Pac-12 stock report: UCLA’s donors deliver, Oregon’s quarterback arrives, ASU’s star departs, fortunes rise (and fall)
With so much attention on the impact of coronavirus and other big-picture issues (immediate eligibility for transfers and name, image and likeness), the small stuff gets lost in the shuffle.
But the small stuff matters, too.
In other words: Time for a Hotline stock report …
Rising: UCLA athletics
With campus shutting down for the spring quarter, the Bruins asked their donors for a one-time gift to help athletes meet the challenges posed by a remote existence.
Per the latest edition of the ‘Inside UCLA Athletics Development’ newsletter:
“It became apparent that many of our student-athletes would need additional technological equipment at home to be best positioned to thrive in a remote learning environment.
“Additionally, many were not equipped with the ideal resources to train mentally and physically on their own.”
In little time, 58 supporters responded with gifts totaling $159,325.
The tax-free donations enabled UCLA’s athletic department to create Student-Athlete Support Packages, which include: academic technology supplies, an at-home training kit and subscriptions to Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal app and Headspace’s Mindfulness app.
The support packages have already been shipped to the UCLA athletes in need.
Rising: Oregon football
With news that Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown will enroll as a graduate transfer, the Ducks have found themselves another Vernon Adams — a centerpiece for an offense that has quality playmakers but no maestro.
Or is Brown another Dakota Prukop, a hyped transfer whose play never matched expectations?
The best guess is that Brown plays more like Adams than Prukop. After all, he was a three-year starter in the ACC and has thrown 40 touchdowns.
Yes, we’re assuming Brown beats out sophomore Tyler Shough for the starting job, because 600+ attempts at the FBS level is better than 15 and Shough’s experience in the system is mitigated by the presence of a new offensive coordinator (Joe Moorhead).
The primary issue with Brown is health:
He suffered two knee injuries at BC and will be playing behind an offensive line with four first-year starters.
For now, we’ll assume he remains injury free in 2020 and double down on Oregon’s status as the North frontrunner.
Rising: USC basketball
The day USC’s 2020 season ended, the Trojans’ roster for 2021 looked wobbly:
Three key seniors were departing (Nick Rakocevic, Jonah Mathews and Daniel Utomi), and star freshman Onyeka Okongwu was headed to the NBA (unofficially then, officially now).
But coach Andy Enfield has worked swiftly to restock using the graduate transfer market with Santa Clara’s Tahj Eaddy, Utah Valley’s Isaiah White and Wofford’s Chevez Goodwin.
We don’t expect a high-level impact from any of them, at least not individually. Collectively, they add the rotation depth USC needs to complement returnees Elijah Weaver and Ethan Anderson, plus five-star freshman Evan Mobley.
Put another way: The presence of the grad transfers should enable USC to avoid a marked downturn.
Rising: Stanford and Utah basketball
Both programs are loaded with proven playmakers, and neither has lost a key player to the NBA or the transfer portal — yet.
Simply by remaining stable to this point in the offseason cycle, the Cardinal and Utes have gained ground relative to a slew of competitors (three of which are listed below).
As of today, UCLA is the clear favorite, but the race for second place looks wide open.
And if the Bruins lose all-conference wing Chris Smith to the NBA, then we’ll engage in a full recalibration.
Falling: Arizona State basketball
The Sun Devils had the look of a title contender in 2021 with the return of all-conference guard Remy Martin and the majority of his supporting cast.
Then Martin decided he wasn’t returning.
On Monday, the junior announced he would “take another step into making my dream a reality.”
We were a bit surprised, only because the Hotline’s working assumption is that a first-round talent will leave school and a second-rounder/free agent will stay.
And Martin is not projected for the first round.
He’s a 6-foot point guard who lacks elite athleticism and is a mediocre perimeter shooter — his future, in our view, might be overseas.
Martin has the option to return, but the Instagram post was as definitive as they come.
His departure, combined with the loss of guard Rob Edwards, leaves the Sun Devils with one proven scorer, Alonzo Verge, and requires elevated production from a slew of role players.
We had ASU slotted for second place in the Hotline’s initial 2020-21 forecast.
Without Martin, the Devils look destined for the middle tier.
Falling: Arizona basketball
HBO’s documentary ‘The Scheme’ was yet another hit to the Wildcats’ image — the audio of Sean Miller further immerses the program in college basketball’s underworld — and came on the same day freshman Zeke Nnaji declared for the NBA Draft.
His classmates, point guard Nico Mannion and wing Josh Green, are expected to join Nnaji in the draft prior to the April 26 deadline.
(There’s no indication that date will change, despite the disruption to the pre-draft process.)
Add the departures of seniors Dylan Smith, Stone Gettings and Chase Jeter, and the Wildcats’ top returning scorer will be guard Jemarl Baker, the former Kentucky transfer who averaged 5.7 points per game for Arizona last season.
Miller is actively seeking graduate transfers and has already secured the services of Georgetown’s James Akinjo, who is slotted to start at point guard.
But the roster, as currently constructed, lacks the look of a contender.
Falling: Washington basketball
Isaiah Stewart declared for the draft on Wednesday and Jaden McDaniels likely will do the same, stripping the roster of its top talents and underscoring the speed with which UW’s fortunes have changed.
A year ago, the Huskies were coming off a Pac-12 regular-season title, had secured a top-10 recruiting class and possessed the back-to-back Pac-12 Coach of the Year winner.
Now, a last-place finish in 2020 could very well be followed by a last-place finish in 2021, and Mike Hopkins’ momentum has evaporated.
Given enough time, the Hotline’s crack research department might locate a comparable collapse in the 45 years since the end of the UCLA dynasty.
The Huskies need USC transfer J’Raan Brooks to be an impact player, the role players to elevate their game en masse, point guard Quade Green to become/remain eligible and the coaching staff to conjure an effective offense.
Check all those boxes and maybe, just maybe, UW will rise to the middle of the Pac.
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