Article 238: Alexander great on the hardcourt

July 28, 2011

Alexander the Great was infamous as one of the all time great conquerors for his conquest of the Persian Empire and beyond. Weston Ranch will need 2013 shooting guard Dylan Alexander to build on his impressive sophomore campaign and further expand their dominance of the Valley Oak League in the upcoming season.

The Cougars had an impressive 26-4 season that ended in the playoffs to Burlingame 63-41. At 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Alexander averaged 16.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. The No. 21 ranked 2013 prospect by NorCalPreps.com is a finesse player who can create his own open perimeter shot while also has a good dribble drive move to the basket and likes to model his game after Duke Blue Devil Kyle Singler.

During the summer, he plays for his Bay Area Hoosiers club. In recent events at City College of San Francisco and at Las Vegas, Alexander displayed his versatile offensive game. He has the size and height to take smaller guards off the dribble and shoot over them. Alexander displays a good pump fake that can either get him to the free throw line or to take the ball to the rim. His perimeter shooting has good form and good accuracy.

Bay Area Hoosiers Coach Robert Jones has this assessment of Alexander, "He can really score the basketball. He is an athletic slasher that can finish in traffic and shoots the ball really well beyond the three point line. He plays with a really good change of pace, so he is able to create shots for himself or teammates. He plays with passion, energy, and is a tough competitor. He is a very unselfish player and rounding into a leader on the floor."

"Dylan is a surprisingly more athletic than people would expect," says Weston Ranch High Coach Ryan Bono. "He is a good shooter and really good passer. He sees the floor really well and is really good at getting the ball into the post. He has a really good basketball IQ. Dylan is very competitive on the court. He hates to lose. He is very intense and is willing to help the team win in any way."

Not surprisingly with his size and these assessments from his coaches, Alexander is becoming a hot commodity on the recruiting circuit. Pacific, Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara, and San Francisco are in contact. Alexander has 3.00 GPA and is open to playing anywhere but would like to be part of an up tempo style.

Coach Bono assesses Alexander's college potential, "Dylan has a good chance to play at the next level. His shooting and athleticism and competiveness will help his chances. There are a few colleges currently interested in him."

Alexander is very talented off the court as well as he is a musician. He is a member of the high school concert band and pep band. He plays alto saxophone, bari saxophone, baritone, and the bass clarinet.

Coach Jones gives this perspective on Alexander, "His family has done an amazing job raising him with great core values. He does well in the classroom and overall a well rounded student athlete. I really appreciate the drive, passion, and work ethic that Dylan attacks life with all the time. He is very focused and wants to be really good in basketball, which really spills over to every other aspect of his life."

Alexander will be going into his second year as a varsity starter. He wants to win League MVP and help his team win a section title and go undefeated in league. Watch for Alexander lead the attack for Weston Ranch High in Stockton, California.

Article 237: Bon voyage from Las Vegas!

July 26, 2011

While titles are yet to be decided in the adidas Super 64 and Fab 48, we wrap up our coverage from Las Vegas with a final look at some of the top players on hand as well as a recap of which programs advanced in bracket play.

The Bay Area Ballers advanced to the semi-finals of the Fab 48 17U Platinum bracket. Coach Nelson Washington explained his team's success. "We play hard and play together. People underestimate us based on our appearance," said Washington. "We have a couple of Asians including a combo Indian guard and a couple of white kids. We don't pass the eye test but the team work, good perimeter shooting, and a matchup zone allowed us to get this far."

Rodney Cook 5-foot-10 PG Bethel (Oakland Rebels 17s) 2012: Cook continued a nice summer with a 25 point effort to beat the Arkansas Hawks in the second round of the gold bracket playoffs. He has a quick pull up jumper he can shoot with good accuracy and the quickness to make the defense collapse off of a shooter. While a scoring point guard, he has the discipline to also set up the offense for his team. Interest should continue to pick up for him.

Marcus Green 6-foot-0 G Bishop O'Dowd (3D Ballers) 2012: Green was very effective in catching the ball on the move and finishing inside for the Ballers in a loss against Prodigy Elite. He had 16 points in leading the offensive attack. He may be counted on for added depth in the backcourt this season.

Gokul Natesan 6-foot-3 SG Cupertino (Bay Area Ballers 17U) 2012: Teams got onto him as he showed his perimeter touch. Natesan was able to take the ball into the lane and use his length to shoot over shorter guards. Colleges would want to see more dribble drive ability and lateral quickness to complement his perimeter touch.

Buddy Ames 6-foot-6 F Milpitas (Bay Area Ballers 17U) 2012: Ames probably averaged a double double between the two games in point and rebounds. He had a nice mid-range shot going. And more important, he was providing an interior presence.

Mario Dunn 5-foot-11 G Salesian (Norcal Supreme 16) 2013: Dunn plays with a combination of speed and strength. He had 19 points in his team's loss and made several steals and was involved in the transition game.


Christopher Patterson 6-foot-6 F Muhammad University of Islam (Oakland Rebels 17s) 2012: Since we last viewed Patterson over Memorial Day weekend, he appears to have added strength and explosiveness to his game in being a key player in the Rebels' second round win. He was an aggressive rebounder on both ends and was also active in the transition game. While his body projects as a four man, he could potentially be a 3/4 combo at the low to mid-major level if his jump shot continues to get better. Rising prospect.

Chris Schwartz-Edmisten 6-foot-3 SG Sacramento Waldorf (Davis Wildcats Black) 2012: He averaged 30 points per game in playing on the small school level as a junior. Now seeing him play for the first time at the Super 64, he has some transferrable skills to be able to score at a collegiate level. He works well in space and goes up with nice balance on his shot. Schwartz-Edmisten also has a good basketball IQ. He will have to improve on his overall athleticism and foot speed on the defensive end, but should garner some low level interest.

Taylor Thompson 6-foot-6 F Sonora (Lakeshow 17 White) 2012: A wiry athlete with the potential to fill out physically, Thompson is a prospect who fits the mold of a JUCO/Division II recruit. He gets up and down the floor well and finishes well at the rim. At his size, it would be good to see him impact more areas of the game including rebounding. He had 10 points in the win over San Diego All-Stars on Monday.


Tom Witzel 6-foot-6 PF Arcata (Lakeshow 17 White) 2012: Witzel is a skilled forward who put forth a stellar game in a win over San Diego All-Stars. Able to move people inside, he can handle the ball some and also finds multiple ways to score. On Monday, he did a good job in carving out space for his eight rebounds. He may lack the athleticism and motor to be a firm Division I prospect, but certainly is a high Division II candidate.

Justin Brown 6-foot-1 G St. Joseph (3D Ballers) 2013: A compact built guard entering his junior year, Brown possesses the tools to be a nice player down the road. He is physical inside and is at his best offensively from the mid-range and in. Size will be the issue to look for as his game best translates to being a 2/3 combo player.

NorCal teams shine at Super 64

The NorCal Pharaohs, after having an abbreviated 2010 summer, made it all the way to the final eight of the Super 64 championship bracket before losing to Texas Assault on Monday night. They finish the tournament 7-1 and look to regain a spot as one of the better clubs in the area. Pharaohs' director Jason Barton credited the teamwork and ability to turn defense into easy buckets throughout the tournament. While a number of players stood out, one in particular was Folsom grad Kori Babineaux, who showed why he was rated high throughout his career.

"He's a beast," Barton said. "He's a strong player, rebounds well and plays great defense. He's hard to guard and makes it tough on other teams."

Jesuit's Bryce Pressley also played well throughout the event.

The Pharaohs were one of two NorCal teams to make the championship bracket (Lakeshow 17 Black being the other). They along with Dream Vision were the only California teams to make the final eight.

In the 17U gold bracket, the Oakland Rebels moved into the semi-finals after posting wins against Hobson Dynasty, Arizona Red Shirts, Arkansas Hawks and GR Storm Blue. They play again today at 1:20 PM against KYA All-Stars. Lakeshow 17 White made it to the round of 16 before being eliminated by Clutch Players Silver.

For the 17U silver bracket, North Coast Express Hoopsters continue their run into the semi-finals today against the Houston Celtics at 9:00 AM. After finishing fourth in pool LL, they beat Colorado Shining Stars Black, Upstate Basketball Club Blue and NH Rivals.

Recruiting round-up

Cook picked a good game to show out at S64 with a pair of Fresno State coaches in attendance including head coach Rodney Terry, as well as Weber State. He is also hearing from San Diego, UC Riverside and received a personal letter from Washington State.

Despite not playing high school basketball, Patterson has seen the mid-major interest come in led by UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara. More should follow post-evaluation period.

Witzel has received interest from numerous levels, including UC Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Idaho, Hartford, UC Davis, Chico State and Humboldt State. He is rated No. 28 in the NCP Top 40 rankings for 2012.

Gokul Natesan 6-foot-3 SG Cupertino (Bay Area Ballers 17U) 2012: Whitman is in contact with him.

Momir Gataric 6-foot-5 SG Homestead (Bay Area Ballers 17U) 2011: Gataric played through a heel injury from the Three Stripes tournament. Hawaii, Seattle, and Riverside are in contact.

