SSU signs eight to basketball squad

The Sonoma State men’s basketball team has announced the signing of eight players set to join the Seawolves for the 2008-09 season.

SSU officials are “extremely excited” about this year’s recruiting class. The players are Ashley Arnott, Chad Chambers, Dalton Francis, Curtis Harrison, Will Olsem, James Sandoval, Chris Warne and Chris Weber.

Australian native Ashley Arnott comes to Sonoma State as a sophomore after a season at the University of Texas-Permian Basin. A starter as a freshman, the 6’1” guard led the Falcons with 90 assists last season. Arnott starred at Box Hill Senior Secondary in Melbourne, where he led his school to the 2006 state basketball championship.

Chad Chambers arrives at Sonoma State after two seasons at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista. A Second Team All-Pacific Coast Conference pick in 2007-08 when he averaged a double-double, the 6’7” Chambers spent a season the 2005-06 season as a redshirt at Shepard University, an NCAA Division II school in Virginia.

Dalton Francis joins the Seawolves from Newbury Park High School in Southern California. The 6’5” Francis earned Second Team All-League and Second Team All-County honors for the Panthers in 2007-08. His team’s captain as a senior, Francis also earned team MVP, Most Improved, and Coaches Award honors at Newbury Park.

Curtis Harrison arrives at Sonoma State for his senior season after competing for two years at Sacramento State. The 6’8” power forward played in 24 games as a junior and was off to a nice start as a senior, playing in four games before an injury cut his season short.

Will Olsem joins the Seawolves from El Camino High School in Sacramento. A 6’3” shooting guard, he averaged 15 points per game in helping El Camino to a section championship in 2008. A First Team All-Capitol Athletic League pick, Olsem is the reigning “Sac vs. Bay Area Showdown” three-point champion and he made a school-record 110 three-pointers as a senior this year.

James Sandoval transfers to Sonoma State from Monterey Peninsula Junior College. The 6’5” forward earned First Team All-State honors and was the Most Valuable Player of the Coast Conference as a sophomore in 2007-08.

Chris Warne joins the Seawolves from Hartnell College in Salinas. A native of Salinas, the 6’5” Warne was a member of the Panthers’ 2006-07 league championship team.

Chris Weber comes to Sonoma State for his freshman season in 2008-09. The 5’9” point guard is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, though he graduated from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose.  Last year’s squad was 32-2 and ranked ninth in the nation by USA Today.