Oregon Ducks Basketball

The college recruitment of Bronny James has become a hot topic with many speculating on which school is the favorite to land the oldest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

On Tuesday, Jamie Shaw of On3 reported that Oregon is the front-runner to receive a commitment from Bronny. Not long afterward, his father responded to the report, saying it's still early in the recruiting process and Bronny will announce his choice when he makes it:

Bronny James is ranked as the No. 7 shooting guard in the class of 2023 by 247Sports' composite rankings, but surprisingly, his page doesn't list a single scholarship offer. ESPN's Paul Biancardi reported Friday that there is a "strong feeling" James will choose to attend college instead of playing professionally before he's eligible for the NBA draft in 2024.

Per Shaw, Ohio State and USC are the other teams actively pursuing James in addition to Oregon. Biancardi had listed UCLA and Michigan as also having interest in James, but Shaw noted those two schools were not actively recruiting him.

James had a solid showing recently at Nike's Peach Jam, averaging 15.8 points with a 2.5-to-1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, according to Shaw. He also drew attention on social media after his thunderous poster dunk Monday during a Euro Tour exhibition game in Paris.

While James appears to be in no rush to announce his commitment, he is set for a crucial senior season at Sierra Canyon High School. All eyes will be on the son of one of the greatest NBA players ever as he tries to prove himself worthy of a Division I offer.

The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team may be appointment viewing during the 2023-24 season.

According to Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports, Oregon, Ohio State and USC are the three known schools to be recruiting Bronny James. He estimated that the Ducks had a 50 percent chance of landing LeBron James' son, while the other two programs each have a 25 percent chance.

"We are told James is going to go through the process," Shaw wrote. "At this point, the plan is to take virtual visits, Zooms, and in-person visits and go through the whole experience. Sources tell us that at this point, Oregon has a lead and that James will end up in Eugene."

The first connection that comes to mind with James and Oregon revolves around Nike. After all, LeBron signed a lifetime deal with the brand, and Phil Knight, who is the company's chairman, went to school at Oregon.

However, Shaw noted the younger James has a "comfort" with the program. It also doesn't hurt that Mookie Cook, who was travel teammates with Bronny in middle school, is part of the Ducks' loaded 2023 recruiting class.

That class already has Cook, who is a 5-star small forward, as well as 5-star power forward Kwame Evans Jr. and 4-star point guard Jackson Shelstad, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

It is currently the sixth-rated class and notably behind another contender in Ohio State (fourth), but adding James would certainly help it climb. James is a 4-star prospect and the No. 43 overall player, No. 7 shooting guard and No. 12 player from the state of California in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

That is not to say this is a done deal.

USC is close to Sierra Canyon, where James attends high school. Former high school teammate Kijani Wright is also on the Trojans' roster.

As for Ohio State, the James family is from Ohio, and LeBron consistently supports the Buckeyes, be it by attending football games or shouting them out on Twitter. As Shaw noted, he even said he would have attended Ohio State if he played collegiately.

It seems as if this recruiting process will not end in the immediate future with James set to take visits to these schools and perhaps others, but Oregon apparently has the inside track for now.

One of the top talents in 2023 is off the board after Kwame Evans Jr. committed to Oregon.

"I feel like it fits me the best and gives me the best chance to go to the NBA," he told ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

Arizona, Auburn and Kentucky were among the other finalists.

The 6'9" power forward is the No. 7 overall player and the second-best at his position in 247Sports' composite rankings.

A native of Maryland, Evans transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida ahead of the 2021-22 school year. His father, Kwame Sr., expressed a desire for him to continue his development after the COVID-19 pandemic forced Baltimore public schools to cancel the 2020-21 winter sports season, per the Baltimore Sun's Glenn Graham:

"We got to do want we can do and, unfortunately, we had to leave just because his development is most important for him right because he's so young and we just don't know where we're going next year with the pandemic. We know they're playing down there, so we had to get out of town. He'll get a lot of exposure, be in the national spotlight down there, so we're just looking forward to new beginnings and trying to get better."

Independent of the uncertain circumstances in Baltimore, heading south to Montverde made obvious sense because the prep school has become a proving ground for elite talent. Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Ben Simmons are some of the recent alumni now in the NBA.

The transfer allowed Evans to test himself against the best, whether it was against Montervde's competition or his own teammates to earn regular playing time.

In October, 247Sports' Eric Bossi described Evans as "a skilled combo forward who can shoot with range, cover ridiculous ground on defense and he's just scratching the surface."

Bossi had also watched the versatile forward at the Peach Jam in July and came away highly impressed:

"It is one thing to see a kid Evans size who can move well laterally and run. But to see a kid as big as him picking up much smaller guards to pressure them for 94 feet is an entirely different thing. His ability to move his feet, slide and contain guys in space is extremely impressive for a big kid, of any age."

