Oregon Ducks Basketball

Oregon star Bol Bol has announced his collegiate career is over in an Instagram post.

The big man wrote Thursday:

"Playing for my dream school under my favorite Coach Altman has been the Best part of my life and sadly it has come to end sooner than I would Like but thank you for all those who rocking with me & all Oregon fans. I’m coming back 100x harder & for all the people who doubt me and hate on me keep on doing it #goducks."

Per 247Sports' Matt Prehm, one source said Bol's injury is a stress fracture and his recovery timetable would have kept him out for the remainder of the regular season and, if Oregon advances, NCAA tournament.

Bol will start rehabbing in preparation of the 2019 NBA draft, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

He's expected to be one of the top picks in this year's NBA draft. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has the seven-footer going No. 6 overall to the Washington Wizards in his most recent mock draft. 

Bol hasn't played since Dec. 12 against San Diego when he scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 33 minutes. The 19-year-old led the Ducks with 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and a 52 percent success rate from three-point range. 

Former Adidas executive Jim Gatto has implicated the Oregon Ducks in the recruitment scandal involving 2017 5-star recruit Brian Bowen.

According to Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel, Gatto's attorney said Tuesday at trial that Oregon put "an astronomical amount of money" in front of Bowen in order to secure his commitment. Bowen signed with the Louisville Cardinals but left the school in January in the wake of the scandal.

The trial may have consequences that reach far beyond Oregon and Louisville, per Wetzel and the New York Times' Adam Zagoria:

Silvio De Sousa was the No. 32 player overall in the 2017 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and signed with the Kansas Jayhawks. Nassir Little, a member of the North Carolina Tar Heels, was the third-best player overall in the 2018 class.

Wetzel also reported Gatto's attorney said the family of Dennis Smith Jr. received $40,000 during his time with North Carolina State. Smith spent one season in Raleigh before going to the NBA, where the Dallas Mavericks selected him ninth overall.

The allegations against Oregon come at an inopportune time for the school.

USA Today's Dan Wolken noted the NCAA is already looking at the basketball program for separate issues. The Oregonian's Tyson Alger and Andrew Greif reported last December "noncoaching staff members were found to have participated in on-court activities and workouts," which ran afoul of NCAA rules regarding the number of coaches a team can have.

Last September, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Gatto and four others with wire fraud and money laundering. According to ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, prosecutors allege Gatto helped direct $100,000 to the father of a star recruit "at the request of a Louisville coach." At the time, Schlabach wrote the player was likely Bowen, who denied having any knowledge of the plan.

Stadium's Jeff Goodman reported Bowen's father will testify at the trial as a witness for the government. As part of his agreement, prosecutors won't press charges against him.

Partially due to fallout from the scandal, Louisville fired head coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich.

Bowen transferred to South Carolina but didn't play a game for the Gamecocks. He kept his name in the 2018 draft pool after the NCAA told him he'd have to sit out the entire 2018-19 season while it determined a final ruling on his eligibility. 

Shortly thereafter, Bowen withdrew from the draft and signed with the Sydney Kings of Australia's National Basketball League.

A peek at Sabrina Ionescu's Instagram reveals highlights from the life of the 20-year-old Oregon Ducks guard. Drake lyrics score back-to-back photos, making her relatable to 99.9 percent of other 20-somethings doing it for the 'gram. Yet, conspicuously hidden from her modestly curated social-media life is the part that makes her unique from 99.9 percent of all humans. The part that discloses she is the all-time NCAA women's leader in triple-doubles.

Ionescu (pronounced yo-NESS-coo)—put some respect on her name and game—respectfully shuns comparisons to the NBA's 2016-17 MVP, Russell Westbrook, and says she's not a "freakishly great athlete" like the triple-double king.

Debatable.

Proved, though, is that Ionescu, like Westbrook, is a singular type of talent.

As a sophomore in 2017-18, the 5'11" guard, born in California with Romanian roots, broke the record for triple-doubles when she recorded her eighth—in just her 48th college game. (The previous record holders, Penn State's Suzie McConnell and Saint Mary's Louella Tomlinson, had seven in 128 and 125 games, respectively.) She finished the season with 10.

