Portland State picks Wyoming assistant

Portland, Ore. Wyoming assistant Heath Schroyer has been hired as men’s basketball coach at Portland State, taking over a program that has declined since a brief period of success that followed its reinstatement in 1996.

Schroyer, 30, will be formally introduced during a news conference today, a school official reported.

Schroyer replaces Joel Sobotka, who resigned April 12 after compiling a 53-59 record in four seasons.

Several candidates were considered, but Schroyer was the only one interviewed in person. He could not be reached for comment Monday night, but last week he said there was “a lot of untapped potential” at the school.

“I don’t see any reason why Portland State shouldn’t compete year in, year out for the Big Sky Conference championship,” he said.

ISU lands Arnold

Normal, Ill. Marcus Arnold, who averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds a game for Chicago’s Morgan Park High School last season, signed a national letter of intent Monday to play basketball next fall at Illinois State. As a junior, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward/center averaged 10 points and eight rebounds in helping his high school to the Chicago Public League championship and a third-place finish in the Class AA state tournament.

Norfolk taps Freeman

Norfolk, Va. Miami assistant coach Dwight Freeman was introduced Monday as the new head coach of the Norfolk State men’s basketball team. While an assistant at Miami, Freeman helped lead the Hurricanes to seven consecutive winning seasons and six postseason appearances, including four trips to the NCAA meet.