Article 222: Harnell a classified weapon

June 22, 2011

Lawrence Livermore National Labs is a premier research and development institution for science and technology applied to national security. As a result, the United States Department of Energy sponsored campus will see officers in camouflaged uniforms carrying AK-47s at the various entry checkpoints and roaming the campus throughout the day. Another classified weapon in Livermore that will be better known in the upcoming basketball season will be the Livermore High wing player, McKayle Harnell.
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Harnell can run the 40 yard dash in 4.52 seconds, bench press 265 pounds, squat 300 pounds, and has a vertical of 35 inches that allowed him to average 17.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Despite those impressive attributes and statistics, his Cowboys finished last season 10-16 in the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL). Harnell is both a finesse and power player who considers his best basketball skill to be his off the dribble mid-range jump shot because it often catches defenders off guard.

Livermore Coach Patrick Mcknight assesses Harnell's strengths. "He's a competitor who wants to be a good player," said Mcknight. "He strikes a decent balance between passing and scoring. As a playmaker, he excels off the drive and feels he is the go to guy. When he flips it into scoring mode, he's more than capable of taking his medicine and accepting contact. His shot isn't textbook, though he's a volume shot-maker, especially off the dribble going to the paint. He's a young player for his grade. Outstanding student whose academic/basketball will make small colleges take notice. He's willing to pursue balls out of his area, has great rebounding ability. He loves the dunk and the 3point line."

During this summer, Harnell is playing for Lakeshow 17U. He plans on working on his free throw shooting and on his dribbling because free throws win games and he will have to bring the ball up more in the upcoming season. Harnell has played basketball since his third grade and has been on the varsity team since his freshman year.

As for what he needs to improve on, Coach Mcknight says, "He needs to avoid getting frustrated and knocked off task as sometimes his competitiveness works against him. His shot selection can be flighty at times while he can also be careless with the basketball when he dribbles. He is terribly un-vocal for a guard/forward and can turn off teammates when his on-court temperament leads to poor decisions."

Despite having a double double average, Harnell has not attracted any college contact yet. He wants to play college basketball in a motion offense because the screens are hard to stop and still allows the one on one situation to happen. Harnell will be travelling with Lakeshow to get some much needed exposure on the summer circuit.

Lakeshow 17U Coach Joe Fuca says, "McKayle is a strong player. He has the perfect body for basketball. He is built like a V shape. He is one of the stronger players in the program. He can rebound and play defense against the BIGS up to 6-8, but on the other end he can play many positions on offense. He has a great jump shot and he can score around the basket. McKayle is very dedicated and works hard to get better. He makes 100% of the workouts and takes it very serious. He will have a great year this coming year with Livermore High School and be their best player. He had a thunderous dunk in a big game against the Southern CA All Stars where he was up against their 6-10 center and played him toe to toe. He is a good mid major candidate or DII at the wing."

Harnell runs track but expects to play basketball at the next level. His goals next season are to make MVP of his league and make it to NCS. Livermore also will feature two other guards that are getting college looks at the Division II level in Aaron Grewal at 6-foot-3 and Brian Spiller at 6-foot-4.

Coach Mcknight sums it up about his Cowboy, "Love his instincts and aggressive play. Our take is that he's a candidate to be a late-blooming Small Forward. His toughness will open doors for him from a recruiting perspective. The kid loves to win and he's the kind of guy you trust to make a play in end of game and shot clock situations. More often than not, he's going to deliver and he'll be a mainstay for a good program. This seems like the kind of a kid a mid college scoops up and then puts it on higher level programs to help when he gets the chance. Time will tell."

The city of Livermore is best known for its lab where countless national top secret military weapons have been developed. But this upcoming season, expect Livermore to be home of another weapon that has been a secret on the hard court. Watch for Harnell to be a weapon against the EBAL in Livermore.

Article 221: NCP Roundtable:Pre-Summer Edition

June 22, 2011

With less than two weeks until the opening of the July evaluation period, teams around the country are gearing up to impress college coaches. The 2012 and 2013 classes have already received national attention this spring to signal a big summer ahead for the region. With that in mind, we tackled some of the major questions including a look at the best sleepers.

With the evaluation period limited to July, how will this affect the recruiting process?

Steve Hu: This really comes down to compliance versus exposure for the NCAA in my opinion. Originally, Division I coaches had another viewing period in April but the NCAA wanted to cut back on compliance issues and felt that the shorter evaluation periods would accomplish that. With that, the tradeoff is the marginal prospects will get less face time in front of college coaches. And these same coaches who seem to be measured on their winning percentage will have to evaluate more on game film and secondary sources. If you are a four or five star prospect, the limited July evaluation period probably will not be that big of a deal in that prospect's recruiting process. But if you are a fringe prospect trying to get exposure on both sides of the coast, this does not help. As a result, Northern California club teams that take their show on the road not only on the west coast but also in the major events in the Midwest in Illinois and Texas to the east coast will really help their roster members.

Douglas Benton: I think something we are already seeing is early offers being given out in preparation to actually getting a good viewing of a prospect. With the limited evaluation days, colleges are having to making earlier decisions on scholarships and in some cases, missing on those pre-evaluations. The recruiting process should be set up to best showcase the prospect as well as giving coaches the opportunity to make thorough decisions, but the current rules allow for neither. This fact most affects the borderline prospects either between mid-major/high-major and low D1/high D2 players.

What are some of the better 15/16U club teams with the best up and coming players?

Steve Hu: Oakland Rebels 15/16U guards and Oakland Soldiers 15U post players. The Rebels have a plethora of guards on both squads that include Castro Valley's Jalen McFerren, Newark Memorial's Joey Frenchwood, and Oakland Tech's Leo Smith. The Soldiers post players include Bellarmine's Nathan Thomas, Freedom's Elliott Smith, and Heritage's Shon Briggs. The 2014 rankings will see some of these names and will be some of the higher sought after prospects on the next level.

Douglas Benton: The top teams appear to be Oakland Rebels 15U and 16U teams, Oakland Soldiers 15U, Lakeshow 16U Black and NorCal Supreme 15U. The Rebels have a nice crop of young prospects after graduating a very strong senior class led by Smith and Pinole Valley forward Andrew Cox-Gilmore. The 15U squad boasts St. Joseph forward Temidayo Yussuf and Frenchwood. The Soldiers have a pair of talented 2014s with Smith and Briggs both showing very bright futures. Lakeshow has had Modesto Christian wing Raymond Bowles on the 16s in the past and still have St. Patrick/St. Vincent guard Jason Webster and Freedom's James O'Neal in the fold. Finally, NorCal Supreme is led by Salesian guard Mario Dunn with Bentley's Nate Ellis and Salesian's Markel Leonard for a challenging guard attack.

Which 17U club teams will attract the most following this summer from NorCal?

Steve Hu: PHPS 17 Elite, Team 94, and Oakland Soldiers 17U. More than half of each of their respective rosters will be Division I bound. The Las Vegas and Southern California events should attract a legion of college coaches in their bracket play. It is always interesting sitting next to college coaches incognito and hearing what they are telling each other about the prospects from Northern California.

Douglas Benton: The Oakland Soldiers will attract a crowded coaches sections throughout the summer with an elite national prospect in Bishop O'Dowd forward Brandon Ashley and fast rising point guard Dominic Artis from Salesian. Also, don't forget about the plethora of wings that form the best positional group of any team in the country. Team 94 brings great depth into the summer with Jesuit's Parker Uu and McClymonds' Lawrence Otis bringing the most attention from the 2012 group. Play Hard Play Smart 17 Elite is a young squad which is already starting to make national inroads. The trio of Sheldon Huskies with Kyiron Thomas, Dakarai Allen and D'Erryl Williams II will continue to keep this team on coaches' radars. While it lacks a top tier prospect like last year, Lakeshow 17s Black will have plenty of mid-major/low-major coaches looking to get a read on players like Kendall Jackson, Casey Norris and Tom Witzel.

Who are some of the coaches who have made an impression on the club circuit?

Steve Hu: Bay Area Warriors Randy Bessolo, E-Time Hoops Ernest Taubodo, Norcal Supreme Glen Graham, Oakland Rebels Ryant Diew/Raymond Young, Oakland Soldiers Joe Griggs, and Team 94 Phil Handy.

A Bessolo run team is always fundamentally sound. Watching his team play, the passing and ball movement is always very fluid and efficient. Having attended one of his practices, he stresses basic preparation and fundamental drills.

Taubodo gets the most out of his players and is adept at multi-tasking. He runs five club teams and is often coaching multiple teams at an event. Last year's E-Time 17 Elite team had JT Adenrele (UC Davis) and Chad Haysbert (Houston Baptist). As a result, the success could have been attributed to the talent level. But this year's E-Time 17 Elite team's roster is not as decorated but Taubodo gets them to maximize their abilities and hustle non-stop.

