Fast Break
Men’s basketball
Ex-Vandal Watson signs
Former University of Idaho men’s basketball player Keoni Watson signed a contract with Siroki Prima Pivo of the Adriatic League in Southeastern Europe, the school announced in a press release.
Watson played at Idaho from 2005-07 and scored 543 points last season to rank fifth on the UI single-season records list. His 50 3-point field goals rank fifth and his 18.1 points per game rank 13th on the list.
The Adriatic League is a high-level European Pro League which is comprised of the clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Former players from the league who have been recent first-round NBA draft picks include Darko Milicic (Detroit Pistons, 2003), Nenad Krstic (New Jersey Nets, 2002), and Vladimir Radmanovic (Seattle SuperSonics, 2001).
Former Gonzaga player Blake Stepp signed in the league as a rookie, playing his first pro season for Partizan Belgrade in 2004-05.
“This is a great opportunity for Keoni,” Idaho coach George Pfeifer. “The talent level will be high and it will be a great challenge for him. It is a great first step for his professional career.”
Men’s basketball
Center commits to Cougars
Washington State has received another oral commitment for the 2008-09 season.
James Watson, a 6-foot-8, 203-pound center at Class B Stringtown (Okla.) High School has decided to attend WSU.
“I thought it was a good fit,” Watson said in a telephone interview. “It’s a good program in a good conference. I’m looking forward to playing in the Pac-10.
“And I liked the coaches from the first time I met them. That’s when I decided (to attend WSU), but I didn’t want to tell them until later.”
Watson is an athletic inside player whose body type will remind Cougars fans of senior Robbie Cowgill. He was recruited by Missouri State, Baylor and Oral Roberts among others.
As a junior, Watson averaged 8.6 points and 11 rebounds, while rarely playing a full game. In the state Class B playoffs, which include the smallest schools in Oklahoma, Watson averaged nearly 18 points in leading Stringtown to a 27-4 record and a state title.
Stringtown is a town of around 400. There are 52 students in Watson’s school.
High schools
SI recognizes Lake City High
Lake City High was honored as the school of the year in Idaho by Sports Illustrated based on the 2006-07 school year when LC captured state titles in football, girls basketball and baseball.
Sports Illustrated named a school of the year for each state.
A plaque honoring LC will be presented to principal John Brumley at halftime of LC’s home game Friday against Coeur d’Alene.