Fresno State gets needed experience with commitment from DePaul grad transfer

When Fresno State basketball coach Justin Hutson went out recruiting after a season-ending loss to Air Force at the Mountain West Conference Tournament, one goal was to get older.

The Bulldogs were losing three seniors and in an injury-riddled 11-19 season they had played young often, starting freshmen Orlando Robinson and Jarred Hyder down the stretch with freshmen Anthony Holland and Niven Hart the first two players off the bench.

Hutson got what he was looking for on Easter Sunday, receiving a commitment from 6-foot-2 guard Devin Gage, a graduate transfer from DePaul. Gage was limited to 12 games last season after suffering a season-ending hand injury, but has played 82 career games in the Big East.

In 2018-19, Gage started all 33 games for DePaul, averaging 9.1 points and 3.9 assists in 29.9 minutes per game.

Gage has one season remaining and as a grad transfer will be eligible immediately.

Fresno State also has added transfers Deon Stroud from Texas-El Paso and Isaiah Hill from Tulsa.

They 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.