Hanks May Leave SDSU Basketball Staff : Signing Day: Division I schools have no announcements concerning letters of intent. The Aztecs get oral commitments from two junior college men’s players.
Perhaps most notable as the spring letter-of-intent signing period for high school and community college athletes began quietly Wednesday was the news that Maury Hanks, assistant men’s basketball coach at San Diego State, may be moving on.
Hanks is on the verge of leaving the school for a similar position, possibly at Drake University, sources said.
New Drake Coach Rudy Washington, hired April 1, is completing his staff. Washington, reached in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday night, said Hanks is one of the top three candidates for a staff vacancy.
“It hasn’t yet been fully decided,” Washington said. “I’m talking to him about it. He’s pretty good. I think he’s got some people looking at him.”
SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said nothing has happened yet and that he didn’t know Hanks’ whereabouts. Hanks’ telephone number in San Diego has been disconnected, and he was unavailable for comment.
“He’s on our payroll--that’s all I’m going to say,” Brandenburg said.
Should Hanks leave, he would be the third assistant--and last from Brandenburg’s original SDSU staff--to do so in the past year. Charles Bradley and Kevin McLeod left after the 1988-89 season, Bradley going to Brigham Young and McLeod to Weber State.
Neither SDSU nor the University of San Diego men’s or women’s basketball teams announced signings, although at least two players have orally committed to the SDSU men. Brandenburg said he would not confirm anything until letters of intent were signed. SDSU is not expected to make an announcement until early next week.
USIU also made no signing announcements.
The Aztecs have received oral commitments from James Lewis, a 6-foot-2 1/2 guard from Colorado Northwestern Community College, and Mike Ferguson, a 6-7 swing man from McLennan (Tex.) Community College.
Lewis broke the Colorado Northwestern school record for points in a career with 1,488 in two years. He averaged 19.5 a game his freshman season, 26.1 last season.
“He gets up and down the floor--he’s great in a transition game,” said Paul Conrad, Colorado Northwestern coach. “He’s very quick. He needs a little work on his defense, but he’s so doggone quick he makes up for his lack of defense. He’s one of the top three players we’ve ever had here.”
Lewis, from Jeffersonville, Ind., was a national small college All-American.
Ferguson averaged 11 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season.
“The best thing about Mike is he is terribly consistent in all phases of the game,” said Ken DeWeese, McLennan coach. “He doesn’t stand out in one area. He faces up--he’s not a good post player. He’s a good shooter, a good three-point shooter, a good consistent, rebounder and an excellent defensive player.”
The new additions will join Monte Vista High School center Joe McNaull, who signed with the Aztecs in November. McNaull, 6-11, averaged 21 points and 17 rebounds last season.
Coach Beth Burns is expected to announce the SDSU women’s signings today.
USD’s men and women are in similar situations. Each has just one more scholarship to award because of early signings and probably will not announce those until next week.
For the men, Coach Hank Egan signed Mesa (Ariz.) Community College forward Reed Watson in November. Another Mesa player, guard Mike Brown, is expected to take recruiting trips to Wyoming, Washington and USD before making a decision.
Brown, 6-3, averaged around 14 points for Mesa this season.
Kathy Marpe, the USD women’s coach, is encouraged after the team’s best season ever, 17-10.
“Doors are open to us that used to be closed,” Marpe said. “We’re talking to a lot of blue-chip players now.”
Signing Notes
USDHS infielder Jeff Desjardins, batting near .380 this season, signed with Stanford. “His goal from his freshman year was to go to Stanford,” USDHS Coach Dick Serrano said. . . . Two Santana softball players said they would sign today. Pitcher Rebecca Aase said she will attend Florida State, and pitcher Shelly Hawkins said she will sign with Northwestern.
Jim Lindgren contributed to this story.