RAINIER — A fractured leg has sidelined Rainier center Brandon Cataldo for his senior season. But the injury hasn’t clouded his future plans of playing at Portland State University.

After announcing his intentions of signing at Portland State in mid-September, Cataldo signed a letter of intent with the Vikings during the official signing period in the second week of November.

But a day after inking the scholarship, the 6-foot-10 Cataldo fractured the tibia in his leg while attempting a layup during the opening minutes of Rainier’s first basketball practice.

“I guess I was overworking it. It’s frustrating,” the 17-year-old Cataldo said. “The doctor told me I wouldn’t be playing at all this season. I’ll be out of action four months, along with rehab time.”

Cataldo, who averaged double digits in scoring and rebounding as a junior to earn Lewis and Clark 3A League Player of the Year honors, is rated the 10th-best high school center in the nation by ESPN.com and the second-best high school center on the West Coast by scouthoops.com.

Besides Portland State, Cataldo also piqued the interest of Montana State, University of Montana, Boise State, Seattle University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State, Loyola Marymount and St. Mary’s in California.

“High school posts are hard to come by and we are fortunate to get someone from our own back yard,” PSU coach Tyler Geving said on the school’s Web site. “Physically, I think Brandon is ready to go. The challenge for him is going to be coming from a small school (Oregon 3A) to major-college basketball. But, he has fared very well on the AAU circuit against a lot of top players and held his own. That has been a good measuring stick for him.”

Geving has high expectations for Cataldo, who he predicts will be a dominant player in the Big Sky Conference before the end of his collegiate career.

“Brandon is a good back-to-the-basket player who can step out and shoot it,” he said. “He’s also a gym rat, which you don’t find from a lot of big guys. He is always looking to get better.”

Cataldo has talked with Geving since the injury, and the second-year Vikings coach offered reassuring words.

“Coach wants me to get healthy,” Cataldo said. “I won’t be able to put weight on the leg until January when I start rehab. I’ll continue going to practice at Rainier and support the team, and I’m looking forward to playing summer ball and working out at the college.”