Re: SMC Notes

by Geezaldinho Thu Apr 27, 2017 12:02 am

Apparently SMC is looking for a new AD.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/26/smc-ad/

by DoubleDipper Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:26 am

Geezaldinho wrote:Apparently SMC is looking for a new AD.

Yeah, it was mentioned on this forum a month ago that Scott was probably toward the top of the list:

https://www.pilotnation.net/t4601p50-staff

by DoubleDipper Thu May 03, 2018 7:43 pm

Evan Fitzner is grad-transferring to Indiana for his final year.

Fitzner was never big in the stat department for the Gaels, but he's always been a very steady player and an excellent teammate by all accounts.

His leaving is probably not a surprise, but what is surprising that he's moving up, way up, to Indiana. After redshirting his first year, he started every game in both is his freshman and sophomore year before starting only 7 games this last season in favor of redshirt sophomore Tanner Krebs.

by DoubleDipper Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:33 pm

Evan Daniels wrote:Aaron Menzies is transfering from Seattle and has signed with St. Mary's, he tells @247Sports. Averaged 11.3 PPG & 8.9 RPG.

SMC seems to have a knack for landing grad-transfers.

Hard to say what kind of impact Menzies will have for the Gaels, but at 7-3/295, he will definitely be "a load!"

by Guest Mon Jun 04, 2018 12:56 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
Evan Daniels wrote:Aaron Menzies is transfering from Seattle and has signed with St. Mary's, he tells @247Sports. Averaged 11.3 PPG & 8.9 RPG.
SMC seems to have a knack for landing grad-transfers.

Hard to say what kind of impact Menzies will have for the Gaels, but at 7-3/295, he will definitely be "a load!"

A little more information about this:
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/5/31/17411964/saint-marys-bolsters-frontcourt-with-seattle-transfer-aaron-menzies-college-basketball-eligible

by DoubleDipper Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:56 pm

SMC's best returning player is not returning! One time UP recruit, Malik Fitts, will graduate and look to play professionally in either the G League or overseas.

Also graduating is 7-1/250 Jock Perry, and he intends to transfer or head home to Australia to play professionally.

SMC has a good incoming freshman class, and they're one of the best in the WCC at getting transfers, but losing Fitts and the graduating Jordan Ford is a blow, IMO.

by DoubleDipper Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:22 am

BIG, BIG pick up for SMC today as 7-5 center Matt van Komen has decided to transfer from Utah. van Komen is a freshman, and played in only nine games for the Utes this past season. He'll sit for a year and have three years of eligibility.

van Komen made an unofficial visit to UP and subsequently received an offer from TP and the staff back in 2017, (it's my recollection is his mother lived/lives in West Linn), but he chose to stay closer to his Utah home, spurning UP, GU and Baylor, among others.

by DoubleDipper Fri Aug 26, 2022 10:30 am

Most will remember that SMC's most productive player in recent years, Tommy Kuhse, was a multi-year walk-on for the Gaels, and now the San Antonio Spurs have signed the undrafted rookie (who is not even an Australian. Shocked

)

Sometimes it difficult to tell how good a player will be coming out of high school...

by DoubleDipper Mon Sep 26, 2022 8:02 pm

Brad "Big Continent" Millard has died.

Twenty-five years ago, Millard, a Seattle native, was a 7-3/345 All-WCC sensation for the Gaels and helped them to an NCAA berth after sweeping through the WCC Tournament at LMU by beating PU, LMU, and USF.

The 23-8 record compiled by the Gaels during the 1996-97 season propelled Ernie Kent up the coast to UO after six years at SMC.

Unfortunately, Millard was constantly plagued by injuries and infections which shortened both his basketball career and life.

https://smcgaels.com/news/2022/9/25/mens-basketball-mbb-former-gael-center-brad-millard-passes-away.aspx

by Geezaldinho Mon Sep 26, 2022 8:44 pm

So sad he died so young.
He was unstoppable when he was healthy, which turned out to be pretty seldom even when he played.

by DoubleDipper Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:54 pm

I think most will remember how #5 SMC was hanging with eventual national champion #4 UConn until Alex Ducas went down with a back injury and never returned to the game.

The good news for SMC is Alex, from Australia, will return to Moraga for a 5th year instead of turning pro.

