WOLVES BASKETBALL INKS TWO MINNESOTA STANDOUTS

ABERDEEN, SD - Northern State head men’s basketball coach Don Meyer has announced that Dan DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Travis Whipple (Oakdale, Minn.) have committed to play with Northern State beginning in the 2004-05 season.

DeWitt, a 6-3, senior, guard at Centennial High School, is a two-time all-conference, two-year captain and team MVP at CHS. As a junior, DeWitt netted 16.3 points, five rebounds and four assists per game and has accumulated 795 career points heading into his final campaign at Centennial. DeWitt is also an all-conference tennis player and holds a 3.96 grade point average during his high school career.

“Dan will bring tremendous skill and versatility to our team,” commented Coach Meyer. “He has an uncanny feel for the game for a player his age. He has a great ability to handle the ball, makes plays, and shoots with great accuracy. Dan is definitely a team player and really liked our team attitude approach to our program.”

“I am excited about being part of the Northern State and Aberdeen community next year,” commented DeWitt. “I am really looking forward to being a Wolf. I have known Coach Meyer for years and started going to his camps in Nashville as an eight-year old kid. My dad played for Coach Meyer at Hamline University and I am excited to be playing for him, Coach Sather and the rest of the staff, as well. Not only does this give me the best opportunity to reach my potential as a player but, just as importantly, it will give me the best opportunity to grow as a person because of all of the other things that the program emphasizes and stands for. I think the current players are great people and I love the way they pull for each other. I’m looking forward to being a part of that, as well.”

Whipple, a 5-11, senior, guard at Hill Murray High School, is a three-time all-conference pick, a two-time honorable mention all-state selection and two-time selection to the Minnesota Basketball News Top 100 list. During his first three seasons at HMHS, Whipple has posted 13.3 points and 3.3 assists per game including a 43 percent shooting percentage and a 41 percent mark from three-point range.

“Travis is a great addition to our basketball team,” said Meyer. “He has all the intangibles you want in a point guard. Travis has been to camp and has been around our guys several times in the last year and is a great fit to our team.”

DeWitt and Whipple are the first of NSU’s recruits for 2004-05.