Evergreen High School basketball standout Robert Franks will stay in state for his college days.
Franks called Washington State men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent around 7 p.m. Monday to tell Kent he would sign with the Cougars in November.
“Coach Ernie Kent is such a great guy. Not only a great guy, but a great coach,” Franks said. “He convinced me his system would work perfectly for me.”
Staying relatively close to Vancouver was important.
“I wanted my friends and family to see me play,” he said. “I’m not too far from home.”
A visit to the campus a couple of months ago helped Franks, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward, with his decision.
“When I walked into Beasley (Coliseum), I kind of fell in love,” he said. “All the intangibles came together, and it came to Wazzu.”
The Columbian named Franks, a junior at the time, the All-Region boys basketball player of the year last school year.
The early signing period begins Nov. 12. Franks said he plans on signing his letter of intent that day, to be finished with the recruiting process before his senior basketball season begins at Evergreen.
The goal would be a trip to the Tacoma Dome for the Class 4A state tournament.
“I want to be a great leader and rally my team together and make the best run we can this year, my last year,” Franks said.
One final year of high school ball before going to the Pacific 12 Conference.
