Utah

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Luca Drca, a 6-foot-5, 197-pound combo guard from Belgrade, Serbia, has signed a letter of intent with the Utah men's basketball team. The announcement was made Wednesday by Ute head coach Ray Giacoletti.

Drca (pronounced DAR-cha) was invited to the NBA's Basketball Without Borders European Camp in 2004. He is currently playing with KK Beovuk in the Serbian Amateur League, averaging 16 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Drca will enroll at the University of Utah as a freshman this fall. An excellent student, he plans to enter the U.'s biomedical engineering program.

"I chose Utah because I liked the atmosphere there with the coaches and players, and it's a great opportunity to hopefully play in many NCAA tournament games," said Drca. "I also felt there was a good academic environment there."

Said Giacoletti: "We're really excited to have Luca become a part of our basketball family. He finishes the 2006 recruiting class for us and is a great fit. He helps fill an immediate need by giving us a guy who is very versatile, and has the ability to pass the basketball and make others around him better."

SOFTBALL: Utah (23-12) never trailed in either game of its doubleheader with Utah State (5-27) on Wednesday, winning 3-1 and 8-1 at Ute Field. The Utes had 24 hits on the afternoon. They scattered eight in the two-run win in Game 1, and had 16 in the seven-run Game 2 victory. The 16 hits were a season-high for Utah.

Utah State

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Utah State's head men's basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Wednesday the signing of Michael Earl to a national letter of intent to compete for the Aggies beginning in the 2006-07 season. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward just completed his sophomore season at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif., and will have two years of eligibility with Utah State.

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As a sophomore at Fullerton College, Earl earned second-team all-state and first-team all-Orange Empire Conference honors as he helped lead the Hornets to a perfect 37-0 record and the California Community College state championship.

"Our basketball program is very excited about the addition of Michael Earl," said Morrill. "He is an outstanding player who comes from a quality junior college program. He has been very well-coached and is used to winning, which are both important factors in his future."

Weber State

MEN'S BASKETBALL: New head coach Randy Rahe has signed four junior college players to national letters of intent to play for the Wildcats next season. They are: Tyler Billings, a 6-foot-7 forward from CEU and Sky View High School; Daviin Davis, a 6-4 forward/guard from Midland Junior College; Arturas Valeika, a 6-9 forward from Midland JC; and Brody Van Brocklin, a 6-2 guard from Salt Lake Community College and Davis High where he was named Deseret Morning News Mr. Basketball following the 2001-02 season.

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