Men's basketball player Bryce Webster commits to Utah State
Jan 10, 2008
Irvine Valley College men’s basketball coach Jerry Hernandez announced that sophomore center Bryce Webster has decided to play at Utah State University next season.
The 6-9, 240-pound Webster is in his first year of playing at Irvine Valley. He spent the 2006-07 season at the University of Minnesota before joining Irvine Valley for this season. He will have two years of eligibility left with Utah State.
"It is a great place for him," Irvine Valley Coach Jerry Hernandez said of Utah State. "He should be able to go there and be an impact guy for them. We have been very pleased with Bryce and what he has brought to our team both on and off the court."
Webster has helped Irvine Valley race out to a record of 17-2 so far this season, which is the best record to start a campaign in program history. The Lasers have been ranked as high as third in the state, which is also the best ever ranking in program history.
He is averaging 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game for Irvine Valley through 19 games. Webster is also shooting 58.9 percent (73 of 124) from the field. He had scored in double figures in 11 games with his high being 19 points in a win over Rio Hondo on Dec. 7, 2007.
Webster also recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a win over American River on Nov. 30. He has two double-doubles (points and rebounds) so far this year.
Webster was also named the most valuable player of Irvine Valley's own Spectrum Bank Classic in the middle of November, averaging 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in three IVC victories.
Webster attended St. Thomas Academy High School in Minnesota and earned an assortment of accolades as one of the best prep players in the country.
He was a 2005 and 2006 Associated Press All-State First Team player. Webster was also the 2006 Minneapolis Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year when he helped his team to the 2006 State Tournament
He attended the NBAPA camp, the Nike Camp, and was a member of the gold medal winning White Team at USA Basketball’s International Sports Invitational.
Webster was ranked 83rd in the class of 2006 by prepstars.com and was a High Honorable Mention selection by Street & Smith’s.
Scout's.com ranked him the 18th-best center in the country during his senior year.
Webster averaged 21.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks his senior season and 21.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks in helping his team to a 17-9 record his junior season.
He helped his high school team finish eighth in the state as a sophomore, averaging 18.5 points and 10 rebounds and aided the squad to a 26-3 record and the 2003 state championship as a freshman.
Webster played the 2006-07 season at the University of Minnesota. He appeared in 28 games and started in seven contests. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.3 minutes of play.
Webster decided to leave Minnesota after his freshman year and was granted a release from his scholarship by new Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith.
He will be headed to a Utah State program that had a record of 14-6 after beating the University of Hawaii on Jan. 3. The victory was the Aggies' eighth in a row.
"Bryce is a humble and hard-working individual who wants to get better," said Hernandez. "He is a big, strong and active player who is mobile and a very good defender. I think he is a great fit for Utah State because he possesses the character and commitment to academics that Coach Stew Morrill and his staff look for."
Webster is the second IVC player to head to Utah State. Center Mike Ahmad played for the Aggies after a standout two seasons (2000-01) at Irvine Valley.