Weekly Commitment Catchup

Wednesday was the start of the NCAA signing period and the commitments flew off the wall this week in the state of Oregon. Current and former preps made decisions on their college futures and he’s a breakdown of the top commitments and signings that took place.

Robert Ford (2018 Jefferson/Clackamas CC) signed with Idaho State on Friday. The 5-foot-11 point guard was arguably the most highly recruited prospect in the state - high school or JC - and the Bengals won out over others such as Portland State, Pacific, Long Beach State, Montana State, and a number of Division II programs. Ford was a walking triple-double threat every time he stepped on the floor for Clackamas this past season and was named NWAC Player of the Year. He’ll get the chance to play right away at Idaho State and that’s one of the big reasons why he was able to choose the Bengals having only taken a virtual trip of campus.

"They stayed in contact with me and I came to the realization that it would be a good fit with the other guards they have there already," Ford said. "They’re in the process of turning the program around."

Former Jefferson teammate Jalen Brown (2019 Jefferson/Eastern Arizona JC) will join him in the JUCO->D-I route having committed to Pacific late Saturday night.  The ultra-athletic 6-foot-4 wing had an outstanding freshman season with the Gila Monsters, averaging a team-high 17.8 points and earning Second Team All-Conference honors while leading the team to a Region I Division I title.  An academic qualifier out of high school, Brown will have three years of eligibility remaining and he's ecstatic about the opportunity to join the Tigers.

"After talking to coach Damon (Stoudamire) and the coaching staff I just felt the love right away," Brown said.  "It’s a private school so I can get a really good degree there. Also with Damon being from Portland and knowing me and also my parents, it was easy to make a decision."

Another couple of Division I decisions were made via transfer. Cameron Parker (2017 Jesuit) announced on Saturday that he is transferring to Montana from Sacred Heart. The 6-foot-2 guard essentially remade his game the past three years, going from a big-time scorer in high school at Jesuit to more of a pass-first point guard starting from a year of prep school to the past two seasons at Sacred Heart. He’ll get closer to home at Montana and provide floor leadership for two years. He could be eligible to play immediately.

"It was very, very close I really struggled with the decision between PSU and Montana," Parker said. "Every home game I have played has been in front of less 1000 people, I would like the opportunity to play in front of bigger crowds and a city that supports athletics."

His former teammate at Jesuit, Malcolm Porter (2016 Jesuit), will also be heading to the Big Sky. After playing for his father Terry at the University of Portland, the 6-foot-4 guard is set for his final year of eligibility with the Lumberjacks as a grad transfer. Last season he averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23 starts. As a grad-transfer, he’ll be immediately eligible to play in 2019-20 for Northern Arizona coach Shane Burcar.

"The staff really believed in me and wanted me there and I really liked the community aspect and how the City of Flagstaff really embraces you and that was important to me," Porter said.  "Coach Burcar got a new deal and they had a great year last year and I believe they are going in the right direction.  I wanted to join the family."

Jordan May (2017 Reynolds/Point Loma Nazrene) will be continuing his basketball career at the Division II level as he’ll be staying in Southern California at Cal State Monterey Bay. An outstanding shooter, May made the transition up to D-II from Eastern Oregon with no issues and averaged 12.5 points while shooting a sizzling 44.3 percent from three. While things didn’t work out with Point Loma, he was able to find a new spot to his liking with the Otters, who are coached by a man he’s quite familiar with - his former coach at Eastern Oregon, Isaac Williams.

"He’s been making really good progress since he started at CSUMB and I think my skill set could really help the team," May said. "And I really like the Cali sun and didn’t want to leave it."

James Moore (2020 Blanchet Catholic) is headed to the D-III level at George Fox. It was a Northwest Conference battle for the 3A star scorer and he had whittled down his choices to George Fox, Linfield, and Pacific. In the end, he relied upon his faith, family, and relationships to come up with the decision to join the Bruins - and he couldn’t be more excited.

"Honestly it was a lot of prayer and communicating with the coach and after a little while, it just felt like it was the place I was supposed to be," Moore said. "There’s an amazing coaching staff, great group of players, and it’s a great education. I want to be a teacher and coach, and they offer and amazing teaching degree."

Also going to the D-III level is Ethan Hutsell (2020 Phoenix), who will be playing the 2019-20 season at Pacific University. The 6-foot-5 forward was a bit hidden down in Southern Oregon but he was a First Team All-Skyline Conference performer. Hutsell is long, can run the floor, and has the type of game that should fit well into Pacific’s high-octane system.

"I really loved the campus and the community there as well as the players and the playing style," Hutsell said. "Right now I’m just trying to get stronger and get my shot dialed in."

Cayden Wagner Cayden Wagner 6'0" | CG Franklin | 2020 State OR (2020 Franklin) will be joining him in Forest Grove as he too has committed to the Boxers. A 6-foot-3 combo guard who can do a little bit of everything on the court, the key for Wagner at the college level will be getting stronger and more athletic after averaging 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this past season for the Lightning. He enjoys getting the opportunity to keep playing the game he loves while pursuing his interests off the court.

"I first liked Pacific because of the academic aspect - it’s a tough school academically and it has the major I want to study," Wagner said. "From the hoops aspect, I watched a lot of their games last year and I like how they play so quickly and get a ton of threes up. Most games they made substitutions often and constantly played 15+ players."

In junior college signings, Emanuel Steward Emanuel Steward 6'2" | CG Grant | 2020 State OR (2020 Grant) signed with NJCAA member Phoenix College in Arizona. The 6-foot-3 sharpshooter diversified his game this season, improving his ability to drive to the basket and finish plays at the rim. He’ll continue develop both his game and his body at Phoenix, which will give him the opportunity to go up against former Grant teammate Ty Rankin, who will be a sophomore at Eastern Arizona.

And finally in the NWAC, Max Morelli Max Morelli 6'3" | CG Life Christian | 2020 State OR (2020 Life Christian) inked with Clark College in Vancouver. The 6-foot-3 swingman is long, rangy, and athletic and he’ll look to continue building strength and diversifying his game at the JC level. 

"I wanted to stay close to home so I could access Coach (JS) Nash and other resources to continue my development as a player," Morelli said.  "The first time I spoke with (Clark) Coach (Kevin) Johnson he already had a plan for where and how I could contribute to their program. We talked about defining my position instead of floating like I did this year and he believes in my ability to play at a high level."

Meanwhile, Isaiah Wallace Isaiah Wallace 6'2" | CG Churchill | 2020 State OR (2020 Churchill) will stay close to home having committed to Lane. The 6-foot-2 combo guard came back from a knee injury in the second half of the season and settled into a role providing offensive punch as the team’s sixth man. He’s excited about the future ahead.

"Coach Zosel and his staff are great and they know how I like to play and I got to chill and hang around the team and they are just some good guys that like to compete and get better," Wallace said. "Also Coach Zosel knows how to get guys to good school after 1-2 year so that was a big key too."