Jay John Adds Late Recruits

Oregon State's first year head coach Jay John (right) has made some late roster adjustments as he heads into the Beavers 2002-03 season.

The former Arizona assistant announced the addition of 6-2 guard Chris Stephens from Portland, Oregon, and 6-7 forward Sal Vance from Oakland, California, to this season's roster. But fall 2001 signee Justin Holt, a 6-5, 190 pound swingman from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, WA, did not meet the NCAA's academic requirements and is headed to a junior college.

Stephens averaged 22.9 points, 5.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds a game as a senior and was named to the Portland Tribune’s All-City first team. He was second in the state in scoring and shot 48 percent from three-point range.

Vance, a late qualifier, averaged 16.0 points and 11.0 rebounds as a junior and earned MVP honors of the Oakland Athletic League All-Star contest. He didn't play during his senior season so he could concentrate on academics, a choice that finally paid off.

Holt (left) led Lincoln High School to the class 4A state title last season as he averaged 22.4 points as a senior. Holt was named to the All-State first team, was named Washington's 4A Player of the Year and was MVP of the Narrows League. He averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, four steals, and three blocks per game as a junior.

Holt, who will turn age 18 this October, is going to attend Tacoma Community College.

John has two other incoming freshman who will fill out his 12-scholarship roster. Kevin Field, a 6-10, 250 pound center/power forward who also signed in fall NLI period, averaged 18.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.7 blocked shots, and 2.4 assists as a senior at Wilson High School in Tacoma, WA.

The other frosh is Lamar Hurd, a 6-4, 175 pound point guard from Heritage Christian H.S. in Cleveland, Texas, signed with the Beavers in May. Hurd averaged 9.8 points, 9.7 assists, and eight rebounds last season and was a first team all-district and all-state selection as a senior.

Kerbrell Brown, a 6-7, 210 pound forward from Dodge City C.C. in Dodge City, Kansas, signed an NLI with OSU in the fall 2001 but was released from the letter following John's hiring to replace former head coach Ritchie McKay at the Corvallis, OR, school. Brown subsequently signed with South Carolina. He averaged 16 points and six rebounds last season as he helped lead Dodge City to the NJCAA Region VI Final Four.

Earlier this summer, rising sophomore point guard Joe See, decided to transfer from OSU. He averaged 6.1 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds and made a team-high 43 three-pointers last season. The De La Salle High School grad has returned to his native California; he signed with UC-Santa Barbara and will be eligible for the Gauchos' 2003-04 season.

Oregon State, which finished the 2001-02 season with a 12-17 (4-14 PAC 10) record, took a six-game Australia tour this past August. NCAA rules did not permit any of the incoming freshman to play with the squad.

Photos: Oregon State University Sports Information Department