NWAACC HEADLINES

Umpqua hoops standout, Coleton Baker, commits to UO Ducks for next season

From Umpqua Community College

League top-five scorer for Riverhawks at 24.12 points per game

	Coleton Baker at the 2012 all-star game. photo by Tracy Swisher

Winchester, OR -- Local basketball stand-out, Coleton Baker, who earned a 1st Team All-Conference nod from conference coaches during the 2012 season with the
Umpqua Community College Riverhawks, has committed to play for the University of Oregon next basketball season.

After working out with the Oregon team and being encouraged by their coaching staff, Coleton will fulfill a childhood dream to play for the Ducks, much to the delight of his strong local and familial
support base.

Even though Baker was offered scholarships by many schools, from NAIA to NCAA Division 1, and from as far away as California, Idaho, and British Columbia, he could not pass up the opportunity to
play for his other “home team.” He was one of the top-five scorers in the NWAACC and led the South Region with 24.12 points per game last season while playing for UCC.

“When (Duck Head Basketball) Coach (Dana) Altman sat down with me and told me personally, that he wanted to have me on the team next year, that was the deciding factor in my decision,” said
Baker, who will be finishing up his Associate of Arts – Oregon Transfer degree this spring at UCC.

“I know there is a lot of hard work ahead of me, to compete with these great athletes day in and day out, but I am very excited about the opportunity to play at this level and proving to my U of O
coaching staff that I can help the team,” responded Baker, who plans to move to Eugene this summer to work-out with the team during training sessions.