College Commitment – Falcons Fish a Duo from Lake O

The Class of 2024 continues to make their college decisions and recently, a couple of Lake Oswego natives made their choices public. While they might have been rivals throughout high school, Lakeridge's Cole Holum Cole Holum 6'9" | PF Lakeridge | 2024 State OR and Lake Oswego's Aengus Sutherland Aengus Sutherland 6'5" | SF Lake Oswego | 2024 State OR will join forces at the college level. Both recently made a commitment to join the team at Seattle Pacific and when it came down to it, the fit was just right both on and off the court.

"I really liked the feel of Seattle Pacific as soon as I stepped on campus," Holum said. "The coaches and the players all made me feel at home and in the right place. As soon as I got done playing an open run with the guys I felt like I was apart of the team already."

Sutherland described many of the same feelings when it came to his decision as well. "I decided it was the right place when I had my visit," Sutherland said. "The coaches did it differently, they walked me around all of campus but after that they turned me over to hangout with the team and enjoy my experience. SPU has great facilities and I get along with the coaches very well. I feel that I fit in with their play with their defensive intensity and I want to work on my patience in the offense while I'm there."

Holum also cited the match for him with the play style of SPU. "I think my blend of size and athleticism fits perfectly with what Seattle Pacific wants to do on the court on both offensively and defensively," Holum said. "I need to continue to increase my size and work on my offensive game, but I think as of right now I could compete defensively."

In both players' cases, the opportunity to play at Seattle Pacific came even though their season seasons were only partial - Holum missed the first part of the year while Sutherland missed the second half. Nevertheless, the Falcons remained interested and for Sutherland that meant the world to him.

"They worked with me during my injury," Sutherland said. "I missed 12 games of my senior year, and where every other school I was talking to stopped having contact with me. SPU kept up with me and that is majority why I made my decision to SPU."

Inter-city rivals in high school, Holum and Sutherland were teammates in club ball with the Oregon Prospects and their bond has extended beyond the court. That will certainly continue in Seattle. "Cole is one of my best friends and we have always pushed each other at practice," Sutherland said. "We're gonna room together next year and I am so excited to get to work hard with him for the next four years."

Our congratulations go out to Holum and Sutherland and their families on their collegiate decisions.