Recruiting Key For WSU As Conference Season Ends

USC might need victories here tonight and in Seattle on Saturday to secure a berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

UCLA needs a Northwest sweep to ensure a more-favorable tournament seeding.

And Washington State?

The Cougars, it has become obvious, need a recruiting sweep for the final week of the Pacific-10 Conference schedule to regain the significance it has held in recent seasons.

Early returns suggest the Cougars have taken at least one step toward that end.

Fresno City College wing Ron Selleaze, one of three recruits signed by WSU in the fall, has emerged as one of the best junior-college players in California.

Thanks to several unexpected defections, WSU desperately could have used the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Selleaze in time for this season, which concludes with visits from USC (tonight) and UCLA (Saturday).

“He’s quick, he can get into the lane, he’s athletic - he’s really what we don’t have this year,” WSU coach Kevin Eastman said this week. “I think he’s going to be really good for us.”

Selleaze, who left two colleges before settling in at Fresno City, averages 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field.

He was named MVP of the Capital Valley Conference, beating out teammate Rafer Alston (17.3 points, 8.3 assists), a Fresno State signee. Selleaze and Alston have led the Rams, who have a 28-3 record, into this week’s California junior-college tournament.

Leif Nelson and Brian Stewart, a pair of 6-10 centers who also signed with WSU in the fall, have been less spectacular.

Nelson averaged 11.4 points and 5.5 rebounds on a 23-7 Utah Valley Community College team. But the 280-pounder was often out of place in a conference known more for its athleticism than muscle.

“He’s a big-bodied kid and he has some skill to him,” said Eastman, who compares Nelson to University of Washington wide-body Todd MacCulloch. “I think as he goes up levels and plays against bigger kids, he’ll be more effective.”

Stewart, a senior at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz., is considered a project and will probably redshirt next season.

He had nine points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots during last weekend’s overtime loss in the Arizona 5A championship game, fouling out with 5:21 left in regulation. On the season, Stewart averaged 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks per game.

The 220-pounder has fairly soft hands and surprising leaping ability, but does not yet possess many offensive skills. With size 21 feet, some believe he hasn’t finished growing.

In addition to Selleaze, Nelson and Stewart, Eastman said he expects to fill WSU’s remaining two scholarship slots with a versatile guard and athletic forward.

Eastman dismisses Richmond rumor

If former Idaho coach Tim Floyd can be rumored as the next coach of the Chicago Bulls, it should be no surprise that Eastman has been mentioned privately among coaches in relation to the impending opening at the University of Richmond.

But Eastman said he doesn’t envision leaving Washington State for his alma mater, or anywhere, in the near future.

“There’s nothing to it,” Eastman said. “We like it here. I could see myself being here for quite a while.

“People think that you’re not supposed to like Pullman or something. (Wife) Wendy’s got a number of close friends here; (son) Jake likes it.”

Richmond fired Bill Dooley, Eastman’s friend and fellow Richmond alumnus, Wednesday. The move was not unexpected. After consecutive 8-20 seasons, the Spiders are 13-15 this winter and tied for seventh place in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Tournament talk

How many Pac-10 teams will be invited to the NCAA Tournament? At least three, and as many as five.

UCLA (19-7, 13-3 Pac-10) and Arizona (19-7, 11-5) are safe. The Bruins already have secured the automatic berth - season sweeps against Arizona and USC give them the tiebreaker - while the Wildcats possess non-conference victories over North Carolina and Utah.

California (19-8, 10-6), even without injured star Ed Gray, will most likely get in. All bets are off should the Bears lose their final two games - an unlikely proposition, considering Arizona State must visit Berkeley for the final game at historic Harmon Gym.

Stanford (18-7, 10-6), USC (16-9, 11-5) and Washington (16-9, 9-7) have the most to play for this weekend.

“Are we in the tournament?” Stanford guard Brevin Knight said. “No, not right now. A lot depends on how we finish in the Pac-10. We can still finish anywhere from second to sixth.

“If we lose two (against the Arizona schools), we put ourselves in a bad position. If we win two, we’re in.”

Two of Stanford’s victories came against Division II AlaskaAnchorage and therefore will not be considered by the NCAA selection committee.

A split this weekend would leave the Cardinal at an NCAA-adjusted 17-8 overall and 11-7 in the Pac-10 - and on the bubble.

USC would almost certainly be invited if it sweeps WSU and UW. With a split or less, the Trojans would probably need help.

The Huskies will be considered if they sweep UCLA and USC, and if Stanford plays itself out of consideration. But UW, like Oregon (16-10, 7-10), is more likely to end up in the NIT.

Eastman said he expects at least four Pac-10 teams to make the NCAAs.

Pengelly to start

Freshman point guard Blake Pengelly will make his fourth start of the season tonight for WSU. Senior Kareem Jackson might play, but remains limited after suffering a concussion last Thursday against Arizona. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WSU THIS WEEK At Friel Court Tonight vs. USC, 7 p.m. Saturday vs. UCLA, 1 p.m.

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