Mojave, Silverado guards pick colleges

Two all-state guards made their college choices official this week.

Mojave’s Donte Poole signed with Colorado State and Silverado’s Heiden Ratner with James Madison.

Poole averaged 21.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season as a senior in leading the Rattlers to the state title game.

Mojave coach Tony Hopkins said Poole also had offers from Ball State, Eastern Illinois and Pepperdine.

Poole said he could have an opportunity to play early because of vacancies in the Colorado State backcourt.

“They have a lot of big men, and they’re getting rid of most of their guards,” Poole said. “The coach needs a whole bunch of guards to come in, and I just think it was a good fit.”

Poole also said he is excited about the opportunity to come back to Las Vegas each year to play UNLV.

Ratner averaged 26.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists his senior season. He signed with James Madison after visiting the Harrisonburg, Va., campus last week.

“The campus was crazy,” Ratner said. “I’ve never really seen anything like it. It was big and it was nice.”

Ratner said he was planning to set up visits with Duquesne, Long Beach State, Northern Arizona and Appalachian State but changed those plans after visiting James Madison, which plays in the Colonial Athletic Association.

He said it is a relief to be done with the recruiting process.

“Now I can not really worry about it and just really work hard to get ready for the next step,” Ratner said.

• RESIGNATION — Rancho girls basketball coach Todd Herrick has announced his resignation.

Herrick coached the Rams for four seasons and led the team to the Sunrise Regional title game last season.

He was 56-58 at Rancho, including 24-8 last season.