Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MBB | Gaels Nab Second In-Conference Transfer, Sign Tony Duckett
6/3/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's was able to grab their first guard out of the portal with the signing of Tony Duckett. Just a sophomore, Duckett will be the Gaels second, in-conference transfer after spending his freshman season at the University of San Diego. The Gaels backcourt will be chocked full of youth next year, as Duckett will join fellow sophomores Mikey Lewis and Joshua Dent.
Despite being just a true freshman at the University of San Diego a year ago, Duckett immediately stepped into a lead role for the Toreros, appearing in 29 of their 33 games, starting 22. He averaged 10.4 points per game and 1.9 assists per game, both good for second best on the USD squad. After averaging just 6.2 points per game in non-conference play, Duckett burst onto the scene against WCC foes, averaging 11.6 points per contest, including a 31 point barrage at LMU. The cherry on top of Duckett's freshman campaign was his play at the Orleans Arena for the WCC Tournament. He first led the Toreros to an upset victory over Pacific, scoring 21, followed by a 17 point showing in his final game of his freshman year against LMU. At the culmination of the year, Duckett joined now current teammate Mikey Lewis on the 2024-25 WCC All-Freshman team.
A standout for San Diego prep power Carlsbad High School, Duckett averaged 22 points per game playing for the Lancers, leading them to three straight CIF State Tournaments, including a 30-3 record and trip to the Open Division Quarterfinals as a senior. He was twice honored as an All-Coastal league selectee, and three times was named to the All-CIF team. Following his first season of competition, Carlsbad ranked 97th in the state, but by his senior year, he helped them climb to a ranking of sixth in the state and 43rd in the entire country.
"We're excited to have Tony as a part of our program! We needed another guard who could play both the point and off the ball, and Tony is a good guard who gives us athleticism and an ability to score the ball." noted Head Coach Randy Bennett. He went on to say, "We want to mold him into a guy who can play in on-balls, and playmake, and we believe that he has that ability and can develop into a really good combo guard. Off the court, Tony is a good student and a really good person. His parents, Tony and Yvette, raised him the right way and that's why he is the young man that he is. We like that he is young, being on the WCC All-Freshman team last year, and we think he'll help our team a lot, right away, and in the long haul will be a really good player for us."
Before Duckett suits up as a Gael, he will have the honor of competing for a spot for the U19 Team USA Men's Basketball squad, as he was named as one of the 33 selectees for the U19 National Team training camp. raining camp begins June 14 with the 12-member roster expected to be announced before the team departs for the 2025 FIBA U19 Men's World Cup in Switzerland.
With an ability to play both the point and the shooting guard positions, Duckett will join a backcourt of Gael returners including defending WCC Sixth Man of the Year sophomore Mikey Lewis, sophomore Joshua Dent, redshirt junior Cade Bennett, and redshirt freshman Liam Campbell.
#GaelsRise
Despite being just a true freshman at the University of San Diego a year ago, Duckett immediately stepped into a lead role for the Toreros, appearing in 29 of their 33 games, starting 22. He averaged 10.4 points per game and 1.9 assists per game, both good for second best on the USD squad. After averaging just 6.2 points per game in non-conference play, Duckett burst onto the scene against WCC foes, averaging 11.6 points per contest, including a 31 point barrage at LMU. The cherry on top of Duckett's freshman campaign was his play at the Orleans Arena for the WCC Tournament. He first led the Toreros to an upset victory over Pacific, scoring 21, followed by a 17 point showing in his final game of his freshman year against LMU. At the culmination of the year, Duckett joined now current teammate Mikey Lewis on the 2024-25 WCC All-Freshman team.
A standout for San Diego prep power Carlsbad High School, Duckett averaged 22 points per game playing for the Lancers, leading them to three straight CIF State Tournaments, including a 30-3 record and trip to the Open Division Quarterfinals as a senior. He was twice honored as an All-Coastal league selectee, and three times was named to the All-CIF team. Following his first season of competition, Carlsbad ranked 97th in the state, but by his senior year, he helped them climb to a ranking of sixth in the state and 43rd in the entire country.
"We're excited to have Tony as a part of our program! We needed another guard who could play both the point and off the ball, and Tony is a good guard who gives us athleticism and an ability to score the ball." noted Head Coach Randy Bennett. He went on to say, "We want to mold him into a guy who can play in on-balls, and playmake, and we believe that he has that ability and can develop into a really good combo guard. Off the court, Tony is a good student and a really good person. His parents, Tony and Yvette, raised him the right way and that's why he is the young man that he is. We like that he is young, being on the WCC All-Freshman team last year, and we think he'll help our team a lot, right away, and in the long haul will be a really good player for us."
Before Duckett suits up as a Gael, he will have the honor of competing for a spot for the U19 Team USA Men's Basketball squad, as he was named as one of the 33 selectees for the U19 National Team training camp. raining camp begins June 14 with the 12-member roster expected to be announced before the team departs for the 2025 FIBA U19 Men's World Cup in Switzerland.
With an ability to play both the point and the shooting guard positions, Duckett will join a backcourt of Gael returners including defending WCC Sixth Man of the Year sophomore Mikey Lewis, sophomore Joshua Dent, redshirt junior Cade Bennett, and redshirt freshman Liam Campbell.
#GaelsRise
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