With one year under his belt as head coach of the men’s basketball team, Tyler Geving continues to pound the recruiting pavement and bring in the type of talent that Portland State has used to go to the NCAA Tournament two out of the last three years.
Despite a rollercoaster 2009–10 season, Geving was able to fill the immediate holes created from the exodus of players that included All-Big Sky players Dominic Waters and Jamie Jones. With so many freshmen and transfers coming onto the squad, a brief introduction is in order.
Michael Harthun
Guard, 6’3″ 185
Washington State
Harthun started at South Medford High School where he paired with Kyle Singler for two state titles and won All-State honors three times. Playing for Washington State for two seasons before coming to the South Park Blocks, Harthun averaged 1.7 points and 10 minutes per game in his last season. Despite receiving limited playing time, he made appearances in 28 games and managed to start one game as well. Described as a winner by Geving, Harthun is an outstanding shooter that can distribute the ball as well.
Pros: A shooter with a winning pedigree.
Cons: Must redshirt until the 2011–12 season.
Brandon Cataldo
Center, 6’10” 270
Rainer High School
Rated the 12th-best center on ESPN.com, Cataldo is considered by many to be one of the elite center prospects on the west coast. Single-handedly elevating the Vikings recruiting class to the top of the Big Sky, Geving and company will be expecting him to do much of the same come time for conference play. With a massive wingspan to go with his immense size, Cataldo has Division-I size coming out of high school and should be a factor immediately.
Pros: A combination of skill and feel for the game that makes him a true threat in the paint.
Cons: Up to this point, he hasn’t played against much top talent.
Chehales Tapscott
Forward, 6’5″ 210
Clackamas Community College
Having played the last two years in Portland State’s backyard at Clackamas CC, Tapscott knows his way around town. Averaging a double-double during his career, the two-time MVP at the community college level was a proven scorer that could move the ball around and get everyone involved. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Tapscott helps to immediately replace the height that the men’s basketball team lost with players such as Phillip “Tree” Thomas moving on to graduation. Tapscott is a can’t-miss talent, and should see starter minutes if he plays half as well as he is advertised.
Pros: A good passer that has a feel for the game and can step in right away.
Cons: We only get him for two years.
Terry Coleman
Guard, 5’10” 180
Sullivan Community College
An outstanding talent that played his last two years at Sullivan Community College, Coleman is a proven scorer that averaged 16.4 points per game and shot 47 percent from downtown. An effective defender as well as a solid rebounder, he averaged seven boards and two and a half steals per game. Despite coming off an injury in March, look for Coleman to get some serious playing time when the season starts. Also look for Coleman to extend the recent string of success at the position, namely Dominic Waters and Jeremiah Dominguez.
Pros: A tough, athletic kid who’s strong enough to finish around the hoop and rebound effectively.
Cons: He’s more of a scorer than a passer at the point guard position.
Charles Odum
Guard, 6’0″ 210
College of Southern Idaho
An imposing figure at the point guard position, Odum is a physical player who knows how to use his size in the half-court. With the quickness to not only get to the rim but the size and physicality to finish shoots and draw fouls, he should definitely fix any lack of toughness some perceived as the biggest weakness from last year’s team. An outstanding perimeter defender, he nearly averaged an eye-popping five steals a game last year at Southern Idaho. Expect to see him early and often next year.
Pros: An athletic player who will compete day in and day out.
Cons: Less of a shooter than the other prospects, Odum is shooting only .339