Camper, 6-8 1/2 Center, to Play for CSUN

Victor Camper, a 6-foot-8 1/2, 250-pound center, announced Friday that he will sign a letter of intent to play basketball at Cal State Northridge. Once he signs, he will become the tallest CSUN player in the Matadors’ Division I era.

“I like the coaches, the players, the campus and the schedule,” said Camper, a former Long Beach City College standout. “I’ll get to play a lot of games . . . in front of my friends and my family. It’s far (from Long Beach), but not too far from home.”

Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy has put a priority on signing a tall center since the program moved to Division I in 1990. Todd Bowser and Brian Kilian, the team’s starting centers the past two seasons, were listed at 6-7.

Camper averaged 15 points and 9.5 rebounds for Long Beach in 1990-91. He did not attend a four-year college last fall because he did not obtain his Associate of Arts degree. Camper must complete two classes at Long Beach this semester to receive his degree and establish eligibility at Northridge.

Camper suffered a broken bone in his foot playing basketball last spring and spent the summer with his foot in a cast.