Kent signs ‘super prospect’
Oregon men’s basketball head coach Ernie Kent announced Saturday that Adam Zahn, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from Redondo Beach, Calif., has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Ducks next season.
“We are very excited to get Adam into our program,” Kent said. “He brings a new dimension to our team that we don’t have, in that he’s an athletic big guy who can run the floor.”
Zahn averaged 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior in earning all-CIF Division 2A first team honors at Redondo Union High. Coached by Tom Maier, he led his team to a 24-7 record in 2001-02 as Redondo Union advanced to the Southern California regional semifinals. As a junior, Zahn averaged 17 points, nine rebounds and six blocks per game as Redondo went 28-1.
Respected recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons ranked Zahn among his top 100 seniors nationally. “(Zahn) has nice size and a good touch from the perimeter,” wrote Bob Gibbons All Star Report correspondent Rob Matera. “He’s a hard worker and a solid weakside rebounder. … (He) has some potential as a combo forward because of his ability to shoot the ball.”
Other recruiting services took notice of Zahn as well. FansOnly.com gave him a rating of “super prospect.” Hoop Scoop ranked him as the 17th-best player in California. Prepspotlight.com ranked him among the top-40 power forwards in the nation. Last summer, Prep West Hoops listed Zahn fourth among “rising power forwards” on the West Coast.
Zahn, the son of Chet and Cathy Zahn and brother to Arizona player Andrew, is also a good student with a 3.0 prep grade point average.
He will join three players Oregon signed in the fall — Jordan Kent (Ernie’s son) of Eugene, Brandon Lincoln from Portland’s Jefferson High School and Andre Joseph from Lee Junior College in Baytown, Texas.
“This recruiting class has some excellent athletes who should keep our program very well stocked for the next four or five years,” coach Kent said. “This is a versatile group that can fill a lot of needs.”
Oregon graduated six seniors
— guards Freddie Jones, Anthony Lever, Ben Lindquist and walk-on Kristian Christensen, center Chris Christoffersen and forward Mark Michaelis — off the 2001-02 team that won the Ducks’ first outright conference title in 63 years and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Women’s hoops signs
second Canadian
The University of Oregon women’s basketball team landed another Canadian recruit Thursday as the Ducks signed 6-foot-2 forward Yadili Okwumabua to a national letter of intent.
Okwumabua (oak-wum-ah-BOO-ah), a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocks per game as a senior last year at Glenlawn Collegiate Institute. She also earned 4A Player of the Year honors in Manitoba her final two years.
“She’s a great rebounder and defender and loves to play an up-tempo style,” said Oregon assistant coach Allison McNeill, whom Okwumabua played for on the Canadian Junior National Team last summer. “On the junior national team, she tested out as one of the camp’s top athletes in terms of speed and jumping ability.”
A three-year letterwinner at Glenlawn, she led her team to the 4A Provincial championship each year
— an unprecedented feat by a boys or girls team in the province.
Okwumabua’s junior season was nearly as successful with averages of 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks per game.
“Yadili is such a mentally and physically tough player,” McNeill said. “On top of that, she’s a great kid and an excellent student.”
An honor-roll student, Okwumabua also earned the Carl Ridd Award, which annually recognizes one Manitoba athlete for outstanding athletic, academic and community service accomplishments.
Okwumabua joins 6-foot-3 post player Carolyn Ganes (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), 5-foot-8 point guard Corrie Mizusawa (Lafayette, Calif.), a transfer from Saint Mary’s, and 5-foot-10 guard Chelsea Wagner (Springfield), a transfer from Hawaii, in Oregon’s 2002-03 recruiting class. It will mark the first time the Ducks have had two Canadians on the roster since the 1983-84 season.
Women’s soccer player
to represent University
Oregon women’s soccer senior Lindsey Peterson was one of about 300 student-athletes chosen to attend the sixth annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference from May 26-30 at Orlando, Fla.
Participants are from all three divisions of the NCAA attend the five-day conference which helps enhance leadership and communication skills for the student-athletes.
Peterson, a three-year letterwinner at the defender position for the Ducks, is a native of Port Orchard, Wash. She is majoring in business administration.
To be nominated, one must be in good academic standing and have athletics eligibility remaining the following year. Student-athletes also must demonstrate an ability or strong desire to be leaders.
Junior women’s basketball player Shaquala Williams represented Oregon last year.
— from staff and wire reports
