Starter Vanderhoff quits Portland State – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

1997-11-19

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Starter Vanderhoff quits Portland State By FRANK SILOW Nov 19, 1997 12:00 AM A A Playing NCAA Division I basketball at Portland State did not live upto Mike Vanderhoff's expectations, so the former South Medford High starquit the team. I just decided I wasn't enjoying it as much as I wanted,Vanderhoff said Tuesday in a telephone interview. I had a little problemwith the coach. That made me feel maybe I should go someplace else. He would not elaborate on what came between him and second-year coachRitchie McKay. Vanderhoff started and scored 12 points last Wednesday in an exhibitionvictory. Two days later, he told McKay of his plans to quit. The schoolissued a press release on the matter Tuesday. His decision wasn't sudden, Vanderhoff said. Actually, last year I thought about leaving, he said, andI've been thinking about it off and on since then. I just haven't enjoyedplaying as much as I'd like to. Vanderhoff, a returning starter and the Vikings' second leading scorerlast year as a freshman, doesn't have any specific plans other than to leavethe school at the end of the term Dec. 13. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do, said the 19-year-old.I want to find another place to play, maybe someplace smaller. Last year, Vanderhoff averaged 11.6 points and started every game forPortland State, which fielded a men's team for the first time in 16 years. He paced the team in steals with 34 and in 3-point baskets with 59. Vanderhoff was the 1996 Southern Oregon Conference basketball playerof the year and a first-team all-state selection. He led South Medford to a third-place finish in the Class 4A state tournamentand was named to the all-tournament first team. Today'sSports Index,