Nov. 12, 1999

Nov. 11 - FORT COLLINS - Ritchie McKay and Tom Collen staked out their home recruiting turf when they took over the respective men's and women's basketball programs at Colorado State.

Then McKay and Collen watched as the rest of the country swooped in on their prized targets. As it turned out, there wasn't much drama Wednesday on signing day. As expected, Belleview Christian point guard Jonathan Sanders and Fruita Monument shooting guard Jon Rakiecki (pronounced Ra-KESS-Key) signed with the men and Rangeview forward-center Joy Jenkins became the only member of this year's recruiting class for the women.

It was the first day of early basketball signing and the first day the coaches could comment on players once those letters were faxed into the school. McKay targeted Sanders and Collen put his radar screen on Jenkins when both were underclassmen. McKay knew he wouldn't keep the 6-foot-7 point guard from the tiny Christian school a secret for long. There are no secrets when the top players around the country hit the summer all-star circuit.

"I've been recruiting Jon Sanders since I got the job," McKay said. "It was a matter of enduring the summer (exposure). UCLA wanted him to visit unofficially. He's such a unique prospect. I was certainly a little panicked when there's (Kansas coach) Roy Williams in his $400 Armani shoes and me in my Nike cross trainers.

"Rakiecki scored 36 points in a game in Las Vegas and I thought: Here comes the bandwagon. He committed to us in a Colorado Springs tournament and made the all-tournament team. If his team had won, he would have been MVP."

Rakiecki said after he made his commitment, CSU's Mountain West Conference rival Utah came after him along with Notre Dame. "I started to play good after my commitment because there was no pressure," he said. Growing up in Grand Junction, he said he always wanted to play for Utah.

"When I thought about my future, (Utah coach) Rick Majerus is mentioned for jobs every year," Rakiecki said. "I want to go where the coach will be there for my entire career."

Although UCLA and Kansas backed off Sanders, he did take trips to Saint Louis and Texas Tech. Similarly, Collen said he identified Jenkins as the top prospect in her class during her sophomore year. "We knew this summer if Joy was the only player we signed, it would have been a successful recruiting season," Collen said. "She's the person we wanted."

Women's Basketball News listed her as the 39th-best player.

Collen has another scholarship available, but will save it for next year. Collen said Jenkins is versatile enough to play any of the three inside positions and she will get playing time right away.