Men's basketball coach Mark Coleman has always had great success recruiting out of Arizona. From past players like Kris Taylor, Trey Clarkson, Eli Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro High School), and now Justin Williams (Phoenix, AZ/Paradise Valley High School) to returning players like Daryl Littleton (Tucson, AZ/Palo Verde High School) and Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School), Coleman hit the Grand Canyon State in search of new talent. He found two standouts, Alex Dykhuizen (6-6, 205 pounds) and Nate Murdock (6-2, 187 pounds), and both signed their letter of intent to attend WNMU.

A future criminal justice major, Dykhuizen will graduate this spring from Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, Arizona where the Jaguars are still relishing in their 2009-2010 5A II State Championship and an impressive 28-2 record.

Dykhuizen, a forward, averaged 14.6 points and 10.4 rebounds this past season while recording 2.9 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. He also was named to the Great Desert Shootout All-Tournament Team.

As a junior, Dykhuizen was the Northwest Conference Player of the Year and named to the Pepsi Holiday Basketball Tournament and Horizon Invitational All-Tournament Teams.

“Alex comes to us after a very successful senior season,” says Coleman. “His high school team won the 5A II Arizona State Championship where he was the second leading scorer and leading rebounder. He will play both forward positions and gives us added size that we need. He can play inside and out on the perimeter.”

Murdock will graduate this spring from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix. He helped the Pioneers capture the Desert Valley Regional Championship in 2009 and then assisted the team to a 14-13 record this past season.

Averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.5 steals a game during the 2009-2010 season, Murdock received an all-region award and was a McDonald's All-American nominee.

“I feel Nate is a steal for us,” comments Coleman. “He can play either guard position, handles the ball well with both hands, and has good range on his shot. He's also long and very athletic and will be a very good defender for us.”

The WNMU Mustangs come off a 10-16 season and just missed the cutoff for the RMAC playoffs.