Graham develops his basketball talent well. Coaching wise, he makes good adjustments and does not let up against the opponent. His team reminds one of former Arkansas Nolan Richardson's 40 Minutes of Hell style. If you play for Graham, you better be ready to give 110% or go play for the Norcal Inferior club team.

Win or lose, the post game team huddle for the Oakland Rebels is always entertaining to listen from Diew and Young. The coaches do not hold back in their assessments and some censorship may be required. This old school approach reminds one of Temple's John Chaney and Georgetown's John Thompson II. The players who are receptive will be the wiser from both a basketball and life perspective.

When talking to Griggs about the club basketball circuit, expect to learn a thing or two. His knowledge goes back to the days of LeBron James playing for the Soldiers or Dirk Nowitzki as a skinny kid visiting the UC Berkeley campus. He is blunt in his assessment of his players, but is also nurturing of their potential. Plus, Griggs is in the modern era as you can discern him as he is always on his iPad.

With his NBA and NBDL experience, Handy knows player development. When talking to him, he can breakdown his players' strengths and weaknesses in a succinct manner. He makes it really easy to understand the prospects of his players in layman's terms.

Douglas Benton: This can be a long list, but here are a few coaches who have stood out to me over the years at the 17U division. Lakeshow always plays a nice system and organized brand of basketball under head coach Joe Fuca that allows players to showcase skills to prospective colleges. E-Time Hoops head coach Ernest Taubodo has shown the ability to have success with different talent levels and personnel in building another solid club team out of the Sacramento area. Team 94 head coach Phil Handy usually has one of the most veteran squads on the circuit and is very apt at motivating his team and creating good match-ups. There are plenty of other top coaches to help make up a quality NorCal club scene.

What would you like to see changed or improved in the club circuit?

Steve Hu: A Northern California end of summer tournament. Something that would be similar to the Nike EYBL where the top 16 or 32 teams regardless of age level play in a tournament style format. Presumably, there is enough talent and interest in the state for such an event.

Douglas Benton: The rules and regulations were put in place to limit outside influences into the recruiting process, but it has become too regulated and thusly created more loopholes for "runners" to keep their place in the process. An area I would like to see improved on are a spring viewing period to allow coaches to get an early look on the upcoming classes and make more informed decisions heading into the month of July. By having limited viewings, it takes away available scholarships come July and can force players back on the circuit post-high school.

Which non-ranked prospects are players to watch based on their spring performances?

Steve Hu: 2011: Momir Gataric from Homestead High and Bay Area Ballers. Gataric is a wing that probably was overlooked in the high school season and was hurt during last summer circuit. But watching him play, he has a very complete game and could be a late Division I signing. He has the frame to go to the rim while has a respectable perimeter game.

2012: Paris Davis from Skyline and Oakland Rebels. The OAL will probably have McClymonds as the pre-season favorites. After that, it will be up for grabs. Davis is a scoring machine and is capable of putting up some big numbers in the upcoming season. He has the size and speed to get to the basket with ease. But if Davis develops a respectable mid-range perimeter game, that will really open up his scoring options.

2013: Harold Getz from University High and Bay Area Warriors. Getz was a key rotation on University this past year. Playing for his high school coach, Randy Bessolo, during the summer, Getz will be able to hone his game for the upcoming season to really be a more complete player for the Red Devils.

Douglas Benton: Already with some solid interest from Division I programs, Castlemont's Devereaux Manley should have a big summer playing for Team 94. Manley has already compiled a strong spring on the heels of a good senior year in which he teamed up with Top 40 guard Gary Williams. In the 2012 class, look for Jarvis Watkins to make himself a household name after helping Antelope reach the NorCal semi-finals as a junior. He is a quality shooting guard who should help pace E-Time Hoops. After a strong showing with the Bay Area Warriors at the Bay Area Memorial Day Classic, Serra forward Henry Caruso should continue to push himself toward the Top 40. He was a solid contributor as a sophomore in high school and brings a versatility game to the floor. He is a good name to remember.

Article 220: 1-On-1: Arik Armstead

June 21, 2011

Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove dual-sport athlete Arik Armstead has a bunch of numbers attached to his name.

In football, he's a four-star strongside defensive end, the No. 23 overall prospect in the nation in the Rivals100 and the third-best in the nation at his position.

In basketball, he's the No. 7-ranked prospect in the NorCalPreps 2012 Boys Basketball Top 40. He led Pleasant Grove to an 18-10 record this past sason while averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
At 6-foot-8 and 280 pounds, Armstead can run the 40-yard dash in 5.00 seconds, bench press 315 pounds, squat 480 pounds, and has a vertical of 30 inches.
 
While a dominant force on the gridiron, Armstead - a solid verbal commit to USC - ia also passionate about basketball as he plays the power forward position.
 
On his way to the USC Basketball Camp this past weekend, NCP asked Armstead about his basketball background, future, and interests.

Steve Hu of NCP: Who would you compare your basketball game to and why?
 
Arik Armstead: I have a unique game as I can play a big post but also can dribble and shoot from outside. I try to combine post players and wing players. I would say for a wing player, I like Carmelo Anthony for his post up and face up. For post players, I like Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard and how they have good footwork and positioning.
 
NCP: Most people would assume football players who play basketball just rely on their brute, physical strength on the hard court. In your case, would you disagree with that and why?
 
AA: I disagree with that. Some may rely on both. I have played basketball longer than football as I started playing basketball at six years old. My dad at played at Sacramento State. My dad's workouts with me are guard focused. As a result, I have a lot of moves, can dribble, and can shoot. Straight brute strength won't work at the higher levels.
 
NCP: Pleasant Grove had a successful football season last year but the basketball team finished tied for third in the division. Aside from the obvious answers, what do you want to accomplish in your senior year in basketball and how will you achieve that?
 
AA: I want to go farther in the playoffs and help out as much as I can. I want to be more of a leader. I plan on helping on defense more, rebounding, and getting the ball to the guards to start the fast break. I will be a bigger post feed for my guards too.

NCP: Why play for the Compton Magic? What were some of the other reasons of having to make the journey to Southern California for your summer club team?

AA: Exposure is a big reason. Teammates Isaiah Austin (Grace Preparatory Academy) and Gabe York (Orange Lutheran) attract a lot attention at the games. Also, Armond played with the Compton Magic as well.
 
NCP: College football overlaps the college basketball season by over month - and longer if the football team has a January bowl game. How do you plan to make the transition mid-way into the basketball season?
 
AA: I plan to rest a few days and work out. Then, get the rust off and get shots up. The timing would have me playing right when the Pac-12 conference season begins. I would just try to play my way into the conference season.
 
NCP: From a professional perspective, is there anything that would convince you to give up either sport? As an example, if you were projected to be a high first round pick in either sport. Or is the end goal to play both sports professionally?
 
AA: I want to be the first person to play in both the NBA and NFL. I would continue to play in both sports even if I was not drafted in both. I would want to play in an NBA season right after its all star break.
 
NCP: How much of an influence does your brother's (Armond) sports experience impact you or will impact you? As an example, he is projected as a high NFL lineman prospect.
 
AA: He helps me a lot as I watched him through the recruiting process, his high school games, and his college games. I can see what I need to do to reach a high level.
 
NCP: You train with your father's training program, To The Hoop, which is a widely known basketball training service in the Sacramento area. What is it that you learn from his services and some of the professional basketball players that he has worked with?
 
AA: He's taught me everything I know. He was the first person to put a basketball in my hands. I also have watched the pro guys that he trains and observe their work ethic. I see how hard they work to make it and how to maintain their level. One of the players that my dad works with is Mike Wilks (10 year NBA player who went to Rice). He has stayed with my family for 10 summers. I learned from him on and off the court and how hard he works and how he approaches things in life and how he made it. I have also learned from watching Ryan Anderson and Matt Barnes who have also worked with my dad.
 
NCP: You have visited many colleges and USC in particular with your brother there. What do you want to major in college? What occupation would you pursue if you did not play sports? What kind of college experience are you looking for?
 
AA: I would want to major in Sports Management. Since USC does not have that major, I plan to go to Marshall Business School. I would want to start my own business something like training or being a sports agent. The college experience that I want is to get a good education, have a good college career, and be a better student athlete to help achieve my goals of playing both in the NBA and NFL.
 
NCP: Any other comments?
 
AA: People think basketball is a hobby for me. But I am serious about both sports. If people watch me, they will realize that as well.

NorCalPreps.com analyst Douglas Benton, who has been scouting since 2004, recently attended the Sacramento Professional Developmental League (basketball) to watch Armstead play.
 
"Arik played a sound game in the SPDL to finish with 14 points in scoring from different areas on the floor," Benton said. "He is in the mold of a face up power forward who you can use in the screen and roll game and also work off the ball going toward the basket. He highlighted his effort with a nice spin move to score in showing off some of his agility.
 
"As a football prospect, he has some of the best feet I've seen for a lineman prospect and should be very successful at the next level on either side of the ball. His future though is on the defensive line."

