By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — When the Oakland Soldiers needed a big time shot against UPlay Canada on Tuesday during Peach Jam pool play, three-star guard Lino Mark was the one to step up. With around seven minutes to go and the game tied, Mark hit his first big-time three. Then, just a while after, he hit the dagger shot from deep to put the Soldiers up 11 points. UPlay had led the Soldiers most of the contest.
“I just do the little things,” Mark said of his game. “I realize I’m on a great team with great players. You know, everybody’s ball dominant at their high school, so just trying to fit in by doing the little stuff. That’s guarding 94 feet, cutting backdoor, hitting open shots.”
Mark plays with two No. 1-ranked high school players — AJ Dybantsa of the 2025 class and Tyran Stokes of the 2026 class — on the Oakland Soldiers 17u program. Still, he has found a way to stand out at Peach Jam. The guard is averaging a modest 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.4 minutes per contest — but he’s been the bench piece the Soldiers need to flourish. The Soldiers also needed everyone of Mark’s 13 points to knock of UPlay, 73-65.
As for Mark’s recruitment, he is hearing from programs like Cal, Providence, Santa Barbara, Seton Hall, TCU and USC. Mark has already visited Providence, Seton Hall and TCU unofficially and has some official visits set in stone for the fall. Mark will travel to Seton Hall (Sept. 9-11) and TCU (Oct. 3-5). He is also planning a visit with Cal, Providence, Utah and USC.
Mark broke down all of those programs:
USC: “USC is just, it’s the hometown. I grew up in California, so just having the ability to stay home, it’s a really nice feeling. But for me, I would like to go and play anywhere I can for the best opportunity in my lifetime. I love coach [Eric] Musselman. He FaceTime’s me, shares a lot of jokes. So just getting to know him and his staff. They just recently offered so that was nice.”
Providence and Seton Hall: “Schools like Seton Hall and Providence, the head coaches are like my favorite head coaches. Especially Seton Hall and Providence, like those two head coaches reach out probably the most and they’re always there for me. Always text me before and after games just making sure that I’m good.”
On Providence head coach Kim English: “He’s young and he hooped. You know, he let’s the players get after it. Me and him make jokes about Devin Carter who just got drafted. Me and him both got hair.”
On Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway: “To me he’s like the realest coach. He always calls me little bro when he text and call. He’s always looking out elsewhere than basketball. So it’s more than just basketball to him.”
Cal: “Also close to home. They were one of the first to get after it with me. So they’ve always been active, always stay on top of me and they really want me.”
TCU: ” So coach [Jamie] Dixon, he actually went to my high school. I think two of the coaches went to my high school. So there’s that connection with Notre Dame. He was my second offer. He’s always been, he’s always showing up to my school to talk to me, doing the little things. And I already took unofficial actually also so.”
UCSB: “UCSB, that’s a mid major route I want to go. I really love their staff. I really, really love their staff. They text me the most, like they text me the most. So that staff always making sure I’m good. Always sending me clips of Ajay Mitchell, who’s hooping right now. They’re making sure like I’m the priority. I can be the guy to go to on campus, you know, play as a freshman, play good minutes. They have high expectations for me.”
Mark is ranked the No. 177 overall prospect by 247Sports and the No. 16 player in the state of California. He attends Notre Dame Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles and will play with Stokes there next season.
“I’m hoping we can win Peach and then win State,” Mark said. “Thats a big deal.”
The Soldiers are 5-0 in pool play at Peach Jam and have secured the top spot in Pool C. They will play whoever finishes second in Pool B at noon on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
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