Linn-Benton Loading Up

Talk to Linn-Benton head coach Todd Zimmerman about this past season and he won't mince any words - he flat out didn't like he fact the Roadrunners missed the NWAC Playoffs. That's inspired "Zimm" to hit the recruiting trail hard this spring and the fruits of his labor are coming about. Linn-Benton has gotten off to a fast start with their incoming freshman class with a number of impact performers at all five positions who just finished up outstanding Oregon prep careers.

There's no question the addition of Colin Cordle Colin Cordle 5'11" | PG/SG South Albany | 2025 State OR will add offensive firepower for the Roadrunners. The 6-foot-1 combo guard led all of 5A in scoring at 24.7 points per game and was incredibly tough to stop whenever he got downhill going to the hoop. The South Albany senior was looking at a number of possibilities but when it came down it, staying at home was the best decision.

"(Linn-Benton) was definitely the college that had the most family feel and felt like the best fit for me and my family," Cordle said. "I love all the coaches there as well and I definitely think it's the best fit for me for the next 1 maybe 2 years."

Kaiden Ford Kaiden Ford 6'3" | CG/SG Cascade | 2025 State OR will offer more scoring with his commitment. The lefty wing led 4A in scoring at 26 points per game, using his ability to both nail outside jumpers or get into the lane and finish in create ways around the hoop. A two-time All-State honoree and state champ, the Cascade senior is looking forward to being a part of the Linn-Benton program.

"For me it was just that I really love the culture they are building at LB," Ford said. "I really enjoy the coaching staff."

Looking to fill it up from outside will be Brady Hix. The Sherwood senior specialized in hitting the three-ball this past year for the Bowmen, hitting just under two a game in averaging 10.3 points, 3.09 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Like many of the others, Linn-Benton was on his radar fairly early on and the relationship paid off in getting his eventual commitment.

"I went down there one or two times this summer because Coach Tufts had told coach Zimmerman about me, and so I ended up going down there for an open gym or two and kind of got on their radar and then they came out and watch a few games this year both at Sherwood along with some games in Salem," Hix said. "That's when they started showing interest and talking about me potentially having a spot to play there next season. And from there I came to a few of there games and a visit and it just felt like a great fit for me, because of both the coaches along with the ability to be part of a big school like Oregon state which is around 10-15 minutes away from LB."

https://twitter.com/BradyHix14/status/1899324794593783915

For scorers to be successful they need someone to get them the basketball, and that's what JoJo Harrower JoJo Harrower 6'4" | SF Ashland | 2025 State OR will aim to do. The Ashland senior had an outstanding year playing at the point for the Grizzlies, putting together all-around averages of 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. With his 6-foot-6 size and ability to handle and pass the rock, he's excited about how he can continue to develop with the Roadrunners.

"I chose Linn-Benton because coach Zimmerman believed in me and sees me as a point guard with a lot of room to grow," Harrower said. "There's a bunch of guys around me who can score the ball at a high level and I can facilitate to get the best looks for them."

It's clear that Zimmerman was looking to add versatile players in his freshman class and Anthony Best Anthony Best 6'5" | SF Sprague | 2025 State OR definitely fits that bill. The Sprague senior was able to do damage both inside and outside this past season, averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting over 56 percent from the field. Out of all the options Best was looking at, the Roadrunners seemed to match his goals the most.

"I picked Linn-Benton for many reasons, one it being really close to home and Coach Zimmerman put all his trust in me and believed in me the most," Best said. "I feel like I will be able to develop at this program so I can get to a higher level."

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Rounding out the incoming freshman class so far is Ben Everhart Ben Everhart 6'6" | PF Sherwood | 2025 State OR , who will add some muscle and size in the paint. The 6-foot-6 post put together a solid senior season at Sherwood in 2024-25, averaging 5.0 points 5.5 rebounds, and over a block per game, and his best basketball is ahead of him at the JC level. Like his fellow commits, Everhart cited the overall fit and connection with the coaching staff as the reasons he picked the Roadrunners.

"I had gone down for an open gym and I had immediately felt the competitiveness in the gym - you could see the players respected the coach in the games we went to even if they weren't getting a ton of minutes," Everhart said. "Also, talking to Zimm he felt genuine and he was always honest even if it was something he didn't know if you would like to hear. He just seemed like a coach that I would want to play for so I decided that if felt like the right fit for me."

Our congratulations go out to all the seniors and their families on their recent decisions. As always, stay tuned to PrepHoops Oregon for all the latest recruiting news.