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When Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy was brought on prior to the 2012 season, many questioned his commitment to recruiting and developing high school athletes versus rounding up key transfers. He virtually resurrected Souther Miss' program through the transfer wire, but some believed it was not a sustainable way to build a program. Well, he and his staff have shown they can still bring in high caliber, high school athletes with the verbal commitment of 2015 Shooting Guard Anthony Bonner.
Much like the members of the 2014 class, Bonner fits a mold the Rams desperately need going forward; shooting guards that can threaten consistently from behind the arc. The Rams shot a pedestrian 32% from the three-point line in 2013, and will need Bonner's shooting ability when the current group of guards graduate following the 2014 season.
Bonner averaged 16.1 points a game at Lawrence (Kansas) High School and shot 42% from long range. He received a 3-star rating from Rivals and will likely increase his stock through his senior year of high school. Although predominately a shooting guard for his high school team, Bonner does play point guard for his AAU team, YOBO.
Bonner told the Coloradoan he spoke in depth with current shooting guard Daniel Bejarano about Coach Eustachy's intense style,
"He told me how coach Eustachy coaches. It's very intense, and he expects a lot out of you. That's the kind of coach I want to play for; someone who will keep pushing me to new levels," Bonner said. "He didn't tell me everything was going to be great all the time. He was honest."
When Bonner arrives at Colorado State, he will likely join fellow sharp shooters Jeremiah Paige and Gian Luis Clavell from the 2014 class. Both shooting guards, Paige shot 41% in high school, while Clavell shot 39% at Northwest Technical College. Bonner will also join current guards Joe De Ciman, John Gillon, and Carlton Hurst barring unforeseen roster turnover.
He chose CSU over offers from FGCU, Missouri State, and Missouri-Kansas City, and will likely garner offers from other teams throughout his senior year.
Bonner's commitment is a good start to building a solid core of young talent going forward, but Eustachy and Co. will likely need to add a couple more solid commitments before the reliance of transfers will diminish.