Rising Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball sophomore Bryce Wills has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team Training Camp.
Wills, a regular starter for the Cardinal as a freshman, is one of 34 athletes selected for the training camp, set for June 15-18 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Following training camp, a 12-member roster for the 2019 USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team will be selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee. The USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team will compete in the FIBA World Cup in Greece in June.
Wills, the youngest player in the Pac-12 and seventh youngest player in Division I this past season, started 23 of 30 games in his first year on The Farm. He averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game overall, increasing those averages to 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists from the guard spot during Pac-12 action. He scored in double figures in seven Pac-12 games. He scored four of his 11 points in the final 14 seconds, including the go-ahead basket in the final seconds, in Stanford’s 79-76 win over USC at Maples Pavilion. A couple days later, he scored 10 points in 17 minutes in the win over UCLA to complete the home sweep of the Los Angeles schools. Following the season, he was the recipient of Stanford’s Roy Young Toughness Award, recognizing an individual for giving the extra effort on both ends of the floor.
As the recognized governing body for basketball in the US by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored 5-on-5 and 3×3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions along with the development of youth basketball.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — When Jean Prioleau was hired as the head coach of the San Jose State men’s basketball program, one of the first things he was tasked with was assembling a coaching staff. Knowing how important it would be to have someone on staff that is familiar with the area, one of the first names he went after was Will Kimble, an up-and-coming assistant coach at UC Riverside.
“It has to do with the locale at the job that you take,” Prioleau said on why he went after Kimble. “We are in California. San Jose is in Northern California and I needed California guys on my staff. Will is well-known in California, knows a lot of people and has really helped us close out a lot of guys in the state recently. He also has connections outside of the state too, and I’ve actually tried to push him to broaden his horizons in the recruiting world to try to reach outside of California, because we are going to have to do that here. That’s what I wanted in an assistant coach and that’s what I went after and got.”
Kimble joined the program with Prioleau at the start of the 2017-18 season and has just wrapped up his second season as an assistant on Prioleau’s staff. Tasked with coaching the bigs (forwards and centers), Kimble has thrived in his role because he has first-hand experience at what it takes to play the position. He started his college career at Pepperdine as a center and led the team to the NIT in his first year and the NCAA Tournament in his second year.
“I think he’s done a great job at developing and working the guys out,” Prioleau said. “He shows them different paths in terms of what they need to be looking for during the game and runs individual workouts to help them become better players. He really just helps them mentally as well, because he was a big guy in college, so I think that helps as well.”
When a new coach and coaching staff are brought in, there are some kinks to work out at the beginning, but Prioleau feels that Kimble is the type of person that was able to grasp the system early on and help make the transition as smooth as possible.
“A large part of it was just getting used to the system,” Prioleau said. “Every assistant coach has a system or a way they’d like to do things when they become a head coach. Some assistants go around to different programs and bounce around, and don’t know or haven’t absorbed all the information that they needed to going from one coach to another, but I think Will has grasped what we are trying to do and that’s a sign that he knows where we are trying to go with this program. He also has his own thoughts on that as well and brings good thoughts to the table.
“I think the first year everyone was just learning me,” Prioleau continued. “What I want, what I’m trying to do, and what we are trying to do as a whole. I think Will has done a great job of trying to be the best that he can be for me and the program.”
After two years as Prioleau’s lead assistant, Kimble will be tasked with an even bigger role moving forward as he has taken over the role of lead recruiter. He has done well in that role so far. He landed two 2019 recruits in just a few days in forwards Eduardo Lane and Ralph Agee. Both players will join recruits Omari Moore and Richard Washington.
“He’s taken on some more responsibilities in scheduling and recruiting. He’s really spearheaded the recruiting,” Prioleau said. “The last two years, I’ve kind of let everyone get involved with recruiting and have a say, but now he’s really taken control of it and has a say, and he’s going to be the head guy in terms of recruiting – who we are going for and where we need to go see them and stuff like that. Obviously I have enough confidence in him for him to be able to do that, and he’s earned that right.”
