ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University men's basketball coach Brian McDermott has announced the signings of four incoming freshman with regional ties who will join the Raiders for the 2015-16 season.

North Medford High's Tristen Holmes, North Marion's Kerry Cook, Beau Hamilton of Redding, Calif., and Jordan DeBortoli of Kathmandu, Nepal, have committed to join a team that will lose two seniors – both NAIA All-Americans – after going 26-10 and reaching the national quarterfinals.

"This class of freshmen follows the blueprint we've used for the past four years: Get good people who are good students and can shoot the basketball," McDermott said. "The only difference with this group is they may be a bit more athletic in terms of speed, verticals and quickness."

Holmes, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is a big reason for that. Widely considered one of the top defensive backs in the state of Oregon, he chose to play basketball collegiately after a senior season in which he averaged 16.6 points on 47-percent shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was voted second-team all-state, bolstering his resume with averages of 23.3 points and 7.7 rebounds at the class 6A state tournament.

Holmes is also a valedictorian at North Medford.

"Tristen has a chance to be an elite point guard," McDermott said. "He will be as good an athlete at that position as we have in the Cascade Conference and is a very heady player."

Cook, a 6-4 wing, will make his way down from Aurora after posting 16 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 2014-15. He was a unanimous pick for the all-tournament team at the 4A state tourney, leading North Marion into the title game, and received honorable mention for the all-state team.

"Kerry is a very smooth all-around player," McDermott said. "His unselfishness stands out and we expect that he'll be able to play multiple positions."

Hamilton is a 6-5 forward who will come to SOU via Foothill High. As a senior he topped the Eastern Athletic League in shooting percentage (51), free-throw percentage (81) and blocked shots per game (2.0), and his 16-point average ranked fourth. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in the state playoffs, and following the season earned the Lions All-Star Game MVP in Redding and the Phil Bryant All-Star Game Dunk Contest title in Chico.

"Beau is one of the most explosive players we have ever recruited," McDermott said. "He is a raw talent who should be fun to watch as his body matures.

Orignially from Weed, Calif., DeBortoli prepped at Kathmandu International Study Centre. A 6-5 forward, he was considered one of the top young players in Nepal. His father, Joel, graduated from University of San Francisco as the 13^th-leading scorer in program history.

"Jordan is a bit of an unknown as stats are not generally kept in Nepal," McDermott said. "But he has a great pedigree and is already pretty advanced physically."