ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western men’s basketball head coach Brett Weiberg has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2015-16 season. All three signees have ties to the state of Iowa and one has a family connection to Griffon Basketball.
Mataika Koyamainavure
Suva, Fiji / Southwestern Community College
6-8, Forward
Brother of Griffon Women’s Basketball student-athlete, Miliakere Koyamainavure…second team All-Region at Southwestern Community College where he averaged 13 points and seven rebounds per game…won MVP awards all four years as a high school player at Marist Brothers High School…his favorite athlete is Tim Duncan…plans on majoring in communications…dream job would be broadcasting.
“Mataika is an exceptional young man,” Weiberg said. “He is a quality student and is the type of person we want here at MWSU. Mataika is a big, physical power forward that can post and also play facing the basket. He will come in and compete for playing time immediately. Mataika played for Todd Lorenson at SWICC and Todd has done a great job developing Matiaka. I also believe his better days are ahead of him.”
Trey Sampson
Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Des Moines Area Community College
6-0, Guard
Second team All-Region, averaging 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game at DMACC…two-sport athlete at Xavier High School…second-team All-Conference and first team All-Metro in basketball…first team Alll-State and All-Metro in football…second team All-Conference in football…plans on majoring in biology…would like to be a marine biologist…favorite athlete is Bo Jackson…chose MWSU because it felt like family.
“I am pleased that Trey has decided the join the Griffon Basketball Family,” Weiberg said. “He is a young man that can really shoot the ball. Trey defends at a high level and he was a very important part of the DMACC team that won their conference and made it to the Final Four of the NJCAA National Tournament. Trey plays with passion and plays hard. Most importantly, Trey is an outstanding young man, a good student and a fantastic teammate and competitor. Coach BJ McGuinn and his staff have done an excellent job developing Trey.”
Miles Wentzien
Ft. Madison, Iowa / Ft. Madison High School
6-3, Guard
Lettered four years in basketball and golf and two years in baseball…all-time leading scorer at Fort Madison High School…averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, three steals and five assists per game…host of honors as a high school basketball player, including conference MVP, Academic All-Conference, All-District and All-State (on-court and academically)…undecided on his major.
“Miles is a young man that we have recruited all year,” Weiberg said. “He is a strong, physical guard. Although Miles is the all-time leading scorer at Fort Madison High School, we feel that one of his best attributes is defending. We believe Miles is a competitor and a leader and we expect him to have an opportunity to play. More importantly, Miles is a good young man, a good student and will be a great teammate. Miles played for Jon Schmitz at Fort Madison. Coach Schmitz has done a great job with Miles.”
Koyamainavure, Sampson and Wentzien join Calvin Winker as signees to the 2015-16 team. Winker’s signing was announced in November. The team went 12-15 and 8-11 in the MIAA in Weiberg’s second season as the head coach. They advanced to the MIAA Tournament, losing in the first round at Central Oklahoma. Weiberg and his staff will be looking to replace four departed seniors, including All-MIAA honorable mention selection Cortrez Colbert. Zack Price, Dareon Jones and Hans Thun were the team’s other three seniors.
— MWSU Sports Information —