News Release Date:
Thursday, June 4
"This is, without a
doubt, the best class I’ve been associated with in my eight years at the NCAA
Division III level." -- Whitman Head Coach Eric Bridgeland
When you think about it, not only do these student-athletes have to be at the top of their class academically and from a leadership standpoint just to gain admission to a national liberal arts college such as Whitman, but most of them did it while playing basketball 20-plus hours a week AND while holding some kind of paying job at the same time . . . THAT is what makes them SO special . . . Can you say . . . Gifted?
We are very proud to say that each individual that has chosen to join our family at Whitman is a relationship-based, character-driven WINNER. This class doesn’t just have slivers of character – it’s OOZING with it. Aside from this, there are a number of born leaders in the class.
1st: Our players. With every student athlete listed below, we were in competition with other institutions that offer some kind of athletic scholarship aid; sometimes full, sometimes just a portion of that school’s costs. Whitman/NCAA Div. III doesn’t offer athletic $$; what we do offer, though, are life-lasting relationships. Our players, although they may not brag about it, SCREAM r-e-l-a-t-i-o-n-s-h-i-p-s if you’re ever around them. Our returners completely sold the incoming class on Whitman -– PERIOD.
2nd: Assistant coach Matt Airy. His relationship building skills are off the charts. That is what recruiting is all about. We would not have had this class without Coach Airy giving every ounce of himself to Whitman Men's Basketball.
1st: It’s not often a class like this comes together. Every student athlete noted below was on our ‘A’ list (impact players); not one of them was a fallback because we ‘missed’ on another recruit -– this doesn’t happen very often.
2nd: We needed at least seven players to add to our returning core; this we accomplished.
3rd: We added much needed ball handling, shooting, and versatility with this class. We are a pressing/trapping/PRESSURE program –- to execute this style of play successfully, you have to have players who can score inside and out, as well as defend inside and out -– all of players below have this capability.
4th: You don’t build national championship programs with transfers -– you build them with talented freshmen who grow and exude your culture as time goes on. We did this. All five of our freshmen are of the same cloth as DMike, BShaw and JP = they can play! Our two transfers are and were THE PERFECT FITS for our style of play and where our roster and program are at, at this point in time (they too, by the way, can flat out play.)
 |
| Peter Clark (with ball) |
Peter Clark, 6-foot-4 wing, Sinagua High School, Flagstaff, Ariz. -- Grand Canyon Region Player of the Year, Daily Sun Player of the Year
Peter is a BORN LEADER, from a magnificent family. For Spring Break this year, instead of heading to the beaches, he spent a week in inner-city Los Angeles with his church group, giving back! Yeah . . . Bryan Hays, his HS coach says, "You can find a player that can score, that can do anything on the court, but it's hard to find someone that does it all on the court and is such a positive example for every player in a program. He did it all, and there wasn't a kid in our program that didn't respect and look up to him.” Read more about Peter in this Arizona Daily Sun newspaper article.
Peter led Sinagua High to its first-ever outright region championship . . . Technically, Peter will challenge all of Whiman’s 3-point records, but our program will need all of his natural leadership ability to accomplish its goals. Every program needs a pillar -- Peter is that pillar for us.
 |
| Luquam Thompson |
LuQuam Thompson, 5-foot-11 combo guard, Henry Foss High School, Tacoma, Wash. –- Narrows League Most Valuable Player
Quam led Foss to the Narrows League Bridge Division title and the Narrows League tournament crown, as well as to the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time since 2000. Scott Sonntag, former Foss High coach on Quam, “As good a player as Quam is, he is a far better person. Quam choosing Whitman opened up the entire Tacoma area for Whitman basketball.”
