SMC Notes

Apparently SMC is looking for a new AD.

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

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

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.

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!"

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

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.

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.

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.   )

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

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

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

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.