First, Sacramento State University unveiled its impressive new basketball facility — “The Well,” a modern 3,200-seat venue set to replace the outdated 1,000-seat “Nest.”
Then, last month, the men’s team welcomed 14-year NBA veteran Mike Bibby as its new head coach.
On Monday, Bibby’s close friend, Shaquille O’Neal, was appointed as the new unpaid General Manager of the program, which has seen just two winning seasons since its promotion to Division I in 1991.
On Tuesday, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, high school sensation Mikey Williams transferred from the University of Central Florida, becoming Bibby’s second high-profile recruit. The first? None other than O’Neal’s son, Shaqir O’Neal, who made the move after his junior year at Florida A&M.
How has one of the country’s weaker Division I programs suddenly captured so much attention?
It doesn’t matter, says Brian Botteen, head coach at San Ramon Valley-Danville High School, whose players may have never considered Sacramento before these recent developments. Now, they certainly will.
Botteen’s Wolves secured a state title in 2015 and achieved win totals of 26, 29, and 24 in the past three years, coming close to the state D1 championship game in 2024 and reaching it in 2025. Danville lies about 80 miles from Sacramento State and is a prime recruiting area for the Hornets.
“What a fantastic selling point and opportunity to change the program’s culture than featuring names with such extensive professional backgrounds,” Botteen remarked. “(Alameda Junior College) recently brought in Gary Payton, and when a name like that joins, interest skyrockets.”
Elliot Conley, a first-team All-East Bay Athletic League guard from San Ramon Valley, is intrigued and available.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard may possess more potential than all his teammates who have already committed to college: Luke Isaak to UC Irvine, Mason Thomas to Santa Barbara City College, and Conley’s twin brother, Thomas, to UC Santa Cruz.
Though he has received several offers, the dynamic left-hander awaits the perfect opportunity, and the recent news out of Sacramento has piqued his interest.
“Who wouldn’t want that?” he stated. “It’s incredible to see two big names like O’Neal and Bibby come in. They will undoubtedly attract some top-tier players, especially with Mikey Williams joining. It’s likely they will be an impressive team right away. With that type of talent and coaching, there’s room for growth every single day. I would love to be part of that.”
Tim Kennedy, coach at Mitty-San Jose, believes Conley’s enthusiasm will resonate among prospective players.
Kennedy coached Aaron Gordon and the Mitty Monarchs to back-to-back state Division 2 titles and a runner-up finish in the Open Division in 2013. Both Mitty and San Ramon Valley are recognized as premier programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, although many of their top talents, Gordon excluded, have drawn interest from mid-major or lower-tier programs.
Sacramento State is becoming a more appealing option.
“I think anytime you have Shaq’s name attached, it instantly lends credibility,” Kennedy remarked. “Combined with the new facilities and a fresh coaching staff, it adds significant appeal for kids from the Bay Area.”
The gravitational pull of this development is extending far beyond just the Bay Area.
Williams has been a prominent figure in AAU circles long before entering high school, having played alongside Bronny James and being ranked as the top player in the Class of 2023 by Naismith National Youth All-American Report.
He proved his prowess in his first varsity game at San Ysidro High School in San Diego, scoring 46 points. Williams later set a San Diego Section single-game record with a jaw-dropping 77-point performance, establishing a new California state record for freshmen. He ended the season averaging just under 30 points, with 4.9 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game, earning National Player of the Year accolades from MaxPreps.
The 6-3 guard transferred to North Carolina for his sophomore and junior years before returning to San Ysidro for his senior season, where he maintained averages of 23.8 points and 9.2 assists per game. Recruited by Penny Hardaway, Williams committed to Memphis but never took the court due to a criminal investigation.
In January 2024, he made the move to UCF, where he averaged 5.1 points and 14.0 minutes of play per game last season. However, on Tuesday, he took to Instagram to announce his decision to join Sacramento State.
In his conversation with Dushawn London of CBS Sports, he shared: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a program that includes a legend like Shaquille O’Neal and to play under the guidance of Coach Bibby. I’m excited to lock in and represent Sacramento State at the highest level.”
Prior to Bibby’s arrival, the Hornets secured the region’s standout player, 6-foot-9, 230-pound senior forward Mark Lavrenov from Rocklin, who was named the Sacramento Bee’s Player of the Year. Lavrenov also earned a first-team All-California selection from High School On SI after boasting averages of 23.4 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, leading the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 champions.
Lavrenov expressed to the Sacramento Bee following Bibby’s hiring on March 25th: “Just knowing his past accolades, playing experience and his knowledge for the game, that’s super exciting to be in a position to be able to learn and be coached by a guy like that.”
Bibby’s reputation in the area is notable, having spent 6.5 seasons with the Sacramento Kings, which constitutes a significant portion of his NBA career. He guided his son Michael Jr. at the AAU and high school levels, eventually taking the helm at his alma mater, Shadow Mountain in Phoenix, Ariz., where he led the team to five state championships.
In 2019, he briefly coached for 10 games at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix.
“Mike will recruit talented student-athletes and develop a team culture that embodies success both on and off the court,” Sacramento State’s Athletic Director Mark Orr stated upon his hiring. “I am convinced that Mike will pour every ounce of his energy into Sacramento State and engage the entire Sacramento region.”
While O’Neal might not be very active with the program due to his hectic schedule, his association alone is sure to create an immediate buzz.
“He’s such a fun, entertaining person; I watch after every TNT game just to watch him,” Conley remarked. “I was barely born when he was playing, but I’ve obviously seen him on YouTube. Oh my goodness he was impressive, a beast. It would be so cool to play on a team he was a part of. It would be unbelievable.”