Overall, Prioleau is very pleased with the work that Kimble has put in in his two-plus years with the program. Kimble’s work ethic, natural ability to form relationships with players and ability to develop players on and off the court leads Prioleau to believe that Kimble is well on his way to becoming a head coach in the near future.
“Will has done a great job for us,” Prioleau said. “A lot of people don’t realize the things that he does. He’s got a great relationship with the players and understands the x’s and o’s of the game as well as the flow of the game, which helps me out a lot. I’m really pleased with his development. I want to develop him to become a head coach one day. He has the capability of doing that. I think all assistants aspire to do that, and I want that for all of my assistants. I think Will has tried to embrace all the qualities that it takes to try to be a head coach.”
Make sure heck out the video below to hear more about Kimble’s story in his own words.
In case you missed it, Stanford men’s basketball unveiled its 2019 recruiting class, which includes four standouts from California, Minnesota and Kansas. Those standouts are point guard Tyrell Terry (Minneapolis) and forwards Spencer Jones (Roeland Park, Ks), James Keefe (Los Angeles) and Neal Begovich (San Francisco).
“This group of four represents everything that is right about college athletics,” Jerod Haase, the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball, said. “They are true scholar-athletes that come to Stanford with a plan to help the Cardinal win at the highest level.”
Terry, a 6-1, 160-lb point guard out of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, is a consensus four-star prospect and one of the top point guard’s in the class of 2019. He led DeLaSalle to the Minnesota Class 3A state championship in 2019, capping his stellar scholastic career with 19 points and 10 assists in the title game victory over Waseca.
Terry, who was named to the all-tournament team in 2019, completed his decorated high school career with three state championships in four seasons. The Islanders finished 21-5 this past season.
Terry was a finalist for Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball, the state’s player of the year award. He was also a finalist for the McDonald Award, honoring the senior player of the year by the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association.
Terry was an Associated Press First Team All-State selection, as well as a First Team ALL-USA Today Minnesota Basketball Team pick. He collected First Team All-Metro honors by the Minnesota Star Tribune and was a three-time Tri-Metro All-Conference selection.
Terry finished among the state’s scoring leaders with a 22.6 scoring average, while recording 7.1 assists per contest. He averaged 17 points and seven assists per game as a junior, guiding the Islanders to a 21-4 record in 2017-18. He also competed with the USA Select Team at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany and was a standout for D1 Minnesota on the AAU circuit.
Terry is ranked No. 75 by Rivals and No. 82 by ESPN. He’s the third-ranked prospect in the state of Minnesota by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports. He’s rated as the ninth-best point guard in the class by 247Sports, while Rivals ranks him No. 11 at his position and ESPN has him at No. 19 in their positional rankings.
“Tyrell is the consummate point guard,” Haase said. “He is an elite shooter and, more importantly, a leader and a playmaker on the floor. Tyrell continues to build his strength and quickness, which will enable him to compete at this level when he steps on campus. He is a true Stanford student-athlete, a high character person who is extremely intelligent. I believe he will thrive in this environment.”
Jones, who starred at Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Ks., is a 6-7, 195-lb forward. He had a breakout senior season for the Stags, where he was a finalist for the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association DiRenna Award, recognizing the most outstanding basketball player in the Greater Kansas City area.
He was also a Sports In Kansas First Team Class 4A All-State selection, First Team All-Eastern Kansas League pick and a Second Team Class 4A selection by the Kansas City Star. He led Bishop Miege in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg), steals (3.0 spg) and blocks (2.5 bpg), as the Stags finished 19-3 with an appearance in the Kansas sub-state finals.
As a junior, Jones helped guide Bishop Miege to a 20-2 record and the 2018 Class 4A state championship, earning Sports In Kansas Most Outstanding Player honors in the state tournament. The Stags won three state titles during his four seasons at Bishop Miege.
Rated one of the best prospects in the state of Kansas, Jones is a top-40 prospect at his position in the 2019 class by both Rivals (31) and 247Sports (39).
“Spencer fits in so well to our plans,” Haase said. “He is a tremendous scholar-athlete that has really blossomed late in his high school career. He is another member of our program that joins us after winning championships in high school. Spencer’s shooting, ball skills and versatility will be an immediate asset for our team.”
