North Seattle Community College recently announced its new membership in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), in preparation for a competitive basketball season for men and women beginning in the fall of 1999.

Recruiting is the first order of business for the coaching staff that has been hired to build a competitive team during its first year - Billy Rodgers, men's head basketball coach, and Glan Turner, the assistant coach. Brad Gagne is the women's head basketball coach.

NSCC's student athletes will compete with Puget Sound area community college intercollegiate basketball teams. The season will begin in late November with a 20-game schedule. Games will be played against teams from Bellevue CC, Shoreline CC, Edmonds CC, Everett CC, Highline CC, and Green River CC among others.

"My goal is that this spring we will have 12 men and 12 women committed to play basketball for North in the fall or winter of next year," said Roy Flores, vice president for student development at NSCC.

The coaching staff is currently recruiting prospective student athletes for next year's team. Letters of intent have been sent to 30 players from local high schools. The coaching staff will be attending many district playoffs and will be scouting at the 3A and 4A state basketball tournaments. It is their goal to have all letters of intent in hand by April 2.

The basketball players may qualify to receive athletic scholarships of up to $200 per quarter. Eight scholarships will be available to both the men's and women's teams. The team is open to any student enrolled in the Seattle Community College District - North South or Central. Students from NSCC will be eligible to participate in the men's and women's intercollegiate soccer teams that will be sponsored by South Seattle Community College.

North Seattle Community College is located at 9600 College Way N in the Licton Springs neighborhood. For more information, contact Athletic Director Mark Mitsui at 528-4591.