Article 219: NCP Roundtable

June 20, 2011

While the school year has been over for less than a month, it is already time to start looking ahead towards the next football season. With the 2012 class being one of the best to come through the region in a number of the years, NCP analysts Douglas Benton and Steve Hu discuss the most pressing questions in this edition of NCP Roundtable.

1. What teams are looking for a bounce back season?

Steve Hu: Nevada Union. After coming off a 13-1 season in 2009, the Miners started 2010 at 4-1 and looked to have another solid season. But the team lost every league game, granted all of them were reasonably close losses. Leading tackler Tanner Vallejo will be returning as he was just a sophomore.

Pittsburg. The Pirates also had a Jekyll and Hyde 2010 season as they started the season winless at 0-5 but then won every league game to only lose a rematch playoff game to league rival Heritage to end the season at 5-6. Feao Vunipola and Malik Watson will be key returning players at linebacker and quarterback to lead the Pirates.

Douglas Benton: At the end of the first half of the season, it looked like Nevada Union was primed to make another run at a SJS Division I section title. However, the Miners went winless in their first year in the Sierra Foothill League to miss the playoffs with a 4-6 record. This year, head coach Dave Humphers returns the vast majority of his starters and should be read y to compete near the top of a difficult league. Also look for Foothill-Pleasanton and Pittsburg to bounce back from first round exits after being fixtures in the NCP Top 20. Another team who will try to take the next step as a playoff contender is Elk Grove of the SJS, which returns 21 of its 37 players including 1,100 yard rusher Deon Ransom.

2. What teams have questions to answer heading into the fall?

Steve Hu: Palo Alto. When you win state, the target will be that much bigger on you. In addition, the Vikings lose Davante Adams (Fresno State), Kevin Anderson (Stanford), and T.J. Braff (Santa Clara baseball). An early season test against Archbishop Mitty will be a good indicator if the Vikings are in rebuilding or reloading mode.

Folsom. Another team that will have the bulls eye on opponents' schedules. The big question is the quarterback position as Dano Graves accounted for 62 passing touchdowns. The Bulldogs will have back to back games against Grant and San Ramon Valley to gauge where their offense is at early in the season. Folsom lost their first game last season to Grant before going unblemished the rest of the way.

Douglas Benton: Palo Alto went on a special run last season with an undefeated mark in capturing the CIF Division I state championship. The Vikings are now tasked with replacing a strong senior core, led by quarterback Christoph Bono as well as talented defenders in Anderson and Braff. They will also have to deal with WCAL teams Bellarmine and Valley Christian-San Jose which should be able to make a potential championship run. Another section finalist which will have to retool is Monterey Trail, especially in the ever expanding football area of Elk Grove. In a league with Grant at the top and a challenging non-league slate, we should know more about the Mustangs after the first month.

3. De La Salle is the clear No. 1 team. Which other schools will be in the state title discussion?

Steve Hu: Football is the consummate team sport. With that said, look at the Rivals 250 list, which only lists 4 and 5 star prospects. If your team has a 4 or 5 star prospect, that should be worth at least a few points in your advantage. Shaq Thompson (#10, 5 star, Grant), Aziz Shittu (#12, 5 star, Buhach), Arik Armstead (#23, 4 star, Pleasant Grove), Zach Kline (#40, 4 star, San Ramon Valley), Byron Marshall (#90, 4 star, Valley Christian), Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick (#180, 4 star, Whitney), and Freddie Tagaloa (#206, 4 star, Salesian) will all give their respective teams legit chances of going undefeated and will have strong playoff teams. And keep in mind, these teams also have other players who are high caliber players as well. Interestingly, De La Salle has no one on the top 250 list but still return some really good pieces in Michael Barton, Bart Houston, and Michael Hutchings.

Douglas Benton: This has the potential to be another big year for NorCal on the state stage after winning four of the five games in 2010. Outside of De La Salle, Pleasant Grove and Bellarmine will be in the discussion for a bid all year as the favorites in the SJS Division I and CCS Open Division respectively in returning a high number of starters off of successful seasons. These two schools look to fill spots No. 2 and 3 in NorCal heading into the year. Other teams will be Grant and Del Oro out of the SJS in what could be another thrilling Division II playoff field. In the lower levels, Cardinal Newman should be very good again this year as well as Escalon with Josh Miguel back in the fold. Salesian should also challenge as a team playing excellent football down the stretch and the CIF Division IV runner-up Brookside Christian returns quarterback Tony Rodriguez.

4. What are the non-league games you would most want to attend?

Steve Hu: Folsom at Grant 8/27. Going into last season's playoff game, Grant was undefeated and had cruised in the earlier season matchup but lost to Folsom. This game can be a springboard for Thompson to showcase his national status. Like the college BCS system, the winner will be that much ahead in the state title playoff chance. But remember, Folsom lost this game last season and was still able to rebound against the long odds. Expect Grant to win at home as their offense will be hard to stop all year.

Pittsburg at Monte Vista 9/16. Monte Vista gets overshadowed by De La Salle but they feature a very strong team as well. Both Monte Vista and Pittsburg have very good quarterbacks in Jeff Lockie and Watson respectively. Pittsburg wins a close one as the offense has dual threat playmaking quarterback.

De La Salle at St. Thomas Aquinas 9/23. De La Salle will have tough matchups with Bellarmine and St. Mary's Stockton before this game. But if they can win both of those games, this game against St. Thomas Aquinas could be a national top 5 matchup as both teams finished in the top 5 of Rivals final team rankings for last season. The game will be televised live on ESPN as St. Thomas Aquinas will be breaking in a new coach. Playing at home, expect St. Thomas Aquinas to win with their defense as lineman Jelani Hamilton is one of the top recruits in Florida.

Douglas Benton: Putting aside the De La Salle-St. Thomas Aquinas match-up, which has the potential to be one of the best games in the country all year, there are plenty of intriguing non-league games in the first month. The first one is on September 2 when Bellarmine travels to play De La Salle. It will be a Top 3 match-up and feature the Spartans against WCAL competition. This game will be an excellent gauge on how big of a separation there is between DLS and the rest of NorCal as well as if Bellarmine is worthy of national status this year. Folsom will open up its season against Grant this year, but I like the match-up with San Ramon Valley the next week. The Wolves should be very competitive this year with Kline at the helm and will be a nice test for Folsom and its pass defense. An out of the area game to look for is when Westlake comes up to play Del Oro on September 3. The Golden Eagles have received some early talk as a potential nationally ranked team and will look to post an important win against a 12-2 team last year from Southern California after losing games to Bishop Gorman and Clovis West last year.

5. Which leagues will be the toughest in NorCal this season?

Steve Hu: East Bay Athletic League has the top team in the state in De La Salle. As a result, that level of competition raises the bar for all the other teams.
WCAL always seem to perform well out of conference. The league schedule is played at a grind it out pace that goes into the playoffs. Valley Christian will probably be the favorites but Bellarmine returns a lot of key starters as well.

Douglas Benton: There are four leagues that stand out to me in Northern California, led by the Sierra Foothill League. The SFL has star power at the top, strong coaching and the depth to make it a challenge almost every week. This year, it looks to be Del Oro as the early favorite, but Granite Bay and Nevada Union aren't far behind. Also, Rocklin is just two years removed from a state bowl bid. In no particular order the rest of the way is the East Bay Athletic League, the West Catholic Athletic League and the Delta River League. The EBAL has De La Salle at the top with nice depth of good teams with San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista and Cal. The WCAL is always tough and this year is no different with Bellarmine and Valley Christian the top contenders. Serra will also be a factor with a good running game returning. Possibly the biggest factor in this league is the rivalries, which keeps the competition close. Finally, the Delta River League was tough last year and will be again with Pleasant Grove and Folsom bringing back good squads. A dark horse team to possibly slide into the third spot is Sheldon under head coach Josh Crabtree.

Article 218: Straughter to slaughter Metro

June 19, 2011

The Luther Burbank Titans surprised some folks by winning the Metro this past season with a 23-5-1 record that ended in a playoff loss to Jesuit. Admittedly, Sacramento High had some internal turmoil that made the league a bit more dramatic. But going into the upcoming season, the Titans will be on everyone's short list in the Sacramento region as up and coming 2013 prospect, David Straughter, will help with the slaughtering of league opponents.

At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Straughter is a forward who can bench press 195 pounds and squat 195 pounds. He was on varsity for the first time during this past season as he averaged 3.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game for the Titans. During this summer, he is playing for Play Hard Play Smart.

PHPS Coach Renato Porlaris says, "David is getting better at playing defense at a much higher level. He is able to defend right now guys that run the point all the way to the center position and that may be his greatest asset as he develops his offensive skills. Right now, he is nice off the dribble and can finish, but has to develop a consistent jumper. The hard work he puts in the next couple of years should determine what level of college ball he plays. Off the court, he likes to be the jokester among his teammates which loosens and relaxes them."

