Early signing period: Griz add Waddington on first day

From news services

The Montana women's basketball program signed Avery Waddington to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday on the opening day of the early signing period.
Waddington is a 6-foot-3 guard from Coeur d'Alene and a senior at Lake City High School.

"On her recruiting visit, I pulled out my Swiss Army Knife and said, this is what you are," Montana coach Brian Holsinger said. "She is the type of kid who can play multiple positions at 6-foot-3. She is long and has a really, really big upside to her.
"If she wants to work at it, she'll be as good as she wants to be because she has all the skills. She is a really good 3-point shooter and showed this summer how hard she can play and aggressive she can get as a slasher."
Waddington had Division I offers that extended from coast to coast. She becomes Montana's second-ever player from Coeur d'Alene, joining 2012-13 Big Sky Conference MVP Katie Baker.
"I chose Montana for the awesome coaching staff, players and fans," Waddington said. "The amount of people invested in the Montana Lady Griz is unbelievable.
"Missoula is also a great town with tons to do. The culture Montana brings is one-of-a-kind, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Go Griz!"
Waddington was first-team All-5A Inland Empire League as a sophomore and junior. She averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists last winter at Lake City High as a junior.
She has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and has been a part of the National Honor Society the last three years.
"From a character perspective, just top-notch," Holsinger said. "She comes from a family that fits our culture in every way, being unselfish, being a great teammate, doing the right thing. That's who she is and the kind of family she comes from. She fits where we're going and what we want to be about."

Troy men's basketball opened its class of 2024 by signing brothers Cobi and Cooper Campbell, head coach Scott Cross announced on Wednesday afternoon.
"We are extremely excited about the signing of the Campbell brothers," Cross said. "Cooper and Cobi are very similar in almost every way. Both are guards that can really shoot the basketball. They are both great passers who can create open shots for their teammates."

Cobi Campbell, a Puyallup, Wash., native and JUCO transfer, is coming off an impressive 2022-23 season with North Idaho College. He played in 20 games, starting 19, and averaged 16.9 points per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from 3-point range.
He scored in double figures 17 times last season and scored a career-high 41 points – including going 7-11 from beyond the arc — against Lilac City on Dec. 8.
He was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches NWAC All-America team.

Cooper Campbell, also a native of Puyallup, Wash., played for Elite Prep from 2020-22 and now plays for Phoenix Prep. He is an elite shooter who averages 20 points per game while shooting 42 percent from three. He also dishes out six assists per game.
He was named to the Second-Team All-UAA this past summer.  

Boise State: Among the Broncos' women's basketball signings was Teryn Gardner from Mead High. She was named the Greater Spokane League Most Valuable Player last season and lead the Panthers to a third-place finish at the Washington state tournament.

The 5-9 point guard averaged 25.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game as a junior and was named to the ScorebookLive Washington’s all-classification, all-state first team for the 2022-23 season. She has already eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in just three seasons, including a Covid-shortened season where the Panthers only played 12 games.

Gardner is also a decorated multi-sport athlete, earning all-league honors in both soccer and track and field. The leading goal scorer for the Panthers over the last three seasons, Gardner scored the deciding goal in the District 8 3A Championship on Nov. 2 and will be competing in the state tournament on Friday. Additionally, her 4x400 relay team won a state championship in the spring.

Men's basketball coach Leon Rice added Julian Bowie, a 6-foot-3 guard from Pocatello High.

Bowie, who led Pocatello High to a runner-up finish at state last March, was the 90th rated prospect in the country, according to Lindy’s Sports.

The guard’s success in critical moments was on display at the state 4A tournament in March where he was named the tournament MVP after setting the 4A record with 89 points. Bowie led Pocatello to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. His game-winning 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining in overtime of the state semifinal advanced his team back to the title game.

Bowie was named the state 4A Player of the Year in 2022-23 after averaging 23.3 points, 5.3 rebound and 3.1 assists per game as a junior.