MALIBU, California – The future of the Pepperdine men's basketball team continues to improve as head coach
Lorenzo Romar announced today a talented four-player recruiting class that will shine for the Waves beginning in 2021-22.
The four who signed national letters-of-intent are 6-foot-10 center
Carson Basham (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunnyslope HS), 6-foot-5 guard
Houston Mallette (Newport Beach, Calif./Pacifica Christian HS), 6-foot-3 guard
Mike Mitchell Jr. (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) and 6-foot-8 forward
Jalen Pitre (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly HS).
"I am extremely excited about this group that has signed with us," Romar said. "We feel that they will definitely help us to continue our upward trajectory with the program. We believe they can help us take us to the next level."
Carson Basham – 6-foot-10 center – Phoenix, Ariz. – Sunnyslope HS
Averaged 14.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, all team highs, as a 2019-20 junior ... Named to the Arizona Republic's "Best of the Rest" list ... Helped Sunnyslope to a 23-6 record and a spot in the 5A semifinals ... Blossomed as a junior after averaging 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore ... Played AAU ball with Team Arsenal.
Romar says: "We're very fortunate to have Carson join us. It's been difficult to get a player here at Pepperdine that possesses Carson's size and skill. He's a post player that can score on the block, and who can also step outside and be effective beyond the three-point line. He's a very good passer with a high basketball IQ. He could be a difference-maker for us."
Basham says: "Coach Romar was one of the biggest reasons I chose Pepperdine. He quickly became like family during the recruitment process. I felt like the coaches and players already there would be a great fit for me, as well as the other guys committed in my class. I would describe my game as a stretch five, which you don't see a lot, but I can post up and rebound with anybody but also space the court by shooting jumpers and pushing the ball off the dribble. My ultimate goal is to become a pro and I believe I can accomplish that at Pepperdine."
Ray Portella, Sunnyside High coach, says: "Carson is a great kid. He's very competitive. He's a great leader and it's just like having another coach on the court. He's helpful in the gym and in the community as well. I think his game will transition to Pepperdine very well. For someone 6-foot-10, he can really stretch the game out. He's very skilled for a big guy, he can handle the ball and shoot from range, and that's where the game is going for players like him. He's really worked on his game to be capable of doing that."
Arizona Hoop Review's scouting report says: "Carson Basham is a unique find in the state of Arizona, as he has excellent physical size and agility, and an advanced skillset for his age – suggesting that he is only going to continue to get much better over time. He has a good approach to the game. An active rebounder and shot blocker with good timing. A good low post scorer with a good jump hook and low post footwork, and also an ability to step outside and make shots out to the three-point range with a soft shooting touch. He runs the floor well and is a good finisher in transition. A fundamentally sound post player that has tremendous upside and a very bright future ahead of him."
Houston Mallette – 6-foot-5 guard – Alameda, Calif. – Pacifica Christian HS
247Sports.com rates Mallette as a 3-star prospect and has him as the 20th-ranked senior in California ... Averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior ... Made 80 three-pointers and shot 40% from beyond the arc ... Made the All-CIF Southern Section 2A first team, the Orange County Register's all-county first team and the All-San Joaquin League first team ... Helped Pacifica Christian to a 22-8 record last year, including a share of the San Joaquin League title (the first in the history of the program) and a spot in the CIF Southern Section 2A quarterfinals ... A two-time Daily Pilot Dream Team selection ... Also earned All-CIF Division 4 first team and All-San Joaquin League first team honors as a sophomore after averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists ... Spent his freshman year at Richmond (Calif.) Salesian College Prep ... Played AAU ball with West Coast Elite as a 16U and 17U and Oakland Soldiers as a 15U.
Romar says: "Houston is a multi-dimensional guard with great size. He's very effective with the ball in his hands. He's very versatile in that he can make plays for himself as well as others. His size at the guard position allows him to post up smaller guards and see over the defense to make quality passes. He's also a fierce competitor with a tremendous work ethic who can defend multiple positions."
Mallette says: "I've listened to my heart for the past couple of weeks now and have been praying on this a lot and talking with my circle each day. I fell in love with Coach Romar and the coaching staff and we have built a great relationship over the past two years. I trust Coach Romar and connect with him on a deep level. I love every aspect of what the University has to offer and feel I can grow as a person as well as a student-athlete at Pepperdine. I pride myself on winning and toughness. I like bringing that to the floor every practice and every game. I would tell the Pepperdine fans and family that they're going to get every ounce and more of my passion, excitement, enthusiasm, leadership and competitiveness that I can possibly give. I'm excited to join this class and I can't wait to help Pepperdine build a phenomenal program."
