WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The men's basketball program at Whitman College, with a 72-34 record over the past four seasons, has completed the best four-year run in program history and expectations are high that the string of success will continue, especially with the addition of head coach Eric Bridgeland's incoming recruiting class.

"Each year – in an athletic sense – we set out to add one or two players that could play, in the right program, at a higher level [than Division III]," says Bridgeland of his annual recruiting efforts. "This year we feel we've landed five.

"Each of the players that will be joining us in the fall will have the capability to impact our program immediately," adds the sixth-year leader of the Missionaries. "Our newcomers arrive from highly successful athletics backgrounds – they are winners. Also of note is their collective ability to make plays – each is able, with space, to put tremendous pressure on the defense. We are very excited to add this group to our returning core who expect to again challenge for a conference title."

A pair of transfers, Ege Mala and Christian McDonald, joins freshmen-to-be Rolaun Dunham, Timothy Howell III and Jovahn Wiggins in Bridgeland's incoming class.

McDonald completed one year at Weber State University after graduation from Lake Oswego High School (Ore.). Bridgeland describes the 6-foot-4 McDonald as a "long and rangy guard with a stubborn defensive mentality," who will be "game-ready the moment he sets foot on campus."

A transfer from the University of California, Irvine after two years in the Anteaters' program, Mala is expected to have an impact on the glass with his 6-foot-7-inch, 220-pound frame. "Ege can rip down rebounds with both elbows above the rim," notes Bridgeland. A native of Izmir, Turkey, Mala played for Nergiz Spor and won the provincial championship and competed in the Under-18 Turkish championships. According to Bridgeland, Mala is a "guard who can post, or a forward who can operate on the perimeter." His father is a general manager for one of Turkey's professional teams.

Dunham, from Riverbank High School (Calif.), is "the incoming freshman every coach dreams of," according to Bridgeland. He states that the 6-foot-2 Rolaun "is a proven winner, leader in his community and church, and a better person than player.

"On the court, (Dunham) is a strong and balanced defender who can lock up any position on the floor and at the other end, mixes a powerful, explosive, slashing game with an unbelievable touch to finish or can set up teammates once he's by his defender."

Dunham led Riverbank to a four-year record of 88-24, was a two-time most outstanding player for the Trans Valley League and in April was tabbed the Modesto Bee Stanislaus District Player of the Year.

Howell and Wiggins both hail from the Basketball Training Institute (BTI) college prep club in Pasadena, California. Howell graduated from Viewpoint High School while Wiggins graduated from La Quinta High School.

Bridgeland is excited about adding the 6-foot-1 Howell to the family, as he believes "Tim was born to play in Whitman's up-and-down style of play He is equally adept at getting into the lane and finishing, or drawing two defenders and setting up a teammate for an open look."

"JoJo" Wiggins "is a multi-talented player who can impact a game on every level," states Bridgeland. A 6-foot-7-footer, Wiggins plays with guard skills, can shoot the ball with range, but can also put it on the deck, get to operational areas and make plays over defenders.

Whitman opens the 2014-15 campaign with a home match-up at Sherwood Athletic Center against D'Youville (N.Y.) College on Nov. 16. The University of St. Thomas (Minn.), a perennial national power, follows with another home non-conference event on Nov. 20.