Kirkland based Northwest University signs four for men’s basketball team

Northwest University's men's basketball coach, John Van Dyke has announced four student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend and play for the Eagles in the 2015-16 season.

May 1, 2015 1:56 pm
Northwest University is located in Kirkland.
Northwest University is located in Kirkland.

Northwest University’s men’s basketball coach, John Van Dyke has announced four student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend and play for the Eagles in the 2015-16 season. The group is comprised of two transfers from Washington community colleges and two high school seniors: Michael Dupree, Tacoma Wash.; Ben Tucakovic, Boise, Idaho; Jessie Norton, Vashon Island, Wash.; and Alex Smith, Bremerton, Wash., have committed to attend the university.

Michael Dupree, a 6-foot-1 guard, is a transfer from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., and played his prep basketball at Franklin Pierce High School. Dupree was a 2014-15 NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference) West Region first team member averaging 19 points per game and 3.87 assists. Michael will be a Communications major.

Ben Tucakovic is a 6-foot-7 transfer from Highline College in Des Moines, Wash., and is also an All- NWAC first team member for 2014-15 and was MVP of the Western Region. Tucakovic played his high school basketball at Borah High School in Boise, Idaho. At Highline, Ben averaged 16.93 points per game and 7.86 rebounds per contest while shooting 43 percent from the three-point line. A good student, Tucakovic was also an NWAC All-Academic Sports Team member. He will be a Biology major at Northwest U with the intent of moving on to Pre-Med after graduating from NU.

Jessie Norton, a 6-foot-3 guard from Vashon High School, was the WIBCA 1A co-player of the year and averaged 20 ppg last season for his Pirate team which finished 23-3 for the year. He was also an honorable mention selection for the 2014 WIBCA 1A all-state team and played in the WINBCA All-State game in March. He holds the school record for most points scored in a game with 43, hitting 11 3-pointers in the regional championship game in the 2013-14 season. Norton is major is currently undeclared.

Alex Smith will graduate from Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale, Wash. The 6-foot-7 Smith averaged 10 points per game, 10 rebounds per game and 3.8 blocks per game for the Cougars this past season. Alex is leaning towards a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Media.

Van Dyke concluded, “The piece that ties this recruiting class together is that each one of them is all about the team. I specifically sought out guys who would be willing to sacrifice their personal success for the betterment of the team. We will be talented, but more importantly we will be bought-in for each other.”