Keefe is a 6-9, 200-lb standout forward out of Loyola High School in LA. He was a First Team All-CIF Southern Section Division I pick and a First Team All-Mission League selection as a senior this past season. He guided the Cubs to the regular-season Mission League championship. Loyola reached the quarterfinals of the CIF tournament, finishing 23-7 this past season. Keefe averaged a double-double with 15.6 points and 10.8 rebounds his senior season.
A force on both ends of the court, Keefe also averaged 1.4 blocks. He ranked third in the Mission League in rebounding, eighth in scoring and led the league in offensive rebounds (93). The forward posted 16 double-doubles for the Cubs as a senior. He’s among the top prospects in the state of California and a top-100 forward nationally.
Keefe’s the son of Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Adam and Kristin Keefe.
Adam Keefe was a consensus All-America selection during his standout Cardinal career from 1988-92. He’s Stanford’s career rebounding leader (1,119) and ranks third in program history in career scoring (2,319). Adam Keefe was the 10th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1992 NBA draft.
Kristin Keefe (nee Klein) was a four-time All-American volleyball player at Stanford (1988-92) and a member of the 1996 US Olympic Team. Both were inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. James Keefe joins sisters Caitlin and Michaela, who are in their fourth year on the Stanford women’s volleyball team. The program captured the NCAA Championship in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
“James will add a spirit that is contagious for our program,” Haase said. “He competes at a high level and his body is developing quickly, adding versatility to his skillset. While his family’s imprint at Stanford is certainly legendary, I know James will make his own presence felt in a unique and important manner.”
Begovich, a 6-9, 220-lb forward out of St. Ignatius College Prep in SF, was the 2019 San Francisco Examiner Senior of the Year. The standout was also a San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro selection, a Bay Area News Group All-Area pick and a San Francisco Examiner All-City selection this past season. He was named Most Valuable Player of the San Francisco City Basketball All-Star Game and was selected to the Bay Area team for the All-NorCal Games.
Begovich, who helped lead St. Ignatius to the West Coast Athletic League title as a junior, earned All-West Catholic Athletic League honors his senior season, averaging a double-double. The Wildcats reached the CIF Central Coast Section quarterfinals this past season. Begovich was the recipient of the Hank Luisetti Scholar-Athlete Trophy at the San Francisco High School Awards Banquet in May. He played for the Oakland Soldiers on the AAU circuit.
Neal Begovich joins his older brothers, Daniel and Joseph, at Stanford. Daniel is also a member of the men’s basketball program. Their late father, Dan, played college basketball at Cal in the 1970s.
“Neal’s combination of size and shooting ability will be welcomed in our program,” Haase said. “His achievements in basketball and in the classroom continue to be recognized, as he was recently presented with the Hank Luisetti Scholar-Athlete Trophy at the San Francisco awards banquet.”
The four-member Class of 2019 follows consecutive top-20 recruiting classes for the Cardinal in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
ShotTracker, the revolutionary sensor-based system that delivers real-time statistics and analytics to teams, fans and broadcast networks, today announced it has partnered with the Mountain West to provide basketball data tracking and analytics services during all conference basketball games through the 2023-24 season.
ShotTracker will install its system across 23 practice and game facilities at all 11 MW schools for both men’s and women’s basketball programs. Each student-athlete will wear a ShotTracker player sensor and use the ShotTracker-enabled version of their school’s basketball provider. The sensors track player and ball movement in real time, providing MW programs with 70+ unique statistics. This provides the MW with access to instantaneous data that no conference has unilaterally had access to before.
The MW and ShotTracker worked together during select 2018-2019 regular season basketball games and the Air Force Reserve MW Men’s Basketball Championship at the Thomas & Mack Center to test the technology. That pilot program enjoyed massive success, prompting the MW to become the first conference to integrate ShotTracker’s technology across men’s and women’s basketball programs for its conference games and practice facilities.