Stephen Grosey 6-foot-6 F Serra (Bay Area Ballers 17U) 2012: Grosey has a good mix of inside and outside skills. Air Force, Irvine, Seattle, and Southern Utah are in contact.

Mario Dunn 5-foot-11 G Salesian (Norcal Supreme 16) 2013: Colorado, Pacific, and Santa Clara have inquired.

Jermaine Edmonds 6-foot-3 W Salesian (Norcal Supreme 16) 2013: Pacific and Santa Clara have inquired.

Article 236: NorCal exits early

July 25, 2011

The first two days in Las Vegas were blazingly hot but the clouds drifted over the desert city on Day 3. With that climate change, Basketball Darwinism caused the early tournament exits for several Northern California teams.

The Bay Area Warriors 16U started the morning with their final pool game against Hoopaholics from Eastern Washington who had too much height for the Warriors. According to Bay Area Warriors Coach Randy Bessolo, his team must be more consistent on 3-point shots when dealing with bigger opponents. Bessolo's team lost in first round bracket play later in the evening by one point to conclude the Vegas trip.

The Oakland Rebels Black 16U faced New York-based Upstate Basketball Club that has had Elton Brand, Jamal Maglorie, Marcus Camby, and Lamar Odom as past members. True to form, the current edition also featured a long 6-foot-7 post who controlled the paint with his shot blocking. But the Rebels were furious on the boards and took a 33-29 lead with over three minutes left. Unfortunately, they were held scoreless and could not convert on their last possession in a defensive slugfest defeat of 34-33.

Another first round casualty was Lakeshow Black 17 which took on DC Assault. The game was a back and forth struggle before Nate Britt (Gonzaga College High in Maryland 2013) scored a layup plus a foul to end the game at 58-55. Lakeshow's Treaven Duffy is now off to Cushing Prep.

Play Hard Play Smart Black were undefeated in pool play but lost in the first round to a team from Hawaii as anemic free throw shooting was their downfall. E-Time Hoops 16U had a chance to go to their bracket finals but fell short in their semifinal game to a Southern California team.

Ahead by 10 points with over three minutes remaining, the Oakland Soldiers Blue 17U had Florida Assault on the ropes. Only able to suit up five players to start the game and then down to three players after one fouled out and another was injured, the Florida team somehow managed to claw its way back and win the game.

KWA Pride looked dominant in the first round of single-elimination tournament play against the Arkansas Hawks who could not handle the Pride's post size. KWA lost its evening game to the Oregon Stars on a last second three-point bank shot. Despite the loss, St. Francis teammates Drew Dickey and Abu Tratter looked solid in both games as they each easily had 10 plus points and 5 plus rebounds per game.

For the Pride, they make their final trip of the summer to Anaheim for the Double Pump Best of the Summer tournament. That event will be the end of the KWA Pride program as its coach, Kris Weems, will be leaving for a player development role with the Golden State Warriors.

Drew Dickey 6-foot-9 PF St. Francis (KWA Pride) 2012: Dickey was active on both ends of the court as he runs the floor well. He has good hands for a post player but needs to finish with more power consistently. Coach Weems said that Lafayette , UC San Diego, San Francisco, San Diego, UC Irvine, and some Ivy schools are interested.

Abu Tratter 6-foot-5 W St. Francis (KWA Pride) 2012: Coach Weems calls Tratter a difference maker, as he is an athletic wing who can rebound and block shots. He has a decent mid-range game. Tratter is very comparable in level of skill to Dickey. Denver, UC Davis, and San Diego have shown interest.

Leo Smith 5-foot-10 PG Oakland Tech (Oakland Rebels 16) 2013: Smith has that Jameer Nelson bulldog style of play for a point guard. Smith plays with a fearlessness in terms of getting physical and initiating contact against the opponent.

Kenny Love 6-foot-2 G Cardinal Newman (Bay Area Warriors 16) 2013: Love projects to be a good sized guard. He can play either position and is big enough to post against the smaller players. Hit a few perimeter shots and looks comfortable running a team.

Chris Mah 5-foot-11 PG University (Bay Area Warriors 16) 2013: Solid floor general for his club team that will translate for his high school team. Played solid man to man defense and was able to hit from the perimeter. Coach Bessolo confirmed that he is looking to Mah as a key contributor for University High.

Recruiting updates and other notes

Lakeshow Coach Joe Fuca confirmed that UC Santa Barbara is very interested in point guard Kendall Jackson.

Day 3 Observation: This is what makes this week in Las Vegas interesting for a variety of reasons. Win and you continue to play which also means the quality of the games get better and the number of college coaches viewing the game increases as well. In addition, winning also makes the parent's budgeted stay until Tuesday more worthwhile. Losing means that the kids are idle on Monday and most of them are not old enough to gamble or get inebriated here in Las Vegas. Depending on the college coaches' recruiting region, some of them are taking off for the Nationals in Florida while others will stay in Las Vegas and then make the trip to Anaheim. Regardless, as the brackets whittle down to just two teams, the coaches funnel into the larger gyms with fewer games being played simultaneously. Hence, the spotlight to make an impression becomes more focused on those players remaining.

Article 235: Double down in Vegas

July 24, 2011

A few of the Northern California teams let games get away during pool play. As with the game of blackjack, strategy and execution matter during the course of a game. Some teams did not execute with a lead and blew the game figuratively while other teams played sloppily with bad turnovers and missed free throws to halt a necessary comeback.

Oakland Rebels 17U Coach Ryant Diew explained how his team split their first two games before winning this morning easily in a physical game against the Houston Celtics. The Rebels were up for the majority of the game against Iowa Pump but lost the lead during the waning moments by a bank three point shot. Winning two games in pool play in the adidas 64 should set the Rebels up for a favorable seeding.

PHPS Red 16 almost let a third game get away but held on for a 62-61 win against a tough Minnesota Select White team. Coach Renie Porlaris rued how his team did not execute down the stretch in their first two games and was also frustrated that they almost gave up the third game. Despite that, Porlaris explained how PHPS most likely would finish third in their pool.

In one of the more entertaining games of the day, Bay Area Ballers 16U almost pulled off a win against Deron Williams Metro Elite. The Metro team had a distinct size advantage and their guards played in the likeness of their namesake. Despite trailing by double digits multiple times, the Ballers were scrappy and managed to extend the game into two overtime periods before losing 56-52.

The usage of the term "double down" can be applied to how some players can double their exposure on the backs of their teammates. Fresno-based Organized Chaos Elite had a morning game scheduled in the cramped, auxiliary gym at El Dorado High. Nevertheless, at least 50 coaches including Johnny Dawkins, Steve Fisher and Randy Bennett among others were in attendance primarily to see Central Valley Christian (Hanford 2012) post Grant Verhoeven. But Northern California based John Fenton of Central Catholic (Modesto 2013) also benefited from the exposure. Fenton is a mirror image in terms of his size and skill set as his older teammate. As a result, the coaches who were not familiar with the Modesto kid got a taste of Fenton (no pun intended with respect to the Berkeley ice creamery) early. Fenton is one of the better and higher potential back to the basket post players in the 2013 class from Northern California.

John Fenton 6-foot-8 PF Central Catholic (Organized Chaos Elite) 2013: Like teammate Verhoeven, Fenton plays in that Eric Montross and Tyler Hansbrough mode. Fenton hustles, runs the court, and is a physical rebounder. Fenton was on varsity as a freshman and should easily get double digit rebounds and be a defensive force in the paint. Organized Chaos Elite Coach Chris Stahowski said that Fenton has a respectable mid-range game and is drawing early interest from the Big West, Ivy League, and the WCC. Fenton is making the most of his opportunities as he is piggy backing on the exposure with Verhoeven.

Rodney Cook 5-foot-11 PG Bethel and Paris Davis 6-foot-3 SG Skyline (Oakland Rebels 17) 2012: Coach Diew raved about of his guards' play since their trip to the Midwest. Cook has been making good decisions in running the offense and has been scoring in a variety of ways. Davis also has been putting up points. Despite that, neither has gotten any real serious college interest.

Tanner Giddings 6-foot-9 Post Windsor (Oakland Rebels 17) 2012: Coach Diew has been pleasantly surprised with Giddings. He has been blocking shots, rebounding, and providing a post presence. Clemson and UC Santa Barbara have inquired.

David Straughter 6-foot-4 Wing Burbank (PHPS 16) 2013: Well rounded player who has the size and quickness. If he can add a few inches, he can be a very intriguing wing player. He plays post for PHPS but does not seem to be out of place.

Vic Rustin 6-foot-4 F Franklin (PHPS 16) 2013: Rustin also helped out in defending against the Minnesota Select 7-footer. Rustin also had a consistent mid-range game. Coach Porlaris stated that Rustin will probably be playing the post position for Franklin and allow the two Johnsons to roam more.

Zerrion Payton 6-foot-1 PG Weston Ranch (Bay Area Hoosiers) 2013: Reminds one of Georgia Tech Yellowjacket Kenny Anderson. Payton is left handed but just has that shifty movement like Anderson.

