11/13/17 Emerald Media - Duck Season Basketball

Duck Season An Emerald Media Group Publication

2017-18 OREGON BASKETBALL PREVIEW

It only takes a small gesture to It make only takes a small gesture to someone feel like Gold.

make someone feel like Gold.

2

|

Duck Season Magazine

Treateveryonelikegold.com

19 SATOU

SABALLY

Contents

9 10-11 COVER: TROY 12-16 BROWN NEW PLAYERS 20-22 ON MBB INTERNATIONAL WBB PLAYERS

IONESCU & HEBARD LEADERSHIP

5-6 PAYTON

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard dribbles the ball during the game against UNC at the Final Four. (Emerald Archives)

PRITCHARD Duck Season Magazine

|

3

Duck Season

2017

DuckSeason, the Emerald’s annual football

WRITERS: GUS MORRIS,

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:

magazine, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc.,

Z A K L A S T E R , S H AW N M E D O W,

GREG BUTLER

the independent nonprofi t news company at the

A A R O N A LT E R

TAY L O R B R A D B U R Y

University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily

D E S I G N E D I T O R : K E L LY K O N D O

CARSON BIERAUGEL

Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.

DESIGNERS: THEO MECHAIN,

KYLE BESA

REGAN NELSON, MARANDA YOB

RU B EN ES T R A DA

EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1 2 2 2 E . 1 3 T H AV E . , # 3 0 0 , E U G E N E , O R

BUSINESS

974 0 3, 5 41.3 4 6.5511,

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER:

O REGON GUA RD T ROY B ROWN (0) DRIVES

C H A R L I E W E AV E R X 3 1 7

WITH THE BALL DURING THE GAME

NEWSROOM

V I C E P R E S I D E N T, O P E R AT I O N S :

AGAINST NCU.

EDITO R IN CHIEF: JACK PITCHER

K AT H Y C A R B O N E X 3 0 2

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM EBERHARDT

A R T D I R E C T O R : E M I LY H A R R I S

ADVERTISING

PRINT MANAGING EDITOR:

VP OF SALES AND MARKETING:

M AT E O S U N D B E R G

LINDSEY SMITH X303

D A I LY E M E R A L D . C O M

ON THE COVER

SPORTS EDITOR: JACK BUTLER A S S O C I AT E S P O R T S E D I T O R S : G U S M O R R I S , S H AW N M E D O W

Shuttle to Portland International Airport

Make reservations at

city2cityshuttle.com or call 541-758-8001

come try our

Blackened Blue Burger

Blackened Cajun burger, bleu cheese, Romaine, mayo, and crispy fried onions

Online Ordering Now Available! cornucopiaeugene.com 207 E. 5th Ave. | 541.485.CORN

4

|

Duck Season Magazine

295 W. 17th Ave. | 541.485.2300

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard (3) drives down the court. (Adam Eberhardt)

PRITCHARD STEPS INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE

BY JACK BUTLER SAN FRANCISCO — After Oregon’s trip to the Final Four, there was a mass exodus of talented players. Most of it was expected, but losing four starters and eight total lettermen still hurts.

Point guard Payton Pritchard is the only starter who returns for the 2017-18 season. While players were leaving Oregon, there was a popular internet meme from the television show “the Fresh Prince of Bel Air” where Will Smith is looking around an empty room in his house.

Duck Season Magazine

|

5

FOR THOSE WHO ARE FANS OF BEING FANS HALF PRICE WING TUESDAY - BONELESS THURSDAY - HAPPY HOUR - 16 SIGNATURE SAUCES AND 5 SEASONINGS - ONLINE ORDERING

FOR THOSE WHO ARE FANS OF BEING FANS

HALF PRICE WING TUESDAY - BONELESS THURSDAY - HAPPY HOUR - 16 SIGNATURE SAUCES AND 5 SEASONINGS - ONLINE ORDERING

6

|

2770 Gateway Street • Springfield, OR • 541-393-6606

Duck Season Magazine 2770 Gateway Street • Springfield, OR • 541-393-6606

BUFFALOWILDWINGS.COM BUFFALOWILDWINGS.COM

Somebody photoshopped Payton Pritchard’s head onto Will Smith’s body with the caption “Payton Pritchard down there in Eugene like…”

entire team is a big task.