“The Mountain West prides itself on innovation and we’re proud to be the first conference to partner with ShotTracker conference-wide,” MW Senior Associate Commissioner Dan Butterly said. “Our coaches understand that real-time data, analytics and reporting are going to be invaluable for improving team performance. Our student-athletes will have access to post-practice and game analytics data that can help them better understand their specific performance and help them find ways to improve. Plus, Mountain West fans will, for the first time, have access to real-time analytics to better follow their favorite teams.”
Currently, the NCAA doesn’t permit the transmission of data to the bench during game play. The conference-wide partnership with ShotTracker allows the MW to submit a waiver request to the NCAA competition committee to get access to ShotTracker’s data and video on the bench during every conference game via the ShotTracker app. ShotTracker has been involved in testing for teams to provide feedback to the NCAA as it relates to a possible change to this rule. Bench access to ShotTracker’s team app could be granted to visiting non-conference teams who also approve the use of the system. This partnership uniquely positions the MW to help redefine the use of technology and instantaneous analytics at the NCAA level.
ShotTracker’s data is also provided to conference broadcast partners, offering commentators unparalleled opportunities to integrate these statistics into their commentary. During the 2018-19 pilot, MW broadcasts featured real-time shot charts, player spacing and ball movement metrics, as well as offensive and defensive trend comparison graphics that supported the announcer’s commentary live and during replays — all with sub-second latency.
The MW partnership represents the next monumental step for ShotTracker to revolutionize the sport and become as integral to basketball facilities as WiFi is to coffee shops.
“It is incredibly exciting getting to work with conferences like the Mountain West that recognize and understand ShotTracker’s vision for how it can overhaul sports,” ShotTracker president and co-founder Davyeon Ross said. “We’re proud to provide teams with unparalleled game and practice data while also giving their fans an enhanced viewing experience.”
This is the latest example of the MW’s commitment to innovation. In September 2006, the MW became the first conference to launch its own 24/7 linear television network, The Mountain West Sports Network, also known as The MTN. The conference also was the first to work with DVSport to design and implement the basketball instant replay system that is now utilized in the NCAA Tournament and across the nation. In 2003, the MW became one of the first college basketball conferences to sign with Precision Timing Systems.
“The Mountain West continues to stand out for being a pioneer in adopting the latest cutting-edge technologies,” Ross added. “As the sports world continues to embrace technology, ShotTracker and the Mountain West have set a new standard for what teams and fans can expect for the speed and detail of basketball player tracking data. We know other conferences will soon follow their lead to ultimately increase on-court performance through our technology.”
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball has signed Eduardo Lane and Ralph Agee as part of their 2019-20 class, SJSU head coach Jean Prioleau announced on Tuesday.
Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB
Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB
“I’m excited to have Eduardo and Ralph join the program,” Prioleau said. “They are a couple of big guys that will give us some size and depth up front, and I feel that both can make a big impact for us next season.”
Lane averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 30 appearances last season with Marshalltown, a community college in Marshalltown, Iowa. The forward drew 15 starts and tallied 14 games of double digit scoring, including a stretch of eight-straight games in which he averaged 15.5 points. He topped the 20-point plateau twice, including a season-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting against Kirkwood on November 28.
The 6-foot-10 prospect also played his freshman season at Marshalltown, averaging 5.5 points in 23 appearances. Lane played high school basketball at Capinas High School in Campo Grande, Brazil, where he was born and raised.
“I’m looking forward to joining San Jose State and am excited about the new changes and challenges of going there to play in the Mountain West,” Lane said. “It’s a new team, new coaches, new experiences and new everything. I’m thankful for the opportunity that Coach Prioleau has given me to become a Spartan.”
Agee joins the Spartans after spending his sophomore season at East Los Angeles College, where he helped lead the South Coast Conference champions to a 24-5 record and clinched the second seed in the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional.
A 6-foot-9 forward, Agee appeared in all 29 games at ELAC last season while drawing five starts. He had one of his best games against Mesa Community College, finishing with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. In the final regular season game of 2019 against LA Trade Tech, Agee chipped in 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench to help the Huskies clinch the conference title.
