Cal Offers JuCo Guard Malik Zachery

Mark Fox and the Cal Golden Bears have sent out their most recent offer to 6-2 guard Malik Zachery, currently a player at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

Zachery, who is originally from Syracuse, New York took a medical redshirt this past season and will have three years of eligibility after graduating this spring. As a freshman, Zachery averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. He shot 45.6% from the field including 32.1% from three. Zachery also averaged 74.5% from the free throw line. His team finished 27-5 that season, earning a top-25 finish. Zachery played in every game as a freshman, averaging almost 22 minutes per game.

Coming out of high school, Zachery was a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports and held mainly mid-major offers. But as a junior college prospect, Zachery’s recruiting stock has boosted. According to 247Sports, Zachery currently holds offers from Nebraska, Ole Miss, and Massachusetts, along with Cal. Zachery also took an official visit to Fresno State in January. Nevada has also reportedly expressed interest.

According to a social media post, Zachery had surgery on a ligament in his finger in December. He’s set for a March return, according to the post.

Zachery looks like a pass-first lead guard with a solid handle and confidence. He appears to have a solid mid-range game, which is often not a thing in the modern college hoops game. Zachery had about a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman.

Besides Zachery, Cal seems to still be in on 2020 guards Tyrin Lawrence and Devin Carter. Lawrence has visited Cal, but has said he wants to take his time and make some other visits before making a college decision. With the coronavirus-induced recruiting dead-period, it seemed like Cal might have an advantage with Lawrence with recruits unable to schedule any visits through at least April 15. But it would also put Cal at a disadvantage with Carter, who has yet to officially visit Cal.

Senior guards Paris Austin and Kareem South are officially out of eligibility and forward Jacobi Gordon announced a transfer from the program earlier this month. With Monty Bowser and Jalen Celestine already signed, Fox has at least two scholarships still to fill assuming there are no more departures.