Pilots Sign Three to Basketball Letters of Intent

Pilots will add a total of five freshmen and one sophomore to the 2007-08 roster.

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PORTLAND - The University of Portland men’s basketball program has signed three recruits to National Letters of Intent during the late signing period, head coach Eric Reveno announced on Wednesday.

Nik Raivio (Vancouver, Wash.), B.J. Porter (Layton, Utah) and Kramer Knutson (Mesa, Ariz.) will join previously signed recruits Luke Sikma (Bellevue, Wash.), Jared Stohl (Marysville, Wash.) and Jasonn Hannibal (Mississauga, Ontario) to comprise Portland’s 2007 recruiting class.

Raivio will enter UP as a sophomore in eligibility after spending the last two seasons at junior college, while the other five Pilot recruits are all incoming freshmen.

“We have added three outstanding basketball players, students and young men to our program in Nik, Kramer and B.J.,” Reveno said.

“All three have been well-coached and have a tremendous love for the game of basketball. All have shown a genuine excitement about where our program is going and each want to be a part of a championship team.”

Nik Raivio (6-4, 190) is a Northwest product who can play either the point guard or off guard positions.

A 2005 graduate of Mountain View High School in Vancouver, Wash., Raivio was a three-time All-Greater St. Helen’s League selection and named a top five player in Clark County by The Columbian.

As a senior, he averaged 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.

Raivio is Mountain View’s all-time leader in free-throw percentange (90.0) and one of only two players to exceed 1,000 points and 200 assists in school history.

Raivio, the son of Portland Hall of Famer Rick Raivio, spent one season at Northeastern Junior College (Colorado) helping the team to a 32-4 record and a league championship for the Plainsmen, who were ranked as high as No. 9 nationally.

Raivio averaged 10 points per game, shot 38 percent from three-point range and 82 percent from the free throw line on a team that sent 11 players on to Division I scholarships.

He spent last season at Santa Rosa Junior College (California), but broke his collar bone prior to the regular season and used a medical redshirt.

“Nik gives us a very skilled, versatile player who can play either guard position,” Reveno said. “He is a good shooter and we are optimistic about his ability to have an immediate impact. He also brings valuable experience from an outstanding and successful junior college program in Northeastern, and was part of a very good program at Santa Rosa last season.”

B.J. Porter (6-4, 165) was named the Utah Class 1-A Player of the Year after leading Layton Christian High School to a 23-2 overall record and the state title.

A two-time all-state selection, Porter led the state by averaging 22.2 points and added 9.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game his senior season.

He posted 20.5 points in the four state tournament victories. Porter scored a career and Utah state season-high 42 points in a 76-55 victory over Christian Heritage.

Porter played last offseason for the Utah Swoosh and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Five-Star Basketball Camp in Pittsburgh, Penn.

A second-team all-state quarterback and track phenom with a 38-inch vertical leap, Porter is expected to bring unique athleticism to the Pilots next season.

“B.J. is coming off of a championship senior season at Layton Christian and is a winner,” Reveno said. “He is a talented athlete at the wing position and will be a good addition to our program. Playing high school basketball under his father, Bobby Porter, he was well-coached and has a great understanding of the game. B.J. is young for his class and has a tremendous upside.”

Kramer Knutson (6-9, 220) played at Dobson High School in Mesa, Ariz. and led the East Valley League in blocks with 69 (2.3 per game) and field goal percentage (58.0).

Knutson was also second in the conference in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and fifth in scoring (13.7) his senior season.

A two-time All-East Valley League selection, Knutson helped the Mustangs to the quarterfinals of the Arizona 5-A State Tournament this year. He played summer ball for the Arizona Rage.

“Kramer is another player who comes to Portland from a very successful program,” Reveno said. “He played for a great coach and teacher in Rick McConnell. Kramer likes to mix it up inside, enjoys physical contact, and plays extremely hard. We are excited about his desire to improve as a basketball player and I see a bright future for him at Portland.”

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