Tag: Cam Spencer

UConn sophomore Alex Karaban to declare for NBA draft, retain eligibility

Karaban helped the Huskies to their second straight title, averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds on 37.9% shooting from 3-point range.

UConn sophomore Alex Karaban announced Thursday on social media that he will declare for the 2024 NBA draft while retaining his remaining college eligibility.

Karaban helped the Huskies to their second straight championship after averaging 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 37.9% shooting from 3-point range. He produced eight 20-point games, including a season-high 26 points and seven rebounds on Dec. 9.

The 21-year-old joins teammate Donovan Clingan in declaring for the draft this year, while Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are also expected to enter. Clingan and Castle are projected to be lottery picks.

Karaban isn’t projected to be drafted, though he will have the opportunity to improve his stock in team interviews and workouts. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

He has until May 29 to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

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Pat Spencer’s brother Cam wins national championship with UConn

Cam Spencer, the brother of Warriors guard Pat, won the national championship on Monday with the UConn Huskies.

Although the Golden State Warriors don’t have an alum from Purdue or Conneticuit on the roster, one member of the team has a special rooting interest in Monday’s men’s basketball national championship in Phoenix.

New Warriors two-way guard Pat Spencer is the brother of Uconn Huskies star guard Cam Spencer.

Spencer stuffed the box score, leading the Huskies in rebounds and steals as they secured their second straight national championship and the sixth title for UConn in the last 25 years.

Via @BleacherReport on Twitter:

Spencer tallied 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 34 minutes as the Huskies took out Zach Edey and the Boilermakers to end March Madness on Monday night. Behind Spencer and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Tristen Newton, UConn beat Purdue, 75-60

Spencer earned All-Big East honors in his only season with UConn, averaging 14.2 points on 48.4% shooting from the field and 44% shooting from the field with 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 32.8 minutes per game.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Michigan State’s Tom Izzo on the state of Rutgers basketball: I feel for Steve Pikiell

Michigan State head coach Tim Izzo talks about Rutgers basketball

Rutgers basketball is in a transition year, one clearly made worse by some offseason decisions that came as a major surprise to the program. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is a believer that Rutgers’ down year is due in part to these offseason choices where two starters shockingly entered the transfer portal.

Michigan State beat Rutgers 73-55 on Sunday. With the loss, Rutgers is now 9-7 (1-4 Big Ten).

This offseason, Rutgers shockingly lost its starting backcourt when Paul Mulcahy and Cam Spencer went in the transfer portal.

The loss of Spencer (to UConn) was a huge surprise and stung the program. Rutgers took a chance on Spencer, who played three seasons for Loyola (Maryland). Spencer took a big step up and excelled at Rutgers.

He was being counted on as a big contributor this season. Instead, he parlayed his success at Rutgers that into an opportunity with UConn.

“Don’t rule them [Rutgers] out either. Those two wings, (Mawot) Mag and (Aundre) Hyatt, they’re good players and (Cliff) Omoruyi is a monster,” Izzo told reporters after the game.

“I think they’re getting a little more out of their guards. But, I feel sorry for him [Pikiell], it’s one thing these crazy rules that we have to all deal with, but I think he lost two of his guys in the summer. One went to UConn and one went to Washington. When you lose them in the summer you don’t get to get another player and so I feel for Steve on that. It’s hard enough when you lose them in the spring, but when you lose them in the summer
 I think those young guards are coming but they’re young. So, I think all those had a factor in it.”

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Spencer is currently averaging 15,6 points per game, a career high. His 51.4 field goal percentage and 46.8 percentage from three point is a major reason why UConn is 15-2 on the season.

Former Rutgers guard Cam Spencer breaks down why he picked UConn in the transfer portal

Cam Spencer talks about why he left Rutgers for UConn.

Former Rutgers basketball standout guard Cam Spencer said his move to UConn this offseason was all about fit. Spencer, who had a very strong season with Rutgers last year, entered the transfer portal this offseason and joins what is now the third team of his college basketball career.

Spencer transferred from Loyola-Maryland to Rutgers last year. In his lone season with the Scarlet Knights program, he averaged 13.2 points per game.