Steady starter Kyle Bowen, also an Aussie, has decided to give up his Covid year, and turn pro.

by up7587 Tue Mar 26, 2024 3:03 pm

Jensen Bradtke, a 6'10" PF from Australia who redshirted one year at SMC has entered the portal.

by up7587 Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:01 pm

Verbal Commits says Joshua Jefferson is in the portal. He was a key starter for the Gaels until he injured his knee during the game at Chiles on 02/10. Huge loss if he leaves.

by up7587 Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:09 pm

by DoubleDipper Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:41 pm

up7587 wrote:Verbal Commits says Joshua Jefferson is in the portal. He was a key starter for the Gaels until he injured his knee during the game at Chiles on 02/10. Huge loss if he leaves.

Yes, I very big loss...hated seeing him go down during the UP game.

Coach Legans recruited him while he was in high in Las Vegas, but as he was a 6-8/220 starter at SMC and averaged over 10 points per game, I see him going somewhere that will give him a payday and greater TV exposure.

by up7587 Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:22 pm

@JonRothstein wrote:Mitchell Saxen tells me that he's returning to Saint Mary's next season and will use his additional year of eligibility.

by DoubleDipper Wed Apr 10, 2024 3:53 pm

Saint Mary’s Associate HC Justin Joyner has gone to Michigan as an assistant coach under new coach Dusty May.

Joiner has been SMC's top stateside recruiter, bringing in Aidan Mahaney among others...

by up7587 Sun Apr 14, 2024 9:11 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
up7587 wrote:Verbal Commits says Joshua Jefferson is in the portal. He was a key starter for the Gaels until he injured his knee during the game at Chiles on 02/10. Huge loss if he leaves.
Yes, I very big loss...hated seeing him go down during the UP game.

Coach Legans recruited him while he was in high in Las Vegas, but as he was a 6-8/220 starter at SMC and averaged over 10 points per game, I see him going somewhere that will give him a payday and greater TV exposure.

@GirimonteNicky wrote:Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson will visit TCU from April 16-18.

by up7587 Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:29 pm

Aidan Mahaney has entered the portal. Big loss for SMC. He was a local kid who stayed home.

by DoubleDipper Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:05 am

Shaking my head at the departure of All-WCC x 2 Aiden Mahaney, but I am guessing it has a lot to do with the departure of Coach Joyner to Michigan.

Coach Bennett has got to be fuming, but wouldn't it seem likely we'll see Mahaney in Ann Arbor wearing maize and blue this coming season? Josh Jefferson too?

DoubleDipper wrote:Saint Mary’s Associate HC Justin Joyner has gone to Michigan as an assistant coach under new coach Dusty May.

Joiner has been SMC's top stateside recruiter, bringing in Aidan Mahaney among others...

If he does end up in the Big-10, I think Mahaney's lack of muscle and weakness on defense will get him eaten alive, but I wish him well.

SMC will be just fine...

by DoubleDipper Thu Apr 18, 2024 2:23 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:SMC will be just fine...

When Arizona's Paulius Murauskas entered the portal it was thought there'd be a long line of suitors for the 6-8 Lithuanian who led the 2022 U18 European Championship in scoring.

Instead, the top international prospects in his age group will team up in Moraga with Lithuanian PG Augustas Marčiulionis.

Has three years of eligibility remaining.

by DoubleDipper Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:28 am

DoubleDipper wrote:Shaking my head at the departure of All-WCC x 2 Aiden Mahaney...

Mahaney spent the weekend visiting Creighton U.

Omaha over dreary old Moraga? Shoot, why not! Razz

by DoubleDipper Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:58 pm

up7587 wrote:Verbal Commits says Joshua Jefferson is in the portal. He was a key starter for the Gaels until he injured his knee during the game at Chiles on 02/10. Huge loss if he leaves.

Jefferson is headed to Iowa St.

by up7587 Wed Apr 24, 2024 8:50 am

A major recruit for SMC is Zion Sensley, a 6'8" SF. He committed last August and signed a NLI. Now he posted about thanking SMC and asking to be released from his NLI due to changes in the program. Then the post was deleted. The SMC board talks about the assistant coach Justin Joyner who moved to Michigan, and about Sensley spending time with Aidan Mahaney, and about agent influence.

What a mess this whole process has become.

by DoubleDipper Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:57 am

up7587 wrote:A major recruit for SMC is Zion Sensley, a 6'8" SF. He committed last August and signed a NLI. Now he posted about thanking SMC and asking to be released from his NLI due to changes in the program. Then the post was deleted. The SMC board talks about the assistant coach Justin Joyner who moved to Michigan, and about Sensley spending time with Aidan Mahaney, and about agent influence.

What a mess this whole process has become.

Of all the schools in the WCC, it is my opinion that SMC, above all other schools, has it all...culture, history, academics, athletic programs, and location, location, location...and yet.

Yes, "what a mess this whole process has become!"