Recent Commitment Catchup (NAIA)

As the spring signing period goes along, players from the Class and 2024 - as well as previous Oregon prep stars - are finding four-year homes. The in-state NAIA schools and their competitors in the Cascade Conference have traditionally farmed the state for players and that is no different this season. So far this spring a number of current and former Oregon preps have made their decisions public.

Roosevelt senior Utrillo Morris Utrillo Morris 5'8" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State OR recently announced that he'll be attending the College of Idaho. The Yotes have been one of the powerhouse programs in the NAIA the past few years and after winning the NAIA title two year ago, followed that up with another Final Four appearance. One of the quickest players in the state the past four years, Morris averaged 8.7 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals this past season with the Roughriders and over the course of his career, dished out over 300 assists. At the College of Idaho, he'll join family members with his uncles Manny Morgan (assistant coach) and Samaje Morgan (sophomore point guard).

Corban has been busy on the recruiting trail so far this spring replenishing their roster and like many programs looked to the transfer portal for immediate help. It's there they found a familiar name to bring back in RJ Veliz (2019 Woodburn). The grad transfer sat out this past season at Wheaton College in Illinois due to some technicalities but is ready to come back home and complete his collegiate career.

"I've known Coach (Taylor) Kelly for a while and it felt like the perfect place to finish my career due to the program in which he's built," Veliz said. "They have a culture of work which is led by Coach Kelly. They don't take any short cuts. Him and I have similar approaches to the game and that in combination with the location, Christ-centered schooling, and MBA program felt like the perfect fit. We have big goals for this year in the CCC and I'm excited to help lead and work towards those goals daily!"

Also coming in as developmental players are a couple of freshmen. Cannon Anderson Cannon Anderson 5'10" | PG St. Mary’s | 2024 State OR was one of the top point guards in the state at the 4A level at St. Mary's in Medford, averaging 17.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, earning First Team All-League honors. A hard-nosed competitor who can really get to the basket, he's looking forward to the opportunities ahead with the Warriors program.

"I had met with Coach (Taylor) Kelly and (Jason) Smarr when they were playing at SOU to connect since I live down here and I really liked them," Anderson said. "I went up for a visit and an open gym and just felt a great culture with the guys and coaches and the program is really built around family. Plus my cousin plays on the girls team so that's cool."

Elias McKinnis will also be coming up north on I-5 to Salem. The 6-foot-1 guard from North Eugene made his mark as an outside marksman for the Highlanders and is hoping to further his development both on and off the court at Corban.

"The first thing is that I built a better relationship with the coaches their than any other school," McKinnis said. "It has a really good business program which is what I am planning to major in. It's only 1 hour away from Eugene and it is a Christian school. I also get a chance to develop more. Overall I feel like it checked all the boxes and that I can see my self hopefully playing a big part on the team one day."

As always, stay tuned to PrepHoops Oregon for the latest recruiting news at all levels for players past and present from the state of Oregon.