EUGENE, Ore. –Northwest Christian University head men’s basketball coach Luke Jackson has announced his recruiting class for the 2013-2014 school year. Ten players have signed CCC Letters of Intent, including seven transfers and three freshmen.
“First and foremost, I am excited about the character of these guys,” said Jackson. “We have brought good people into our University who are going to make great classmates and be good role models on this campus. There is a lot more to coming to NCU than just what happens on the basketball court and I am excited for these guys to experience that.”
Jackson will be looking to the fresh faces to replace eight players who finished their NCU careers last season. He said, “From a basketball standpoint, I’m excited to be a big team. We have three guys coming in over 6’9” and we have some athletic perimeter players. We are going to be long and athletic on both sides of the ball and I am looking forward to seeing how these guys gel together.”
Coleton Baker (Sutherlin, Ore.) played his junior season at the University of Oregon and will have one remaining year of eligibility with the Beacons. The 6’3” Guard played in ten games for the Ducks last season. Previously, Baker spent two seasons at Umpqua Community College where he was a first-team All-Conference selection in 2011-12. He led the NWAACC Southern Region in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 24.1 points per game. Baker was also a First-Team All-State player during his prep career at Oakland HS.
Baker will be joined by fellow UO teammate Austen Kuemper. Kuemper was a red-shirt freshman with the Ducks in 2012-2013, playing in nine games. Kuemper, a 6’9” Center, was a former high school standout at Westview High in Portland where he led his team to consecutive Class 6A title games. He averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior.
A third NCAA Division I transfer is senior Ted Wang (Zhe Jiang, China), a 7’2” Center who played his first three seasons at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Wang was one of just two Chinese nationals in NCAA DI basketball when he joined the Islanders as a freshman in 2010. Wang also prepped at Westwind International in Phoenix, Arizona where he helped lead his team to the National Prep Championship tournament.
Two players will be transferring to NCU as juniors from cross-town New Hope Christian College, including former Sheldon HS standout Harley Turner. Turner averaged 11.1 points per game for the Deacons last season while shooting 46% from three-point range. He will be joined on the Beacons by teammate Forest Stolk. Stolk, a 6’10” post player was a 2012 Second-Team All-NCCAA selection and averages 6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during the 2012-2013 season.
Point Guard Javonte Byrd (San Diego, Calif.) comes to NCU with collegiate experience at Pima Community College. Byrd averaged 13.5 points per game during the 2011-2012 season. He was also a two-time CIF state champion at Lincoln High School in San Diego.
An upperclassman from Fort Worth, Texas, Chris Lang is a 6’5” forward. A former league MVP at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School, he previously spent two seasons at the College of Eastern Utah, where he was a First-Team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference selection.
NCU also brings in three freshmen as part of Jackson’s first foray into collegiate recruiting. He said, “These freshmen are the future of NCU. They are great character guys with good backgrounds. They are young and I expect them to grow and mature in the next few years.”
Top among the prep recruits will be Churchill HS standout Keidren Johnson. Johnson, a 6’6” Forward, led the Lancers to an Oregon 5A State Runner-Up finish in 2013 after averaging 10.1 points per game for the Midwestern League champions.
Calvin Anderson (Newberg, Ore.) will join the Beacons on the heels of a third 3A championship in four years at Horizon Christian HS. The 6’5” Guard led Horizon to a 25-2 record during his senior season, earning First-Team All-State honors for the West Valley League Champs.
Also joining the incoming recruiting class will be Anderson’s former foe Nathan Sutherland from Westside Christian High School. The 6’5” Forward was a First-Team All-West Valley League and Third-Team All-State selection for the Eagles.
The 2013 recruits will be joining six returners. “There are some great players returning,” said Jackson. “These guys are quality men and they can play the game. They have experience in this league and they will still have a role in everything we do.”
The Beacons are set to kick off the 2013-2014 season on Friday, November 1 with an exhibition game at Portland State University. The first home game of the Luke Jackson era is slated for Tuesday, November 26 against Simpson University.
Coach Jackson said, “I’m looking forward to start working with the guys and pushing them and hopefully helping them become the best versions of themselves. I want us to be mentally and physically tough out on the court and I want to represent our school to the highest standard. There is a long tradition here at NCU and I want the alumni and faculty and students to be proud of the way we carry ourselves on and off the court.”