News Bits
So who of any consequence remains unsigned out of Bay Area/Nor Cal portal transfers and who has departed and signed elsewhere?
Former USF guard and graduate transfer Malik Thomas is one and it's surprising he hasn't inked a deal as yet. The fate of guard Marcus Williams has apparently yet to be decided.
7-foot Christopf Tilly departed Santa Clara after three years and after his best season as a Bronco. Ohio State snapped him up. Santa Clara is also losing it top two backcourters so it looks like a rebuilding year in 2025-26, something unusual for Coach Herb Sendek.
St. Mary's/Randy Bennett rarely loses anyone to the transfer portal and that's currently true. By the way, Aidan Mahaney has departed from UConn and has yet to sign elsewhere.
San Jose State University has lost most everything due to graduation and the transfer portal. Robert Vaihola recently signed with Minnesota and guard Latrell Davis just signed with conference rival San Diego State. Guard Will McClendon remains unsigned as does 7-footer Adrame Diongue who sat out this past season due to a foot issue. 6-foot-1 freshman guard Jermaine Washington is the top returning scorer for the Spartans at 4.4 points per game.
It's a brand new program up in the state capital at Sacramento State with the hiring of Henry Bibby as head coach and he has signed the son (a 6-foot-8 power forward) of Shaquille O'Neal and well as a 6-foot-11 center transfer from UNLV. 6-foot-3 shooting guard Julian Vaughns has entered the portal with no signing as of today.
Pacific has enjoyed a bevy of comings and going and that will be presented on Monday as will Nor Cal talents who went to play elsewhere but are now in the portal a la Washington's Tyler Harris.
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Sam Kayser: "NEWS: Stanford transfer Oziyah Sellers has committed to St. John’s, he tells LeagueRDY. Sellers is a former four-star recruit who played his first two seasons at USC before playing one season at Stanford. He averaged 13.7PPG, 2.8RPG and 1.3APG this season."
Can't blame Sellers. The shooting guard will be earning a greater NIL $$$ amount and be contending for a national championship.
The Cardinal need a solid frontcourt scorer as well as at least one in the backcourt.
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Here's a shocker (because of the timing) — Joe Tipton: "BREAKING: Cal guard Andrej (Jesuit High/Stanford) Stojaković is entering the transfer portal with a ‘Do Not Contact’ tag, he tells On3sports. The 6-7 sophomore and former McDonald’s All-American averaged 17.9 PPG this season. Andrej is the son of former NBA Champion and 3x All-Star Peja Stojaković. Massive addition to the portal."
Why now? Obviously, the lure of (much?) greater money than he is receiving proved irresistible is a possibility. Maybe it sunk in that he wanted to be surrounded by a better 'cast' if you will? Did he want to play one position and that wasn't going to be the plan next season, or two positions and that wasn't going to be the plan?
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The Portal Report: "Longwood (VA) transfer Colby Garland has committed to San Jose State, he tells TPR! Garland averaged 12.1 points and 4.4 assists per game this season!"
He'll be a more creative replacement for Will McClendon plus as a better shooter. A lefty, Garland can take a bump at 195 pounds and still get off a soft shot and he works the pick and roll well (whoever the Spartan centers will be should enjoy that). Posted a 140/62 assist to turnover ratio.
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Verbal Commits: "Former Central Arkansas G Brayden Fagbemi is transferring to UC Davis."
He's a 6-foot-1, 170 pound point who has taken quite the intriguing academic route, having started out at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and then transferring to University of Central Arkansas and now at Davis. He earned Region Rookie of the Year honor after averaging 13.4 points per game as a starter with JHU. At UCA, he averaged 11.4 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds alongside 46 steals. His shooting accuracy dropped some this year in his move from D3 to D1. And yes, his academics aren't a worry.
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Jonathan Givony: "NEWS: Villanova transfer Sasha Gavalyugov has committed to Santa Clara, his agent Deirunas Visockas told ESPN. The 19-year old Bulgarian point guard averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists at last summer's FIBA U18 European Championship Division B."
A 6-foot-2 backcourter out of Bulgaria, he played in just four games in 2024-25 due to injury.
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Sam Kayser: "2026 5⭐️ Christian Collins is hearing the most from these schools, he told LeagueRDY:
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Texas
- USC
- Villanova
- Cal
Collins is one of the top overall players in the ‘26 class and is primed for a huge summer. #7 in the ESPN60."
That's some tough competition.
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Jake Lieberman: "6'9 forward Moustapha Loum out of Frank Phillips College (Juco) tells me that Cal State Bakersfield, Morehead State, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Cal Baptist, Wagner, VMI, Mercyhurst, Northwestern State & New Orleans are in his recruitment. 4.7 points & 3.5 rebounds."
His numbers were much better in the first half of the season -- don't know why the tailspin? The Frenchman by way of Senegal is on the slim side at 200 pounds but SJSU desperately needs height. Loum would also fill a need up in Sacramento with Coach Henry Bibby. In 33 games, 13 starts and 16 minutes a contest, he shot 55% on 109 attempts and also 55% with his free throws. He has three remaining years of eligibility.
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UC San Diego Men's Hoops: "Thrilled to welcome Daniel and Rich to staff! Both bring prior head coaching experience to La Jolla."
Both have NorCal roots and Bay Area head coaching experience.
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