Eastern Washington lands hoops transfer Steven Beo out of BYU

New Eastern Washington men’s basketball coach Shantay Legans landed his second transfer of the summer on Friday.

And this one is an in-state commodity.

Former Richland High star Steven Beo, who appeared in 31 games for BYU last season, confirmed his intent to enroll at Eastern, according to a press release.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard will sit out the 2017-2018 due to NCAA transfer rules and have three remaining years of eligibility.

Beo averaged 2.2 points and 11 minutes per game as a freshman, twice netting a season high of 12 points. The Cougars reached the NIT before falling to Texas-Arlington in the first round, a game in which Beo had four points, six rebounds and four steals.

BYU coach David Rose announced Beo’s departure from the program in April.

At Richland, the two-time Tri-City Herald All-Area Player of the Year led the state in scoring (27.7 ppg) as a junior before averaging 26.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior.

A four-year starter who led Richland to three state 4A tournaments, Legans saw plenty of Beo before his year in Provo.

“We’ve had a chance to watch Steven play a lot over the last few years. He had one of the best state tournament runs that I’ve ever seen at the 4A level,” Legans said.

“Steven is a talented scorer, great defender and a high character person. He will fit right in with what we are doing on and off the court. There’s nothing we like more than getting great players from the state of Washington.”

Beo joins a recruiting class that includes Benas Griciunas, a 7-foot graduate transfer from UNC Charlotte, and Richard Polanco, a 6-8 forward from the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California.