Joe Cravens, the University of Idaho's new basketball coach and a former University of Utah assistant, capitalized on his Ute connections this week by signing three first-team all-state prep players from Utah.
East High's Nate Gardner, Taylorville's Chad Coates and Davis's Ryan Halliday told the Deseret News that they have all signed letters of intent to play for the University of Idaho.NCAA rules forbid Cravens from commenting on the players until he receives their letters in the mail.
Meanwhile, former Ute Kelly Walker, who transferred from Utah to Barton County (Kansas) Community College last year, will visit Idaho next weekend.
Gardner, who is 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, averaged about 21 points and 10 rebounds per game last season for East High, which ranked as one of the state's top teams until losing quickly in the state tournament.
Gardner, whose father, Ken, was a former all-conference player for Utah, was recruited by the Utes, but with a number of young players already in their program they were "hesitant," says Nate. "They are looking at some junior college guys that have been in the works for a couple of years. They really weren't giving me a firm offer. I heard that Weber State and Utah State assumed I was going to Utah. Since Coach Cravens knew what my situation was with Utah, he jumped in there. I'm happy about it."
Coates, who is 6-8, 190 pounds, averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, and, like Gardner and Halliday, played in two all-star games. He was named the Most Valuable Player in an all-star tournament in Phoenix.
Halliday, a 6-4 guard, averaged 17 points, six rebounds and four assists per game last season for Davis, which ranked as one of the state's top teams.