Whether it's at the college or pro level, no archetype is more coveted right now than a player with size who can feasibly guard all five positions and score on all three levels. Evans isn't the mythical on-court unicorn just yet, but he's on his way there.

Plenty of eyes will be on him during the 2023-24 season because he's likely to be a top pick in the 2024 NBA draft at this pace.

Evans will join Jackson Shelstad in Eugene. Shelstad is the No. 10 point guard in the 2023 class.

Ducks head coach Dana Altman has brought a consistent level of success the program didn't experience before his arrival. Much of that is down to attracting a high level of talent to Oregon during each recruiting cycle, albeit not with the same value the traditional blue bloods do.

Looking at what's coming next season, Altman might be hopeful another run to the Elite Eight or Final Four is in store.

Top Class of 2023 prospect Mookie Cook is headed to the Oregon Ducks after announcing his decision Thursday.

Cook chose the Ducks and head coach Dana Altman over teams like Kentucky, Gonzaga, Arizona and others.

"I’ve been having a great relationship with coach Altman since I first got that offer in the eighth grade,” Cook told 247Sports' Eric Bossi. “Me and him have been communicating and it has been the same message since then. I also have great relationships with coach Mennenga and coach McKenna and they’ve made feel like I’m the number one guy they’ve prioritized."

Cook is considered a 5-star recruit and No. 4 overall player in his class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

The small forward has good size for the position at 6'7", 200 pounds, while his athleticism allows him to finish inside with consistency. He also has a well-rounded offensive game that is only getting better as his career progresses.

"I play both sides of the ball, offense, and defense," Cook said a year ago, per Stock Risers. "I can facilitate, I’m very versatile at 6-foot-7, can guard any position 1-4, run the court hard, I can shoot the three as well as bring the ball up. All-around game and I’m a team player."

The athleticism gives Cook an extremely high floor as someone who can score consistently in the paint while also remaining a quality defender on the perimeter.

His play gained the attention of college coaches and led to dozens of scholarship offers, including from top programs around the country like Kansas, UCLA, Michigan and more. 

He eventually decided to play for the Ducks, giving the team a player who should make an instant impact from the start of his freshman year.

Cook might not be a go-to offensive option right away, but he should fill up the stat sheet while helping on both ends of the court. It will also likely be a stepping stone before quickly moving onto the NBA draft.

The 2021 Phil Knight Invitational did not go according to plan for the Oregon Ducks.

The No. 12 Ducks welcomed BYU to the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, for this year's event but were promptly handed a blowout 81-49 loss. Alex Barcello continued his red-hot start to the season with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 shooting from deep to stake the Cougars to an early lead they never relented.

Unranked BYU was dominant in the first half and built a 19-point lead at intermission.

It set the tone on the defensive side while holding the Ducks to just 18 points in the first half and 32.1 percent shooting from the field overall. The Cougars swarmed to outside shooters and cut off driving lanes while the game was still hanging in the balance and never allowed the Ducks to build any sustained momentum in the second half.

Eric Williams Jr. led the way in the losing effort for Oregon and finished with 12 points and three rebounds.

Yet it was Barcello who stole the show against a Pac-12 opponent, which isn't exactly a surprise from BYU's perspective.

After all, the senior guard was the only player on the team who entered Tuesday's game averaging double-figure scoring totals after leading the Cougars to victories over San Diego State and Cleveland State to start the 2021-22 campaign.

He also continued his scorching start from beyond the arc and is now 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from deep on the season.

It wasn't a one-man effort, as Te'Jon Lucas (12 points, three assists and two rebounds), Fousseyni Traore (10 points, six rebounds and two blocks) and Spencer Johnson (10 points, three assists and three rebounds) scored in double figures for the victors.

BYU is now 3-0 and has a marquee win on its resume that will surely resonate to Selection Sunday. It will look to build on this effort when it takes on Central Methodist in Saturday's matchup.

The Cougars also have notable nonconference games remaining against Utah and Creighton and look capable of amassing an impressive resume long before they face the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs in WCC play.

As for the 2-1 Ducks, they will look to bounce back on Monday against Chaminade.         

LeBron James has his eye on the next generation of basketball stars, and he praised both Dior Johnson and Emoni Bates at the Nike EYBL on Thursday:

Johnson starred for Vegas Elite, while Bates plays for Bates Fundamentals at the EYBL.

Each of these young players are among the biggest names in high school basketball, and both are rated among the top 10 in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports. Johnson is the No. 9 player in the country and headed to Oregon, while Bates was a Michigan State commit before reconsidering his options in May.

While LeBron is clearly a fan of the sport, he has been tuning in to the high school game more often with his son coming up the ranks. Bronny James is currently considered the No. 30 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports.

Point guard Dior Johnson is heading to Oregon after announcing his commitment on Tuesday.