Ross Jones 6-foot-5 F and Graham Gilleran 6-foot-6 F Riordan (Bay Area Hoosiers) 2013: The WCAL boasts several teams with decent frontcourt players. Riordan has two 2013 prospects who can help Riordan off of the doormat. Both Jones and Gilleran have some raw skills to go along with their size.

Alan Kidwell 6-foot-5 Post Del Oro (L-Town Raptorz) 2012: Kidwell provided offensively and defensively as he took charges and having to battle bigger post players. His size disadvantage did not prevent him from scoring double digits. Despite his efforts, the Raptorz went 1-2 including a 3-point loss to KWA Pride and will now go to the Bronze Bracket.

Ryan Edwards 6-foot-5 F Capital Christian (PHPS 17 Black) 2012: Edwards showed great post defense grabbing any rebound and was very patient and effective on offense. Edwards was fouled but was clutch with the free throws. Edwards helped his team go 3-0 in pool play.

Recruiting updates and other notes

Maceo Bell 6-foot-5 Wing Skyline (Oakland Rebels 17) 2012: Bell is headed to Westwind Prep. Same prep school as Kiwi Gardner.

Eric Green 6-foot-5 Wing St. Marks (Oakland Rebels 17) 2012: Coach Diew confirmed Holy Cross has offered while UC Santa Barbara is interested.

Christopher Patterson 6-foot-6 F Muhammad (Oakland Rebels 17) 2012: CSU Fullerton is really interested along with UC Santa Barbara.

Bay Area Hoosiers update: Elliot Pitts is doing double duty and hurt his back in the morning while playing for Greenline and is probably out fro the duration. Markel Leonard had a hyper extended knee injury but will be back in action Sunday. The mother of Marcus Lee confirmed that the family has residency adjacent to the state of Texas in addition to having family in Texas. Due to the Lebron rule, he was ineligible this summer to play for his Texas club. But next summer, there is a chance that he may move to the Lone Star State. Hoosiers went 3-0 in pool play and looked really dominant today. They have two rotations of five that can be interchanged at will.

Day 2 Observation: Playing in the main gyms such as Bishop Gorman with numerous college coaches in attendance would be the ideal situation for any prospect. But getting noticed can happen in a variety of ways. Coaches will go to the auxiliary gyms to seek out certain players. Players on the same or opposing teams can seize the moment to make an impression. Coach Porlaris attended PHPS Elite's second game where the team was up by 20 plus points. The opposing team brought in a guard to play "garbage" time to end the game and in a span of a few minutes, the unnamed player hit six 3-pointers. Needless to say, while he was not on the radar of the college coaches, he definitely forced them to flip through their packets to look up his name. And personally, I have had college coaches ask me about the situations of the lesser known players who made an impression at that specific game. A famous anecdote would be Jeff Tedford scouting a tight end but ending up seeing Aaron Rodgers.

Article 234: What Happens in Vegas...

July 23, 2011

High school basketball prospects hope that what happens in Vegas this weekend does not stay in Vegas as many of the NCAA coaching staffs are in Las Vegas to scout the talent. The three main events are Fab 48, Adidas 64, and Las Vegas Live. Northern California's talent did not disappoint as here is a summary of some of the talent out in the desert hot spot on Day 1.

Raymond Bowles 6-foot-4 W Modesto Christian (Lakeshow 16 Black) 2013: Bowles is a versatile player for Lakeshow Coach Stefen Tappin. Tappin stated that due to the lack of size, he is playing Bowles as his main post player for his team. But Bowles will likely be a slasher wing type who also is getting experience of playing the physical interior.

James O'Neal 6-foot-2 G Freedom (Lakeshow 16 Black) 2013: O'Neal was effective scoring from both the inside and outside. He had 23 points that included three 3-point shots. He was able to get into the lane and use his wingspan to elevate floaters. O'Neal projects to be someone who can score 20 points plus for his Freedom team.

McKenzie Moore 6-foot-7 PG College Park (Team 94) 2011: Oversized point guard who can do a little of everything. According to Team 94 Coach Phil Handy, Moore really is getting looks after the team's trip in South Carolina and West Virginia. Handy says schools from the ACC to the Big East have inquired. Moore is still verbally committed to St. Mary's. He plays in the mold of a Brian Shaw or Sean Livingston.

Devareaux Manley 6-foot-4 W Castlemont (Team 94) 2011: Manley also benefited from the trip to the east coast. According to Coach Handy, Kent State, New Hampshire, Mt St. Mary's, and Monmouth have inquired. He plays in the mold of a Caron Butler who has a solid mid-range shot and can post up smaller defenders.

Dakarai Allen 6-foot-5 W Sheldon (PHPS Elite) 2013: Allen paced his team with 18 points in their victory. Despite his wiry frame, Allen is rather fearless in taking the ball to the rim as he got fouled several times as he led the team with eight free throw attempts.

Daiveon Leverett 6-foot-5 W Weston Ranch (PHPS Elite) 2013: New addition to the PHPS Elite team. Leverett is ranked No. 20 in the 2013 NCP class. He is another lean, wing on this club team. He chipped in with 8 points.

Recruiting updates and other notes

Michael Best 6-foot-9 C Terra Linda (Lakeshow 17 Black): UC Irvine has offered.

Stephen Domingo 6-foot-6 W St. Ignatius (Dream Vision 16U): Recovering from a stress fracture and expects to be healthy in August.

Team Superstar 17: Fresno-based club includes Jesuit's Akachi Okugo, Deer Valley's Andre Mcphail, Kendall Smith, and Quincy Smith, and Sacramento's Darius Graham. Mcphail and Quincy Smith will likely attend La Jolla Prep in San Diego for one more year of seasoning.

Belmont Shore: This Long Beach based team has former NorCal prospect Ikenna Iroegbu (Oak Hill Academy 2013) and David Andoh (St. Mary's Berkeley 2012) on the roster. Iroegbu is above average in size as a point guard and has a burst in his step, but can be somewhat erratic at times. Andoh has good length and can play either inside or outside. Both scored 4 points each. Belmont Shore also features Arizona commits Eric Cooper (La Verne Lutheran 2013) and Grant Jerrett (La Verne Lutheran 2012). In addition, Maurice Kirby (Basha 2013) is headed for Arizona State and Katin Reinhardt (Mater Dei 2012) recently reneged on his commitment to USC.

Drew Gooden Soldiers: Drew Gooden himself was on the bench supporting his eponymously named team. Brandon Ashley started the game with three consecutive dunks and ended up with 12 points. Aaron Gordon was in the middle of the physical play as he added 14 points. Jabari Bird scored a very quiet 17 points in that he just did the fundamental things to get his points.

NCP 2012 Top 5 ranking: Andoh scored 4 points in his game. Soldiers' Richard Longrus and Langston Morris-Walker had 2 and 0 points respectively. The soon to be Findlay Prep (Nev.) players Dominic Artis and Ashley had 11 and 12 points respectively. Put a superstar amongst a group of superstars, and then that superstar may not shine as brightly as expected. This is analogous to reputable venture capital backed early stage startup employees in Silicon Valley - they each individually look rather mundane in the startup as everyone is a superstar. But put them in a government job or over-bloated large corporation and they will be as bright as a supernova. The point being is not to read too much in the performance of Andoh, Longrus, and Morris-Walker - especially as it was only one game. But when their senior year begins, they each will be the focal point of their respective teams and should not put up such dismal numbers as the senior leader of their teams.

Bishop Gorman: The Fab 48 Invitational bracket was held at Bishop Gorman in the middle of nowhere, which kind of describes anywhere in Las Vegas outside the Strip. The college coaches easily numbered over 200 and were standing room only at times. I would venture a guess that every member of the 31 conferences in Division I was represented by at least one coach. It is always interesting eavesdropping on coaches as they talk recruiting, last season's games, or just general basketball talk. It is also interesting observing the after effects of the offseason coaching carousel. For example, Paul Hewitt last year was in Georgia Tech garb but was in George Mason colors. Conversely, Jim Larranaga who left George Mason was there wearing bright orange and dark green of the University of Miami.

Day 1 Impressions: Hopefully, more of the college coaches will spread out in their scouting. Otherwise, the top heavy events and brackets will get all the exposure. On the one hand, basketball Darwinism would dictate that the winners get the spoils. On the other hand, that would beg the question: Why have three major events spread out over two dozen plus high schools where the college coaching staffs would not be able to adequately assess all the talent? More basketball does not necessarily mean good basketball. Plus, add on the logistics of driving around desert terrain that is dotted with the same pre-fab housing in triple digit temperatures.

Article 233: Broyles to help Eagles soar

July 22, 2011

In the past seven seasons, Del Oro High has won at least 18 games in six of the seasons. Last year, the Golden Eagles finished 18-10 in the Sierra Foothill League. A big reason for that success was 2012 shooting guard Jordan Broyles who averaged 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.

At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, Broyles is a slashing guard who models his game after former Syracuse Orange Carmelo Anthony because he attacks the rim hard but also can look to pull up and shoot the mid range shot. His best move is the pro-hop, lift fake, then draw contact, and finish.

Broyles is an intense player as he wants to keep learning to get better and expects so much for himself on the court. He was a main cog of his Del Oro team as a junior as he led the team in points, rebounds, steals, and second in assists. His senior season can build on this solid foundation from this past year.

