California JUCO Sharpshooter Signs with Seattle Pacific
April 24, 2003

SEATTLE (Apr. 24) - Ralph Steele, an all-conference guard and top scorer for California's Citrus College, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for Seattle Pacific University next season.

Steele, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, averaged 20.2 points and led the Western States Conference in free throw accuracy, hitting 90 percent, and was third in three-point shooting (46 percent). He was the No. 2 scorer among the California junior colleges and also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Citrus, located in Glendora, finished 19-11 and Steele was named the school's male athlete of the year.

Steele is a graduate of Huffman High School in North Birmingham, Al., where he averaged 20 points as a senior in 1999.

Steele is the first recruit signed by Seattle Pacific coach Jeff Hironaka, who lost six seniors, including four starters, to graduation. The Falcons, who have made the NCAA Division tournament five of the past six years, were 16-11 and finished third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.