Bulldogs get commitment from UTEP guard – another Valley product coming home

Fresno State coach Justin Hutson has another Valley product returning home, receiving a commitment from former Memorial High guard Deon Stroud, who played his freshman season at Texas-El Paso.

The 6-foot-5 guard played in 24 games with two starts last season for former Bulldogs coach Rodney Terry, averaging 4.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. Stroud’s best game came in the Miners’ 71-57 victory over Eastern New Mexico in November, scoring 14 points with four rebounds in just 16 minutes on the floor.

Stroud is the second Division I transfer Hutson has returning to the central San Joaquin Valley as he reworks the Bulldogs’ roster coming off an 11-19 season marked by close losses (six losses by five points or less) and injuries.

Fresno State on Tuesday received a commitment from 6-foot guard Isaiah Hill, a transfer from Tulsa who played at Liberty High in Bakersfield.

The two transfers join a recruiting class that includes 6-7 guard Leo Colimerio from the Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah; 6-5 guard Destin Whitaker from Romeoville, Ill.; and 7-foot center Braxton Meah from Memorial High, who was not eligible to play last season after starting his high school eligibility clock by enrolling at the Layton Christian Academy while still junior high-age, which is allowed in Utah.

Colimerio, Whitaker and Meah signed letters in intent in November.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 3:10 PM.