Pritchard is only a sophomore, yet he is the Ducks’ top returning player in all statistical categories except blocks. He not only needs to fill the void on the court left by players like Dillon Brooks, Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey, but also the leadership void they left.

“When you set your standards very high and try to achieve those standards, there’s always going to be some anxiety, and he experienced that last year, I think, because of the unknown,” head coach Dana Altman said. “But this year, I think he’s a little more comfortable. We are expecting more from him in the ways of leadership.”

“I knew, maybe, during the season that that was coming,” Pritchard said. “For me, just this offseason, I’ve been preparing.”

Pritchard does not feel like he needs to change his game on the court to account for the loss of key players, just a little off the court.

So how does he grow into a leadership role?

It’s a trait that’s been in the cards with Pritchard. During his sophomore year of high school, Pritchard was selected to scrimmage Team USA Under-18 squad in Portland, Oregon, that included players like Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones.

Pritchard played well against guys projected to be first-round NBA draft picks, a confidence booster for a young player.

“Obviously all that stuff helps, but my confidence has always been there.” Pritchard said. “I think my confidence comes from the hard work. at’s where I get all my confidence — all the hours, having no fear.”

Pritchard has always been confident. He took Casey Benson’s starting point guard job last season and never shied away from big moments.

But becoming the leader of an

(Left) Oregon guard Payton Pritchard (3) goes for a layup.

(Right) Oregon guard Payton Pritchard drives past an opponent.

Last season, Pritchard was a good distributer who needed to spark the offense when it was slow. He wasn’t the primary scorer, and although he feels like he’s improved his finishing at the rim and outside shooting, he doesn’t want to change his game entirely.

“I feel like leading by example is just doing your job,” Pritchard said. “Being a leader is doing your job but you’re also looking out for other people. You’re helping them do their job better. at’s the thing about being a leader.

You’re not just worried about yourself, you’re worried about everyone else, to know that they’re on the same page.”

Pritchard has been thrust into this role, but he’s worked to be in this position and wants to own it. After all, it’s a product of hard work.

“Yeah it’s odd, but at the same [time], I’m not going to say I don’t like it,” he said. “You know what I mean? I want to be in this position, so at the same time I’m okay with it.”

Duck Season Magazine

|

7

New nonstop

EUG to PHX

2018 OPEN ENROLLMENT IS HERE! YOU MUST APPLY BETWEEN

ST NOVEMBER 1 - AND DECEMBER 15TH

4 ways to apply for 2018 health insurance ONLINE

HealthCare.Oregon.gov

BY PHONE

IN-PERSON HELP

Marketplace Call Center: 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) Available 24/7 (Closed Thanksgiving Day)

Find local professionals and volunteers to help you enroll free of charge.

HealthCare.Oregon.gov/ Pages/find-help.aspx

BY MAIL

Application form available on HealthCare.gov MAIL TO: Health Insurance Marketplace Dept. of Health and Human Services 465 Industrial Blvd.

London, KY 40750-0001

This Public Service Advertisement has been donated by Emerald Media Group.

8

|

Duck Season Magazine

Oregon guard Anneli Maley (15) dribbles the ball during an exhibition game.

(Adam Eberhardt)

Women’s basketball roster loaded with international talent B Y AU G U ST H OWE L L

Oregon women’s basketball is no stranger to international players. is season, the team is deeper than ever with international talent as they added two top-tier players from Europe and Australia, who are expected to play big roles on this year’s team. e Latest International Player Rankings on ProspectsNation.com rate freshmen Satou Sabally at No. 1, Anneli Maley at No. 6 and Aina Ayuso at No. 10. No other school in the country has three top-tier international players as freshmen on their roster.

Sabally (Germany) and Ayuso (Spain) were some of the biggest names in Europe’s youth basketball scene, and freshman Australian Maley has added more height and rebounding presence.

Sabally, who committed to Oregon last November, was born in New York City but moved to Germany as a child and grew up playing basketball in Berlin. She played for Eisvögel USC Freiburg, a professional team that competes across Europe. Sabally is still an amateur and NCAA eligible

because she chose not to receive a salary, according to ESPN. At 6-foot-4, Sabally is the thirdtallest player on the team. She should be able to score and rebound efficiently as a forward or center.

She has experience playing guard as well, so don’t be surprised if head coach Kelly Graves plays her there during games.