As a result, how tall Straughter becomes may determine if he will be a small forward, power forward, or combination wing player as he possesses the athleticism and frame to play any of those positions. He is a finesse player who tries to emulate former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant because he likes to handle the ball but also has the size to post up smaller players. His best basketball move would be his spin move because it creates quite a bit of separation when he goes to the basket.

In addition to playing for PHPS, he will work on his jump shot and dribbling because he wants to be able to take a player to the hole but also be able to switch it up and have a respectable pull up jumper. He wants to average a double double, help his team to take the Metro League again, and get past the second round of playoffs.

He has not gotten contact from any colleges yet but is open to all locations. He wants to play for a team that runs the floor and plays a team game. He will also take into consideration the school's past performance and the competition of its league. Straughter has a 3.50 GPA and will want the college to have a respectable student athlete graduation percentage. He likes his Science course work but plans to major in Business.

Burbank Coach Lindsey Ferrell says about his Titan, "On the court, David has a nice mid range game with a soft touch around the rim. His best game was against Sac High when he scored 22 pts and grabbed 12 boards. Off the court, he's a gentle giant who loves music. He's in the school band where he plays the clarinet and he also loves watching cartoons. During this summer, we went 9-0 at the Chico State team camp with David boarding and scoring."

During this past season, his high school team was involved in a fight in Modesto at a tournament and had to forfeit their first league game. Straughter bounced back and helped his team in the next win over Sacramento High. Watch for this Titan to slaughter the Metro League opponents in the upcoming season.

Article 217: Mullin Jr. headed back East

June 17, 2011

After three years at De La Salle, Chris Mullin Jr. will be making the trek back east to Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts for his junior year. Mullin's father, Chris Mullin, is originally from Brooklyn, New York before playing his collegiate years at St. John's University and the majority of his professional career for the Golden State Warriors. As a result, going back east to Cushing is a return to Mullin's roots as he he has family in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Mullin made the decision to attend Cushing Academy because he has more colleges in contact with him on the east coast where he has been spending most of his past summers attending camps. The 6-foot-2 and 185 pound combination guard has been getting interest from Cornell, Davidson, University of Denver, Fordham, San Francisco, and UC Santa Barbara. Mullin is deceptively quick, has a big build for a guard, and has a good right-handed shooting touch similar to his father.

This 2013 prospect is a finesse player because he does not force his shots and lets the game come to him instead of forcing things that may lead to mistakes. His best attribute is perimeter shooting. During this offseason, he is working heavily on his ball handling and shooting because he wants to be a more complete guard and wants his perimeter game to be at an elite level.

In addition, the junior Mullin will be playing for Team 94 where Coach Phil Handy is well known as a developer of basketball talent and coaches in the NBA Development League for the Reno Bighorns. Handy has these impressions about his guard. "I am very impressed with Chris and his ability to defend. He is a very strong kid who competes and really has taken the challenge of guarding guys. He has good speed, good footwork, and a decent handle. The most impressive and surprising thing I have seen in him is his craftiness. He has surprised me several times this spring with some great moves to the basket and also being able to finish. He runs the floor very hard and is good in transition!"

Mullin elaborates about his Cushing decision. "I chose Cushing because I have a few family friends that went to Cushing as they had a great experience. The Pressey family has two kids who both went there and eventually played at the University of Missouri. It is somewhat known for being a good basketball school but it is not a basketball factory but it is always a good team and produces good players at the D1 level." The Pressey brothers are the sons of former Milwaukee Buck, Paul Pressey.

Handy supports Mullin's decision to head east, "Chris is an unknown kid other than people know him as Chris Mullin's son. Kid can play and going to Cushing Prep will definitely help him get exposed and show people that he has some skills. He has been working hard on his game and Cushing will only continue to help develop him into an even better player. Once coaches have a chance to see that another Mullin is on the rise, I think his recruiting will definitely pick up. Skill development is always good for a player's game, but at some point game experience is what helps a basketball player's instincts!"

Mullin says about his father's impact, "I have learned everything I could ever know about basketball from my father and am very grateful for having him in my life. I didn't really learn much from when he played because I don't really remember so much because of how young I am. Now, I do watch some of his old game film and try to see what he does that I can apply to my game that can help me. All in all, my father has really taught me too much to put into words."

Handy, who played with Chris Mullin with the Golden State Warriors, compares junior to his father. "Although he is a Mullin, his game is very different from his dad's. He is not as tall as senior, but he has better speed. I know Chris is not into drawing comparisons to his dad's game and he plays like it. There is no doubt, when you see him that he is a Mullin but he is working hard to blaze his own trail. He looks like an unassuming player, but he has some very sneaky skills and can shoot the ball from deep. Mullie (dad) has definitely played a significant role in handing down the family genes in the hoop world. Chris is a fearless player who like his father also carries a decent jump shot."

Before Mullin heads east, Team 94 will still be playing several west coast summer events. After the summer, he will leave for Cushing. Expect Mullin Jr. to be on a college program in the 2013 season.

Article 216: Giddings has a high ceiling

June 15, 2011

Last year, the Oakland Rebels 17U team had as their featured big man Brendan Keane who is headed for Northern Colorado. This year's squad has someone of similar build in center Tanner Giddings who is 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds. He plays a similar style as Keane as Giddings can bench press 225 pounds, squat 300 pounds, and has a vertical of 27 inches.

Playing for his Windsor High Jaguars in the Sonoma County League (SCL), Giddings may not get as much exposure. Despite that, his Jaguars finished a respectable 18-10 as they progressed far into the playoffs before losing to Pinole Valley High. Giddings averaged a double-double as he had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Windsor Coach Steve Kramer has this perspective on Giddings, "Tanner's strengths are his size, speed, quickness and agility. He also has very good hands. He is faster than our guards and he is 6-9. He has improved tremendously over the last few months due to work in the weight room and his commitment to improving his jump shot. Mike Farmer (former USF star and NBA player) has worked countless hours with Tanner on his shooting and it is paying off. Over the last two years, Tanner has been successful scoring and rebounding and blocking shots. Most of his points were from offensive rebounds and back to the basket moves but over the last weekend in a tournament at Sonoma State, he scored in a number of different ways. Hitting jump shots, jump hooks, off rebounds and put backs, driving to the basket. He was impressive."

With his size and solid productivity, he decided to join the Oakland Rebels to get the necessary recruiting exposure. His Rebels will have July trips to Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, and Southern California to play in front of college coaches during the NCAA sanctioned evaluation period. These four tournaments will provide him the opportunity to showcase his skills and create interest from schools all over the country.

In the short time that he has coached him, Oakland Rebels Coach Ryant Diew says, "Tanner's strengths include his ability to run the floor, his rebounding, and his shot blocking. He is also extremely agile for a player of his size. On the court, he's a very competitive player who continues to get better each time he takes the court. Off the court, he has been a pleasure as well. He wants to get better. He's the type of player that looks you in the eye when you are talking to him and is very receptive to coaching. As for college, I believe that he's a definite Mid-major D-1 prospect. His upside is tremendous. If he can continue to develop on the offensive end, I think that he's going to be an absolute steal for some program."

Giddings considers himself to be a power player because he can use his size and strength to get to the basket easily. His best skills are being able to run the floor and knowing where the basketball is at all times and pursue it. During this summer, he plans to work on his jump shot, free throws, and hook shot the most because he wants to have a wide variety of moves to be able to use in different situations. He compares his game to high school turn NBA players, Kevin Garnett or Amare Stoudemire. Giddings believes this because he has an upbeat style of game and is good around the basket and far away from the basket.

This 2012 prospect has been a starter since his sophomore year for Windsor. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Joe Callero) and Yale University (Jamie Snyder) are the only programs in contact with him. He wants to play in an upbeat style of play as he likes to run the floor and have a lot of fast break plays. He would like to stay on the sunny, west coast but is not against moving to any part of the country. He has a 3.00 GPA and wants to major in Business.

Coach Kramer has this take on Giddings' college outlook, "I think he can play at the Division I level. He still must get stronger and keep developing his game but he really has only been seriously playing for 3 years so I think he will continue to get better every year he is in college. Whoever gets him will be lucky because he will show up ready to work every day with a good attitude. He is a solid student as well. He wants to succeed in whatever he does. I would like him to develop a bit of mean streak and play tougher at times. I want to have a little nastiness to him. Great kid. He is what you would want your son to be like."

Giddings had to endure a broken right arm injury right before the start of his freshman season. As a result, he was able to work on his left handed moves for basketball. His individual goals are to win MVP of SCL while averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds in leading his team to winning the SCL and going to the NCS Finals.

The natural bell curve has a limit in terms of people who are tall and who have above average basketball skills. Giddings fits these two criteria. As a result, expect the ceiling to be figuratively and literally higher for him in his college basketball recruiting process in Windsor during this upcoming season.

