Wolves Sign Four More Hoop Standouts

WOU inks Hodge, Arrington, Cook and Hoffman to team.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH - Western Oregon University head basketball coach Craig Stanger has announced the national letter of intent signings of four more players that will join the Wolves program for the 2006-07 season.

The foursome joins Lake Oswego High School standout Mike McLaughlin, who signed with the Wolves last month.

Added to the WOU fold this week were Adonal Arrington, Johnny (JC) Cook, Keith Hoffman and Brad Hodge.

Arrington is a 6-11, 285-pound center who redshirted this past year at Weber State. He played two seasons at Mt. Hood Community College and prepped at Clackamas High School. “Adonal gives us an immediate presence inside,“ Stanger said. “He is a hard worker who wants to get better.“

Cook is a 6-1 point guard who was a second-team all-state pick (4A) at Canby High School last winter. He was the co-player of the year in the Pac-9 Conference, averaging 16.4 points a game. He will play for the Metro team in the OACA all-star summer basketball series. He poured in 27 points and had seven assists in a game against Tigard this season.

“JC is a very heady player and an excellent ball handler,“ Stanger commented. “He will push for some minutes right away. He makes everybody around him better.“

Hoffman is a junior transfer from Allan Hancock College, and he prepped at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, graduating in 2003. A 6-4 wing, Hoffman was an All-Valley League pick as a senior. “Keith is very athletic, explosive and is an excellent defender,“ Stanger surmised. “We actually recruited him out of high school, so we are happy to have him back in the fold.“

Hodge is a 6-8 forward who redshirted last year at Salt Lake Community College after a standout career at Hillsboro High School. Hodge averaged 16.4 points a game for a team that advanced into the second round of the 4A play-offs. He was a two-time All-Metro League selection, and played in the OACA all-star series. He hit for a career-best 35 points in a game against Lincoln High School.

“Brad is a very good offensive player with a scoring mindset,“ Stanger said. “He is a great get for us, we feel like he is a Division I-type player.“

McLaughlin, who was signed earlier, is a 6-6, 240-pound forward/center who played on the 4A state champion Lake Oswego squad and was a third-team All-Three Rivers League selection.

“Mike has a very solid game and is a great team player,“ Stanger said. “He is physical enough to move in and contribute for us right away.“

Western Oregon is the only NCAA Division II university in Oregon, and plays in the very tough Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Stanger will be entering into his second season as the head coach, after spending 11 seasons at WOU`s lead assistant.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports