Men's Basketball: Pineiro Reportedly Signs with NBA's Kings; USD to Play Stanford

It’s only July and the start of the 2019-20 University of San Diego men’s basketball season is a few months away, but the program made some news lately on the alumni front and about a big December nonconference game that's been scheduled for the Bay Area.

Earlier this summer, two-time All-West Coast Conference first-team selection and recent USD graduate, 6-foot-7 forward Isaiah Pineiro was named to the Sacramento Kings’ NBA Summer League roster.

He proceeded to play in each of the team’s games in Las Vegas, averaging 4.6 points per game. An Auburn, Calif., native and Placer High School graduate, which is near Sacramento, the 24-year-old Pineiro rooted for his hometown NBA team while growing up.

On the Kings.com website, Pineiro said: "It’s a little surreal. You grow up with a really close hometown team and you see them playing all the time. So, to put on that jersey — it’s a good feeling.”

On Friday, July 19, that good feeling got even better when it was reported that Pineiro and the Kings agreed to a one-year, partially guaranteed, contract. It’s a chance for the undrafted player to hone his skills and further impress his hometown team. One report believed this move could help him earn a spot with the Kings’ G League development team located in Stockton, Calif.

Men’s Basketball Gets December Game vs. Stanford

It was also revealed that the USD men’s basketball team now has a scheduled neutral site nonconference game on Dec. 21 against Stanford. The game will be played at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the new home arena for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

The Toreros-Cardinal game will be part of a one-day, eight-team 2019 Basketball Hall of Fame Al Attles Classic, an event honoring the former Warriors head coach. Other match-ups on this day have California vs. Boston College, Arizona vs. St. John’s and WCC member St. Mary’s playing Nevada (Reno).

Game times and more information will be revealed at a later date.

— Compiled by USD News Center staff