SEATTLE (Apr. 24) -- Maurice Cato, the MVP of the Coast Conference while playing for Skyline Junior College in San Bruno, Calif., has signed a national letter of intent and will transfer to Seattle Pacific University to play basketball next season.

Cato, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, averaged 14.7 points and led the Trojans in assists (3.7) and 3-pointers (73) this past season as they went 30-5 and advanced to the round of 16 in the California championship tournament. The former Fairfield High School star also averaged 1.4 steals and hit 45 percent from the field and 79 percent from the foul line.

Seattle Pacific is coming off a 21-6 record and its seventh trip to the NCAA Division II tournament in the past eight years. The Falcons lost two seniors to graduation, including their top reserve guard.

Cato is the first signed recruit for SPU this spring. Last fall Kamiak High School's Jeff Knudson signed an early letter of intent.