Re: 2023 Recruiting

by DoubleDipper Fri Jun 16, 2023 9:32 am

There was a recent article about UP walk-on Kelson Gebbers being one of the best multi-sport athletes in the PNW...

Senior-year highlights: Voted first team 2B Central Washington all-league quarterback. Threw for 2,761 yards and 26 touchdowns with a .547 completion percentage...Basketball team finished second in state and was named to all state tournament first team. Also voted first team all-league, league MVP and Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association 2B Player of the Year. Averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Career accomplishments: Played in three Class 2B state basketball championship games, winning it all in 2020 where he was voted to the all state tournament second team. Voted to 2B Central Washington all-league first team in 2021, 2022 and 2023. All state tournament first team in 2022 and 2023. Basketball career averages were 19.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Scored 1,783 points in 90 games played in career...Played in just 24 games for the football team, but threw for 4,437 yards and 40 touchdowns with a .554 completion percentage in career.

School/community achievements: 3.929 GPA; Academic Honor Society in 2022 and 2023; earned University of Portland Academic President's scholarship.

Courtesy of Kelson's mom, Nikki

by DoubleDipper Fri Jun 16, 2023 12:42 pm

...and just like that, UP announces "Washington Prep Star Kelson Gebbers Signs with Men’s Hoops."

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/16/mens-basketball-washington-prep-star-kelson-gebbers-signs-with-mens-hoops.aspx

"We have known Kelson and watched him develop for a number of years," Legans said. "He will be an excellent fit within our program. Kelson has good size and shoots the ball very well. He brings a winning pedigree and is a great all-around athlete that has a chance to make a real impact here."

"Shooting is my biggest strength," Gebbers said of what he will bring to the team. "I have a good feel for the game and like to cut and get open on offense. I plan to bring energy to the team every day at both ends of the court."

by up7587 Fri Jun 16, 2023 2:33 pm

DoubleDipper wrote: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

Everyone on this post is now listed on the 2023-2024 roster on PortlandPilots.com.

by DoubleDipper Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:40 pm

up7587 wrote:Everyone on this post is now listed on the 2023-2024 roster on PortlandPilots.com.

On the roster, and now introduced by UP Athletics: Jude Harris Joins Men’s Basketball Program

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/16/mens-basketball-jude-harris-joins-mens-basketball-program.aspx

"Jude is a basketball junkie," Legans said. "He has been around the game his entire life and knows what it takes to be successful. He will provide us another shooter that has good knowledge of the game and is excited to be a part of our program."

"I got a good feel for the community on my visit and knew it was the right place for me," Harris said. "I will bring a high IQ mentality to the program and work extremely hard. I'm looking forward to doing whatever it takes to help the team win."

by DoubleDipper Tue Jul 04, 2023 9:56 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:There was a recent article about UP walk-on Kelson Gebbers being one of the best multi-sport athletes in the PNW...

....and now Kelson Gebbers is named Washington 2B Senior Athlete of the Year.

https://www.qcherald.com/school-news/kelson-gebbers-named-washington-2b-senior-athlete-year

by up7587 Fri Jul 21, 2023 12:59 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:...and just like that, UP announces "Washington Prep Star Kelson Gebbers Signs with Men’s Hoops."

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2023/6/16/mens-basketball-washington-prep-star-kelson-gebbers-signs-with-mens-hoops.aspx
"We have known Kelson and watched him develop for a number of years," Legans said. "He will be an excellent fit within our program. Kelson has good size and shoots the ball very well. He brings a winning pedigree and is a great all-around athlete that has a chance to make a real impact here."
"Shooting is my biggest strength," Gebbers said of what he will bring to the team. "I have a good feel for the game and like to cut and get open on offense. I plan to bring energy to the team every day at both ends of the court."

