The Bobcat Nation

bobkitten66 wrote:But is he literate?? Are any of the '05 recruits getting an 'A' in calculus as high school seniors? Our grad rates are going to continue to suck, so long as the current coaches keep dropping their academic standards (and believe me, they have done...)

bobkitten66 wrote:But is he literate?? Are any of the '05 recruits getting an 'A' in calculus as high school seniors? Our grad rates are going to continue to suck, so long as the current coaches keep dropping their academic standards (and believe me, they have done...)

bobkitten66 wrote:But is he literate?? Are any of the '05 recruits getting an 'A' in calculus as high school seniors? Our grad rates are going to continue to suck, so long as the current coaches keep dropping their academic standards (and believe me, they have done...)

Derochowski Decides Early
OregonPreps.com Staff

The spring signing period hasn't finished for the Class of 2005, and already some of the state's top Class of 2006 players are making commitments. Last month, Jefferson High School guard Lathen Wallace pulled the trigger on a commitment to Oregon State. Now, one of his teammates on his Portland Panthers AAU squad has also made an early choice. Travis Derochowski, a developing 6-foot-9, 235-pound post from the Western Mennonite School in Salem, has gone ahead and made a pledge to a Big Sky program.

"Travis has committed to Montana State," said Portland Panthers AAU coach Reggie Guyton. "He liked the staff at Montana State and through his own investigation, he had explored the academic programs available there and he liked their photography department. He wanted to get it over early."

Derochowski's decision comes at a time when things were just starting to heat up in his recruitment. According to Guyton, schools like Utah, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Boston College, Wyoming, and MSU's top rival Montana, had all come to the Kingwood Classic this past weekend to further evaluate Derochowski. But despite all this, the big man simply decided he wanted to be a part of the Bobcats program.

"I think he could have had more options," Guyton said. "But he went ahead and committed in his quest to get it over with."

Derochowski committed to Montana State sight un-seen - he'll make his official visit to campus in the September/October timeframe. Guyton has no doubts that Derochowski can succeed at that level of play.

"I think he'll be excellent there," Guyton said. "He's played three years of basketball total and his upside is tremendous. He plays extremely hard and his work ethic is unparalleled. He's got great passion for and is a student of the game."

OregonPreps.com hopes to catch up with Derochowski in the near future to discuss his early decision.

..... Salem Academy's Travis Derochowski. Also 6-foot-10, what he brings to the table is more of a physical presence. He won't be afraid to get down and dirty in the paint, battle for rebounds, and give the hard foul when necessary. AAU play is a big step up from the 2A ball that Derechowsky is used to playing, but Guyton is confident the raw big man can make the transition and be a key contributor. College coaches are already showing some interest and will be watching his development this spring and summer.

"Travis has gotten a lot more aggressive over the last 12 months," Guyton said. "He's gotten a lot more confident in himself. His improvement has just been tremendous."