KYLE WILSON, a senior 6-foot-8 post-forward with the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team, signs an NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent to play for Adams State College in Alamosa. He decided to sign on the next to last day of the Early Signing Period for those seniors who had made up their minds where to go to college next fall. Flanking him are his parents, Carol and Wes Wilson, and looking over are MCHS Athletic Director Mike Allison and MCHS head boys basketball coach Wade Mortensen.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

It didn’t take long for Kyle Wilson to make up his mind where to play college men’s basketball next season. He signed an NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent to Adams State College in Alamosa this past Tuesday, Nov. 19, next to the last day of the Early Signing Period for those high school students who have already made up their minds and wanting to avoid further recruiting until the Regular Signing Period in mid-April.

Wilson, a senior 6-foot-8 strong forward-post player on the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys basketball team, liked what he saw when he went for an official visit on Oct. 20.

"I liked what I saw," he said. "The town is about the size of Cortez. The school is not huge. I like the coaches (head coach Larry Mortensen, cousin of MCHS head boys coach Wade Mortensen) and the program. I feel like I can fit in over there. He runs some of the same stuff as coach here does. From what I saw of their practices, it was about the same as here. I didn’t want to go to a Division I school because I’m not sure if I wanted large class sizes. Besides, it’s hard not to turn down a full-ride scholarship."

Wilson had been contacted by a junior college in Arizona, Colorado School of Mines, and Western State. But none of them were real scholarship offers. Some of them wanted him to walk-on. Adams State has been strong in men’s basketball for several years. Wilson’s older brother, Charlie, just finished playing at Fort Lewis College.

He will probably play a strong forward his first year and then perhaps move to the low post. Wilson has good shooting range for a big man. Wilson is hoping for some playing time as a true freshman. He plans on majoring in business.

"I decided that’s where I want to go. I just wanted to get done with the recruiting stuff and concentrate on this season," he added.

Wilson has some goals he would like to get accomplished for the 2001-02 basketball season at MCHS.

"I want to lead the team in blocked shots like I did last year (32). I want to improve my rebounding this year (he grabbed 117 for 5.1 per game as a junior). I hope to have a better field goal percentage (last year he connected on 52.8 percent of his shots from the floor). Most of all, I want to help the team accomplish our goals," Wilson commented.

Mortensen said Wilson is an intimidator with his presence on the floor, especially when opposing teams have the ball.

"That is probably the best aspect of his game. He can alter his shots. He can shoot the three’s very well (six of 14 last year). He should improve his scoring average (5.2 points per game) this season," Mortensen said.

He is the son of Wes and Carol Wilson of Pleasant View.