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Bethel senior Happy Iona, a 6-foot-3 and 285-pound defensive tackle, gave a verbal committment on Wednesday evening to play at Oregon State University.

Bethel head coach Gavin Kralik said the Beavers are getting an excellent player.

“He’s extremely athletic for being 285 pounds,” Kralik said. “He runs very, very well. He’s very good at being a run stuffer and a pass rusher.”

Iona enters his senior season as a two-year starter — he played defensive end and outside linebacker as a sophomore and defensive tackle as a junior — but he missed half of last season because of disciplinary issues. Kralik said he has “worked hard to get ready for this season” in the classroom and the weight room.

Iona, who chose OSU over UW, WSU and Idaho, isn’t the only Brave to be offered a scholarship by a Division-I program. Running back Anthony Meray, the SPSL’s leading returning rusher, has been offered by Air Force and Kralik expects more opportunities for Meray as the season unfolds.

Lakes High School’s Andre Wintson Jr., a 6-foot-1 guard, has given a verbal commitment to play basketball at James Madison University, Lancers coach JoJo Rodriguez has confirmed.

“He had a few other schools after him, but James Madison was the first and they were the only school to give him an offer,” Rodriguez said. “They wanted him.”
Washington State, Eastern Washington, Portland State, Nevada and Montana State showed interest in Winston, the coach said.

Winston averaged 19 points, 5 assists and 4 steals per game for the Lancers in the 2008-09 season. This summer, he played on the Seattle Rotary Select team with Kentwood center Joshua Smith, Kentridge guard Gary Bell and Garfield guard Tony Wroten Jr., among others.

“Andre is going to be a super player,” Rodriguez said. “He’s going to be really good and the schools around here missed out on this.”

James Madison, which is located in Harrisonburg, Va., plays in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes reached the semifinals of the conference tournament and finished the 2008-09 season with a record of 21-15.

Tacoma Baptist alumni Jeremy Lebow has been hired as the boys basketball coach at his alma mater.

Lewbow played at Western Baptist College and has previous coaching experience. He was the head coach at Willamette Valley Christian High School and led the Tacoma Baptist junior high program.

Lebow, who is the youth paston at Portland Avenue Evangelical Free Church, replaces former coach Rich Hamlin.

Kentwood senior-to-be Josh Smith has been selected to play in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 basketball game August 21 at Rucker Park in New York City. The event will be televised on ESPNU AT 4 p.m. August 22.

Smith, a 6-foot-9, 280-pound center is one of the nation's top recruits in the Class of 2010. He has scholarship offers from Washington, UCLA, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and others.

Garfield guard Tony Wroten, a 6-foot-5 junior-to-be, will also play.