Washington State gets good news from Bjornstad

PULLMAN — Ken Bone got the phone call he had been waiting for Thursday morning, but Steven Bjornstad let the suspense build as long as he could with his new coach.

Bjornstad, a two-time all-state forward from Columbia River High School, called Bone to accept a basketball scholarship at Washington State.

"I called him this morning," Bjornstad said. "He said, ‘Have you made your decision?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’

"He said, ‘Is it good news or bad news?’ I said, ‘It’s good news.’ "

The 6-foot-10 Bjornstad signed a letter of intent with Nevada last November, but asked for and received his release after the Wolf Pack changed coaches and had another in a series of player run-ins with the law.

Bjornstad visited Saint Mary’s, Portland and WSU and turned down offers from those schools and several other Division I schools before settling on the Cougars.

"I’ve been talking to Ken Bone since I was a sophomore when he was at Portland State," Bjornstad said. "I really liked him, but I didn’t want to go to Portland State."

Ben Johnson, the lone assistant coach retained by Bone after he left PSU to replace Tony Bennett at Washington State in April, has been the main Cougar coach recruiting Bjornstad for two years.

Bjornstad said he wanted to sign with WSU last year, but the Cougars did not offer him a scholarship until last month after guard Nick Witherill’s scholarship became available when he transferred to NCAA Division II Grand Canyon in Phoenix.

Joel Francisco, ESPN.com’s West Coast recruiting coordinator, called Bjornstad "one of the most promising sleepers on the West Coast … a late-developing prospect with a significant amount of upside."

"Steven adds depth to a position we really needed in the post," Bone said. "He has a really nice frame, is a very skilled big kid who can pass it and is an outstanding shooter."

Bjornstad said he carries 225 pounds on his lean frame, but hopes to play at about 240 pounds as a freshman.

"I think within a year or two, he’ll be a force," Columbia River coach David Long said.

Bjornstad averaged 14.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per game this past season and led Columbia River to the Class 3A title game before losing to top-ranked Franklin of Seattle.

Bjornstad shot a torrid 75 percent from the field in three varsity seasons (all as a starter), including 73 percent this season despite constant double- and triple-teaming.

He was The Columbian’s All-Region Player of the Year twice in boys basketball.

"I’m a team player," Bjornstad said. "I’m not going to be selfish. I’m going to share the ball."

Bjornstad was known best for his golfing ability when he arrived at Columbia River.

He tied for 10th at state in the Class 3A tournament as a freshman, but he gave up high school golf after his sophomore year to focus on basketball.

Bone lived near Columbia River when he coached Portland State, and eldest daughter Kendra attended the school.