FAIRBANKS, AK - The University of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball head coach
Frank Ostanik announced that 6-foot-0 point guard
Keven Campbell has signed a National Letter of Intent and will enroll at UAF in the fall as a freshman with four years of eligibility.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to have Keven as a part of our basketball family," said Ostanik. He is a true point guard who has the rare combination of size, skill and toughness. He was the number one point guard we wanted all year."
A product of Edison High School in Stockton, CA, Campbell averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 3.9 steals per game during his senior season. In his final two years at Edison, he led his team to the Elite Eight of the Northern California Division I sectional tournament, losing both times by one basket. In his final high school game, Campbell scored 34 points, collected eight rebounds, dished out nine assists and had seven steals.
"Keven comes out of a very good HS program. I have tremendous respect for the job coach (Ray) Harris has done developing Keven," said Ostanik.
A three-time team MVP, Campbell is also a three-time All Tri-City Athletic League and The Record Online All Area selection with skills on both sides of the ball.
"Keven's strengths are his ball handling and his defense," said Edison head coach Ray Harris. "He is a tremendous penetrator and on-ball defender. I am very happy for him and think he will be a good fit at UAF."
Campbell will join a Nanook squad that saw the emergence of sophomores
Chris Jordan (Houston, TX/Milby HS) and
Kenny Barker (San Diego, CA/Clairemont HS) as go-to scorers and the only two returning members of the starting lineup next season.
"Keven's ability to step in and play right away will allow Kenny (Barker) to go back to the wing where he is more comfortable. We thought Kenny did a lot of wonderful things at the point, but in the end, we were just asking Kenny to do too much."
Barker finished the season third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 ppg. Jordan led the team in scoring, averaging 16.4 ppg.
"I am a big believer in the importance of being able to win the point guard spot every night you step on the floor," said Ostanik. "With Keven's size and toughness, we feel we can do that. When I look at the lineage of point guards we've had, from Devin Dawkins to Chris Smith, Keven will fit in perfectly."
Campbell joins
Martez Christian (Las Vegas, NV/Desert Pines HS) as the second member of the men's basketball 2005-06 recruiting class.
- UAF MEN'S BASKETBALL -
