This Fresno State Freshman Could Be Exactly What Stanford Needs

The Stanford Cardinal men's basketball season is officially over after last night's defeat in the College Basketball Crown. Stanford and West Virginia kept going back-and-forth, but in the end it was the Mountaineers, 82-77 in overtime. With a long break since their previous game, it’s clear that Stanford is going to start to make offseason moves soon.

Throughout the season, the biggest storyline has been the rise of Ebuka Okorie as one of the top players in the nation. The star freshman guard averaged 22.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this season, while reaching the All-ACC first team and an All-American honorable mention.

It’s still unclear whether Okorie will return to The Farm next season, but if he decides to go to the draft or enter the transfer portal, Stanford could potentially have the next star player on their hands.

Stanford head coach Kyle Smith on freshman star Ebuka Okorie's future: "I do think it's going to be us, or the NBA."
— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) March 30, 2026

Recently, Fresno State Bulldogs star freshman wing DeShawn Gory announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. He has quickly turned tons of heads with his great stats at such a young age for Fresno State averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

He was a standout in the Mountain West, and had standout performances of 31 points against the New Mexico Lobos, 21 points against the Utah State Aggies and 23 against Colorado State. He has shown the ability to play well against other great talent.

But the reality is Fresno State struggled heavily last season, and now Gory wants to potentially move up a level, which is where Stanford comes in. The Cardinal, having an up-and-coming program in need of a star, and a school just a few hours away, Stanford could be a great opportunity for Gory.

What stands out about Gory’s game early is his frame. He is 6-foot-6, which is solid height for a wing, but is also very skinny, which prevents him from being super physical. Where he makes up for it is in his athleticism. Gory can jump out of the gym, which is what really stands out about his already impressive game.

While Gory isn’t the best shooter at just 27% from three, he excels around the paint and in the midrange. He is always balanced, but also has athleticism that gives the best of both worlds.

In addition, he is a solid defender, especially on the perimeter, and also is a great rebounder. It would also be unwise to sleep on his passing game. Two assists a game isn’t off-the-page impressive, but his passing is better than stats show, similar to Okorie.

Gory plays similarly to Okorie, just a lot taller and a lot worse from three point range. They both work around the rim, and are undersized in terms of body size, but excel off of their athleticism. This would help him work well in Kyle Smith’s system at Stanford.

There is still lots of time for coach Smith and the rest of the staff to evaluate players and ultimately decide whom they would like to see in cardinal and white. And if Gory is interested in Stanford, the Cardinal absolutely need to target this gem, who could potentially be a top player on The Farm next season for Stanford.

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