April 15, 2006
Post-Tribune staff report
After a quiet start to the late signing period, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team has made a big splash — as in 7-foot-1 recruit Calum MacLeod.
The Wellington, New Zealand, native has signed a national letter of intent with the Crusaders. MacLeod spent this past season at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., after beginning his college career at Gonzaga. He has two seasons of eligibility left.
“He’s definitely going to be a nice addition to our team,” Valparaiso assistant coach Bryce Drew said. “We don’t have a true center coming back on our roster, and he’s a true center. He’s very skilled, and he can shoot the 3. He can get up and down the floor.”
MacLeod helped Northeastern to a 30-4 record, the second-best in program history, and a berth in the Region IX championship game. In 34 games, including five starts, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds, shooting a team-leading 56.8 percent from the field.
MacLeod, who could not be reached on Friday, appeared in nine games as a freshman at Gonzaga, which won the West Coast Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was behind several talented front-court players.
MacLeod was with the Gonzaga team that beat Valparaiso 76-49 in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, but was not an active player at that time.
“One of the things that interested him in Valpo was that we have no centers, so he should get some nice playing time,” said Drew, adding MacLeod chose the Crusaders over Denver after he also had offers from Wyoming and Colorado.
“To get any player who’s 7-1 and has some agility is a definite bonus.”
MacLeod was 20 years old when he arrived at Gonzaga, where he was labeled as not aggressive enough, after playing for the New Zealand Junior National Team. He led his high school team to a national tournament title.
“He’s a very skilled center with the ability to step out and score from the perimeter,” Valparaiso coach Homer Drew, currently in Europe, said in a news release.
The Crusaders signed 6-foot-3 guard Keaton Frye during November’s early period, but he has been considering attending prep school. They have four remaining scholarships, and Bryce Drew was optimistic they would sign two or three more players before the late period ends.
“We’re looking forward to adding players,” he said. “We’re anxious for the next few days.”
MacLeod could make immediate impact--The NWI Times
Western adds another guard from Missouri into mix--The Peoria Journal Star
Leathernecks Add Missouri Point Guard--Western Illinois Athletics
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