently at Kennedy-King Junior College in Chicago, averaging 10.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. Ecford originally signed with the Vandals in November, and head coach George Pfeifer said Ecford will honor that commitment.
“He’s really long, athletic, he blocks shots, grabs rebounds and he can run,” Pfeifer said.
Idaho is also waiting on the NCAA Clearinghouse to approve Serbian 6-9 forward Petar Maric, whom the school announced as an incoming recruit in January.
Eastern Washington did not receive any letters of intent, but the Eagles are expected to sign 6-8 forward Chris Sprinkler out of Curtis High School in Tacoma this spring. Sprinkler, who averaged 11 points a game last season, announced last week he would join EWU.
Two players on the NIC women’s team also signed letters of intent with Idaho. Sara Dennehy, a 5-11 forward from Redmond, Wash., and Stephanie Jones, a 5-5 guard from New Mexico, will join the Vandals.
The Vandals also signed Hannah Wells, a 5-9 wing from Skagit Valley Junior College, and Liz Witte, a 5-6 wing from Butler County Junior College.