Utah State Basketball Adds Another In-State Standout

Utah State men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill announced Wednesday that in-state standout Sam Orchard has agreed to join the Aggie basketball program beginning in the 2011-12 season.

Orchard, a 6-1, 175-pound guard from Highland (Utah) High School earned first-team all-state honors from both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune as a prep senior and was named the 4A Most Valuable Player as he averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game while leading the Rams to the 4A state championship. During the year, Orchard converted on 44.3 percent of his shots from the field (109-246), 37.8 percent from behind the three-point line (28-74) and 81.4 percent from the free throw line (158-194).

“Sam has the potential to be a successful Division I basketball player and we are delighted that he will be a part of our program,” said Morrill.  “He is an outstanding student with very high character and good basketball skills.”

Orchard led Highland HS to a 22-3 record during his senior season, scoring in double-figures in 22 of the team’s 25 games, topping the 20-point mark five different times and scored a career-high 30 points in a 68-60 win on Feb. 11 over region rival and eventual 4A runner-up Bountiful.  He was also named the MVP of the Surf-N-Slam Holiday Tournament in San Diego, Calif., during the regular season.

Orchard also averaged 16.4 points during his junior season, while scoring in double-figures 23 times, including six 20-point games, earning first-team all-state honors.

Following the 2011-12 season, Orchard plans on serving a two-year LDS Church Mission.