Potpourri, Jun 14

News Bits

Portland Pilot's Men's Basketball: "Officially signed—welcome to Portland Mezziah Oakman."

Portland Coach Shantay Legans has himself a seven-footer. Oakman is out of CCSF and Mount Diablo High. He earned the MVP award in the Coast Conference North two years ago and redshirted at UC Santa Barbara this past season.

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Jerina: "Do all these guys in the transfer portal think they are that good? What are their numbers like 4pts 1Reb 27% from 3 3TOs and 1asst . Per game?"

Yep, and they are holding out for that call/text from John Calipari or Bill Self because either their Dad or their Guy told them it is coming.

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Evan Miyakawa: "In an age where you can't guarantee any player will be at your school for more than one year, there is a lot more certainty that an experienced transfer will contribute to your team than a highly-regarded freshman."

That has tremendously changed high school and even JC player recruiting this year.

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New head coach Brice Fantazia has signed a couple more players for his Modesto Junior College squad: 

"Excited to welcome 6’5 Guard Daniel Huerta of St. Mary’s (Stockton) High School to the Pirate family."

and

"Excited to welcome 6’1 Guard Peyton Nieman of Manteca High School to the Pirate family."

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Las Vegas Knicks: "2026 6’2 Guard Kayden Goss has picked up an offer from San Francisco. Goss is one of the 2026 class elite shooters. Goss is currently shooting 40% from 3 on the PRO16League Circuit on 5 attempts per game. Averaging 10.6ppg."

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Ethan Piechota: "Chase (Rawlins) is going to make a division one school look really, really smart in a couple of years. 6’6 with guard skill, plays bigger than his frame, can shoot it OTD and playmaker. Going to have a big July on the PRO16League."

and

Shanku Nair: "(Chase) Rawlins will then heads in July. Super under recruited at this point. 6'6 guard with great feel and just plays the game the right way. Lethal shooter with 3-level touch. Crafty/creative finisher off 2 feet in the paint, wins with handle, counters, and pace."

Much prefer the term under-recruited than sleeper as I don't think it's just semantics. To me, the former infers a player has been seen by plenty with the amount of interest/offers puzzling while the latter indicates not receiving a lot of views period.

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Jerina: "Shamar Jones is an impact player - competes, plays hard & can score the ball. Complete package … college coaches take note!"

The 6-foot-5 2025 Jones will likely never be seen playing HS ball since his HS is tucked away in nowheresville (but with 2,000 students???) so getting seen while playing for Lakeshow in the spring and summer is critical. He has a college ready body. Mid-majors who can never land a bluechipper should be following this young man. There are plenty of schools in Nor Cal who would benefit from his services but the transfer portal is packed with plenty of college experienced, you-know-what-you-are-getting talents. Jones' recruitment will be a fascinating one to follow.

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Verbal Commits: "2024 Tallahassee CC (FL) G Seth Jones has committed to Pacific."

The 6-foot-2 sophomore averaged 16.0 points per game on 42%, 39% and 72% shooting respectively plus 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

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Rose City Ballers: "6’9 2026 Jackson Flint is having a breakout spring. Hearing from multiple D1’s. 4.0 gpa. Coaches feel free to DM me." video of Flint

Looks like Coach Brandon White has a young good tall one.

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DIRECTED BY LPC HEAD COACH JAMES GIACOMAZZI AND ASSISTANT ANTHONY HASKETT

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New Phoenix Suns Head Coach Mike Budenholzer is expected to bring Vince LeGarza aboard soon as an assistant coach member of his staff. The 6-foot-9, 250 Legarza is a San Francisco native whose coaching bonafides are:

  • 2022-2023 – Milwaukee Bucks (Assistant Coach – HC Mike Budenholzer)
  • 2018-2022 – Utah Jazz (Assistant Coach – HC Quin Snyder)
  • 2015-2018 – Minnesota Timberwolves (Player Development Coach – HC Sam Mitchell & HC Tom Thibodeau)
  • 2013-2015 – Atlanta Hawks (Player Development Coach – HC Mike Budenholzer)

Legarza graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep and played at/graduated from Miami University in Ohio where he captained his team. He is the son of Mike LeGarza, a well known Bay Area hoops coach who is a member of the California Community College Coaches Hall of Fame.

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Verbal Commits: "Former Cal State Northridge F Kyle Frelow is transferring to Cal Poly Humboldt (DII)."

Frelow is 6-foot-8, 230. Here is the CPH school write-up on the signing.

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John Bynum Jr.: "Ahmad Jeffries (Columbia College) has committed to Bellevue University (NB). Jeffries made 107 three pointers and  averaged 14.0 points and 3.7 rebounds last season for the Claim Jumpers. 

Jeffries is also a factor defensively. Here is our earlier feature on Jeffries.

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Solomon Tucker: "Can’t explain the feeling."

The 6-foot-7, 200 Cabrillo College forward is headed to Catawba. He is out of Charlotte, North Carolina and that's the same state where the D2 school is located. Tucker is coming off a sophomore season which earned him All State as well as All American status.

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