:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32021945/20140104_kdl_sv7_492.0.jpg)
Yesterday on Instagram, JaQuan Lyle announced that he had signed with Oregon. Today the university made the announcement official:
Oregon is thrilled to announce that @JMamba5 has officially signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Ducks next season!
— Oregon Basketball (@OregonMBB) April 22, 2014
Lyle is a five-star combo-guard who figures to push for playing time right away behind Damyean Dotson, Joseph Young, and Dominic Artis. As a senior at Huntington Prep in West Virginia he averaged 17.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 5.7 apg.
The Ducks may not be done. With the transfer of Ben Carter Oregon still has an open scholarship available and has been linked to several big men recently, including preps Kevin Ndahiro (6'9, 235 lbs) of Bradstown, Kentucky and Idrissa Diallo (6'11, 230 lbs) of Los Angeles, California. Today, Oregon was also linked to Houston transfer TaShawn Thomas.
Breaking: Oregon has been granted a release from Houston to recruit PF TaShawn Thomas. Thomas discusses it here http://t.co/Khufl8jWAL (VIP)
— Matt Prehm (@Prehmmr247) April 22, 2014
Thomas has only one year of eligibility remaining but is exactly the type of player the Ducks need going into next season. A tenacious rebounder and rim protector, Thomas led Houston with 15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.6 blocks last season while shooting a ridiculous 59% from the field. At 6'8, 240 lbs, Thomas is a load down low and would be an excellent compliment to Oregon's dynamic guard play.
Thomas has some particularly draconian restrictions on his ability to transfer, which could make Oregon an ideal fit. He also knows Joseph Young from their time together at Houston. Thomas told Matt Prehm of 247Sports that he could be eligible to play right away if he is able to graduate on time, otherwise he will need to redshirt next season and play his senior year in 2015-16.