An Update on MW Basketball NLI Signings

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Wednesday marked the final day of college basketball's spring signing period. Here is a look at the MW men's and women's spring signees and those who signed during the early period in November.

NOTE: Due to the Academy appointment process, Air Force does not sign student-athletes to letters of intent.

MW   MW MEN'S BASKETBALL

Boise State BOISE STATE

Early signing period: The Broncos added 6-foot-7 forward Joey Nebeker, who was named Idaho's 2A State Player of the Year, and 6-foot-9 forward Edmunds Dukulis, a member of the Latvian U19 National Team that finished 10th at the U19 World Championships last summer. Nebeker, who averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and five blocks as a senior at Melba High School (Melba, Idaho), has the potential to add needed offensive firepower to a team that ranked sixth in scoring among the MW's eight teams this past season. Dukulis averaged 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds at the U19s, including a 20-point, seven-rebound performance against future Bronco teammates Anthony Drmic and Igor Hadziomerovic's Australian U19 team.


Colorado State COLORADO STATE

Spring signings: Gerson Santo, a 6-10 transfer from the College of Southern Idaho, should help offset the loss of Will Bell, who averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds as a senior last season. Santo, a native of Valencia, Brazil, averaged 7.4 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game at CSI and drew strong interest from California and Utah while spurning scholarship offers from Washington State and Illinois.

Early signing period: Before leaving for Nebraska, former Rams coach Tim Miles signed Jordan Mason, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ennis, Texas, and Jermaine Morgan, a 6-8 forward from Whitney M. Young High in Chicago. With CSU returning virtually its entire starting lineup under new coach Larry Eustachy, playing time could be hard to come by in 2012-13. Nonetheless, Mason and Morgan are not without talent. Viewed as one of the top prospects in Texas, Mason, who averaged 20.7 points as a senior at Ennis High, is considered a play-making guard who can score in a variety of ways. Morgan, who averaged a double-double as a junior, was rated as the No. 15 player in Illinois by Rivals.com. In addition to Mason and Morgan, the 2012-13 campaign will see a return to the court for transfers Daniel Bejarano, a 6-4 guard, and 6-10 forward/center Colton Iverson, both of whom sat out the 2011-12 campaign after coming to CSU from the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota, respectively.


Fresno State FRESNO STATE

Spring signings: Robert Upshaw, a 7-foot, 265-pound center from Fresno, was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in California and the 55th best player in the nation in the 2012 ESPNU 100. He also received high marks from Scout.com, who rated him as a four-star recruit. As a senior at San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.), Upshaw averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks per game. Fresno State also added 6-3 guard Marvelle Harris, who averaged more than 24 points in leading Rialto (Calif.) Eisenhower High to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 1A quarterfinals, and Broderick Newbill, a versatile 6-5 wing from Hogan Prep Academy in Kansas City.

Early signing period: The Bulldogs addressed a need to bulk up inside by signing a pair of 6-9 forwards in Braeden Anderson and Tanner Giddings. Fresno State also added Aaron Anderson, a 6-3 point guard from Santa Fe High in Edmond, Okla. The trio joins junior guard Allen Huddleston, a former All-Big West Conference honoree and freshman All-American who redshirted last season after transferring from the University of Pacific.


Nevada NEVADA

Early signing period: Shooting guard Marqueze Coleman is considered the nugget of a group that also includes 6-8 forward Cole Huff, 6-8 forward Raphael Carter and 6-9 center Cheikh (Ali) Fall. As a senior, Coleman averaged 21.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists for Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, Ca. Huff and Carter, a transfer from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Calif., should help offset the losses of forwards Olek Czyz and Dario Hunt. Fall, a transfer from Barstow (Calif.) Community College, is a native of Senegal who attended Meitoku Gijuku School in Kochi, Japan.


New Mexico NEW MEXICO

Early signing period: With the graduation of MW Tournament MVP Drew Gordon and forward A.J. Hardeman, the Lobos addressed needs in the frontcourt by signing Obij Aget, a 7-foot, 220-pound center from LaPorte, Indiana. Aget, who was also pursued by the likes of Florida State, Missouri, Texas Tech and Florida, averaged nearly a double-double at LaLumiere School in LaPorte (8.6 points, 9.0 rebounds). New Mexico also added Nick Banyard, a 6-8 forward from Marcus High in Flower Mound, Texas, who was being pursued by Minnesota and Pepperdine, and 6-7 wing Devon Williams from Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas.


San Diego State SAN DIEGO STATE

Spring signings: Winston Shepard, a 6-8 forward from national power Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, is the highest-rated prep prospect to choose San Diego State in school history. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Shepard, who is viewed as being capable of playing any position on the floor, joins a team that returns four starters, including 2012-13 MW Player of the Year Jamaal Franklin.

