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Selvig gives verbal commitment to Griz
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
Wayne Tinkle has been the Montana men's basketball coach for less than two months. But it didn't take him long to score his first recruiting coup.
Derek Selvig of Glendive, rated among the premier high-school small forwards in the nation, announced on Wednesday that he's decided to play for the Grizzlies - continuing a family tradition.
Derek's parents, Doug and Anita (Novak) Selvig, were both standout players for Montana in the early 1980s; his uncle, Robin Selvig, has guided Montana Lady Griz basketball to national prominence during a long and distinguished career.
“I think it just came down to the fact that Derek felt real comfortable there in Missoula,” said Doug Selvig, who guided the Glendive Red Devils to a 22-2 record last winter and third place at the state Class A tournament. “The fact that Anita and I played there was part of it, sure. But we didn't push him or anything.
“Derek knows Wayne (Tinkle) and (UM assistant coach) Andy Hill real well. He went to camp there a year ago, and it was a real positive experience.”
So positive, in fact, that Derek decided on the Griz without making official visits to any college campuses.
Tinkle, tabbed for the top job when Larry Krystkowiak accepted an assistant coaching position with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, is prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on Selvig's decision. But you can bet he's smiling today.
The 6-foot-10 Selvig is rated among the top 150 prospects in the country, the kind of player who rarely, if ever, lands in the lap of a Big Sky Conference team. Rivals.com, a scouting service, ranks Selvig 34th among small forwards across the nation.
According to his father, Derek has been offered scholarships by a number of schools, including Oregon, Arizona State, Nevada, Utah State and Colorado State. He had received late interest from schools as far flung as Iowa State and Wisconsin before choosing Montana.
“Derek's a very skilled big kid,” Doug Selvig said. “He can shoot it out beyond 3-point range, but I think his biggest asset is his passing ability. He sees the floor real well. He knows how to get guys the ball in the right spot.”
Selvig averaged roughly 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game as a junior, working within the team structure rather than imposing himself on a balanced Glendive squad.
Selvig held his own earlier this summer at the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey, an invitation-only gathering of top prep prospects from around the country. He also honed his game against top-flight competition at AAU tournaments in Houston and Las Vegas.
The area where the 200-pound Selvig probably needs to improve most is his physical strength.
“Getting stronger is the biggest thing I need to do to play at the next level,” Derek Selvig said in an interview earlier this summer. “Shooting and passing are my strong points. I need to improve my post-up game.”
Doug Selvig was a sharpshooting, versatile 6-4 guard for Montana alongside Krystkowiak, averaging double figures for teams that went 66-23 his final three seasons (1982-85). He's still the 21st leading scorer in school history, with 1,000 points, and ranks eighth with 361 assists.
Derek's mom, Anita, is the ninth-leading rebounder (791) and 13th leading scorer (1,158) in Lady Griz annals.
Derek's commitment won't become official until the early signing period in November. Between now and then, he'll concentrate on another sport - football. He's the quarterback for Glendive, which begins practice this weekend.
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
Wayne Tinkle has been the Montana men's basketball coach for less than two months. But it didn't take him long to score his first recruiting coup.
Derek Selvig of Glendive, rated among the premier high-school small forwards in the nation, announced on Wednesday that he's decided to play for the Grizzlies - continuing a family tradition.
Derek's parents, Doug and Anita (Novak) Selvig, were both standout players for Montana in the early 1980s; his uncle, Robin Selvig, has guided Montana Lady Griz basketball to national prominence during a long and distinguished career.
“I think it just came down to the fact that Derek felt real comfortable there in Missoula,” said Doug Selvig, who guided the Glendive Red Devils to a 22-2 record last winter and third place at the state Class A tournament. “The fact that Anita and I played there was part of it, sure. But we didn't push him or anything.
“Derek knows Wayne (Tinkle) and (UM assistant coach) Andy Hill real well. He went to camp there a year ago, and it was a real positive experience.”
So positive, in fact, that Derek decided on the Griz without making official visits to any college campuses.
Tinkle, tabbed for the top job when Larry Krystkowiak accepted an assistant coaching position with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, is prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on Selvig's decision. But you can bet he's smiling today.
The 6-foot-10 Selvig is rated among the top 150 prospects in the country, the kind of player who rarely, if ever, lands in the lap of a Big Sky Conference team. Rivals.com, a scouting service, ranks Selvig 34th among small forwards across the nation.
According to his father, Derek has been offered scholarships by a number of schools, including Oregon, Arizona State, Nevada, Utah State and Colorado State. He had received late interest from schools as far flung as Iowa State and Wisconsin before choosing Montana.
“Derek's a very skilled big kid,” Doug Selvig said. “He can shoot it out beyond 3-point range, but I think his biggest asset is his passing ability. He sees the floor real well. He knows how to get guys the ball in the right spot.”
Selvig averaged roughly 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game as a junior, working within the team structure rather than imposing himself on a balanced Glendive squad.
Selvig held his own earlier this summer at the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey, an invitation-only gathering of top prep prospects from around the country. He also honed his game against top-flight competition at AAU tournaments in Houston and Las Vegas.
The area where the 200-pound Selvig probably needs to improve most is his physical strength.
“Getting stronger is the biggest thing I need to do to play at the next level,” Derek Selvig said in an interview earlier this summer. “Shooting and passing are my strong points. I need to improve my post-up game.”
Doug Selvig was a sharpshooting, versatile 6-4 guard for Montana alongside Krystkowiak, averaging double figures for teams that went 66-23 his final three seasons (1982-85). He's still the 21st leading scorer in school history, with 1,000 points, and ranks eighth with 361 assists.
Derek's mom, Anita, is the ninth-leading rebounder (791) and 13th leading scorer (1,158) in Lady Griz annals.
Derek's commitment won't become official until the early signing period in November. Between now and then, he'll concentrate on another sport - football. He's the quarterback for Glendive, which begins practice this weekend.
