Wasilla guard signs with UAF

Nov. 21, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - When everything was taken into consideration, Jesse Bean's decision to play basketball at the University of Alaska Fairbanks was fairly easy.

&#8220UAF has always been the choice,” said Bean.

Last week the Wasilla High School senior signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the northern-most college in the United States.

&#8220I want to stay in Alaska. I want to play Alaska basketball,” Bean said.

At points, Bean said, he's considered other programs, but his attention always went back toward UAF. He said he's been in contact with coaches from the Division II program since he was a sophomore, and have watched the Nanooks establish themselves as one of the top programs in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Division II West Region.

&#8220They've made it to the Sweet 16, have had some big accomplishments,” Bean said. &#8220They've won a lot of games. They've got a great program.”

Jason Marvel, Bean's coach at WHS for the last four years, is excited about Bean's potential at UAF.

&#8220I think it's a great fit,” Marvel said. &#8220It's a perfect situation for Jesse to go in and develop as a player.”

In talks with the UAF coaching staff, Marvel said, the Nanook coaches see a great deal of potential in Bean, even comparing him to Seattle Pacific University point guard Tony Binetti, the 2006 GNAC player of the year.

&#8220They see a lot of him in Jesse,” Marvel said. &#8220By the time he goes through the program and develops his skills, (Jesse) will be right there.”

Bean and Marvel have had opportunity to work and interact with UAF head coach Frank Ostanik and assistant coach Rich Mendoza in the past several seasons. Each year the UAF coaches have been featured at camps hosted by Wasilla High.

Marvel said he's been able to sit down and talk with Ostanik and Mendoza about the systems UAF runs. The Nanooks pride themselves on pushing the ball up the court, and playing tough defense.

&#8220They like to get up the court,” Bean said. &#8220It should be fun.”

Bean said he intends to continue to play point guard at the college level. That's the position where he's flourished, while in the Wasilla program.

Last season he averaged 18.1 points, 3.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He was a first-team all-state selection and the Northern Lights Conference player of the year.

Bean first appeared in Wasilla's starting lineup early in his freshman season, something he credits to the success he is seeing now.

&#8220It was huge,” Bean said. &#8220Not many coaches start a freshman.”

Family was also an important factor in his choice.

&#8220I'm in Alaska, so my family can come and watch me play,” Bean said.

His family has always been a great influence. Bean was introduced to the game by his older brother P.J. and older sister Nicky. Now he's the second Bean sibling to have the opportunity to play college basketball. Nicky, a standout at Colony High School during her prep days, played at Marshalltown Community College in Iowa, Spring Hill College in Alabama and at Alaska Anchorage.

By staying in Alaska, Bean can continue enjoy two of his favorite activities off the basketball court, hunting and fishing.

Led by the coaching of Ostanik and former head coach Al Sokaitis, UAF has shot up the Division II basketball ladder. Once seen as a marginal program, the Nanooks have evolved into a championship team. In the last several years, UAF has won conference championships and earned successive berths to the NCAA Division II tournament. UAF also hosts the BP Top of the World Classic. Each November seven Division I teams compete in the tourney. The 2007 field, announced Sunday, includes Oregon State, Colorado State and Akron.

UAF also prides itself on recruiting the top talent in Alaska. There are currently four players from the 49th state on the 2006-07 roster.

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