Spanish guard Aina Ayuso was the first commitment for Oregon’s 2017 class. She played for Spain in the 2015 U16 European championships and led the team in scoring at 9.7 points per game.

One of the top freshmen guards in Europe, Ayuso averaged 13 points per game and 4.8 rebounds for Segle XXI, where current Oregon guard Maite Cazorla played.

Ayuso said that Cazorla was a key part of her decision to commit to Oregon. “Maite has always been someone I looked up to,” Ayuso told e Daily Emerald last year when she committed. “She’s the best guard I have ever played with.”

Anneli Maley is no stranger to the spotlight; she played for four years on Australia’s national stage. She played on the U16 through U19 teams and won the 2014 FIBA Oceania U18 Championship, averaging 10.2 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Maley has basketball in her genes.

Her father, Paul Maley, played professional basketball in Australia, a path that Anneli followed. She played half the 2016-17 season in the Women’s National Basketball League for the Adelaide Lightning.

Maley’s U19 National Team beat Cazorla and her Spanish team at the 2015 FIBA Women’s World Championship third-place game.

At 6-foot-2, Maley’s height is a huge bonus for Oregon, which will need size in the frontcourt.

“I think she was widely considered the best player her age in Australia,” Kelly Graves told e Oregonian when Maley committed in April.

“And if you fit that bill, you are going to be considered one of the best in the world.”

Duck Season Magazine

|

9

Ionescu & Hebard

inherit new responsibilities Oregon forward Ruthy Hebard (24) goes for a layup.

(Adam Eberhardt)

B Y S H AW N M E D O W During an inspiring run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season, Oregon’s two leading scorers were freshmen Ruthy Hebard and Sabrina Ionescu. eir point totals have earned them honors, respect and have now thrust them into a leadership role.

“We led by example, I know that’s for sure,” Ionescu said. “I think all of us freshmen did.”

Now, the duo has to be more than just scorers as the Ducks enter the season ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll. With only two seniors and two juniors on the team, Ionescu and Hebard have to be team leaders and not just scoring leaders this year.

“When you talk about the expectations and leadership, we still have to remember this is a young team,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “Maybe one of the youngest teams in the country. So even though we have a lot of game experience in terms of returners back, starters back, that kind of thing, the reality is we’re still very young.”

Ionescu, the reigning Pac-12 and ESPN

10

|

Duck Season Magazine

Freshman of the Year, has built a strong rapport with Hebard that has proven to be a valuable part to the Ducks’ offense.

“It’s [an] inspiration playing with Sabrina and having her push me every day,” Hebard said. “It’s an honor to play with her. I’m proud of her for getting Freshman of the Year, and it’s going to be great to play with her for the next three years.”

Ionescu and Hebard both represented the United States this past summer at two different age levels. With all five starters returning, Ionescu and Hebard are now naturally in line to become leaders this season. e Ducks still plan to use a bulk of the bench through the nonconference slate as they did last year, and with that much overlap between so many players, leaders can quickly emerge similar to how Ionescu and Hebard did last year.

“I think it’s a little different this year, especially since we had gone through it,” Ionescu said.

“Last year I think our freshmen looked up to us more, and definitely other players on the team look up to us a lot more. We still

look up to them.”

Ionescu and Hebard’s breakout freshmen seasons were vital pieces to the Ducks’ success, but they weren’t the only effective young players.

Forward Mallory McGwire was another freshman who played a big part of last year’s team. She and Hebard controlled the paint and anything around it. McGwire was third behind Hebard and Ionescu in total rebounds in the 2016-17 season. en-senior Jacinta Vandenberg mentored Hebard and McGwire last year. Vandenberg brought off-court leadership and ability to instill confidence in the young players. Now it’s their turn to lead.

“As a sophomore, especially Mallory and I are working on talking more and trying to lead not just the post, but the freshmen as well and being more vocal this year,” Hebard said.

Now Ionescu, Hebard and co. have to live up to an expectation in which they’re not underdogs anymore.

“I think the ceiling is very high,” Graves said.

“And we’re still a work in progress.”

The Fifth Street Public Market is the area’s premier shopping destination. Here you’l find a colorful collection of unique and enchanting stores, restaurants, and cafés, as well as a bout The Fiiqfueth hotStreetel. Public Market is the area’s premier shopping destination. Here you’l find a colorful collection of unique and enchanting stores, restaurants, and cafés, as well as a The bouti FifthqStreet Public area’s premier ue hotel . Marketyou’llisisthefind shopping a colorful The Fifthdestination.

