They were a totally different (much lesser version) team without Jefferson - huge loss
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Forbes is out of eligibility and Saxen seems to be 50/50 on returning vs going pro (and losing Jefferson might tip the scales). The Gaels may really be working to rebuild their front court next season. I trust Bennett to put a good team on the floor, so I’m far from declaring the death of SMC. But that does hurt SMC in a meaningful way for now.
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SJSU’s Alvaro Cardenas is in the portal after all. He has to be target #1 for Santa Clara. He’s already down the street, probably a bit under-the-radar for big time programs, and fits SCU’s main need of a guard who can dribble penetrate with high assists/low TOs.
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AGREED. Cardenas’ style of play would complement our squad well.
2.1 TO/gm while playing over 35 min/gm is a very good number for a point guard.
He is from Granada, Spain - perhaps was inspired by Rubio? Assuming Bal sticks around, we’ll have France, Germany, UK, and Spain covered on our Euro bingo card.
I just don’t want to get my hopes up. Here’s to hoping BK makes a full recovery this off-season.
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Would love land Cardenas. Someone to captain the ship on offense and keep things running smoothly.
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Cardenas is a junior, so I think he would just have one year with the Broncos. I like him, but I would pass.
If Bal comes back, that’s fine. One year is all you’re guaranteed in today’s game.
I’m fine with only one year from Cardenas. The need at PG is critical IMO, can’t be too picky.
While Knapper’s injury didn’t sound significant, I assume he at least needs a clean-up surgery. And even more modest cartilage injuries can be tricky for a high level athlete…on-going swelling, fluid build-up, etc. all a risk. Even worse for point guard who relies on his quickness, lateral movement and change of direction.
Maybe Hammond can develop in to the man but that’s TBD.
And a year from Cardenas buys time until we can find a longer term option.
Just my opinion.
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WSU point guard Myles Rice entered the portal. Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
I doubt we have a chance to land him. I’m sure Smith is trying to lure him to Stanford.
I agree. My platonic ideal is for the whole team to start and end their careers at SCU like Justice, Vrankic, Tongue, Brownridge, etc. But that’s not the game now and really hasn’t been for at least 10-15 years, though the paradigm has shifted to transfers in a huge way in the past 5 years. So if Knapper or Hammond can be the guys, by all means, develop them and hand them the keys. Knapper felt like the steadiest player on the floor at times, especially versus Gonzaga. Hammond was the biggest bright spot in a third ugly loss to SMC. So the potential is there for one or both to be the guy.
But Knapper’s injury may take time to heal, and Hammond looks like he can probably shift to the 2, if needed. Bal is really the only clear 2 guard with Bryan, Mahi, and Ensminger all better classified as wings. So bringing in a PG serves the need to, at worst, hedge for if Knapper needs a longer recovery on-ramp or the PG role isn’t a perfect fit for Hammond. A guy like Cardenas fills that role nicely.
I also haven’t given up on Ensminger being the guy who initiates the offense, even if not styled as a PG. But bringing on a PG who’s a capable scorer himself mitigates Ensminger’s major downside in that he’s not a big scorer and usually needs to be paired with 4 guys who can find the hoop.
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Precisely.
Hammond can have a role without necessarily being a PG. Most of the HS video I saw of him showed him playing off the ball and draining 3’s.
And as you suggest, most guys these days aren’t going to be here for 4 (or 5 years), Vrankic and Justice (and now Tongue) are the exceptions.
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Good points guys. I will also add that in the tournament game I watched of Mahi, Yosh had him bringing the ball up, especially in against late game pressure. He’s quite capable. Oddly, Mahi prefers his left hand for his control dribble even though he’s right handed.
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https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1773875832496222378
Former Top 50 National Recruit.
6’8" guard - sounds very Ensminger-like
It’s early and I suspect we’ll see another outbound transfer but on paper we only have one scholarship spot available…Kosy’s spot. If that holds, I would rather we focus a true PG or at least a strong ballhandler, combo guard type.
From a depth chart perspective we have 6 posts (Tilly, O’Neil, Tongue, McEldon, Oboye, Graves) and 4+ wings (Bal, Bryan, Mahi, Ensminger) plus Hammond can play the 2 and O’Neil the 3. A true guard seems an obvious need.
Griffiths…we’re the only non-Power conf school mentioned and the only from Rockies west. East coast kid, might be hard to get him to come this far. Imagine we’re giving him the: ‘You could be Podz’ sale pitch…highly rated recruit, at Power conf school, played some but not consistently.
I think the air just came out of the tires of Bill Carr’s contract with Heal leaving….3 winning seasons in eight years…
Wonder if others will follow Heal…
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https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1774890795755000189
Looks like Oziyah Sellers from USC will be visiting.
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From 24/7 Sports:Oziyah Sellers
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Sellers: Bay Area (Hayward and Modesto). 2 years of eligibility remaining.
5.2pts, 1reb / game in 14mins / game. 43% from 3. Low assists. Not eye popping numbers but a good shooter with decent length.
The more interesting question is why are we pursuing wings? Griffiths noted above, now Sellers.
As noted a few posts above, we already have Bal, Bryan, Mahi and Ensminger on the wing, plus Hammond can play the 2 and O’Neil the 3.
Either the coaches are just kicking the tires in case some decides to leave or they already fully expect someone noted above to leave. We’ll see…
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