Early signing period: Shepard will join early signees Matt Shrigley, a 6-6 forward from La Costa Canyon High, in Carlsbad, Calif., and Skylar Spencer, a 6-9 forward from Price High School in Los Angeles. The class also includes 6-9 forward James Johnson, a transfer from Virginia; 6-7 forward Dwayne Polee, a transfer from St. John's; and 6-7 forward JJ O'Brien, a transfer from Utah.


UNLV UNLV

Spring signings: The big news came late for the Runnin' Rebels, who on Tuesday, May 15, signed 6-8, 240-pound power forward Anthony Bennett, the first McDonald's All-American to come to UNLV straight out of high school since Freddie Banks in 1983. Bennett is a five-star recruit ranked as the No. 6 player overall in the 2012 class by CBS Sports, No. 7 by both ESPN and Rivals, and No. 8 by Scout. Ranked as the nation's No. 1 player at his position, he was the highest-rated high school player in the country that hadn't yet signed with a school before Tuesday. He averaged 16.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for Findlay Prep in Las Vegas this past season.

Early signing period: Katin Reinhardt, a 6-5 guard from perennial power Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif., is expected to impact the Rebels immediately. A prolific scorer ranked No. 7 at his position by Rivals.com, Reinhardt averaged 18.6 points last season. The Rebels also added Daquan Cook, a 6-1 guard from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, and Demetrius Morant, a 6-9 forward from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas. The trio will be joined by another McDonald's All-American, Khem Birch, a 6-9, 220-pound transfer from Pittsburgh, and 6-5 guard Bryce Dejean-Jones, a transfer from USC. Dejean-Jones will be able to play immediately in 2012-13, while NCAA transfer rules dictate that Birch sit out the first semester of the coming season.


Wyoming WYOMING

Spring signings: With the losses of guards JayDee Luster and Francisco Cruz, the Cowboys signed Nathan Sobey, a native Australian who comes to Wyoming via Cochise College in Douglas, Ariz. As a sophomore, the 6-3, 190-pound guard averaged 16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals. Sobey was also recruited by Fresno State, Saint Mary's and the University of San Diego. Wyoming also added Derek Cooke, a 6-9 forward from Cloud County Community College in Kansas, who posted team highs of 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 55 percent shooting from the floor to go with 6.0 points and nearly one steal per game last season. Charles Hankerson Jr., a 6-5, 210-pound guard from Alabama, has also joined the Pokes, but will have to sit out the 2012-13 season per NCAA transfer rules, and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Early signing period: Wyoming added a pair of guards in Josh Adams and Jason McManamen, while addressing its frontcourt needs with the signing of forward Austin Haldorson and center Matt Sellers. Adams, a product of Chaparral High in Parker, Colo., is considered one of the top guard prospects in Colorado, while McManamen, a 6-6 shooting guard who attended Torrington (Wyo.) High School, has been touted as the top 2012-13 basketball prospect in Wyoming. The 6-foot-10 Sellers, meanwhile, provides the Cowboys with much-needed size after averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs.

MW   MW WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Boise State BOISE STATE

Spring signings: Kayla Reinhart, a 5-10 wing and all-state performer from Carroll High (Texas) is expected to add perimeter scoring for the Broncos. Reinardt comes to BSU having averaged 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game as a senior. The Broncos also added several transfers in Erica Martinez, a 5-8 guard from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, who averaged 16.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals last season, and 6-3 post player Laura Pelse, a native of Latvia who averaged 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds 6-3 for Sheridan (Wyo.) College in 2011-12. Newcomer Brandi Henton, a 5-9 guard, spent last season at Yakima Valley Community College where she played in nine games before suffering a season ending injury in December. During those nine games, Henton averaged 24.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.1 steals in 24.8 minutes per game. She shot 50 percent (87-174) from the court and 41 percent (29-70) from beyond the 3-point arc. Rosalie Cutri, a 5-7 guard, comes to BSU after spending the past two seasons Casper College (Wyoming), where she was a NJCAA 2012 second-team All-American. Cutri started all 29 games last season, averaging a team-high 13.3 points 6.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals.

Early signing period: The Broncos signed Miquelle Askew, a 6-3 center and all-state performer from Skyline High in South Jordan, Utah.


Colorado State COLORADO STATE

Spring signings: The Rams' lone spring signee was Taylor Varsho, a 5-6 guard from Marshfield High in Marshfield, Wisc. Varsho concluded her prep career as Marshfield's career scoring leader with 1,367 points. She averaged 18.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a senior and was tabbed an all-state selection each of her final three seasons.

Early signing period: Varsho is the fifth signee for the 2012-13 season. The early signees are Courtney Lisowski, a 6-foot wing/guard from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif.; Emily Johnson, a 5-11 guard from Georgetown (Texas) HS; Caitlin Duffy, a 5-11 guard from St. Thomas More HS in Rapid City, S.D.; and Hali Ford, a guard/forward from Affton HS in St. Louis.


Fresno State FRESNO STATE

Spring signings: New head coach Raegan Pebley's first recruit was Jacinta Vandenberg, a 6-6 center from Australia who in 2009 and 2010 won gold medals while playing for Victoria Metro in the U-18 nationals. She also earned a spot on the U-17 Australian national team.

