HCA: More Cowgill anyone?

Clarkston High School forward Brandton Chatfield is officially Washington State Cougars coach Kyle Smith’s first recruit to sign. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward accepted a preferred walk-on invitation from former Cougar coach Ernie Kent over offers from Whitworth and LCSC. New coach Kyle Smith clearly liked what he saw and kept the pledge to Chatfield that Ernie made as reported by Theo Lawson of the Spokesman.

“I have a high rebounding average and I know he likes a lot of defensive rebounding,” Chatfield told The Spokesman-Review on the phone Tuesday. “I’m a big rebounder. That’s what I focus on most besides posting up.”

“I think the first thing Brandton brings is a really athletic big guy that can really run the floor,” Clarkston coach Justin Jones said. “His athleticism at 6-10 is next level and I think the way that he has developed over the last three years with our program, I think really shows what he’s capable of doing over the next four or five years at the college level.

Smith made bringing big man Jeff Pollard back a priority and Chatfield seems to have a lot of the same traits that are attractive to Smith’s system as well as a lot similarties to Dick Bennett’s first recruit Robbie Cowgill.

Chatfield was named first team All Great Northern League while averaging a double-double as a senior. He competed with the 509Elite AAU club. Chatfield is unranked by major recruiting services.

Chatfield joins the current recruiting class of junior college players Daron Henson and Ryan Murphy as well as prep big man Nigel John. John has said he wants to explore his options after the firing of Ernie Kent. With Ahmed Ali and Isaiah Wade entering the transfer portal along with Carter Skaggs, Smith may have a lot of flexibility for this class. He has already reportedly offered sought-after forward Ronnie DeGray and Oklahoma grad transfer big man Matt Freeman.

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“I think the first thing Brandton brings is a really athletic big guy that can really run the floor,” Clarkston coach Justin Jones said. “His athleticism at 6-10 is next level and I think the way that he has developed over the last three years with our program, I think really shows what he’s capable of doing over the next four or five years at the college level.

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