His decision to leave the program after one year was a bit of a surprise given how seamlessly he fit into head coach Steve Pikiell’s team.

In an interview this week, Spencer was asked by college basketball insider Andy Katz  “Why UConn?”

“It was a great fit from the first call, we spoke early,” Spencer told Katz.

“The assistants, we just meshed well, very blue-collar people, competitive people like myself. Really just meshed very well, it was a perfect fit for me.”

UConn are the defending national champions after they beat Miami to win the title.

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Katz followed up his brief interview with Spencer when he asked about how he fit in with the Huskies.

“It’s really a bunch of good guys who are well-coached and just all about the team. Very unselfish, all about winning and I think I fit right in,” Spencer said.

“I’m here to do whatever it takes to help the team win on both ends of the floor. Really just happy with the coaches and all the guys on the team so far. Can’t wait to get the season started.”

After an offseason full of change, Rutgers men’s basketball preparing for 2023-2024 campaign

What are the biggest stories of the Rutgers basketball upcoming season?

For Rutgers basketball, a lot has changed over the last few months. Key pieces such as Cam Spencer and Paul Mulcahy entered the transfer portal, and Caleb McConnell said goodbye to Piscataway. While they all played an important role, the Scarlet Knights are shifting their focus to the 2023-2024 campaign.

The roster will feature many new faces, including Jamicheal Davis, Derek Simpson, and Gavin Griffiths. The trio should add a boost offensively which will be vital in the Big Ten. For head coach Steve Pikiell it will be an important season after Rutgers missed the NCAA Tournament last year.

Pikiell will have talented upperclassmen to lean on in Clifford Omoruyi and Aundre Hyatt, who took his game to another level during the 2022-2023 campaign. That duo should make life harder for opponents when they take on Rutgers.

While the season is still months away, fans in Piscataway could have a fun winter in store. This team has the chance talent to make things interesting and has been shaped by six moves in particular.

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Cam Spencer sweepstakes down to four schools

Per a report, Cam Spencer is down to four programs.

Rutgers basketball got crushing news two weeks ago when Cam Spencer entered the transfer portal. Now, a report from Stadium’s Jeff Goodman seems to indicate that Spencer has narrowed his decision down to four schools.

The senior guard led Rutgers in scoring as well as being the program’s top three-point shooter.

Spencer is certainly in demand since entering the transfer portal and appears to be honing in on four schools.

According to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, the final four teams are Miami, UConn, Oklahoma, and UCLA. Georgetown was reported to be the front-runner when Spencer entered the transfer portal, but they now appear to be out of the running. After tormenting Big Ten teams, it seems that won’t be an issue as Spencer appears to be heading out of the conference for his final season of college basketball.

In his only season as a Scarlet Knight, the Loyola-Maryland transfer was lethal from beyond the arc. His 72 three-pointers were the most by any Rutgers player since Mike Rosario made 74 during the 2008-2009 season. Spencer wanted the ball in his hands in clutch situations and came through in big spots. He will not be an easy player for Rutgers to replace.

Last season, he averaged 13.2 points per game.

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While Spencer has yet to visit any of the programs on his list, he has some well-known schools to choose from. UConn is the defending national champion, and UCLA, Oklahoma, and Miami are usually in the NCAA Tournament. He will be eligible to play next season and is looking to end his college career with a deep tournament run.

Rutgers will also be without fifth-year senior Caleb McConnell, who exhausted his eligibility this season, and fellow transfers Dean Reiber, Oskar Palmquist, Jalen Miller, and walk-on guard Logan Stephens.

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Rutgers transfer guard Cam Spencer to visit Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners are expected to host Rutgers guard transfer Cam Spencer.

The Oklahoma Sooners still have a pair of scholarship spots open as Porter Moser looks to retool his roster for the 2023-2024 basketball season.

One player that could help fill out the guard depth is Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer.

According to Jeff Goodman of Stadium and previously of ESPN and Fox Sports, Spencer has lined up a visit with the Sooners. Additionally, he’ll take a look at Miami, UCONN, and UCLA as well.

