Tyrone Riley IV arrives from San Francisco poised to reshape the Oregon Ducks' perimeter game and ignite their comeback bid.
The Oregon Ducks are looking to a restart after finishing 12-20 last season, the only losing season for the program under head coach Dana Altman.
The Ducks have lost a couple of key starters from last season, something Altman expected to happen with players seeking more money in the transfer portal.
Oregon landed a big-time transfer in Tyrone Riley IV. He's coming from San Francisco, when he averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds last season. He can give the Ducks a boost on the perimeter, as he nailed approximately 37 percent of his three-point shots.
Matthew Glenesk and Craig Meyer of USA TODAY named Riley as one of the best transfers coming from a mid-major school. He showed promise during his time with San Francisco.
"Riley will get plenty of run as the Ducks return just one player from last season's roster," they wrote. The 6-6 junior wing has 65 starts under his belt and averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and one steal a game last season for the Dons.
"He shot 47.2% from the field and 36.8% from 3 on his way to a second-team All-WCC selection. In games against Power conference foes Minnesota, Colorado and Mississippi State (OK, maybe not a murderer's row), Riley averaged 14 ppg, and he put up 17 points on Saint Louis and 16 vs. Gonzaga."
Before the transfer portal closed on April 31, Altman noted that he was nervous about the makeup of the team because it would include so many new faces next season.
“Well, I’d be lying if I wouldn’t say I was a little nervous, when you have a lot of new faces like that," Altman said. "But, again, it is an opportunity, as you mentioned... so we’re excited about a couple freshmen that are coming in but we know they’re freshmen.
"In the adjustment to the Big Ten and to get to the level of play that we want to have we know that you know that can be an adjustment period for a freshman."
In addition to the new freshman, Riley will be another young player with room to grow on the Ducks. It remains to be seen if the roster has enough skill to contend in the Big Ten.