EWU lands in-state guards

D’Vonne Pickett, a 5-foot-10 guard from Rainier Beach High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for Eastern Washington University, bringing the number of coach Kirk Earlywine’s latest recruiting class to four.

Pickett, who averaged 10.1 points and earned third-team All-Metro League honors last winter despite having his senior season end prematurely because of a knee injury, joins fellow in-state recruits Chris Holmes, a 6-3 guard from Franklin High School, and Jeff Forbes, a 6-0 guard from Federal Way.

Holmes and Forbes signed with EWU last November during the early-signing period, as did Stevie Hedrick, a 6-2 guard from Lake Land Junior College in Mattoon, Ill., who played his high school ball at Indianapolis’ Lawrence Central.

Holmes averaged 12.6 points as a senior and was a first-team All-Metro 3A pick. Forbes averaged 11.2 points last winter, and Hedrick, whom Earlywine hopes will help buy the Eagles some time to let their younger backcourt players develop, was a Indiana Top 40 pick during high school.

Pickett, Holmes and Forbes all played on a state championship team during their high school careers, and Earlywine is hoping that pays dividends.

“I couldn’t be happier right now with the class – especially those three in-state players,” Earlywine said. “But we all need to realize they are all freshmen, and there is a learning curve. I just don’t think it’s as sharp of a learning curve when you have players who are accustomed to winning, and have been well coached.”

Earlywine said he still expects to sign one more player this spring.