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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 16, 2006 Shea Washington of Southern Oregon battles Evan Lange of William Jewell for a rebound in the Raiders� 67-64 overtime loss at the NAIA national tournament on March 8. Washington finished with 17 points. Washington monumental By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University left the NAIA men’s basketball championships empty handed this season. Shea Washington didn’t. The 6-foot-7 senior forward capped his three-year career at SOU by being selected the national NAIA Division II player of the year Wednesday. Washington, now a three-time All-American and two-time Cascade Conference player of the year, is the first-ever Raider student-athlete to earn the national honor. "It was a little surprising," said Washington. "I thought since we were one-and-out (at the tournament) I wasn’t going to be considered, even though it’s an individual award. Advertisement "It was definitely a nice surprise." Washington led the Raiders to a 23-9 record and a No. 13 ranking. He averaged 19.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest. The Montana State transfer also finished as SOU’s career leader in points (1,920), blocks (169) and free-throw makes (505). "I wasn’t real surprised," said 10th-year SOU coach Brian McDermott. "He was real close to getting it last year. He was so dominant at the national tournament that voters remembered him this season. "Watching (this year’s) tournament, from my viewpoint, there was no one as good as him." Washington finished his collegiate career on March 8 when the Raiders lost in overtime, 67-64 to William Jewell, in a first-round game at the national tournament. Despite battling foul trouble, Washington scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 29 minutes of action. The Springfield native ranked among the national scoring, rebounding, blocked shot and field-goal percentage leaders in all three seasons with SOU, helping the team average 21 wins a year over that span. "My time here has been really good," said Washington. "I’ve played with a lot of good players, and the coaching staff has been great. They made it like a real family atmosphere." Washington transferred to Southern Oregon after spending one season at Montana State University. The Thurston High graduate was productive, averaging over 20 points and 10 boards a contest his sophomore year while leading the Raiders (19-15) to their best record in five seasons. His junior season, Washington again posted a double-double. Only this time the Raiders enjoyed the most successful season in team history with a 22-10 record and a berth to the national quarterfinals. This year, Washington helped SOU to 23 wins, highlighted by a combined 47-point, 24-rebound effort in exhibition losses to Oregon and Oregon State earlier in the season. "No doubt Shea could have played Division I," said McDermott. "Look at what he did against the Oregon schools. "He didn’t get recruited by those bigger schools, which was a mistake, because they thought he was undersized. Lucky for us." Washington has been invited to an NBA Draft Combine in Salt Lake City this May. He will attempt to sign an agent within the next couple of weeks and, depending on how the combine goes, may play professionally overseas next year. "I’ll give it a try and see what happens," said Washington. "I’m kind of feeling it out right now. I’ll go to some showcase camps the next couple of months and try and get my name out there." McDermott, meanwhile, has a large hole to fill in the middle of the lineup with the loss of his All-American. "You can’t really replace a guy like that," said the coach. "We’ll try and get someone in here. "He’s certainly, without question, far and away the best player I’ve had." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail Washington monumental ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Advertisement s