Eastern men’s basketball adds two, including possible replacement for Venky Jois

Eastern Washington has signed two high school players – including a possible successor to star forward Venky Jois – to letters of intent, coach Jim Hayford announced Wednesday.

“This is a great day for Eastern basketball because we are adding two great, quality young men to our program,” Hayford said after signing Australian forward Mason Peatling and guard Jacob Davison from southern California.

Peatling, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from Melbourne, Australia, was a member of the Dandenong Rangers, the same club team current Eagle senior Venky Jois played for.

“As Venky graduates, we’re bringing in Mason to the same position and with similar size and stature,” Hayford said.

At the U23 Victorian Youth Championship earlier this year, the 18-year-old Peatling was chosen as the Youth League Rookie of the Year after helping his team to a silver medal. He averaged 13.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocked shots and 1.0 steals.

While playing in 2015 for his high school team, Beaconhills College, he was team captain and helped lead his team to a South Eastern Independent Schools regional championship.

Besides Jois, the Eastern program includes Australians Felix Von Hofe, Geremy McKay, Jesse Hunt and Michael Wearne.

Davison, a 6-4, 175-pounder from Montebello, Calif., “is a very athletic guard who can shoot the three and play all three backcourt positions,” Hayford said.

As a junior last year at Cantwell Sacred Heart High School, Davison averaged almost 14 points and was selected to the Whittier Daily News All-Area team.

The Cardinals finished 17-14 and advanced to the regional semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division III Championships.