Men's Basketball Signs Two to NLI
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Joe Burton (Hemet, Calif.) and Roberto Nelson (Santa Barbara, Calif.) have signed National Letters of Intent with the Oregon State men’s basketball program, head coach Craig Robinson announced on Monday. The two signees, who are both among Rivals.com top 150 for the class of 2009, will join the squad for the 2009-10 season.
“We are extremely pleased to sign two players of this caliber,” head coach Craig Robinson said. “They will come in and provide an immediate impact and are the type of players we need to get the program heading in the right direction.”
Nelson, a 6-4, 185-pound, shooting guard, signs with Oregon State out of Santa Barbara High School and is one of the most highly-touted shooting guards in the 2009 class.
Nelson is ranked among the nation’s best by several recruiting services, as the four-star recruit is listed as the No. 72 player in the country and No. 17 at his position by Rivals.com. In addition, Nelson is rated as the No. 16 shooting guard and No. 66 overall by ESPN.com and was a second-team ‘Best in the West’ selection by the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
Burton, also rated among the top players in the nation, averaged 21.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game as a junior, helping lead West Valley High School to the Southern Section Division III-A championship.
The 6-8, 260-pound, three-star player is ranked as the No. 17 center in the country and No. 120 player overall by Rivals.com. In addition, Burton is ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the nation at center by ESPN.com.
The two signees mark the first two players Robinson has signed to National Letters of Intent at Oregon State since he was hired on April 7, 2008.
Oregon State will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 22, as the Beavers travel to Reno, Nev., to take on Nevada at 7:00 p.m.
OREGON STATE BASKETBALL TICKETS
Season tickets range from $157 to $364. Fans can also choose from the popular weekend package with all Saturday and Sunday games for $121. In addition, single-game tickets are on sale now as prices are $25 for chairback seating and $15 for all other areas of Gill Coliseum. Tickets to the game against Oregon are $27 for all areas of the arena. All seating is reserved. For more information contact the Oregon State Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-BEAVS or log onto www.osubeavers.com.
BEAVER NATION ONLINE
The subscription-based site within www.osubeavers.com offers exclusive interviews, highlights, webcasts and special features from Beaver coaches and players throughout the year. More than 500 videos are added to Beaver Nation Online during the year, including more than 40 live baseball games, game replays, weekly and postgame press conferences, special features, highlights, classic games and much more.
BEAVER SPORTS TALK
Most of the Oregon State radio network will carry Beaver Sports Talk every Tuesday at 7 p.m. The show originates from McMenamins, across the street from campus on Monroe. Basketball coaches Craig Robinson and LaVonda Wagner, as well as selected players, will appear on the show with host Mike Parker.
BEAVERS ALL-ACCESS
FSN Northwest will air the popular 30-minute “Beavers All-Access” show on Wednesdays during basketball season. On Mondays at 12:00 p.m. in downtown Corvallis at Big River Brewery, either Craig Robinson or LaVonda Wagner will sit down with host Todd Mansfield to tape segments for the show.