Jeff Berokoff, Pacifica Christian High coach, says: "Houston stands out compared to others because he can pass, shoot, dribble and play defense at a high level. He takes charges, dives on the floor and high fives his teammates. He's fiery and hates to lose. He encompasses all of these things and that makes for a unique player. He's not a specialist, he does everything really well. I know that's important to Coach Romar. He's a winner on and off the court, a 4.0 student, respectful in the classroom and his teachers love him. He's a captain on the basketball court and a leader on campus. As a coach, that's what's most important, you want your players to walk away from the program as better people, and so Coach Romar and Pepperdine are getting an incredible human being. Houston really excels in the pick and roll, passing with both hands, making the open shot. He's got a high IQ, when you teach him something he'll never forget it, which is so important for the next level. He'll do really well at Pepperdine."
Nothing But Net's scouting report says: "Crafty and confident playmaker is an excellent student. Dangerous scorer when hot with passing skills to be a top-shelf table-setter."
Houston Mallette Basketball Highlight Reel from The Highlight Reel Productions on Vimeo.
Mike Mitchell Jr. – 6-foot-3 guard – San Jose, Calif. – Archbishop Mitty HS
247Sports.com rates Mitchell as a 4-star prospect and has him as the 10th-ranked senior in California ... Averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals last season ... Was the co-Player of the Year in the West Catholic Athletic League ... Also named to the All-Bay Area News Group first team and the All-WCAL first team ... Was MVP of the Father Barry Classic and The Holiday Classic ... Helped Archbishop Mitty win a share of the WCAL title and the Central Coast Section Open Division championship ... Named to All-Bay Area News Group honorable mention as a sophomore ... Played AAU ball with West Coast Elite, Oakland Soldiers and Team Arsenal.
Romar says: "Mike has the quickness, speed and skill set to fit right in with our up-tempo style of play. He's a very good passer as well as a very good three-point shooter. Mike is very good in the clutch, as he has already in his high school career made several game-winning shots, as well as made game-winning plays. Mike is a tireless worker and as a result he will continue to develop and improve as a basketball player."
Mitchell says: "I felt really comfortable with the coaching staff. I love their style of play. The location is perfect, the school is perfect, it's the perfect fit. Coach Romar is a genuine dude. He's coached so many great players and I love the system he runs. I like to play fast-paced, with high energy. I want to win as much as possible."
Tim Kennedy, Archbishop Mitty High coach, says: "Mike is a pass-first guard who makes a big impact. He's the best point guard we've had with the way he brings the ball up with so much force, putting so much pressure on the defense. He always makes the right decision. Defensively he's got great length and can cause all sorts of problems. He has the ability to get triple-doubles because he's such a great rebounding guard. He's also a great shooter and can affect the game in so many ways. His work ethic is second to none. He spends so much time on his craft trying to improve himself. I see him being very successful at Pepperdine and his teammates will love to play with him. He'll blend in very well, especially with Coach Romar's up-tempo system."
SportStars Magazine's scouting report says: "Quick and agile, the point guard is just fine being a lockdown defender while playing the role of facilitator on offense. But Mitchell can take on a scoring role when his team needs it."
Jalen Pitre – 6-foot-8 forward – Long Beach, Calif. – Long Beach Poly HS
Previously attended Gahr High School in Cerritos, Calif., but transferred to Long Beach Poly after his junior year ... Made both the All-San Gabriel Valley League and HMG Community News all-area first teams as a sophomore and junior ... Averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks as a junior ... Played on the varsity as a freshman ... Played AAU ball with the Belmont Shore, Veritas and Oakland Soldiers.
Romar says: "Jalen is very athletic with a very good skill set. At 6-foot-8, he is a tremendous passer as well as an adept ball-handler. He's versatile enough to grab rebounds, push the ball up the floor and make plays. He has a tremendous upside. We're very fortunate to have someone with his size and skill come play for us."
Pitre says: "I chose Pepperdine because first off, the coaching staff is great, they do a phenomenal job leading players in the right direction. Everything is so family-based. I love playing on a team where everyone is family. As I got to know Coach Romar, I really built a respect for him different than other coaches. He's coached a lot of great players. Before I committed, he told me to choose the place that I believed God was leading me, even if that wasn't Pepperdine. That helped me know he was the right coach for me. And the campus is so beautiful, you can't go wrong with Malibu. I think I'm good at rebounding, I've got great court vision and I can really push the pace in transition. I can either find my teammates or take it to the basket."
Shelton Diggs, Poly High coach, says: "Jalen is a very athletic forward who can guard 1 through 5 and play 3 through 5. He has a nice jumper from 15 feet. He's a really good rebounder. He can push it in transition, and is a good passer for his size."
PrepHoops' scouting report says: "The rangy lefty is a multi-skilled wing who has some point forward skills. He can handle it well in transition, snaps passes to open teammates, and his explosiveness has increased exponentially. He can knock in the three-point shot and his face-up skills are on the come – not to mention his defensive potential with his length and anticipation."
