Ewu Signs Three Jc Players To Basketball Letters Of Intent

Three junior college players have signed letters of intent to attend Eastern Washington University and play basketball for new men’s head coach Steve Aggers.

Bryant Carter and Fabian Spencer, teammates at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College, were recruited by Aggers. The third player, guard Eddie Neal of Glen Oaks (Mich.) Community College, signed before Aggers left his job as a Kansas State assistant to accept the EWU position.

Carter is a 6-foot-2 off-guard from Milwaukee, Wis., while Spencer is a 6-5 forward from New Iberia, La.

A 5-9 guard, Neal may compete with Brett Thompson for point-guard duties. Sophomore point guard Carl Crider, who split time at the point with Thompson last season, has quit the team. The former Tekoa-Oakesdale prep star recently underwent knee surgery. He could not be reached Thursday.

Carter and Spencer helped Cloud County to a 39-24 record the past two seasons. Three other players from that team also received scholarships from NCAA Division I schools including Johnnie Williams, who Aggers helped recruit to Kansas State.

Carter was the team’s leading scorer the past two seasons, averaging 14 points as a starter his sophomore season.

Aggers still has two of his allotted 13 scholarships open. The new coach cannot hire a staff until July 1, when the contract of former coach John Wade expires. Rusty Smith, who coached under Wade, has applied for his job. Another assistant, Chris Crease, will not return.

Wade, meanwhile, was a finalist for the Division II head-coaching job at California State-Hayward. The Pioneers hired LaVerne (Calif.) University coach Gary Stewart.