Article 215: Sailsbery puts Orland on map

June 12, 2011

Because of its location in Glenn County midway from Redding and Sacramento, college coaches and scouts can easily overlook college prospects from Orland High. At the recent Memorial Day Classic in Hayward, Jud Sailsbery showcased his adept basketball skills and perimeter shooting while playing for E-Time Hoops.

At 6-foot-0 and 175 pounds, Sailsbery is a combination guard for the Orland High Trojans in the Butte View League. In this past season, he averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as the Trojans went 21-10 and lost in the second round of the Northern California playoffs to Salesian. He can run the 40-yard dash in 4.90 seconds, bench press 210 pounds, squat 355 pounds, and has a vertical of 26 inches.

This 2013 prospect has been on a varsity starter since his freshman year. He considers himself as a physical player on the perimeter at both ends of the floor. Defensively, he helps disrupt the other team's offense by being physical outside while he also is physical offensively to push around a smaller point guard or create space against a bigger guard.

His court vision and ball handling was impressively displayed at the Memorial Day Classic as he helped to break down presses and dribble around defensive trapping situations. In addition, his outside shooting is effective as he led Orland in three point shooting this past season.

"As far as his strengths go, he is a very intellectual basketball mind," says Orland High Coach Jason Bragg. "He understands the game. I'm now in my 14th season as a varsity coach at Orland (4 years with girls, 10 with boys), and Jud is at the top of the list as far as smart basketball players go. The scary part of that is he just completed his sophomore season, and his upside is fantastic. His shooting range is quite impressive, and as he grows he should only get better in all areas of his game. On the court, Jud is a leader and I only expect that role to grow as he completes his last two years of high school. Players enjoy playing with him because he is a good passer and can get them the ball with an opportunity to score. I think this summer playing AAU in Sacramento has only improved this part of his game."

Sailsbery models his game after Cal Bear Jason Kidd because he recognizes that it is more important to get the other players the ball to help win the game. Also, he is not concerned about his own stats, he is smart with the ball, and he is crafty on the defensive end.

During this summer, Sailsbery is playing with his E-Time Hoops 17U team to work on his shooting to help open up the floor to be a more effective distributor. He is also working on his overall agility and lateral quickness, as well as improving finishing around the basket.

E-Time Hoops Coach Ernest Taubodo says about Sailsbery's commitment to basketball, "Jud makes a unique sacrifice to take every measure necessary to meet and exceed his basketball goals. He believes playing for a Sacramento based AAU team will grant him the opportunity to develop and showcase his skills. A drive of 1 hour and 45 minutes each way 2 to 3 times a week, is the commitment made by this young student/athlete. In addition to the drive; Jud has requested a written plyometric work-out routine, a strength and conditioning program, along with a daily basketball fundamental agenda. Arrangements have been made by Jud's family, so he has access to a gym, weight room, and football stadium In order to train and prepare over the summer."

Chico is about 20 miles from Orland, which makes it no surprise that Chico State is the lone college in contact with Sailsbery. He wants to play in a program where it is a more organized, set-play style where the team relies on defense and out smarts the opponent. Sailsbery wants to attend a program where the student athlete is held to produce good grades and is held to a higher standard as he carries a 3.89 GPA and is undecided on his major.

Coach Taubado's E-Time Hoops has produced some college talent in JT Adenrele and Chad Haysbert from last year's squad. He says, "I believe Jud has the potential to compete at the collegiate level. In my opinion he is a lock at the D2 level. His father is 6'7 and he has the potential to grow a few more inches which could boost him to a D1 level if he continues to develop in all the necessary areas."

Coach Bragg has this opinion, "As far as the NCAA level goes, we will have to wait and see. I think his upside is tremendous. His shooting is where it needs to be to play at the next level. If a coach needs a shooter, they would be hard pressed to find a better one. His speed will have to improve, as will his ball handling. It will depend on how much he does grow as to what position he can play. While you would be able to find more athletic kids out there, you will not find a smarter basketball mind."

Sailsbery is working hard to help his team win the North Section title next season as Orland has been runner-up in both of his seasons. He also wants to make a deep run in the Northern California playoffs as well.

Coach Bragg adds, "The last thing I will mention is his ability to step up for the big games. With some players you will see them pad their statistics on lesser competition and see their stats go south against the really solid teams. Jud is quite the opposite. Some of his biggest games have come when everything is on the line. We have been fortunate enough to have made back to back section title games and state playoff appearances, which is something that rarely happens in Orland. I believe we have made four appearances in the state playoffs in our school's history, and Jud has played in two of those. His performance this year against Modesto Christian was fantastic. That was a game that no one gave us a chance to win, and Jud willed us to a win. For us to be able to compete with the private schools that are able to recruit, we need a special type of player, and Jud has been that guy the past two seasons. Fortunately for us, he helped lead us to our first ever state playoff win this season, and I hope there are more to come!"

Article 214: Jajeh the Enforcer

June 10, 2011

For participants in the upcoming WCAL basketball season, they better bring an interior game if they plan on being competitive. Mitty will have Aaron Gordon and Neil Vranicar, St. Francis will have Drew Dickey, Bellarmine will have the Thomas brothers, Sacred Heart Cathedral will have Josh Fox and Taylor Johns, St. Ignatius will have Stephen Domingo, and the list goes on and on. The Serra High Padres will be bringing up 2013 center Matt Jajeh to counter these opponents' post players.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Jajeh can bench press 210 pounds, squat 315 pounds, and has a vertical of 22 inches. He has a wingspan of 79 inches and expects to top out at 6-foot-7. With these attributes, his teammates call him the Enforcer.

Last year on the junior varsity squad, he led his Padres to a 14-0 record where he averaged 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assists per game. Jajeh is a power player who is not afraid of getting physical with opponents. As a result, he models his game after Dwight Howard because he is strong and dominant in the post and is always a presence down low on defense and on the boards.

His low post defense and rebounding is very solid at his grade level. His footwork and post moves are varied and effective but he still plans on working on his footwork and quickness during his downtime. Serra will have Henry Caruso and Stephen Grosey in the interior in addition to Jajeh for next season.

During this summer, he is playing for his Oakland Kings 16U club team. Oakland Kings Coach D'Angelo Zamora was aware of Jajeh because Zamora's son, Jos'af, is a Serra teammate. Coach Zamora says, "Matt's strengths are that he is being vocal down low and is a strong defender. He does all of the dirty work for us that includes rebounding, defending, and offensive put backs. He controls the paint with his size and his counterpart, Wyvone Birden 6-foot-3 and 270 pound freshman!"

At the recent Memorial Day Classic in Hayward, Jajeh displayed his interior presence. His Oakland Kings won the Varsity White Division title while he earned MVP honors.

Coach Zamora continues, "Coach Darnell McCulloch nominated Matt for team MVP! Off the court, Matt is a great, young man with a lot of personality. He really has funny jokes before every game but is all about business when the game begins. He is a true Leader and Warrior. I knew what this kid had because I seen him and my son lead Serra JV to their first undefeated season in school history."

After this summer season and a year on varsity, Jajeh should be getting more college contact as he has none yet. He sports a 3.90 GPA as math and science are his favorite subjects and he would like to study to become an anesthesiologist.

His interest in medicine is related to his own bleeding disorder called hemophilia. The condition does not affect his play on the court but off the court he has to take extra time to avoid serious injuries or any complications. His individual goal is to be a starter at Serra and help the team to make a deep playoff run.

Watch for Jajeh crashing the boards on his Oakland Kings summer team. Then, watch for Jajeh enforcing the paint in San Mateo this upcoming WCAL season. Finally, watch for Jajeh on the college level in 2013.

Article 213: Monday Morning Quarterback

June 6, 2011

Malik Watson will be the starting quarterback for the Pittsburg High Pirates this upcoming season. Watson passed for 1,113 yards and 6 TDs in 6 games while he split time at the quarterback duty this past season. The 2012 prospect just received his first offer from Northern Arizona.

At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Watson can run 4.80 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has a shuttle time of 4.33 seconds, can bench press 225 pounds, squat 405 pounds, has a vertical of 34 inches, and is able to throw a deep ball of 76 yards.

The current schools that are in contact with Watson include Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Cal, Colorado, Colorado State, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, USC, Washington, and Washington State with his first offer from Northern Arizona. Watson has had some initial thoughts about these schools and their conferences that he is in contact with.

Big Sky Conference (Eastern Washington, Montana, and Northern Arizona): Watson says, "The Big Sky is a rising conference in my opinion and are bringing in a lot of very good athletes that have a lot to prove which will help their teams to build success."

Mountain West Conference (Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada, San Diego State, and UNLV): "The Mountain West is a really good conference too and I think they get overshadowed and are under rated as well. They have really good teams such as San Diego State and they are a favorite of mine as well. I'm a Cali kind of boy and I love beaches so that is probably my favorite MWC team."

Pac-12 Conference (Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon State, USC, Washington, and Washington State): "PAC-12 is the best conference to me on the west coast or half of the USA. It is my favorite conference because you get the same level of competition as you do on the east side of the USA. I know it will be even more competitive because of Colorado and Utah now because they didn't enter that conference for no reason."

