Beamish and Wotachek to Play Basketball at
UW-Stevens Point
A pair of
conference Players of the Year have informed UW-Stevens Point men�s
basketball coach Jack Bennett of their intentions to attend the school in
the fall and play for the two-time defending NCAA Division III national
champions.
Bryan Beamish, a
6-5� swing player from Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School and Jerome
Wotachek, a 6-7 power forward from Mishicot High School, both plan to take
their talents to UW-Stevens Point.
Beamish was
the Wisconsin Valley Conference co-Player of the Year after posting 18.9
points and 6.3 rebounds per game this past season. He shot 56.3 percent from
the field, including a league-best 46.5 percent from three-point range.
Beamish led the Red Raiders to a 25-1 record and the WIAA Division 1 state
semifinals. He was an honorable mention all-state performer and a two-time
first-team all-conference selection.
�Bryan is one of
the finest collegiate prospects in the state and we are very pleased to have
him join the Pointer basketball program,� Pointers� coach Jack Bennett said.
�His ability, feel for the game and desire to improve are exactly the
ingredients we look for. Bryan�s been superbly coached and raised the right
way. He will be a terrific addition at UW-Stevens Point.�
�Bryan was a great
high school player and one of our leaders,� Lincoln coach Dan Witter added.
�His biggest strength may be his passing and vision of the court. I truly
believe his best basketball is in front of him. He is one of the best kids
and best players I have ever coached.�
Wotachek
was the Olympian Conference Player of the Year after averaging 17.1 points,
10.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game as a senior. He had 35 points and 20
rebounds in a win over Manitowoc Lutheran this year as the Indians avenged a
36-point loss from earlier in the season. Wotachek also was one of the
Indians� top players as a junior when they finished as the WIAA Division 3
state runner-up.
�We are
very pleased to have a player of Jerome�s ability and potential join our
Pointer program,� Bennett said. �He�s an outstanding young man, well-coached
and hungry to get better. We�re pleased to have him at UW-Stevens Point.�
�Jerome
has a lot of upside to his game and is constantly improving,� Mishicot coach
Pat Rau said. �This past season he began the year strictly being able to
score with his back to the basket and by the end of the year he was able to
hit open 15-footers and make a one-dribble move facing the basket.�
UW-Stevens Point finished 29-3 this past season and defeated Rochester
(N.Y.) 73-49 to become the third team in NCAA Division III history to win
back-to-back national titles. The Pointers also won their fifth Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the past six years. |
