Oregon
Transfer Guard Jerry Easter II’s Fit in the Oregon Ducks Backcourt
Former USC Trojans freshman shooting guard Jerry Easter II will be staying within the Big Ten Conference and join the Oregon Ducks through the transfer portal.
The 6-5, 190-pound sophomore averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during his first college basketball season. Easter II finished with a shooting split of 43.6 from the field, 23.5 from beyond the arc, and 74.4 from the free throw line in 17.4 minutes across 29 games played.
Out of the 2025 recruiting class, the former top-60 and four-star recruit out of Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, visited coach Dana Altman in Eugene, Oregon, on March 8, 2024. He’s a high-volume scoring option that has a multifaceted style of offensive play, especially in the open floor. With time to work on his shooting mechanics this offseason, Easter II hopes to have his percentages across the board rise.
He’s much more of a two-guard, as he has an issue with caring for the ball consistently. With Kentucky Wildcats freshman combo guard Jasper Johnson having more of a shot at the starting position, Easter II looks to be a boost off the bench for Altman in 2026-27.
That still means the Ducks require a primary ball-handler to fill the point guard spot. If it can’t be found through the transfer portal, Johnson would look to take over the duties at the one. That’s not where the 6-5, 180-pound talent is best on the floor.
Alabama Crimson Tide’s Taylor Bol Bowen
Alabama Crimson Tide junior power forward/center Taylor Bol Bowen committed to the Pacific Northwest program after his official visit on April 22, bringing desperately needed size at the five spot in Oregon’s frontcourt.
The 6-10, 200-pounder averaged 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this past season. He has a high defensive upside that will replace center Nate Bittle’s role right away.
What separates Bol Bowen’s game from other bigs that the Ducks’ coaching staff was recruiting through the transfer portal is his ability to stretch out the floor. He shot 37.2 percent from deep on nearly 200 attempts, dating back to his first two seasons with the Florida State Seminoles.
Altman’s going to have quite the lengthy unit that will be able to cover the court and switch everything on the defensive side of the ball.
Oregon’s 2026 Transfer Portal Class
Along with Easter II, Johnson, and Bol Bowen, there are three other new faces in Altman’s 2026 transfer portal haul.
- San Diego Aztecs sophomore power forward Pharaoh Compton
- Boise State Broncos junior wing/power forward Andrew Meadow
- San Francisco Dons sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV
On3 has that group ranked No. 56 in the country, No. 13 in the Big Ten. 247Sports has Oregon’s transfer portal class ranked No. 39 overall and No. 8 in the Big Ten.
The Ducks have filled out 12 of the 15 available roster spots for both scholarship players and walk-ons.
St. John’s Red Storm’s Joson Sanon
Oregon reached out to Saint John’s sophomore transfer Joson Sanon, per League Ready. Whether or not those conversations will continue after the commitment of Easter II is unclear.
The 6-6, 200-pound shooting guard scored 7.9 points per game and shot 33.6 percent on three-pointers in 20.9 minutes across 37 games played in 2025-26. He started his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
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DEPOE BAY, Ore. — U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued a man from a cliff near Depoe Bay on the Oregon coast Saturday morning after he hurt his ankle and couldn’t climb up to safety.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew was called out to help the man at about 10 a.m. Saturday to help the injured 25-year-old, who was stuck on a cliffside at Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint about 10 feet above the water level.
“Due to rising tide conditions and the subject’s location, first responders determined additional assistance was required to safely recover the individual,” U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District said.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew made it to the viewpoint at about 10:25 a.m., hoisted the man up from the cliffside and took him to the hospital.
“Rescues like this highlight the importance of programs like the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School, which focuses on training for contingencies such as inland search and rescue and cliffside rescue,” Lt. Travis Weaver, who was the pilot in the rescue, said in a press release. “Being able to train for events like this before they happen make for safe and effective rescues when our partners call on us for help.”
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon’s most recent revenue forecast was released in February, and the picture looked better than many people expected.
Despite a government shutdown late last year and another partial shutdown this year, tariff uncertainty and other factors, Oregon’s economy is proving resilient.
The state’s economic output has increased at about the 4% range, and Oregon was ranked 20th in growth in the third quarter of 2025, exceeding national trends.
However, job growth has stagnated as technology replaces labor in some sectors.
Carl Riccadonna is the state’s lead economist, and he joined Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss Oregon’s economy.
Watch the full video in the player above.
The Oregon Ducks spring game ended with the Combat Ducks defeating the Fighting Ducks 17-10 in front of 46,000 fans at Autzen Stadium. With the Ducks football team now having their sights set on fall camp after the spring game, here are the biggest winners and losers from the Oregon spring game.
Winners:
Dakorien Moore
Moore wasn’t able to tap into his full potential in the 2025 season due to an injury that held him out for — games during the middle of the season. Moore was a star on the field during the spring game and left his mark in the fourth quarter after a 60-yard touchdown reception from Ducks quarterback Brock Thomas with 21 seconds left to put the Combat Ducks ahead 17-10.
Moore caught passes from both Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr. Moore finished the spring game with five receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Evan Stewart
Stewart missed the entirety of the 2025 season, and Ducks fans got their first look at Stewart since 2024. Stewart didn’t take long to get Autzen Stadium on their feet, as he took a pass from Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola down the sideline for a 76-yard touchdown.
Stewart talked to the media after the spring game and showed some love to the Oregon fans in attendance, as well as his touchdown.
“It’s exciting, I’ve actually never scored in a spring game before, that was my first time, a lot of fans today, felt like a real game-day experience, it was a great feeling, thank god I’m back,” said Stewart.
The Quarterback Room
Dylan Raiola made his debut in front of Ducks fans in the spring game and showed exactly why Ducks coach Dan Lanning targeted him in the transfer portal. Raiola made several key passes, including a 76-yard completion for a touchdown to Evan Stewart. Ducks quarterbacks Brock Thomas and Dante Moore both tossed touchdown passes during the spring game as well.
Losers:
Special Teams
The Ducks had kicking woes throughout the course of the spring game. Oregon kicker Gage Hurych missed from 51 and 52 yards, but was able to connect from 35 yards. The Ducks have a plethora of kickers, including Rocco Graziano and Keaton Emmett. There will be plenty of time for Oregon to find their kicker for the 2026 season, but there may be some growing pains along the way. The Ducks kickers were perfect on extra points.
Dierre Hill Jr.
Hill Jr. muffed one punt and bobbled another during the spring game. While Hill jr. may not be the starting punt returner in 2026, ball security is a part of the game that coach Dan Lanning emphasizes and will be something Hill Jr. will have to improve before the beginning of next season.
With the Ducks’ spring game in the books, the next time Ducks fans will be able to watch Oregon will be Sept. 5 at Autzen Stadium against Boise State.
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