HOOPS: WSU looks to ink three this week

WITH THE EARLY signing period beginning Wednesday, Ken Bone is expected to sign three from the prep ranks this week – all of whom gave their pledge to WSU in October.

Ikenna Iroegbu (6-2, 180) is the headliner of the class. The point guard from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia held offers from Washington State, USC, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Virginia Tech and College of Charleston among others.

Analysts differ on Iroegbu, the younger brother of former WSU walk on Chuks Iroegbu. Some say he looks like a star in the making, others say he’s up and down and sometimes struggles with turnovers. All say he is extremely quick.

Shoreline’s Josh Hawkinson is listed at 6-9 (or 6-10) and 235 pounds. The in-state product out of Shorewood High averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 5 assists per game his junior season, earning him First-Team All Wesco League honors.

Hawkinson, who also held offers from San Diego and Santa Clara, said WSU wants him to do different things on offense. “They really like that I’m an inside-and-out player,” Hawkinson said when he committed. “I can be a threat in the post, but I can also step out and hit 3’s if I want to. I’m also a really good passer who can find open shooters and guys who are cutting to the hoop.”

Forward Tanner Lancona out of Las Flores, Calif. chose WSU over Clemson, and was also offered this recruiting cycle by USC, Hawaii, Idaho, Santa Clara and 15 others. Lancona, who has been listed at both 6-8 and 6-9, averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists per game as a junior.

A lefty, he says his pick and roll skills will serve him well in crimson.

Iroegbu and Lancona both tell CF.C's Braulio Perez that they will fax in their signed LOIs tomorrow, the first day of the signing period. CF.C has not yet heard back from Hawkinson on his signing plans. The early signing period in basketball runs from Nov. 14-21.

Washington State has two seniors on the 2012-13 roster (Brock Motum, Mike Ladd) and Reggie Moore, who was dismissed from the program in late September, also would have been a senior.

The Cougs (1-0) host Utah Valley on Wednesday at Beasley (TV: Pac-12 Networks, 7 p.m.).