“Ralph provided ELAC with physicality and toughness at the power forward position,” ELAC head coach John Mosley said. “He is athletic, has a great motor and plays inspired. He is loved by his teammates and campus community here at ELAC. He still potentially ha a high ceiling and should have an immediate impact for the Spartans in the Mountain West.”
Prior to ELAC, Agee played his redshirt freshman season at CSU Dominguez Hills, where he started 11-of-30 games played, averaging 4.9 points and just under 3 rebounds per game. He tallied 14 blocked shots and had double-digit rebounds twice. His best game came on November 11, 2017 as he dropped 24 points against Holy Names.
“I’m happy to be a Spartan and do what I need to do to help my team win,” Agee said. “Coach Prioleau, Coach Kimble and the rest of the coaching staff treated me like family and showed me how good the program fits my family and me. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.”
Agee played his school ball at Silverado High School and is a native of Victorville, California.
Lane and Agee are the third and fourth members of the 2019-20 class, joining Omari Moore and Richard Washington. Both have two years to play at SJSU.
It may be the offseason for the Stanford Cardinal, but the prestigious university’s football and men’s basketball aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Here’s a roundout of what has been going on in Stanford, Calif. this week:
Football May 1, 2019
Here’s what they’re saying about the five Cardinal players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft over the weekend:
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles Executive VP of Football Operations
“It’s his ability at the line of scrimmage to set defenders up. He’s very crafty and uses his basketball skills to box people out. He creates separation from that and he showed his athleticism as well at his Pro Day. This guy’s a good football player and we are happy to get him.”
Joe Douglas, Philadelphia Eagles VP of Player Personnel
“JJ is a great fit for what we do. His ability to go up and get the ball, his strength, his ability to separate and finish, his contested catches in the scoring zone. He’s just a highly productive guy. Really tough, really strong.”
JJ Arcega-Whiteside on “Why Stanford”
“It’s the best combination of academics and sports. We win the Directors’ Cup every year. I went on a visit and met Condoleezza Rice. I shook her hand and ended up working for her this past summer. There’s no other place like that in the country, where you can do that and still win 9, 10, 11 games every year.”
JJ Arcega-Whiteside on David Shaw
“He’s been here before. He knows the ins and outs. Coach Shaw, there’s a reason we win, because he knows what he’s doing. We watch a lot of Philly, watch a lot of guys because if you can learn from the best it’s going to make you better. Having the same terminology and schemes. Having Coach Shaw because he’s been here before, there’s a lot of reasons we win a lot of games every year.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts General Manager
“Any (line)backer we take we think can play all three (positions). Bobby can play all three. He’s 240 pounds. He’s a big dude with long arms. You’ll be hard-pressed to find two other inside backers in the league that have arms as long as (Darius) Leonard and Okereke. So he’ll get in and he’ll compete. And the best three (linebackers) will play.”
Chris McGaha, Indianapolis Colts scout
“He’s got the length, 35-inch arms. He’s fast. He ran fast (in the 40). I don’t remember the number exactly, but (he) plays with effort, kind of like Darius (Leonard). Instincts, tackling, sideline-to-sideline guy. He’s good in coverage, too. We kinda saw him in the same light (as Leonard). Can’t wait to put those guys together.”
Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins Head Coach
“Very talented. Unfortunately he had the injury. When you go by the board, he was ranked up there pretty high for us and he was available and we took him. Give him time to get better. Number one, get him in the building — get his rehab going on the right path which it already is, and the type of guy that he is — a team captain — I think he’ll be ready in no time. We just got the opportunity to draft a player with unbelievable production at a big time school.”
Michael Renner, PFF News and Analysis
“A handful of backs in this class rightfully deserve to have their ‘speed’ praised, but none of them have speed the way Love has speed. We’re talking legitimate angle-altering juice that doesn’t even need broken tackles to take it to the house.”
Connor Muldowney, Saturday Blitz
“Washington got one of the best steals of the draft and only needed to wait until the fourth round. This kid is a future NFL star.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Nick Caserio, New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel
“He’s a pretty athletic kid, a great kid, great traits, smart, mature.”
John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers General Manager
“He makes big plays in big moments. A lot of contested catches. Someone is all over him, and he’s got an ability. I think he’s got a big catch radius, and the nice thing about Stanford football is that they’re playing traditional football.”