Quam is a PLAYER. His greatest weapon is his will to win. When he turns it on, he can flat out guard ANYONE in the country, as well as get to the paint any time he wants. He is without a doubt, a potential All-American candidate down the road.
 |
| Brady Brent |
Brady Brent, 6-foot-7 wing, Mountain View High School, Bend, Ore. –- Intermountain League MVP, First Team All-State (5A, Oregon), Oregon State High Jump Champion 2009
Brady led Mountain View High to a league title and to the Oregon state playoffs. With NCAA Div. I high jumping capability, Brady took second in state last year as a junior and WON that crown this year!! Brady is yet another relationship guy and is a PERFECT fit for our program’s culture.
On the basketball floor, Brady is, as one rival NWC coach put it, “going to be the best player in our conference in two years.” Yep, Brady brings his 6-foot-7 wingspan and jumping ability to Whitman, along with his feathery stroke from 3-land. We think he can be a ball handling guard for the Missionaries . . . Excited.
 |
| Ryan Gilkey on defense |
Ryan Gilkey, 6-foot-7 forward, Woodinville (Wash.) High School — All-KingCo League three years
Ryan was the first potential recruit that we saw last June after being offered the position at Whitman. It was at that point that the coaching staff said, “We gotta have that guy! If we get him, and him alone, we will be significantly better.” Ryan was, without question, one of the best mobile big men in the state of Washington this past season. Injuries cut his season short, as two bad shoulders and a bum knee slowed even Ryan down; had he been healthy = Woodinville to State.
Ryan combines a TOUGH and PHYSICAL rebounding post game, with an unbelievable touch and ability to pass the ball. We will utilize his versatility immediately. Once healthy (early/mid-Fall), Ryan will see playing time instantly, inside and out. On a side note, Ryan’s DECA team finished top 10 nationally out of 300 teams this spring in Anaheim, Calif. Talented?
 |
| Drew Raher |
Drew Raher, 6-foot-4 forward, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, San Francisco, Calif. — First Team All-West Catholic League (one of the best high school leagues in California)
“Out of all the 10,000 players we evaluated in person last summer, NOBODY played as hard as Drew Raher. PERIOD = and it WASN’T CLOSE.” – Eric Bridgeland
You got it. Drew is an old school throwback. As fundamental and selfless as they come, Drew makes a living with his hardhat and lunchpale. Families with children should avoid the first three rows of our games when Drew checks in . . . Able to guard inside and out, Drew can post and shoot the 3 with the best of ‘em. In our style of play, Drew will be a MAJOR factor at all times because of his versatility and heart. If we can get the rest of our team to play half as hard as Drew, we’re onto something.
 |
| Justin Artis |
Justin Artis, 6-foot-1 guard, Olympic College/Henry Foss High School, Tacoma, Wash. –- First Team All-Narrows League at Foss HS; Second Team All-NWAACC North for Olympic College
Can you say . . . Winner? Justin Artis is as fine a player and young man as there is. He led Olympic to one of its best seasons in recent memory (21-8). With the ability to shoot the 3 w/range and put the ball on the floor, Justin will stretch the defense. His versatility to play at least three positions will come in handy for Whitman. J-Arts’ biggest asset is his maturity and leadership ability. His presence will INSTANTLY calm our young group. Don’t let his friendly demeanor and smile fool you, J-Arts competes to win.
 |
| Daniel Davidson |
Daniel Davidson, 6-foot-4 forward, Skagit Valley CC/Eisenhower High School, Yakima, Wash. — Second Team All-NWAACC North; eighth in Washington/Oregon in free throws attempts in 2008-09
Because we chose to list our incoming freshmen first, don’t underestimate Daniel’s immediate impact on our program. Daniel might be the most important piece to a breakthrough season for the Missionaries. With a "I live at the line" motto, Daniel should FEAST in the Whitman dribble drive motion offense by creating contact both inside and outside. Named to the All-NWAACC academic team; also honored as Co-Male Athlete of the Year at Skagit Valley. Daniel is the epitome of a student-athlete and will serve as an outstanding leader on and off the floor for our underclassmen.
© Whitman College | 345 Boyer Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362 | Contact us