Pilots Sign Alec Monson to Men's Basketball NLI

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PORTLAND, Ore. --- University of Portland men's basketball has signed Alec Monson (Salt Lake City, Utah/Olympus HS) to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Eric Reveno announced on Thursday. Monson will graduate this spring and go on a two-year church mission before joining the Pilots for the 2016-17 season.

Monson (6-5, 175) was named to the Utah 4A All-State First Team by both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune as a senior for Olympus High School this past season. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game en route to the Region 7 Player of the Year award. Monson shot 52 percent from the field, 43 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the free throw line. Olympus reached the 4A State Semifinals and lost to eventual champion Bountiful High School.

"Alec is a player we are very excited about," Reveno said. "He is a versatile big guard that shoots the ball very well. Alec comes from a basketball family, has a great feel for the game, and will only get better once he gets on campus."

Monson played two seasons for his father, Reid, a former University of Utah basketball player, at Waterford High School before transferring to Olympus. He served as the sixth-man as a junior for Olympus and helped to the team to a Region 7 title and 4A state quarterfinals loss to eventual champion Skyview.

"Alec is a kid who has really worked hard over the last two years," Olympus head coach Matt Barnes said. "He is determined, very competitive and put a lot of time and effort into his game entering his senior season. It really paid off for both him and the team as he had a huge year against some tough competition. I'm proud of him and excited for him to get the opportunity play at Portland."

Monson played AAU summer ball with the Utah Basketball Club (U17 Elite) and helped the team win the 2013 Double Pump Summer Classic, Northwest Premier Invitational, Big Mountain Jam, and the adidas Super 64 (Gold Bracket). The team posted an overall record of 32-5 last spring and summer.

The Pilots have announced four other incoming freshmen that will join the program for the 2014-15 season. Early signees Jason Todd and Gabe Taylor will be joined by spring signees D'Marques Tyson and Philipp Hartwich and will join a veteran squad in the fall.


The Pilots are graduating four seniors from a 2013-14 team that finished 15-16 overall and tied for sixth in the West Coast Conference standings. The team loses leading rebounder and third leading scorer Ryan Nicholas, but returns four starters and seven of eight leading scorers.