Western Athletic Conference (Fresno State, Idaho, and San Jose State): " The WAC I think is more of a passing conference which I wouldn't mind at all playing in. Also because I'm from Hawaii and I was raised in San Jose. And Boise State really built that conference into a big name now. So, I'm looking for the WAC to be able to compete with the Pac-12 in a few years."

Watson will be doing his version of the Interstate 5 road trip during this summer. He will go to football camps at Cal, Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, and USC with a possible return camp visit to Oregon State. And yes, I-5 technically spans only California, Oregon, and Washington - so, Watson will have to find other highway junctions to Idaho and Nevada.

In addition, Watson says, "I have 24 organized summer workouts with my team this year and they are very intense. I am also going to be working out on my own to get my weight up to a solid 215 pounds before the season. And my team has a lot of passing leagues and tournament camps that we are going to this summer."

High school quarterbacks will always emulate NFL quarterbacks. Here are some thoughts from Watson about some current NFL quarterbacks.

Tom Brady: "I used to get tired of hearing his name but over the years and the more I've grown as a quarterback, the more I appreciate his work on the field. He knows everything that's going on the field like he rehearsed it with his opponent's defense the week before. And nobody really talks about his strong arm and accuracy but it's amazing! I can see why people don't really talk about that because they are so appreciative of his smartness and leadership."

Josh Freeman: "He is big and his size to me is just as big as his upside! He came in his rookie year and did very well with all of his 4th quarter comebacks and he backed it up with his outstanding season last season. He is a very well polished quarterback that will do a lot of great things in the future."

Aaron Rodgers: "He is amazing and is a very smart quarterback. His arm strength is out of this world. He can throw a 15 yard out like a quick hitch and he is just an electrifying player!"

Zac McNally is the recruiting contact that facilitated the first offer from Northern Arizona for Watson. If things go as plan in his senior season, then more offers should be rolling in. Watch for big things from Watson in Pittsburg.

Article 212: NUC Hayward top performers

June 5, 2011

The National Underclassman Combine (NUC) convened at Chabot College in Hayward Saturday despite on and off rain conditions. 90 middle school and junior varsity athletes attended the morning session while the afternoon featured 48 high school varsity prospects.

NUC coordinator and coach, Ivan Barajas, said that the effects of the rain and wet field at most adversely affect the measured numbers by five percent. He also noted that Saturday's combine had more speed prospects than the one in Sacramento last week. It seems that the talent in the Bay Area was slightly better.

The top 15 junior varsity and varsity NUC Hayward prospects will be invited to the early July west coast combine that will be held in Los Angeles. That combine will number close to 400 participants. Outstanding prospects from that combine will move on to the national combine of close to 200 participants in August.

Here is the rundown on those who impressed:

Eric Griffen 6-foot-3, 193 pounds LB Monte Vista Christian (2012): Griffen earned the overall MVP. He is very balanced in his strength and speed for a linebacker. His size and skills would seem to translate seamlessly to college. He is getting college contact from BYU, Nevada, San Jose State, and UC Davis.

Marcial Malic 5-foot-6, 160 pounds RB/S Salesian High (2012): Has been a starter since his sophomore year. He displayed good receiving hands in passing drills. He is a bit undersized but think of Darren Sproles as a sparkplug. Malic has good quickness and a low center of gravity for balance.

Austin Daich 6-foot-2, 181 pounds WR Monte Vista Christian (2012): A bigger receiver that can move and get separation. He has good hands and focuses on the ball well. North Dakota and UC Davis are interested.

Dan Scritchfield 6-foot-1, 192 pounds WR Monte Vista (2012): Has good size and speed for wide receiver. He displayed good hands in catching and was accurate in his route running. With Bryce Mcgovern leaving, Scritchfield will have opportunities to be a main receiver for Jeff Lockie.

Deshane Hines 5-foot-10, 161 pounds CB American High (2012): Hines won the defensive back MVP. He displayed good anticipation and break on the passes. He has been a varsity starter since his junior year. Colorado and San Jose State are in contact with him.

Andrew Olson 6-foot-1, 176 pounds QB Hilmar High (2012): Olson displayed a strong arm that allowed him to win the quarterback MVP. Fresno State, Nevada, Sacramento State, San Diego State, and San Jose State have been in contact and Olson plans to attend a few of these summer camps. His footwork and mechanics looked solid in the passing drills. Olson also stated that he works with his quarterback coach, Roger Theder.

Casey Dakin 6-foot-4, 256 pounds DL Templeton High (2012): Dakin won the strongest MVP as he was the most impressive at the bench press. He has been on varsity since his sophomore year. He is hearing from Cal Poly and Idaho.

Matthew Fisher 6-foot-3, 232 pounds OL San Ramon Valley High (2012): Fisher excelled in the bench press and showed good quickness and agility for a lineman to earn offensive lineman MVP. He has been a starter since his sophomore playoff games. He will be tasked in protecting Cal commit Zac Kline. Air Force, Colorado State, Eastern Kentucky, Idaho, Nevada, UC Davis, and Wyoming are in contact.

Jordan Fogal 5-foot-9, 151 pounds CB/WR Arroyo High (2012): Fogal showed good coverage skills. Fogal has very good speed, quickness, and awareness. He has been a starter since junior year. Boise State, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon St, Syracuse, TCU, UCLA, Utah, and Washington State are in touch.

Raysean Martin 5-foot-11, 174 pounds RB/CB Tennyson High (2012): Martin won the running back MVP - and for good reason as he had the fastest 40 yard dash at 4.51 seconds. He is transferring from Hayward to Tennyson this upcoming season with inquiries from Northern Arizona and USC.

Spencer Briare 6-foot-4, 216 pounds LB/TE Granite Bay (2012): Briare has all the attributes that an ideal linebacker or tight end possesses. He registered 85 tackles and caught three receptions for three touchdowns. Granite Bay has highly regarded quarterback Brendan Keeney. With Briare expected to be a leading tackler, Granite Bay looks to be an early top 20 candidate. Cal Poly, Colorado, Fresno State, Nevada, and Washington State are suitors.

Marcel Brinson 5-foot-10, 183 pounds CB/S Palma (2012): Brinson was awarded the Leadership MVP. That is a good sign if the safety position is considered the quarterback position on defense. In addition, he had an impressive bench press session at the combine, which would indicate that he is a heavy hitter. He was a starter this past season and is in contact with Colorado State and San Diego.

Mitch Ravizza 5-foot-9, 173 pounds QB Willow Glen High (2012): Ravizza displayed a very strong and accurate arm. He threw for 37 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last season as Willow Glen went 11-2. The tools and abilities are there as a quarterback. His arm is not the question for the next level but his height may be.

Zac Alfers 5-foot-11, 161 pounds WR Alameda High (2012): Displayed good hands and is a crisp route runner, which earned him the wide receiver MVP award. Alfers first started on varsity towards the end of his sophomore season. Has gotten contact from Holy Cross, UC Davis, San Diego, Utah, and Yale.

Middle School and Junior Varsity MVPs
Overall: Michael Bocksnick 5-foot-11, 161 pounds QB San Benito 2013
Running Backs: John Velasco 5-foot-5, 175 pounds RB De La Salle 2014
Wide Receivers: Davyon Frey 5-foot-9, 137 pounds WR San Leandro 2013
Offensive Linemen: Clayton Fegett 5-foot-11, 272 pounds OL Tracy High 2014
Defensive Backs: Carl Artis 5-foot-9, 148 pounds DB Hogan High 2013
Defensive Backs: Dontell Jackson 5-foot-6, 136 pounds DB Galileo High 2014
Fastest: Chris Katman 5-foot-10, 147 pounds WR South San Francisco 2014
Strongest: Nico Aimonetti 6-foot-4, 223 pounds DL/OL Los Gatos 2013
Leadership: Ernest Gardner 5-foot-9, 140 pounds QB/CB Alameda High 2013
Youth MVP: Marcel Dancy 4-foot-11 and 102 pounds Williams Middle School (Oakland) 2016
Youth MVP: Damaria Capers 4-foot-11 and 94 pounds CB/S Riverview Middle School (Oakland) 2017

Article 211: Gabbing about Green

June 4, 2011

When a high school basketball freshman is 6-foot, the prospect for this player is already promising. But when she is a girl's basketball player, the potential becomes exponential and is worth gabbing about. Such is the case for St. Mary's of Berkeley talented freshman, Gabby Green.

This 2014 Panther was able to lead her team in points and assists averaging 10.1 and 4.1 respectively. She also chipped in 5.1 rebounds per game. The Panthers finished the season at 30-5 and runner-up in the state title game.

