In-State Stars Pick Bobcats
11/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana State added front-line depth Wednesday, and didn't have to travel far to do so. Great Falls High standout Bobby Howard and Butte High star Jeff Edwards signed National Letters-of-Intent to join the Bobcat program on Wednesday, the first day of a one-week fall signing period.
"I think it's fitting that we were able to sign two quality Montana kids, as recruiting in this state is a priority for us," Huse said. "We're excited about their future as Bobcats."
Edwards' enrollment next fall marks what is believed to be the first time since Don Rae's senior season in 1964-65 that the Bobcat roster includes a Butte product, and Huse likes Edwards' physical skills, particularly on the defensive end. "It's difficult to find a combination of size and athleticism that Jeff brings to our program," Huse said. "I'm impressed with how he's worked to improve himself, he will be almost ready physically when he gets to campus. He played for a great coach (John Thatcher) in high school, and he'll have to continue refining his offensive game, but his best basketball is ahead of him."
Edwards averaged 11 points and 6.5 rebounds a game as a junior, leading Butte High to the Class AA State Tournament. In the past two seasons, he has blocked 220 shots, and after making the AA All-Tournament Team as a sophomore he was a First Team All-State selection as a junior.
"Jeff Edwards is a great defensive player," said Butte head coach John Thatcher. "He'll be a great fit in the Bobcat system. He's just the kind of post player Coach Huse is really going to be able to use. I don't think he could go to a better coaching staff than the Montana State Bobcats."
Howard brings strong bloodlines to the MSU program. Both his parents graduated from MSU, and his mother, Kathleen McLaughlin Howard, remains the career scoring and rebounding leader in MSU women's basketball history. "We like Bobby for a lot of reasons," Huse said. "He's a very good basketball player, he fits our style of play, he's tough. He had a great high school career, and he's multi-dimensional offensively. He can score inside and outside. On top of that he grew up a Bobcat, and I couldn't be more thrilled to bring Bobby into this program."
Howard earned Great Falls Tribune Superstate honors for the second straight year as a junior, leading Great Falls High to its first state title since 1995. He led Class AA with 20.8 points a game, and finished second in the state with 10.1 rebounds. He shot 49% from the floor, 38% from three-point range, and has scored in double-digits 48 times in his prep career. Howard played for his father, Bob Howard, at Great Falls High.
"From a personal standpoint it's great that we'll be able to see him play, and I think it will work out well," said Great Falls High coach Bob Howard, Bobby Howard's father and an MSU graduate. "I think MSU basketball has a bright future, and I'm excited that he'll be a part of it. I think he has his best basketball in front of him. In the past the better the competition the better he plays. I'm looking forward to him getting stronger and improving once he gets to MSU."
Huse indicated the Bobcats could sign additional players during the fall signing period, which concludes next Wednesday.
"I think it's fitting that we were able to sign two quality Montana kids, as recruiting in this state is a priority for us," Huse said. "We're excited about their future as Bobcats."
Edwards' enrollment next fall marks what is believed to be the first time since Don Rae's senior season in 1964-65 that the Bobcat roster includes a Butte product, and Huse likes Edwards' physical skills, particularly on the defensive end. "It's difficult to find a combination of size and athleticism that Jeff brings to our program," Huse said. "I'm impressed with how he's worked to improve himself, he will be almost ready physically when he gets to campus. He played for a great coach (John Thatcher) in high school, and he'll have to continue refining his offensive game, but his best basketball is ahead of him."
Edwards averaged 11 points and 6.5 rebounds a game as a junior, leading Butte High to the Class AA State Tournament. In the past two seasons, he has blocked 220 shots, and after making the AA All-Tournament Team as a sophomore he was a First Team All-State selection as a junior.
"Jeff Edwards is a great defensive player," said Butte head coach John Thatcher. "He'll be a great fit in the Bobcat system. He's just the kind of post player Coach Huse is really going to be able to use. I don't think he could go to a better coaching staff than the Montana State Bobcats."
Howard brings strong bloodlines to the MSU program. Both his parents graduated from MSU, and his mother, Kathleen McLaughlin Howard, remains the career scoring and rebounding leader in MSU women's basketball history. "We like Bobby for a lot of reasons," Huse said. "He's a very good basketball player, he fits our style of play, he's tough. He had a great high school career, and he's multi-dimensional offensively. He can score inside and outside. On top of that he grew up a Bobcat, and I couldn't be more thrilled to bring Bobby into this program."
Howard earned Great Falls Tribune Superstate honors for the second straight year as a junior, leading Great Falls High to its first state title since 1995. He led Class AA with 20.8 points a game, and finished second in the state with 10.1 rebounds. He shot 49% from the floor, 38% from three-point range, and has scored in double-digits 48 times in his prep career. Howard played for his father, Bob Howard, at Great Falls High.
"From a personal standpoint it's great that we'll be able to see him play, and I think it will work out well," said Great Falls High coach Bob Howard, Bobby Howard's father and an MSU graduate. "I think MSU basketball has a bright future, and I'm excited that he'll be a part of it. I think he has his best basketball in front of him. In the past the better the competition the better he plays. I'm looking forward to him getting stronger and improving once he gets to MSU."
Huse indicated the Bobcats could sign additional players during the fall signing period, which concludes next Wednesday.
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