Portland State Signs Pair of Local Products

Press Release — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:30:42 -0800

The Portland State men's basketball program has signed two local
student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-11 academic
year as announced by Head Coach Tyler Geving today.

Brandon Cataldo, a 6-10 center from Rainier (OR) High School, has signed
with the Vikings. Cataldo is rated as the 10th best high school center
in the nation by ESPN.com and rated the second-best high school center
on the west coast by scouthoops.com.

As a junior at Rainier, Cataldo was the Player of the Year in the Lewis
and Clark League and led his team to the state playoffs. Cataldo has
also played for the AAU Portland Hoop Kings.

"High school posts are hard to come by and we are fortunate to get
someone from our own back yard," said Geving. "Physically, I think
Brandon is ready to go. The challenge for him is going to be coming from
a small school (Oregon 3A) to major college basketball. But, he has
fared very well on the AAU circuit against a lot of top players and held
his own. That has been a good measuring stick for him."

"Brandon is a good back-to-the-basket player who can step out and shoot
it. He's also a gym rat which you don’t find from a lot of big guys. He
is always looking to get better. He has skills and over a four-year
period I expect him to be dominant big man in the Big Sky Conference.'

Also signing with the Vikings, is Chehales Tapscott, a 6-5 sophomore
forward from Clackamas Community College, who prepped at Century High
School in Hillsboro, OR.

"Chehales is a big-time scorer and a big-time rebounder who comes from a
winning program," said Geving. "He can score in a variety of ways - post
up, shoot from the perimeter - and he is a great passer.

"Chehales is a really skilled player who will bring a lot of different
attributes to our program."

As a freshman at Clackamas CC, Tapscott averaged 20.7 points, 11.7
rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. He ranked
third in the NWAACC in scoring and second in rebounding. Tapscott shot
59% from the field and 68% at the line and was named a Southern Region
All-Star.

His team went 29-3 on the season, winning the NWAACC Southern Division
with a 13-1 record as well as the NWAACC title. Tapscott was also named
the NWAACC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

At Century High School, Tapscott averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and
four assists a game as a senior. He was named first team All-State at
the 5A level. Tapscott's team won back-to-back league titles reaching
the Oregon State Tournament both seasons.

With these two signings, the Vikings already have a great start on their
2010-11 season. Geving anticipates signing more players in the spring.

Portland State, which opens its season on Friday at the AIA Classic in
Seattle, is coming off back-to-back 23-10 seasons and trips to the NCAA
Tournament. The Vikings have three seniors on their roster this season,
all of whom are key players; guard Dominic Waters, and forwards Julius
Thomas and Jamie Jones.

The Vikings face Belmont on Friday at 4:30 p.m., Wright State on
Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and Washington on Sunday at 7 p.m. in a game
televised on FSN. All three games are being played at the University of
Washington. Portland State's home schedule begins with Cal Poly on Nov.
21 at the Stott Center.

NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNINGS - Nov. 13, 2009
Brandon Cataldo, C, 6-10, 270, Rainier, OR (Rainier HS) - freshman in 2010-11
Chehales Tapscott, F, 6-5, 205, Hillsboro, OR (Century HS/Clackamas CC) - junior in 2010-11

brandon cataldo

Portland State Signs Pair of Local Products