Potpourri, May 6

News Bits

2024 NOR CAL SPRING SHOWCASE—Saturday May 11 at Chabot College

The 12th annual Nor Cal Spring Showcase will be held Saturday May 11, 2024 at Chabot College in Hayward. It will run from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Schedule will be posted on Wednesday May 8 at hoopreview.net.

This one is always a fun event and a nice hoops fix for those in the throes of a basketball withdrawal.

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John Bynum Jr.: "Jose Cuello (Sequoias) has committed to Southeastern Louisiana University. Cuello averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season for the Giants."

It's hard to believe he didn't receive a higher level offer.

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Portal Updates: "Houston Christian transfer Marcus Greene has committed to Hawaii. The 6’2” junior guard started 28/28 games played, averaging 15.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals. Greene shot shot 43% from 3 (61/143).

Greene is out of Archbishop Mitty. Don't know if he had any local/regional offers -- was hoping SJSU would be in the mix.

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Verbal Commits: "Former San Francisco F Isaiah Hawthorne is transferring to Northern Colorado."

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Jon Rothstein: "Source: Stanford is one of the primary options for Harvard transfer Chisom Okpara. Averaged 16.5 PPG and 5.0 RPG last season."

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"Aidan Mahaney will 'rise to the challenge' at UConn says his former high school coach"

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The Portal Report: "Chico State (D2) forward Adam Afifi tells The Portal Report multiple D1 & D2 programs have expressed interest, including:

• Cal State Fullerton
• South Alabama
• Tennessee Tech
• Bowling Green State
• Houston Christian
• Southern Indiana
• Cal State San Bernardino
• Black Hills State
• Gannon
• Cal State Dominguez Hills
• Chaminade
• Cal State East Bay

At 6’9, Afifi averaged 12.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 1.1 BKPG while shooting 46% from the field as an All-CCAA Second Team selection in 2023/24. Spent the 2022/23 campaign at Cal State Northridge (D1) making six appearances."

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Deundrae Perteete Jr.: "Had an amazing time on my college visit at Menlo College Men’s Basketball program! Thank you for the hospitality and great memories."

He is a wonderful young man who also excels in the classroom. I'd want him on my team. Attends Salesian Prep. Here's our earlier feature on Perteete.

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Ethan Kassel: "Miramonte has hired Mike Shaughnessy to be its next boys basketball head coach. He  was the head coach at Northgate from 2020 to 2023."

Great hire.

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Team Lillard Basketball: "Alvin Loving (2025) has received an offer from Yale University."

Just one question left: where do I sign? Loving in the Ivy League—yessir!

Here's our earlier feature on Loving.

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Hoop Scoop Media: "Portland transfer Cyprian Hyde has now also heard from:

•  Army	•  Cal Poly
•  Denver	•  Holy Cross
•  IUPUI	•  Northern Arizona
•  Marist	•  Penn
•  Southern Indiana	•  The Citadel
•  Cal State East Bay	•  Cal State Monterey Bay
•  Cedarville	•  Clayton State
•  Florida Southern	•  Fort Lewis
•  Ouachita Baptist	•  Seattle Pacific
•  St. Thomas Aquinas	•  Westminster

Intriguing prospect with all 4 years of eligibility left and a nice blend of size and skill."

He's 6-foot-11 235 pounds.

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6-foot-7 Portland freshman Tyler (Granada High) Harris has entered the early NBA draft in addition to the transfer portal. He won't be selected in the former (add a couple of more years and his dream might come true). Based upon a strong first year showing, he'll be mightily pursued in the latter if he still wishes to depart The Rose City.

Other Nor Cal ballers in the early NBA draft are:

• Duke's Jared (out of Sacramento) McCain is listed as a fringe lottery pick (going with in the first 30 but could end up picked higher.

Potential Round 2 Picks (or undrafted two-way contracts)

• Fardaws Aimaq, California, 6-11, Center, Sixth Year
• Coleman Hawkins, Illinois, 6-10, Forward, Senior
• Keshad Johnson, Arizona, 6-7, Forward/Wing, Senior
• Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco, 6-8, Center, Junior
• Zyon Pullin, Florida, 6-5, Guard, Fifth Year

Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5 p.m.ET on Sunday, June 16. Under NCAA rules, in order to retain college basketball eligibility, college players who have entered NBA Draft 2024 must withdraw by Wednesday, May 29. . The two-night NBA Draft is June 26-27.

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Jeff Borzello: "Arizona transfer Filip Borovicanin has committed to New Mexico, his agent Daniel Poneman told ESPN. Skilled 6-foot-9 soph from Serbia played in 20 games for the Wildcats this past season in a reserve role. Lobos beat out San Francisco, Kansas State and Boise State for him."

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Verbal Commits: "San Francisco and Wyoming offered 2025 Colorado Prep (CO) G Josiah Sanders."

Sanders is a 16-year-old 6-foot-5 point out of Colorado.

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The Portal Report: "San Diego forward PJ Hayes has received interest from the following programs:

•  Rutgers	•  Saint Mary’s
•  Virginia Tech	•  Seton Hall
•  Drake	•  Texas A&M
•  Temple	•  Saint Joseph's
•  East Carolina	•  UMass
•  Rice	•  Indiana State
•  George Washington	•  Winthrop
•  Illinois State	•  Idaho
•  NDSU	•  Oral Roberts
•  Miami (OH)	•  Toledo
•  Albany	•  High Point
•  Western Carolina	•  UC-Riverside
•  Utah Tech	•  Chattanooga
•  Portland State	•  Abilene Christian
•  Bowling Green	•  UMBC

Hayes is a 6-foot-6 small forward who averaged 11 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and 1.1 assists per game this season.

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