Former Dimond star Plooy signs with Seawolves

ANCHORAGE (May 20) – One of the top prep basketball stars in Alaska is coming back home as Alaska Anchorage head coach Rusty Osborne announced Thursday that Chris Plooy has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Seawolves.

 

The 6-5, 190-pound forward will return to Alaska after a successful freshman season at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash., where he averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 points per contest, while shooting 50 percent from the field. The former Dimond High School standout tallied 20-plus points on five occasions at GRCC, including a career-high of 30 against Centralia and 29 in an upset of top-seeded Shoreline in the first round of the NWAACC playoffs.

 

“Our staff is excited to have Chris join the program next year,” said Osborne, who has led UAA to 110 wins in his first six seasons at the helm. “He is a young man I have had in camp since elementary school and watched grow and mature as both a player and a person.

 

“He possesses the ability to play multiple positions and gives us another dynamic we have been missing. His ability to slash and attack the basket will complement the outstanding three-point shooters we already have. In addition, his athleticism and length make him a great offensive rebounder. We also feel he can become a disruptive defender as he learns our system.”

 

At Dimond, Plooy was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior and a three-time All-Cook Inlet Conference pick, teaming with fellow UAA signee Travis Thompson to lead the Lynx to the 2009 Class 4A state title. At the state tournament two years ago, he averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and a tourney-best 3.3 assists per game, scoring 16 points in the Lynx’s 55-52 overtime win against Soldotna in the title contest.

 

In addition to basketball, he will also suit up for the Seawolf track & field squad, bringing a variety of skills to head coach Michael Friess’ team. Along with his 2009 state title in the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 9.25 inches, Plooy also recorded personal-bests of 6-6 in the high jump and 21-5 in the long jump at Dimond.

 

“Chris is a talented athlete and we think he has the chance to be competitive at both the conference and national level,” Friess said. “His addition is another important step in the growth of our program.”

 

Plooy will have three years of eligibility in basketball and four in track & field at UAA.

 

He becomes the fourth player to sign with the basketball team for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign, joining freshmen Kyle Fossman (6-1, 190, G, Haines [Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year]) and Thompson (6-0, 175, G, Anchorage/Dimond HS), and fellow JC transfer Mario Gill (6-2, 190, G, Portland, Ore./Wilson HS/Eastern Arizona College).

 

--GoSeawolves.com--

 

Nate Sagan
Sports Information Director

University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr. / Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / Fax: (907) 563-4565
GoSeawolves.com