News Bits
6-foot-7 Zion Sensley has committed to UC Santa Barbara. He's a de-commit from St. Mary's so he's going from the West Coast Conference to the Big West Conference, Randy Bennett to Joe Pasternack, suburbia to the beachfront. He didn't follow Justin Joyner to Michigan but maybe he couldn't. When he signed with the Gaels, he mentioned Joyner as a reason for his doing so.
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Brandon Bento-Jackson: "I will be playing my sophomore season for Coach Charlens and the San Diego City College Knights. Ready to work!"
It's interesting that he chose to go way south from Cal Poly Humboldt to play JC ball. Coach Charlens has a solid rep for the majority of his guys going D1.
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John Bynum Jr.: "Malcolm Steadman (San Jose CC) has committed to St. Mary’s University (TX). Steadman averaged 10.2 points and 4.0 rebounds last season for the Jaguars."
A 6-foot-7 lefty guard/wing who earned both All Conference and First Team All Defense honors this past season. Related to Michael Steadman? Both have Union City as a hometown.
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Derek Murray: "⭐️⭐️⭐️ Archie McFadden (6’2 PG) of NTChoops nightrydaselite has received an offer from California."
and
Derek Murray: "2026 Caleb Sanders (6’6 G/W) of NTChoops & nightrydaselite has received an offer from California."
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Team Rampage Basketball: "6’7’ Larry (Vacaville High) Lewis (2025) was a force at the Prelude League in Dallas last weekend. Controlled the paint, shot the 3 ball well, and has improved his ability to attack closeouts! Expect him to continue to improve as he will be with worldwidesully & Coach Chaney this Fall/Winter."
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T.J. Crumble: "Blessed to receive a Division 1 Offer from Stanford University🙏🏽 A special thanks to Coach Smith, Coach Wrobel and the rest of the staff."
Crumble is a 2026 6-foot-8 forward out of Cleveland.
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From a University of Northern Colorado press release on this year's signees:
Quinn Denker came out of Bellarmine College Prep, West Valley College, Cal State San Marcos, then Idaho
"In his single season with Idaho, Quinn Denker started all 32 games while leading his team with 12.5 and 3.7 assists per game. He averaged 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 84.4% from the foul line.
Denker posted his 2023-24 season high against the Bears in Greeley, Feb. 22, totaling 23 points on 8 of 16 from the field, adding seven rebounds and four assists.
"We believe he is a perfect complement to our returning backcourt and brings a ton of talent and experience to next year's team," Smiley said.
He amassed 15 or more points in 10 games last season, finishing the season 14th overall in scoring in the Big Sky Conference and seventh in minutes played. Denker joined the Bears as a current junior, with one year of eligibility remaining.
Before playing his junior season in Moscow, Idaho, Denker attended Cal State San Marcos, averaging 14.5 ppg and garnered All-California Collegiate Athletic Association recognition, helping lead his team to an NCAA Division II national tournament appearance.
Denker began his college career at West Valley College, garnering California Community College Athletic Association All-State honors and led his team to an undefeated league record and league championship.
What Head Coach Steve Smiley Said:
"We are excited to add a proven, talented player such as Quinn Denker to our roster for 24-25. Quinn was an elite player in our league last year, finishing Top-15 in points and seventh in assists per game. Most importantly, Quinn is an absolute winner who is hyper-focused on winning a championship. What he brings to any team is his leadership capabilities, his vocal presence on the court and his ability to connect with his teammates is impressive. We can't wait to start working with Quinn this summer." – Steve Smiley, UNC Head Coach"
and
(Isaiah Hawthorne is out of Tracy High, then USF)
"Isaiah Hawthorne spent the last five seasons at San Francisco, where he tallied 369 points, 178 rebounds, 46 assists, 41 steals and 22 blocks.
During the 2023-24 season, Hawthorne appeared in 29 games, starting eight, averaging 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds. He shot 43.3% from the field, including 30.8% from three-point range.
Hawthorne recorded a season-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 3-of-4 from 3-point range in 14 minutes of play against Mississippi Valley State Dec. 30.
He saw action in all 34 games during the 2022-23 campaign, starting the last 23 games; averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
What Head Coach Steve Smiley Said
"We're thrilled to announce the signing of Isaiah Hawthorne to our roster for the upcoming season. As we get closer to finishing the roster, we've been able to focus on what we still need after learning who is returning, and who we've already signed this spring. Isaiah has been a huge focus of our recruiting for a long time and he fits perfectly with his ability to play multiple positions as a big forward who is also highly skilled. He has been a part of a ton of winning at USF in one of the top leagues in the country, he's had awe-inspiring individual performances against some of the top teams in the country and he fits perfectly with how we want to play. Bears fans are going to enjoy watching Isaiah compete next year."
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Stanford Basketball: "Back in the Bay, ready to dial it up from distance."
6-foot-5 junior guard Oziyah Sellers, ex USC, highlights are featured.
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"Former Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins is scheduled to visit the LSU Tigers on June 17th, according to a source..."
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Transfer Portal For Playing Time: "TP Tape: UC Santa Barbara transfer center Mezziah Oakman is an underrated player in the Transfer Portal. The 7'0" big man redshirted at UCSB this year. At City College of San Francisco, he averaged 11.3 points, 6.8 boards, shot 63.6% from the field, and was MVP of the Coast Conference North Division."
He's also out of Mount Diablo High.
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Team Arsenal: "2025 6’5 Isaiah Ackerman (Aptos High) continues to show why he is one of the top players in Nor Cal."
Not much D1 level talent emerges from the 831 but Ackerman is real: size at 6-foot-5, grades at 4.0, aggressive to the hoop, accurate from outside, will defend and excellent at 'procuring' steals. His sister plays D1 hoops at Cal Poly.
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John Bynum Jr.: "Ahmad Artis (Mendocino College) has committed to Winona State University (MN). Artis averaged 20.9 points and 5.2 rebounds last season for the Eagles."
The 6-foot-3 guard sports a 3.8 grade point average and earned a full athletic scholarship.
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Sam Federman: "Ready to feel old? Stephon Marbury II has committed to Cal, per his IG. I believe he has committed as a walk-on."
Man, what happened to the passing down of those genes?
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Connor Amundsen: "McKae Amundsen follows it up with another big game in a win against Folsom to advance to the Championship v. Clovis West in the Nike Summer Shootout.
- 17 points
- 7 assists
- 5 rebounds
- 0 turnovers"
and
Connor Amundsen: "2026 PG McKae Amundsen with a MONSTER championship game performance in a 79-59 win against Clovis West.
- 26 pts
- 7 ast
- 7 rbd
- 7 stl
- 1 blk
- 1 TO
- 5/11 from 3
- 8/17 from field"
Connor has to be heading off to Dartmouth fairly soon.
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