Immediate impact is Stinson's goal

CHENEY – High school basketball player Evan Stinson's college dream has come true.

The senior officially signed his letter-of-intent on Nov. 13 to play at Washington State University where he hopes to make as early an impact as possible for the Cougs as a small forward.

Stinson was being courted by the likes of Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State, San Francisco and Utah State, but WSU was an odds-on favorite for a variety of reasons, one outside of basketball.

Stinson's aunt is WSU volleyball head coach Jen Greeny, formerly Jen Stinson.

Stinson, who lost much of his junior season to a stress fracture in his foot, is confident that is behind him. He looks forward to a solid senior season with Cheney and then having an impact in Pullman.

"They see how I can fit into their system as that to run as that shooter and just score for them when I get to that next level," Stinson said. "And just being a Coug from the start, it's been really cool."

"I mean it's been his dream, to be a Coug his whole life," said his coach, Travis Peevy. "For him to see that come to fruition it's just amazing for him, it's incredible for the (Cheney) program and the community."

Stinson has played the last two summers with Spokane Elite, Dan Dickau's AAU program.

"That also helped put him in front of WSU, EWU and GU more often," Jim Crawford, WSU's sports information director for basketball wrote in an email. "Dickau also calls a majority of the Pac-12 Network games in Pullman, so has a good relationship with the staff and the pulse of the WSU team." 

Stinson first indicated he would commit to play at WSU back in August.

Peevy said the signing is a positive for both Stinson, and Cheney High.

"We're really excited for what he's going to do as a senior here and kind of leave his mark and help us kind of turn the corner in terms of building the program up," Peevy said.