6-foot-3 Robbie Skinner transferring to SJSU

Robbie Skinner: "Gavilan down, On to SJSU!"

He is the son of former Spartan great Johnnie Skinner, who played from 1979 to 1983.

The son played high school ball at San Benito High and then two years at Gavilan College. He averaged 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2016-17.

Congrats to all

"100-Plus Student-Athletes, Coaches & Staff Celebrate University Commencement"

"May 28, 2016 -- From a family's first-time college graduates to bachelor's degree and advanced degrees recipients, more than 100 San Jose State University current and former student-athletes, coaches and staff are celebrating their academic achievements at commencement and graduation ceremonies through May 29..."

Ivo Basor 
Men's Basketball 
Communication Studies

Kevin Blunt  (a blast from the past)
Men's Basketball  


Sociology

Princeton Onwas 
Men's Basketball 
Communication Studies

Frank Rogers 
Men's Basketball                        
Communication Studies


Mike Van Kirk
Men's Basketball
Business Administration - Management

A good look at Nevada's team next season

"Pack's stock up on transfer market" -- Chris Murray

Geoff Grammer with a broad MWC overview of 2016-17

"Mountain West men’s hoops loses a lot next season" -- Geoff Grammer

Chris Murray going Miss Cleo on next year's MWC

"How the Mountain West will shake out this season/HOW THE MW BASKETBALL SEASON WILL SHAKE OUT THIS YEAR -- Chris Murray

It's a click-through article. San Diego State is first, Nevada second and SJSU 10th. He does have Frank Rogers returning which is an error.

"Dave Wojcik inherited a mess and has put up a record of 18-74 overall and 5-49 in the MW in three seasons. It's time for progress, which should come this season. Eight of the team's top nine scorers return, including the team's best player (Rogers) and two talented rising sophomores (Welage, Clarke). The Spartans' offensive was putrid last year but the continuity of this many returning players can only help. SJSU has finished last in the MW in all three seasons it has been in the conference but that streak very well could end this season. SJSU's basketball program has struggled for nearly its entire history. Breaking decades of a losing culture won't be easy but some progress should be made this season."

Nevada aka Ellis Island

No, Nevada Coach Eric Musselman doesn't have a second home on Ellis Island and neither is he credited for offering:

"...Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

But he has chosen wisely among the large number of college basketball transfers and now has four newcomers to Reno as Chris Murray writes.

Former Spartan Stan Hill into Kiwi Hoops Hall of Fame

"Basketball: Legends inducted in Hall of Fame at Basketball Awards" 

Excellence and outstanding achievements in New Zealand basketball were recognised this evening at the Basketball New Zealand Awards ceremony, held in Wellington.

Basketball New Zealand Chief Executive, Iain Potter, said the awards recognise some of the dedicated individuals throughout the country who embody the true spirit of basketball.

"Basketball in New Zealand is continuing to see strong growth, and that is partly due to the likes of those who support and love the game. Our Annual awards recognise the achievements of people within the basketball community, and individuals who help make our game better, stronger and so enjoyable to be a part of."

This was also the first year that Basketball New Zealand established the Basketball New Zealand Hall of Fame, which Potter says was long overdue and is why there were 14 people included in this inaugural year.

"We are building the awards each year and felt it was important to establish the Hall of Fame to recognise the history and prestige of our sport. If you look at the inductees, and read about their achievements and dedication, there's an impressive group there. In part, this is to recognise them, but also to invest New Zealand's basketball history and to tell that story for years to come..."

Hall of Fame Inductee - Player - Stan Hill

"Stan played basketball for New Zealand for 14 years, nine of them as captain. A high point of his extensive career was leading New Zealand to a historic victory over Australia in 1978 under the direction of Coach McKean. Hill played in New Zealand for several provincial and franchise teams, helping each to become national title contenders, and he also played successfully in England and in the United States for San José State. Hill was offered a chance to play in the American NBA, but opted for a club in England instead. Hill later turned to coaching after he returned to New Zealand, which included being assistant coach of the national team."

