Lights finalize roster for next season with recruits

By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com

Barring any unforeseen changes or surprises, Montana State University-Northern men's basketball coach Shawn Huse has completed his squad for the 2003-2004 season with the addition of three more recruits.

Berhane Williams of Ohlone College, Calif. and Braden Draggoo of Wenatchee Valley Community College, Wash. have signed NAIA letters of intent to compete for the Lights. Also, off-guard Kellen Hall of Browning made a verbal commitment to compete for MSU-Northern.

Williams, a 6-2 forward, averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game, and shot 81 percent from the free-throw line. He helped lead Ohlone to the California State sweet sixteen last year and was named second team All-Northern California for his efforts.

"Berhane is a very charismatic young man who has the potential to be a very good player in the Frontier Conference," Huse said. "He is the type of player that brings a lot of energy to the floor."

Williams plans on studying communications at MSU-Northern.

Draggoo is a 6-3 guard, who was the second leading scorer for the Wenatchee Valley Knights last year at 11 points per game despite playing with a broken bone in his foot most of the season. He also averaged seven rebounds and shot 80 percent from the free throw line.

As a high school senior in 2001 he was named the 2A Washington State player of the year.

"Braden is a very strong, physical guard with a warrior mentality," Huse said. "He and Berhane have the ability to provide the important depth that is needed to formulate a good basketball team."

Draggoo plans to study education at Northern.

Hall, a familiar face to Havre High followers, was an all-state basketball player for the Indians the past two seasons. A 6-2 guard, Hall averaged 15 points and four assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the three-point range.

Hall is a versatile athlete, competing also as the number one golfer on the golf team and the quarterback for the football team.

"Kellen is a team player who is a very well-rounded individual," Huse said. "He played an integral part in back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002. We are excited to have him as a part of the Lights."

Hall will study education at Northern.