During the summer, Green plays for her EBX club team while also training with Bay Area basketball training guru, Donovan Blythe. Blythe, who used to be an assistant coach at Emery High when former Arkansas Razorback Darnell Robinson played there and now coaches for Eastside Prep, considers Green to be one of those special players. Blythe likens her to former Balboa High and WNBA player Brandy Reed because of her length and versatility.

"Gabby's strengths are her versatility and ability to play multiple positions," said Blythe. "Her court sense, ball handling and passing ability is excellent for a girl her size. She's a very good rebounding guard/wing. Her length on defense gives other guards and even wings problems. She is a very unselfish player as well. She is also very athletic with very good body control for a girl of her age/height. On the court, she has great demeanor. Doesn't look to score first all the time and can make a tremendous impact on the game without having to score a lot."

Green has the height, wingspan, and quickness to play either guard position or at small forward. She has the ability to defend any player on the floor except center. Both of Green's parents are in excess of 6-foot-1 and that portends her being also taller before she leaves high school. Her father, Will Green, played small forward at 6-foot-4 at Cal State Hayward.

Growing up, Green's father tried to steer his daughter towards tennis but Gabby found basketball to be more enjoyable and had natural ability for the sport. As a parent, her father has had great joy in watching her grow and develop in basketball as he believes basketball has been easy for her because it has been fun for her.

Green's physical attributes and basketball potential would project her to being a Kevin Durant type of player. She should be able to handle the ball with ease while having the size to separate for her own perimeter shot. She will have the length and size to cause matchup problems on the perimeter or in the paint.

Recently, Green was invited to Colorado for the USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team trials. In the end, she did not make the cut as the roster of twelve had only three 2014 members. Green says, "The experience was very memorable as I will always take great things from this even though I didn't make the team. It was a fun experience and I would love to come back and meet new people. I didn't know anyone that was invited but all the girls were very fun and outgoing and that was a very good experience to do."

According to Green's father, Gabby has basically been contacted by several BCS programs. And several of these programs have offers out to her. Green expects to attend the Cal camp this summer as well.

In this past season, Green was a starter at point guard on a state title contending team. That is impressive enough. She has the potential to be a Top 5 national prospect in her class. Intriguing! In 2014, Green will possibly have the chance to be an impact freshman at a major college program. That is really, really something worth gabbing about.

Article 210: Hadnot is a must have

June 3, 2011

If a college coach has a checklist of what he wants in a power forward, then what would be on that list? Big and strong - must have. Play physical and not shy away from contact - must have. Get rebounds and block shots - must have. Play solid defense - must have. Do the dirty work inside and hustle - must have.

This description could well describe Sacramento Dragon power forward James Hadnot. At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, Hadnot was a key varsity member in the Dragon's 27-6 season when they lost in the Northern California playoffs to El Cerrito. This 2013 prospect averaged a respectable 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds while backing up Santa Clara bound Robert Garrett.

As the No 22 ranked 2013 NCP prospect, Hadnot will be competing for a starting role on the varsity squad this upcoming season. He will be using his drop step to get his defender on his hip and spin off him and finish with either hand. This past year was Hadnot's first year on the varsity squad that will also return key players Aaron Cameron, Erik Kinney, Darius Graham, and De'Von Boyd.

Hadnot compares himself to UCLA Bruin Kevin Love because he likes to rebound, throw outlet passes, and shoot a high percentage. He also likes Cal Bear Leon Powe because he is a power player and is mentally tough. Finally, he likes Syracuse Orangeman Carmelo Anthony because of his perimeter shooting and ability to utilize the step back to create space.

During this summer, Hadnot will be working with his trainer Charles Kidd to improve his hand dexterity, footwork, shooting, and strength. Hadnot says, "Working on my hand dexterity allows me to have good hands; footwork is essential to play at the next level, and you must continue to develop your shot to develop muscle memory."

In addition, Hadnot will be playing for his Oakland Rebels 16U team on the summer circuit. Hadnot says, "Playing with the Oakland Rebels and Sac High - both programs have a reputation of being successful and I must uphold that tradition. I take that reputation and tradition with me into every game. I take that seriously!"

The Oakland Rebels 16U team has July trips to Indiana, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. These tournaments should showcase his skills and create interest from schools all over the country.

Hadnot has been playing for the Oakland Rebels since 2nd grade. Sacramento High Coach Derek Swafford says, "James strengths are that he is good passer, shooter, and can handle the ball. He can be physical and keep his team in the game. Off the court, he is quiet and reserved. He should become a mid major to a D1 prospect." So far, Hadnot has received inquiries from Cal, Northern Colorado, Portland, Washington State, and Yale while being invited to the Portland elite camp and UOP advance skills camp.

This Dragon is looking for a fast paced program that puts up a lot of shots and is entertaining to watch. He is open to anywhere in the country. He has a 3.00 GPA and wants to major in a pre-law or health science related program.

Hadnot's grandfather, named James Hadnot as well, was a member of the Oakland Oaks in the American Basketball Association (ABA). His grandfather starred at McClymonds before playing at Providence College where he was eventually inducted into the Providence Hall of Fame. His Providence teams included future legendary coaches Lenny Wilkens and John Thompson. Eventually after his ABA playing days, he was a businessman before becoming an assistant coach at Laney College in the 1980's and then an NBA scout with the Sacramento Kings and New Jersey Nets.

Big Game James, a family nickname, strained his Achilles last year prior to the beginning of the season, which was a tough injury that hindered him during the season. Hadnot's individual goals are to continue to improve on what his coaches want him to do in practice and in the games. His team goals for next year are to win the Metro, win the SJS, and get to the State Championship game.

To succeed on the basketball court, a dominant power forward that plays defense, is tough, rebounds, hustles, and blocks shots - must have. To succeed in life, a person that incorporates hard work, motivation, and smarts - must have. A 2013 college basketball program's roster with James Hadnot - must have.

Article 209: Shawn the new 'Manchild'?

June 2, 2011

Former Seattle Supersonic Shawn Kemp was labeled the Manchild because of his extraordinary physical feats and rim-rattling dunks. In addition, Kemp never played at the collegiate level and entered the NBA as a nineteen year old. McClatchy High's Shawn Smith is not as tall as Kemp but is in his own way a physical marvel on the basketball court as well.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Smith is a 2011 wing player who possesses finesse and power on the court. His skills were put to use as McClatchy went 17-12 as he averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

"Shawn's strengths are his size, mobility and desire," says Mcclatchy Coach Jeff Ota. "He's getting more mature mentally and physically. I was more concerned with his mental aspect and that has improved tremendously over the past few years. No doubt Shawn has the athleticism to go along with his body. Shawn can fill the lanes quickly and get out on the breaks fast. He brings fantastic energy on the court and is exciting to watch."

In the recent City Championship Tourney at CCSF, Smith suited up with Play Hard Play Smart Elite . Smith had a few breakaway dunks and just seems to explode to the basket with ease. That PHPS team features a few thoroughbreds in Kyiron Thomas and Dakari Allen but Smith was as impressive or more impressive in terms of his athleticism.

Coach Ota adds, "On the court, Shawn is learning how to channel his emotions more positively. During the second half of the season he played phenomenal for us. He did what the coaches asked of him and helped lead our team to the playoffs. Off the court, Shawn is fun to be around and full of personality. He brings a smile to my face every time I see him. Shawn is loyal, trustworthy, and a downright great kid. He's been to my house numerous times and my wife and kids love him."

As it is no surprise, some major college programs are interested in Smith. Cal Poly, St. Mary's, San Francisco, UC Davis, and Washington are the programs that are in contact with him.

Ota continues, "At the NCAA level, Shawn can be a tremendous asset to any team. He's played organized basketball for only 3 years. He didn't play his freshmen year and only started playing AAU ball 2 years ago. When I first saw him in his sophomore year, his shot was TERRIBLE. You can ask him. I was laughing at his shot because I thought he was fooling around. We worked on his shooting form and it has gotten a lot better. Shawn knows he still has to keep working in that area."

With that said, Smith has decided to go to prep school at Bridgton Academy, where he will work on his game to prepare for college. This is the same school that former PHPS member Charles Standifer attended.
At the City Championship Tourney, Smith came across as really laid back and easy to talk to. Coach Ota says, "One thing that I know he likes to eat is orange chicken. He mentions Panda Express to me every time he's hungry. Shawn is just a funny guy and I would do anything for him to help his career."

Watch for Smith's explosive dunks on the summer circuit. Then, expect his recruiting to take off as he preps on the east coast for a year. Finally, Smith can be found on the NCAA hardwood in 2012.

Article 208: Paris lights up the summer

June 2, 2011

When traveling to Paris, Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement is a great place to visit. The white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur sits atop of the hill, which has a great panoramic view of the city. The combination of the view and the church could rival the Eiffel Tower and the cathedral Notre Dame.

However, in Oakland, Paris Davis of Skyline High could light up the summer season for the Oakland Rebels 17U club team. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Davis is a shooting guard built more like a running back. This 2012 prospect averaged 17.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game for the Titans as they finished an underwhelming 10-18 season.

