Philomath's Ben DeSaulnier joins Kenny Meyer and Carson Reid as part of SOU's class of incoming freshmen. (Photo courtesy of Andy Cripe, Corvallis Gazette-Times)
ASHLAND — The Southern Oregon University men's basketball team needed some help in the backcourt when it lost two four-year starters at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season. Raiders head coach Brian McDermott thinks they'll get a lot of that for years to come with the signings of three incoming freshmen.
Philomath's Ben DeSaulnier, Roseburg's Carson Reid, and Kenny Meyer of Sparks, Nev., will all be Raiders next season after inking Cascade Conference letters of intent, McDermott announced Monday. They'll join a cast of 10 returning players from a team that went 22-9 and tied for second place in the Cascade Conference.
The Raiders won 47 games the last two seasons in part by being the most accurate shooting team in the conference, and these guard additions fit that theme. DeSaulnier averaged 25 points per game as a senior, Meyer left as Spanish Springs High's all-time leading scorer, and Reid has been one of the Southern Oregon Hybrid's top playmakers since his sophomore season.
"I feel like we were able to fill some critical needs while staying true to our philosophy of recruiting good kids who are great students and can shoot," McDermott said. "We have to replace a group of five seniors that contributed an unbelievable amount to our program. Fortunately, by building the program with high school kids, we'll have some veterans ready to move into larger roles. The kids in this class won't have the pressure to be great immediately, but will have the chance to contribute immediately."
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound DeSaulnier was an All-State player in basketball, baseball and at four positions in football. He scored 30 points in Philomath's OSAA Class 4A state tile win and set a school record with 53 points over three quarters of a February game at Stayton. He shot 56 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3 and averaged three steals.
"Ben is the best athlete of this class," McDermott said. "He has the body of an upperclassman and is capable of playing all three wing positions. He scores scores in a variety of ways with deep range off the catch and strong finishes above the rim. Ben's a tremendous competitor and I think his experience as a three-sport athlete has him prepared to make an immediate impact."
Meyer, a 6-2 combo guard, led his team to its first ever appearance in the top-level Nevada state tournament with averages of 19.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.1 steals and 3 rebounds, earning him a spot on the All-State second team. He finished his prep career with 1,118 points and a 4.41 weighted grade-point average.
"Kenny is a true combo guard that is equally comfortable at the 1 and 2," McDermott said. "He's a tremendous shooter with great range and can get into the paint and make good decisions when he gets there. Maybe the most impressive part of his game is the consistent effort on the defensive end of the floor."
Reid, another 6-2 guard and 4.0 student, posted 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists as a second-team all-conference player. He'll join fellow Roseburg graduates Eric Thompson and Tim Weber, who are SOU's only returning starters.
"Carson flew a bit under the radar and we feel like we have a steal with him," McDermott said. "He's very good at getting to the rim and is a smart player. His ability to read screens and cut well makes him a perfect fit in our system."