Street PublicHereMarket the area’s premier The Fifth Street Public Market is the area’s premier shopping destination. Here you’ll find a colorful collection of unique enchanting stores, stores, collection of unique andand enchanting restaurants, and cafés, wellasasaa restaurants, and cafés, as as well boutique boutique hotel.hotel.

shopping destination. Here you’ll find a colorful collection of unique and enchanting stores, restaurants, and cafés, as well as a boutique hotel.

Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) makes a diving pass. (Adam Eberhadrdt)

PRE- GAME. PRE- ROLL. PREPARE.

JUST DOOBIE

Pre-rolls starting at $5 Student discounts available!

1553 Oak Street Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 345-8904 • KeepEugeneGreen.org @GreenerSide_Eug @TheGreenerSide Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.

For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Duck Season Magazine

|

11

Troyleads Brown Oregon’s rebuild

BY GUS MORRIS

S

everal years ago, Troy Brown Jr. and his family were driving home from a preseason basketball tournament at midnight, and Brown Jr. was fuming.

His team had just lost a tournament championship game in the closing seconds, and even though he had spent his entire day hooping, he was too fired up to stop.

“He was so mad,” said his dad, Troy Brown Sr. “He had tears coming out of his eyes and he was insisting that I take him to the gym, at midnight, so he could work on his game.”

Brown Jr. hates to lose. He hasn’t had to deal with it much throughout his career, but that only made the losses, when they came, that much more painful.

It’s that competitive fire that helped Brown Jr. become one of the top high school basketball players in the country, a path that ultimately led him to Oregon. He’s the highestrated recruit of the Dana Altman era and could be Oregon’s first one-and-done player in school history. He’s been in the national spotlight since elementary school and will be once again this fall as he helps usher in a new era of Oregon basketball.

He may not be at Oregon long, but his stop in Eugene will serve as the next step to an already illustrious career that took off over a decade ago.

‘He wanted to accomplish more’ By the age of 3, most children can ride a tricycle or use advanced sentence structure. Brown Jr. was already dunking. e little plastic hoop that his father set up in their Las Vegas home served as Brown Jr.’s introduction to basketball.

He jumped off chairs and tables trying to recreate dunks he saw from the NBA stars of the late ’90s.

Brown Jr. also played soccer and football and ran track as a kid. But his father recognized early on that basketball would be his son’s path. Brown Sr. played basketball in college at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. at’s also where he met his wife, Lynn, who ran track and played volleyball. e genes were there; they just hoped the motivation would follow.

Brown Jr. started playing competitively around the time he was 4, and became phenom as an elementary school kid.

He studied Larry Bird and Penny Hardaway, two players who made their teammates better, and soon adopted a similar playing style.

He stepped into the national spotlight in second grade, 12

|

Duck Season Magazine

when his AAU team competed in the national championship tournament in Orlando.

“Really early on, we kind of had an idea that he’d end up a pretty good basketball player,” Brown Sr. said. “He’s always shown ability to play the game at a pretty high level.”

While Brown Jr. had the physical traits and the ability from an early age, he was constantly playing catch-up to his older sisters, Jada and Janae, who both also excelled at sports.

Janae won the shot put at the 2002 National Junior Olympics and Jada won a Nevada state basketball title in high school, which made their jabs at their brother more poignant. e competition, while friendly, fueled Brown Jr. all the same.

“He would see his sisters competing,” Brown Sr. said, “and he wanted to accomplish more.” ose accomplishments started to build in middle school, as Brown Jr. dominated the Las Vegas’ youth basketball scene.

His notoriety spread and he received his first scholarship offer when he was 14 from UNLV. But before committing anywhere, Brown Jr. had to make it through high school. Nevada has two of the premier high school basketball schools in the country in Bishop Gorman and Findlay Prep, which have created dozens of Division I recruits and a handful of NBA players. Brown Jr. could’ve played at either if he wanted. Instead, he chose Centennial High, a public school where his sister Jada won a state title.

He wanted to follow in her footsteps and win a state title for himself. He also wanted to play with his friends, most of whom were going to Centennial.

Playing for a coach like Todd Allen only sweetened the deal.

Allen turned the Centennial program around during his tenure, and the Browns liked the team-oriented style that Allen preached.

