Koepp, Kinnell sign to play college hoops

 Two former Gila Valley Region basketball standouts are taking their games to the next level.

 Recent Kofa graduate Ryan Kinnell has signed on to play at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri next season, while former Yuma High star Spencer Koepp will stay in the ACCAC and play at Glendale Community College.

 Kinnell, a 6-foot, 10-inch center, averaged 14.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks during his senior season, and helped the Kings make a historic run to the 5A Division II final four as a No. 15 seed.

 Kevin Williamson, who coached Kinnell at Kofa last year before moving on to Cathedral Catholic in San Diego, said Moberly is a great step for him.

 "It's a pretty well-known JUCO for producing D-I big guys. That's where a bunch of D-I college coaches wanted him to go" said Williamson, who helped promote Kinnell and Koepp to various colleges. "When it came down to it, all the Division I schools wanted him to go one more year of college to see if he is fully ready."

 Koepp, a quick 5-10 point guard, was the Gila Valley Region's Player of the Year last season after leading the Criminals with 18.4 points per game and a second-place regular-season finish.

 Williamson said GCC just lost its starting point guard to NCAA Division I Portland.

 "It's a great opportunity for Spencer to step in to a place where a star just left, they have a great returning cast and they need a point guard," Williamson said. "He'll be fighting for a starting spot and it's hard to get that nowadays in college basketball."