News Bits
Would love to know what factor(s) led in his decision to play for the Coach Brad Underwood and the Iliini. Illinois is usually nationally competitive (fell off a bit this season) and maybe that played big in his decision. Also,he shouldn't have to carry so much of the load on offense.
Former basketballer Drake (Rio Americano High/Cal Poly) U'u is Ross' agent so, if you are an Illini fan, you love the Drake. Conversely, you hate the Drake if you root for the Bears.
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Jon Rothstein: "UConn transfer Aidan Mahaney tells me that he has committed to UC Santa Barbara."
Good choice but a bit lower level than expected. He needed to get this right since he'll be a senior next season. Starting shooting guard Cole Anderson is graduating as is fellow starting guard, leading scorer and top assist talent Stephan Swenson. Coach Joe Pasternack will utilize Mahaney appropriately.
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PortalUpdates: "Mississippi State transfer Adrien Myers has committed to San Jose Staté. The 6’6” redshirt sophomore guard did not suit up for the Bulldogs this season, and will have 3 years of eligibility remaining."
He's a backcourt big un as he combines his height with 210 pounds. Coach Tim Miles likes larger backcourters but it seems likely he'll play some wing. Myers redshirted this season after playing very little as a freshman. He's out of Virginia.
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The Portal Scoop: "Ryan Richardson point guard from Missouri State West Plains has heard from the following programs:
- UTEP
- Saint Peter’s
- San Jose State
- New Orleans
- Mercer
- Marist
- SIUE
- Omaha
- Marshall
- +More"
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Austin Mick: "6’3 Junior Sacramento State G Julian_Vaughns has heard from:
- New Mexico State
- Campbell
- USC
- UIC
- San José State
- Hawaii
- Houston Christian
- Denver
The lanky smooth Scoring Guard can score it from all 3 levels with craft. Very clean mechanics on his jumper, one motion release with a beautiful ball path. Really smart ghost screener and can read the closeout situations he creates well. Shoots off the catch and dribble: spots/relocations, side and step back 3’s, hang 3’s, dribble move pickup 3’s, snatches, under , pins, walk in, ghost pop and flare 3’s, pullback 3’s on ball screens, and is very good shooting off handoffs. Plays off the catch as a recipient a lot and is very good at it. Has the ability to create in space off a live dribble with a smooth handle with some hang to it, more compact with it. Good playing out of triple threat with jabs and jab crosses. Has rondo turnaround fade finishes and running floats touch or off glass. Veer bumps to create contact on ground. Loves the hurdle euro in lane to split gaps. Has the slow step finish. Has the stride stop swivel spin which he can shoot the mid off of. Can read ball screens/handoffs/off ball screens and has good rescreen cadence. Good at curling and hitting pockets, curling to get to floats, straight cutting for dribble 3’s, or bump fading for 3’s or rips baseline for mids or lays. Knows how to read screens as the screener slipping and as the one coming off the screen.
10.9 PPG | 40 FG% | 35 3FG%"
Vaughns is out of St. Joseph Notre Dame High, CCSF and University of Alberta.
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PortalUpdates: "Portland transfer Vukasin Masic has committed to San Francisco. The 6’5” senior guard appeared in 27 games, averaging 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Masic shot 36% from 3, knocking down 46 3-pointers this season."
Malik Thomas remains in the portal and this signing looks like his replacement. Masic is another biggie at 210 pounds. Out of Serbia, he prepped in New Jersey. This season, he started 15 of 27 games, shooting 42% overall, grabbing 3.2 boards per game. Masic finished the season with 89 assists to 39 turnovers.
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PortalUpdates: "Washington State transfer Marcus Wilson has committed to UC Davis. The 6’3” freshman guard appeared in 4 games for the Cougars before suffering a season ending injury. Will have 4 years of eligibility remaining."
Guard U also has two high school guards coming to town for next season. Not much to find on this young man but he did lead his Arizona prep school in assists as a senior, his sole year there.
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PortalUpdates: "Saint Mary’s transfer Jordan Ross has committed to Georgia. The 6’3” sophomore guard started all 35 games for the Gaels, averaging 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Scored 15 against Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA tournament."
Georgia Coach Mike White must have been impressed and still had NIL $$$ to spend. Thought Ross might head back to his home state of Utah.
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PortalUpdates: "Binghamton transfer Dominic Capriotti has committed to Pacific. The 6’3” redshirt sophomore guard appeared in 4 games this season, and has 3 years of eligibility remaining. Capriotti played at Houston Christian as a freshman during the 2023-24 season where he averaged 7.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and shot 38.5% from 3. Was also named Southland Rookie of The Year."
Seems like a solid pickup for the Tigers.
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Jake Lieberman: "2026 6’6 prospect Alexander Egbuonu from Lawrence Academy (MA) tells me that he’s in recent contact with Texas, Auburn, Marquette, Xavier, Stanford, Penn State, Alabama & Notre Dame. Texas extended an offer yesterday."
That's some competition.
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Jake Lieberman: "2026 6’6 guard Eli Jolin out of Fort Erie International Academy & Brookwood Elite tells me that he’s in contact with St. Louis, Princeton, Stanford, Arizona State, Rice, Vermont, Western Michigan & UAlbany. One of the top ‘26 prospects out of Canada."
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Jake Lieberman: "2026 6’6 prospect Ethan Mgbako out of Oak Hill Academy & Team Melo tells me that he’s receiving interest from Ole Miss, Princeton, St. Louis, Cal, South Carolina, Seton Hall, Illinois, +. Offers include West Virginia, Creighton, LSU, Florida State, Mississippi State, +."
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Verbal Commits: "Former Arizona State F Brandon Gardner is transferring to Sacramento State."
He's a 6-foot-8, 215 pound sophomore-to-be out of Georgia who first enrolled and redshirted at USC then enrolled at Arizona State and never played this season.
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Zach Anderson: "Blessed to announce my commitment to Sac State University! Thank you Coach Bibby and the staff for this opportunity. SacHornetsMBB! Thank you to my coaches at Scottsdale CC Curtis Millage for everything! Lastly, Thank you God! With that being said, GO HORNETS!!!"
Anderson is a 6-foot-3, 180 pound sophomore shooting guard. In 27 games/starts this season, he led his squad with 11.6 points per game, shooting 39% overall, a solid 39% on three-pointers and 72% at the foul line.
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"Sources: Shaquille O'Neal agrees to be Sacramento State's GM"
Shaq's son recently transferred in to play for Coach Henry Bibby.
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"UCF Transfer Mikey Williams has committed to Sacramento State "
At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, he didn't produce much as a freshman this past season -- shot 37.1% from the field (33-for-89), 28.1% from three-point range (9-for-32) and 80% from the free throw line (16-for-20) -- but was once a so-called phenom. "Williams became the first American high school basketball player to ink a multi-year deal with Puma. At the time, the prep phenom had more than 5 million combined Instagram, TikTok and Twitter followers." Here's an article about an earlier Williams legal situation.
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"Bucks' Damian Lillard to have surgery for torn Achilles tendon"
This is sickening considering he had just returned from a different injury.
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Trey Knight: "COMMITTED."
The 6-foot-1 former point for Moreau Catholic High is headed to a community college located in Alabama. He played this just completed season at Tacoma Community College in Washington.
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