Ewu Men’s Basketball At A Glance

Coach

Steve Aggers (3rd year)

Assistant coaches

Jack Baldwin, Jerome Jenkins, Brian Priebe

1996 record: 7-19, 3-13 Big Sky (8th place)

Players to watch

Sr. Kevin Lewis (6-10, C); Sr. Karim Scott (6-6, F); Jr.

Mike Sims (6-8, F); Sr. Michael Lewis (6-6, F/G).

Key newcomers

So. Deon Williams (6-2, PG); Jr. Shannon Taylor (6-3, G);

Fr. Tony McGee (6-2, G); So. Jason Humbert (6-10, C).

Bonus points

Eagles return eight letterwinners, but their season could turn on the play of first-year point guard Deon Williams, who sat out last season as a partial academic qualifier… . Depth is apparent in Aggers’ decision to redshirt sophomore Eddie Turner III, who lettered as a true freshman… . Kevin Lewis could emerge as one of the top big men in the Sky, but he has been slowed during the exhibition season by off-season knee surgery.

Outlook

Defending champion Northern Arizona remains the team to beat, but many of the league’s coaches like the chances of Montana State and Portland State, which both return all five starters from 1996-97. Cal State Northridge has improved immensely and Weber State features one of the best recruiting classes in school history… . The Eagles are better than last year, but won’t contend for the title unless Kevin Lewis gets healthy in a hurry and Deon Williams vastly exceeds everyone’s already lofty expectations.

EWU roster

Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown

Stephen Moss-Kelley F 6-5 So. Oakland, Calif

Deon Williams G 6-2 So. Los Angeles, Calif.

Tony McGee G 6-2 Fr. Moreno Valley, Calif.

Zac Claus G 6-2 Sr. Lincoln, Neb.

Shannon Taylor G 6-3 Jr. Fresno, Calif.

Mike Sims F 6-8 Jr. Federal Way

Jon Berger F 6-8 Sr. Stockton, Calif.

Michael Lewis G/F 6-6 Sr. Berkeley, Calif.

Tim Van Wieringen F 6-7 Fr. Bellevue

Kevin Lewis C/F 6-10 Sr. Midwest City, Okla.

Chris White F 6-10 Fr. Phoenix, Ariz.

Karim Scott F 6-6 Sr. Fresno, Calif.

Jason Humbert C 6-10 So. Salem, Ore.

Eddie Turner III C/F 6-8 So. Pomona, Calif.

David Stone F 6-2 Jr. Federal Way

Darrell Walker G 6-0 Jr. Marysville

1997-98 schedule

Nov. 16 d. Sam Houston State 80-77

Nov. 22 San Diego State 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 25 Cal Poly, SLO 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 29 at Baylor 11 a.m.

Dec. 5-6 CSU tourney, Fort Collins, Colo.

Dec. 5 vs. Columbia 4:37 p.m.

Dec. 6 vs. Colorado State or Troy State TBA

Dec. 14 at Gonzaga 2 p.m.

Dec. 17 at Santa Clara 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 22 vs. WSU at Kennewick 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 30 Central Washington 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 3 Northern Arizona 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 5 Cal State Northridge 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 8 at Cal State Sacramento 7:35 p.m.

Jan. 10 at Weber State 6:05 p.m.

Jan. 15 at Montana State 6:35 p.m.

Jan. 17 at Montana 1:05 p.m.

Jan. 23 Weber State 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 31 at Portland State 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 5 Idaho State 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 7 Cal State Sacramento 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 12 at Cal State Northridge 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 14 at Northern Arizona 6:05 p.m.

Feb. 19 Montana State 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 21 Montana 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 25 at Idaho State 6:35 p.m.

Feb. 27 Portland State 7:05 p.m.

Mar. 5-7 Big Sky Tournament at site TBA TBA , DataTimes