High Level Hoops

High Level Hoops @highlevelhoops_ · Mar 12

Sophomore guard Amari McCottry earned Third Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors after a strong season with the Saint Louis Billikens, emerging as one of the team’s most consistent contributors. The versatile guard averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting around 50% from the field, showcasing his efficiency and all-around impact. McCottry contributed in multiple areas, providing scoring, rebounding from the guard position, and playmaking for his teammates. His defensive energy and ability to affect the game in several ways helped Saint Louis secure key conference wins throughout the season, and his consistent production ultimately earned him recognition as a Third Team All-Atlantic 10 selection

@AmariKame
@SaintLouisMBB

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High Level Hoops @highlevelhoops_ · Dec 29, 2025

Rihards Vavers delivered a standout performance as Washington State pulled off a 67–62 road win over Portland. Coming off the bench, he led the Cougars with 13 points, shooting 4‑for‑6 overall and 3‑for‑5 from three, while also adding 2‑of‑3 free throws and three rebounds in 25 minutes. Ten of his points came in the second half, precisely when Portland had taken the lead and Washington State needed a spark.

Portland’s zone defense gave the Cougars trouble early, but Vavers’ sharpshooting from deep helped break it apart. His timely three-pointers fueled a 12‑0 run that erased Portland’s eight-point advantage and shifted momentum firmly in WSU’s favor. By hitting shots from the perimeter, he forced the Pilots to respect the outside game, opening driving lanes and creating easier opportunities for his teammates.

Vavers’ efficiency and clutch shooting were key factors in a tightly contested road win, showcasing his ability to deliver under pressure and make a decisive impact when it mattered most.

@vavvers
@WSUCougarsMBB

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High Level Hoops @highlevelhoops_ · Aug 13

From Waco to Provo: The Rise of Robert Wright III

Two seasons. Two programs. And Robert Wright III has already established himself as one of the best point guards in college basketball.

He proved he belonged at Baylor. He became a star at BYU. Now, heading into his third season of Big 12 basketball, there really isn't much of an introduction needed. People around the conference know what Wright can do.

His story started at Baylor in 2024–25.

Wright stepped into a big role as a freshman and averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game. He finished the season with 148 assists, a Baylor freshman record, and earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors.

There were a few games that really stood out.

Against Kansas, Wright scored a then-career-high 24 points, with 20 of those coming in the second half, as Baylor came back to beat the Jayhawks.

Then there was the game against BYU.

Wright scored Baylor's final 14 points of the second half to help send the game to overtime. At the time, nobody knew he would be wearing a BYU uniform the following season.

He also played well when Baylor got to March.

In his first NCAA Tournament game, Wright scored 19 points against Mississippi State, becoming the first Baylor freshman to lead the Bears in scoring in an NCAA Tournament game.

That was a pretty strong freshman season, and it gave everyone a good idea of what Wright could become.

Then he came to Provo.

Wright took a big jump in his first season at BYU.

His scoring went from 11.5 points per game at Baylor to 18.1 at BYU. He averaged 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds, shot 46.7 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three, and started all 35 games.

More than anything, he became the guy BYU trusted with the ball in his hands.

And just like at Baylor, some of his best basketball came in big games.

At Madison Square Garden against Clemson, Wright hit the game-winning three in the Jimmy V Classic.

Then against Colorado, he went for a career-high 39 points and helped BYU get the win in overtime.

Look at some of the games he's already put together in two seasons:

24 against Kansas.

Baylor's final 14 points of the second half against BYU.

19 in his first NCAA Tournament game.

A game-winner at Madison Square Garden.

39 against Colorado.

That's a pretty good list for a guy who's only played two years of college basketball.

And that's why the expectations are where they are heading into this season.

Wright isn't a freshman trying to figure out the Big 12 anymore, and he isn't a new transfer trying to find his place at BYU. He's an experienced point guard who can score from anywhere on the floor, get into the paint, create for his teammates and take over when BYU needs him to.

The next step isn't necessarily about putting up bigger numbers. It's about having even more control of the game. Knowing when to push it, when to get somebody else a shot and when it's time for him to go get one himself.

When the games get tougher in January, February and March, BYU knows whose hands it wants the ball in.

There’s no waiting for Robert Wright III to become one of the best point guards in the country.

He’s already there.

We saw the start of it at Baylor, and we saw another level of it during his first season at BYU.

Now we get to see what year three looks like.

@robertwr1ght
@BYUMBB

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High Level Hoops @highlevelhoops_ · Aug 11

A Little Bit of Everything: What Chase Foster Could Bring to Pitt

Chase Foster doesn't arrive at Pitt short on expectations.

The 6-foot-8 freshman forward was one of the highest-rated members of Pitt's 2026 recruiting class, and his production before arriving in Pittsburgh gives the Panthers plenty to work with.

But rankings and numbers only tell part of the story.

What makes Foster interesting entering his first college season is the range of skills he brings to the floor.

He can score, rebound and play in different spots, giving Pitt a forward who doesn't have to affect the game in just one way.

Now Foster gets to find out how his game translates to the ACC.

Production Before Pitt

Foster didn't arrive in Pittsburgh based on potential alone.

He put together an impressive run with Team Melo, averaging 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.

Those numbers show more than his ability to score.

Foster was productive on the glass and provided a presence around the basket, two areas that could become important as he adjusts to college basketball.

At 6-foot-8, he has the size to compete at forward, but his game isn't limited to playing around the rim.

Foster can operate away from the basket and put the ball on the floor, giving Pitt another option offensively.

The next challenge is doing those things against ACC competition.

Finding His Role at Pitt

Foster doesn't need to arrive at Pitt with the pressure of becoming one of the Panthers' leading scorers.

His first role could be much simpler.

Rebound, defend and take advantage of scoring opportunities when they come.

That would allow Foster to adjust to the college game without asking him to do everything at once.

His offensive skill set still gives Pitt something to work with.

If Foster can make shots off the catch, defenders will have to respect him away from the basket. His ability to put the ball on the floor could become another option when defenders close out.

At his size, that combination could create some interesting matchups.

How much Pitt asks Foster to do offensively will likely depend on how quickly he adjusts to the speed and physicality of college basketball.

The Opportunity Ahead

Foster enters Pitt with an impressive resume, but his freshman season presents a new challenge.

ACC forwards will test him physically. Defenders will close space faster, and Foster will have to adjust to playing against older and more experienced competition.

That's where his development becomes worth watching.

He doesn't have to show every part of his game at once.

Maybe his work on the glass earns him more minutes. Maybe his scoring gives Pitt another option offensively. Or maybe another part of his game emerges as the season moves along.

That's what makes Foster an interesting freshman for Pitt.

We've already seen what he can do before college.

Now the question is which part of Chase Foster's game shows up first for the Panthers.

@thechasefoster
@Pitt_MBB

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