Bridgeport's Wallesen signs with Bellevue University, Akins headed to Tarlington

Two Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball players have signed letters-of-intent with four-year schools to continue their collegiate careers.

Chance Wallesen spent three years at Western Nebraska Community College fine-tuning his game on the court. Matthew Akins spent one year with the Cougars adjusting to the rigors of college basketball.

Wallesen, who started for the purple and gold of Bridgeport High School, will be wearing those colors once again as a member of the Bellevue University Bruins, located just outside of Omaha.

While Wallesen is staying in-state, Akins is moving a little closer to home as a member of the Tarlington State University Texans. Tarlington State is a Division II school, but Akins feels it gives him the best chance to win a national title.

“I was looking at Metro, Tulsa, San Diego State, Missouri State, Albany and Belmont,” Akins said. “I could have chosen to go to Division I, but in Division I you might not get to the tournament. At Division II, I have a chance to win a ring. At Tarlington, the program fit the way that I play. I am an up-tempo player and I like to run. The coach didn’t hide anything from me, he told me what I did wrong and what I need to work on. Tarlington has the best chance of me getting a ring.”

As for Wallesen, he neared his choices down to two – Dickinson State in North Dakota and Bellevue. And the fact that Bellevue was his high school colors didn’t have a factor. He just liked the feel of the program and campus.

“Bellevue fitted me better, and the program just stuck on me,” Wallesen said. “Plus, I have relatives down there.”

Wallesen spent three years at WNCC after red-shirting his first year. After his red-shirt season, Wallesen has brought his hard-nosed, intense play to the courts of Cougar Palace. Wallesen started 29 of 30 games this season for the Cougars, helping them to a sub-region title and a 19-11 overall record.

Wallesen averaged eight points and three rebounds per game, but it was his shooting and defense that stood out. Wallesen finished the season shooting 100 percent from the free throw line, while connecting on 41 3-pointers.

“I will play the same role that I played anywhere. I am looked at as a shooter and hustle-type guy,” he said. “I will go in and fight. I am ready to play anytime and if coach wants me right away or if he wants me off the bench, I am there to help.”

Wallesen said attending WNCC was one of his best choices out of high school and wouldn’t change anything.

“I have grown a lot basketball-wise,” he said. “My first year here, I didn’t know anything about the college game,” Wallesen said. “Playing with three new teams in the years I have been here, it is just outstanding just to get to know the guys. The coaching staff has been great. It has been a great time and I have grown a lot playing here.

“The Chadron State coach tried talking me out of going here my first year and definitely now coming to a junior college was worth it. I will tell anybody to do that first, especially here with a good basketball program and good teachers. School-wise it helped me out a lot to kick off my college years.

Wallesen said he has a lot of memories from playing here, including being part of a No. 1-ranked team in the nation in 2005.

“I will miss the small town a lot. Omaha is definitely a big attraction, but I will miss the people and the fans that have supported me in the community. I have a lot of friends out here and I will always be around. It was a great time here and I hope people come follow me and keep up with what I am doing.”

Akins has only been at WNCC for one season having transferred to Scottsbluff from Iowa Western Community College with former head coach John Jungers. While at Iowa Western, Akins helped the Reivers to the national tournament, and at WNCC continued to improve his game.

Akins said that while many thought he should be starting, he was content in coming off the bench and helping that way. Akins started just eight games for the Cougars, while averaging 11 points and six rebounds a game.

“At this school, everybody wanted me to start, but I prefer coming off the bench because I can sit down and watch how the team is doing,” he said. “At Tarlington, I expect to be a major player, an impact player. I expect to score in double figures and I am hoping to go in and put up big numbers to win a championship.”

Akins said at Jennings High in St. Louis, he was a skinny and immature kid. In his two years in junior college, he definitely improved.

“At the JUCO level, I grew as a player and added 30 pounds of muscle, and I got mentally ready for the game of basketball,” he said. “Going to the national tournament was one of the greatest feelings in the world. All the hard work you went through, the sweat and tears, running up and down the court, the screaming and hollering, was worth it to play at the national tournament. Later on in the future, I can look back and say I played on a team that played at a national tournament.”