New Men’s Basketball recruits add more power and big time scoring for the Cardinals

The Skagit Valley College Athletic Department is proud to introduce the new class of recruits who are ready to take the Cardinals Men’s Basketball team to the next level this fall. Each of the new Cardinals come to Skagit as stand out players at their respective high school and have set many personal and team best accomplishments.

DJ Clark
6’2 wing from Burlington-Edison High School
• DJ Earned All Northwest Conference honors and was first team All Skagit Valley Herald
• 11 points per game, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals

SVC Head Coach Carl Howell:
“DJ Clark is a long, quick, athletic wing with huge upside. He can score inside/out and is a great defender who guarded all five positions. DJ played for Cardinal Alum Chas Kok on a great team so, he has been very well coached.
Also, DJ’s father, Dave Clark, who was a prolific scorer at Seattle Pacific University has prepared DJ for college play. DJ played his best basketball late in the season which is something I always value. DJ Clark was the one player we really wanted from our area. I watched him improve throughout the season, as much as any player I can remember.”

Burlington-Edison High School Coach Chas Kok:
“DJ is the ultimate team guy. He is always willing to sacrifice for others to win and does what’s best for everyone else. He is a really good athlete that understands and loves the game. He was our go to defender to guard the other team’s best player and constantly came up big for us when games got close. Skagit got a great player and a great person.”

Damani Green
5’10 guard from Wilson High School
• Pierce County League Player of the Year, 1st Team Tacoma News Tribune All Area, Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association 3A All State
• 17 points per game, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals

SVC Head Coach Carl Howell:
” I have known Damani for a long time; he is an ultimate winner! He is a quick, athletic guard who is fierce competitor, the ultimate floor general who makes other players better. He has been a dominant player since his freshman year and led Wilson High School to new heights this year. He played a style very similar to ours his last two years for a great coach in Mike Cocke. Damani Green will be an impact player from day one and will have a great career.”

Wilson High School Coach Mike Cocke:
“I am excited to see what the future holds for Damani. He was the heart and soul of our program this past season, leading the Wilson program to its third highest finish in school history. Damani is a fearless competitor who gets it done on both ends of the floor, it has been a pleasure to watch him grow these past two years. Coach Howell is building something special at Skagit Valley and Damani Green will be a great addition to the program”

Lezjuan Harris
6’8 wing from Mount Tahoma High School
• 1st team all Pierce County League
• 13 points per game, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks

SVC Head Coach Carl Howell:
“Lezjuan Harris is a player with unlimited potential! He was a double double machine this season and he can score in a variety of ways, is a tremendous rebounder and a big time shot blocker. He played at Mount Tahoma for Cardinal alum Jason Townsend, so he has been well coached. Also, his father Dontay, a former professional player, has done a great job preparing him for Skagit. He has a very bright future.”

Mount Tahoma High School Coach Jason Townsend:
“Lezjuan has grown as a student athlete. He has tremendous work ethic and loves being in the gym. His best basketball is yet to come.”

Malik Howard
6’4 wing from Wilson High School
• Pierce County League Defensive Player of the Year,
All Pierce County League
• 13 points per game, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals

SVC Head Coach Carl Howell:
“Malik Howard is another young man who I have watched develop throughout his high school career. He is the ultimate team guy who does whatever it takes to win and has always guarded the team’s opponent’s best offensive player. He is a player who can literally play all five positions defensively and can score from the 3-point line or around the basket. He played his best basketball the last month of the season versus some of the elite teams in the state. Like Damani, he comes from Wilson High School where the style of play and coaching with Mike Cocke is very similar to how we run at Skagit. He will impact our team in so many ways.”

Wilson High School Coach Mike Cocke:
“Malik has been a huge contributor to the Wilson program the past two seasons. He helped lead the Rams to back to back state tournament appearances with an overall record of 42-14 as a two-year starter. He is a complete player who can play any position on the floor. He was also voted 3A PCL Defensive Player of the Year. I am excited to watch Malik grow at the next level.”

Josiah Miller
6’6 215 forward from Curtis High School
Earned All South Puget Sound League honors averaged 16 points per game and 10 rebounds

SVC Head Coach Carl Howell:
“I have watched Josiah grow as a player throughout high school and he has developed into a strong, physical, athletic forward who will have a great career at Skagit. He comes from one of the premier programs in the state coached by Hall of Fame Coach Tim Kelly so, he is college ready. He is tremendous rebounder and inside scorer who gives us an immediate need inside with the graduation of Willie Thomas. Josiah was also a dominant football player who instantly brings that toughness to the court. Despite missing several games to injury, he came back late in the season to score 22 points and grab 15 rebounds in a SPSL playoff game.”

Curtis High School Coach Tim Kelly:
“First, Josiah is a great person. He is a tremendous athlete and possesses great leadership skills and a matching work ethic. These attributes, teamed with Coach Howell’s leadership, will enable Josiah to continue to improve and achieve his goals. His best days are definitely still ahead.”
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Highlights of SVC Men’s Basketball 2019-2020
The Cardinals Men’s Basketball team finished an epic season, setting a few college records along the way:
 College record 22 game winning streak;
 College record regular season wins (25);
 College record fewest losses in a season (4);
 #1 in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) in points allowed 67.2;
 #1 in the NWAC in Steals per game, 12.0;
 #1 in the NWAC in opponent’s Turnovers, 19.3;
 Averaged 88.3 points per game;
 Won games by an average of 21.1 points;
 #1 ranked team in the NWAC for 7 straight weeks.