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach
“He’s a good blocker, you look at what makes him successful in college. He’s not depending on his speed. He gets open with his hands and with his feet. He’s a tough player. He’s not scared at all out there going over the middle. He’s big enough with his size, he’s smart enough to be very good in how he blocks and how we will use him blocking. That’s why he was very good for them and that’s why we think he has a good chance to make our team.”
Men’s basketball April 29, 2019
Cardinal senior Josh Sharma has been selected to play in the USA Basketball 3×3 National Championship.
The tournament features 15 teams competing May 3-4 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The event will also serve as the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s 3×3 National Team trials, as all eligible athletes will be in consideration for selection to the 2019 USA Men’s 3×3 World Cup and 2019 USA Men’s 2019 US Pan American Games 3×3 Basketball teams.
The USA 3×3 Nationals will tip-off with preliminary games from 3-10:30 pm on Friday. The preliminary round will continue from 9 am-12:30 pm on Saturday, and, after teams are seeded based on preliminary records, the knockout round will begin at 5:40 pm. The championship game, which will be streamed live online at usab.com/live, is set to tip at 10:20 pm.
Sharma is part of the 3Ball California entry, which also includes Olin Carter III of San Diego, Henry Caruso of Santa Clara and Frankie Ferrari of San Francisco.
Sharma also played in the NABC College All-Star Game and the 3×3 competition at the Final Four earlier this month.
Sharma, who was a candidate for the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player Award, established a school record for field goal percentage in a season. His mark of .673 was not only a program record, it was the eighth-best field goal percentage in a season in Pac-12 history. He completed his standout career eighth on Stanford’s field goal percentage list, shooting .563 for his career.
Sharma was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection as a senior, after finishing the year as the conference’s field goal percentage leader and ranking in the top-10 in the league in offensive rebounds (3rd, 2.6 orpg), blocks (7th, 1.4 bpg) and rebounds (9th, 7.1 rpg). He averaged 11.3 ppg and 8.2 rpg during Pac-12 play, posting double-doubles in five of his final seven games. He averaged 14.7 ppg and 11.1 rpg over those final seven contests.
Olympic fans will see the launch of a new basketball discipline with the inclusion of 3×3 in 2020. The exciting and fast-paced game officially was unveiled in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and has since become a fan favorite at FIBA 3×3 World Cup events. Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.
Held annually since 2012, this year marks the eighth edition of the USA Basketball 3×3 National Championships, and the first time the nationals will be held outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the international level, USA Basketball has been represented by at least one national team in every FIBA 3×3 World Cup, FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup and Youth Olympic Games held since 2010.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball has signed guard Richard Washington, a transfer from Tallahassee Community College, as part of their 2019-20 class, head coach Jean Prioleau announced on Thursday.
Washington comes to the South Bay after two seasons at Wake Forest and one season at TCC in Tallahassee, Fla. A product of Newport News, Va., Washington averaged 16.6 points per game at Tallahassee last season as a sophomore in 29 games and was named First Team All-Panhandle Conference.
“We are excited to welcome Richard to San Jose State,” Prioleau said. “He is a guy that brings a lot of experience, is a really good scorer and we feel he will be a great addition to San Jose State Basketball.”
Last season, Washington shot 46.2% from the field and held a 35.8% clip from 3-point range. He also pulled down 8.1 rebounds and tallied 3.1 assists per game. The 6’6″ guard had his best game against Andrew College on Nov. 28, 2018 as he set school records of 45 points and 10 treys.
Washington is rated the 18th-best junior college prospect of 2019 according to 247 Sports.
“Richard is an exceptionally hard-working student athlete who is destined for great things at San Jose State,” Tallahassee CC head coach Zach Settembre said. “Spartan Nation is getting a mature young man with high character and a very specific vision for his future. Rich is an elite shot maker, excellent passer and knows how to demand the best from both himself and his teammates. He is a proven winner, and Tallahassee Community College is thrilled that he is representing us at the Division I level in the Mountain West Conference.”