Davis was a varsity starter last year who is in his first season with the Rebels. He considers his step back and euro step moves to be his strengths. Aside from playing with the Rebels, he plans on working on his defense, ball handling, and shooting.

Rebels Coach Ryant Diew has been pleased as he says, "Paris's best strength is his ability to score baskets quickly. He has the ability to score off the drive or the jump shot. He is without of doubt, the best scorer I've ever coach. In very his first game as a Rebel this spring, he debuted with 32 points. He has consistently been our top scorer this AAU season. I call him 'Mr. Buckets.' Defensively, he's has been just as competitive and has been a surprisingly good 'On ball' defender. He definitely has the potential to be a lock down defender."

At the recent Memorial Day Classic in Hayward, Davis displayed his relentless motor as he ran the court well and hustled on every play. When he took the ball to the basket, he went up strong and initiated the contact. And he also had a nice pull up jumper that had good form.

"On the court, he's a very competitive player," says Coach Diew. "He doesn't back down from anyone and he looks forward to challenging whomever he's playing that particular game. However, he sometimes can get into trouble because he takes everything so personal. When he does that, he tends to sometime make bad decisions."

His Skyline team has been undersized and has forced Davis to play out of position in the interior. But he believes that this has forced him to be a better rebounder which has made him a more complete player. He hopes to get league MVP honors while making a deeper run in the playoffs.

Despite his offensive output, Davis has not had any college contacts. He would like to play in a fast pace and open space offense that would take advantage his physical attributes and abilities. He models his game after former 2008 Oakland High standout Damian Lillard, who is currently at Weber State and built very similar as a shooting guard as well.

Coach Diew has this perspective on Davis' future. "Off the court, he has been a breath of fresh air. He answers everything with 'yes sir' or 'no sir' or 'yes coach' or 'Ok coach.' He looks you in the eye every time you talk to him. He's always asking me questions about how to get to the next level. He wants to be good so badly, it has been an absolute pleasure to coach him. A very respectful kid. I think Paris can be a D-1 player if he continues to put in the work necessary to play at that level. I feel if he continues to work on his ball handling, passing, and court awareness, there is no doubt he can be a Low to Mid level D-1 player."

As a result, expect Paris to shine bright on the summer circuit to get more college exposure. And if all goes well in the wide open OAL, watch for Paris to shine in Oakland. Finally, watch for Paris to shine on the collegiate level in 2012.

Article 207: Sheldon's DII better than DI

June 2, 2011

The Sheldon Huskies graduate seniors Darius Nelson and Ramon Eaton to UTEP and Pepperdine respectively. Losing two Division I prospects would lead most spectators to believe the Huskies will be in severe rebuilding mode next season. However, that is actually far from the truth.

The Huskies return six promising sophomores headlined by 2013 NCP No. 10 ranked D'Erryl Williams II. The lefty combination guard has been a varsity starter since his freshman year at Sheldon. He helped the Huskies to a 24-8 record and was All-League for the second straight year.

Sheldon won the Sac-Joaquin Section title for the second consecutive year but were edged out in the NorCal Regional semifinals by eventual state title representative De La Salle 47-45.

Sheldon Coach Joey Rollings has this perspective on his varsity star. "D'Erryl is an amazing individual. Very strong for his age. He attacks the basket well, and has a nice pull up jumper. For a point guard, he rebounds very well. Smart individual who catches on to plays very quickly and is a very good on and off ball defender. He hates to lose and keeps his composure all the time."

During the current summer season, Williams II is playing with his Play Hard Play Smart 17U (PHPS) club team for the second consecutive summer. He plans on working on his off hand and developing a more explosive move for his first step and his shot.

The exposure from playing on an upperclassman laden PHPS 17U team last year put Williams II on the recruiting map. In the recent City Championship Tourney at CCSF, his PHPS team was able to make the finals and lose by two to an older Team 94 team.

This 6-foot-3 and 180 pound guard has been in contact with Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, USC, Washington, and Washington State. And has an offer from San Francisco.

Coach Rollings says, "D'Erryl works hard on keeping his grades to a 4.00. He trains like an animal in the off season and at the same time he is like every other 16 year old. He likes to have fun and will clown around. I think his maturity level is amazing and once he realizes that he has a great three point shot and develops his right hand a little more he will do very well at the next level. I just think that he has a high standard in both academics and athletics and he doesn't settle for being second in anything or being mediocre. He will thrive to succeed at whatever he does. He is also a very polite and a respectful young man, and he is a pleasure to coach. I am looking forward to the next two years coaching him and his friends."

Before playing for the elite PHPS squad, Williams II played for his grade school club team, Beyond Basketball that included Sheldon teammate Dakarai Allen and former Franklin guard Ikenna Iroegbu. Beyond Basketball was a club team started by Williams II's father, D'Erryl Williams I. Williams I was an athletic wing who played at Santa Clara University when Dick Davey was an assistant coach.

Williams I had gone through the rigors of preparing and training for college level basketball, which he was able to pass on to his son. However, Williams II was slowed by an adolescent leg condition known as Osgood-Schlatter last summer. "D," what his teammates call him, persevered through the pain and was still able to have a solid summer.

As a result, it should come as no surprise that DII is already better than his father DI at this stage of his basketball development. And it should also come as no surprise that DII is more than ready for the DI college basketball environment in two years. Watch for Williams II to lead his Huskies in Sacramento for another title run.

Article 206: Huskies go to the Hampton

June 1, 2011

The Hamptons are located in the far east end of Long Island, New York. These townships have some of the most-expensive residential properties in the United States with three in the Top 10 most expensive ZIP codes. As a result, the Connecticut Huskies who won the NCAA title need only to take a simple ferry ride to reach the Hamptons for a well-deserved luxurious vacation.

However, this article is not about a team that finished the Big East season in ninth place and won both the conference and NCAA titles, but rather it is about the Sheldon Huskies and their up and coming 2013 combination guard, Armani Hampton. The Huskies finished this past season 24-8 with a second consecutive SJS title. The Huskies lose Darius Nelson and Ramon Eaton to matriculation but will have a chance to win a third straight SJS title if they go to this Hampton.

At 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, Hampton is a finesse player with the ability to get to the paint where he can pass to the open teammate. In addition, he has a deadly killer crossover to stymie his defender and has an accurate three point shot. He compares his game to former Arizona State Sun Devil James Harden because he scores when his team needs the offense and he is able to hit the big shots.

"Armani's strengths are that he is a hard working athlete, is probably our best 3 point shooter, and is a good pull-up mid range shooter. He is getting better every day with confidence. He is also a very good defensive player and prides himself on it," said Sheldon High Coach Joey Rollings. "On the court, Armani wants to win and isn't scared to take the game winning shot. He gets after every loose ball and is not scared to mess it up with the big boys down low. He is a 'yes sir coach' kind of guy, never complains, and does what you tell him. He plays hard and wants to win."

During this summer, Hampton is playing with both of his Play Hard Play Smart 16U and 17U club teams to work on his game. The 17U team is mostly comprised of 2013 prospects and has played some tough competition with above-average results. In addition, Hampton will be training with Ron Nelson, former Duke Blue Devil Demarcus Nelson's father, to work on his ball handling and shooting technique while using any spare time on weight training.

Hampton has been playing basketball since kindergarten. He was at Pleasant Grove for his freshman year before transferring to Sheldon this past season. In middle school, Hampton played for his club team Beyond Basketball that included current Huskies Dakarai Allen and D'erryl Williams and former Franklin High prospect Ikenna Iroegbu.

Coach Rollings believes Hampton has a future playing in college. "I think low to mid major once he gets a little stronger and quicker," said Rollings. "He is lifting weights all summer and getting results. So, if he works hard, I think that he could be a great shooting guard that can consistently knock down the three point shot. Armani is about a 3.5 GPA student that takes school very seriously. Mediocre is not in his vocabulary on or off the court. He strives to be the best at both. I just wanted to say that he is a great kid that works very hard and listens to what you tell him. And it is fun coaching him and his friends because they will do what it takes to win as they are already putting many hours a day in the gym and on the court. He could be one of the top 3 point shooters in our league and city next year. I am looking for big things from him."

Hampton considers English his best subject as he would like to major in Communications or Marketing. He wants to attend a program with nice weather, strong academics, and plays the run and gun style of basketball. The Portland Pilots have flown in to see him play. Hampton plans to attend their elite camp and visit the campus. He is interested in several west coast schools but will not limit his recruiting to the PST time zone. He expects to have a big summer with PHPS to increase his recruiting exposure.

His team goal is to win another SJS title while making a run at state. He wants to average a double double and make the all league team. During his free time, he likes to cook and considers himself a five star chef.

If the Huskies expect to have some home cooking, then they will need to fill the shoes of the previously mentioned Nelson and Eaton. In order for them to do that, the Huskies will have to go to the Hampton. Expect a five star performance from Armani for Sheldon in Sacramento.