CORVALLIS -- If there's one positive Alyssa Martin and Classye James can take from all of the players transferring out of the Oregon State women's basketball program in the past couple weeks, it's this: with a depleted roster, Martin and James should get a lot of playing time.
Martin, a guard from Jesuit High School in Beaverton and James, a guard from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif., signed letters of intent with the Beavers in November, and right now look like they will contribute almost immediately.
Coach LaVonda Wagner's 2009-10 roster has taken a significant hit in the past week as four players -- including leading scorer Talisa Rhea and leading rebounder Kirsten Tilleman -- have opted to leave the team. Two others transferred mid-season, leaving just five returners.
"It's been an interesting week," Martin said, adding that players transferring out of Wagner's program has "happened a lot the last few years but there's also people who are staying. I like the school, I like the coach."
Martin's father, Earl Martin, said he is curious as to why so many players are leaving Wagner's program, but is trying to stay positive.
"As a parent I'm a little nervous for her, I'm not sure what's going on but at the same time I'm telling her as a player to look at it as an opportunity," said Earl Martin, who played at OSU under legendary coach Ralph Miller from 1986-90.
"We're gonna wait and see what happens, see what (Wagner) says and honestly, yeah, we're going to ask and we're not gonna be the only ones to ask."
Earl Martin said he has told his daughter that part of being a responsible student-athlete involves asking coaches tough questions, but Alyssa Martin laughed and said she is "pretty shy" and that she didn't think she would initiate a conversation with Wagner about why so many players have left.
OSU athletic director Bob De Carolis issued a statement Wednesday afternoon that the program was "under review" in the wake of all the player defections. Junior Rhea, sophomore Tilleman, redshirt sophomore Kassandra McCalister and freshman Kate Lanz were all granted their release paperwork within the past two weeks; freshmen Tayler Champion and Amaya Gastaminza left midseason. Assistant coach Kellee Barney has also left.
James, the other early commit, said she thinks each team "goes through hardships" and that the Beavers' rapidly thinning roster has not scared her away.
"Right now I'm still excited about going to Oregon State because I picked that school for a reason -- I like the coaching staff," she said.
James plans to ask Wagner about the transfers at some point -- "We just wanna be kept in the loop," she said -- but isn't worried about her decision to play for OSU.
"As far as I'm concerned until anything affects me personally I'm not going to worry," James said.
Wagner, hired in April 2005, is known for her intense, animated sideline presence during games, but James said she saw that as a plus when she was being recruited to Corvallis.
"She's definitely a competitor and wants what's best for the team," James said. "She pushes her players really hard and I like getting pushed. Not everyone can take getting pushed to their hardest."
Alyssa Martin said she was "a little bit" concerned that Wagner might lose her job, but doesn't believe it will happen before the 2010-11 season.
Wagner was not available to comment last week and OSU said De Carolis' statement would be its only response to the matter.
--Lindsay Schnell
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