Article 313: Goodreault getting good

June 8, 2012

As a freshman on varsity, Joey Goodreault's Miramonte Matadors went 12-14 as he was in the playing rotation and averaged four points, one rebound, and two assists per game. In this past season, the 2014 prospect helped the Mats to a 20-10 mark with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, the lefty shooting guard has been "Getting Good" each year of his high school career.

Former Miramonte Head Coach Dave Brown who had Goodreault for his first two years says, "Joey is a solid ball handler, high basketball IQ, good decision maker, finds his teammates in places they can score, good motor and strong competitive drive, ability to finish in traffic, can create his own shot, and has good range behind the arc."

Goodreault compares his game to former Arkansas Razorback Joe Johnson because he is a versatile player who can score in many different ways and also can pass, rebound, and play defense. He considers himself to be a finesse type of player because he is still developing his strength and lateral movement but he can offset that with his skills to score, to pass, and to play defense.

"He pushes himself and his teammates, competes hard in both practices and games, and is focused on doing whatever it takes to win," says Brown. "He is like another coach on the floor, because he can quickly assess the game situation and give us solid input on what adjustments we should make. Also, he really likes the challenge of matching-up against the other team's best scorer and has really developed this year into a solid on-ball defender. Most importantly, he has a strong desire to get better and is never satisfied with his ability or skill level."

During the upcoming summer, Goodreault will play for his Oakland Rebels 16U club. In the early summer events, he has displayed a clean perimeter shot, used his size well in the post to get rebounds, and has played in control in a very heady manner.

"Joey is a great young man - high character, humble, personable, great student and supportive teammate - very mature for his age and a pleasure to work with," said Brown. "I've known him since he was in the 5th grade when he first came to one of our summer camps, and it's been incredible to watch him grow up physically (he used to be the smallest guy on the court), mentally (he really sees the big picture now) and emotionally (he is still ultra-competitive but has developed a sense of balance in that area). He is generally a very driven person but he is able to temper that with an easy-going nature that makes him very accessible."

Miramonte is bringing in a new coach but will return Goodreault along with 2013 prospect Kiran Shastri, who is a skilled wing player. Shastri may be the second player in Miramonte's history to be a Division I college basketball prospect. If not, Goodreault has a good chance to be that second player.

Brown comments on the recruiting of Goodreault, "I'm not the best judge of these things, because I've only had one player earn a D1 scholarship (Eric Obeysekere, Holy Cross - the first in Miramonte's 55 year history), but I believe he has the potential to be a mid-major (and possibly above) scholarship player. He is already receiving some interest from two WCC schools, so I suppose that gives some indication. With his size, handle, ability to create shots, basketball IQ, commitment to defend plus attitude and work ethic, he should attract a fair amount of attention as a college-level guard."

Goodreault has some historical precedence in athletics in the family tree. His grandfather, Gene Goodreault, was a consensus All-American for the Boston College Eagles in 1940 and later became the 15th overall pick in the 1941 NFL Draft. The nonagenarian passed away at age 91 in Orinda in 2010.

This Matador has a 3.70 GPA and considers History to be his favorite subject. Brown says this about Goodreault's non-basketball attributes, "He is a tremendous student - he carries a high GPA with a heavy academic load that includes several AP courses. On a personal level, he does community service, has a twin sister (who does not play basketball), is a walking encyclopedia of college and pro sports, and takes a keen interest in knowing as much as he can about the top basketball players in the area. We're very fortunate to have him in our program."

As the summer heats up, expect Goodreault to make an impression on the recruiting trail. During the fall, watch this Matador "Getting Good" on the hard court in Orinda, (Calif).

Article 312: Ivan the Terribly Good

June 5, 2012

In the 16th century in Russia, Ivan Vasilyevich was known as the first Tsar of Russia and was nicknamed "Ivan the Terrible" as he was remembered for his paranoiac suspiciousness and cruel persecution of nobility during his reign. In the 21st century in Northern California, Freshman Ivan Rabb, otherwise known as "Ivan the Terribly Good" contributed immediately in the rotation after the departure of national prospect Brandon Ashley and played a key role in helping Bishop O'Dowd to a 27-6 record this past season on the hard court.

Like his Arizona-bound predecessor, Rabb is long, athletic, and versatile in his game. Another ironic twist is that the 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds post prospect already has an offer from Arizona earlier in the summer season. In addition, other west coast schools that are interested in him include Oregon, Oregon State, and UCLA.

Rabb has been a member of the Oakland Soldiers since eighth grade. Due to key injuries on the Soldiers 17U roster, Rabb was called up to the top team and has been competing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) events among others.

Rabb has an obvious advantage with his height at his age. Soldiers Head Coach Nick Enzweiler says, "Ivan is so long and athletic, he has a huge advantage over his peers. He can use his height and length to score around the basket very effectively. He also has a very good touch around the basket for a big man."

