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Stanford Basketball: Deja Vu As New Talent Shines
30 Oct
Summary
- Stanford lost its top five scorers from the previous season.
- Freshman Julius Price scored 26 points in an exhibition game.
- Eastern Washington's Andrew Cook returns after injury, cleared to play.
Stanford University's basketball team is entering its opening game with a significant roster change, having lost its top five scorers from the prior season. Coach Kyle Smith, experiencing a sense of déjà vu, hopes new talent will emerge as unexpectedly as top scorer Ebuka Okorie did last year.
Freshman Julius Price showed promise in an exhibition loss, scoring 26 points. Aziz Olajuwon, son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, also contributed in exhibition play. The team's returning players, juniors Aidan Cammann and Donavin Young, are expected to lead, alongside Delaware transfer Christian Bliss and Yale transfer Nick Townsend.
Eastern Washington, which finished 14-19 last season, brings back two starters. Second-team All-Big Sky forward Alton Hamilton IV and forward Emmett Marquardt are key returnees. A significant factor for the Eagles is the return of sixth-year guard Andrew Cook, who missed last season with an ankle injury but has received a preliminary injunction for eligibility. Cook scored 26 points in their exhibition win and was named to the Big Sky's preseason all-league team, with the Eagles projected to finish third.
