EUGENE, Ore. - First-year Head Coach Corey Anderson and Associate Head Coach Mark Holmes announce the addition of five signed players for the 2009-2010 men’s basketball season at Northwest Christian University.
Anderson said, “While we graduated a lot of talent, experience and leadership from last year’s team, we are very excited about this incoming group of guys. Not only will they make an impact on the hardwood, but even more importantly they will all have a positive impact on our campus. They all are strong students and have very strong character. We knew we could go out and find good basketball players, but we were very particular with bringing in guys that would fit in well with our returners as well as our overall campus. With this group, we did just that.”
A pair of junior college transfers will join the Beacons for next season in Kellen Spicer (Umpqua CC) and Quentin Guidry (Lane CC). Spicer was an All-League honorable mention as a sophomore and averaged 19 points per game as a forward. “Kellen comes in as a very mature player,” said Anderson. “He’s a strong presence inside and will be able to create some matchup problems for other posts in the conference.”
Guidry, a Point Guard originally from Houston, Texas, played his freshman season at NAIA school Lee University and then moved to Oregon to play his sophomore year at Lane. Coach Anderson said, “Q brings a great background of experience to our program. He played at nationally ranked Heritage Christian Academy in high school, traveling the country playing in the highest level tournaments and games. He is very good off the dribble and is an improved perimeter shooter.”
One of three freshmen to join the team, Jordan Buhler (Harrisburg HS) comes to the Beacons on the wing after a strong career at Harrisburg HS. Buhler was a two-time Pac West Conference Player of the Year and averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior. He was also a state High Jump champion and plans to jump for the NCU track team in the spring. Buhler is the son of former NCC basketball great Claire Buhler and the bother of Gabe Buhler, who also played for the Beacons. His mother was also an NCC athlete, playing volleyball for the Crusaders. Anderson said, “Jordan is probably our most athletic recruit coming in. He is long and he has the ability to create his own shot.”
Also coming in is Eugene’s own Jordan Myers an OACA All-Star from Churchill HS. Myers earned First-Team All-State honors and was the Mid-Western League Player of the Year as a senior. “Jordan is a pass-first Point Guard with a very reliable three-point shot,” said Coach Anderson. “His style of play and intensity have been a major attribute to his success thus far and I don’t see why that would change at the next level.”
The final announced signing is freshman Darrell Risen (Salem) out of Regis HS. Risen was a second-team All-PacWest selection and also played in the OACA All-Star series this season. The 6-6 Post averaged a double-double during his final high school year, with 14 points and 12 rebounds per game. Anderson said, “Darrell has a big strong body that is going to give him a great amount of success over his career here. His greatest attribute is size, but more importantly, his ability to utilize his size.”
Coach Holmes is pleased with the makeup of the incoming class. He said, “Our emphasis in recruiting this year was replacing some key leadership that had graduated and I think we did that well. We are bringing in some good kids and proven leaders. These guys will complement our current players and I am looking forward to watching the team chemistry grow throughout the year.
These five recruits, along with previously signed former Oregon Duck Ben Voogd, will join 11 returning players to help the Beacons attempt to improve upon their 18-13 record in 2008-2009. Picked to finish tenth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, NCU went 11-9 in CCC play, finishing sixth. The Beacons won five of their final seven games, including upset victories over three teams ranked in the NAIA’s top-25.
The Beacons will open the season on October 30th with an exhibition contest against the University of Idaho Vandals.