| Derek Raivio commits to Gonzaga Bulldogs By Zags Hoops Staff Date: Jun 28, 2002 Richie Frahm, Zach Gourde and Dan Dickau have all come from the Vancouver area to Gonzaga to help the Zags make national headlines and bring GU to national prominance. Vancouver comes through again for Gonzaga with one of the best point guards in the west: Derek Raivio. Described by his AAU coach as part Dan Dickau and part Luke Ridnour, Derek Raivio has exploded onto the national scene from relative obscurity at Mountain View High School in Vancouver, WA. Coaches far and wide had visited him in-school and his phone was lighting up with high-major programs calling. Gonzaga coaches knew this and they asked Derek and his father Rick if they'd like to take an unofficial visit to Gonzaga. They said yes. After a terrific, positive and fun visit where future Zags Sean Mallon, Adam Morrison and David Pendergraft showed Derek a good time and it was obvious that chemistry was already a natural, Derek Raivio committed when he arrived back home. His father Rick told Zags Hoops that "It was the perfect fit," and during their 5 hour drive home he and Derek talked it over, weighed the pros and cons, and by the time they pulled into Vancouver it was decided. Derek has had a blockbuster spring and it looks like his summer will only get better with his AAU team, the Portland Legends. He already lit it up in Houston at the Kingwood Classic, earning himself a top-100 rating from Brick Oettinger of Prep Stars, and just recently dropped a hefty 37 points on Aaron Brooks in Tacoma. Next is the Nike Camp where, again, he'll be with fellow future Zags Morrison and Pendergraft. It is only fitting that two days after fellow Vancouver star and Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau is drafted in the NBA's first round that another dynamic, high-scoring, play-making point guard from the same city commits to Gonzaga. Zags Hoops welcomes and congratulates Derek. We can't wait for him to don the Blue and White of Gonzaga, and we'll certainly follow his summer exploits on the message board within this website. |
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| Raiveo wants to be a Zag |