News Bits
Remember 6-foot-7 Isaiah Pineiro? Born in Auburn to parents of Puerto Rican descent, he graduated from Placer High and then attended Sierra College for one year before transferring to Portland State. After a year in Oregon, he transferred again, this time to San Diego of the West Coast Conference and sat out 2016-17. That's going from the Big Sky Conference to the West Coast Conference yet he averaged 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in his initial WCC season, earning First Team honors. He repeated that status as a redshirt senior. Pineiro has primarily played overseas since college.
Pineiro has been named to the Puerto Rico Olympic squad that will begin play in Paris this month!
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Caden Flowers: "100% COMMITED."
That is to San Francisco State for the 6-foot-1 Yuba College guard who shot 41%, 41% and 76% in averaging 12 points and three assists per game last season. He is also out of Capital Christian High.
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Verbal Commits: "2027 Hamilton Heights (TN) F Jack Liu has received an offer from California."
Liu stands 6-foot-11, is from China but is currently attending a prep school in Tennessee.
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"(Zerrion) Payton Joins (Hawaii) Men's Basketball Staff As Director of Player Development"
"...Payton is the nephew of NBA Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton and the cousin of current Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II..."
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Team Arsenal: "Congrats to our guy Ross Williams on signing with the Detroit Pistons for NBA Summer League."
The 6-foot-0 Williams is out of Bishop O'Dowd, Menlo College, Colorado Christian and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
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Jon Rothstein: "Santa Clara returns 71% of its scoring from a 20-win team and adds (guard) Carlos Stewart from LSU, who was a first-team All-WCC player for the Broncos during the 2022-23 season."
Don't forget to note 6-foot-7 leading scorer Adama-Alpha Bal who returns from his dalliance with the NBA draft plus 6-foot-6 newcomer Elijah Mahi who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 state tournament which his West Valley College team won. WVC finished 33-0.
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Sean Cunningham: "According to sources, the New Orleans Pelicans have added Jordan Ford to their Summer League team in Las Vegas. The Sacramento native will look to land a roster spot after his stint ended with the Kings as a two-way player last season."
Don't know if this makes sense but here goes...Ford has NBA skills and smarts but is minus in NBA size and athleticism.
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nba draft point: "Memphis second round rookie Jaylen (Folsom High/Sonoma State) Wells today (July 9) in the win vs Philly in Summer League
- 27 points
- 6 boards
- 3 assists
- 9-23 FG
- 3-7 3P
- 6-7 FT"
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nba draft point: "Miami Heat UDFA Keshad (San Leandro High) Johnson today (July 10) in the win vs LA in Summer League
- 21 points
- 9 boards
- 3 assists
- 3 steals
- 3 blocks
- 8-14 FG
- 1-4 3P
- 4-6 FT
The wing from Arizona seems like perfect Heat Culture fit and seems to be the next Miami success story."
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Sean Paul: "It wouldn’t surprise me if the San Francisco Dons made a strong push for an NCAA Tourney bid. Three 9+ PPG scorers return (Marcus Williams, Malik Thomas, Ndewedo Newbury) + Ryan Beasley is a huge breakout candidate. Can’t forget about two transfers adds I’m a fan of — Jason Rivera-Torres, a 3-and-D wing from Vandy, and versatile 7-footer Carlton Linguard."
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"There is a chance that this year's Peach Jam champion could go down as one of the best grassroots basketball teams of all-time, Rob Dauster/Field of 68 writes...
... the Oakland Soldiers may actually be the favorite to win the (Peach Jam) event.
AJ Dybantsa is considered by most to be the best prospect in high school basketball. Not far behind him is Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026 and a current teammate on the Soldiers. They finished 14-1 and tied with Team Takeover, the reigning EYBL Champions, for first place in the Raveling Division.
Last year's Peach Jam buzz centered on the Class of 2025 and the 16U division. This year, all eyes will be on the older players and a potential Cameron Boozer vs. Dybantsa matchup with a title on the line..."
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Sean Paul: "Pacific is much-improved. Brought in a ton of talent, like Lamar Washington (Texas Tech), Elijah Fisher (DePaul), Jazz Gardner (Nevada) and Elias Ralph from Victoria in Canada. Victoria won 21 games at the USports level, and Ralph was among their better players. 6-7 with strong athleticism and shooting prowess. Could be a total steal in the WCC. I like his potential.
A lot of Canadian College hoopers are coming to America. I’d expect that continue. Some steals over there."
Still seeing UOP as needing a major influx of talent.
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Sean Paul: "Current WCC rankings for me:
- 1. Gonzaga
- 2. Saint Mary’s
- 3. San Francisco
- 4. Santa Clara
- 5. Loyola Marymount
- 6. Washington State
- 7. Pacific
- 8. Oregon State
- 9. Portland
- 10. San Diego
- 11. Pepperdine
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Derek Murray: "⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2025 Winters Grady of Prolific Prep & Jalen Green Elite has earned an offer from SMU."
and
Derek Murray: "Winters Grady finishes with 36 points & 8 rebounds, on 12-19 (6-9 3FG) shooting here in Rock Hill. Whew."
Out of Oregon, the 6-foot-7 Grady has come on exceptionally strong thus far in national and regional AAU play.
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Simply Basketball: "Myles Jones goes off for 29pts vs Indiana Elite! The national rankings will need a update soon with stellar play this live period."
Jones is a 6-foot-3 lead guard who is performing right now with the Jalen Green Elite and also plays for Modesto Christian High.
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Aaron Burgin: "Summer Cali Live Notes: 6-0 2025 G Kasen Krueger (Amador Valley) put on a scene stealing shooting performance for the Oakland Soldiers EYCL. Equally deadly off the catch & live dribble, Krueger’s range extends well beyond the college three, solid in pick and roll."
This from a scout based in San Diego.
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