Tinkle announced Friday that junior college transfers Sean Watson and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor would join the Griz for the 2007-08 season. They join prep recruits Derek Selvig of Glendive and Brian Qvale of Williston, N.D., in the 2007 recruiting class. Selvig and Qvale signed last November.
Tinkle said the Griz have one more scholarship to give and “we have a guy that we're trying to work all the paperwork out with.” Jucojunction.com reports that player is 5-10 point guard Lloyd Phillips of Allen County (Kan.) Community College.
“He handles the ball, he's athletic, can shoot it and score,” said Tinkle, who added that Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, St. John's and Texas Tech were some of the other schools recruiting Watson. “When I saw him play I thought what a great defender. He keeps his man in front of him.”
Elgin-Taylor is a 6-1 point guard who averaged 13 points and 5.5 assists for Irvine (Calif.) Valley College last season. He was named first team all-conference.
“He can play both guard positions,” Tinkle said. “He's a quarterback who runs the team. He's a very, very tough-nosed defender, just a tough-minded point guard who runs your team and sets the tone defensively.”
If Phillips is the third juco recruit, that would give the Griz at least four players who can play the point. Cam Rundles and Matt Martin are the others. Rundles was named the Big Sky freshman of the year while playing off guard last season.
“Cam's obviously a player we have to have on the floor,” Tinkle said. “He's one of our leaders. He's the Big Sky freshman of the year; basically he's going to pick where he wants to play.”
The Griz lost seniors Stuart Mayes, Mike Chavez, Bryan Ellis and Matt Dlouhy from a team that finished 17-15 overall after losing in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament. In addition, junior Gus Chase, sophomore Austin Swift and redshirt sophomore Charlie Cox have left the program, Tinkle said.
Chase transferred to Georgetown College in Kentucky, Cox transferred to Columbia Basin Junior College in Pasco, Wash., and Swift left to be closer to his home in Northern California, Tinkle said.
“It was just a situation where they wanted to go to a level where they can contribute more,” Tinkle said. “They did a great job for us in the classroom. They handled it very maturely. It happens.”
“We've got a great recruiting class coming in on paper,” Tinkle added. “It looks like a talented group. The challenge will be getting them to gel.”
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or by e-mail at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.
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