Pariseau, Nelson say they leave Eastern with no bitterness

Danny Pariseau and Matt Nelson want to keep playing college basketball. They just decided to take their games elsewhere, with no hard feelings.

The two Eastern Washington University starters and reserve Eric Henkel have decided to transfer following the Eagles’ 8-20 season.

“I just felt like I needed to get out and try something new,” said Pariseau, a point guard who has one year of eligibility remaining. “I know it’s a risky move, but whatever. Good luck next year to those guys … they should do fine. I just hope those guys have a good year.”

Nelson, a two-year starter who has two years left to play, said: “I thought it would be in my best interest to move on. I still wish the best to Eastern, the coaches and the team.”

Henkel, who is from Missoula, is expected to transfer to Carroll College.

All three plan to finish the school year at EWU.

Pariseau, a 2002 graduate of Shadle Park, started 24 games and was fifth on the team in scoring at 6.4 points a game. He had 119 assists, giving him 284 for his career, which is 12 short of breaking into the top 10 on the EWU career list.

Nelson, a 6-foot-9 post out of Issaquah, Wash., was second on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per game and led the team in rebounding at 6.2, even though he missed six games and didn’t start five others because he was limited from a hand injury.

“It was a tough season for me,” Nelson said. “After the season I sat down, thought about a lot of things, thought about it for a couple of weeks. I thought it would be best to move.”

The Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2004, Nelson plans to remain at the Division I level. He would have to sit out a year unless he transfers to a lower-division school.

“I’m thinking I’ll stay in Division I,” Nelson said. “A lot of Division I schools are contacting me.”

Pariseau’s options are probably more limited because he only has one year left, but he isn’t ruling out the possibility of going to a Division I school.

“For sure I’ll keep playing,” Pariseau said. “I’m just going to take a little time off right now and see what options I have. I just wanted to move on, try something different. If I try to go to another D-I school, I have to sit out a year. That will help big time, because I have to take a lot of science labs I need to get a hold on.”

Eagles coach Mike Burns was in Kansas this week scouting the junior college national tournament for a point guard.

“We’ll probably add one or two more players before next season,” Burns said. “It will depend on the right fit. … We won’t add people just to be adding bodies. We’ll try to find the right fit – somebody that can come in and contribute immediately.”

With four seniors – but just one regular – completing their eligibility, the Eagles already had five new players slated to join the team next year, with several expected to challenge for starting positions.

Jake Beitinger, a 6-8 freshman, filled in well in Nelson’s absence and as a backup. He started 13 games and averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18.7 minutes a game. Sophomores Paul Butorac and Henry Bekkering, who often had to play out of position because of the two posts and senior star Marc Axton at the power forward, will move closer to the basket on offense.

Freshman James Loe started four games at point guard and averaged 13.4 minutes as Pariseau’s backup. He averaged 2.2 points and had 44 assists with 41 turnovers.

“All of us are very fond of all of our players … it’s something that didn’t make us happy, but at the same we understood,” Burns said. “The one good thing is the parting was amicable on both sides. If that’s going to happen, that’s the way you want it to go down.”