California high school seniors sign with ISU

Idaho State men’s basketball announced the signings of Ian Fox and Novak Topalovic Tuesday, May 20, 2014, to National Letters of Intent.

Topalovic is a 7-foot, 225-pound center from Santa Margarita High School in California, and Fox is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard from Redondo Union High School in Redondo, Calif. Both will be freshmen for the Bengals this upcoming season.

Fox is an all-league and all-state performer who led his team to the final four in the California state basketball tournament averaging 14.6 points per game in his two-year varsity career. Fox shot 46 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free-throw line. He was a 36 percent shooter from 3-point range. As a junior, Fox helped lead his team to a state championship.

“Ian is the consummate point guard,” said Idaho State head coach Bill Evans. “He has a really good feel for the game. He has a chip on his shoulder when he plays, which is really important. He is a good perimeter shooter and he is really quick with the basketball.”

Topalovic played on a high school team who had seven players sign to play college basketball in 2014. Santa Margarita High School lost in the semifinals of the California state playoffs on a 60-foot shot at the buzzer. Topalovic helped lead his team to a 26-9 record.

“Novak’s best days are ahead of him,” Evans said. “He is a young and talented kid who can really run the floor. He has really good feet. He played on one of the best high school teams in California this year. He is a great student with a great work ethic. We are really excited to have him.”