Allen heard rumors that Brown Jr. was considering choosing his program over the perennial powerhouses like Gorman and Findlay. So Allen went to watch the eighth grader workout, introduce himself and see what the hype was all about.

“First time I saw him work out, I knew he was going to be special,” Allen said. “You sit there and think, ‘ ere’s no way this kid is an eighth-grader. ere’s no way.’”

Brown Jr. started all four years at Centennial, leading the Bulldogs to a record of 95-17 while averaging double-figures

Oregon forward Troy Brown Jr. (0) drives down the court during the game against NCU. (Adam Eberhardt)

BUS BUS

1111 EmXEmX

BUS BUS

1818 BUS BUS

2424

EmXEmX EmXEmX

Campus Campus is awesome, is awesome, we know. we know.

But But did you did you know know howhow much much awesome awesome stuffstuff is out is there out there just just beyond beyond campus? campus?

There’s There’s roller roller derby derby at the at Bob the Bob Keefer Keefer Center, Center, soccer soccer leagues leagues and and batting batting cages cages at Kick at Kick City,City, and and all the all the student-budget-friendly student-budget-friendly sports sports equipment equipment you you could could everever wantwant at Play at Play It Again It Again Sports.

Sports.

So go SotogoLTD.org, to LTD.org, findfind youryour route, route, and and get out get there. out there.

We’llWe’ll drive. drive.

All you All you needneed is a is destination a destination and and youryour Student Student ID toIDget to where get where you you wantwant to goto-go for free. for free.

Seriously.

Seriously.

LTD.org LTD.org

Duck Season Magazine UODuckStore.com

|

15

Oregon forward Troy Brown Jr. (0) holds the ball away from an opponent.

(Adam Eberhardt)

HE’S ALWAYS SHOWN ABILITY TO PLAY THE GAME AT A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL.” TROY BROWN SR. “unfinished business,” according to his father.

“I think it’s driven him to continue to work hard,” Brown Sr. said. “I think just like everything else, he kind of takes it and uses it as energy to drive him.”

Oregon and beyond By the time he graduated, Brown Jr. had already committed to Oregon. He signed with the Ducks in November of 2016 after Oregon made a late push for him in the fall. He enrolled in early June of this year.

in points every year. A 6-foot-7 point guard, he could smother opposing players on defense or rise over them for dunks and jumpers. He earned McDonald’s All-American honors in 2017, played in the Jordan Brand Classic this past summer, and won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2016 U17 FIBA World Championships, a feat that he routinely brings up to his sisters.

He made the most of his time at Centennial. Stepback jumpers, ankle-breaking crossovers and vicious dunks were in store whenever Brown Jr. took the court. His most viral play came in December of his senior year when he dunked on 6-foot-11 Marvin Bagley, a consensus top-three player in the country.

“He’s had dozens of highlight plays and clutch moments that he capitalized on,” said Darian Scott, a high school teammate of Brown Jr. “You will see him doing something impressive every night he’s on the floor. I guarantee it.”

What made Brown Jr. special was what made players like Bird and Hardaway special; he elevated the play of his teammates and inspired others to perform better.

Allen remembers Brown Jr.’s sophomore year when Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski visited Centennial. Krzyzewski, who is a two-time inductee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, could only think of one comparison for Brown Jr.: Magic Johnson, the 6-foot-9, Hall of Fame point guard who won five NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980’s. “[Krzyzewski] told me that Troy has the ability, with his makeup, to be that good if he chooses to,” Allen said.

Despite all Brown Jr. accomplished in high school, Centennial lost in the state playoffs in each of his four years. He graduated from Centennial in 2017 with a sense of 16

|

Duck Season Magazine

He liked Altman and his staff, which was a primary reason he chose Oregon over Kansas, a more traditional blue-blood program and the place his sister Jada played basketball for four years. Altman said he’s enjoyed working with Brown Jr. in the few months he’s been on campus. He called Brown Jr. a “really good talent” and said that he’s been “easy to work with.”

“Troy is gonna be unbelievable,” sophomore Payton Pritchard said. “He’s gonna have to step up big for us this year.” e one drawback with Brown Jr., though, is that this could be his only year in an Oregon uniform. Several NBA mock drafts list him as a potential first-round pick. If those predictions hold up, he would be guaranteed millions of dollars if he makes the jump to the pros, a tough offer to reject.

