COUGARS

Just got off the phone with Patrick Simon, the senior-to-be at Ephrata High. He made a visit to WSU today and decided to recommit to the Cougars. Read on for an unedited version of what will appear in tomorrow's S-R.
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• Here is the short story ...

Patrick Simon, the 6-foot-7 forward from Ephrata, announced Thursday night he was recommitting to the Cougars. The decision came after he met new Washington State University men's basketball coach Ken Bone for the first time.

"I knew I wasn't going to make a decision until I met coach Bone and the rest of the assistants he brought in," Simon said driving back home after his visit to WSU. "We talked about strategy, about how he was changing the offense and defense and how I fit into it. I liked how it was going.

"I liked the up-tempo, kind of freeness of his system."

Simon first committed to WSU as a 14-year-old freshman. He helped Ephrata win the State 2A basketball title as a sophomore but sat out last year, his junior season, with a small fracture in his foot. After Tony Bennett left for Virginia in early April, Simon said he was reopening the recruiting process.

Simon said he should be able to play again in August and expected to be healthy for his senior season. High school seniors can sign a letter of intent in November.

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• That's all for now. We'll be back as events warrant. Until then …

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