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CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – Valley City State University men’s basketball coach Jeff Kaminsky has gone overseas to find the Vikings latest recruit.

Kaminsky announced Tuesday that the Vikings have signed Jason Ralph, a 5-foot-11 guard from Ipswich, Australia, to a letter of intent. Ralph will attend VCSU and join the men’s basketball team starting this fall.

Ralph has averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game this summer playing with the Ipswich Force in the Australia-State League. He recently scored a career-high 27 points, helping his team to a 116-111 victory. He is shooting 49 percent from the field and 30 percent on 3-pointers, while also pulling down 4.5 rebounds per game.

“Jason will bring a unique experience to our program having played against some outstanding competition in a quality program at Ipswich in Australia,” said Kaminsky. “He is a highly intelligent player who makes others around him better. He has a tremendous passion for the game and I’m looking forward to working with him. He will be a great addition to Viking basketball on and off the court. 

Ralph has had success at several previous levels in his career. He led the Queensland Basketball League in assists during the 2014 season, and was first in scoring at 30.6 points per game for the Under 21 BWJBC Men. He was also named the Under 21 Ipswich Force MVP, and was a captain of the 2014 Under 20 Men’s Queensland team. 

“Jason has been a pleasure to work with over the past 7 years,” said Michael Wellings, who coached Ralph at Ipswish Grammar School. “He was not only one of the greatest players to grace our floor, but also a wonderful young man. All of us at Ipswich Grammar School wish him the very best with this next step in his life. 

Ralph is the son of Patrick Ralph and Lindy Ralph.

Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the North Star Athletic Association conference.