Calvin Haynes and OSU Look Promising for the Future
Men’s basketball coach Jay John has high hopes for next year’s crop of players
Now that Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis has given men’s basketball coach Jay John a vote of confidence for next season, it’s time to see how different the team will be in the future.
There will be a new look for the Beavers, even though only one scholarship senior, center Kyle Jeffers, leaves the program at the end of the season.
John expects all his players to be better next season, but he has four recruits and two redshirt players who can make an immediate impact.
He’s three over his scholarship limit of 13, with all his returners. John won’t explain how the roster will work, but said it will. Scholarships are one-year contracts and don’t have to be renewed.
“When the season starts there will be 13 scholarship players, and three walk-ons,” John said.
Freshman guard Lathen Wallace of Portland’s Jefferson High is a standout shooter who has been working on his defense this season while sitting out. Walk-on center C.J. Giles of Rainier Beach, Wash., is a four-star transfer from Kansas. He’ll be eligible Dec. 8 and have almost two seasons with the Beavers.
However, it’s the recruits who are going to give the Beavers a new look. Two of the four are shooting guards and the other two are athletic forwards, which makes the roster smaller and quicker.
Calvin Haynes of Taft High in the Los Angeles area is his marquee newcomer. The guard originally signed with the Beavers last year and should have been here this season.
However, the Rivals.com three-star athlete wasn’t academically qualified and is attending South Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut.
Another year of experience, growth and being away from home should help him adjust to OSU faster than most freshmen.
“I truly feel that if Calvin Haynes were here this year as intended, Calvin would have made a difference in our season,” John said.
The other guard is Mike Stovall from Chicago. Stovall has verbally committed to the program and is expected to sign his letter of intent in the late signing period in April. He’s a 6-foot-5, 190-pound three-star recruit from Marshall High who Illinois and Iowa are still after.
Omari Johnson is a small forward who is long and a good shot blocker. He’s having a strong season at Dorsey High in Los Angeles.
He averages 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks a game for a team that’s 22-5 and headed into the postseason.
“It’s not too disturbing to me,” Johnson said of the losses. “I know they have a young team. It’s not like I don’t want to go there because they are losing. I like Oregon State a lot.”
Power forward Ilija Milutinovic is the last recruit. He’s from Serbia but is playing at the Worcester Academy in Massachusetts.
This is another case where the extra year should help him adjust to college life, academics and the style of the game in a new country.
“With respect to Omari and Ilija, you never know what to expect out of freshmen,” John said. “They will come in and be support guys and we’ll see how they take off. With respect to Calvin, he’s expected to make a difference when he gets here next year.”
So the theme for next season is set. The Beavers plan to have a different look and a different approach.
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