Hopson commits to WSU basketball

Washington State’s basketball team didn’t wait long to fill the void left by Josh Akognon’s transfer.

The Cougars received an oral commitment Wednesday from North Idaho College point guard Mac Hopson, who will have four years and three seasons of eligibility for the Cougars.

Hopson led the Cardinals in points and assists this season. He had previously committed to play for Idaho, where his father played under Don Monson in the early 1980s, but decided to go elsewhere when Leonard Perry was let go as head coach. He visited WSU’s campus on Tuesday.

Hopson played high school basketball in Portland, but his family has since moved to Washington, meaning he will be the only in-state scholarship player on the roster next season, barring another commitment.

The 6-foot-1 point guard can’t sign an official letter of intent until April 10.

Baseball

Washington State’s Pac-10 home opener against Arizona State was suspended after two partial light outages. The game was delayed for 15 minutes after the first inning and when some of the lights on the first-base side went out again with two outs in the top of the third inning the game was called.

Play will resume today at 2 p.m. with the Cougars leading 1-0. WSU (20-7, 2-1 Pac-10) and Arizona State (20-6) will complete that game then play the second game of the series.

Hockey

Spokane Chiefs defenseman Sean Zimmerman has been signed to an amateur tryout contract with the Albany River Rats, the American Hockey League affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.

Zimmerman was selected in the sixth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey. The tryout contract makes him available to play in the AHL for the remainder of the season and playoffs. Zimmerman will return to Spokane and play as a 19-year-old in the 2006-07 season.