"I decided to commit to Oregon because of the great relationships I have built with the coaching staff," Johnson said to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "Coach Crutchfield and Coach Altman welcomed me with open arms from day one. We were able to get on the same page quickly as they have built a great plan for me to succeed."

Ranked as the No. 7 player in the class of 2022 by 247Sports' in its composite rankings—and its top point guard in the class—Johnson held offers from Syracuse, Alabama, LSU, Memphis and Arizona State among others. He had committed to the Orange before walking back that decision last November.

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports predicts Johnson as a future NBA lottery pick who has similarities to the Sacramento Kings' De'Aaron Fox:

"Good length and stature for a point guard. Quick athlete with superb body control. Has tremendous instincts as a driver and passer. Delivers the difficult pass. Finishes the difficult shot. High level lay up maker. Has multiple fade away moves to his right shoulder. Shoots the ball well enough to be considered a three-level scorer. Has potential to rebound his position well and be a dangerous versatile defender. Has bounced around to multiple high school which some view as a yellow flag."

The 6'3", 180-pounder is expected to make a major impact on the program as soon as he gets to campus and is likely to start as a freshman. He's the first pledged commit for Oregon in 2022, so perhaps the Ducks can use his impending arrival to help lure other blue-chip talents to Eugene.

Oregon men's basketball coach Dana Altman sympathized with VCU after the Rams were removed from the 2021 NCAA tournament for COVID-19-related reasons.

The NCAA announced Saturday the first-round encounter between Oregon and VCU would be ruled a no-contest, with the Ducks advancing to the second round.

Oregon shared a statement from Altman, who congratulated the Rams "on an outstanding season."

"We hate to see a team's season end this way after all the hard work these student-athletes have put in," he said. "This isn't the way we wanted to advance, but we are excited to be moving on and we will start our preparation for Monday's game."

According to CBSSports.com's Matt Norlander, one member of the VCU traveling party was flagged for a positive COVID-19 test, and two more tests came back positive Friday night. That led the NCAA and local health officials to conclude the Rams would be unable to take the court.

Athletic director Ed McLaughlin addressed the matter.

"This isn't something where our team broke protocol and did the wrong thing," he told reporters. "We don't know how this happened, but it certainly wasn't bad behavior on our side. It's brutal. We can't confirm the numbers [of positive tests]. We had enough student-athletes to be able to play. We had plenty to start the game. Beyond that, we really can't tell how it started. It's impossible at that point."

Colorado State, Louisville, Mississippi and Saint Louis were placed on standby when the 68-team tournament field was revealed in the event a program was deemed ineligible due to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

However, the deadline to replace a team in the tournament passed Tuesday.

As a result, Oregon moves on and will play No. 2 Iowa or No. 15 Grand Canyon.

Highly touted center Nathan Bittle committed to Oregon on Tuesday, he announced on his Instagram. 

The Prolific Prep product had long been thought of as a borderline lock to Oregon. 247Sports gave him a 100 percent chance of selecting Dana Altman's program. The recruiting service ranks Bittle as the No. 17 overall prospect in the class of 2021.

In his sophomore year at Crater High, the 6'10" big man averaged 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks. 

Bittle can be an imposing figure around the basket. In the consolation semifinals of the 2019 state tournament, he blocked a record 10 shots. He blocked another 10 shots in a quarterfinal victory over South Albany in the 2020 tournament.

"When he doesn't gamble and he stays down, his ability as a secondary defender is as good as I've seen ever," Crater head coach Chris Schmerbach said, per the Mail Tribune's Kris Henry. "He just knows where the ball's going to be, and his timing and reaction are really impressive. When you have a 7'5" wingspan, it gives you the ability to get a lot of them, that's for sure."

Bittle and Crater needed two victories to win what would have been the school's first championship, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of winter sports across Oregon.

Bittle's height and wingspan certainly put him in a class above his peers, an advantage he won't have as freely in college. His gaudy block numbers speak to his defensive instincts, though. He'll make an immediate impact around the basket at the next level.

Bittle is cut from the current mold of centers in that he can stretch the floor as well. 247Sports' Josh Gerson, who evaluated him in December 2018, drew a parallel to former NBA forward Channing Frye.

Frye began his NBA career as a more traditional frontcourt player before embracing the long-range jumper. He ended his career as a 38.8 percent three-point shooter.

Improving his perimeter game will not only help Bittle thrive in college but also boost his NBA draft stock down the road.

In general, Bittle has the tools necessary to play a starring role for the Ducks in 2021-22.

Oregon has become a perennial NCAA tournament contender under head coach Dana Altman, which is a distinction that generally hasn't applied to the program prior to his arrival. The Ducks made their second-ever Final Four appearance in 2017.

Bittle is the kind of talent Altman needs to successfully recruit more regularly in order to get Oregon to the next level.