Prior to his stint at TCC, Washington spent two seasons playing for head coach Danny Manning at Wake Forest. Washington appeared in eight games off the bench as a freshman in 2016-17, but was sidelined in 2017-18 due to an injury and redshirted the season.
Washington played his high school ball at Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg, Va., where was a consensus three star prospect and rated as one of the top-30 players at his position by ESPN. A two-time all-state selection, he tallied 1,432 points during his junior and senior seasons, and was named MVP at four high school tournaments.
“I’m so grateful Coach Prioleau gave me this opportunity to play the game I love,” Washington said. “I’m really excited about what I feel we can accomplish. This means so much to me and I hope I can make the most out of it.”
Washington is the second signee in 2019-20, joining Omari Moore, who signed in Nov. He’ll have two years to play two at SJSU.
KZ Okpala captured the Hank Luisetti Most Valuable Player Award, as the Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball team celebrated the 2018-19 season at its awards banquet at Bing Concert Hall Monday.
The Cardinal highlighted the accomplishments of Josh Sharma and recognized the overall achievements of a roster that featured 11 of 15 student-athletes in their first or second year. Anne & Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball Jerod Haase thanked both Sharma and senior manager Ryan Cole for their outstanding efforts throughout their respective Cardinal careers. Haase also expressed his enthusiasm for a promising future with an experienced roster back on The Farm for 2019-20.
Okpala, a First Team All-Pac-12 selection, First Team USBWA All-District pick and a Second Team NABC All-District selection this past season, took home the Hank Luisetti MVP Award. He averaged a team-best 16.8 PPG to go along with 5.7 RPG and a SPG. He finished fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring with the second-most 20-point games (15) in the conference. He also ranked 16th in the conference in rebounding and 12th in defensive rebounding (4.5 DRPG). During the Pac-12 regular season, he finished fifth in the conference in scoring (17.5 PPG).
Sharma and Oscar da Silva were each the recipient of the Howie Dallmar Coach’s Award.
Sharma was recognized following a standout senior season on The Farm. He was a candidate for the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player Award and established a school record for field goal percentage in a season. His mark of .673 was not only a program record, it was the eighth-best field goal percentage in a season in Pac-12 history. He completed his standout career eighth on Stanford’s field goal percentage list, shooting .563 for his career. He was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection, after finishing the year as the conference’s field goal percentage leader and ranking in the top-10 in the league in offensive rebounds (3rd, 2.6 ORPG), blocks (7th, 1.4 BPG) and rebounds (9th, 7.1 RPG). He averaged 11.3 PPG and 8.2 RPG during Pac-12 play, posting double-doubles in five of his final seven games. He averaged 14.7 PPG and 11.1 RPG over those final seven contests. He was selected to play in the NABC College All-Star Game at the Final Four, which featured the top seniors in the nation.
da Silva was recognized for the second consecutive season. He was the lone Cardinal to start all 31 games. He averaged 9.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG. He averaged 28.3 MPG and finished second on the team in blocks with 40 on the season. He finished the season ranked eighth in the Pac-12 in blocks (1.3 BPG) and 13th in rebounding. He registered four 20-point games on the year, posting a career-best 23 points against both San Jose State and Oregon State. He recorded three double-doubles for the season.
Rodney Herenton was the recipient of the Peter Sauer Most Inspirational Award. Named in honor of the late Peter Sauer, who was the inspirational leader and captain of the 1998 Final Four Team, the award recognizes an individual who embodies the same qualities as Sauer did — enthusiasm, leadership and courage, which serves as an inspiration to the team. He has been a constant voice of encouragement and inspiration as a true representative of the Invested, Tough and Selfless pillars. He played in six games, highlighted by four points in four minutes of action in the win over Washington State in February. He has represented the program globally, earning a selection to the prestigious Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program. He traveled to India, where he served as a mentor and teacher for English, math and athletics to children. Commanding the utmost respect of his teammates, he has exemplified the exceptional character and charisma that helps define the Peter Sauer Most Inspirational Award.
