LAYNE FRAZIER, a 6-foot-5 senior forward-post player with the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity boys basketball team, signed an athletic scholarship on Tuesday to attend Western State College in Gunnison. He decided to take advantage of the NCAA’s Early-Signing Period to ink with the Division II school. He is flanked by his parents, Paula and Doug Frazier. Watching over them are MCHS Athletic Director Mike Allison and MCHS head boys basketball coach Wade Mortensen.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Layne Frazier, a senior 6-foot-5 forward-post player for the Montezuma-Cortez High School varsity boys basketball team, signed an NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent on Tuesday, Nov. 20, to attend Western State College in Gunnison.

Frazier decided to make his decision right away and ink the scholarship offer now during the special NCAA Early-Signing Period which started Nov. 14 and ended Wednesday, Nov. 21. The regular signing period begins the second week of April.

"The main reason I decided to sign early was that I went up there (on an official visit) and I liked the campus. I visited with the coaches and I really liked the coaches (former Central of Grand Junction boys basketball coach Steve Phillips is the head coach). They made a commitment to me so I made a commitment to them," Frazier said.

He reported that he wanted to get the signing out of the way. At present, no other college seemed interested in him.

"I thought it might take some of the pressure off me for the coming season. I thought by signing now that I already know where I am going and I don’t have to go through waying this offer or that. I can now concentrate on this season and hopefully play a little better," he added.

Frazier doesn’t plan on redshirting his freshman year of college. He said he received a paper saying he will play as a true freshman. He said the coaches plan on using Frazier as a small forward (no. 3 position) or perhaps some power (no. 4).

He hasn’t thought about a major yet. He just plans on taking core classes and then will make decision after his sophomore year.

Last season for the Panthers, Frazier made 49.1 percent of his total field goals. He made 59.6 from the charity stripe and averaged 8.0 points per game. He grabbed a total of 160 rebounds for a 6.4 average. He had 18 blocked shots. Frazier helped the Panthers advance all the way to the Class 4A State Quarterfinals.

"His a very good defensive player," MCHS head boys basketball coach Wade Mortensen said of him. "He goes to the ball well. He does a great job on those defensive boards (100 last year). I look for him to score more points this year. He can score inside and score outside. He is a team oriented player."

Of course, he wants his team to go back to the State Tournament and get over that first hump (winning in the quarterfinals, something Cortez has not done in recent years). As for individual goals this season, Frazier said he wants to lead the team in rebounding.

"I also want to average double figures in scoring. I also would like to have a good average in assists per game (he dished out 50 a year ago). I just want to go out and give 110 percent each game. That would be a good season. I’m really looking forward to this season (the Panthers open up with by hosting their annual Cortez Tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 1). Finally, practice has started and the season is here," he added.

He is the son of Doug and Paula Frazier of Cortez.