Kelson Gebbers intro

by DoubleDipper Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:22 pm

Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams was an early transfer portal signing, and from what I have seen, UP was fortunate to sign him before other schools had the opportunity...he has the potential to be a star.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1683555527174017024

by DoubleDipper Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:29 pm

I am not the only one who has remarked about the upbeat personality and game that Noah Jordan brings to the UP roster.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1684329581422206976

by DoubleDipper Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:26 pm

Having had a very quick look at all the inbound players except Alimamy Koroma, who arrives next week after finishing summer school and graduating from Cal Poly this week, I would say there are a couple of potential starters among the group of eight.

Four of the five freshmen look like redshirt candidates, but Tyler Harris looks ready to go now.

Tyler and inbound Lamar transfer sophomore Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams both look like they could start in their first season on The Bluff.

by DoubleDipper Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:51 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:Four of the five freshmen look like redshirt candidates, but Tyler Harris looks ready to go now.

It's still summer, but 6-8 freshman guard Tyler Harris still looks very impressive and should be a starter based upon what we've seen to this point.

The other inbound player who will bring toughness to the team and will likely start is 6-8 grad-student forward Ali Koroma who arrived on campus a just before classes started.

The other new guy who will put a up a good fight for playing time is 6-7 grad-student forward Noah Jordan.

From my perspective, Tyler Harris still looks like he will be the only one of the five frosh who will not redshirt, and transfers Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams and Thomas Oosterbroek, who are both skilled, will have to become much more familiar with the UP system before they will see any significant minutes.

by up7587 Wed Sep 06, 2023 8:19 pm

Fortunately, Yamanouchi-Williams and Oosterbroek are sophomores, so have time to develop.

Possible starting five:
Robertson (a lock)
Gorosito (probably, unless Robertson is a point forward)
Austin (if he's back to his pre-injury form)
Koroma (a little bigger than Jordan, with more D-1 experience)
Vusinic (needs to break out in his 3rd year)

Off the Bench:
Masic, Harris, Jordan, Dengbit

If Harris forces his way into starting with his performance, will he displace Gorosito or Austin?

What are your guesses for a starting five?

by bdaddy Mon Sep 18, 2023 5:07 pm

up7587 wrote:Fortunately, Yamanouchi-Williams and Oosterbroek are sophomores, so have time to develop.

Possible starting five:
Robertson (a lock)
Gorosito (probably, unless Robertson is a point forward)
Austin (if he's back to his pre-injury form)
Koroma (a little bigger than Jordan, with more D-1 experience)
Vusinic (needs to break out in his 3rd year)

Off the Bench:
Masic, Harris, Jordan, Dengbit

If Harris forces his way into starting with his performance, will he displace Gorosito or Austin?

What are your guesses for a starting five?

Alright, I’ll play. I agree with your 5 except I believe Legs will go smaller with Koroma at the 5 and then swap Vusinic out for another wing. My guess would be Masic or Jordan.

by DoubleDipper Yesterday at 2:59 pm

bdaddy wrote:Alright, I’ll play. I agree with your 5 except I believe Legs will go smaller with Koroma at the 5 and then swap Vusinic out for another wing. My guess would be Masic or Jordan.

There are going to be some tough lineup decisions as the season progresses, but I too think Ali Koroma gets the start because of his experience and toughness.

If Vasilije Vucinic is subbed out for another wing, I have to believe the first guy in is rookie Tyler Harris.

The first "official" day of practice is this coming Monday, September 25...and we should know a lot more five weeks from now after the "secret scrimmage" against Utah Valley.

UP has a very "under the radar" roster (that's the way Legs likes it), so it's just going to depend on the development of each individual and, more importantly, the team as a whole when the season begins on November 6...and beyond.

by up7587 Yesterday at 3:30 pm

I am thinking (and hoping) that the nine players I listed all play significant minutes and are somewhat interchangeable. Tyler should not have to play 38 minutes every night. Some of the recent transfers, especially the bigs, did not perform at a level where they contributed on a regular basis. It may be off-season optimism, but that is not the vibe I am getting this year.

The other nine players can play spot and mop-up duties and work on their development.