OGDEN, Utah - Less than four weeks after taking the position as head men’s basketball coach at Weber State University, Randy Rahe not only put together a new three-man coaching staff, but has signed four junior college players to national letters of intent to play for the Wildcats next season.

The players are:

Tyler Billings F 6-7 220 Jr. Smithfield, Utah Sky View HS / Eastern Utah JC

Daviin Davis F/G 6-4 185 So. Midland, Texas Midland HS / Midland JC

Arturas Valeika F 6-9 215 Jr. Vilnius, Lithuania Midland JC

Brody Van Brocklin G 6-2 180 Jr. Fruit Heights, Utah Davis HS / Salt Lake CC

“We knew after our third day on the job that we would be looking at filling seven vacated spots on our roster next season,” said Rahe. “We need some immediate help so we have looked at the junior college ranks to fill those needs. Our number one priority is to recruit good, solid players from within the state. We are very lucky at this late stage to get two excellent players like Tyler and Brody. They both come out great high school and junior college programs. Not only are they good players, they are good students as well. Coach Jeff Linder did a great job in recruiting Arturas and Daviin in such a short period of time. We are looking for them to come in and make an immediate impact.”

Billings played for Coach Terrell Baldwin at Sky View High where he was a teammate with former Utah State standout, Nate Harris. He helped the Bobcats to the state 4A semifinal game in 2001-02. He left to serve a two-year LDS Church mission to Spain immediately after high school. When he returned he enrolled at the College of Eastern Utah where he was a two-year starter under Coach Brian Zollinger.

This past season he averaged 14 points and just over six rebounds per game shooting 51 percent from the field, 80 percent from the line and 45 percent from the three-point arc. He hit seven three-pointers in one game and was named to two all-tournament teams during the course of the season. He helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 20-12 record and was First Team All-Scenic West.

“Tyler is the ultimate team player who makes everyone around him play better,” said Eastern Utah head coach Brian Zollinger. “He’s a great outside shooter but is a tough, physical player as well. He’s a great student in the classroom as well. The fans in Ogden are really going to like how hard he plays every game.”

Daviin Davis played just one season for Coach Grant McCasland at Midland Junior College in Midland, Texas. That is the same school which produced former WSU standouts Harold “The Show” Arceneaux and Ivan Gatto.

Davis averaged 14 points, five rebounds and two steals per game playing forward but has the athletic and shooting ability to play at the two guard as well. He helped the Chaparrals to a 27-6 record in 2005-06 and a number nine ranking in the final NJCAA national poll and was named First Team All-Conference. Davis will have three seasons of eligibility for the Wildcats.

Arturas (ARE-turr-is) Valeika (va-LEE-KA) played two seasons for Coach McCasland. As a freshman he helped the team to a 26-10 mark and a berth into the national junior college tournament where the Chaparrals made it to the elite eight. He has led region five in rebounding each of the past two years and just over nine boards per game. He averaged 10 points this past season. He was named First Team all-conference both seasons. He had single game highs of 23 points and 25 rebounds.

Van Brocklin was a three-year starter for Coach Jay Welk at Davis High. In 2001-02 he led the Darts to the state 5A championship. He was named First Team All-State and was named “Mr. Basketball” by the Deseret News.

He played one season for Coach Norm Parrish at Salt Lake Community College helping the Bruins post a 22-10 record. He then left to serve a two-year LDS Church mission to England. Upon returning last Summer he again enrolled at Salt Lake CC. He averaged seven points and five assists for the Bruins in 2005-06. The Bruins were 22-8 overall and placed third in the Scenic West Conference. He was second in the Conference in assists to turnover ratio and shot just over 38 percent from the three-point arc.

“The most impressive thing about Brody is that he’s a great person and a natural leader,” said Coach Norm Parrish. “He’s a great student of the game and completely unselfish. He will do whatever it takes to win. In high school he was a tremendous scorer, and he’s still an excellent shooter but he sacrificed that part of his game to learn the point guard position and never questioned that role and actually thrived on helping others around him succeed.”

Rahe said he and his staff expect to sign three more players within the next two weeks filling out the roster for 06-07.