UMC Men's Basketball Sign Two

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball program annonced the addition of a pair of Regional talents to their 2014-15 signing class as both Jim Warmack (F/C, 6-7 220, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Gable Smith (G/F, 6-7 170, Lodi, Wis.) have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their careers at UMC beginning in the Fall of 2014.

Warmack and Smith join a UMC squad that graduates just two seniors at the end of the 2013-14 season in Ashton Harrell (G, Houston, Texas) and Brandon Burns (F, Baton Rouge, La.). The Golden Eagles are slated to return 14 players to the roster next season.

All signees are contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to the release of information.

“We are very excited about the two young men we have signed in the Early Signing Period,” said UMC Head Coach Jeff Oseth.

Jim Warmack, F/C, 6-7 220, East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks H.S.

Warmack has been an All-Northwest Basketball Conference pick the last two years for the East Grand Forks H.S. He was named his team’s Most Valuable Player for the last three seasons. He averaged 20.5 points per game, 11.2 rebounds a game and 3.2 assists per game last season for East Grand Forks H.S. Warmack eclipsed the 1,000 point scoring mark for the Green Wave last season. He scored over 30 points against Thief River Falls H.S., Warroad H.S. and Park Rapids Area H.S. Helped lead Green Wave to a 19-6 mark overall.

Warmack is the son of Jim and Karen Warmack. His sister Kate Warmack is a senior center for the Bemidji State University women’s basketball team. Warmack plans to major in Business Marketing at UMC. He was born Feb. 16, 1996.

“We have been following Jim Warmack for a long time,” Oseth said. “We feel he is the best basketball player in Northern Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. He is what we were looking for in a post player. He has good size, good hands, good feet and has an excellent basketball motor. Jim will make an immediate impact in our program.”

Gable Smith, G/F, 6-7 170, Lodi, Wis./Lodi H.S.

Smith played a limited role for Lodi H.S. last year due to seniors playing ahead of him but averaged 3.6 points per game. He will have an increased role for the team as a senior. Smith played for a Lodi H.S. team that went 24-4 last season and advanced to the WIAA Division 3 State Title Game where they lost to Aquinas H.S.

Smith is the son of Ian Smith and Britney Smith. He plans to major in Business Management at UMC. He was born April 24, 1996.

“Gable is a long athletic wing with a very good basketball I.Q.,” Oseth said. “He comes from a very successful high school basketball program. He runs the floor well and has the ability to score in a variety of ways. He also has the skill set to defend other positions.”

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.