Potpourri, May 20

News Bits

Portal Updates: "Ty Johnson has announced that he will be withdrawing from the transfer portal, and will return to UC Davis. The 6’3” junior guard started 30/32 games, averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals. Johnson was selected to All Big-West 2nd Team. Big news for the Aggies."

Coach Jim Les and Crew must be popping champagne bottles.

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Jonathan Givony: "Great day for you Arizona's Keshad Johnson. Crushed the athletic testing. Guarding everyone in live action and making shots and smart reads too. Plug and play guy."

After a good showing at the NBA draft camp, is Johnson a small power forward or a big wing?

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Sean Paul: "Northern Colorado is one of the underrated mid-major portal winners so far. Added four huge impact players from the portal — Idaho guard Quinn (Bellarmine Prep/West Valley College) Denker (12.5 PPG, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 APG) will make an instant impact at point guard..."

Denker will be part of a very strong UNC backcourt.

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Dominican Men's Basketball: "Senior Spotlight #3: Dale (Sheldon High/CCSF) Currie proved to be durable and clutch. He did not miss a single game and made big plays down the stretch all season long for the Pengs. He is on track to graduate with a degree in Business Management."

Dominican Men's Basketball: "Senior Spotlight #2: Marcus (El Capitan High/Columbia College) McCutchen impacted our program right away with his toughness and dedication. Marcus was our leading scorer and rebounder in both his seasons and a 22-23 All-PacWest Selection. He will be graduating with a degree in Psychology.

Dominican Men's Basketball: "Senior Spotlight #1: Garrett (Casa Grande High/Santa Rosa JC) Siebels was a model of consistency. He did not miss a single game in his 2 year career and knocked down 107 3s over that span. An NABC Honors Court Selection, G will be graduating with a degree in Global Public Health.

It provokes a good feeling to learn these young men are earning degrees. A salute goes out to them.

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Jake Lieberman: "6'3 PG/SG Javon Ervin out of Peninsula College (Juco) has been offered by St. Peter's & Mount St. Mary's. Has also heard from Portland, Marshall, Pacific, +. Also holds offers from New Orleans, FAMU, +. Averaged 21.6 points per game."

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PDT Scouting: "6’7 G/F Elias Ralph has committed to Pacific. Elias averaged: 16 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.0 APG and shot 45.6% from deep on 5.1 attempts per game. Has a solid handle, nice athleticism, can score in bunches. Another Usports to D1. High upside."

He's out of University of Victoria, Canada. Dave Smart, the new Pacific coach, is out of Canada.

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Verbal Commits: "Former Minnesota F Kristupas Keinys is transferring to Pacific."

He's 6-foot-8, 215 and out of Lithuania. He entered just five games this season so he'll likely be able to get a redshirt season.

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Modesto Junior College Men's Basketball: "Excited to welcome 6’1 Point Guard Brahjon Thompson to the Pirate family. Brahjon is a transfer from Central Arizona."

Thompson is out of James Logan High and Casper College.

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Marko Milentijevic: "I am blessed to announce that I have committed and received a full ride scholarship to Hill College. I wanna thank Coach Trenkle for giving me this opportunity!"

The 6-foot-5, 180 Milentijevic is out of Oakwood High in Morgan Hill. Hill College is located in Texas.

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"Unveiling The Potential: A Comprehensive Scouting Report On Blake Bastani"

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"Driscoll named Palma’s new basketball coach"

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San Diego Miramar College: "Congrats to 22-23 PCAC POY/All-State Jakob Milling on his commitment to Sonoma State University."

Milling stands 6-foot-8 and averaged 15.7 ppg, 12.2 reb, 2.9 ast this past season.

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John Bynum Jr.: "Taevon Pierre-Louis (Allan Hancock) has committed to Dominican University. Pierre-Louis averaged 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season for the Bulldogs."

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Derek Murray: "2025 Winters Grady (6’7 G) of Prolific Prep & Jalen Green Elite has earned an offer from UC Santa Barbara."

Grady already has offered from Arizona State and Pepperdine.

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St. Vincent de Paul College Prep Men's Basketball: "Congratulations to Sebastian Andrade for receiving an offer to Multnomah University!"

Andrade is a 6-foot backcourter and Multnomah is located in Portland.

