Cougs get '08 verbal from Arizona prep guard

FIRST-YEAR WASHINGTON STATE basketball coach Tony Bennett has secured a verbal commitment from Nick Witherill, a high school junior-to-be from Arizona, reports PrepAz.com. Witherill, who may be the earliest verbal in WSU hoops history, was an honorable mention All-State selection last season. He'll be part of WSU's recruiting class of 2008

Witherill, from Scottsdale's Saguaro High, is a 6-3 shooting guard. PrepAZ.com publisher Gary Trousdale reported today that the youngster has committed to Washington State.

As a sophomore last season, Witherill averaged 17.5 points per game, tops on the team at Saguaro. He was third on the club in steals and assists.

Witherill burst into the public eye as a freshman in the state playoffs two years ago. In a donnybrook with Chaparral High, Witherill scored a game-high 18 points, including a series of clutch baskets down the stretch, to produce a 55-51 win for Saguaro.

"He’s not an ordinary freshman," Saguaro head coach Bob LaRue told the East Valley Tribune at the time. "He’s hit some big shots for us this year. He’s taken a lot of game-winners and missed them early, so it’s good now to see him make them."

Witherill played for the Arizona Premier Club this past spring/summer and becomes the second Arizona prepster from the class of 2008 to verbal to a Division I school. The other is Taylor Rhode, a 6-foot-8 power forward out of Phoenix Pinnacle who verballed to Arizona State.

Nick Witherill profile