Montana once again finds talent in California
11/15/2019 11:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana once again tapped into its California ties, signing a pair of prep standouts from the Golden State. Robby Beasley, a 6-3 guard from Dublin, and Brandon Whitney, a 6-1 guard from Mission Hills, both signed their National Letter of Intent this week.
The state of California has been a goldmine for the Grizzlies in recent years. A season ago, all three of Montana's signees hailed from there, in addition to a pair of offseason transfers. Overall, eight of Montana's 15 current players are from California.
Head coach Travis DeCuire credited the relationships he and his staff have built, and it doesn't hurt that all four coaches have close connections to the area. Montana's three assistant coaches were raised in California, while DeCuire spent six seasons in the Bay as an assistant coach at Cal.
"We feel that when you get kids from prior relationships or similar locations, your ability to coach them is going to be at a higher level than when you get kids from random places who don't fully understand what we expect of them and our expectations to win every year," DeCuire said.
Beasley and Whitney visited campus together in September, and announced their verbal commitments in the ensuing days.
For Whitney, the biggest draw was the people of Missoula.
"It's like a family and they're all together, and the environment is beautiful," he said. "That, and I also feel like the coaching staff believes in me a lot."
Beasley's experience was similar.
"You don't go anywhere without seeing people in maroon," he said. "It just feels like everybody is invested in the school. You don't really get that feeling in the big cities, and I really liked that."
BRANDON WHITNEY / GUARD / 6-1 / MISSION HILLS, CALIF.
Whitney, who intends to study business marketing, chose Montana over a reported offer from CSUN and interest from Southern Utah. He says his biggest strengths are getting to the paint and finishing around the rim.
His future coach agrees, also adding he brings dynamic speed.
"I feel like we've had good speed overall in our backcourt the past few years, but Brandon makes us even faster," DeCuire said. "He's a pure point who can create for others, can take over games with his ability to score and can demand a second or third defender. I think we've been at our best when we've had two point guards together on the floor, so the combo of Brandon and Josh (Vazquez) together is exciting."
Running the point as a captain for Bishop Alemany High School, Whitney averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game as a junior in 2018-19. He earned All-Mission League honors for the second year in a row. In June, while playing in a summer tournament in Fairfax, Whitney scored 39 points in a win over Santa Monica.
Whitney comes from a basketball family, with his father coaching at the high school level and his mother playing in college before serving as a collegiate assistant coach.
ROBBY BEASLEY / GUARD / 6-3 / DUBLIN, CALIF.
The connection was established and from there, the relationship was built.
"They recruited me longer than anybody else, so I had a really strong relationship with them," Beasley said. "I really loved the coaching staff. They really welcomed me and had a role for me from the start, and I appreciate that."
Beasley is a three-star recruit, according to ESPN and Rivals, and also had reported offers from Nevada, San Francisco and UC Davis.
In three years at Dublin, Beasley averaged 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. His team went 80-17 during that span. He will play his senior season in San Ramon, at Dougherty Valley High School.
"Robby is a combo who is more built to score," DeCuire said. "When you graduate as much offense as you did last year, and then Sayeed (Pridgett) and Kendal (Manuel) this year, it's time to replenish the cupboards. Robby is a guy who puts the ball in the basket at a high rate, and he's also versatile enough to make plays with the ball in his hands."
In addition to Beasley and Whitney, Montana also signed Australian natives Josh Bannan and Hunter Clarke.
The state of California has been a goldmine for the Grizzlies in recent years. A season ago, all three of Montana's signees hailed from there, in addition to a pair of offseason transfers. Overall, eight of Montana's 15 current players are from California.
Head coach Travis DeCuire credited the relationships he and his staff have built, and it doesn't hurt that all four coaches have close connections to the area. Montana's three assistant coaches were raised in California, while DeCuire spent six seasons in the Bay as an assistant coach at Cal.
"We feel that when you get kids from prior relationships or similar locations, your ability to coach them is going to be at a higher level than when you get kids from random places who don't fully understand what we expect of them and our expectations to win every year," DeCuire said.
Beasley and Whitney visited campus together in September, and announced their verbal commitments in the ensuing days.
For Whitney, the biggest draw was the people of Missoula.
"It's like a family and they're all together, and the environment is beautiful," he said. "That, and I also feel like the coaching staff believes in me a lot."
Beasley's experience was similar.
"You don't go anywhere without seeing people in maroon," he said. "It just feels like everybody is invested in the school. You don't really get that feeling in the big cities, and I really liked that."
BRANDON WHITNEY / GUARD / 6-1 / MISSION HILLS, CALIF.
Montana came onto Whitney's radar after current Grizzlies Eddy Egun and Kyle Owens signed to play for Montana. The three played against each other in southern California and have crossed paths through a mutual trainer.It's official! Welcome to Montana, @Bwhit_10!
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) November 13, 2019
Whitney averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game last year for Bishop Alemany High School in California.#GrizHoops #NSD19 #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/YQLzPAVXt7
Whitney, who intends to study business marketing, chose Montana over a reported offer from CSUN and interest from Southern Utah. He says his biggest strengths are getting to the paint and finishing around the rim.
His future coach agrees, also adding he brings dynamic speed.
"I feel like we've had good speed overall in our backcourt the past few years, but Brandon makes us even faster," DeCuire said. "He's a pure point who can create for others, can take over games with his ability to score and can demand a second or third defender. I think we've been at our best when we've had two point guards together on the floor, so the combo of Brandon and Josh (Vazquez) together is exciting."
Running the point as a captain for Bishop Alemany High School, Whitney averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game as a junior in 2018-19. He earned All-Mission League honors for the second year in a row. In June, while playing in a summer tournament in Fairfax, Whitney scored 39 points in a win over Santa Monica.
Whitney comes from a basketball family, with his father coaching at the high school level and his mother playing in college before serving as a collegiate assistant coach.
ROBBY BEASLEY / GUARD / 6-3 / DUBLIN, CALIF.
Beasley also has a connection to Montana's current roster. playing for the same high school as Timmy Falls. While associate head coach Chris Cobb and the Griz staff were at Dublin High School several years ago watching Falls, they also noticed Beasley.Welcome to Montana, @beaziii!
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) November 15, 2019
Beasley is a 3-star recruit who averaged 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a junior at Dublin High School. The Gaels have gone 80-17 over the past 3 seasons with Beasley.#GrizHoops #NSD19 #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/OA2uy5L5A7
The connection was established and from there, the relationship was built.
"They recruited me longer than anybody else, so I had a really strong relationship with them," Beasley said. "I really loved the coaching staff. They really welcomed me and had a role for me from the start, and I appreciate that."
Beasley is a three-star recruit, according to ESPN and Rivals, and also had reported offers from Nevada, San Francisco and UC Davis.
In three years at Dublin, Beasley averaged 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. His team went 80-17 during that span. He will play his senior season in San Ramon, at Dougherty Valley High School.
"Robby is a combo who is more built to score," DeCuire said. "When you graduate as much offense as you did last year, and then Sayeed (Pridgett) and Kendal (Manuel) this year, it's time to replenish the cupboards. Robby is a guy who puts the ball in the basket at a high rate, and he's also versatile enough to make plays with the ball in his hands."
In addition to Beasley and Whitney, Montana also signed Australian natives Josh Bannan and Hunter Clarke.
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