During the offseason, he is working on his jump shot and ability to finish at the rim. In addition, he is playing for his L-Town Raptorz club team during this summer. L-Town Coach Tom Tran says, "Jordan's strengths are his length, passing ability, and his pull up jump shot. He probably has one of the best 15 ft jump shots in Norcal as he has a 34 inch vertical to elevate over anyone. He is a kid who doesn't like to lose and puts a lot of pressure to be perfect. He will do anything for the team to win - be the passer, be the rebounder, and have a winning attitude."

Broyles has received interest from UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. He has a 3.0 GPA and would like to major in Criminology. Broyles who has been on varsity since his sophomore year would like to play for a fast up and down the court, 4-out style of offense.

Coach Tran has this college assessment of Broyles, "I think he can play the 1-3 as he has good ball handling skills but is a good attacker and passer on the break. I see him as a 2 but he could play the 3 and guard the 3 with his wingspan and speed. I think what makes him unique is at 6'4'' with his vertical, he can play 1-4 in high school. He is usually getting double teamed as it is hard to match up with him."

In addition, Del Oro's head coach is Geoff Broyles who is Jordan's father. Jordan is the third son to play for Coach Broyles but has a player-coach relationship on the hard court. Coach Broyles has been the varsity coach since 2002 and has led the team to the section playoffs six times, but hopes to have another successful run in his son's senior season.

Broyles plays volleyball as well but plans to play basketball on the next level. His individual goal for his senior season is to make All-Metro team while helping his team to a league title with a trip to Power Balance Pavilion. Watch for Broyles to help his Eagles soar in Loomis this upcoming season.

Article 232: Olson back on the Hill

July 20, 2011

Injuries are just part of competitive sports. While there is never a good time for an injury, having one during the high school junior year can really slow down the recruiting process for a prospect. For Andrew Olson of Hilmar, last season ended in the third game.

Despite that setback, Olson is a 6-foot-2 and 185 pound quarterback who can run 4.90 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has a shuttle time of 4.49 seconds, bench press 300 pounds, squat 500 pounds, has a vertical of 33 inches, and a long throw of 60 yards. Hilmar finished last season at 6-4 with a first round playoff loss. The loss of Olson did affect the continuity of the team.

Hilmar Coach Frank Marques says about the injury, "His injury was a blow to our team. The positive thing that came out of the injury was how he still came to practice and help his back up with reads and encouragement. No doubt that missing the majority of last season hurt our team, his development, and the recruiting process. Without much film and statistics, it is hard for recruiters to evaluate Andrew. So, that's why for him, it's going to be important to have a fast start."

Olson models his game after Nevada Wolf Pack Colin Kaepernick because he has good footwork, accuracy, and makes good decisions with the ball. Hilmar runs the spread offense but Olson also trains under center with his quarterback coach, Roger Theder. Despite the injury, Olson has started six varsity games as he considers his best skill to be his accuracy as he has the ability to place the ball anywhere on the field with a flick of the wrist.

Olson has been playing football since he was eight years old as he has attended several summer camps that include Fresno State, Menlo, Nevada Reno, Sacramento State, San Diego State, and San Jose State. He won the quarterback MVP at the National Underclassman Combine at Chabot College in Hayward earlier in the summer. He has also been invited to participate in the Ultimate 100 in Los Angeles as well as the Cal State Game 5 Star Skills and Drills Camp in Oxnard, California.

Despite being hurt most of last season, Fresno State and Sacramento State still have Olson on their radar. Olson wants to play for a competitive program with a good coaching staff and would prefer to stay close to home, but he would go anywhere that wants his services. He wants to major in History and wants the college to provide a wide scope of History courses.

Coach Marques has this opinion of Olson, "Quick release, strong arm, great decision making on the zone read, leadership, work ethics, and is physically and mentally strong. Andrew leads by example and is a fierce competitor on the field. Off the field, he is dedicated to the weight room and is a student of the game. I think he has the tools to play at the college level. We will have to see how he performs this season. He has had a great spring and summer. So, I'm very optimistic. I do think that Andrew will end up having a successful college career. The only question is, is at what level. We are lucky to have Andrew here at Hilmar High School."

Olson considers himself to be very good at memorization as the ability to memorize is vital to the game of football to know all the plays, recognize coverage, and be able to call out blocking schemes. His biggest football adversity was breaking his arm last season while remaining optimistic. His biggest non-football adversity was the recent death earlier this summer of Hilmar High Offensive Line Coach Franky Silveira who was 25 years old.

Olson muses about the sudden death of Coach Silveira and what he meant to his team, "He was not only a great coach, but he was a friend to many as well as a loving brother. One word that I would use to describe Coach Franky would be "dedicated." He was so into Hilmar Football and our team as a whole. He was always there to open up the weight room, always there to give us advice and words of encouragement as well as an occasional kick in the rear end if we needed it. The O- line has retained a lot of information from Coach Franky and they intend to put it to use this season. Coach Franky was about pushing all of us to the limits to make Hilmar Football the best that we can be. He knew just how vital the O- line is to the game as he put everything into coaching the position but also mentored all of us at every other aspect of the game. Coach Franky will be greatly missed but not forgotten. We will play each game in his memory making him proud as we fight hard, week in and week out, to bring the Blue banner back to Hilmar."

Needless to say, Hilmar will dedicate the upcoming season to Coach Silveira. Olson wants to pass for 3,000 yards, rush for 1,000 yards, and help his team make a run for the state title. Watch for Olson to be back on the hill for his Yellow Jackets in Hilmar this upcoming season.

Article 231: Pre-Las Vegas Roundtable

July 20, 2011

As the prep basketball scene rolls into Las Vegas this week, it is time to examine some of the key questions for the NorCal players and teams on hand. In this edition of the NCP Roundtable, Douglas Benton and Steve Hu look at the prospects and clubs to watch as well as who could see a boost in their stock. Also see which colleges could make an impact in the 2012 class.

1. Which teams are you most looking forward to seeing in the second half of the viewing period?

Steve Hu: Belmont Shores, Compton Magic, and Dream Vision have some of the better Northern California talent including David Andoh, Arik Armstead, and Stephen Domingo as these players do not play locally for their summer clubs. These teams do not usually play in the local summer events but are some of the elite teams in the Southern California region.

Douglas Benton: Teams like Belmont Shores, Compton Magic and Dream Vision are teams that bring intrigue in seeing some of the top players in Northern California for the first time this summer and putting in-person evaluations together with earlier written reports. I'm also looking forward to seeing teams like Lakeshow 17 Black, Team 94, Play Hard Play Smart Elite and Oakland Rebels play on a national stage and if they can continue to add more depth to the NorCal reputation throughout the country. As always, the Oakland Soldiers are always must see basketball as they look to defend their Fab 48 title.

2. Which players are you most looking forward to seeing in the second half of the viewing period?

Steve Hu: With the departure of Dominic Artis and Brandon Ashley from the 2012 class and with Jamaree Strickland recovering from his knee injury, the top 5 of the 2012 player rankings will be interesting before the high school season starts. In the Fab 48, the Oakland Soldiers and Belmont Shores teams are in the same bracket. So, Richard Longrus, Langston Morris-Walker, and David Andoh will have a chance to make a case for the top ranking in Northern California for 2012 during this event.

Douglas Benton: The top of the 2012 class is wide open with Brandon Ashley and Dominic Artis heading to Findlay Prep for next season. Players like Langston Morris-Walker, Richard Longrus and David Andoh figure to play major roles in this discussion with each drawing positive reviews thus far. Also, Stephen Domingo has had a very strong summer thus far and it will be good to see him play again after not seeing him since the high school season from the 2013 class.. Finally, D'Erryl Williams II has continued his steady play from his sophomore campaign in showing good point guard skills to build on. He played well as a rising sophomore at last year's Fab 48.

3. Who has the best chance to make a big jump in his stock as a prospect?

Steve Hu: Tajai Johnson of Vallejo/Oakland Soldiers Blue left the Soldiers and then came back. The stability will help. But more important, he is a good sized point guard with good ball handling who can use the big stage at the Fab 48 to get more recruiting attention. Christopher Patterson of Clara Muhammad/Oakland Rebels does not attend a high school with basketball. So, whatever impression he makes on the summer circuit will go a long way in improving his recruiting stock. The size and potential are there but college coaches would want to see that on display in a competitive environment. Drew Dickey of St Francis/KWA Pride has been playing real aggressively and has turned some heads up to now. He's mostly been getting looks from the Ivy League but could use another big performance.

Douglas Benton: Three players who should continue to see a big jump in their stocks after the Las Vegas tournaments will be De La Salle's Elliot Pitts, Sheldon's Kyiron Thomas, Jesuit's Parker Uu and Bella Vista's KJ Logue. Pitts will be playing with Greenline and possibly Bay Area Hoosiers and has shown good development in his ball handling and ability to create his own shot. This is a good national stage for Pitts to show this off for a large group of coaches. Thomas is playing with PHPS Elite and is a player who could be on the verge of seeing his recruitment blow up. With his ability to handle and slash from the off guard position as well as defend, he is a good mid-major get who will push the recruiting interest by playing football this fall. Uu is an outside shooting staple for Team 94 with the scoring mindset to take over games from time to time. Shooting is always a premium for college coaches and Uu could be quietly playing his way into a solid high mid-major candidate. Logue is an unranked prospect, but has shown the skills with a 6-foot-5 frame to challenge a Top 40 ranking more college interest following a July playing for NorCal Pump N Run.