It's a click-through article but still worthy of seeing who will be at Nevada next season

"Player-by-player look at next year's Pack basketball roster" -- Chris Murray/Reno Gazette-Journal

Kenny Wooten looks iffy at this point.

Ed Uthoff's relative

Here's a young man with a familiar last name who CBS Sports has slated to go late in the first round of the NBA draft:

"Jarrod Uthoff, SF, Iowa: A skilled forward who can shoot from the perimeter and rebound sounds like something the Spurs might be interested in, and Uthoff is exactly that. He averaged 18.9 points and 6.3 boards while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range this season. The more scouts see him, the more they tend to like him. His so-called upside might not be the same as some younger prospects. But Uthoff definitely has the tools to play in the NBA."

He is related to former Spartan Ed Uthoff LINK

2016 CAL-HI SPORTS ALL-STATE ELITE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS FIRST TEAM OVERALL

"Boys BB: All-State Best of Best" -- CalHiSports

It includes:

F ­- Keith Fisher (Westchester, Los Angeles) 6-7 Sr.

The heart and soul of legendary head coach Ed Azzam’s L.A. City Section Open Division championship team, Fisher tore his ACL in the final game of his prep career – a loss to Bishop Montgomery in the first round of the SoCal Open Division playoffs. Who knows what would have happened if he didn’t leave that game in the first quarter? Before that, Fisher averaged 19.8 points and 11.1 rebounds and was named L.A. City Section Player of the Year. He work ethic and improvement also led him to being named all-South Bay by the L.A. Daily Breeze and to the L.A. Times’ 10-man all-star squad. He will play next at San Jose State.

Soto headed to SJSU

It would be as a walk-on and it's unknown if either party in the equation has any interest but 5-foot-9 Anderson Valley guard Cesar Soto will be a freshman at SJSU studying business administration.

Soto was the MVP of the North Central League 2 which consists of schools in and around Mendocino County. Besides basketball, he played football (running back) and baseball.

"Senior Cesar Soto leads the Panthers, on and off the field, Espinoza said.

Soto, at 5-9, 140, is a two-time NCL III most valuable player, as voted on by coaches.

“He can see the floor when no else knows what’s going on,” his coach said. “He can shoot, but he chooses not to. He facilitates.”

Soto leads a Panthers squad that placed five players on the all-league first or second teams this season.

While Espinoza doesn’t keep assist stats, if he did, Soto would be “off the charts.”

“He’s one of those guys every team has to prepare for,” he said..."

Another offer to a 2018 prospect

Verbal Commits: "2018 Salesian (CA) G James Akinjo has received an offer from San Jose State."

He's just 5-foot-10 but tough as a rusty nail and plays at Salesian College Prep in Richmond and for Team Arsenal in the spring and summer.

After the NorCal Select Basketball Camp, his AAU coach wrote this:

"James Akinjo (Salesian / 5'10 PG)- James Akinjo had a come out party. At 5’10 he was the most dominant player on the court. Tier 1 Court presence, craftiness, and tough defender as he picks you up 94 feet. Akinjo is a joy to watch when in pick n roll action. He separated himself and is a definite lock as one of the TOP PGs in NorCal regardless of class. Excited to see Akinjo matchup with other
Elite Guards for the next three Years." 

Guard Colin Slater, who is headed to Tulane, recently wrote this of Akinjo: "James Akinjo is hands down the toughest most fearless young guard I've played so far in California. Ferocious on both ends. Juss know."

As written about another Bay Area prospect offered earlier by SJSU, a winning record this coming season will be a must in order to receive serious consideration. Getting Akinjo would really bust open the door for some top Nor Cal future talents.

Offer out to 2018 guard

The NorCal Report: "#CoachRob's #3 2018 Naseem Gaskin (@GaskinSeem) has received an offer from San Jose St."

He's currently 6-foot-3 and on the slim side.

Usually don't post offers for 2018 prospects but this one is important on many levels. Gaskin has 11 attractive offers (no high majors to date) and comes from a storied East Bay basketball program. Landing him would create a seismic shift in SJSU's stature. But the Spartans will need to post a winning record this coming season and demonstrate even greater promise in order to receive serious consideration.

