2023 Recruiting

You can never really tell how good players are from the videos that come out or how they'll fit into the system and style of play of an individual coach, but I do believe Legans has an ability to see talent that others miss (Chika being a great example), so I'm optimistic.

DoubleDipper wrote:I would just add that although Oosterbroek will be a junior academically, he did not play this past season, so has 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Thanks for the update. The original post about T.O. said two years remaining, which is where I projected his junior status from.

bullwinkle wrote:You can never really tell how good players are from the videos that come out or how they'll fit into the system and style of play of an individual coach, but I do believe Legans has an ability to see talent that others miss (Chika being a great example), so I'm optimistic.

Without going into some of the startling statistics of improvement in recruits and transfers that Legs has coached, he takes great pride in developing young men as students, players, and teammates.

DoubleDipper wrote:Known to have taken Official Visits to UP but their status is unknown:
Stefan Todorovic - SMU 6-8/205 Serbia - 2 years of eligibility
Kaosi Ezeagu - UTEP, Kansas St., Sam Houston St. 6-10/255 Canada - 1 year of eligibility

Todorovic committed to USF, and as previously reported, Ezeagu committed to New Mexico St.

In addition to NIL money, Todorovic apparently wanted frequent charter flights at his new school like he enjoyed at SMU.

DoubleDipper wrote:I am told 6-7/205 Matija Belic visited UP recently.  

I know little about him except that he is from Serbia, played very little at UCSB, is in the portal, and has 3 years of eligibility remaining.

I am told the coaching staff was not impressed enough with Belic's visit to offer him a scholarship.

DoubleDipper wrote:I am told the coaching staff was not impressed enough with Belic's visit to offer him a scholarship.

Am I correct to presume that given the number of players on the roster already, the staff will be very selective about any additional players? What needs or holes are priority? PG seems to be one, with only Gorosito and true FR Delano. Of course maybe T-Rob just brings the ball up.

DoubleDipper wrote:I agree with your math, all 13 scholarships are spoken for, but with Coach Legans at the helm, there is just no telling what might transpire between now and the beginning of the school year.

Seen around campus yesterday was 6-8/220 Alimamy Koroma who played 4 years at Cal Poly, a team that was 1-18 in Big West play this past season and a team that saw 7 players enter the portal this offseason.

Not sure if Koroma was just visiting friends or was on a recruiting visit, but he would certainly be a presence inside where he can score, rebound, and draw fouls.

up7587 wrote:Updated view of the roster, copied from DD.  
Scholarship Players Returning:
Juan Gorosito  PG
Bol Dengdit  PF
Vasilije Vučinić  C
Vukašin Mašić  SG
Tyler Robertson  SF
Chris Austin  SG

Walk-On Players Returning:
Coleman Lemke
Drew Stack
Andrew Younan

Known Inbound Players:
Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams, C, sophomore, 6-10/215, Aizuwakamatsu Japan, Lamar U.
Cyprian Hyde, PF, freshman, 6-10/220, Oceanside, California
Vince Delano, PG, freshman, 6-2/175, Phoenix, Arizona
Kelson Gebbers, SF, freshman, 6-6/200, Brewster, Washington
Tyler Harris, SG, freshman, 6-8/200, Livermore, California
Thomas Oosterbroek, SF, junior, 6'8"/215, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Noah Jordan, SF, senior, 6'7"/215, Indianapolis, Indiana
Jude Harris (w), SG, freshman, 6'5"/200, Los Angeles, California

Anyone know the process for updating the roster on portlandpilots.com? A 2023-24 roster is posted, and the nine returning players are listed, as well as Vincent Delano, Cyprian Hyde, and Yuto Y-W. The five other players we believe are incoming are not yet listed on the roster. Is it a matter of enrollment? Compliance office approval? Other?

DoubleDipper wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:I agree with your math, all 13 scholarships are spoken for, but with Coach Legans at the helm, there is just no telling what might transpire between now and the beginning of the school year.

Seen around campus yesterday was 6-8/220 Alimamy Koroma who played 4 years at Cal Poly, a team that was 1-18 in Big West play this past season and a team that saw 7 players enter the portal this offseason.

Not sure if Koroma was just visiting friends or was on a recruiting visit, but he would certainly be a presence inside where he can score, rebound, and draw fouls.

I have heard that Ali Koroma has committed to the Pilots.  Pretty much a starter for the last two years at Cal Poly, averaging 26 mpg.  2-time all-Big West honorable mention.  A 50% shooter from the floor, mostly on 2-point attempts.  Shot 77% on FTs last year, and 71% over 4 years.  Averaged about 12 ppg the last two years.  Averaged 4.6 rebounds per game, and rarely fouled out (once last year).