Oregon had three players drafted last year, the most in single year in program history. Brown Jr. could make Oregon history again this year, by being the first Duck to go oneand-done.

“We haven’t had those types of issues before,” Altman said. “... Fortunately for us, he’s just worried about the year.”

Brown Jr. himself said he’s not thinking about the draft.

“One and done is always in the picture,” Brown Jr. told John Canzano on the e Bald Faced Truth back in May. “But I never really thought of it like that. I’m just here to play basketball and whatever happens, happens.”

He has time to make that decision — June 11 is the deadline.

Oregon’s season will be long over by then, but Brown Jr. will be sure to make every moment of his career as a Duck count, no matter how long it lasts.

DucksHousing.com A simple way for UO students

TO SEARCH FOR

HOUSING Duck Season Magazine

|

17

OmniShuttle 24/ 7 Eugene Airport Shuttle

PLUMBING HOUSEWARES ELECTRICAL HARDWARE LAWN & GARDEN TOOLS PAINT

www.omnishuttle.com

541-461-7959 1-800-741-5097

18

|

Duck Season Magazine

2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191

The The Sensational Sensational Sabally Sabally

BY SHAWN MEDOW

At Pac-12 media day in mid-October, sophomore point guard Sabrina Ionescu was asked who would get the ball if Oregon needed a basketball late in a game. Ionescu, who beat No. 20 Cal last season on a last-second did not respond with her own name.

Instead, she said freshman Satou Sabally. Fellow sophomore Ruthy Hebard agreed.

“I would say Satou as well,” Hebard said. “She defi nitely has a lot of confidence coming in as a freshman, and how she plays really works with what we’re trying to do.”

Sabally, a German international student and the No. 1 international prospect in her class, joins a young team with high expectations after a run to last year’s Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Sabally accompanies a talented backcourt and has quickly emerged as a potential vital piece to the team’s offense.

Basketball in Europe has its differences compared to the United States. Sabally grew up in a club system rather than the public or private school system used in the U.S. e growth of the international game is transitioning into collegiate basketball now more than ever, and the effects are visible at Oregon.

as well as Ionescu for help in the backcourt. Sabally and Ionescu have developed on-court chemistry in the time they’ve practiced together.

“She fi nds these passes, and you always have to be ready to get the ball, which I like because it’s always an option to score,” Sabally said of Ionescu.

Sabally won the Most Valuable Player award at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2017 Division B this past summer in Eilat, Israel. While the competition there was a challenge for the 19-year-old, the competition in the NCAA and Pac-12 will be a different beast for the Berlin native.

“It’s really high,” Sabally said of the competitiveness in collegiate basketball. “I have to adjust and playing more physical, playing faster and it’s really hard. at’s the only way I’m getting better, so I appreciate it.”

Oregon forward Satou Sabally (0) dribbles the ball down the court.

(Adam Eberhardt)

“ e game is international now,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “And I think if you’re not recruiting internationally, I think you’re doing a disservice to your university and your program. ere are just so many good players.”

Sabally is one of three freshmen on Oregon this year. e other two are Aina Ayuso, a Barcelona native, and Anneli Maley from Melbourne, Australia. Sabally says she spends a lot of time with Maite Cazorla, a junior from Spain, as well as with her other international teammates to help her avoid homesickness.

She misses her mother’s cooking, specifically rice, but says she’s fallen in love with pancakes. Besides adapting to food, the English language and college life, Sabally is adjusting to the on-court life too.

“In Germany, we don’t play so fast,” Sabally said. “Just switching from defense to offense is kind of different.

“When I drive to the basket, you get more pushes. It’s harder to get to the basket,” Sabally said. “I defi nitely have to get stronger; it’s way more physical.”

Besides Cazorla, Sabally leans on senior Lexi Bando Duck Season Magazine

|

19

Oregon guard Elijah Brown (5) shoots a three pointer.

(Adam Eberhardt)

Elijah Brown Brown, a 6-foot-4 guard, is a graduate-transfer who spent his last two seasons playing for New Mexico, where he was a premier player in the Mountain West Conference. He averaged over 20 points per game and shot 36 percent from three for the Lobos. He began his collegiate career at Butler but transferred to New Mexico after his freshman year. He’s the son of Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown.

