I'd heard plenty of rumor that Ferris' DeAngelo Casto was planning on heading to Wazzu...now it's official. Here's the release Washington State sent out earlier today:

PULLMAN, Wash. - Ferris High School senior and the state's reigning player of the year, DeAngelo Casto, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Washington State University men's basketball team next season.

"We are excited to have DeAngelo sign with us," Bennett said. "He is a great addition to our fall signing class. He played in a tremendous high school basketball program at Ferris High and we are looking forward to watching DeAngelo reach his full potential."

Casto a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward, played two years at Ferris HS under head coach Don Van Lierop after transferring from Freeman High School prior to his junior season. While at Ferris, Casto's Saxons went undefeated two-straight seasons, holding a 58-game winning streak, while winning the state 4A championship in both 2007 and 2008. As a senior Casto averaged 14.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game, including 18.7 points per game in the state playoffs.

In FHS's 68-44 defeat of Federal Way in the championship game in 2008, Casto tied the tournament record with eight blocked shots, adding 18 points in the victory. For his efforts Casto earned all-tournament first team and East Regional MVP accolades. The Associated Press Washington State Player of the Year (in all classifications), Casto earned 4A player of the year, first-team all-state and Northwest Shootout co-MVP, as the Washington all-stars defeated the Oregon team, 108-105.

The last Spokane native to sign and play with the Cougars was Rob Corkrum who graduated from Shadle Park HS. He averaged 4.9 points per game in his WSU career which spanned from 1990-95.

I just got done talking to Casto and he can't get the smile off of his face. He came across as a very nice kid who is genuinely excited about his opportunity (he also seemed relieved that the recruiting process was over...he said it was like a weight lifted off of his shoulders).

Casto is not totally cleared to play at WSU (he's academically ineligible right now). He's recently taken the ACT's and plans on taking the SAT's soon (he only needs to pass one). He won't get the results from the first test (taken on April 12th) for another five to eight weeks, so he'll keep taking the tests until he gets the results (hoping that he eventually passes). He said that he's committed to getting good grades and that he's excited to not only play in college, but also get a four-year education and do something "spectacular with his life."

He also told me that he picked Washington State (he was also reportedly recruited by Washington, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Oregon, Oregon State, and Eastern Washington) because he really likes the family atmosphere (he liked the fact that the team is full of "good people"). He said that the coaches called him after he signed his letter of intent and the players were in the background celebrating.

Hopefully I'm back here in a few weeks reporting that Casto passed his tests...then we'll get into what he could mean to the Cougars.

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