Aug. 31, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - It took a few months, but Jesse Bean finally knows where he will play basketball this season. Earlier this week, the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year decided to attend Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash., and play basketball for the Pirates. Bean will start school on Sept. 9, and begin practicing with his new team on Sept. 24, the 2007 Wasilla High School graduate said on Thursday.

Bean, a four-year standout for the Warriors boys' basketball team, had originally signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball at Division II Alaska Fairbanks. But after a series of tumultuous changes within the Nanooks men's basketball program, Bean decided UAF was not the best place for him.

Since, Bean has spent much of his time fighting to be released from his NLI and searching for another place to play college basketball.

A summer that was supposed to be stocked full of excitement and anticipation before his first season of college hoops, turned out to a continuous headache.

“I can finally get some sleep at night,” Bean said. “It's been really frustrating.”

Bean made a formal request to UAF earlier this summer to be released from his NLI. But that request was denied. UAF's decision prevented Bean from transferring to another NCAA-sanctioned school that utilizies the NLI system, so he instead had to look to the junior college ranks.

Peninsula College was one of a handful of programs he considered. Among the others Bean looked at were Clark Community College in Vancouver, Wash., Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., and Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colo. But ultimately, Peninsula College best suited what Bean desired in a college.

Bean said he likes both the Pirate coaching staff and the town of Port Angeles.

“It's not a big city,” Bean said.

Port Angeles is in Northern Washington, on the North Olympic Peninsula.

Bean said he also has friends who are attending Peninsula, another benefit, and will be able to pursue the same major he intended to seek at UAF -criminal justice.

Bean said the Pirates use a ‘run and gun' offense, but he really didn't consider game plans when looking at the junior college programs.

“I really think I can play in any type of style,” the all-state point guard said.

Bean manned the point guard spot for the Warriors for four seasons, earning his first start very early in his freshman season. He capped his career by leading the Warriors to their first state championship in program history.

Bean committed to UAF in November, but became hesitant to join the Nanooks after former UAF head coach Frank Ostanik resigned in May. Bean said earlier this summer Ostanik represented 75 percent of the reason why he chose to stay in state and attend UAF. Ostanik regularly hosted camps at WHS and built a solid relationship with Bean.

Bean said he was a little weary of the situation when Ostanik left the program, but after discussion with UAF athletics director Forrest Karr, Bean agreed to at least get to knew the new head coach and go from there.

UAF quickly hired Clemon Johnson to be the new head coach on an interim basis. Johnson, a former professional basketball player, had not held a head coaching position at the college level upon his hire.

With Ostanik out and Johnson in, Bean said he was still willing to give the program a chance. But months of virtually no communication with his new head coach and watching others leave the Nanooks program left him with the desire to play basketball at another school.

Bean was seen as the prize of the Nanooks recruiting class. Another top recruit, former Mt. Edgecumbe standout Jon Clark, has also opted not to attend UAF.

Football:

Junior Aumavae (Palmer 2004) is a junior defensive lineman at Western Washington University. The Vikings open the 2007 season at UC Davis ... Dominick Bellotte (Colony 2005) is a junior defensive lineman at Valparaiso (Ind.) University. The Crusaders open the 2007 season Saturday against Saint Francis (Ill.) ... Kyle Coffman (Colony 2005) is a redshirt sophomore at Western Oregon University. Coffman, who initially signed to play football at Bemidji State, is a linebacker. Western Oregon opens the season against Willamette on Saturday ... Matt Crane (Wasilla 2005) is a sophomore wide receiver at Valley City State (N.D.). VCS opens its 2007 season at St. Olaf College (Minn.) ... Kelly Devon (Palmer 2007) is a freshman offensive lineman at Valley City State ... Tim Egger (Colony 2006) is a sophomore at the University of Arizona. Egger was recently promoted to second-string punter. The Wildcats open the 2007 seson Saturday at Brigham Young ... Rob Fitch (Colony 2007) is a freshman fullback at Jamestown College (N.D.). The Jimmies start the 2007 season against Peru State (Neb.) on Saturday ... Tanner Grover (Palmer 2007) is a redshirt freshman defensive back at Western Oregon. The Wolves face Williamette on Saturday ... Jake Heun (Palmer 2006) is a sophomore linebacker at City College of San Francisco. The Rams open the season against Solano (Calif.) on Saturday ... George Percak-Dennett (Colony 2007) is a redshirt freshman at Bemidji State (Minn.) University. The Beavers open the season at Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday ... Justin Schwartzbauer (Colony 2005) is a sophomore wide receiver at Weber State University. The Wildcats opened the 2007 season at Boise State ... Nate Svedin (Palmer 2007) is a freshman tight end at Southern Oregon University. The Raiders opened the 2007 season with a 32-30 loss to Montana Tech. SOU is at Eastern Oregon on Saturday ... Mike Weber (Palmer 2003) is a senior defensive back at Valley City State (N.D.). The Vikings face St. Olaf (Minn.) College on Sept. 8.

Cross country running:

Emma Bohman (Palmer 2007) is a freshman at the University of Alaska Anchorage. UAA hosts Slippery Rock on Saturday ... Suzanna Caldwell (Wasilla 2006) is a sophomore at UAA ... Johanna Doner (Colony 2007) is a freshman at UAA ... Peter Doner (Colony 2005) is a freshman at the UAA. Doner transfered from Adams State (Colo.) ... Ardrienna Everett (Colony 2007) is a freshman at UAA ... Allan Spangler (Colony 2005) is a sophomore at UAA. Spangler transfered from UAF.

Men's soccer:

Zach Bennett (Wasilla 2006) is a sophomore defensman at Southwestern Oregon Community College ... Jared Berberich (Palmer 2006) is a sophomore defenseman at Tacoma Community College ... Jarred Carney (Colony 2006) is a sophomore midfielder at Olympia College ... John Pahkala (Wasilla 2007) is a freshman at Peninsula College (Wash.) ... Bryan Peters (Colony 2006) is a sophomore midfielder at Olympia College ... Bryan Tomlinson (Colony 2006) is a sophomore midfielder at Olympia College ...

Professional women's basketball:

Jessica Moore (Colony 2000) recently finished her second season with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. Moore averaged 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 29 games during the 2007 season. She made 17 starts.

Women's volleyball:

Carlie Douglas (Wasilla 2005) is a junior middle blocker at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The Scarlett Hawks start the 2007 season today at the Cornerstone University (Mich.) Tournament ... Kelcy Joynt (Colony 2006) is a sophomore middle blocker at Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) University. PLU starts the season at the Pacific University (Ore.) Boxer Kickoff on Saturday ... Jessie Macknicki (Palmer 2004) is a senior outside hitter at Eastern New Mexico University. Macknicki has 36 kills and 46 digs in five matches for the 2-3 Zias. ENMU starts the two-day Fort Lewis Tournament in Durango, Colo., today ... Jordan Pokryfki (Colony 2006) is a sophomore at Keene State (N.H..) College. The Owls begin the season today at the Western New England Tournament.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.