Athletics: Sports Banquet June 11; International Basketball Players Go Pro; Baseball Draft; Accolades

USD Athletics will host the 42nd Annual Sports Banquet live on its YouTube channel this Thursday, June 11 from 6-7 p.m.

The Sports Banquet serves as the largest fundraiser for USD Athletics and all proceeds benefit the Torero Scholar-Athlete Fund. Its purpose is to both gather and celebrate the year that was in 2019-2020 and raise money to provide an extraordinary scholar-athlete experience and remain true to supporting and developing the personal, educational, physical, mental and spiritual well-being for each of the 400-plus Torero scholar-athletes. The impact of each gift received advances its mission to Winning in the Classroom, Winning on the Playing Field and Winning in the Community.

This year's event is a show on the USD Toreros YouTube page with an update from Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis, check-ins with scholar-athletes, interviews with USD coaches, and the popular draw down game with a grand prize of $10,000.

The show will be hosted by Jack Cronin, former NFL player and current academic coordinator for USD Athletics Greg Camarillo, and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development Marcy Lanoue.

Torero fans are encouraged to participate in the draw down game. Each person who enters has a chance to win the $10,000 grand prize and there are two ways to take part:

• Gold Club — $1,500, which includes three draw down tickets, the opportunity to be entered into an exclusive prize drawing and a custom sideline USD baseball cap.

• Draw down single ticket — $250.

The grand prize is guaranteed to be at least $5,000 cash. If the minimum number of tickets are sold, the grand prize becomes $10,000 cash. Purchase a draw down ticket and support USD Athletics.

Brossmann, Ramos Sign International Basketball Contracts

University of San Diego women’s basketball players, Patricia Brossmann and Ana Ramos, have signed contracts to play professional basketball in Europe.

Brossmann will play in Calais, France as a member of Côte d'Opale Basket. The forward is only the second international player signed by Côte.

"It's always been my dream to play professionally, and after all the hard work I can finally say I reached my goal," said Brossmann. "I'm looking forward to playing in France, getting to know the league and the culture. It's going to be a whole new experience, and I'm excited."

The Berlin, Germany native ended her college career as one of the best rebounders in San Diego women's basketball history. She ranks in the top 10 all-time in career total rebounds, rebounds per game, and offensive and defensive boards. Brossmann led the Toreros during the 2020 season with 212 rebounds, averaging 6.8 per game.

Ana Ramos signed with Uniao Sportiva in Azores, Portugal. The Portugal native returns home after four seasons at USD. Ramos represented her home country at the U20 European Championships two seasons ago.

"I really love this game, and I wanted to do this for life," said Ramos. "When I had the offer, I couldn't' sleep because I was so excited. It means a lot to me."

Ramos averaged .732 from the line, .359 from the field and recorded 213 points during her career at San Diego.

Toreros Eye June 10-11 Major League Baseball Draft

While the 2020 USD baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Major League Baseball’s season still hasn’t started, there is one constant that will happen — the MLB Draft for high school, community college and four-year university players on June 10-11.

It will look completely different as the normal three-day, 40-round event has been significantly trimmed to five rounds over two days. The USD program has a successful history with early-round selections in the MLB Draft. Past top picks include Kris Bryant (second overall, first round, 2013 Chicago Cubs) and Brian Matusz (fourth overall, first round, 2008, Baltimore Orioles).

Despite a shortened season in which the 2020 Toreros were off to a solid 12-4 start, Coach Rich Hill said there are a few potential draft-eligible possibilities who could sign and go pro.

Hill said the majority of his draft-eligible players are expected to remain at USD for next season. Three graduated seniors, right-handed pitchers Nigel Ward and Nicola Mislinski — both fifth-year seniors — and Nathan Walker, won’t return, Hill said.

Athletes Earn National, WCC Recognition

Despite shortened spring sports seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic, several Torero athletes received recognition for their performance, some on the field and others in the (virtual) classroom.

Freshman starting pitcher Carter Rustad and redshirt freshman relief pitcher Conner Thurman were named to Collegiate Baseball's Freshmen All-America Team. Rustad and Thurman turned in outstanding performances for USD, which was 12-4 when the season was cancelled.

Rustad started four games, tallying a 4-0 record and 0.84 ERA. The right-hander allowed just five hits in 21.1 innings, collecting 24 strikeouts. Thurman made eight relief appearances, finishing with a 4-0 record and two saves. The right-hander collected 17 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work, finishing with a 2.70 ERA.

In women’s tennis, seniors Kati Kukaras and Nicole Anderson were named to the WCC All-Academic Team and two players, Daniela Morales and Solymar Colling, received honorable mention. Kukaras had a 3.53 GPA as a communications studies major. Anderson touted a 3.84 GPA as a behavioral neuroscience major. Morales, an industrial and systems engineering major, carried a 3.56 GPA. Colling, a sophomore real estate major, has a 3.25 GPA.

For the men’s tennis team, graduating senior Gui Osorio was named to the WCC All-Academic Team with a 3.65 GPA as a business finance major. Honorable mentions went to junior August Holmgren, who has a 3.47 GPA as a Theatre Arts major, and senior Garrett Kurtz, a history major with a 3.21 GPA.

Football’s Dalton Kincaid Receives Second Preseason All-American Nod

San Diego tight end and rising junior Dalton Kincaid was named a 2020 preseason FCS All-American by Athlon Sports. It is the second preseason All-American nod for the Las Vegas native as he was deemed the nation's top tight end by HERO Sports in late May.

One of the top playmakers at any position at the FCS level, Kincaid has played in all 24 games in his career, including 12 as a sophomore in 2019 when he had 44 receptions for 835 yards and eight touchdowns. He led all FCS tight ends in yards per catch (18.98) last year and was second in receiving yards and yards per game. For his efforts, he was named to the Associated Press All-American team as a third-team selection. An All-PFL second team honoree last season, Kincaid has 68 career receptions — 19 for touchdowns — and 1,209 receiving yards. He is averaging 17.8 yards per catch in his career, which is currently the sixth-best mark in program history.

—USD Athletics

USD News Center Editor Ryan T. Blystone contributed to this report