LSU point guard talks about transfer to WSU

ADD YET ANOTHER basketball star from Oregon to Tony Bennett's roster. Ben Voogd a former All-Stater from Florence who has played the past two seasons with LSU -- a stint which included PT in the Final Four -- will arrive in Pullman this fall as a walk-on. He told CF.C this weekend that the WSU staff, the Cougars' style of play, and the chance to be closer to home are the reasons for the move.

He will be the third Oregon native to cast his lot with WSU this year. Bend's Abe Lodwick will arrive on campus this fall as well, and Michael Harthun, a senior-to-be from Medford, announced over the weekend that he has verbally committed to WSU.

Voogd, (6-1, 175) played 63 games in two years for LSU, including a trip to the Final Four in the 2005-06 season. In his two seasons in Baton Rouge, he averaged 11.6 minutes and 1.2 points per game. He logged 108 assists, 35 steals and was 7-of-22 from the arc (31.8 percent).

Voogd said playing time and a preference to be closer to home led to his decision to come to Washington State.

"I knew the coaches there and always had a good feel coming from those guys so after I left LSU, it was definitely a spot I was looking at. Watching them this year, the success they had, the coaching staff, that had a lot to do with it," he said.

So, too, did Bennett Ball.

"I love the style of play they bring to the table," said Voogd.

Voogd had offers from Utah and Portland State and was seeing increasing interest from Washington State and Gonzaga before he committed to LSU. Although a point guard, Voogd was a prolific scorer while at Siuslaw High, racking up 28 points per game, along with 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 5 steals his junior campaign.

"I signed really early but as I look back at those two years there, I wouldn't change anything. But I'm a West Coast guy and I got to be real close with (WSU) coach (Ben) Johnson when I was a junior in high school. I think it's a really good fit for me," said Voogd.

Voogd played as a true freshman at LSU, so he has a redshirt year coming. He'll use it this season, and then have two years of eligibility left with the Cougars.

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