Seven players, including a trio of stars from Alaska and a league Most
Valuable Player, have agreed to join the Lower Columbia College men's basketball team beginning this fall.
Austin Nielsen (White Salmon, Wash.), Brian Grant (Woodland, Wash.), Chad Little (Kelso, Wash.), Joe Rowberry (R.A. Long in Longview, Wash.), Mike Fourtner (Homer, Alaska), Nolan Rose (Kasilof, Alaska) and Link Anderson (Dutch Harbor, Alaska) give the Red Devils one of the strongest incoming classes in recent years.
Nielsen, a 6-5 forward, is a two-time Southwest Washington 2A League Trico Division MVP who averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds as a senior.
"Austin didn't have a great supporting cast at White Salmon, but earned a lot of respect from the other coaches in the league by winning the MVP award twice," Roffler said. "He can score on the perimeter, put the ball on the floor and go to the basket and bang around inside. He's a dedicated player and a hard worker,and will come in ready to compete."
Grant, a 6-foot-1 guard, earned all-Southwest Washington 2A League Trico Division honors after averaging nearly 17 points per game and leading the Beavers to the Class 2A state tournament. "Brian broke a little bone in the wrist of his shooting hand during the last game of the state tournament," Roffler said. "He's a very quick and scrappy player who shoots and passes the ball very well. He had a very good senior year, and we want to help him to further his maturation process into a top-notch player."
Little, a 6-foot-4 forward, averaged 15 points for Kelso while leading the Hilanders to their first postseason appearance since 1996. He also earned second-team honors in the Greater St. Helens 4A League and on The Daily News All-Area squad. Little was also invited to the Lower Columbia High School All-Star Game, where he scored 12 points. "Chad runs the floor well and can finish the fast break, shoot the 3-pointer and come off screens and put up the ball," Roffler said. "He can also put the ball on the floor and pull up in the half-court game. I believe Chad has a lot of potential to be a heck of a ball player at the collegiate level."
Rowberry, who played at Kelso as a junior and R.A. Long as a senior, agreed to play at LCC last season but decided to move to Florida to live with his brother. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as a senior, earning him team MVP honors. "We were very interested in Joe last season," Roffler said. "He's been working hard in open gym and has shown good speed, quickness and a lot of court savvy. Sometimes sitting out a year doesn't hurt, and I don't the year off will hurt him. He's a very dedicated kid and wants to be our next point guard."
Rowberry will possibly step into the starting point guard role held by Oakland, Calif. freshman Lance Pitts, who left school and returned home. "With the loss of Lance, we'll need someone with savvy to run the position," Roffler said. "Although he wasn't a point guard in high school, he handled the ball a lot and understands the position."
Fourtner, a muscular 21-year-old has worked as a crab fisherman in the Bering Sea since graduating from high school in 1998. As a senior at Homer High, the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 22 points and nine rebounds.
"Mike adds extra depth on the frontline, and will work into more playing time as the season progresses.," Roffler said. "He's already learned a solid jump hook in one afternoon."
Rose is a 5-11 point guard who will probably be a redshirt player. "Nolan needs to mature into his body, and redshirting him will give him the opportunity to lift some weights and get ready for the 2002 season," Roffler said. "He'll probably play golf for us next spring."
Anderson, who graduated in 1997, is a 6-foot guard who shoots the ball well from outside the 3-point arc. "Link helped his high school team win the Alaskan 2A state championship during his senior year," Roffler said.
The newcomers join returners Jay Van Hook, Bobby Droz, Matt Cokley, Matt Rich, and redshirt players Jason Klein and Jake Lipscomb.
Besides Pitts, freshman Justin Cotrone of Ilwaco High has left the team, and reserve guard Ian Winklmann has transferred to Eastern Oregon College.
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