Cougs get what they need from new recruits
Dower makes it official with Bulldogs
PULLMAN – Washington State basketball coach Tony Bennett looked over the list of the four high school seniors who signed letters of intent to attend his school Wednesday and one thing stood out.
“It addresses needs,” Bennett said. “That’s what we tried to do.”
The four players play positions from point guard (6-foot-3 Xavier Thames) to power forward (6-9 Brock Motum and 6-8 David Chadwick, both 215 pounds) to small forward/shooting guard (6-5 Anthony Brown).
They will be attempting to replace a senior class that includes point guard Taylor Rochestie, center Aron Baynes and forwards Daven Harmeling and Caleb Forrest.
“We felt we needed some more front-line players,” Bennett said of the forward trio. “You’re never going to bring in exact replicas, just like (the current freshman) class doesn’t replace Kyle (Weaver) and Derrick (Low). But some positions are addressed.”
The quartet also exhibits a geographic diversity, with Brown out of Shadle Park High in Spokane, Thames from Northern California, Chadwick a Charlotte, N.C., high schooler and Motum coming from Canberra, Australia.
“The young man from Australia, Brock Motum, is highly touted over there,” Bennett said, who saw Motum play on recent trips to the country. “He’s a 6-9 mobile forward who can play multiple positions.”
Bennett sees Thames earning an opportunity early in his WSU career to replace Rochestie, who led the Pac-10 in turnover-to-assist ratio last season.
Chadwick, who Bennett compares favorably to Harmeling and Forrest, and Brown, who caught the attention of Bennett and his father, Dick, as a sophomore, are expected to help fill holes up front.
Gonzaga
Sam Dower, a 6-9, 220-pound forward at Osseo (Minn.) High School, followed up his word in September with his signature in November.
Dower signed a letter of intent to play for Gonzaga, becoming the first official member of the Bulldogs’ 2009 recruiting class.
“I liked the coaches. They really know what they’re talking about,” said Dower, who orally committed to GU in September. “And I like the players. They really communicated a lot.”
The Bulldogs received an oral commitment in May from 6-5 guard/forward Mangisto “Manny” Arop, who plays for Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy in Hamilton, Ontario. Arop’s paperwork is expected to arrive in the next few days.
Dower was recruited by Minnesota, Iowa, Marquette, George Mason and California.
“He can score, for a big guy,” Bulldogs coach Mark Few said. “He’s a lefty so that makes it harder to defend because most people aren’t used to seeing a left-hander. He can make a difference and he is a unique post player.”
Dower blossomed on the AAU circuit in the spring and summer. He averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds in July, according to his AAU coach Marquise Watts. Dower averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior on an Osseo team that went 28-1.
Idaho
Vandals coach Don Verlin announced the signing of 6-3 guard Shawn Henderson, who is averaging 25 points, six rebounds and four assists this season at North Idaho College.