By JOSH NEWMAN
Is the balance of power in the Pac-12 set to move from Tuscon, Ariz. to Berkeley, Calif.?
It remains to be seen, but with the Golden Bears scoring recruits this spring at a level not seen at that program since Jason Kidd, the West Coast is going to be getting plenty of attention next season.
Oakland Bishop O’Dowd big man Ivan Rabb committed to head coach Cuonzo Martin on April 14. The 6-foot-10 forward then recruited Jaylen Brown to Cal before the 6-foot-7 Marietta (GA) Wheeler wing pulled the trigger for the Golden Bears on May 1.
“I think the biggest key for us, it was a blessing, is that those guys had a previous relationship through summer basketball, USA Basketball,” Martin told SNY.tv on the 4 Quarters Podcast Monday afternoon. “They’ve had a genuine passion for each other, and not to say it out loud, but playing with each other. I think when they played in Massachusetts together, the game against each other, it went from there and it helped our program in getting two quality guys.”
Rabb played last summer on the U17 national team, while Brown played on the U18 team. Both played last month for the United States at the Nike Hoop Summit. The game played in Massachusetts Martin referenced was on Jan. 19 when O’Dowd beat Wheeler, 79-70, at the Hoop Hall Classic in Springfield, Mass.
Now, those two will be a part of a group expected to make serious noise. Brown and Rabb are the headliners of a recruiting class that includes four-star shooting guard Tyrone Jolly and three-star wing Davon Dillard. Point guard Tyrone Wallace will return as a senior after flirting with the NBA, Jordan Matthews shot 44.3 percent from deep last winter as a sophomore and Jabari Bird is among the most versatile players in the Pac-12 as a 6-foot-6 guard.
“Really, the basketball will take care of itself because those guys are gifted players,” Martin said. “We have Tyrone Wallace, who will be one of the best returning point guards in the country. Jordan Matthews is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country. Jabari Bird is one of the best guys in the country in terms of what he brings to the table.
“Now, you bring in two talented players, but you also have Tyrone Jolly coming in. You have a mix of quality guys and guys that want to be successful.”
California, which should get a stern early test when it travels to take on Virginia in Dec., is part of a league that appears set to grow in prestige. Arizona will remain formidable, Arizona State made a major splash last month by hiring Bobby Hurley, Utah went to the Sweet 16 last season and returns projected lottery pick Jakob Poeltl, and Oregon State is coming off 17 wins while adding a six-man recruiting class that includes four-star shooting guard Stephen Thompson and four-star wing Tres Trinkle.
“It’s great to have Bobby come in our league because I think the Pac 12 is a tremendous league,” Martin said. “You talk about Utah, Washington has a great recruiting class with Coach [Lorenzo] Romar, so across the board. this is a great league. I’m looking forward to it and I think the key for all of us is to have a good league across the board so everybody can be successful in the end.”
