ELLENSBURG (Oct. 15) -- The Central Washington University men's basketball team took to the practice floor today (Tuesday, October 15) for the first time this season, projected among the top teams this season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Wildcats were picked fourth in the GNAC pre-season coaches poll, which was released today.

"This is going to be an extremely competitive year in the GNAC and the conference champion might not be decided until the final weekend of play," said CWU head coach Greg Sparling, a 1993 Central graduate, who has a record of 310-197 as he begins his 19 season leading the Wildcats. "I expect we will be among the teams in the hunt until the very end."

CWU returns two GNAC all-stars, senior guard MARK MCLAUGHLIN (6-6, Sr., Bothell/Inglemoor HS), who topped the conference in scoring (22.8) while being named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and first team all-conference last season; and forward JB Pillard (6-7, Jr., Kirkland/Juanita HS), who was fourth in field-goal percentage in the GNAC two years ago while playing at Northwest Nazarene (58.1). He also averaged 15.2 points and 6.4 rebounds to rank 10th in both of those categories. Pillard was a GNAC honorable mention selection before redshirting at Central last season.

Also back are center KEVIN DAVIS (6-9, Sr., Federal Way/Todd Beamer HS), who averaged 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, and guards Dom Williams (5-10, Sr., Tacoma/Curtis HS), who averaged 9.1 points per game, and JOEY ROPPO (6-2, So., Monroe), who played 10 minutes per game and contributed 2 1/2 points per contest.

Davis will look to regain his form of two years ago, when averaged 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds and tied for the GNAC lead in blocked shots (62).

The Wildcats added JEFF BUDINICH (6-10, Sr., Maple Valley/Tahoma HS), a transfer from Montana State, who scored 229 points and grabbed 116 rebounds in 77 games over three seasons.

In addition, Central brought in two players from Tacoma Community College in forward JULIAN VAUGHN (6-4, Jr., Tacoma/Curtis HS), who averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds and was a first team Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) West Region selection along with being voted the Defensive Player of the Year, and guard JOSHUA LORD (5-10, Jr., Tacoma/Mount Tahoma HS), who averaged 13.3 points and 3.9 assists and joined Vaughn on the NWAACC West Region all-defensive team.

And CWU signed Walla Walla CC guard DYLAN RADLIFF (6-1, Jr., Richland), who was a first team NWAACC East Region choice after averaging 17.3 points and 4.9 assists. Radliff is the son of former Wildcat great Reese Radliff, who played for Central from 1982-84 and is still listed among the top performers in school history in assists.

"I really like our roster," Sparling added. "We've got good returning leadership, and several talented newcomers who will help immediately and give us good depth. It'll probably take a few games for us to jell, but when we do, I think we're going to be pretty good."


Three freshmen are also expected to earn playing time this season. JALEN PEAKE, from West Valley High School in Yakima, was the Central Washington Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a 2A first-team all-state selection; TERRY DAWN is the all-time leading scorer in Arlington High School basketball history; and highly touted point guard MARC RODGERS comes to CWU from Middlebrooks Academy in Los Angeles.

"They've each excelled on the court and in the classroom, and they're top-quality kids," said Sparling. "We're excited to have them. They're going to be the future of our program."

The first contest for the Wildcats will be Friday, November 1, when Central plays an exhibition at Washington State University, followed by a second exhibition on Wednesday, November 6, at the University of Washington.

"Those two games will quickly show us where we'll need to get better," Sparling acknowledged. "Even so, it's going to be a tremendous thrill for our guys to play back-to-back games against Division I opponents."