Oregon Basketball: Guerrier, Young make Ducks Pac-12 threat in 2021-22
Oregon Basketball was already looking like the biggest threat to the coronation of the UCLA Bruins as Pac-12 champions in 2021-22. With Quincy Guerrier and Jacob Young in the fold, UCLA could soon find themselves second-fiddle to their own predestined path.
Oregon officially announced Guerrier’s arrival ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. His addition should create a starting lineup stacked with four starters who all averaged double-digits a season ago.
Guerrier was a stud at Syracuse last year, averaging 13.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He made the third-team All-ACC roster last season but needed to pull much of the weight for that Oregon team himself prior to their second weekend NCAA Tournament run.
He was also a major defensive presence for the Orange. He blocked a shot in 18 different contests, blocking at least four shots four separate times. He can also steal the ball, a versatile defender that could cause real problems for opponents.
Guerrier is now joining a squad laden with veterans, some of who could’ve dipped their toes in the NBA waters this spring. This could end up being one of Dana Altman’s most talented teams in Eugene.
That was further buoyed by the unexpected news that broke Wednesday night when Young announced his own commitment to the Ducks. He follows the Rutgers-to-Oregon pipeline laid out by Eugene Omoruyi a year ago.
Young was a spark plug for the Scarlet Knights last season. The grad transfer averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for Rutgers last season. He also hit 36.9 percent of his three-pointers and was a major part in ending the school’s NCAA Tournament drought.
This will be Young’s third school, but arguably his first real chance at making a Final Four. He’ll likely replace many of the minutes left behind by departing All-American Chris Duarte.
Young and Guerrier are joining a group that includes Will Richardson, Eric Williams Jr., and fellow transfer De’Vion Harmon from Oklahoma. That talented core is just the tip of the iceberg in Oregon, though.
N’Faly Dante will make a bigger impact than he did a season ago. The five-star recruit was averaging 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore before suffering a torn ACL, causing him to miss all but six games. The big man from Bamako should remind many of his high school pedigree in 2021-22.
Franck Kepnang also came on strong after joining the team halfway through the year. He shot an efficient 67.9 percent from the field and led the Ducks in blocks in 9 of the 17 games he played.
Then, there’s Nate Bittle. 247 Sports had Bittle as a Top 25 prospect in the Class of 2021. He’s nearly seven feet tall with athleticism and the ability to shoot threes. He could compete right away and give Oregon the best frontcourt depth in the nation.
Dana Altman has been in Eugene for over a decade now. He’s taken the Ducks to the Elite Eight twice and Final Four once, but hasn’t made it past the Sweet Sixteen since the team’s run in 2017.
With all the transfers coming in and talent already in place, Oregon should be able to surpass the Sweet Sixteen next year, as well as win their third straight conference crown. Anything less would be seen as a disappointment.