With one year to play, he will allow the young players to learn and mature, and he fits the profile Legs discussed with Dickau of the team being bigger while still being athletic (i.e. not "lumbering").

Koroma is also the guy that grabbed the rebound but missed the game-winning tip on Cal Poly's final possession in the Pilots' 78-77 nail biter win two years ago.

Sound Voltex wrote:Koroma is also the guy that grabbed the rebound but missed the game-winning tip on Cal Poly's final possession in the Pilots' 78-77 nail biter win two years ago.

An interesting stat from that game was Koroma had 4 rebounds, and they were all offensive boards...something Legs admitted was a weakness for the team.  (Karoma was also 1-1 from behind the arc with 13 points, but I doubt he will be counted on for his long-range shooting   ).

up7587 wrote:Anyone know the process for updating the roster on portlandpilots.com?  A 2023-24 roster is posted, and the nine returning players are listed, as well as Vincent Delano, Cyprian Hyde, and Yuto Y-W.  The five other players we believe are incoming are not yet listed on the roster.  Is it a matter of enrollment?  Compliance office approval? Other?

I have no idea, but the Athletic Department has finally given us the official news that Noah Jordan will join the team...something reported on PilotNation on May 22.

Shantay Legans wrote:Noah was an immediate fit when he got to campus for his visit.  He will provide us with great perimeter length and athleticism, while fitting our system as a knock down shooter. Noah is mature and will bring toughness and a winning mentality to our locker room

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/8/mens-basketball-portland-adds-grad-transfer-forward-noah-jordan.aspx

Noah Jordan wrote:I bring energy, an up-tempo style and loud, upbeat personality.  I love to defend and play a run and gun style. I like to guard, get it and go.

From the announcement article:

Jordan joins Lamar transfer Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams as spring signees for the Pilots. Incoming freshmen Cyprian Hyde and Vincent Delano signed during the November signing period.

So, is Gebbers the walk-on? He committed last fall.

Guess we'll have to wait to see if the "committed" players, Oosterbroek, THarris and Komora, are spring signees or not.

up7587 wrote:So, is Gebbers the walk-on?  He committed last fall.

Yes!

(I believe he was originally going to be a scholarship player, but needing one more experienced player to round out the roster (Koroma), Gebbers' family agreed to pay for his education through the sale of their apples, cherries, and pears from the Gebbers Farms in Brewster, Washington.)

https://gebbersfarms.com/

Thought this was a fun tweet, referring to Legs as the "big man whisperer of the west coast." Especially considering all of the discourse regarding big men on this site through the years.

Pilot14 wrote:Thought this was a fun tweet, referring to Legs as the "big man whisperer of the west coast." Especially considering all of the discourse regarding big men on this site through the years.

Perhaps he is considered a "whisperer" because he does not have endless trunks of money.

As reported on May 19 on PilotNation:

"Pilots Welcome Miami Transfer Thomas Oosterbroek to The Bluff"

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/9/mens-basketball-pilots-welcome-miami-transfer-thomas-oosterbroek-to-the-bluff.

Coach Legans wrote:We think Thomas is going to surprise a lot of people. He had many offers out of high school and saw how a championship-level program operates at Miami. Now he will get a chance to show his diverse skill set and make an impact on our program.

DoubleDipper wrote:https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/9/mens-basketball-pilots-welcome-miami-transfer-thomas-oosterbroek-to-the-bluff

Corrected link to article (deleted the period).

Anything can happen between now and the beginning of school in late August, but for now, this is the UP Men's Basketball roster:

Scholarship Players Returning:
Juanse Gorosito, PG, sophomore, 6-1/150, Ceres Santa Fe, Argentina
*Bol Dengdit, PF, R-freshman, 6-11/210, Melbourne, Australia
Vasilije Vučinić, C, junior, 6-10/225, Bijelo Polje, Montenegro
*Vukašin Mašić, SG, R-sophomore, 6-5/205, Belgrade, Serbia (Maine, Hofstra)
Tyler Robertson, G/F, grad-student, 6-6/225, Melbourne, Australia (Eastern Washington)
*Chris Austin, SG, R-senior, 6-4/210, Pasadena, California (Fordham)

