It's easy to see why the Chico State men's basketball coaching staff is excited about Vinnie Safin. At the top of the list is the fact that last week Safin signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiately at Chico State.
 
Then there's this…
 
His character: Stories about his decision to make a college commitment early in order to keep it from being a distraction to his Rocklin High School team are all over the Internet.
 
His game: He's a 6-foot-4 sharpshooter known as much for his toughness and strength as his shot.
 
The intangibles: He's a great student with an eye on earning a quality education, naming the University's nationally renowned business department as one of its main attraction.
 "The coaching staff was very inviting as was the hospitality of the team, everyone shook my hand on my visit," Safin told NorCalPreps.com about his decision. "I liked the culture of the school and a Chico business degree is one of the best in the nation."

Two other elements also left a deep impression, according to NorCalPreps.com's Kevin McCarthy.

"On my visit, I got up at 6 a.m. to watch a weightlifting session. The guys thanked me for coming and I could see the pride while watching them lift." He added, "The way the coaches ran a 45-minute practice -- it was so intense. I turned to my parents and said, 'Wow. I'm tired just from watching them.' My sense is it was kind of like a brotherhood, a family."

Safin is now its newest member. He's the program's first signee for 2015-16.
 
"We are really excited about the signing of Vinnie Safin. Vinnie is a dynamic scorer with the ability to shoot from beyond the 3-point arc. He is a great student and is a perfect fit for our program," said Wildcats Head Coach Greg Clink, whose team is 2-0 this season and ranked 19^th in the nation after a run to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2013-14. "Vinnie has played for some outstanding coaches in Casey Cutts at Rocklin High School and Jason Barton with The NorCal Pharaohs and is looking to have a great senior season."
 
One without any distractions.
 
"That was kind of my plan," Safin told the Placer Herald. "By committing in November and signing, it's off my mind and I don't have to worry about the college process anymore. Now I can buckle down, I'm all in for my team and playing."
 
The First Team All-Sierra Foothill League selection might be familiar to some local Chico State fans. He led Rocklin to a pair of wins against Chico High School last season. They'll play the Panthers again this season on Jan. 2 in Rocklin.
 
Clink believes Safin will soon be the latest in a long line of successful Sacramento-area products who have proved crucial to the program's success.
2008-09
Zach Graves – John F. Kennedy HS (transfer from University of Montana)
2009-10
Jay Flores – Jesuit HS (transfer from Sonoma State)
Jake Lovisolo – Del Oro HS
Brian Seals – Valley HS (transfer from Fresno State)
2010-11
Mike Rosaroso – Franklin HS
2012-13
Robert Duncan – Granite Bay HS
2013-14
Isaiah Ellis – Antelope HS
2014-15
Marvin Timothy – Franklin HS
2015-16
Vinnie Safin – Rocklin HS