RIPON — Cade Alger is excited about Seattle University.
And why not?
The Redhawks under head coach Jim Hayford, who inherited a 13-17 team since taking over a year ago, are coming off their best season in a long time, finishing 20-14 overall. They were 16-3 on their home court and 8-6 in the Western Athletic Conference.
On Friday, the Ripon Christian 6-foot-9 senior made it official, signing his letter of intent to play for the NCAA Division I private school.
“They came in late (in the recruiting process),” Alger said of the RedHawks. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
In basketball, he averaged 18 points and 12.3 rebounds for the Knights under coach Mark Hofman this past season, earning the All-Trans-Valley League Most Outstanding Player honor. Alger is a three-year varsity letterman — winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI title was the highlight of his prep career.
A quarterback in football, Alger completed 103 of 159 passes for 1,485 yards and 20 touchdowns while helping lead RC under coach Trey Ozenbaugh to a 10-0 regular-season finish and section championship game appearance.
In volleyball, he currently has 282 kills and 33 blocks for Kevin Tameling’s Knights, who are the top-seeded team in the Division III playoffs.
Several junior colleges expressed an interest in Alger in football. He had several colleges doing likewise in volleyball.
But it’s basketball, his first love, that Alger is looking forward to continue playing at the next level — he’ll start off as a redshirt freshman forward for the Redhawks.
His parents Brent and Raeann are excited about him staying on the west coast, especially with their other children having attended Dordt College in Iowa.
“We’re really excited for Cade going to Seattle University,” said Brent Alger, who will have the option of traveling to Seattle via short flight from Sacramento or a long drive north along Interstate 5.
Cade Alger is leaning towards studying Business Management. He is joining a roster that includes former Manteca High standout Anand Hundal. The 6-foot-10 junior forward was a key member of Manteca’s 2016 state championship team.