Rams hoops newest commitment Felipe Haase is big man team needs

Felipe Haase is a hass. At least, the Colorado State Rams hoops team hopes so.

Hasse is a 6-foot-10, 235 pounds and is a versatile, true big man CSU hasn’t seen since the days of Colton Iverson in 2012-13. Hasse’s coach announced the player’s decision on Thursday afternoon.

6'10" Felipe Haase (2017) @chs_phantoms has verbally committed to @CSUMensBball … Had big time spring! @fastbrksportsla @VerbalCommits

— 🏆 Coach Middlebrooks™®, D.Div, AIC, CIC (@coachmiddlebrks) April 28, 2016

Saw him this weekend in Las Vegas….Big bodied 5-man that is multi-skilled and physical https://t.co/g2uUhETaeM

— Joel Francisco (@JoelFranHoops) April 29, 2016

Physical and multi-skilled is what it takes to play for Larry Eustachy and at the DI level.

Haase averaged 3.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and .6 blocks per game as a junior at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, California. Those are numbers Eustachy likely loves, with the rebounds higher than all the others. Of course, Haase’s first and last job will be to rebound the basketball. But, he’ll also likely be asked to score inside, and if he truly is multi-skilled, possibly score from outside, too. We’ll have to wait and see.

He’s Chilean like Nico Carvacho, another big man currently with CSU who played with the Chilean National team recently. Haase will begin with the Rams in 2017, meaning the team has their first commitment for that season. But it also means there are still four scholarships to fill for this current 2016-17 season.

After assistant coaches Ross Hodge and Leonard Perry left the program, followed by John Gillon and Toby Van Ry as well as a de-commitment from Leon Gilmore III, things started looking bleak.

Then, Eustachy landed Che Bob, a tough, JUCO combo guard who will play in 2016-17. Then Eustachy hired Jase Herl as a new assistant coach and promoted the other members of his staff. And now, Haase for 2017.

Momentum is building in the positive direction for the Rams again, and we should be seeing even more commitments soon.