Boys BB Recruiting Rewind: 21-25
In basketball, the impact of one star recruit can change the fortune of a college basketball program. Over the past 13 classes (2004-2016), who were the best prospects from the region and how have they fared?
#25 Elliott Pitts 6-foot-5 SG De La Salle (2013)
Pitts was listed as a shooting guard, but handled plenty of the facilitator role in high school, which included helping De La Salle win a NorCal title in 2011. He was No. 4 in the 2013 class, which goes down as the deepest class to come from the region during this time period. Pitts signed with Arizona out of high school and was a key player off the bench during his first two years for the Wildcats averaging 21 and 14 minutes respectively over those years. His junior year was cut short due to off the court issues and he has transferred out of the school. His new school is undetermined.
#24 Cameron Oliver 6-foot-8 PF Grant (2014)
The basketball journey of Oliver is a tale of patience and perseverance. He missed his entire junior year due to a knee injury, but ended up being one of the top available seniors in the country for the late signing period. He committed to Oregon State, but ended up not playing in 2014-2015 after head coach Craig Robinson was let go. Oliver landed at Nevada this past year in the first season for Eric Musselman. He averaged 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game in being named Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year.
#23 Quentin Thomas 6-foot-4 PG Oakland Tech (2004)
Thomas was ranked No. 3 regionally in 2004 and No. 96 overall in signing with Roy Williams and North Carolina. He played four years for the Tar Heels, including on the national championship team his freshman year (2005). As a senior, he posted career highs in minutes (15), points (three) and assists (three). After his basketball career, Thomas headed into the music industry.
#22 DeVon Hardin 6-foot-10 PF Newark Memorial (2004)
The four year player at Cal was ranked No. 89 nationally in the 2004 class and No. 2 in Northern California behind DeMarcus Nelson. Hardin averaged seven points and six rebounds per game for the Golden Bears with a career best 10 points and eight rebounds per contest in an injury shortened junior season due to a broken foot. He was taken in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics with many subsequent stops in the D-League and internationally.
#21 Eli Holman 6-foot-10 C Richmond (2007)
The top local player in the 2007 class signed with Indiana, but left after one year following the dismissal of head coach Kelvin Sampson. Holman was ranked No. 85 nationally. He landed at Detroit where he scored in double digits two of his three seasons with at least seven rebounds each season for the Titans. He was the Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year as a senior. Holman is currently a standout in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Zhejiang Lions. This season, he is top five in the league for blocks.