4. Which colleges are most likely to make an impact in Northern California for the class of 2012?

Steve Hu: BYU and Colorado need to get on the radar in the Northern California region as these schools move to the WCC and Pac-12 respectively, which are very California influenced. BYU with its run with Jimmer Fredette and Colorado with Alec Burks are both fairly known programs with the Northern California kids already. So, these two programs have already established a good foot print.

Douglas Benton: From early reports on who is showing interest, Colorado is making a good first impression as it enters the Pac-12 this coming year. Colorado was the program stuck on the outside of the NCAA Tournament last year, which was sure to help garner them some face time for regional recruits. I also expect San Francisco to continue its strong recruiting push into the 2012 class as head coach Rex Walters helps lead the Dons into the upper echelon of the WCC. With their location and the emerging presence of the conference, San Francisco is starting to become an even more desirable program for recruits.

5. Which colleges need to make an impact in Northern California for the class of 2012?

Steve Hu: Utah is in the same boat as BYU as they both are from the state of Utah. Utah is in the same boat as Colorado in that they are also moving to the Pac-12. But Utah just hired a new coach in Larry Krystkowiak and the program has been down in basketball in recent years. Northern California probably has more basketball talent than the state of Utah. Hence, being able to recruit outside their own region will be critical for the Utes. And they probably also could make an impression in the Las Vegas area as well as the Southern California recruiting hot spots. Cal and Stanford also need to make an impact to keep their local prospects. Both schools have lost some of the top Northern California talent in recent years to Pac-12 rivals Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Both schools are usually on the list of the top Northern California prospects. But neither school seems to be able to close the deal. The Pac-12 has been down the past few years but Arizona made a run in the NCAA tournament last year and has been picking up many 4 and 5 star recruits to possibly separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the Pac-12.

Douglas Benton: In a smaller area like Northern California, I think it is in the type of territory in which the local mid-majors should control for the most part and with the most depth. In saying that, conferences like the WCC, Big West and Big Sky are places where many of the prospects in the Top 40 should land. While I don't believe there are certain programs that need to make an impact more than others, it is imperative the Northern California schools in these conferences to keep the local prospects home. The same can be said toward the back end of the rankings for Division II programs in the CCAA.

Article 230: Super Mario is not Dunn yet

July 18, 2011

Mario of the eponymous Nintendo video game series first debuted in 1981 in the Donkey Kong game. Mario's main playing characteristics were his jumping ability to stomp out the enemy and relentless drive to save the captured princess. For the Salesian Pride, 2013 guard Mario Dunn displays similar attributes as his uncanny athleticism and leaping ability allows him to blow by and above defenders and he has a relentless drive to win the state title for his team.

At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Dunn is a slashing guard who plays similar to former Marquette Golden Eagle Dwayne Wade. The No.14 ranked 2013 NCP prospect can play both guard positions in addition to the wing position. Dunn is very apt at attacking the rim and applying pressure defense on the full court press.

Salesian Coach Bill Mellis has this to say about Dunn, "Mario is the heart and soul of our team. He plays extremely hard and always leads our team in hustle plays and is one of our top rebounders. This off-season, he has drastically improved his shooting and he is now playing above the rim with ease. On the court, he is extremely unselfish and does not care about his personal stats, although he could be one of our top scorers. He works hard in the classroom and is very popular among his teachers and fellow classmates."

With the departure of 2012 guard Dominic Artis to Findlay Prep in Nevada, Dunn will be getting even more minutes for Salesian in this upcoming season. In addition, he will be expected to be more of a leader and his guard play will be needed even more. Dunn has been working on his game with his Norcal Supreme 16 club team during the summer.

Dunn's game has definitely improved over the summer club season. Norcal Supreme 16 Coach Glen Graham says, "Mario's strengths are his Defense. He'll guard the 1-5 if called upon, getting to the basket at will as he finishes everything around the bucket with either hand, and he does all the dirty work that most guys shy away from. On the court, he's a joy to coach as he's always giving you 110%. I think he's a low D1 player some college is going to get a steal whoever signs this kid. He does all the intangibles that coaches at any level are looking for. The things we're working on during the summer are his jump shot (mid-range), three point shot, and playing the point guard position. At 5'10, he's one of the toughest kids I've seen in a long time. One thing about the game of basketball is that you can't teach heart. This kid's heart and willingness to win is off the charts!"

Salesian has several current and past players who are Division 1 level basketball talent. Dunn has a good chance of being part of that D1 pipeline. Mellis has this college assessment of Dunn, "He will be a Division 1 player at the next level and has been getting interest from numerous schools such as Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Colorado, and San Francisco. Off the court, he is involved in lots of community service activities and this undoubtedly helps make him the well-rounded person he is."

For Salesian to reach the state title game again, Dunn will have to display his Super Mario skills of high energy hustle, above average athleticism, and relentless mental pursuit of excellence. Watch for Dunn to have a super year in Richmond in the upcoming season. And do not expect this Pride to be "Dunn" as he will be playing on the college scene in 2013.

Article 229: NorCal Select joins PHPS

July 18, 2011

When Shawn Osborne moved his own NorCal Select club team to the Play Hard Play Smart program this current season, he was originally apprehensive about his decision because the Select enjoyed an amazing year in 2010. As Osborne looks back on the move to PHPS, be believes the decision was an excellent one as the best word that describes the program is "family." As an example, the All West Camp had 22 PHPS kids in attendance and the relationships between the players, parents, and coaches is the strongest that he has ever been a part of.

The spiky, blonde haired Osborne has been coaching for four years on the club circuit after playing at the junior college level himself. He has been involved with training kids from the Redding to the Stockton areas. Osborne's coaching philosophy invokes an early, attacking offense and a variety of trapping defenses.

Osborne's goal is to work harder than any other coach in the area when it comes to finding collegiate homes for his players. Though his day job is as a program director for a local homeless shelter, Osborne spends several hours each week texting, calling, and emailing college coaches for his players. Osborne has worked with 2011 graduates Chris Magalotti (Chico State), Justin Jeangerard (Nova Southeastern University), Ota Okungbowa (Cal State East Bay), and Ryan Schmitz (New England College).

Osborne breaks down his current Play Hard Play Smart Black roster and the rest of the summer schedule as such:

Eric Duncan (McNair 2013) 6-foot-0 PG - Eric is a hard worker and a pass first guard with a great basketball IQ. Tough as nails, can get to the hoop, shoot from anywhere, and do all the dirty work. Might be one of the most interesting players I've coached in terms of how effective he is. Projection low D1.

Ryan Edwards (Capital Christian 2012) 6-foot-6 F - Ryan is a tremendous talent who hasn't shown to anyone what he is really capable of. Can score off the dribble, nice touch, power moves, and shoots the ball well. Had an amazing performance in the All West all star game. I've been receiving a lot of phone calls from local schools regarding Ryan. Projection D2.

Miguel French (Lindhurst 2012) 6-foot-6 F - When Miguel has it going, he might be one of the best wings in the area. Touches the top of the backboard, can handle the ball, shoots ok, and can guard 1-5 at the high school level. Miguel had 25 points and two monster dunks in our final game at the Cream of the Crop against Hax Select. Projection D2.

Matt Hayes (Yuba City 2012) 6-foot-1 G - There isn't much Matt cannot do. He leads our team in points, assists, and rebounds. Matt reminds me of last year's team member Justin Jeangerard. Hayes is very coachable, passionate, and fearless. Matt was third in the Sac Joaquin section at 24ppg. He receives weekly phone calls from a variety of D1, D2 schools and will sign an LOI in April.

Mitchell Love (Burbank 2012) 6-foot-2 G - Mitchell is a boxer in basketball shoes. His energy and passion are unmatched and is a coach's dream as he always looks for guidance. He can score off the dribble on anyone, nice mid range shot, and plays very hard on defense. Projection D2.

Blake Williams (Kennedy 2012) 6-foot-2 G - Pretty rare to see a player who can drop step dunk at 6'2. Blake is strong, fast, and can dribble the ball well. He is a joy to see in the open court as you never know if you're going to see a 360, reverse, or east bay dunk. Projection D2.

Otar Pkhakadze (Liberty Christian 2013) 6-foot-1 Point Guard - Otar is the best point guard who you have never heard about. He is exchange student from the Republic of Georgia who plays on his national team. In a game earlier this year in Vegas, he had 20 assists. Otar attended Double Pump All West Camp and was beloved by players as he was able to get everyone going. He was selected in the final All Star game at the Camp and played great! Has had several D1 schools contact him and Otar is in constant contact with the University of Virginia. Look for him out in Vegas and Los Angeles at the end of the summer. Projection D1.

