FAIRBANKS - The Alaska men's basketball team had three players sign National Letters of Intent to play for the Nanooks next season, announced head coach Mick Durham on Thursday.
Jalen Dupreee (Napa Valley College), Zach Pederson (Edmonds Community College) and Bangaly Kaba (Tohono O'odham Community College) will all join the Nanook men's basketball program for the 2015-16 season.
"These three signings are exciting to add to our program," said coach Durham. "I believe their best basketball is ahead of them and that they bring very solid academic credentials to Alaska."
Dupree, a guard from California, led Napa to a 13-14 record and was named to the Bay Valley All-Conference team as he averaged 10 points a game with four rebounds and three assists.
Said Dupree's previous coach, Steve A. Ball, "I am extremely proud of Jalen for the achievement of his life-long goal of competing at the university level. In his two years as a member of the Storm basketball family, Jalen has dedicated himself to making himself and his teammates better. He put in the long hours outside of practice time to improve his game and is a model for what the community college system is about."
Continued Ball, "He worked hard in the class room to maintain over a 3.7 grade point average while exceeding his obligations to the basketball program. In addition to his studies and work on the court, Jalen worked with at risk kids in the little free time that he had in his schedule."
Pederson joins the Nanooks from Edmonds Community College where the power forward led his school to the NWAC Championship game and to a 27-6 overall record. Pederson averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named First Team All-Conference in the North Region. A standout in the classroom as well, Pederson was named NWAC All-Academic.
"Zach is a great young man and someone you want representing your program on and off the court," said Kyle Gray, Pederson's head coach at ECC. "He brings the same energy everyday whether it be a practice or a game. There is nothing that Zach won't do for his teammates or coaches and is everything you want in a student-athlete. We will miss him here at Edmonds but wish him the best of luck with the Nanooks."
Kaba, another power forward, helped Tohono O'odham CC to a 14-18 overall record and a successful run in the playoffs which culminated with a runners-up finish. Kaba scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds per game in his time at Tohono O'odham.
"Bangaly is one of those kids who you just know is going to wake up one day and be an absolute beast of a basketball player," said former head coach Matthew Vargas. "He has accomplished so much academically and on the court that you forget he just turned 19."
Continued Vargas, "Bangaly helped us tremendously both years he was with us during playoff time. He is a physically strong player and has the ability to get to the rim at will. He leaves us with a 4.0 GPA and is a kid with a world of potential both on the court and in the classroom."
Concluded Durham, "we needed to add some big forward help to our roster and we did that with Zach and Bangaly. Jalen gives us a tough nut at the guard position to go with our returnees. I am very excited about this group joining what we have now and what it means for our team going forward."