The 2016-17 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year offers quality and quantity. She doesn't force the game or attempt ill-advised shots or passes. Instead, she has mastered the fundamentals and allows the game to come to her. She strikes the perfect balance by remaining patient and picking spots to be aggressive. And she controls the tempo with the composure of a classically trained maestro.

Don't make her out to be a stat-padder, either. Ionescu is all about team. She's hyper-aware of her teammates as well as of opponents' defensive breakdowns. The visionary leaps for rebounds and capitalizes on mismatches by feeding her teammates opportunities. The result in 2017-18: All five Ducks starters averaged double figures in scoring. Ionescu is an imposing threat as a career 43.0 percent three-point shooter, and when defenders close in, she makes quick reads—with little risk of turning it over (in 2017-18, she finished 20th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.6-to-1)—or will sacrifice her body for a trip to the free-throw line (where she's an 81.2 percent shooter).

Ionescu has transformed the Ducks from an easy out to a tough-to-beat team, leading them in 2017-18 to a program-best 33-5 record, the Pac-12 regular-season title and their first Pac-12 tournament title.

Ionescu has put her stamp on the college basketball world, and it's just halftime of her collegiate career.

Shana Renee is a Sports Cultural Analyst and the founder of AllSportsEverything.com. Her features include Black Enterprise, espnW, Essence, MSNBC, Refinery29 and several others. A passionate New York Jets, Knicks and Yankees fan, follow her sports talk on Twitter and Instagram at @ItsShanaRenee.

Check out more game-changers on the B/R POWER 50 Level Up list:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
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5. A'ja Wilson
6. Sylvia Fowles
7. Aaron Judge
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University of Oregon head basketball coach Dana Altman reportedly did not disclose contact he made with the school's Title IX coordinator and Kavell Bigby-Williams' former head coach at Gillette College after he found out the transfer forward was under investigation for an alleged sexual assault. 

According to Sports Illustrated's Kenny Jacoby, "Altman's cell phone records, which SI obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal the coach was enmeshed in Bigby-Williams’s case from the beginning" after Oregon previously claimed the head coach "was aware police were looking into Bigby-Williams but didn’t know what it was about, and did not know the nature of the allegation." 

In June, Jacoby penned a piece for the Daily Emerald and reported Bigby-Williams "played the 2016-17 men’s basketball season while under criminal investigation for an alleged sexual assault." 

On Thursday, Jacoby followed up and noted Bigby-Williams was being investigated for an alleged forcible rape, although no criminal charges were filed. He has since transferred to LSU. 

While a school spokesman told Jacoby "it is the school's practice not to notify coaches when student-athletes are accused of sexual assault so as not to risk 'tainting investigations,'" Sports Illustrated's findings revealed Altman was in contact with Oregon's deputy Title IX coordinator, Lisa Peterson, and Bigby-Williams' former head coach at Gillette College, Shawn Neary, both of whom had knowledge of the allegations. 

Specifically, Jacoby reported the following: 

"Within hours of learning of the allegation, the deputy Title IX coordinator—who is also a senior associate athletic director—contacted Altman, against the school’s safeguards restricting the athletic department’s involvement. The phone records also illuminate Altman’s repeated attempts apparently to learn more information about a case he was not supposed to be involved in."

Oregon has since denied any wrongdoing as it pertains to Altman and the Title IX office. 

"The information in Coach Altman's phone records in no way contradicts what has been said all along: the university did not, through its Title IX office or others, share information about the Bigby-Williams investigation with the coaching staff," school spokesman Tobin Klinger told Sports Illustrated. 

"Although Coach Altman had phone conversations with the head basketball coach from Wyoming, the primary focus was on whether the Wyoming police at the time had pressed charges and did not cover details of the underlying allegation." 

Bol Bol, a 5-star center and the son of former NBA big man Manute Bol, committed to play his college ball for the Oregon Ducks on Monday. 

The No. 3-ranked player in the class of 2018, per 247Sports, made his decision official on the Players' Tribune:

"I had no idea what I was going to do. But then I calmed down and thought about it. What team would be best for my unique game? What school would provide opportunities around my sport that tapped into my passions? And what school would give me the opportunity to reach the most people?

