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Santa Rosa player Nelson commits to Bronco basketball
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Greg Graham, the men’s basketball head coach at Boise State University, announced the signing of Matt Nelson and Tyler Tiedeman to national letters of intent.
Nelson, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward from Issaquah, Wash., spent the last two seasons at Eastern Washington University, where he earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors following the 2003-04 season.
Nelson played 52 games and started 39 games for Eastern Washington. He averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during the two seasons, while making 53.1 percent of his field goal attempts. His best season was his freshman, when he started 22 of 30 games for a team that won the Big Sky championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
“He gives us a guy who has the potential to average a double-double. He’ll give us a strong presence inside. He has that rebounding attitude, similar to Jason [Ellis],” Graham said.
During the championship run, he averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds, while making 57 percent of his shots. In conference games, he upped those numbers to 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. He led the Big Sky in field goal percentage in conference games, making 63.7 percent of his field goal attempts.
As a sophomore, Nelson averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while making 49 percent of his field goal attempts. He missed six games with a broken hand, but still managed to score in double figures eight times, including a career-high 26 points against Portland State.
“He’s proven that he’s a winner. He’s been to the tournament as a freshman. His numbers were down last year a little bit because he was out with a broken hand,” Graham said.
According to Santa Rosa Community College head coach Craig McMillen, Tyler Tiedman has also committed to Boise State.
Tiedeman, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard/forward from Santa Rosa, Calif., signed a financial aid agreement. Tiedeman, who will be a sophomore, played one season at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, Calif., after transferring from Arizona where he played baseball.
Tiedeman visited Boise State last week, and has had games this season where he made seven and eight three-pointers. He will be sophomore once he enrolls at BSU, and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining – similar to that of Seth Robinson.
“Tyler brings a big wing to our program who can really shoot the basketball,”
Graham said. “He gives us some good size on the wing at 6-foot-6 and he’s a very smart player. We are very excited to have him and its a big plus because he comes in as a sophomore.”
Tiedeman, along with Nelson, join guard Anthony Thomas and center Kurt Cunningham, who committed to Boise State during the early signing period in November.
Cunningham averaged 15.8 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior this past season for Tri Central High School in Sharpsville, Ind. The 6-9, 270 pound center should bring some size to the middle of the lineup lost by departing senior Jason Ellis. Thomas should eventually back up Eric Lane at the point guard position.
The Broncos are bringing back seven players from last season’s team that advanced to the championship game in the WAC tournament, despite having just a 6-12 conference record and being the lowest seed in tournament history to advance to the championship game.
Six of those seven returning players started at least two games last season, including junior Coby Karl, who started every game.
The Broncos have one scholarship to give this offseason. All signs lead to it being given to former Bishop Kelly and Walla Community College post player Robert Pankowski. The Broncos had signed Pankowski last season, but he was ruled academically ineligible, and therefore is still under NCAA rules, a recruitable player.
Arbiter Sports Staff