Early signing period: Fresno State added Toni Smith, a 6-foot center from Del City (Okla.) High, and Destini Price, a 6-foot forward/guard from Antelope Valley High in Lancaster, Calif., who was ranked 46th in the nation among guards by Hoopgurlz.com.


New Mexico NEW MEXICO

Early signing period: The Lobos inked four players during the early signing period including Khadijah Shumpert, a 6-foot forward and all-state performer from Bedilde-St. Margaret's High in Minneapolis; Jordyn Peacock, a forward/center from Beaverton, Ore., who chose New Mexico over offers from UNLV, Cal Poly and St. Mary's; Bryce Owens, a standout point guard from DeSoto, Texas; and 5-10 guard Antiesha Brown, a transfer from Texas Tech who holds the all-time scoring record at Clovis (N.M.) High with 1,673 points.


San Diego State SAN DIEGO STATE

Spring signings: With the loss of senior center Katrina Tutt to graduation, the Aztecs added Louisville transfer Cierra Warren, a 6-foot-4 center who must sit out the 2012-13 season per NCAA transfer rules. Warren, a native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who originally signed with North Carolina, was rated the 31st-best player in the nation and the No. 10 post player by Hoopgurlz.com as a prep. SDSU also added 5-9 guard Danesha Long, who spent the last two seasons at Midland College in Midland, Texas. Long, who earned NJCAA honorable mention All-American accolades as a freshman, averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season.

Early signing period: The Aztecs started the signing class with Aleiah Brandon of Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., and Tia Levi-Dixon from local San Diego High School. Brandon, a 6-1 forward, was one of the top-85 ranked forwards and a three-star recruit, while Levi- Dixon, a 5-6 point guard, was ranked in the top-40 among point guards nationally by Hoopgurlz.com.


UNLV UNLV

Spring signings: Aley Rohde, a 6-5 center who played at Arizona as a freshman last season, will sit out the 2012-13 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will have three years left in her career. Rohde ranked fifth in scoring for the Wildcats last season at 7.6 points per game and third in rebounding with 6.0 per contest. She also led the team in blocks with 38 (1.2 bpg). Her 31 starts were second-highest on the team.

Early signing period: Four California natives --- Amie Callaway, Jehiah Cook, Rejane Verin and Jazzmeen Williams --- signed national letters of intent in November. Callaway is a 6-2 forward/center from San Diego High who was ranked No. 54 in the nation at her position by Hoopgurlz.com in this year's recruiting class. Cook is a 5-5 point guard from Sacramento High, while Verin is a 6-2 guard/forward who comes to UNLV from Serra High in Los Angeles and is considered the most athletic recruit in the class. Williams is a 6-4 center from San Bernardino.


Wyoming WYOMING

Spring signings: Aubry Boehme, a 6-foot forward who arrives from Otero Junior College in Smithfield, Utah, averaged 17 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest last season. She finished her career at Otero with 1,041 career points while recording a school high 94 career blocks and 100 steals in a season.

Early signing period: Boehme is the fourth student-athlete to join the Cowgirls as they inked three during the early signing period. The other signees include Marquelle Dent (5-7, guard, Denver, Colo.), Whitney Gordon (6-2, forward, Marion, Kan.) and Fallon Lewis (6-0, guard, Dayton, Wyo.). Dent was an all-state performer at Regis Jesuit High in Denver whose father, Terry, was a member of the Wyoming men's team from 1984-88. Dent is ranked as a three-star recruit and a top-40 guard nationally by Hoopgurlz.com

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MICK MCGRANE

MW Senior Writer Mick McGraneMick McGrane has covered the Mountain West since the league's inception in 1999. He spent 12 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he served as the beat writer for San Diego State football and men's basketball. He currently represents the MW as a member of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McGrane serves as senior writer to the Mountain West, providing readers with exclusive, in-depth information about the Conference by highlighting its 10 member institutions and contributing feature stories on student-athletes that participate in the league's 18 sponsored sports.

Have a question for Mick? E-mail him at mick@TheMWC.com or check him out on Twitter @MWCMick.


MARK KNUDSON

Mark Knudson Mark Knudson is a Colorado State journalism school graduate and a 12-year veteran of professional baseball. During his playing career, Mark pitched for three major league teams, including the Colorado Rockies, where he was the first Colorado native to play for the hometown team. He recorded wins over three of the four legendary pitchers who make up the 4,000 strikeout club: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. His win over Ryan came for the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day in 1991.

Since his retirement, Mark has been a feature writer and columnist for Mile High Sports, a radio talk show host and TV analyst for numerous sports media outlets. For the past six years, he was a columnist and baseball analyst for The Mtn., along with being one of Colorado's six Heisman Trophy voters.

Have a question for Mark? Visit him at ElevationSportsNetwork.com or check him out on Twitter @MarkKnudson41.

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