Bryce Wills captured the Roy Young Toughness Award, recognizing the individual who was a leader in floor burns for the season. Originally created at Kansas in honor of Haase, the floor burns stat was adopted by Stanford when Haase was hired as head coach. Floor burns recognizes individuals for diving for loose balls, taking charges and making the extra effort to help their team win. He collected 48 floor burns and was recognized for giving the extra effort on both ends of the floor, highlighted by scoring performances down the stretch to win games and blocks on the defensive end to help seal victories. He became a regular starter as a freshman. He averaged 7.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 2.2 APG from the guard spot, scoring in double figures in seven Pac-12 games. He also recorded multiple steals in five games, including four in the win over Middle Tennessee in the Battle 4 Atlantis. He scored four of his 11 points in the final 14 seconds, including the go-ahead basket in the 79-76 come-from-behind win over USC in February.
The banquet concluded with speeches by Sharma and Cole, who both shared their gratitude to everyone involved in the team.
Stanford sophomore standout forward KZ Okpala has declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft, submitting his name to the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee.
“After several discussions with my family and my coaches, I have decided to declare for the NBA Draft,” Okpala said. “The NBA is a dream and certainly a goal of mine. I am truly blessed to continue to learn from so many people here at Stanford as I grow as a person and a player. It’s exciting to apply what I have learned so far as I begin this journey and see where it takes me.”
Okpala has submitted his name to the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee for evaluation. Under NCAA policy established within the past year, undergraduates can submit paperwork to the NBA to be evaluated, attend the NBA Draft Combine, conduct workouts with NBA teams and sign with NBPA-certified agents, while remaining NCAA eligible. He has until May 29 to decide to either remain in the NBA Draft or withdraw his name to retain his NCAA eligibility.
“KZ has certainly put himself him in position to be evaluated by the NBA,” said Jerod Haase, Stanford’s Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball. “He possesses tremendous talent and a skillset that fits the NBA. KZ is also an exceptional person and the consummate teammate. We wish him all the best and continue to support him throughout this process.”
Okpala earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors this past season, averaging a team-best 16.8 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and a steal per contest. He was also a First Team All-District selection by the United States Basketball Writers Association and a Second Team All-District pick by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Okpala finished fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring with the second-most 20-point games (15) in the conference. The sophomore also ranked 16th in the conference in rebounding and 12th in defensive rebounding (4.5 DRPG). During the Pac-12 regular season, he finished fifth in the conference in scoring (17.5 PPG). He has averaged 13.8 PPG over his first two seasons on The Farm.
Okpala scored a career-high 30 points in the win at Cal in February. He recorded four consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career in the middle of the conference season, achieving the mark against Arizona (29), Arizona State (21), Washington (22) and Utah (22). He earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors in November, after averaging 29.0 PPG in victories over Seattle and UNC Wilmington. He finished his sophomore season on The Farm with a pair of double-doubles, posting 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Pac-12 opener against UCLA and 20 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Seattle.
#1 The Golden State Warriors say that Stephen Curry is day to day after he rolled his ankle in New Orleans on Tuesday night. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says that Curry should be back by the first game of the NBA playoffs.
#2 Sacramento Kings fired head coach Dave Joerger Thursday after three losing seasons. The firing most likely will be an open door for Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton to take over the coaching job in Sacramento. Wednesday was the last day of the regular season for the Sacramento Kings. They grew, they had won 12 more games than last season, and they have a core of players that are much improved over last season. Tony tells us what the Kings will do to get a viable shot at the playoffs for next season.
#3 It was kind of historical in Boston on Tuesday night when members of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots made an appearance on the field before the Sox ball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Both teams were showing their Championship trophies as both teams won Championships in the first year.
#4 Two players from Bay Area schools were drafted on Wednesday by the WNBA. From Cal, Kristine Anigwe, who was named Defensive Player of the Year, and from the Stanford Cardinal, Alanna Smith. It has to be a pretty big honor for these players to get to the next level and play in the WNBA.
#5 The A’s won another series this time over the Baltimore Orioles on this current road trip after getting swept in Houston by the Astros to start the trip. The A’s defeated the O’s in the four game series and head to Texas to open a three game series with the Rangers starting on Friday night.
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