If you’re into Schadenfreude, check out the Gael’s board.
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Crisis counselor needed in Moraga.
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I did. Indicative of fan emotional overreaction.
As Patty notes the whole ‘local boy makes good’ adds salt to the wound, a stab in the back. It’s telling that I have a more optimistic view of their future than they do.
But as I stated above, from a basketball perspective I think they may be fine. And they have plenty of potential back court options to replace Mahaney. They may mostly be young and unproven but a couple of them are bound to pan out. For instance, incoming Frosh Mikey Lewis is also a local Bay Area (Oakland) kid, 4 to 5 star ranked depending on the source. At some point transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa which has become a significant source of D1 talent.
SMC’s early season 2024/25 may mirror this season with some struggles as some of these young guys learn and figure things out but I caution against anyone, including this board, counting out the Gaels. Barring injuries to Augustus or Saxen or another key departure, the Gaels will be in the mix again next season, at least somewhere amongst the top 3 to 4 teams.
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I just jumped over to the Gaels board for the first time ever…I want to give a shoutout to the leaders and operational contributors of our board. Ours is clean, easy to read and navigate. That Gaels board is messy. In honestly made me feel nauseated with all the flashing banner ads.
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Mahaney played HS hoops at Campolindo, a mere 5 minute drive from SMC. He’s been in the same town for a long time. NIL $ aside, it could be that he was simply looking for a different experience…such as playing in an actual arena.
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Didn’t O’Neil go to American also?
London played a grand total of 30 mins over 7 games for Wake Forest. Doubt he mitigates the loss of Mallette and Ajayi but you have to start somewhere.
He did have interest from several power conf schools coming out of high school.
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https://x.com/verbalcommits/status/1780731776945856958?s=46&t=xEUmr_7uuY2KI9DKH3UukA
Walkon at Gonzaga
https://x.com/jonrothstein/status/1780980833559408781?s=46&t=xEUmr_7uuY2KI9DKH3UukA
Nebraska transfer Matar Diop has committed to Loyola Marymount
is LMU trying to build another run-and-gun roster, like Westhead did in late 80s/early 90s?
I find Carlos Stewart’s return quite fascinating. I was super disappointed when he left. I understood the pull to move back home, but I thought he had a pretty good thing going at Santa Clara and with Brandin moving on to the NBA, he was positioned to lead the team this year. I feared (and still fear) the influence that the NIL $$ would have on our beloved college game, and I assumed that that had something to do with his move as well.
With the release of the “wait out a year” transfer restriction and the acceleration of NIL funds, we are already seeing some massive changes to how schools and coaches construct their teams. You have to win the talent identification and development game, but now you also have to win on different levels to secure talent.
Because of this, I think Carlos’s return to SCU is another really great storyline for Santa Clara basketball and our coaches. Regardless of the X’s and O’s, it signals to recruits the quality of our program in so many ways.
Santa Clara is now a destination that is able to identify and develop nascent talent into NBA players (Jalen). It is a destination to gain needed playing time and get noticed if you are riding the bench at a big program (Brandin/Adama). And it is a destination with a culture and coaches that you genuinely want to be at while developing your game (Carlos).
In short, I think Carlos’s return is great for the Santa Clara Basketball brand – beyond his obvious talents on the court and in the locker room…
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https://x.com/draftexpress/status/1781051589613977928?s=46&t=xEUmr_7uuY2KI9DKH3UukA
Paulius Murauskas will transfer to Saint Mary’s, a source told ESPN. One of the top international prospects in his age group will team up in Moraga with Lithuanian PG Augustas Marčiulionis.
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It was fun to enjoy the SMC demise while it lasted. 
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Although they desperately need some good news, this guy may be misplaced optimism. How good can he be if he didn’t even PLAY in over a third of their games?
He was pretty good in the FIBA U-18 tournament. Don’t forget, Adama didn’t really have a role either.
Neither did Podz!
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Murauskas appears to be pretty good 3pt threat…14/27 - 52%. Limited sample size in limited minutes but the rate / min is pretty high. 6-8 forward. Bennett probably looking to him to replace Joshua Jefferson.
And at Portland…6-8 frosh forward Tyler Harris is in the portal. Another blow to Portland and Legans. Harris was All-WCC Freshman Team. Pretty talented and athletic 3/4 tweener and a Bay Area kid (Newark).
https://x.com/portal_updates/status/1781899106530517295?s=46&t=xEUmr_7uuY2KI9DKH3UukA
San Jose State transfer Myron Amey has committed to LMU
Pepperdine transfer Jevon Porter has committed to LMU
https://x.com/portal_updates/status/1782474120803860583?s=46&t=xEUmr_7uuY2KI9DKH3UukA
It’s very surprising to me that a Power Conf school didn’t throw a bunch of NIL $ at Porter. 6-11 athletic and skilled forward who can hit the 3 with a family NBA pedigree…those guys don’t grow on trees.
Clearly Romar being at LMU made a huge difference and Romar is very close to the Porter family. But one also has to wonder if the legal issues and bad publicity associated with Porter’s family of late impacted interest from other schools…one his older brothers. Jontay. was just banned by the NBA for illegal betting and another brother, Coban, was just sentenced to 6yrs in prison for killing a woman in a drunk driving accident. A rough month in the Porter household.
Amey led SJSU in scoring, rebounding (impressive for a 6-2 guard), steals and made 3’s (on 36% shooting). He’ll do a good job of replacing what LMU lost with Dom Harris transferring out.
LMU is building (or rebuilding) a decent roster.
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