THE FRONT ROW with Jason Elliott May 25, 2013

One coach added a familiar face, while another has added another link to the Rainier Beach High pipeline as the North Idaho women's and men's basketball teams continue to fill out their rosters.

LOOKING TO find a guard to play alongside Scenic West Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player Georgia Stirton, NIC women's basketball coach Chris Carlson found one in his own back yard in Post Falls senior Katie King.

"I've coached her before in AAU basketball and in some summer stuff," Carlson said. "She's been a part of several championship teams and understands the endeavor. She's a tough, feisty point guard - but in the Tori (Davenport) and Camille (Reynolds) range. I think we're a good fit for her."

King also played softball and soccer at Post Falls.

"I'm glad it worked out," Carlson said. "We hung in there with her because she was looking just at going to school, then realized she could play a little ball too."

King joins Caitlyn Behymer and Kara Staggs of Okanogan (Wash.) High, Sabrina Earle (Medical Lake), Morgan Grier (Shadle Park in Spokane), Rylie Swaggerty (Burlington, Wash.), Mariah Swanson (Burlington-Edison High of Mt. Vernon, Wash.) and Panisesi Taimani of Kennewick High as incoming freshmen.

Carlson said all four of the team's freshmen from last year - Renae Mokrzycki, Stirton, Jansen Butler of Lake City High and Maggie Kirscher of Sandpoint - will all return next year.

"I'm really happy with all the recruitment that we've had," Carlson said. "I feel good about it. We're going to be a younger team again, but I'm cautiously optimistic we'll be competitive again."

Katie Buskey, who helped lead the team to a SWAC title as a freshman in 2012, has signed with Division I Fairleigh Dickinson of Teaneck, N.J.

"She finally landed a home," Carlson said. "She has an aunt that lives right by the college and living back east, it might be a good fit for her."

Tori Davenport, a reserve point guard the last two years, will not continue her playing career, instead opting to focus on school.

"She actually had some good looks," Carlson said. "But when push came to shove, she wanted to get into the nursing program here and start doing what she wants to do as a career."

AS FOR the men's program, the Cardinals have added a fourth player from Rainier Beach High in Seattle, signing 6-foot-9 post Fuquan Niles, joining Wilfred Middlebrooks, Will Dorsey and Jordon King in the freshman class for next year.

"He was a little under the radar because he was listed as a junior," NIC men's basketball coach Jared Phay said. "They (Rainier Beach) are one of the best programs in the Northwest, if not the country. They're a powerhouse and having a good relationship with them and (NIC assistant coach) Corey (Symons) having a good one with their coaches has been good for us. They're used to winning, so we think that means something. Some coaches don't want to bring in high school teammates, but I'm confident they'll blend in with the guys we have."

Niles was listed as a junior attempting to gain a fifth year of eligibility after transferring his freshman year, but had his hardship appeal denied by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

NIC has also signed Brad Wallace, a 5-8 point guard from River Ridge High in Lacey, Wash. Wallace averaged 28 points a game as a senior and has been named conference MVP 12 times - four each in basketball, football and baseball.

"He was tossing around the idea of playing college football, so he was another one under the radar for us," Phay said. "He wanted to play basketball, so we were able to get in the picture there."

Returning for NIC will be Jason Wheelock of Lake City High, Ty Higbie of Coeur d'Alene and Nathan Rathbun of Deary.

Phay said Cole Luckett and Ben Tucakovic have left the program and both signed with Highline Community College. Luckett, who redshirted with a knee injury two years ago at NIC, will have three years of eligibility remaining in college, one at Highline. Tucakovic redshirted last year and will have four years remaining, two at Highline.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].