WEST PLAINS, MO - The Missouri State-West Plains Grizzlies secured quite possibly their highest touted recruit in program history Monday, signing Sioux City, IA point guard Wesley Staten.
"We're really excited about getting him down here to West Plains," said Grizzlies assistant coach Drew Richards.
Staten, 6-1, 160 pounds, originally verbally committed to Iowa State before his freshman season at Sioux City West High School -- over interest from Kansas among others. He de-committed when head coach Greg McDermott left Iowa State for Creighton.
"Wes can make an instant impact for us. He's very talented and is already one of the hardest workers we've seen. We gave him some workouts and he called on a Saturday and asked for specifics on the drills."
As a junior Staten led Iowa powerhouse Heelan High School to the Class 3A State Championship averaging 19.3 points per game. During that time he was being most heavily recruited by Minnesota, VCU and Iowa State.
Staten missed his senior season after leaving school in November. He is now at Sioux City West High School, where he is on track to graduate this spring.
MSU-West Plains has also landed Carthage, MO standout Desmond Buerge and expects to add to its already strong signing class in the next few weeks.