"I thought about all that. And I thought a lot about my dad and what he might tell me right now. And when I broke it all down like that, I just knew. So I'll see you in Eugene. I bet they might even have a pair of LeBron 3s that finally fit me."

Bol's commitment gives the Ducks the top recruiting class in all of college basketball, matching the football program, as Andrew Nemec of the Oregonian noted.

A towering presence at 7'2", Bol solidified himself as the No. 1 center among 2018 recruits thanks to a surprisingly versatile skill set that allowed him to expand his game beyond the paint. 

"Bol has a unique skill set for his size," Wake Forest head coach Danny Manning said, per Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn. "He's capable of stepping out on the perimeter and making shots, and his length gives him a chance to do things at the rim that surprise you."

Combine those traits with a 7'8" wingspan and 9'7" standing reach, according to DraftExpress, and Bol has the makings of a potential force at the 5. 

In order to reach his ceiling, Bol will have to bulk up.

Listed at 225 pounds (247Sports), Bol is a lanky presence who has largely deployed an offensive game predicated on finesse. Moving forward, he'll need to add some mass to his frame in order to bang in the post with some of the college game's more physically imposing bigs. 

Even so, the Ducks should be thrilled they were able to land a big of Bol's caliber. 

The Mater Dei High School product is a matchup nightmare because of his height alone, and the fact that he can stretch the floor and spot up for threes should make him an invaluable component of head coach Dana Altman's lineup during the 2018-19 season. 

Add in some elite rim-protecting capabilities and Bol could emerge as one of the more compelling pro prospects in the nation rather quickly. 

The Oregon men's basketball program added an impressive athlete to its future backcourt Thursday, as shooting guard Will Richardson committed to play for the Ducks.  

"I'm going to University of Oregon," Richardson told Scout.com's Evan Daniels. "The reason I picked Oregon is because I think it's the best situation and a program that wins."

According to 247Sports, Richardson is a 4-star prospect, and he ranks as the No. 47 overall player, No. 7 shooting guard and No. 3 player at his position from the state of Georgia in the 2018 class.

The Hinesville, Georgia, native stands 6'4" and weighs 170 pounds, and he is among the biggest scoring threats at the 2 in the nation.

Due to Richardson's skill set, big-time programs from across the country recruited him and made him scholarship offers.

Georgia, Arizona State, Auburn, Butler, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Ohio State and Xavier were among those in pursuit.

As seen in this video courtesy of FloHoops, Richardson is capable of running the floor, getting to the rim and finishing in traffic:

While getting to the basket is one of Richardson's greatest assets, it is far from the only way he is able to beat the opposition offensively.

According to Daniels, Richardson said the following about what he can bring to the table from an offensive perspective: "I can knock down shots from all over the court...deep-range, mid-range, and I can attack the court and finish."

Richardson is dangerous whenever he has the ball in his hands, and that is what made him such an intriguing prospect throughout the recruiting process.

He can stand to improve his playmaking ability as well as his defense, but Richardson is capable of lighting up the scoreboard when he gets in a rhythm.

His commitment also represents another big win for the Ducks in the 2018 recruiting cycle. 

According to 247Sports, Oregon has now nabbed three 4-star recruits in Richardson, swingman Louis King and power forward Miles Norris. 

"We have a great recruiting class this year and it's only going to bet better," Richardson told Daniels. "The coaching staff told me how they would get me better, prepare me for the next level and make an impact."

Former 3-star recruit Crisshawn Clark reportedly filed a lawsuit against the University of Oregon and members of the team's basketball coaching staff, including head coach Dana Altman, on Monday alleging negligence.

According to Oregon Live's Tyson Alger, Clark alleged in the suit that he suffered an ACL injury during a workout with the Ducks during a recruiting visit in 2015 that was against NCAA rules. Specifically, Clark alleges that assistant coach Mike Mennenga ran him through one drill that involved finishing layups through contact. 

