More on WSU basketball commit Joel Bolomboy

Weber State coach Randy Rahe received a verbal commitment for the 2012 season this week from Joel Bolomboy, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound senior power forward at Keller Central High School in Texas.

I outlined Bolomboy’s decision to cancel other recruiting trips and commit to WSU in this story in Thursday’s Standard-Examiner, but here’s one more quote from Bolomboy about how the promise of early playing time helped Weber State win out over schools like New Mexico, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, Missouri State and others.

“Everybody else was talking about how they want me to come in and redshirt my first year and then when I do play, my first two years are mainly defense,” Bolomboy said. “Then Weber State offered me to play right away. I played with them in an open gym and I did good and I liked it.”

Those relationships with coaches and future teammates helped seal the deal for the Wildcats, who are getting a post player with more length and athleticism than they’ve seen there for awhile.

People close to Weber State’s program believe they’re getting a forward who runs like a deer, blocks shots and plays very vertically — above the rim.

Weber State currently has two Texas natives on its roster. Sophomore guard Jordan Richardson is from Lewisville, incoming freshman wing player Shai Fields is from Houston. In addition, junior forward Frank Otis also transferred from Southern Methodist University, near Dallas.

From last year’s team, graduated senior guard Lindsey Hughey is from Grand Prairie, Texas.