UTPA grabs a pair in Minnesota

It's been a good week in Minnesota for Texas Pan American, the Broncs grabbed commitments from power forward Mike Yahnke from Delano and point guard Jayme Moten from New London-Spicer in back to back days. In Yahnke UTPA gets a hard working four who averaged 18.2 points a game while Moten is a point guard who led the Wildcats to a state title last season.

Moten made his decision tonight committing to coach Ryan Marks. Moten then called the coaches from Bemidji State, UM-Crookston, Columbia, Minot State, and elsewhere to let them know of his choice.

Jayme is known state wide as one of the toughest point guards to face as well as one of the gutsiest. Time and time again both in high school with New London-Spicer and in AAU with the Minnesota Comets, Jayme stepped up to hit momentous three-pointers when his team needed them the most and he does it without hesitation.

As an athlete Moten is somewhat like "The Dark Knight" character in the latest Batman series as he will "be what he's needed to be". If a team needs Jayme to hit from deep and put up 20 he can do it. If a coach wants Jayme to fire up his team locking down an opposing guard he'll do it. And if a coach wants Jayme to pile up the assists and spread the ball around exclusively he has no problem whatsoever. He will be what his team needs him to be and do it with a fierce competitiveness.

If those words don't say enough just Google the name "Jayme Moten" with the term "state champion". Several stories will pop up about Moten's junior year that saw him quarterback the Wildcats to a state football championship and then run the point for New London-Spicer's state championship basketball team.

There are many words to describe Jayme but one of the best is simply "winner".

Moten will be linked with 6-foot-7 Delano power forward Mike Yahnke who committed to Texas Pan Am last night. Mike pushed himself from a high level division two player to a division one talent with his play this past July.

Taking to the road with the Minnesota Pump N Run, Yahnke stepped into the post and provided hard work, physical play, rebounding, and consistent finishes at tournaments around the country. A number of division one teams showed interest and Texas Pan American offered.

The current Texas Pan Am roster has 14 players on it but only four are from Texas. This program has expanded its recruiting boundaries representing Midwestern states like Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana on its roster. Next year the Broncs will have even more northern flavor when Yahnke and Moten represent the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the Great West Conference.