SEATTLE -- Its too simple of an equation to say that Budda Baker was the cause and Washington being on the cusp of a Pac-12 North title was the effect.But its not too far of a stretch to believe that the most impactful recruit landed by Chris Petersen since he arrived at Washington came in February 2014. Thats when Baker decided to stay home with the Huskies rather than follow the lengthy parade of premier recruits from the state of Washington who decided to go out of state.We were very urgent. We knew he was a big time football player that could really change the direction of this program and that was job No. 1 when we first took this job was to make sure we kept a homegrown talent in Budda Baker here at the University of Washington, Washington defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake said. It was an intense battle and were obviously happy that we got him.There are numerous pieces that Washington has woven together to create a roster that this year is 10-1 and on the cusp of not only a Pac-12 North title but potentially a shot in the College Football Playoff headed into Fridays Apple Cup against Washington State. Some were holdovers from the previous coaching regime, who have developed into stars later in their careers, like linebacker Keishawn Bierria and wide receiver John Ross. Others were recruits from out-of-state that Petersen and his staff convinced to make Washington their home, like quarterback Jake Browning.But ultimately, for Washington to be successful, it must be keeping the top in-state recruits at home. And beginning with Baker, it has.I always heard it every day by friends, family, even random people that `Youre a hometown guy, you can put this program back on top, and all that type of stuff, Baker said. It hit because like they said I have a lot of family here, I had a chance to go to a great school.Since Bakers commitment in 2014, the Huskies have had a pipeline of in-state talent staying home, including running back Myles Gaskin, wide receiver Chico McClatcher, left tackle Trey Adams, safety Taylor Rapp and offensive lineman Kaleb McGary. Its not a huge list, and while California will always be the hotbed for Washingtons recruits, getting the top kids from the state is influential in what the Huskies are trying to build.I didnt know where I wanted to go. I thought if I stayed here I would always being going home and doing chores and stuff, Gaskin said. My mom and dad kept it real. They said, `You are going to Washington. At the time I didnt understand why but Im very thankful for them.When many of the current Huskies were first making impressions about college football, Washington was a struggling program. The 2008 season where Washington went 0-12 was the clear bottom, but even under Steve Sarkisian there was a plateau reached -- 7-win Sark became the nickname -- with little indication the Huskies would rise much beyond that mark.Additionally, the group watched a number of top recruits from the state -- Jonathan Stewart, Jake Heaps, David DeCastro, all the way up to Myles Jack -- take the route out of the state rather than remain at home.Which all leads back to why landing Baker was so important.Its huge for that year and the years following, all the in-state talent that hey it is cool to stay at home and play for the hometown (Huskies), Lake said. Now hopefully those young guys are seeing where were at now and seeing the following that he has here and now when his career is over at Washington hes going to be a legend here. Hes already made a ton of plays and hopefully we do some bigger things this year and next year and hell be a legend here for a long time to come if he keeps doing what hes doing, and those other guys are seeing that.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Cheap Nike Shox Australia .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Nike Shox Shoes Australia . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. 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DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets retired the No. 55 jersey of finger-wagging, shot-blocker extraordinaire Dikembe Mutombo in a halftime ceremony on Saturday.Mutombo was drafted by the Nuggets with the No. 4 overall pick in 1991, and he played five seasons with the team. Besides his trademark finger wag, Mutombo is probably best remembered for lying on the court and clutching the ball over his head after the eighth-seeded Nuggets upset top-seeded Seattle during the 1993-94 playoffs.Mutombos number was retired by Atlanta last season.The Nuggets wore their Rainbow Skyline throwback uniforms to honor Mutombo. The team also presented him with a painting and aa $50,000 check for his foundation.ddddddddddddhe 7-foot-2 Mutombo blocked 3,289 shots over his stellar NBA career. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.Mutombo became the fifth player in Nuggets history to have his jersey raised to the rafters, joining Byron Beck (40), Alex English (2), Dan Issel (44) and David Thompson (33). Coach Doug Moe had No. 432 raised up to the roof, too, in commemoration of his franchise-record number of wins.The Associated Press contributed to this report.? ' ' '