Abu Kigab Kigab, a freshman, hails from Ontario, adding to the list of Canadian Ducks. e 6-foot-6 forward was a four-star recruit and the second-best small forward in California. He’s played on the international stage for Canada the last two years and helped its U19 team win the gold medal this past summer, averaging 14.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

MiKyle McIntosh

The new faces of Oregon basketball

BY GUS MORRIS

Another graduate transfer, McIntosh averaged 11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 36 percent from three during his two seasons at Illinois State. e 6-foot-7 forward from Ontario earned second-team Missouri Valley Conference honors last season and helped lead the Redbirds to a No. 1 seed in the NIT. He scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and swiped four steals in Oregon’s 124-72 over NCU.

Victor Bailey Jr. Bailey Jr. scored 2,429 points during his prep career at McNeil High School in Austin, Texas. A four-star recruit, he was ranked as the 90th-best player in ESPN’s Top 100 and was the sixth-best player in Texas according to bustingbrackets.com. e 6-foot4 freshman guard scored a game-high 20 points in Oregon’s exhibition game against Idaho. He’s also the son of 400-meter Olympic medalist Tonja BufordBailey and former NFL wide receiver Victor Bailey.

Paul White Kenny Wooten e four-star freshman forward is Oregon’s replacement for Jordan Bell. At 6-foot-9, and with crazy athleticism, Wooten can jump out of the gym and will serve as Oregon’s only true shot-blocker this year. He averaged 13.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and four blocks for Manteca High School his senior year.

20

|

Duck Season Magazine

White transferred from Georgetown last summer but sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules. He played in all 33 games for the Hoyas his freshman year, averaging five points and almost three rebounds a game. White missed all but seven of Georgetown’s games his sophomore year after suffering an abdominal injury that required surgery. e 6-foot9 redshirt junior was a top-50 recruit at Chicago’s Whitney Young High School.

EST. 2017

GAME DAYS

BASKETBALL WATCH PARTIES Men’s Basketball

Jan. 11th

Jan. 13th

Feb. 1st

ARIZONA STATE

ARIZONA

UC BERKELEY

Feb. 15th

March 1st

March 8th

USC

WSU

VS.

VS.

VS.

VS.

PAC 12 QUARTER FINALS

VS.

woMen’s Basketball

Feb. 23rd VS.

ARIZONA STATE

FREE FOOD DRINKS GIVEAWAYS

Get your fan photo taken at the Emerald

EMERALD MEDIA GROUP

AT THE EMU

Duck Season Magazine

|

21

Troy Brown Brown is the gem of this incoming class — a fivestar recruit that has already been slated as firstround pick in the NBA Draft in June. e 6-foot-7 guard was the 18th-ranked player in ESPN’s top 100 and was a McDonald’s All-American last year.

He also won a gold medal at the 2016 U17 FIBA World Championships.

Will Johnson Johnson joins Evan Gross as the other walkon for Oregon this year. He was named the most outstanding player in the Western League at Palisades High School during his senior year.

His grandfather was Marques Johnson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft.

Oregon freshman Abu Kigab (24) dribbles the ball down the court against NCU. (Adam Eberhardt)

Don’t Get IMPACTED, Make the WISE Choice.

Choose Dr. John E. Villano, Eugene’s Wisdom Tooth Expert!

Conveniently located near UO. Student discounts available and most insurances accepted.

2233 Willamette Street Building G Eugene, OR 97405

22

|

Duck Season Magazine

Phone 541.484.2136 Fax 541.484.0960 eugeneoralsurgery.com

TURN

INTO

The Newsroom

The Media Group Video Interns

News Reporters

Work with the video desk to capture and edit video.

Help inform the UO community

Graphic Design Interns

Copy Editors

Collaborate on brand and layout projects.

Help make the news read well.

Videographers

Help tell stories from the UO community.

Arts & Culture Reporters Connect students to art and events.

Writing & Photography Interns Help produce content for our Special Sections.

Bicycle Delivery

Ride cargo bikes to deliver the Newspaper.

Positions Available Now! dailyemerald.com/apply

Duck Season Magazine

|

23

Vintage, World & New Clothing for Women & Men, Accessories & Gifts 245 W. 8th Avenue, Eugene (near the WOW Hall) Monday - Thursday 12-5:30 pm Friday and Saturday 12-8 pm Sunday

By Appt.

24

|

Duck Season Magazine

Like us on Facebook!

541.255.2442 | Mary McCoy, independent owner-operator