July and August Summer Schedule
Bay Area Showcase (San Francisco)
All West Camp (Los Angeles)
Cream of the Crop (Los Angeles)
Fab 48 (Las Vegas)
Best Buy Best of the Summer (Anaheim)

Article 228: NorCal prospects shine at CCSF

July 10, 2011

The Bay Area Hoop Review concluded at CCSF on Saturday as players tried to leave their final marks before hitting the road starting next week. Many of the spring standouts continued to excel to kick off the evaluation period, while others made cases to move back into the post-summer Top 40. Also see which schools are showing early interest in one of the top 2013 prospects.

Jalen Dupree 6-foot-0 G Vallejo (Davis Wildcats White) 2012: Dupree is a quick guard who has the skill set to stay at point guard on the next level. He looks to dish off the double team and made a habit of making the easy pass to get his team a quality shot. He brought good energy to the floor and should build on his 14 points per game average as a senior.

Miguel French 6-foot-6 F Lindhurst (Play Hard Play Smart-Osborne) 2012: French is very long and athletic. He disrupts passing lanes and can defend various positions well. He has a quick first step and is a good leaper.

Kendall Jackson 5-foot-9 PG Bishop O'Dowd (Lakeshow 17s Black) 2012: With solid play throughout the spring and into the summer, Jackson is making a strong case to move into the post-summer Top 40 rankings. He has good handles and ball control and is always looking to make the big play. His play against the Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue was key in Lakeshow picking up the win.

Tajai Johnson 6-foot-2 G Vallejo (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2012: Johnson, rated No. 9 in the NCP Top 40 for the 2012 class, was solid in both of his games on Sunday as a playmaking guard. He gets into his offense quickly and while he has a scorer's mentality, he isn't afraid to kick the ball out to the perimeter or drop it inside for a layout. He has a quick, compact crossover and plays bigger than his 6-foot-2 size. His stock is on the rise.

Mitchell Love 6-foot-2 W Burbank (Play Hard Play Smart-Osborne) 2012: Love has a nice 10-15 foot pull up mid range shot. He communicates well with his teammates and shows some good basketball smarts.

Davion Mize 6-foot-0 G Salesian (NorCal Supreme 17) 2012: The Salesian guard was effective in working from isolation sets from the top of the floor and getting to the rim. He is able to use his dribble to navigate around defenders and finishes with touch at the rim. Creating some of his own offense is a nice addition to his game shown more since the end of the high school season.

Jarvis Watkins 6-foot-2 SG Antelope (E-Time Hoops 17U) 2012: Watkins is a candidate for breakout performer this summer in carrying forward the momentum from a nice junior season playoff run. He gets to the basket well from different areas on the floor and has a nice mid-range game to put pressure on a defender. He is most effective working off the baseline.

Jacqui Biggins 6-foot-0 PG Serra (Bay Area Warriors 16s) 2013: Biggins continues to impress this summer with his offensive skill set as a scoring point guard. He handles the ball well and gets into the defensive regularly. His jumper though is his best strength with range out to the three point line. If his defense can come along, the Padres will have a two-way threat leading the show the next two years.

Raymond Bowles 6-foot-5 W Modesto Christian (Lakeshow 16) 2013: Bowles is one of the better players in his class and showed many of the reasons why in a win over Roadrunners Elite. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hands and plays with an explosive quality going to the basket. He also has a developing step back mid-range game. He set the tempo for Lakeshow in the win.

Jermaine Edmonds 6-foot-3 W Salesian (NorCal Supreme 16U) 2013: Edmonds is a quality athlete who is always around the ball making plays in the paint., Overshadowed some at Salesian this past year, he has the physical tools as shown against Bay Area Warriors 16U to draw some early interest this summer. The key for him is putting the basketball skills together with his athleticism.

Darin Johnson 6-foot-4 CG Franklin-Elk Grove (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2013: Johnson brings a vast array of skills to the table with the ability to play three positions. He is a smooth athlete who handles the ball well with an emerging outside game. He has good hands on defense and as he bulks up, he will be a very tough match-up and one of the top four star prospects in the 2013 class.

Chris Mah 5-foot-11 G University (Bay Area Warriors 16s) 2013: He showed good floor general skills and had a consistent perimeter game while playing aggressive defense. He does need to get bigger to handle bigger players.

Cole Nordquist 6-foot-3 F Pleasant Grove (NorCal Pharaohs 16s) 2013: He was very effective as an on-ball defender in blocking a handful of shots in his two games on Saturday. Nordquist does a nice job of measuring his steps and judging the shooter's release. He is part of a Eagles' program which returns 13 of their 16 players this season.

Jud Salisbery 5-foot-10 PG Orland (E-Time Hoops 17U) 2013: Salisbery is a fundamentally sound point guard. He is good with the dribble and breaking down the press. He delivers very crisp and accurate passes as a table setter for E-Time Hoops.

Frankie Ferrari 5-foot-8 PG Burlingame (Lunardis) 2014: It is just fun to watch Ferrari run the point with his Burlingame squad. He plays with very good composure for a young player in seeing the floor and waiting for plays to develop before making his read. He is a pass first point guard who will need to expand his offensive game to take the next step during his high school career.

Jalen Canty 6-foot-6 F Berkeley (Oakland Soldiers 15) 2014: Similarly, Berkeley was lacking size in the interior as well. Canty would be a welcome addition and projects to be a power forward as he has bulk at this stage already. He can own the defensive boards and had a few tip dunks to showcase his vertical quickness.

Jawian Harrison 5-foot-9 PG Salesian (Oakland Soldiers 15) 2014: Harrision is a solid floor general. He had spot minutes on Salesian as a freshman. But with Dominic Artis' departure to Findlay Prep, Harrison will get more minutes in the next season.

Nathan Thomas 6-foot-6 F Bellarmine (Oakland Soldiers 15) 2014: Thomas is long and has good rebounding instincts and plays good post defense. Bellarmine lacked size this past season with the injury of Thomas' brother, Zac. But the addition of the younger Thomas could alleviate those woes.

News and Notes

The Bay Area Hoosiers boast a nice forward prospect out of San Joaquin Memorial in Chris Bailey. The 6-foot-6 class of 2013 prospect has a good frame with a high ceiling going forward.

A pair of 2013 prospects continued their stellar event play in De La Salle's Elliot Pitts and Antelope's Gabe Bealer. Pitts continues to push himself further up the 2013 charts with an expanding scoring and playmaking game while Bealer is a good athlete with developing skill set who should help make Antelope a team to watch next season.

Chris Carvin, a 2011 graduate out of Laguna Creek, was very good on Saturday in directing the Play Hard Play Smart Elite offense with his sharp passing and vision, especially in transition. He is looking into the prep school route, but could also end up at a four year university. Those that have shown interest are UC Irvine and Long Beach State.

Dupree is getting interest from Sacramento State and Occidental College.

Jackson has received interest from UC San Diego and Columbia thus far with more schools likely to follow.

Palma 2013 wing Noah Allen has attended camps at Stanford, UCLA and USC and is also hearing from Arizona State, Colorado, Notre Dame, UTEP and Washington State.

The two teams to finish the four game showcase undefeated were Lakeshow 17 Black and Knox Raiders out of Australia.

Article 227: BA Hoop Review report

July 9, 2011

Day 1 of the 2nd Annual Bay Area Hoop Review at City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University had 32 NCAA college coaches in attendance to scout the primary Northern California rosters but teams from Utah and Australia were also in attendance. Day 2 on Saturday will conclude with the teams playing their third and fourth games in the showcase event format.

In one game, Roadrunners Elite and Lakeshow 17 White battled back and forth before the game ended regulation tied at 48-48. First team to score would be the winner as it took eight possessions before the Roadrunners won 50-48. Both teams featured some solid post players as Lakeshow's TJ Daniels will be a big body that can help the void of Brandon Ashley while Roadrunners' Gabor Somogyi is a good face up forward.

Play Hard Play Smart Elite (PHPS) was one of the favorites as they came into the event having only being defeated once in the summer season. PHPS defeated both Lakeshow 17 Black and Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue earlier in the summer. Lakeshow avenged its earlier loss with a 66-62 win after holding PHPS scoreless in the final two minutes. The game featured a pair of solid lefty guards in Lakeshow's Treaven Duffy and PHPS' D'Erryl Williams II.

Shawn Smith had 24 points and Dakarai Allen added 12 for PHPS in its 72-69 win over the Soldiers as Smith really defines what an athlete should be with his jumping, burst of speed, and overall activity. Cole McConnell scored 15 points, Tajai Johnson 13 and Theo Johnson 12 in a losing effort for the Soldiers. McConnell displayed his good spot up shooting touch while showing signs of being more aggressive in taking the ball to the basket to make him a more complete offensive threat.

Players to Watch
Treaven Duffy 6-foot-1 G Las Lomas HS (Lakeshow 17 Black) 2011: Duffy has solid ball handling skills and can play either guard position as he can score in a variety of ways. He will going to Cushing Prep School. He listed Denver, Long Beach State, Santa Clara, and St. Mary's as colleges that he recently contacted.

D'Erryl Williams II 6-foot-2 PG Sheldon HS (PHPS Elite) 2013: Williams II was more aggressive in scoring as he took the ball to the basket and was comfortable with pull up jump shots. Colorado, Pepperdine, and Santa Clara are a few of the schools that he mentioned that have been in contact.

