Beck’s has signed eight players for next season with a lot of athleticism and height, including a pair of athletes from Nigeria.
The signed players include Michael Peltz, 5-10 guard from Alliance; Akinsanya “Tayo” Akintao, 6-11, 240-lb center from Nigeria; Faruk Oyalade, 6-8 power forward from Nigeria; Raul Delgado, 6-4 guard from Mapleton, Utah; Preston Eaton, 6-0 guard from Mapleton, Utah; Aamir Kelliehan, 6-3 guard from Mableton, Ga.; Stephan Shepherd, 6-8 forward from Long Beach, Calif.; and Justin Standley, 6-3 guard from Oakland, Calif.
Beck said he likes the talent that is coming in.
“The exciting thing is that the potential for us to be good not only this coming year, but the following year as well is really great,” he said. “I think we have some really versatile guards that are between 6-foot and 6-3 and 180 and 210 pounds. We have some horses there. With our foreign kids, I have always enjoyed the young men from Africa because they are very thankful and they work hard, and they will do whatever is asked. I think both those guys will be a good fit in the community and give us great effort on the floor.
“Right now we still need to add a small forward, two more centers, and another power forward and then we should be in good position. In terms of talent level of the first eight or nine guys signed, I think we are looking pretty good, but it always looks good on paper, though.”
The one goal Beck is aiming for is winning the East sub-region and getting a chance to host the regional tournament next March.
“We have a chance to host the tournament this year if we bring in the right guys,” he said. “That is the biggest thing; we want to bring in the right guys this year that will give us minimal if any distractions off the floor, give us great effort in the classroom, and compete day in and day out on the basketball court.”
With what he has signed so far, Beck is on his way in re-establishing Cougar basketball as a force in Region IX. Last year the Cougars finished 19-13 on the season before falling in the second round of the regional tournament. The new recruits coming in all have the potential to lead the team to the regional championship, beginning with the two basketball players from Nigeria.
“Tayo has a reputation of being a very good shot blocker and rebounder. He is a really tough and gritty player. He tries to be an intimidator and will give a good defensive presence on the floor and ability to control the boards. We are excited about Tayo and think he will have a big impact right away.
“Then we signed Faruk who played for the under 19s national team. Faruk is about 6-8 and plays a small forward and is very athletic. He is a slasher and scorer. Both of these players should be high impact players for us.”
Delgado is another talent that Beck signed because of former Cougars Francisco Cruz and Saul Torres. Delgado is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and attended high school at Springville in Mapleton, Utah.
“Most of us have heard a little bit about Raul Delgado. He is a guy that would be in Division I basketball right now like the University of Utah, BYU or Utah State, which was all interested in him out of high school. They wanted to put him at a prep school, but he felt very comfortable coming here because he has relationships with both Francisco Cruz and Saul Torres [who both graduated this May from WNCC].He is very athletic and very strong. He can shoot the three and slash to the basket. I suspect he will be a very good player for us.
Eaton comes to WNCC after spending a couple years on a mission for his church. Beck said he started recruiting Eaton when he was coaching at Southern Utah University. Eaton led 4A in Utah averaging about 24 points a game prior to serving a two-year LDS mission.
“Eaton red-shirted this past year at Utah State and he is looking to come in and play some significant minutes and have a key role,” he said. “I suspect he will be a really good scoring threat for us on the perimeter. He has some good leadership skills and he has maturity because he is about 21 or 22 years old. He is a combination guard that can play the point or the two position. He has a very strong body and a very good work ethic.”
Beck said that Peltz should see minutes as well and likes the Alliance graduate’s drive on the basketball court.
“Michael had a strong body and is a really tough kid,” he said. “He is left-handed and shoots it. I expect him to come in and challenge for a lot of minutes. With Peltz, I think if he lived in a bigger area where he played summer travel ball, I think he would be a Division I player right now. He will come in and add some stability, and I think he will spend a lot of time in the weight room and do some really good things for us on the floor.”{
Another player that Beck likes is Kelliehan.
“I am very excited about Aamir. He played at Queens City Prep School this last year and averaged about 26 points a game,” he said. “He is extremely athletic and extremely strong. He can really slash. He has very long arms. We are very fortunate to get Aamir because he has the potential to be an all-region, all-American type of player by the time he leaves here. I think he will have significant impact on the floor.”
Beck said that he saw Shepherd when he was recruiting in Las Vegas and likes what he sees from the 6-8 forward.
“Shepherd is very skilled and throws his body around in and underneath the basket, and can take the pass from a bounce and try to create to get to the rim,” he said. “He is a good student and a little bit under the radar. I think he gives us some versatility at the power forward or small forward spot.
Standley is the last recruit Beck has signed so far. Standley actually attended WNCC last semester, working out with the team. He is a guy that Beck said has a lot of potential. Standley spent the fall semester at New Mexico State.
Beck said that because of his relationship with Standley and his dad by recruiting other McClymonds High School players, he got Standley to come to WNCC.
“He can really shot the basketball and has good toughness. We are excited about Justin.”
No comments:
Post a Comment