Freeman and co. reload with reinforcements

By Eric Trent

Pirate Basketball head coach, Mitch Freeman, along with assistant coach, Jon Ing, have reloaded their arsenal, adding 4 signees to the 2015 recruiting class, including the 7th and 23rd ranked recruits in the state of Alaska.

Perhaps the biggest signing is highly touted, 5-foot-8, point guard, Jalon McCullough from Monroe Catholic High School, in Fairbanks, Alaska; the 7th ranked prospect out of Alaska; who quarterbacked his team to three state championship wins.

“I feel pretty good, especially with the coaches. I feel really comfortable, and that was important, finding the right fit, and I think Peninsula is the right place for me. I can do whatever the coach needs me to do. I know the coaches are going to work hard for me, and I’m going to work really hard for them,” McCullough said.

“We’re really excited about him. He brings a dimension to the point guard position that will be much needed for us as we move forward, the next two years. He’s a very intelligent basketball player, great change of speed, change of direction, understands the game. A very effective shooter.” Freeman said.

The other signee from Alaska is forward Alex Baham from Wasilla High School, who is the 23rd ranked recruit from Alaska.

“Alex is a 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4, shooter. He can knock down four in a row. He is a really smart student, a 3.5 GPA plus. We’re excited with what he can bring from beyond the arc, and he can defend three positions, one through three, effectively,” Freeman said.

“I feel like this is the right fit for me. I like Coach Freeman, he’s a really good coach. I have a couple friends at Peninsula College and they said the campus is really nice. I just want to come here and earn my playing time, and start getting some looks from bigger schools,” Baham said.

Omar Lo, from Robert F. Kennedy Community School in Los Angeles, California, is the next recruit to join the Pirates.

“He is a 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, long, athletic wing. Tremendous skill set, can shoot the basketball, can put it on the ground. Highly effective shooter, can get to the basket, and play above the rim. He’s got a bright, bright future,” Freeman said.

“This is something I’ve been looking forward to all my life. For me, to take my skills and play at Peninsula College, it will be a great journey for me and all my teammates. I’m an all-around player. Coach Freeman can use me any place, so I can help this team toward winning games,” Lo said.

Olympic Peninsula native, Colton Raben, from Forks, is the most recent signing for the Pirates. “Colton is a tough-minded player who sees the floor very well. Tremendous person who brings so much to our team on and off the court. We are very excited that he decided to join our Peninsula College family,” Freeman said.

“I’m very excited. It’s a great school, great guys, I really like the coaches. It’s a great program overall, so I’m really happy to go there next year. I have a great attitude all the time. I think just by me playing with all those guys that have been playing there, and the new guys coming in, it’s going to make me better, and everyone else too,” Raben said.

“We’re really excited with the type of players that we’re able to attract now. I think now we have some more stability. We’re excited about the type of high-character guys that we’re bringing to this program, guys that I think the community will really be proud of and want to supports,” Freeman added.