A 2015 SoCal guard being eyed by SJSU

From Joel Francisco: "2015 Brandon Smith (Santa Ana/Godinez) has UC Irvine, Utah, and San Jose State on his radar...this wing-type is on the rise."

He's a 6-foot-4 backcourter who seems on the cusp of blowing up.

Onwas coming to SJSU

Out of the Texas prep ranks, then two years at Narvarro College in the Lone Star State and one season at Utah, 6-foot-5, 210 Princeton Onwas is headed to SJSU, per Jimmy Durkin.

He was recognized for his defensive efforts and slashing ability last season but is not an offensive threat (4.8 points, 2.5 rebound a contest, 51% shooting overall, 20% from long distance, 42% at the foul line) despite exceptional athleticism. Onwas will be both a role player and a role model for defensive play and prowess -- something that is needed. Per NCAA regulations, he will have to redshirt his initial season at Washington Square.

 Here he is dunking over a defender in high school:

 

Spartans offer Blackmon

SJSU has offered a small forward out of Utah -- Utah Basketball Club: "6'6 2015 F Jarriesse Blackmon received an offer from San Jose State today. Congrats @Jayrriesse #UBCFam "

Montana and North Dakota have also offered the lefty thus far.

Blackmon averaged 17 points and 11 boards per game last season and is described as very athletic.

Here's a Bubba Brown-written article on Blackmon  from January of this year.

No Deonte Burton

Nevada's Deonte Burton wasn't drafted but Cam (New Mexico) Bairstow went 49th and Xavier (San Diego State) Thames 59th. No Alex (New Mexico) Kirk either.

Chris Murray writes about Burton who was hindered by his minimal shooting prowess from long distance..

Will Burton make The League?

Chris Murray outlines the pros and cons for Nevada's Deonte Burton vis-a-vis the NBA.

A Moses Omolade sighting

Noticed that former Spartan Moses Omolade is playing in the San Francisco Pro-Am this summer. Glad to see he is still in the Bay Area despite the debacle surrounding his eligibility.

Artis no longer pursued by St. John's

Adam Zagoria reports that St. John's has pulled out of pursuing Dominic Artis.

SJSU offers 2016 Terrell

A Josh Gershon tweet: "2016 Sacramento (Calif.) SG Christian Terrell picked up an offer from San Jose State."

Terrell is a 6-foot-3 backcourter with nice potential. Still a lot to realize.

Young with a San Jose State University offer

Via Earl Allen Jr (who is on the coaching staff at Sacramento High): "Sacramento High 2016 power forward Solomon Young has been offered by San Jose State."

Young is one of my favorite players, with a power forward body yet a sweet touch from outside. He still needs to add a dribble-drive aspect to his offensive arsenal but there's plenty of time. It's hard to see what could keep him out of the Pac-12.

A great step forward

From USC athletics:

USC will offer four-year athletic scholarships to all scholarship student-athletes in the revenue sports of football and men's and women's basketball in lieu of the current practice of offering one-year renewable scholarships, USC Athletic Director Pat Haden announced today. 

Haden said this policy will be effective July 1, 2014, for all current and future scholarship student-athletes in those sports. 
    
"In taking this action, USC hopes to help lead the effort to refocus on student-athlete welfare on and off the field," Haden said.

Haden also reaffirmed the university's commitment to assist those scholarship student-athletes in good academic standing that have exhausted their intercollegiate eligibility to obtain their undergraduate degrees. USC has assisted more than 250 former student-athletes with undergraduate degree academic support over the last decade.

The last Colorado State departure is the one that hurts

Miles Blumhardt at The Coloradoan isn't feeling it for Colorado State basketball after the latest player departure. This is a very interesting read.

Greater attendance -- worse season

Geoff Grammer tweeted: "Think Utah St liked being in MW over WAC? Amid one of worst hoops seasons in years, 1,893/gm attendance increase was 6th best in nation"

Artis connected to three Bay Area destinations

From Matt Prehm:

"Former Oregon point guard Dominic Artis has been tied to schools located in the Bay Area after being dismissed from the Oregon basketball program earlier this spring. Now Artis is also considering St. John's back east in New York according to multiple reports.

Artis will have to sit out the 2014-15 basketball season before becoming eligible as a redshirt junior the following season.

Cal, San Jose State, and San Francisco are also other schools being considered by Artis."

Artis would need to redshirt a season and then have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He had an excellent freshman year but a poor sophomore one. He was suspended for selling shoes early on this go-around and then there was that recent mess that caused his departure from Eugene.

Colorado State loses starting guard

6-foot-4 Jon Octeus, a starting guard at Colorado State who averaged 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2013-14, is transferring. He will graduate in July but with a season of eligibility remaining. Octeus shot 41%, 36% and 76% respectively, alongside 73 assists versus 39 turnovers.

Utah State gets a frontcourt transfer

6-foot-9 Lew Evans, out of Tulsa, Casper College and New Hampton Prep School (working backwards) , has signed with Utah State. In 22 starts last season, he averaged 5.3  points and 4.1 rebounds a game, shooting 34%, 26% and 58% respectively. 112 of his 183 total shots were from beyond the arc.

There was a coaching change at Tulsa which obviously played a role in the decision. Evans will have to sit out a season per NCAA transfer regulations.