LA GRANDE, Ore. After back-to-back Cascade Collegiate Conference championships and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NAIA National Basketball Tournament Head Coach Ryan Looney and the Eastern Oregon University men's basketball program have received commitments from six standouts.
Planning to attend EOU in September are Cody Thurmond of Poulsbo, Washington, Josh Cottle of Heber City, Utah, Jordan Lupfer-Graham of Spokane, Washington, Peter Gregg of Lewiston, Idaho, Spenser Sundin of Pendleton, Oregon, and JR Gordon of Silverdale, Washington.
"We are excited about the addition of these student-athletes," Looney said. "We felt like we needed to add experience, youth, and depth to the program. We are confident that these individuals will provide help in all areas. The combination of our returners, redshirts, and newcomers should allow us to stay competitive in the always tough Cascade Collegiate Conference."
Thurmond, a 6-foot-0, 160 pound guard, was a First Team All-Narrows League selection during his senior year for Central Kitsap High School. He averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He played in the inaugural Clash of the Classes All-Star Game and was a 2009 McDonalds All-America nominee.
Cottle, a 5-foot-10, 160 pound guard, is a transfer from NCAA Division I Weber State University. He was a member of the 2008-09 Big Sky Conference champions. Cottle was part of two Utah State Class 3A state championship teams at Wasatch High School. He was the Class 3A Most Valuable Player both as a junior and as a senior and was the Most Valuable Player of both state tournaments as well. In his senior year he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Utah and was a McDonald's All-America nominee.
Lupfer-Graham, a 5-foot-10, 160 pound guard, was selected as the Great Northern League Most Valuable Player for West Valley High School during his senior year. He averaged 19.4 points and 3.1 assists per game. He helped WVHS to a 17-6 overall record.
Gregg, a 6-foot-8, 200 pound post, was an All-Inland Empire League selection during his senior year at Lewiston High School. He helped LHS capture the 2008-09 Idaho 5A State Championship. Gregg was nominated for the 47th annual North Idaho Sports 5A/4A Boy's Basketball Player of the Year and participated in the Idaho All-Star game.
Sundin, a 5-foot-10, 160 pound guard, was a First Team All-Intermountain Conference selection and was voted as the East Oregonian Player of the Year for Pendleton High School during his senior year. He averaged 24.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Gordon, a 6-foot-0, 170 pound guard, is a transfer from Lewis-Clark State College. During the 2007-08 season he was named the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and also earned Second Team All-Conference honors. He led the team, conference, and was 16th in the NAIA with 2.3 steals per game. During the season he averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Gordon also had a remarkable first year at LCSC, highlighted by being named the Frontier Conference's Freshman of the Year. He attended Central Kitsap High School and was nominated as a Washington State All Star. During his senior year he averaged 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
The Mountaineers compiled a 25-8 record during the 2008-09 season and have captured two consecutive Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships.