Yotes basketball standout Jake O'Neil transferring to Idaho State

After a storied tenure in Caldwell with the College of Idaho, Jake O’Neil has landed at his third and final school to finish his college athletics career.

O’Neil will be staying in state, transferring to Idaho State for his final year of eligibility. The Fruitland native announced on X shortly after the 2023-24 season ended that he would be transferring for his last year of college basketball. The Bengals announced their spring signing class Wednesday.

In four seasons with the Yotes, O’Neil averaged 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the floor. The 6-foot-4 guard was always one of the best athletes on the floor whenever he entered the game, proven by his strong rebounding numbers.

He is using his extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA and NAIA to all athletes during the 2020-21 season, which was impacted heavily by COVID-19.

O’Neil was a crucial piece of the College of Idaho’s success in recent years, starting 93 of the 124 games he played. He was the Cascade Conference Freshman of the Year in 2020-21 and twice an all-conference selection. With the Yotes, he reached the NAIA tournament the last three years, highlighted with a national championship in 2022-23.

O’Neil didn’t start his college career in basketball. He enrolled at Boise State as a freshman in 2019, joining the golf team. After a redshirt season with the Broncos, he realized he missed the team aspect of basketball and wanted to get back into the sport.

He was a standout athlete at Fruitland High, earning 3A Snake River Valley Conference player of the year honors as a junior and leading the Grizzlies to a state title. He was also a 3A state champion in golf.