2004-05 Recruits

2004-05 Men's Basketball Recruits

06-16-04 Two-Sport Athlete Signs with Graceland

Travis McPherson, from Kelowna, British Columbia, signed a letter of intent to play basketball and volleyball for Graceland University beginning in the fall of 2004. “We are excited about Travis’s decision to join the Yellowjacket program,” says Ted Quinn, Graceland’s associate head men’s basketball coach. “His size will allow us to do some different things on the court both offensively and defensively. We are particularly excited about his potential and willingness to learn new things.” McPherson was a forward / post for the Mt. Boucherie Bears, who placed third in the Valley basketball league. Travis averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per game.

“Travis, along with the rest of our incoming class, will help us replace some of the front line presence we lost to graduation,” continues Quinn. “We are pretty happy with our last two recruiting classes and we hope to build success from their talent and the experience of our older players.”

As a six-foot-eleven-inch middle blocker, McPherson helped the men’s volleyball team to a first place finish in the Province of B.C.

Travis was the athlete of the year and most valuable player for the Bears this year. He is also on the honor roll and has gathered numerous music awards.

Travis is the son of Bob and Twyla and the brother of Troy.

05-26-04 Graceland Adds Harp to Men’s Basketball Roster

Thomas Harp, a senior at Lathrop High School in Missouri, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Graceland University. Harp, a six-foot-seven-inch forward, averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game for the LHS Mules. The Lathrop team finished the season with a record of 14 wins and 9 losses.

“Thomas is a versatile players with great potential,” says Graceland’s Associate Head Coach Ted Quinn. “He has the ability to play outside and with some added strength he could be a force inside. We are looking forward to helping him develop in the Yellowjacket program.”

Harp was an all-conference player all four years of high school and was awarded all-district accolades his sophomore, junior and senior years. He is also a member of the KMZU radio Dream Team and KKWK all-star team. Academically Harp is on the honor roll and on the list of Who’s Who Among High School Athletes.

Thomas is the son of Joyce Drake and the brother to Tara, Sam and Ben. Thomas plans to major in accounting at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

05-12-04 Braymer Duo Signs With Graceland University

Kyle Combs and Robert Huffman from Braymer, Mo. each signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Graceland University (Lamoni, Iowa) Yellowjackets beginning in the fall of 2004. Combs, a six-foot-four-inch guard, averaged 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game for the Bobcats. He is an all-district and all-conference selection and was named to the KMZU Radio Dream Team.

“Kyle is a tough, hard-nosed player that will play hard at all times,” says Graceland’s Associate Head Coach, Ted Quinn. “He brings a great deal of competitiveness to our program and we look forward to working with him.”

Huffman is a six-foot-seven-inch high post for the Braymer High School team that went 27-3 this season. Huffman averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds per game for Coach Trisha Peeters.

“Robert possesses a lot of untapped potential,” adds Quinn. “He is a long player and can be very explosive. He comes from a very successful program at Braymer HS. They expect to win every game. We expect he will bring that same focus to our program.”

Combs also played football for BHS and was a National Honors Society member. Kyle is the son of Martin and Kim Little and the brother to Josh.

Along with basketball, Huffman participated in track, baseball, mission trips and youth group. Robert is the son of Garland Huffman and Ronda Spangler and the brother of Cody, Sheena, Jessica and Erin. Robert plans to major in recreation at Graceland University, an NAIA school in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

05-04-04 Waukee Senior Signs With Graceland University Basketball

Graceland’s Associate Head Coach Ted Quinn is proud to announce the signing of Tyler Dow to play basketball for the Yellowjackets beginning in the fall of 2004. “We are excited to have Tyler join the Yellowjacket program,” says Quinn. “Tyler is an outstanding student with great potential in the classroom and on the court. He will help us fill a need for size in our front line and he possesses a great shooting touch from outside. Tyler will be an intriguing player to work with here at Graceland.”

Dow, a six-foot-eight-inch center / forward, was a unanimous decision first team all conference in high school, scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds as a junior for Rockwell City-Lytton High School in Rockwell City, Iowa. He concluded his high school career at Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa. He is a three-time academic all-conference award winner and is in the Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Tyler, the son of Vern Dow and Deb Hansen and the brother of Jordan, plans to double-major in information technology and business while attending Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

09-24-03 Graceland Signs First Recruit for 2004-05

Jared Munson signed a letter of intent on September 24, 2003 to play basketball at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Jared is a 5'10 shooting/point guard from Central High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is entering his senior year in the 2003-2004 year. Jared has been a member of the Purple Pounders varsity team since his freshman year. He has been a starter for the Pounders since his Sophomore Year. He is an all-county/all-conference player for his high school team.

He has played organized basketball since the first grade. His basketball history includes organized recreational basketball, school ball, AAU basketball, Five-Star basketball and Midnight league basketball.

Through those years Jared has won nearly every basketball award possible. He has earned the Coach's Awards, Mr. Defense Awards, Most Valuable Player Awards, Mr. Offense Awards, the Playmaker Awards, All County/All Conference Teams, and All Tournament Teams just to name a few.

He has also earned the 2003 ROTC National Student/Athlete of the Year Award at Central High School. He was named to the "2002/2003 Who's Who Among American High School Students Sports Edition.

”We are excited about the early signing of Jared Munson,” says Rich Harrop, men’s basketball coach. “He is a great young man that will be an asset to the Graceland campus. He is also a great basketball player. Jared handles the ball well and shoots the 3 with accuracy. The coaching staff is looking forward to having Jared as a member of the basketball team.”

Since beginning his basketball career in first grade, Jared's teams have had only one losing season. Not only is he a winner on the court, he is an exceptional young man off the court as well. He has been an ordained minister in the Community of Christ since the age of 14 and has baptized more than 100 people. He currently serves as CO-Pastor of the Chattanooga Urban Ministries.