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"Way-too-early WCC men's basketball power rankings: Gonzaga, Saint Mary's on top"

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Potpourri, May 17

News Bits

San Jose State University has signed Oregon State transfer center 7-foot-2, 235 Chol Mariol (who played for SJSU Assistant Coach Ed Gipson when both were at Arizona Compass Prep). Why so? Try 31 blocks in 31 games plus that 235 pounds. The Spartans are focusing on bigs generally with some beef after last season's matador defense in the middle. Also signed is 6-foot-10, 220 Sadraque NgaNga (from Seton Hall) who actually is listed as a forward while 6-foot-11, 250 community college talent Tuscan Onuoha has an offer.

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Rose City Ballers: "Congrats to D5 State Player of the Year Evan (The Athenian School) Lucas on his commitment to University of Redlands."

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Jake Lieberman: "2025 6'5 PG Isaiah Denis out of Davidson Day HS (NC) tells me that he's in contact with Ohio State, Kansas, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Dayton, High Point, UNCG, Santa Clara, Michigan, Boston College, VCU, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson & SLU."

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Jon Rothstein: "Colgate transfer Braeden Smith—the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year—tells me that he visited Davidson over the weekend and also plans to visit Washington, Gonzaga, and Cal in the next week. A return to Colgate is also an option."

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Joe Tipton: "San Diego transfer guard Kevin Patton Jr. has heard from the following schools (among others) since entering the portal, per source:

• Stanford
• California
• and a bevy of other suitors.

The 6-8 freshman averaged 9.8 points, 4.4. rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this season.

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Jon Chepkevich: "Arizona’s Keshad Johnson recorded a 42” max vertical leap, tying him for the highest mark here at the NBA Draft Combine."

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6-foot-4 Shane O'Reilly of Campolindo High and Northfield Mount Hermon Prep (MA) is headed next to American University in Washington D.C. Congrats.

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Lakeshow: "CONGRATS Berkeley 2024 Samir O'Brien on his commitment to Pomona-Pitzer. ELITE Academic & basketball university in the SCIAC"!

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League Him "NEWS: Adama Bal will withdraw his name from the 2024 NBA Draft and return to Santa Clara for his senior year, per source. The 6'7 French guard earned First Team All-WCC honors in a breakout junior season where he averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game."

Bronco Coach Herb Sendek's sleep quality just immeasurably improved. Bal and new recruit Elijah Mahi should be the top scorers.

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Jeff Borzello: "Twist in the Mike Sharavjamts recruitment: the San Francisco transfer is visiting Cal today (May 15), source told ESPN."

Borzello wrote earlier that the guard was choosing between St. Mary's, Illinois and Utah.

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Per Jake Lieberman, 6-foot-11, 250 JC prospect Tuscan Onouha has also heard from UC Davis.

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Verbal Commits: "2025 ABC Prep (NM) G Christian Gilliland has received an offer from UC Davis."

He's 6-foot-2 and out of Tennessee.

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"Stanford 4-star PG signee Elijah Crawford receives NLI release from Cardinal"

But he is still considering Stanford. Besides the Cardinal, his other final five were Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and UCF. Not exactly on a par with a Stanford degree.

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Brett Beherns: "Coleman Hawkins ruled out the #Illini if he doesn't go pro?

"I haven't but they got a whole new roster coming in. I don't think it would be fair for me to come back in that place with all those guys expecting me not to be there". I don't think it would be the right thing to do"

What a well thought out response. It sounds like it would be fascinating to chat with him.

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Potpourri May 15

News Bits

Verbal Commits D2: "2024 College of the Sequoias (CA) G Alex Argandar has committed to Alaska Anchorage."

Argandar is out of Modesto Christian High.

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Coach David Patrick and Sacramento State have signed Idaho transfer guard EJ Neal

Neal is out of Balboa Prep and CCSF.

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Joe Tipton: "NEWS: Memphis transfer forward Ashton Hardaway, the son of Penny Hardaway, has committed to St. Mary’s, he tells On3sports.

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Verbal Commits: "2024 Link Year Prep (MO) G/F Donavin Young has committed to Stanford."

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Verbal Commits: "2024 Cowley College (KS)/California commit F Jeff Nwankwo is reopening his recruitment."

This one hurts. The 6-foot-6 Nwanko is a Top 10 community college recruit this season. He committed to Cal in early May.

*** An Okalhoma City native, Nwankho just signed with Oklahoma. A better NIL payday? Closer to home?

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Verbal Commits: "Washington State F Spencer Mahoney has received an offer from California."

He's 6-foot-9, 230 and will be a redshirt freshman next season.

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PDT Scouting: "2024 Unsigned Senior Diamant Blazi is currently (May 9) conducting an official visit with San Francisco. Has done Official and Unofficial Visits with Monmouth, North Florida, Indiana, USC, Xavier, OTE and Stetson. The 6’8 wing averaged: 15.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 5.5 BPG at Jordan Christian Prep (FL) this season."

