Eastman Announces Four Recruits in Early Period
Men's basketball program signs two high school, two JC players.
November 21, 1997
PULLMAN, Wash. - Two high school seniors and two junior college transfers
will join the Washington State men's basketball team next season head coach
Kevin Eastman announced Friday afternoon.
All four early signees have ties to the Los Angeles area, a market that
Eastman has wanted to seriously get into since his arrival four years ago.
The two high school student-athletes include 6-foot-6, 190-pound swingman
Mike Bush, currently at Kent Meridian High (Wash.), and 6-8, 190 forward
Milton Riley of Compton High (Calif.).
Jan-Michael Thomas, a 6-2, 183 shooting guard at San Joaquin Delta College
(Stockton, Calif.), and Eddie Miller, a 6-8, 225 power forward at Ventura
College (Ventura, Calif.), are the two junior college recruits.
"This is the most talented group we've signed since we've been here," said
Eastman, whose Cougars are currently 2-0 heading into the San Juan Shootout
Nov. 28-30. "They are a very athletic group and a hard-playing group with a
great attitude toward working and improving their games."
Bush (Kent, Wash.), who was born at Riverside, Calif., started his prep
career at Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) before switching to Kent Meridian
(Wash.) this fall for his senior year. His final year at Mercersburg, Bush
averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds while earning all-league honors for the
third straight year. An all-around athlete, Bush was a standout receiver in
football. He also competed as a sprinter in track and field, and placed
fourth at the prestigious Penn Relays as a junior.
"Mike is a player we just loved this summer," said Eastman. "He's very
athletic and can play any of the perimeter positions."
Riley (Gardena, Calif.), nicknamed "Shake", has played both post position
for prep hoop coach Rod Palmer.
"Milton is a guy we feel has tremendous potential," Eastman said. "He plays
in a very difficult league and for a good coach. "He's very athletic and is
still growing."
Thomas (Stockton, Calif.), is finishing his second season at San Joaquin
Delta, where he led his squad to a 23-8 overall record as the seventh best
team in northern California. The honorable mention All-America selection
averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per outing. He played
his final prep season at Inglewood High (Calif.), where he averaged 20
points and led the team to a 29-6 record and national ranking high of No. 13.
"Jan will give us that combination quickness and shooting ability that we
are missing right now," said Eastman. "He's very much like Shamon Antrum
(Cougar 1995 and 1996), who was a good player for us our first two years here."
Last season Miller (Reseda, Calif.) played at Ventura College after he
completed his prep career at Chatsworth High (Chatsworth, Calif.).
"Eddie is a skilled 6-8 player who is going to sit out this year in order to
be able to play three years at the Division I level," Eastman said. "He can
go inside and outside."
Washington State Men's Basketball Signings
Name Pos Hgt Wgt Hometown (School)
Mike Bush G 6-6 190 Kent, Wash. (Kent Meridian)
Eddie Miller F 6-8 225 Reseda, Calif. (Chatsworth/Ventura College)
Jan-Michael Thomas G 6-2 183 Stockton, Calif. (Inglewood/San Joaquin Delta College)
Milton Riley F 6-8 190 Gardena, Calif. (Compton)
