Late yesterday, the Omaha World-Herald reported that Will Artino, a senior-to-be at Waukee (IA) High School, gave an oral commitment to join Dana Altman’s class of 2010.
Artino, a 6-foot-11 post player, averaged 12.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Waukee during the 2008-2009 season. He didn’t play his first game until mid-January, though, after having to sit out varsity interscholastic athletics at the school for 90 days following his transfer from Des Moines Christian School last summer.
Although he has yet to coach Artino during a IHSAA boys basketball season (Ross Douma, who took the head coaching job at Dordt College, coached Artino last season), new Waukee coach Matt Woodley told the World-Herald Altman and Jays got a developing kid who has the potential to be great.
“I told Dana that if I were still at Washington State, I would have tried to sign Will,” Woodley said. “His best basketball is two or three years down the road, and I think he has a chance to be a special player.
Artino’s verbal commitment is the first for a Creighton class that right now looks to have three total openings – the scholarships vacated by Chad Millard, Justin Carter, and Cavel Witter (if he gets one back) next spring..