Who is on scholarship and who will be walk-ons next season

Andrew Pang/Inside the Spartans reached out and got the details of which players will be on scholarship and which will be walk-ons in the 2016-17 season for San Jose State University basketball.

Here's the link to Andrew's tweet on the subject

Here's the link at the Inside The Spartans basketball message board. It's the eighth message in the series.

Good work here.

"EJ Boyce on leaving CSI Men's Basketball"

Not much more to learn but there is video of Boyce talking about what he is being brought in to do.

Video Link

"TWIN FALLS, ID. ( KMV /KSVT ) EJ Boyce drained three's like no other at the College of Southern Idaho.

Now the redshirt freshman is taking his game to San Jose State after verbally committing to the Spartans.

Boyce will walk onto the team and given a scholarship the final two years.

"The coach has made it clear that he wants me to come in and play right away and play good minutes. They don't have a true knock down shooter so I will definitely have a good role I believe and a good opportunity," added Boyce.

Boyce averaged 9.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Golden Eagles in helping them to a 22–9 overall record. He also led the team in three pointers.

Boyce said, "I'm definitely am going to miss this place a lot. At the junior college level, I don't think there is any school better than here with all the support we get from the town. I will miss my teammates and the coaches and the support we get."

He starred at Rocky Mountain High School and played varsity his final two years after not playing sophomore year."

One more backcourter to the Spartans

6-foot-5 Isaiah Nichols has committed to SJSU. LINK 

Originally out of Oxnard (we won't hold it against him that he attended Santa Clara High), he played a prep year in Connecticut in 2015-16.

Here's some video.

The key to his signing appears to be his developing greater impact as a point rather than playing solely as a two guard while in the Nutmeg State.

From a February 16 article: "Isaiah Nichols, Avon Old Farms (CT) – The California native is currently a post-graduate at AOF and has gotten consistent looks from a variety of different levels. At 6-foot-5, he has great size for the position and is getting acclimated well after playing off the ball for most of his career to this point. He has the tools to make plays off the bounce as well as defend and is an improved shooter."

He tripped to Utah State last May but don't know if he was offered or not.

From 2015: "Unsigned senior sleeper lead guard has the size and skill level to play both perimeter positions at the next level and can really finish with both hands in transition.  Excellent passer has a smooth jump shot and is quick off the bounce to the cup.  Good student (3.0 GPA)..."

Ronnie Flores from last year: "The 6-foot-5 Nichols, a sleeper in the senior class who didn’t get much recruiting attention last summer before his senior year of high school basketball, added 13 points versus Compton Magic Red. He is an active rebounder and has solid form on his deep jump shot. UC-Santa Barbara has been active in the recruitment of Nichols and interest is picking up for him from the likes of Nevada, Utah State, CAL, Idaho, Cal-St. Fullerton, Cal Poly SLO, and Cal-St. Bakersfield."

Dinos Trigonis back in 2014: "Nichols is growing on me as every week passes.  Lead guard with size and a nice skill set has real potential to be a mid-major recruit."

An added bonus is that he is the second recruit out of southern California this recruiting year. SJSU is no longer shut out of that fertile recruiting territory.

The Wichita State to the MWC chatter

"Report: Wichita State approaches Mountain West"

Geoff Grammer: "If/when adding fb is valid, Wichita St's interest in Mountain West will be worth talking about. MWC's financial interests are all about fb."

SJSU brings in a walk-on shooting guard

 Michael Katz: "CSI coach @JaredPhayCSI tells me EJ Boyce has accepted preferred walkon spot @ San Jose St;Will be on scholly after 1st yr according to Phay"

EJ: "Officially committed to play basketball at San Jose State University next year."  

Boyce is 6-foot-1, 170 and played as a redshirt freshman this season. Call him a designated three-point shooter as 165 of his 174 shot attempts this season were treys. He averaged 9.6 points, shot 44% from long distance and was 10-14 from the foul line. Boyce posted a 33/13 assist-to-turnover ration which is very good if not prolific.

Ed Boyce, his father, is a longtime basketball coach and if memory serves well, was in consideration for an assistant coach position early on in the Wojcik tenure. He has previously assisted at Boise State.