Cole McConnell 6-foot-6 W Sacred Heart Prep (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2012: McConnell is a big target for a spot up shooter. He has complemented his outside shooting with a dribble drive game. He will need it as his twin brothers Reed and Will are on their way UC Irvine and Dartmouth. The younger McConnell has looks from Columbia, Dartmouth, Fresno State, Lafayette, and Princeton.

Drew Dickey 6-foot-8 F St. Francis (KWA) 2012: Dickey was dominant in the post and had a nice jump shot to compliment. He was able to score down low or from the perimeter and should become a nice forward at the next level. Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and UC Davis have shown interest.

Markel Leonard 5-foot-10 Salesian (Bay Area Hoosiers) 2013: Leonard is a true point guard that is essential to any team. He's a great leader and seems to always make the right pass. Leonard was able to create for himself or his teammates, but if he develops a stronger shot around the perimeter he will become the complete point guard.

Erik Kinney 6-foot-4 W Sacramento HS (PHPS Elite) 2012: Kinney is a plus rebounder for his size and position. He has a solid mid range game. He needs to expand his range as he will have to be on the perimeter more on the next level. Cal Poly, Portland, and San Francisco have been contacting him most frequently.

Elliot Pitts 6-foot-5 SG De La Salle (Bay Area Hoosiers) 2013: The Hoosier backcourt which featured Pitts and Leonard was nearly unstoppable. Pitts is a phenomenal shooter, but can score in multiple ways. He was also a nice passer and created shots for his teammates. He has interest from UCLA, Stanford, Michigan, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.

Gary Williams 6-foot-5 W Castlemont (Lakeshow 17 Black) 2011: Williams is solid scorer with a good mid-range shot and pull up game. He has good ball handling skills. He plans on going to prep school in Vermont or South Carolina. Southern Utah and Wyoming are in contact.

Brady Anderson 6-foot-8 F Jesuit (ESA Renegades) 2014: Anderson had many points in the paint and had a couple shots from three to make him even tougher to guard. If he can add a dribble-drive part to his game, he should be a scary player to guard.

Matt Donlan 6-foot-5 G Capital Christian (PHPS-Osborne) 2012: Donlan has the ability to score off the dribble and shoot the three. He is a good rebounder, but could add some muscle. UC Davis, Cal Maritime, and Columbia have expressed interest.

Dakarai Allen 6-foot-5 W Sheldon HS (PHPS Elite) 2013: Allen is an all around player but his calling card may be his on the ball defense. He reminds one of the Grant Hill style of defense - long wingspan and can guard all the players except the center. Allen needs to work on his upper body strength. Allen says that Colorado, Pepperdine, St. Mary's and Washington State are the most in contact with him.

Eric Duncan 6-foot-0 G McNair (PHPS-Osborne) 2013: Duncan can attack the basket and is strong when finishing. He has been contacted by Washington State, San Francisco, and UC Davis.

Gabe Bealer 6-foot-5 F Antelope (E-Time Hoops Elite) 2013: Bealer's athleticism and versatility makes him unique. If he can become stronger, he should develop into a very nice prospect. Denver has shown interest.

Gabor Somogyi 6-foot-9 F Woodside Priory (Roadrunners Elite 17) 2012: Somogyi is a good rebounder and can start the transition with good passing decisions. Effective pick and roll player. His brother Greg is a 7-foot-3 player for UC Santa Barbara. The younger Somogyi is in talks with Maine, North Florida, Reno, and San Francisco.

Shawn Smith 6-foot-6 W McClatchy HS (PHPS Elite) 2011: Smith will be going to prep school at Bridgeton Academy. He is a consistent all around player who has plus athleticism. If his ball handling is a bit smoother, then he can really create for himself. Cal Poly, Pepperdine, and San Francisco are the three schools showing the most interest according to him.

TJ Daniels 6-foot-6 F Bishop O'Dowd (Lakeshow 17 White) 2012: Daniels plays tight end and defensive line on the football team. He has a football body but still displays good feet work and lateral quickness. His defense and rebounding are above average. His offensive game could use some expanding.

Christopher Smith 6-foot-3 SG Center (E-Time Hoops Elite) 2012: Smith is able to score in many different ways, whether it is with his shooting or attacking the rim. He is very solid defensively and Boston has expressed interest.

Recruiting Updates
Elliott Smith 6-foot-5 W Freedom (Oakland Soldiers 15) 2014: Santa Clara and Washington State

Darin Johnson 6-foot-4 G Franklin (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2013: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Colorado, UCLA, Washington, USC, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Oregon State, Utah, LSU, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame

Trevor Dunbar 5-foot-8 PG St. Ignatius (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2014: Ohio State, USC, Washington. Note - Dunbar is the only 2014 prospect on the Soldiers 17 team.

Theo Johnson 6-foot-6 W Franklin (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2012: Colorado, Fresno State, Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara

JoJo McGlaston 6-foot-4 G Dublin (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2013: Arizona, UCLA, Washington, USC, Washington State, Stanford, Oregon State, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, San Diego, San Diego State

Thomas Wallace 6-foot-3 G McNair (Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue) 2013: Arizona State, Pacific, Utah, Colorado, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, California, Stanford

Article 226: Soderberg goes inside

July 8, 2011

The Inderkum High Tigers finished last season at 13-13 and tied for second in the Tri County League. The league was dominated by Yuba City who went undefeated in league play. A key Inderkum returner to help challenge for the league will be 2012 post Devon Soderberg who averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists in his first year as a starter.

At 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Soderberg plays as the team's center but is versatile enough to play the forward position as he can bench press 225 pounds, squat 315 pounds, and has a vertical of 36 inches. Due to his athleticism and strength, he compares his game to UCLA star Kevin Love because he can rebound both offensively and defensively and gets most of his points off of offensive rebounds and free throws. Soderberg considers himself to be a power player as he is a proficient rebounder and has an assortment of post moves.

During this offseason, he is working on his dribbling and free throw shooting as he wants to be able to handle the ball more and have more control in the post. In addition, he is playing for his Spirit Got Game club team in his first year.

Spirit Got Game Coach Mike House frankly assesses Soderberg, "Devon is a ferocious rebounder, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He is dominating on the offensive end of the floor playing with his back to the basket, isolated one-on one almost unstoppable. He sees and runs the floor well, good ball handler, and a good passer. Has the ability to knock down the mid-range shot or create off the dribble. Very coachable, and learns fast. He is very much a team player who plays within the confines of his abilities, and the team identity. Likes to get a feel of the game (or flow of the game) sometimes before his engine opens to full throttle. However, after a few words of encouragement, his effort and ability to take over a game which is a coach's dream."

Soderberg was previously on the varsity baseball team as he played first base and designated hitter. During last fall, he made the difficult decision of focusing exclusively on basketball. After the season was over, he joined the Spirit Got Game club team and has not looked back since.

As a result, Soderberg could be considered a late bloomer in the hoops game. Hence, he has not received any college contacts yet. He wants to play for a run and gun fastbreaking style of offense but is open to going anywhere.

When asked about Soderberg's college potential, Coach House has this to say, "Let me be emphatically clear on this question. While there is NO DOUBT what-so-ever that if Devon remains healthy, he will play at the NCAA level. The only question becomes at which level D1, 2, 3, or NAIA. That will be a question for perspective coaches depending on their observations and needs of their program. But again, I state without hesitation or reservation: Devon will play at the NCAA level and be a factor for the coach/team who will become the beneficiary of his talents."

Soderberg hopes to be a key leader for his Tigers and to help them make a run in the playoffs. In the recent Memorial Day Classic in Hayward, he won the MVP award for the 2011 Blue Division.

Coach House has this pithy comment, "As a coach, I look for what I call the hidden qualities. Can the kid run, jump, dribble, shoot - these are all visible qualities and play a large part of what most of us consider "Talent" but are easily discerned. The Passion, Drive, Determination, Fire in the gut, Attitude and Heart of a player - all of which are hidden qualities that manifest themselves after and only after the rigors of the tough practices, and the sometimes harsh but constructive words meant only to motivate and teach are the intangibles that separate finishing at the high school level or moving on to the NCAA level. Devon has the package, the entire package. He goes about the task at hand of being the best he can be on and off the floor, and when the game elevates to that higher and tougher level, the Fire, Drive, Determination, and yes H E A R T always rises to the occasion. And that will always be signs of a winner in life, the locker room, and the basketball court."

For Inderkum to have a successful upcoming season, expect them to go inside to Soderberg.

Article 225: CC Showcase Day 1

July 7, 2011

Day 1 of the NorCal Community College Showcase at Skyline College in San Bruno was also the first day that NCAA Division I coaches were allowed to evaluate prospects in a tournament environment in the July evaluation period. As a result, over 30 Division I and II college coaches were on hand to watch 18 Northern California junior college programs compete. The Norcal JUCO pipeline to the four year programs looks to be quite solid still as here were some of the standout players to watch in the next few years.

Erik Fearn, 6-foot-8, Post, Alameda JC, Gaffey HS (South Carolina), 2012: A very lean and athletic post player. Probably will be a power forward as he is quick and has a good mid-range jumper. Has a good wingspan and can play on the ball defense. Fearn may need to bulk up to be more effective in rebounding. Cal, Pepperdine, Utah State, and Washington State have shown interest.

