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- Danny Moran of the Oregonian was the first to report that redshirt freshman guard, Kendal Manuel, has reached a plea deal in the fourth-degree assault charge case against him, filed by a former roommate and Oregon State men’s soccer player. According to the article, if Manuel now completed a “180-day diversion program”, he’ll have the case dismissed against him. At the moment, head coach Wayne Tinkle has made no public statement regarding Manuel’s status within the team.
- With help from Mirin Fader of ESPNW, Oregon State volleyball star Lanesha Reagan reveals her very touching and deeply personal story of dealing with mental illness and the many obstacles she’s overcome in her fight, so far. She tells her tale in the hopes that she can serve as an example help other student-athletes who are dealing with mental illness and to raise awareness in the efforts to help one-another. If you read only one article today, be sure to make it this one.
- Declared a “small town success story”, Oregon State pitcher Jake Thompson had a long and winding trip to Corvallis, that’s well chronicled in this piece by Steve Mims of The Register-Guard. Whether it was Thompson’s stint with the “Three Rivers Sandblasters Legion team” or his time spent in an “Alaska(n) summer league”, Thompson’s road to making it to Division I (with help from former San Diego State coach Jim Dietz) is an improbable dream that became a reality.
- Despite holding offers from just two Division II programs in Central Washington and Seattle Pacific, 2017 guard Xavier Smith believes he has the ability to play at the Division I level. He’ll now get his chance to prove that, as Smith has committed to join the basketball program at Oregon State, in a walk-on role. Smith, who is described by his high school coach Jason Kerr as a “diamond in the rough”, averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season for Seattle’s O’Dea High School. Kerr also noted in the piece that “at the end of his four years, he's gong to be an impact guy.” Already, there seems to be some serious high praise for the incoming talent.
- ICYMI: Big men Tres Tinkle and Cheikh N’diaye were both granted medical redshirts season for the 2016-2017 campaign, meaning that they’ll gain their season of eligibility back for last year. The news is more immediately critical to N’diaye, who can now either enroll in a graduate program at Oregon State or become a graduate transfer, than it is for Tinkle, who may not even use up all of his eligibility if he chooses to head to the NBA after next season.
- Finally, we’ve added some new talent to the mix here at BTD and they’ve been awfully busy in the last few weeks, cooking up articles left-and-right for all of you out there in Beaver nation. Our own Andrew Kovac thinks Victor Bolden Jr. will rock in the NFL with his speed and versatility, while our man Leo Castaneda took care of recapping the Beavers softball weekend, as the ladies did a solid job in handling Portland State and Utah. Also, keep an eye out for Christopher Baumer’s “Recruiting Roundup”, coming later today.