Looks like we signed our first recruit of the 2026 cycle - and some on this board will be pleased to see that he is from Northern California!
https://x.com/brayde_3/status/1932180590499111324?s=46&t=PXTiTKoGV0aVfWCl4sMW5Q
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Good to get a local kid. I’m not one who thinks that SCU should prioritize local over “best,” but having Bay Area players helps bring in a different level of attention that’s positive.
The real point of interest, in my opinion, is that this is a pretty early commitment by SCU’s standards. Longcor committed last June, so it’s not crazy early. But in this era of scouring for transfers over frosh, earlier commitments (potentially) speak to a different level of confidence in a young player’s trajectory. And at 6’4" with a handle, and probably still growing a little, he certainly fits the Sendek prototype.
Welcome!
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I’m not sure if the data is available, but what do you think the percentage of early commits end up decommitting? I often see it publicized when it happens as it can be newsworthy for highly-ranked prospects, but I really don’t have any way to gauge how frequently it happens.
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Pretty low overall, I think. It’s not crazy, and SCU has had at least a couple through the years. Max Besselink, Theirry Darlan, and that New Zealander who never even made it to campus come to mind–though none was a standard frosh recruit.
I am sure that the infusion of money has made it more common, but I still think true frosh recruits are the most stable. Basically you only lose them if there’s a serious life change or they blow up in the summer to such a degree where Kentucky coaches are calling them. Short of that, I think a commitment like this is still pretty reliable.
A player like Noah Badibanga is more of a flight risk, in my opinion, since he’s coming across the globe, dealing with culture and language shock, and is used to being a pro or semi-pro without student obligations. Plus there’s a pro team waiting for him at basically any point, so he has to be sold on SCU being able to launch him in a meaningful way and may depart if that’s in question (a la Willie Caruso).
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I recall watching with ebullient glee as Keating signed McCarthur (De La Salle, East Bay Player of the Year), Rob Garrett (Sac. HS, with some high major interest) and Yannick Atanga (SoCal boarding school), since I thought we were getting back to some California based recruiting which broadly speaking had worked well across the decades.
That, of course, more or less all came to naught. I still like having a few local guys. I might feel more strongly if USF/SMC/Cal/Stanford were all winning a lot with tons of NorCal kids, but broadly speaking they really don’t.
Also, was the best that Kuykendall’s high school in San Ramon could do in (checks notes) 1973 (!!!) was come up with the name “California High School”? That’s pretty lazy.
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I believe Keating had a commitment from Paul George at one point and he obviously ended up decommitting.
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You’re right, he did. According to different accounts, he didn’t come because of admission issues, or was “poached”by Pepp coach Vance Wahlberg (who then lost him to Fresno State), or just changed his mind. I think it was Keating’s first season, which featured Trasolini, Kevin Foster, and James Rahon (who transferred after his freshman year) as secured recruits.
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Are we going to end up with 10+ SG/SF guys on the roster every year? 
Welcome, Eli!
@buckets – yes, this has definitely become Sendek’s prototypical recruit – 6’5" to 6’7" with some handle and ability to play positions 2 through 4. While it’s kind of funny, the track record is actually pretty stellar: Keshawn Justice, Jalen Williams, Brandin Podziemski, Adama Bal, Tyeree Bryan, Elijah Mahi are all in that SG/SF mold from just the past 5 seasons.
Normand and Badibanga are the next up in that category for this season, alongside Mahi. KJ Cochran and Bradley Longcor are both listed on the roster as 6’4" but look pretty strong and may be functional at the wing though likely not in the front court.
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https://x.com/simplyy_bball/status/1943073270762475985
Some footage of Bronco 2026 commit Brayde Kuykendall. I can see why the staff likes him. High motor, disruptive, not afraid of contact.
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