DOUGLAS — Three of the Cochise College men’s basketball team’s four sophomores have signed National Letters of Intent to play for NCAA institutions next season, with the fourth expected to sign in the near future.
Six-foot-10 post player Ajak Magot of Tucson signed with Idaho State University of the Big Sky Conference in the Division I ranks.
Joe Bell Austin, who earned Second-Team All-ACCAC and NJCAA Region I accolades this season, signed with the Fort Lewis University Skyhawks in Durango, Colo.
“Fort Lewis is a powerhouse in the RMAC, as they finished the year going all the way in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division II tourney,” said Cochise head coach Jerry Carrillo. “Fort Lewis is also the alma mater of Camp Cochise assistant coach Guy Meyer, who was an all-conference player for the legendary Bob Hofman at Fort Lewis.”
Jerry Duckworth, an Honorable Mention All-ACCAC performer this year, inked with Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colo., which also competes in the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Tevin Caldwell, a 6-foot-3 forward who transferred to Cochise this season, is also expected in the next couple of weeks to sign to play at the next level.
The sophomores were part of the 2011-12 Cochise squad that went 25-6 overall and won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference title, and led this year’s team that also finished 25-6.
“That’s a winning percentage of 81 percent over their NJCAA career,” Carrillo said. “We are very thankful for their hard work and wish them the very best as they move on to the NCAA ranks.”