NORTHWEST NOTES: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016

Vandal men’s hoop team begins practice

MOSCOW — With the regular season just over one month away, the Idaho men’s basketball team took to the court Tuesday for the first official practice of the year.

“What we hope to accomplish is to set the tone for the entire year, of how hard we play and what we’re trying to get done,” said head coach Don Verlin following the opening practice. “It’s a really comforting thing as a coach, because I have 12 guys back this year and so I thought our practice went very well for a first day.”

The Vandals return much of last year’s squad that went 21-13 and earned a spot in the College Basketball Invitational. In all, Idaho brings back its top-six scorers, led by Second Team All-Big Sky honoree Victor Sanders. Sanders led the team in scoring a season ago at 15.9 points per game while shooting nearly 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Mixing in with the veterans are three newcomers. Idaho added junior college transfer Brayon (B.J.) Blake from North Idaho College, as well as freshmen Trevon Allen and Chance Garvin, to keep competition fierce in practice and training.

The team won the most games by a Vandal squad since the 1992-93 season, eclipsing the 20-win plateau for the first time under Verlin. Idaho also defeated Washington State for the second straight season.

The regular season kicks off at home against Corban University on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m., as part of a doubleheader with Idaho volleyball.

Pratt returns to Empire coaching staff

SPOKANE — The Empire has announced the re-signing of assistant head coach and director of player development Cleveland Pratt in preparation for the 2017 Indoor Football League season.

Pratt will be entering his 12th season of coaching after joining Spokane for their inaugural season in the IFL in 2016. Before his move north to Spokane, he spent seven years in Tri-Cities. Six of those seven years with the Fever were spent with now Empire head coach Adam Shackleford.

During the 2016 IFL season in Spokane, Pratt helped the Empire to a 12-4 regular season record and Intense Conference Championship victory. Beyond assisting as an offensive assistant, wide receivers coach, and special teams coordinator; Pratt also serves a key role in the recruitment and development of players.

For the second year, Cleveland has spearheaded Spokane’s partnership with Chamber Fitness which serves as the host site of one of the Empire’s offseason open tryouts in Davie, Fla.

Since relocating to Spokane last year, Pratt has also taken on a position as an assistant coach at North Central High School.

“Coach Pratt and I will be going into our eighth season working together in 2017,” Shackleford said. “He is a tremendous coach on the field and one of the best recruiters I’ve worked with. I can’t imagine going through a season without coach Pratt on my staff.”

In seven total seasons with the Fever, Pratt served in multiple positions. In 2007 under head coach Tony Wells while the Fever were in the af2, Pratt served as offensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach. He held the same position under head coach Pat O’Hara in 2009.

In 2010, Shackleford joined Tri-Cities for the franchise’s first season as a member of the IFL. Pratt served as the team’s defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for their next three seasons (2010-12). During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Pratt took over as defensive coordinator and continued as the special teams coordinator. In 2015, he stepped into the role of assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and assistant director of player personnel.

Before joining the Fever back in 2007, Pratt coached for two seasons (2005-06) as the co-offensive coordinator for the Miami Morays of the National Indoor Football League.

Pratt played six seasons in the Arena Football League, playing for Miami (1995), Florida (1996-99), and Grand Rapids (2000). In six seasons he caught 195 passes for 2,372 yards with 35 touchdowns, including 82 receptions for 1,094 yards and 18 touchdowns with Florida in 1996. He had six rushing touchdowns and added 210 kick returns for 3,941 yards and six scores.

Pratt played his collegiate career at Edinboro University (Pa.). He was inducted into Edinboro’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 for football and men’s track and field. He still holds the school records for career kickoff returns (76), career kickoff return yards (1,844), and longest kickoff return (100 yards), along with most kickoff returns for touchdowns (3). In track and field, Pratt was a five-time PSAC individual champion while competing in the 100, 400 and long jump. He earned All-American honors in the long jump in 1990. He is originally from North Miami Beach, Fla., where he graduated from North Miami Beach High School. Pratt is the oldest of 12 siblings.