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Mike Pearson: "God is good!! 100% Committed."

That is to Cal State Los Angeles from UC San Diego. He played just 96 minutes this past season. A junior-to-be, Pearson stands 5-foot-9 and graduated from Modesto Christian High.

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Jeff Borzello: "San Francisco transfer Mike Sharavjamts is down to Saint Mary’s, Illinois and Utah, sources told ESPN. Former ESPN 100 recruit averaged 7.7 points and 2.7 assists this past season, shot 36% from 3. 6-foot-8 guard."

This will be his third school in three years. I also like 91 assists versus 49 turnovers.

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Verbal Commits: "Former Florida International G Petar Krivokapić is transferring to Pacific."

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Chabot Gladiator Basketball: "1st Team All Conf Gladiator Soph G Makaio Mims will take official visits to Sonoma State Univ and Western Oregon Univ in next 10 days."

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Jake Lieberman: "2025 6'5 SG Kaden Powers out of Rainier Beach HS (WA) & NW Rotary Rebels holds interest from Washington, Kansas, LSU, West Virginia, Weber State & Oregon State.

Offers: Southern U, UT Arlington, UNLV, Idaho, Montana & San Francisco"

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Randall Bessolo: "Bay Area Basketball Coaches Association is starting to promote BoysCaliLive24 to college coaches. 168 of the top HS teams in the State will play in this NCAA sanctioned event. Spread the word!"

It's happening June 28-30 up in Roseville.

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The Portal Report: "After leading the program to its second consecutive Final Four appearance in just his first season at the helm, CSU San Bernardino head coach Gus (the pride of De La Salle) Argenal and Co. have rebuilt this roster to contend once again come March!

•  5  10+ PPG Transfers
•  3  Former D1 Recruits
•  2  Top-100 Rebounders
• Multiple All-Conference Selections

• Camren Pierce, 5-11 G - CSU San Marcos
• Josh Adoh , 6-4 G - Bucknell
• Evan Oliver, 6-0 G - Chico State
• Giordan Williams, 6-5 G - Montana
• Charlie Henderson, 6-8 F - CSU San Marcos
• Nic Welp, 6-10 F - Western Washington
• Fallou Cisse, 6-7 F - CCSF
• Drew Henderson, 6-5 G - Sonoma State"

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Harp: "6’11 Tuscan Onuoha has one year of juco experience with DCCC & 3 years of eligibility. He has heard from Central Michigan, VMI, San Jose State, UT Martin, Southern Utah and UNC Asheville, Tennessee State, SMU, and many others! Stock will only continue to rise!"

San Jose State University has offered 6-foot-11, 250 2024 Tuscan Onuoha of Dodge City Community College (KS). Does he look like 250?

But Jake Lieberman doesn't have San Jose State University listed in his tweet : "6'11 250 pound prospect Tuscan Onuoha from Dodge City Junior College & Sydney, Australia tells me that he's recently heard from Butler, UT Martin, Southern Utah, UNC Asheville, Tennessee State, UAB, Idaho & Elon."

Hmmm.

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Cy Merrett: "I’m blessed to receive an offer from San Jose State University."

Merrett is a 6-foot-5 2025 guard out of New Orleans.

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Kenyon Aguino: "Blessed to receive my 4th Division 1 offer from San Jose State MBB. Thank you to Ed Gibson for believing in me."

The 6-foot-7 2025 Aguino is out of New Mexico.

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Stellar Hoops: "Class of 2025 6’11 (Team Trae Young 3SSB) Jax Kerr holds an offer from San Jose State. Jax uses his length to make plays everywhere inside the lane, runs the floor, valuable on the block, athletic, blocks shots, rebounds & keeps plays alive with his instincts around the rim."

He weighs 190 right now.

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Simply Basketball: "Kellen Hampton (2025 6'7) continues to improve his stock on 3SSB Circuit ! He holds offers St. John’s, Creighton, Mississippi St, Cal, Washington St, San Jose St, San Francisco, Montana, Arizona St, & more."

Early expectations were that Hampton would be a national blue chipper. That hasn't happened but he will be seriously sought by many. Out of Hayward, he plays AAU ball with Team Lillard even though he attends school down in LA.

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Potpourri, May 13

News Bits

Verbal Commits: "Former Portland F Tyler Harris is transferring to Washington."

A big get for new coach Danny Sprinkle. Harris sure likes the Pacific Northwest.

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Isaiah Hinds: "This is ALL Jesus! #Committed"

A 6-foot-4 point, Hinds has committed to Hawaii Hilo from Gavilan College.

