Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) Coach Joey Curtin is in a unique position in having two of his recent frontcourters holding roster spots for the same position at San Jose State University.
6-foot-8, 245 pound power forward Robert Vaihola attended Fresno State as a freshman and finished with 1.5 points on 77% shooting from the floor plus 2.0 boards in 22 games while playing 6.9 minutes an outing. He then transferred to SJSU. (it's unclear why he left Fresno.)
In this past season of residence in Silicon Valley, Vaihola totaled 7.6 points plus 6.5 boards, in 20.1 minutes per game. He shot 71% overall from the floor. Vaihola is returning for his second season with the Spartans.
Also in this past season but in the prep ranks, 6-foot-6 Archbishop Riordan frontcourter Christian Wise (#22) earned Second Team All-WCAL honors. After studying his options, he cast his lot as a walk-on in the 2023-24 season with the Spartans.
Wise lacks Vaihola's strength and poundage (who doesn't?) plus the obvious experience but has decided to walk-on at SJSU as a power forward in his initial college season. He may be looking at transitioning to a three if his ball skills expand.
We talked recently with Curtin in inquiring about what Spartan fans will be seeing in Wise and here is what he said. "It's hard for high school seniors to get scholarships. You are competing with the world and first there was COVID, now there's the transfer portal." Wise transferred to Riordan as a junior from Heritage High in Brentwood. Curtin also mentioned that Wise started late in basketball due to participating earlier in baseball.
According to Curtin, Wise received D2 and NAIA offers this year but "he wants to play D1 basketball. So his possible path will be longer."
Asked about Wise's strengths, Curtin offered, "he's amazing vertically, finishing above the rim with his jumping ability and power. He's a shotblocker with tremendous fluidity as an athlete and a one of a kind dunker, the best I ever coached. Christian has been working this summer on his ball skills and jump shot."
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