soderberg to portland

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Erik Soderberg Signs
With Portland--(Apr. 22, 2001)

Corona Centennial's Erik Soderberg (6'-9" Sr. F) has signed with the University of Portland. Soderberg, who most recently has been playing for the Double Pump All-Stars and the Pump N Run All Stars (actually two different teams run by Double Pump) played at Mater Dei until a year ago, when he and brother Lance Soderberg (6'-8" Jr. F) transferred in mid-season. Erik is the first signee for new coach Michael Holton, formerly an assistant at UCLA. We haven't yet received the official release, but it's certain that there will be an open roster spot which Soderberg can help fill immediately: Last week, Portland announced that forward Diaby Kamara will transfer to Cal Poly. Kamara, a 6'-7" sophomore from Bussy St. George, France, had requested and received his release from Portland shortly after former Pilot head coach Rob Chavez was relieved of his duties. Kamara made 20 starts in 28 Portland games last season, averaging 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He had 23 rebounds in Portland’s final two games. In his freshman season, Kamara played in 24 games, all off the bench. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds.

Soderberg is a wide-body sort of player, mobile and agile, but he'll definitely need to work on his shooting touch. He has good footwork and is an excellent rebounder, and the word on the street is that brother Lance, who is more of a wing type forward could be headed up to Portland following this coming season, although his recruitment is just getting started. Both Lance and Erik will be playing with Pump N Run at the Spiece Tournament in Fort Wayne Indiana on May 4-6.