Basketball Coach Payne Announces Transfer
April 9, 1998
Corvallis - Josh Steinthal of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash., has signed a National Letter of Intent to play men's basketball at Oregon State University, it was announced Thursday by Beaver Head Coach Eddie Payne.
The 6'5" perimeter player will enter Oregon State after spending one year at Highline and one year (1996-97) at the University of Memphis. Steinthal did not play at Highline, but did play as a true-freshman for then coach Larry Finch with the Tigers. He will come to OSU with three years of eligibility remaining, and will have no redshirt year available.
Steinthal averaged 3.1 points and shot 37 percent from the field his lone season at Memphis. He played 26 games, averaging eight minutes per contest."
"I think I can bring a lot to the Oregon State program," Steinthal said. "I know what it takes to be successful on the court, and I have a burning desire to win."
Steinthal played prep basketball at Sumner High School in Sumner, Wash., where he was the MVP of Pierce County. He averaged 32.1 points, shot 51 percent from three-point range and over 90 percent from the free throw line. During his senior season he scored over 30 points 15 times and was held to under 20 just once. He left Sumner as the school's all-time leading scorer, and graduated in the top 10 of his class.
"The whole basketball program is very pleased that Josh has committed to Oregon State," Payne said. "He has experience playing at the highest collegiate level and he has had the opportunity to redshirt and become stronger. He is a basketball junkie, who is an exceptional shooter."
"The reason I left Memphis was mainly due to the changes in the coaching staff," Steinthal explained. "I just didn't think I would get a fair opportunity with the new staff." Playing as a true-freshman, Steinthal posted collegiate best games of 18 points against Vanderbilt and 17 versus North Carolina-Charlotte.
"I really love the kid," Finch said. "He is the kind of kid every coach wants in his program. He's a great shooter, and frankly, a better athlete than I anticipated he was when I recruited him. I really wish I would have had more time to work with him, but I feel honored to have the one year with him."
"My offensive game and my leadership abilities are my strength," Steinthal added. "I consider myself a scorer."
Steinthal, who indicated he was also being recruited by Utah, Cincinnati and Tulsa, joins Adam Masten of Sprague High School in Salem as OSU's National Letter of Intent signings to date. Masten, a 6'5" first team all-state performer at guard, signed during the early period in November.