Spencer is a 6-foot-4 guard and averaged 13.2 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game in 2022-2023. One thing he does well is shoot from three. He’s a career 40.5% shooter from three-point range. Prior to last season with Rutgers, Spencer spent three seasons with Loyola-Maryland.

In the 2021-2022 season, Spencer averaged 18.9 points per game but wasn’t as efficient from three, hitting just 35.3% of his attempts from beyond the arch.

This offseason, the Sooners have added guards Rivaldo Soares (Oregon), LeTre Dathard (Utah Valley), and Javian McCollum (Siena). But with Grant Sherfield, C.J. Noland, and Bijan Cortes out the door, the Sooners could use another guard that’s a shooting threat.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Geo Baker responds to Cam Spencer leaving Rutgers basketball: ‘RU didn’t even get a chance to match the offer Cam was getting’

Former Rutgers basketball star Geo Baker details the Cam Spencer situation.

Cam Spencer made a shock move on Friday, entering the transfer portal. Given the importance of Spencer to Rutgers basketball last season, it was a surprise to see the guard ready to make a move.

And, former Rutgers basketball standout Geo Baker said that Spencer’s decision to leave came down to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

In fact Baker, who now heads up an NIL collective the Knight Society, believes that Rutgers didn’t even get a chance to coordinate a match for Spencer’s new NIL deal. On Saturday morning, Baker took to Twitter where he provided a detailed and thorough breakdown of everything going on with Spencer leaving the program.

In his most poignant tweet, Baker outlined what he heard about the NIL situation with Spencer:

“It’s my understanding RU didn’t even get a chance to match the offer Cam was getting. Which, if true, means he didn’t really want to stay anyway. There’s nothing you can do about that. But that doesn’t mean RU basketball is screwed on the NIL front.”

Here are Baker’s relevant tweets as they outline what happened (and didn’t happen) with Spencer as well as what this means for Rutgers on the NIL front:

 

 

 

 

 

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Rutgers basketball: Cam Spencer enters transfer portal

Cam Spencer has entered the transfer portal from Rutgers basketball.

While the college basketball season is still months away, surprising news broke on Friday regarding Rutgers. According to NJ Advance Media, starting guard and leading scorer Cam Spencer entered the transfer portal. His departure creates a massive hole for Rutgers.

During the 2022- 2023 campaign, the Davidsonville native averaged 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 31.5 points per game. He shot 89.4 percent from the free-throw line and averaged two steals per game. Spencer only spent one year in Piscataway, but he made an instant impact. He will be immediately eligible to play at his next school.

Spencer transferred to Rutgers before the start of last season after spending three years with Loyola-Maryland. He was shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc and was one of Rutgers best scorers on a team that exceled defensively.

With his exit, Rutgers now has six open scholarships. Two of those spots are reserved for Clifford Omoruyi and Paul Mulcahy, who are seeing what the NBA Draft waters have to offer while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. Later this week, 2023 commit Jamichael David is expected to sign his letter of intent.

As Rutgers prepares for the 2023-2024 campaign, replacing Spencer will not be easy. He was a reliable two-way player and a leader on the court. Rutgers did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament last season, and doing so without Spencer in the lineup next season will be more challenging.

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NIT: Rutgers vs. Hofstra prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

Rutgers men’s basketball (19-14) will face Hofstra (24-9) in the first round of the NIT Tournament on Tuesday night.

Rutgers men’s basketball (19-14) will face Hofstra (24-9) in the first round of the NIT Tournament on Tuesday night.

The Scarlet Knights will be looking for redemption after losing to Purdue in the Quarterfinal of the Big Ten tournament. While their ultimate goal was to play in the NCAA Tournament, the Scarlet Knights will still experience postseason play. However, they have a formidable opponent in Hofstra.

The Pride enter this game looking to get back in the win column after losing to the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in overtime last Monday. They are led by Aaron Estrada, who has been a scoring machine of late. They will need him to be at his best to pull off an upset against Rutgers. This should be a close game between two highly motivated teams looking to prove themselves.

To help you prepare for the game and make smart decisions, here are the latest details from Tipico Sportsbook.

The game starts at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN.