Yellowjacket hoops adds talented high-school recruit Ryan Chappell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, April 22, 2016 Yellowjacket hoops adds talented high-school recruit Ryan Chappell

Ryan Chappell of Sacramento, Calif., inks a letter of intent to play basketball for the Yellowjackets starting in the 2016-17 season.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Adding a talented freshman to its roster for next season, the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball team announced the signing of Ryan Chappell of Sacramento, Calif., for the 2016-17 season.

Chappell will graduate from Capital Christian High School in the spring of 2016, where he is a three-year letterwinner in basketball under head coach Devon Jones.

“We are very excited about Ryan joining our program for next year,” commented MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens.

“Having so many returners back, we want to add pieces that will fit what we have in place here already. Ryan will do that.”

A team captain for the Cougars, Chappell was a four-year honor roll student and earned Max Preps Classic alltournament honors. He holds a personal best of 61 points in a game, and is a versatile wing player who has experience as a shooting guard and small forward entering his collegiate career.

“I felt at home at MSUB, with the coaching staff, players, and student body,” Chappell commented on his decision to become a Yellowjacket. “I felt that Billings was the place where I should spend the next years of my life.”

Chappell played for Team Superstar, the same Amateur Athletic Union team as current Yellowjacket star and 2015-16 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Preston Beverly.

“When we saw Ryan play last summer in AAU ball, we immediately targeted him as a prospect,” Stevens said. “He brings big-time athleticism to our program. His ability to finish around the basket and in transition are two of his many strengths. He has a great feel for the game as well, and Ryan has a chance to be a special player here for years to come.”

Chappell plans to pursue a degree in business and has ambitions to become an entrepreneur after his basketball career.

Chappell is the first recruit to join the Yellowjackets for 2016-17. MSUB finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 11-17 overall, and a mark of 8-12 in conference play for an eighth-place finish.

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