Inbound Players:
Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams, C, sophomore, 6-10/215, Aizuwakamatsu Japan (Lamar)
Cyprian Hyde, PF, freshman, 6-10/220, Oceanside, California
Vince Delano, PG, freshman, 6-2/175, Phoenix, Arizona
Tyler Harris, SG, freshman, 6-8/200, Livermore, California
*Thomas Oosterbroek, PF, R-sophomore, 6-8/215, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Miami)
Noah Jordan, SF, grad-student, 6-7/215, Indianapolis, Indiana (West Virginia St.)
Alimamy Koroma, PF, grad-student, 6-8/220, Freetown, Sierra Leone (Cal Poly)

Walk-On Players Returning:
Coleman Lemke, F, R-sophomore, 6-8/190, Las Vegas, Nevada
*Drew Stack, G, R-freshman, 6-3/175, Madison, New Jersey
*Andrew Younan, G, R-freshman, 6-4/175, Westlake Village, California

Walk-On Inbound Players
Jude Harris, SG, freshman, 6-5/200, Los Angeles, California
Kelson Gebbers, SF, freshman, 6-6/200, Brewster, Washington

* Did not play last season

There are 8 players who have experience at the college level, and two who have spent one or two seasons in college without playing (Dengbit and Oosterbroek).
Austin, Robertson and Koroma have 4 years of experience.
Masic, Vucinic and Jordan have 2 years of experience (Jordan's was D2 level).
Gorosito and Yamanouchi-Williams have 1 year of experience.

By position they are:
Point Guard
Juanse Gorosito, PG, sophomore, 6-1/150, Ceres Santa Fe, Argentina

Shooting Guard
Vukašin Mašić, SG, R-sophomore, 6-5/205, Belgrade, Serbia (Maine, Hofstra)
Chris Austin, SG, R-senior, 6-4/210, Pasadena, California (Fordham)

Small Forward
Noah Jordan, SF, grad-student, 6-7/215, Indianapolis, Indiana (West Virginia St.)

Power Forward
Bol Dengdit, PF, R-freshman, 6-11/210, Melbourne, Australia
Thomas Oosterbroek, PF, R-sophomore, 6-8/215, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Miami)
Alimamy Koroma, PF, grad-student, 6-8/220, Freetown, Sierra Leone (Cal Poly)

Center
Vasilije Vučinić, C, junior, 6-10/225, Bijelo Polje, Montenegro
Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams, C, sophomore, 6-10/215, Aizuwakamatsu Japan (Lamar)

Any Position
Tyler Robertson, G/F, grad-student, 6-6/225, Melbourne, Australia (Eastern Washington)

I am guessing the starters and the bulk of the playing time will come from these players.

I'm excited!

The official announcement on Koroma:

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/13/mens-basketball-cal-poly-grad-transfer-alimamy-koroma-latest-pilot-signee.aspx

From the article, it appears that no more transfers are coming.

Koroma is the final transfer to join the Pilots this spring following the previous announcements of Thomas Oosterbroek, Noah Jordan and Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams. Incoming freshmen Cyprian Hyde and Vincent Delano also signed during the November signing period.

This stood out for me in the article announcing Ali Koroma's transfer to Portland:

Koroma (6-8, 220) joins a short list of 17 players entering the 2023-24 season with career totals of at least 1,100 points, 500 rebounds and 90 blocked shots. He scored 1,157 total points and grabbed 501 rebounds during his tenure, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 71 percent at the free throw line.  

As reported on PN on May 20: Portland Secures Commitment from Tyler Harris

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/15/mens-basketball-portland-secures-commitment-from-tyler-harris.aspx

Tyler is now listed as being from Hayward, California...(not Livermore).

Tyler Harris wrote:"Coach (Arturo) Ormond has recruited me for many years and we have gotten close. I know that they will put me the right position to be successful."

Coach Legans wrote:"He has great size and athleticism that he utilizes very well. Tyler can do a lot of things well at both ends of the court and we're excited to get him in our system and watch him continue to improve."

Sounds like a redshirt candidate to me...

DoubleDipper wrote:As reported on PN on May 20: Portland Secures Commitment from Tyler Harris

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/15/mens-basketball-portland-secures-commitment-from-tyler-harris.aspx

According the Verbal Commits (not always complete in their information, but generally very accurate), UP signee Tyler Harris had scholarship offers from:

UTEP
Cal Poly
Eastern Washington
San Diego St.
Fresno St.
San Jose St.
UC Santa Barbara

It is interesting to note that new UP assistant coach, Arturo Ormond, began recruiting Harris at least 3 years ago when he was an assistant at UTEP and continued that recruiting process over the last two years after moving to EWU.