Bucs reload for ’15-16
Three players in line to play at Whitworth
After two straight years of one-point losses to fall short of reaching the Sweet 16, Whitworth University has a new crop of men’s basketball recruits to help the Pirates chase another conference title and postseason berth.
The Pirates graduated senior posts Taylor Farnsworth and Adam Wilks from a team that went 25-4, won the Northwest Conference regular-season title and tournament and earned its ninth consecutive NCAA Division III tournament bid.
The team is also losing point guard Kionte Brown to a career-ending injury and reserve players Gabe Carter and Riley Moreen (Coeur d’Alene), who have chosen to study abroad.
“Both (Carter and Moreen) felt passionate about where their academic interests were leading them and the opportunity to do something like that was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime type deal,” Logie said.
To fill those voids, Whitworth has received financial commitments from three players to join the team next fall. Financial commitments serve a similar role as letters of intent to Division I schools.
Headlining the recruits is Kyle Roach, of Marin Academy in San Rafael, California. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 35.8 points and 9.8 rebounds a game his senior year.
“His overall body of work as a senior really jumps out,” Logie said. “He shot 62 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range. He had two games over 50 points and seven games over 40.”
Logie said Whitworth first started recruiting Roach during his junior year. The coaches really liked his size, his feel for the game, his passing and his vision.
“Low and behold, he goes into his senior year in school and puts up these gaudy numbers,” Logie said.
Whitworth also expects to add 6-8 post player Ben Bishop from Olympia.
“Ben is a big, strong post player. Ben is a left-hander and has really good hands, good footwork and can shoot the ball in the midrange,” Logie said. “We are really excited about his potential.”
Bishop fills a position of need with the departure of the 6-8 Farnsworth and 6-7 Wilks.
“Along with the guys we have returning, (Bishop) will be someone vying for an opportunity,” he said.
Whitworth also has a commitment from CJ Johnson, a 6-4 forward from Clarkston.
“CJ has a similar build to (senior forward) George Valle, and he has a similar skill set,” Logie said. “He has a really high basketball IQ and was the 2A state tournament MVP.”
Johnson came from the same program that produced 2013-14 Northwest Conference player of the year Dustin McConnell.
Johnson “is a guy who is one of the best passers we’ve recruited but can do a variety of things,” Logie said.
The good news was tempered by the loss of Brown, a sophomore from Shadle Park. Brown began the season as a starter before he lost time to injuries and minutes to the emergence of Kenny Love.
“It was unfortunate that (Brown) wasn’t able to see what his athletic ability might have been able to accomplish,” Logie said. “But he’s done amazing in the classroom and is well-liked by all the guys.”