PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland men's basketball has signed a second transfer hailing from Australia as forward James O'Donnell (Sydney, Australia/Centre of Excellence/San Francisco) has signed a financial aid agreement and will join the Pilots for the 2025-26 season. O'Donnell will join previously announced transfer Riley Parker as the latest Aussie on The Bluff.

O'Donnell (6-10, 230) is a high-profile recruit that has vast experience in the Australian youth national team system. He played with the Under-17 team at the 2022 World Cup where he averaged 7.4 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field.

He attended the Centre of Excellence (CoE), formerly the Australian Institute of Sport, which is the top developmental basketball program in Australia. While at the CoE he was invited to play for the NBA Global Academy team along with current Pilot Carlin Briggs.

As a true freshman at San Francisco last season, O'Donnell appeared in all 35 games and averaged 12.7 minutes per game. He averaged 2.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and was second on the team with 15 blocked shots. He shot an efficient 57 percent from the field.

O'Donnell and Parker join are the latest Australians to sign with Portland head coach Shantay Legans who has had great success developing players from Down Under. Tyler Robertson was a three-time All-WCC selection for the Pilots, while Austin Rapp garnered WCC Freshman of the Year honors last season and Max Mackinnon was a second team All-WCC selection.

Legans and the Pilots are bringing back lettermen Mikah Ballew, Kelson Gebbers and Jermaine Ballisager Webb along with returning redshirts Carlin Briggs, NaVaughn Long and Preston Lee.
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