Denzel Copeland, 5-foot-10, PG, De Anza JC, Santa Teresa HS, 2013: Copeland was an impact player for his Santa Teresa team this past season. He was set to go play for Bethany University in Scotts Valley before the university dissolved. He joined De Anza just last month and looks poised to be the starting point guard. Copeland is a pass first point guard with good ball handling and decision making. He is likely moving on after one year at De Anza.

Harold Perry, 6-foot-6, Wing, Alameda JC, Pinole HS, 2012: Perry was an all conference player this past season. He can score from either the perimeter or in the lane. Alameda Coach Myron Jordan believes Perry will definitely be a low DI prospect. Buffalo, CSU Bakersfield, San Jose State, and University of Alabama Birmingham have been in contact.

Eric Brown, 6-foot-7, F, Los Medanos JC, Las Lomas HS, 2012: For a bigger player, Brown has good ball handling skills. He is active, hustles, and can rebound. He sat out last year which may make him a sleeper this year. But he is at least a Division II prospect.

Ivan Dorsey, 6-foot-0, SG, San Francisco JC, Riordan HS, 2012: Dorsey is a bit undersize as a shooting guard but he really can shoot from the perimeter. Texas Southern is in contact with Dorsey.

Sean Harris, 6-foot-8, Wing, Yuba City JC, Rocklin HS, 2012: Harris had an offer from Bradley University two years ago in his first year at Yuba City. Harris then went on his Mormon mission and when he returned this past year, Jim Les was let go from Bradley. Harris returns for his second year at Yuba City where he can shoot, rebound, and plays tough. Les is now at UC Davis and is still interested in Harris. But Harris may be leaning towards BYU and the state of Utah in general as he is a devout Mormon according to Yuba City Coach Doug Cornelius.

Demetrius Bishop, 6-foot-4, Wing, Alameda JC, Stagg HS, 2013: An athletic slasher who is not afraid of contact. Not surprisingly, Bishop may be a better football player as he is a talented wide receiver. Bishop has been getting looks from Fresno State, Georgia State, and North Carolina.

Markese Fields, 6-foot-5, Wing, Chabot JC, Mid Peninsula HS, 2012: Fields is an all around athlete who can dribble and score in a variety of ways. His defense is strong as he is long. He probably will go the Division II or NAIA route as his Division I eligibility period has lapsed.

Raysean Hairston, 6-foot-5, F, San Francisco JC, EE Smith HS (North Carolina), 2012: Hairston has a good all around game. Has a solid perimeter game. Hairston is likely a Division II prospect.

Jameal York, 6-foot-0, PG, Chabot JC, Edison HS (Fresno), 2012: York was the player of the year in the Fresno area during his senior year. He distributes the ball well, can create his own shot, and defends on the ball well. According to Chabot Coach Dennis Aye, York is an unknown prospect who will get on the radar of many four year college coaches soon.

Spencer Butterfield, 6-foot-3, Wing, Yuba City JC, Del Oro HS, 2012: Butterfield is a legit Division I prospect. Coming out of high school, Butterfield had offers from Gardner Webb and Montana. He went the JUCO route to get a few higher profile looks. Butterfield was all conference first team last season.

Tashawn Mabry, 6-foot-7, PF, Modesto JC, Rocky Mount HS (North Carolina), 2012: Mabry actually played for Rhode Island last year before going the JUCO route. He tore his Achilles and is still rehabbing. According to Modesto Coach Paul Brogan, Mabry will be one of the more highly sought prospects this upcoming year.

Myron Respress, 6-foot-8, PF, San Francisco JC, Niagara Falls HS (New York), 2012: Respress plays well with his back to the basket. He is a physical post player. Texas Southern is in contact with Respress.

Kris Gallop, 6-foot-11, C, Los Medanos JC, Antioch HS, 2012: A good defensive foundation to build around. Active shot blocker and active rebounder. He is a bit raw with his offensive moves and arsenal. But Gallop had a few emphatic dunks. Eastern Washington is in contact with Gallop.

Tony Gill, 6-foot-9, PF, Cosumnes River JC, Oakmont HS, 2012: Gill plays in the Ryan Anderson mode of being a power forward that can play both face to the basket and back to the basket. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last season. He is getting Division I looks from CSU Fullerton, Loyola Marymount, Portland State, San Jose State, and UC Davis as he is academically qualified with a 3.80 GPA.

Ryan Salmonson, 6-foot-10, C, Cosumnes River JC, Colfax HS, 2012: Versatile center who has a very comfortable face to the basket game. Has good potential and just needs some polish on his game. Coppin State, Portland State, and University of San Francisco have interest.

Caleb Bonds, 6-foot-8, PF, Solano JC, Liberty HS, 2013: Bonds is still raw but has a high ceiling. Has good hands and plays well with his back to the basket. He defends well.

Jamie Ball, 6-foot-5, Wing, Sierra JC, San Juan HS, 2012:
Julian Ball, 6-foot-4, G, Sierra JC, San Juan HS, 2012:
Twin Ball brothers are both solid prospects. Jamie can score by posting up, perimeter shooting, or taking the ball to the rim. Julian is a slasher with good ball handling. He is a good on the ball defender.

Julius Brazzel, 6-foot-7, PF, Modesto JC, Modesto HS, 2012: Brazzel is a very nimble but strong big man. Uses his dribble well and can pull up with the mid-range. Yet, he is not shy about playing inside. According to Modesto Coach Paul Brogan, several Big West and WAC schools have expressed interest.

Don Washington, 6-foot-7, PF, De Anza JC, Aragon HS, 2012: Physical interior player but also shows good quickness. He plays center for his undersized De Anza team but will probably be a forward after JUCO. Portland State is in contact with Washington.

James Tillman, 6-foot-6, Wing, Cosumnes River JC, Pioneer HS, 2012: Athletic wing who can take the ball to the basket, defends well, and rebounds well. Tillman needs to extend his perimeter game. According to Cosumnes River Coach James Giacomazzi, Tillman has a big upside and is at least a low Division I prospect.

Trevon Abraham, 5-foot-9, PG, Yuba City JC, Sacarmento HS, 2012: Abraham was at Rice last year before making the move back west. Abraham is still athletic and can push the tempo in Yuba City's system. According to Yuba City Coach Doug Cornelius, Abraham wants to play on the west coast such as the Pac-12 conference.

Markus Moore, 6-foot-3, F, Sierra JC, Brookside Christian HS, 2012: Moore is a shorter forward but is close to 240 pounds. Moore plays bigger than his height with his rebounding and physical nature. Yet, he has a solid perimeter game. If Moore's ball handling and quickness can be improved a notch or two, then he can really turn some heads on the next level.

Article 224: Smith looks to finish strong

July 5, 2011

Center High has been a mainstay in the playoffs the past few seasons. During this past season, the Cougars finished 25-8 including a playoff run that ended in a loss to San Marin 61-55. The team was led by senior forward Chad Haysbert who will be attending Houston Baptist in the fall.

In the upcoming season, C-High will need 2012 guard Christopher Smith to fill the void in terms of leadership and production. Smith was brought onto the varsity team as a freshman and has been a starter since his sophomore year. In 2010-2011, he produced 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Smith is a lanky and long guard who plays like former University of Illinois star Deron Williams because he can distribute the basketball to teammates well and his ability to score on drives to the basket along with his perimeter shooting. Smith considers his best skill to be his scoring ability as he can score off drives to the basket, pull-up jumpers, and knock down three-pointers. During the offseason, he is working on strength and quickness drills to help him with individual defense, scoring, passing, and rebounding.

In addition to these drills, Smith is playing for his E-Time Hoops Elite team. E-Time Coach Ernest Taubado has this assessment of Smith. "Christopher's greatest attribute as a high level basketball player is his ability to score. He has amazing focus and concentration which allows him to shoot the basketball and finish layups at odd angles. On the court, Christopher is a steady player with a natural feel for the game of basketball. He never appears rushed or off balance. He has a deceptive first step with sneaky explosion to the basket."

Smith has been in pressure situations. As a sophomore, Smith started his first playoff game in place of the team's All-Metro center, Connor Haysbert, who sprained his ankle the day before in practice. The playoff experience helped him mature and lead his team to the NorCal semifinal game.

In addition, colleges have taken notice of Smith. Air Force, Chico State, CSU Sacramento, and Denver are in contact with him. Smith has a preference to be on the west coast but will also factor in strong academics with opportunities for internships and hands-on training programs as he would like to major in Communication Studies.

Taubado continues about Smith's college prospects, "Christopher has had the uncanny ability to improve immensely year to year. Most student-athletes have a moderate improvement rate annually. If Christopher continues to excel in his development, he has the potential to be a mid-major Division I basketball player."

Smith's individual goal is to be named All-Metro as he was All-Metro Honorable Mention this past year. His team goal is to return to Arco Arena and win the Section title and then continue on and play for a state title. Watch for Smith to finish strong on the break, to finish strong in his senior season, and to finish strong during his recruiting process for Center High in Antelope, Calif.