MEN’S BASKETBALL ADDS WALTER JACKSON AND DURO BJEGOVIC TO ITS 2009-10 RECRUITING CLASS
4/16/2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento State men’s basketball program added to its 2009-10 recruiting class Thursday by signing 6-5, 185-pound guard/forward Walter Jackson and 6-7, 235-pound forward Duro Bjegovic, it was announced today by Hornet head coach Brian Katz. Both Jackson and Bjegovic will enroll at Sacramento State as juniors in the fall.
Both players join Fairfield High School’s John Dickson (signed yesterday) and South Elgin High School’s Dani Lopez (inked during the early signing period) as the four players to sign with Sacramento State thus far.
WALTER JACKSON
Jackson, a native of Stockton, played two years at Stockton’s San Joaquin Delta College. Last year, he helped lead the Mustangs to a California Community College State Tournament Final Four appearance, a Big 8 Conference championship, a 29-6 overall record and a 12-2 league mark. Jackson was an all-state and first team all-conference selection after averaging 8.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots per game while shooting 51.2 percent (103-201) from the field and 47.7 percent (21-44) from the three-point line. His blocked shots were the third best mark in the state and the rebounds were the 11th best mark.
Last season, Jackson also grabbed double-figure rebounds in 23 of 31 games played, including seven double-doubles. He was an all-tournament selection at the state tournament where he averaged 11.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots in four games. That included a 19-point, 15-rebound performance against San Diego City JC in the quarterfinals.
As a freshman at San Joaquin Delta College, he played in 28 games for Katz, finishing with averages of 3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. That team finished 27-6 overall and 12-2 in conference. Prior to San Joaquin Delta, he was a two time-time first team all-conference selection at Stockton’s Weston Ranch High School.
“Walter is very similar to (recently signed) John Dickson in that both players are very long and athletic,” Katz said. “Walter was one of the best shot blockers in the state and is a very good defender. He is also a good three-point shooter and will help us with our length and athleticsm on the perimeter.”
DURO BJEGOVIC
Bjegovic, a native of Drnis, Croatia, played last season at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., and his freshman season (2007-08) was spent at Missouri State-West Plains. Last year, he was the starting power forward for a Highland team that went 31-6 overall, placed seventh at the NJCAA Men’s Div. I National Basketball Tournament and won the District IV, Region IV and Arrowhead Conference championships.
Bjegovic, who becomes the fourth player from that Highland team to either commit or sign with an NCAA Div. I program, averaged 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. In addition, the left-hander shot 58.6 percent (143-244) from the field and 40.5 percent (15-37) from the three-point line.
As a freshman at Missouri State-West Plains (where he backed up Paul Carter, who currently plays for Minnesota), Bjegovic appeared in 26 games while averaging 12.1 minutes, 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He shot 45.6 percent (36-79) from the field and 39.1 percent (9-23) from the three-point line. Bjegovic moved from Croatia to the United States in 2006, and played his senior year of high school at Illinois’ Decatur Christian High School.
“Duro is a very skilled player with a big body,” Katz said. “Although he is a post player, he is very good at handling the ball, passing the ball, and shooting it from the perimeter.”
