Wednesday Commitment Catchup (4/22)
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More and more prospects are making their college choices from the Class of 2020. We were able to catch up with several of them who made decisions from the weekend, including a couple of small school standouts who happen to be high-academic achievers as well.
Matt Eidler Matt Eidler 6'5" | SF Trinity Lutheran | 2020 State OR (2020 Trinity Lutheran) has made the decision to play at the Division III level in the Midwest at Concordia in Mequon, Wisconsin. The 6-foot-5 swingman is one of top 1A players in state history, finishing his career with 2,344 career points - good for seventh all-time in Oregon for all classifications. Eidler can score at all three levels and is extremely efficient at getting to the free throw line. He had opportunities to play collegiately close to home but decided that Concordia was best for his future. A visit to Mequon before the season started helped Eidler get a feel for the school and program and he was impressed with its location right next to Lake Michigan as well as the architecture on campus including the chapel. But most of all what the school offered him both on and off the court is what eventually convinced him to make his commitment.
"I felt like it was the best fit for me because of the education," Eidler said. "And obviously Coach Cassidy believed in me the most and we both believed that we could do some really great things in a couple of years. His team is like a family to him and that’s what I love so much about my choice. I can’t wait to attend."
Conner Marchant Conner Marchant 6'0" | CG Toledo | 2020 State OR (2020 Toledo), one of the most decorated players in 2A history, is also heading to the D-III level as he’s committed to Southern Virginia. The 6-foot senior not only led the Boomers to the state title while earning 2A player of the year honors his senior season, he set plenty of records in the process - Marchant finished his high school career with his name littered all throughout the record book. He scored 2,533 career points (third all-time in state history) and knocked down 316 career threes - the all-time mark in Oregon. Despite all the accolades, Marchant almost stepped away from the game but a late call from Southern Virginia flipped him around.
"They are a good school and I love the fact of being in Virginia and moving away," Marchant said. "They have a good basketball program and their style of shooting lots of threes running pick-and-roll is something I’m into for sure. They didn’t win a ton of games last year which is enticing to me because I like proving people wrong."
What also helped with Marchant’s decision is the fact his older brother Isaiah Marchant (2016 Toledo) - a former 2A player of the year in his own right - will be joining him at Southern Virginia as a fellow freshman. A fellow three-point marksman, Isaiah Marchant scored 2,151 career points (15th all-time) and sank 192 career threes.
"I’ve never played high school with my brother and I didn’t even know this was a possibility," Marchant said. "Now to have this opportunity, I’m truly blessed."
https://twitter.com/OfficialBBallD1/status/1252795872179449856?s=20
Other members of the Class of 2020 will get their career started at the JC level - specifically the NWAC. After getting recruited at levels at practically every level of college basketball, Jacob Tompkins Jacob Tompkins 6'4" | CG Summit | 2020 State OR (2020 Summit) decided to sign with Lane. The 6-foot-4 combo guard is skilled with the basketball, with the ability to score at all three levels and he finished ranked in the Top 10 in 6A in scoring (23.2 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (.458), free throw percentage (.855), and three-point field goals made per game (3.2). At season’s end he held scholarship offers from Division II/NAIA schools, Division III roster spots, and walk-on opportunities at Division I but decided that starting college at Lane was the best fit for him.
"I feel like Lane is the best place for me to grow and develop, and I really believe their coaches can help me get to where I want to go," Tompkins said. "I have goals and aspirations to be the best player I can be, and I really think Lane can help me get there."
Andre Best Andre Best 5'11" | PG Oregon City | 2020 State OR (2020 Oregon City) will be staying close to home after committing to play at Clackamas CC. The 5-foot-11 point guard who really gets after it on the defensive end stepped up offensively as a senior, leading the Pioneers in scoring average as well as assists. He steps into a situation at Clackamas where he will get immediate playing time as two-year starting point guard - and NWAC Player of the Year - Robert Ford moves on to the D-I level.
"Going to Clackamas seems like a great opportunity," Best said. "I went to a couple of games and liked the spread of their offense and the full court intensity on defense and I can already see myself flourishing in that style of play. I’m very excited and hungry for the chance to compete at the collegiate level."
Jayoni Moore Jayoni Moore 6'0" | CG Roosevelt | 2020 State OR (2020 Roosevelt), who finished his senior season ranked in the Top 10 in free throw percentage (.824) and three-point field goals made per game (3.0) in 6A, committed to start his college career at Linn-Benton. The 6-foot-1 combo guard has the ability to knock down shots but also has underrated ball-handling and passing ability that he’ll try to hone at the JC level. He is Linn-Benton’s first known commitment from the Class of 2020.
"We’ve been in communication heavy throughout the season," Moore said. "I feel like that’s the place where I can develop my game."
Thank You Roosevelt🖤
— Jay💰 (@Jayyym11) April 8, 2020
Here’s my senior year highlightshttps://t.co/1Me6dsDZY5
Braeden Sato Braeden Sato 5'9" | CG Sunset | 2020 State OR (2020 Sunset) will be joining the team at Portland CC. The 5-foot-9 guard with the shifty handle and quick release jumper from distance was a three-time First Team All-Metro League honoree and once again helped lead the Apollos to the post-season as a senior. He wasn’t quite sure if he would be playing collegiately and was planning on attending PCC as a student, but some connections were made to the coaching staff and he’ll now also have a spot on the team.
"I really didn’t get anyone looking at me after my senior season, so it’s an opportunity to show people what they missed out on and show myself that I can ball," Sato said. "My goals for next year are to first get my grades and then do what I can in any way to do the best for the team and then hopefully make it out and play D-II or even D-I."
Commitment: @BraedenSato of @SHSMensball will be playing at @Panthers_PCC next season
— Prep Hoops Oregon (@PrepHoopsOR) April 22, 2020
Sato was a three-time First Team All-Metro League selection for the Apollos. pic.x.com/ZRk4WNjigs
And returning home to the Pacific Northwest after spending this past year in prep school in Florida is Drayton Caoile (2019 West Linn/TLAP Academy) as he inked with Northwest Christian (which will be renamed Bushnell). The 6-foot point guard had a solid career for the Lions but sought to further hone his game, personal growth, and college recruitment at TLAP, and garnered interest from schools such as Humboldt State and some other NAIA teams in California. But in the end he felt that NCU gave him the best opportunity and he’ll immediately give them a steady hand at the point with his ball-handling and acumen as a floor leader.
"Great location, great education, great basketball, and the coaches were active in my recruitment," Caoile said. "Location-wise and scholarship-wise it helped out and worked best for me to be in Eugene."
