The Oregon Ducks haven’t had much to celebrate this season. At 8-16 overall and just 1-12 in Big Ten play, Dana Altman's squad is mired in a ten-game losing streak and struggling to find its footing in a new conference. But even in the middle of a brutal season, recruiting never stops - and there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon in the form of four-star shooting guard Adam Oumiddoch.
Oumiddoch, a standout from Overtime Elite, has officially requested a release from his National Letter of Intent with St. John’s, reopening his recruitment.
That’s a significant development, especially for programs like Oregon that were in the mix for him the first time around. The Ducks were one of five schools to host Oumiddoch on a visit during his original recruitment, alongside Illinois, LSU, and Villanova.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Oumiddoch ranks as the No. 49 overall prospect in the 2026 class, the No. 8 shooting guard in the country, and the No. 3 player out of Georgia - though he originally hails from Arlington, Virginia. That kind of pedigree doesn’t hit the open market often, and his decision to play for Overtime Elite shows he’s not afraid to take an unconventional path or travel far from home to pursue the best opportunity.
That’s where Oregon could re-enter the conversation in a real way.
Despite the Ducks' current struggles, Altman’s track record speaks for itself. This season has been an outlier in what’s otherwise been a remarkably consistent and successful tenure in Eugene. The program’s facilities, resources - and yes, that Nike backing - still make it one of the more attractive destinations in college basketball, especially for players looking to develop their game and boost their profile before jumping to the next level.
There’s also the matter of coaching stability. For all the talk about Altman’s age (he’s 67), it’s worth noting that Rick Pitino, who originally recruited Oumiddoch to St.
John’s, is 73. Clearly, age hasn’t been a deciding factor for the young guard, and it likely won’t be now.
Villanova is another program to watch closely. Head coach Kevin Willard has the Wildcats trending upward, and with his DMV ties from his Maryland days, he could make a compelling pitch to bring Oumiddoch to Philadelphia. Still, Oregon’s previous relationship with the player - and the fact that he already made the cross-country trip to visit campus - could give the Ducks a leg up.
For a team desperate for a spark, Oumiddoch represents more than just a potential roster addition. He’s the kind of dynamic scorer who can change the energy of a program, especially one that’s searching for answers on the perimeter. If Oregon can get back into the race and convince him to commit, it could be the first step toward turning things around - not just for next season, but for the program's long-term trajectory.
The Ducks may be down right now, but in college basketball, momentum can shift quickly. And if Oumiddoch ends up in green and yellow, don’t be surprised if that shift starts sooner than expected.