Potpourri, May 23

News Bits

"Texas Tech transfer Darrion Williams commits to NC State"

This feature covers Williams' strengths and weaknesses.

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Greenlight Media: "Jaylen Wells' journey to being NBA All-Rookie 1st Team is incredible.

➡️ 0⭐️ recruit out of Folsom High

➡️ Spent his first two years at Sonoma State (D2)

➡️ Transferred to Washington State

➡️ Drafted 2nd Round Pick 39 to the Grizzlies

➡️ NBA All-Rookie 1st Team"

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"TYLER JOHNSON JOINS FRESNO STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH"

Here's a Fresno Bee feature.

This will aid in recruiting.

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Mikey Ballout: "I am very grateful to announce my commitment to University Of Toronto. Thank you Coach Trivedi for this platform to continue my career. I want to thank Masie Mohammadi and Suhail Mohammadi for always being there for me to train at 5AM or until midnight. Thank you teamesface for cultivating my growth for the past 3 years. And thank you to all my coaches and mentors that helped me reach this goal. But above all, I want to thank God for bringing me closer to this moment day by day."

With the top hoops surname in northern California (Michael Jordan should have nabbed it while in the prep ranks), he is a 6-foot-3 guard out of Serra High and owns a 4.5 grade point average.

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Gavilan College MBB: "SIGNING DAY!!!✒️📄🎉 Congratulations Bricen Buciak!!!!"

The 6-foot-5, 205 sophomore out of GC and Christopher High is headed next to San Francisco State.

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Simply Basketball: "Jaylen Smith (2027) has received an offer from Weber St."

He's a 5-foot-11 point out of Amador Valley High.

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Team Arsenal: "2026 Guard Brayde Kuykendall (California HS) has received an offer from Santa Clara."

Kuykendall is a 6-foot-5 guard.

AND

Team Arsenal: "2026 Guard Isaiah Davis (Salesian HS) has received an offer from University of Nevada."

Davis is a 6-footer and weighs 165 pounds.

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Andrew Young Hilman: "Extremely blessed to say I have received Division 1 offer from the University of Nevada. Thank you to Loren Leath for believing in me."

Hilman is a 2026 6-foot-3 guard attending Archbishop Riordan.

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>Jaroslav ''JP'' Pihtov: "Blessed and thankful to receive an offer from the University of Nevada!"

The 2026 6-foot-9 Pihtov attends Archbishop Riordan.

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Cade Krueger: "I’m extremely excited to receive an offer from Cal State Dominguez after a great talk with Coach JP. I would like to thank coach JP and the rest of the coaching staff for believing in me."

Krueger is a 2026 6-foot-2 backcourter attending Amador Valley High.

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Caden Flowers: "Blessed to receive an offer from Stan State! Go Warriors"

The 6-foot, 175 pound Flowers is transferring from San Francisco State. He also just received an offer from Chico State. It appears he has one more year of eligibility.

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Jake Lieberman: "2027 PG Siincere Hudson out of Inderkum HS (CA) tells me that he's receiving interest from University of San Diego. Offers include Wichita State, San Francisco, Portland & Sacramento State."

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Jake Lieberman: "6'4 2028 prospect Lleyton Leonard out of Basha HS (AZ) tells me that he's receiving interest from St. Mary's & Arizona. Just offered by Washington. Cal & Arizona State have also offered. Averaged 13 points in EYBL Session 2 in Memphis."

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"Miles Byrd impacted both scrimmages in similar ways, mostly by playing to his strengths as a catch-and-shoot weapon, passer and defensive playmaker.

Despite a high-arcing shot that seemingly takes forever to reach the rim, he buried multiple threes in both games, much like he regularly did throughout the college season. He showed his vision from inside the arc on cross-court passes. But nothing stood out more than his defensive activity and anticipation.

He was fun to watch on that end of the floor, constantly looking to jump lanes and predict ball-handlers' moves. None of this was surprising, as he registered a wild 4.3 percent steal rate at San Diego State.

Byrd still seems more likely to wind up in the second round on teams' big boards. Whether he stays in the draft or withdraws will come down to personal preference and goals, specifically how much he cares about securing a guaranteed NBA contract and/or playing in the G League versus returning to be a college star making NIL money.

But Byrd clearly has an attractive NBA archetype as a three-and-D wing who can create for others in ball-screen situations."

Wouldn't know what direction to advise him to go but seemingly a lot of teams could use someone who will be a plus defender and can pop enough treys to require coverage. Late round one and you would know what you are getting. Coach Dutcher has to have been stowing away enough NIL $$$ to make Byrd's return attractive.

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Chabot College Coach Keenan McMiller has been busy:

"Gladiator basketball is excited about the commitment of 5’8 160 PG AJ Solanoy (Shasta Summit HS) Daly City, CA. AJ has a hi level skill set, IQ and is super competitive! AJ was 2025 league MVP adds more depth to the 2025-2026 Gladiator program."

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"Gladiator basketball is excited about the commitment of 6’3 185 G/F David Rodgers Jr (Redwood Christian HS) San Lorenzo, Ca. David brings a hi motor on the defensive and offensive end, above the rim athleticism, physicality, and versatility! David was 1st team All State Division 5 and adds more depth to the 2025-2026 Gladiator program."

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"Gladiator basketball is excited about the commitment of 6’0 170 PG Kamari King of Cleveland HS Los Angeles, Ca. Kamari is a 1st team All League, 1st Team LA city selection and CA Div 2All State selection! Kamari plays with tremendous motor, picks up 94ft on D and is highly skilled w/ the ability score and make plays at all 3 levels! Get ready for even more excitement in the 25-26 season!"

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