Citing a copy of the filing, Alger reported Clark alleged "contact from Mennenga threw Clark off balance, causing him to land awkwardly and tear the ACL in his left knee, which he had previously had repaired in April 2015 following a partial tear."

Clark is reportedly seeking $100,000 in damages. 

Following the incident during the workout that Clark alleges violated NCAA rules, the 6'4'' point guard missed the entire 2016-17 season with the Pittsburgh Panthers after undergoing surgery to repair a torn MCL and torn meniscus. 

He has since transferred to the University of Portland. 

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Recruit information courtesy of 247Sports.com. 

Louis King has given the Oregon Ducks a huge win in the 2018 recruiting race by committing to play for the basketball team next season:

While honing his skills at Hudson Catholic Regional High School in New Jersey, King has turned himself into one of the nation's best prospects. 

A 6'8" small forward, King is rated as a 5-star prospect, the No. 6 recruit at his position and No. 20 overall recruit in the 2018 class, per Scout.com. 

One of the best parts of King's transition to college is he still has plenty of room to grow but is already a terrific player, per ESPN.com:

"He runs the floor well, is smooth for his size and has the natural tools to have a polished skill set down the road. He makes quick instinct plays with the ball and shows some flashes of sheer brilliance. There will be moments where he'll handle in traffic, knock down a three with a quick release, throw pinpoint passes the length of the floor and spin into tough mid-range pull-ups."

King's decision to join the Ducks comes 12 days after he took an official visit to the Pacific Northwest.   

As far as Oregon's recruiting outlook is concerned, adding King to the mix is a boon for a program that was already looking formidable for the near future in the Pac-12. 

In addition to bagging a commitment from King, the Ducks have added 4-star power forward Miles Norris. 

With those two representing the future of Oregon's frontcourt, head coach Dana Altman should feel confident about his team's ability to contend for a national title as the end of the decade approaches. 

Miles Norris, a 5-star power forward from La Mesa, California, announced Tuesday he has committed to play for the Oregon Ducks in the fall of 2018.

Norris made the reveal official during an appearance on a local television station, as the Oregonian's Andrew Nemec documented on Twitter:

According to Scout.com, Norris is the ninth-ranked power forward and 22nd-ranked player overall among all class of 2018 recruits. Furthermore, he grades out as the No. 3 player in the state of California and the entire West Region among his positional peers.

As far as the composition of Oregon's roster is concerned, Norris will join a team that's set to undergo something of a transition over the next couple of seasons.

Not only are Jordan Bell and Dillon Brooks headed to the pros after hiring agents in advance of the NBA's pre-draft combine, but Kavell Bigby-Williams is mulling a transfer after he was granted his release from the program.

Norris, then, should represent a welcome addition to the Ducks in 2018 alongside 4-star 2017 recruit Kenny Wooten after he spurned other Pac-12 powers like Arizona and California in hopes of evolving into a future star in the Pacific Northwest.

Recruit rankings and information courtesy of Scout.com unless otherwise noted.

Oregon Ducks big man Jordan Bell isn't quite ready to decide on his NBA future yet and called a report that he had declared for the 2017 draft "fake news."

On Sunday, Shams Charania of The Vertical reported Bell was entering the draft and signing with an agent, but the man himself said otherwise:

Bell averaged career-highs as a junior with 10.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He also provided strong interior defense at 2.3 blocks per contest and shot 63.6 percent from the field.

Charania wrote the forward held meetings during the last week to find an agent and came to a decision. He also added, "NBA executives believe the 6-foot-9 Bell helped his draft stock in the NCAA tournament with his activity and toughness."

Bell filled the void for the injured Chris Boucher in the tournament and helped lead the Ducks to the Final Four.

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While many fans will remember his failure to box out in the waning moments of Oregon's Final Four loss to North Carolina when the Tar Heels grabbed two critical offensive rebounds, he notched four double-doubles and swatted eight shots against Kansas in the team's Big Dance run:

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked Bell as the 36th-best prospect in his post-NCAA tournament big board.

For more news, rumors and related stories about Jordan Bell, the Oregon Ducks and the college basketball, check out the college basketball and Oregon streams on Bleacher Report's app.