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 Ohlone MBB: "Ohlone College Men’s Basketball Sophomore Matt Villanueva has committed to Cal State East Bay to continue his athletic and academic career. Villanueva joins the Pioneers under award winning head coach Bryan Rooney to compete in NCAA Division II CCAA competition."

Villanueva is a 5-foot-11 sophomore out of Moreau Catholic High. He averaged 10.9 points on 46%, 47% and 79% shooting respectively while grabbing 3.9 rebounds and dishing out 3.0 assists.

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Jon Rothstein: "UC Irvine transfer Derin Saran has committed to Stanford, per Egemen Onen of KIN Partners. 6-4 PG averaged 10.1 PPG and 3.4 RPG. One of the top remaining floor generals in the transfer portal."

Great size but floor general (51 assists versus 37 turnovers in 31 games?)

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Joe Tipton: "NEWS: 2024 four-star SG Liam Campbell, a former USC signee, has committed to Saint Mary’s, he tells On3Recruits."

When he signed with USC, he was ranked No. 76 on the ESPN 2024 Top 100. At 6-foot-5, could he eventually be Mahaney's replacement?

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John Bynum Jr.: "Demarreya Lewis-Cooper (Yuba) has committed to Cal Poly Pomona. Lewis-Cooper averaged 9.8 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 last season for the 49ers."

He also earned All State status this season.

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Jake Lieberman: "6’ PG Trey Knight out of Cal State East Bay tells me that he’s committed to Tacoma Community College. Held D1 offers out of high school."

Knight is out of Moreau Catholic High.

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Corey Tita: "Extremely blessed to receive A d1 offer from the University of San Francisco. Thank you coach plank and the rest of the coaching staff."

Tita is a 6-foot-3 2025 guard out of Washington.

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24/7 High School Hoops: "2025 Top-25 recruit Tounde Yessoufou tells LeagueRDY he’s hearing the most from these schools:

• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Arizona
• Texas
• UCLA
• USC
• Stanford

Yessoufou is a tough, physical forward who has been one of the top players on the NikeEYB through the first two sessions. A name to watch."

It will take something akin to a miracle but Kyle Smith landing the 6-foot-6 Yessoufou would be so incredible for the program, especially now that Stanford is in the ACC. Remember, school is important to the young man.

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St. Vincent de Paul College Prep Boys Basketball: "We are thrilled to announce Nick Iacopi as our new head boys basketball coach!"

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Jake Lieberman: "6'5 '26 PG Katrelle Harmon from Wasatch Academy (UT) holds interest from USC, UCLA, Arizona, Cal & West Virginia. 

Offers: Auburn, San Francisco, Seattle U, Washington, Washington State, Portland, Pacific, Bryant, Arizona State, Old Dominion, Illinois & Oregon State."

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Jake Lieberman: "Allen tells me that he’s taking a visit to Cal State East Bay today (May 7)."

A freshman, Kendall Allen is a 6-foot-point attend Harcum Junior College in Pennsylvania. 

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Jake Lieberman: "Thomas Tut out of Garden City Community College has taken recent visits to Idaho State & Robert Morris. The 6’10 sophomore who averaged 14.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32 games. He has also recently heard from Jacksonville State, UMBC, UMBC, San Jose State, UTSA, +.

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"If they don't go pro, elite basketball recruits are more likely to transfer than stay put

Congratulations, you just signed a ballyhooed freshman! Good luck keeping him around in the portal era"

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Jeff Goodman: "There were 22 Players of the Year in low and mid-major leagues this season.

• 10 exhausted their eligibility
• 3 went pro with eligibility left
• 8 transferred elsewhere
• 1 returned to his school

The lone player to return is Princeton's Caden Pierce."

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"YAP JR. SIGNS WITH MEN'S BASKETBALL"

Former Fresno State guard Donovan Yap has signed with San Jose State University. This is the Spartans first portal transfer signing.

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"West Coast Conference Adds Grand Canyon University and Seattle University as Members"

Seattle has been talked about as an addition for years.

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Jake Lieberman: "2025 guard Semetri Carr from Branson HS (CA) & Oakland Soldiers 17U EYBL tells me that the following programs are in touch:

• Michigan
• LSU
• Colorado

Offers: USC, Stanford, Wichita State, University of San Diego, CSUN, Washington, UNLV, +."

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Derek Murray: "2026 Justin Román (6’7 W) of the academy cfl & Jet Academy has earned an offer from California."

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The Division I Basketball (Regular Period) began on April 17 and concludes on May 15. 2024.

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