Oregon State men’s basketball coach Jay John took a step closer to his vision of the team by signing three players for the 2007-08 season on Wednesday.

His goal is to have depth at all positions and to have full-time players on the court. That means they defend, score and play a team concept.

John doesn’t want platoon situations where weaknesses are exposed in certain instances, and has to constantly run different players in-and-out.

“In this program you need guys who are complete players,” said John, who begins his fifth season Friday.

Guard Calvin Haynes and forward Ilija Milutinovic should be able to contribute to the Beavers when they arrive, John said. Both are playing at prep schools so the added maturing and experience should help.

Forward Omari Johnson has the athletic ability to play right out of high school. If he adds bulk as he finishes up at Dorsey High in Los Angeles, he’ll compete for minutes from the start.

“You can see the talent of our freshman class and sophomore in Jack McGillis,” John said. “The three we signed really compliment and fill in the gaps that may be missing from the core group of freshman. These are the two best classes we’ve had since I’ve been here. So I’m very excited about this group.”

Haynes signed with the Beavers last year out of Taft High in Reseda, Calif., but needed to improve his academics to be eligible. He’s playing at South Kent School in Connecticut this season.

John said he would have contributed this season, helping out at point guard or shooting guard.

“He can be a dominant player offensively and defensively,” John said. “In my time here it’s rare to have the combination of strength and athletic ability at the two-guard spot.”

The Beavers lose center Kyle Jeffers and forward Michael Johnson to graduation after this season, so there was a focus on big men in this class.

Freshmen Roeland Schaftenaar and Calvin Hampton are already working to replace Jeffers.

Omari Johnson and Milutinovic would work behind forward Sasa Cuic when he’s a senior. Both are big, athletic and good outside shooters.

“It’s good to have freshmen behind a senior to learn from, and then it’s their position after he leaves,” John said.

Milutinovic is from Belgrade, Serbia, and played for the Serbia & Montenegro under-18 national team. He’s at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts getting his academics in order and adjusting to life in the United States.

“There are a lot of avenues with the prep schools that benefit,” John said. “There’s age and maturity. They experience moving away from home, and being away from home. Then they make the trip here, the homesickness should be eliminated. And the caliber of basketball in the Northeast where these guys are is very high, game-in and game-out. They are going to come in a more experienced player than they would right out of high school. They will come in more battle tested.”