Rabb compares his game to Kevin Garnett because he is similar physically and can play inside or outside. Rabb is left-handed and is comfortable posting up in the paint or sitting at the wing with a consistent mid-range shot.

Enzweiler comments on Rabb's attributes. "Obviously his height and wing span are his best attributes, but he is also a solid ball handler for a player his size and he has a solid outside jump shot."

Rabb is a good post passer and plays unselfishly. He expects to be a power forward at the college level, where his agility and lateral movement will enhance his developing ability as an effective shot blocker.

Being gifted at such a young age would spoil most people but Enzweiler sees Rabb progressing over the next three years. "I would like to see Ivan become an even better post player with his back to the basket. He needs to develop a wider range of post moves. He needs to learn to get deeper post position which will make him even more effective. Also, he needs to learn how to play against the double teams. With his talent, teams will constantly double him so he needs to learn how to pass out of the double teams more effectively."

On the college level, Rabb wants to play on a running team that is also effective in a half court offensive set. He is open to going anywhere from a geographic perspective and his favorite subjects are history and science. He is interested in real estate as he is also an avid player of Zynga's Cityville game where he has attained Level 50, which basically means that he has done a lot of mouse clicking on the screen.

Enzweiler believes Rabb has a great future ahead. "He is an outstanding high DI prospect. With his size and skill, the Pac-12 teams will be all over him. What I find most interesting about Ivan is that he is only 15! He has an enormous upside and he has so much time to develop and get better which is very scary for his opponents. Ivan loves basketball-to my knowledge he does not play any other sports because he focuses all of his energy and efforts into hoops."

When Ashley left for Findlay Prep this past season, Rabb stepped right into the rotation as a freshman. With TJ Daniel and Richard Longrus leaving for the Pac-12, Rabb will be the only returning starter but will also have frontcourt help from Kevin Dolan.

Rabb plans on working on his leadership by leading by example and being vocal. He is also working on getting bigger. His goal for next season is to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Ivan Vasilyevich got his famed moniker for the way that he ruled as a Tsar in 16th century Russia. If Rabb continues to progress, he will be a top national prospect in the 2015 class. Watch how "Terribly Good" this Dragon will be the next three years in Oakland (Calif).

Article 311: Fireside Chat: Elliott Smith

June 3, 2012

The Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL) has a national 2013 prospect in Deer Valley's Marcus Lee. Junior Elliott Smith of Freedom may be the next rising star from the league. His Falcon team went 21-8 this past season and is expected to battle Deer Valley for the BVAL title next season as well.

At 6-foot-6 and 188 pounds, Smith is an athletic forward who has developed into a versatile player who has the size and length to battle post players but has enough ball handling skills and perimeter shooting to take advantage of smaller defenders. During the upcoming summer, Smith will play for his Oakland Soldiers 16U club.

As a 2014 prospect, Smith has been primarily getting interest from west coast programs but a big summer may propel him onto the national scene. Here were some comments from Smith about the conferences and schools that have expressed interest.

Pac-12 (Cal, Stanford, and Washington): "That's where I see myself most likely to fit in at. I like the up pace and flow of game with a guard and wing type of game. They have good exposure too."

West Coast Conference (San Francisco and Santa Clara): "West coast is a good conference and some good competition. There are some good teams on the rise and it has good academics."

Freedom Head Coach Drew Torres expects to build on a 21-win campaign from this past season. He has high expectations for Smith and says, "Elliot still needs to improve his outside shot in order to extend the defense. This will open up the drive for him. However, if he does not improve his shot, teams won't guard him on the perimeter making it tougher for him to drive to the basket. He still must get stronger so he can finish inside. Too many times he gets bumped on his shot and is unable to finish due to lack of strength. His game will go to another level when he adds strength to his game. The other aspect I would like to see from him is to improve his conditioning so he can play harder for longer periods of time. He is a player that I want on the floor at all times but he gets tired quickly and then I need to sub him out so he can catch his breath. He should also do extra sprints this off season so we can get more quality minutes from him."

Smith himself believes that Freedom will challenge for the BVAL next season. He believes the team chemistry will mesh better and that players will know their roles. In addition, he believes that Deer Valley lost quite a few of their core players.

Coach Torres recognizes Smith's role in next season's success. He says, "Elliot is a very talented player who has a lot of upside to his game. When he is playing his best, he is a great rebounder, is able to block shots, and can guard on the perimeter and inside in the post area. Offensively, he does a great job of attacking the basket and drawing fouls. He also handles the ball well in transition and versus defensive pressure."

Freedom loses point guard Jelani Hardaway but will have the services of 2013 prospect James O'Neal. But Smith will still need to showcase leadership skills. Coach Torres says, "He is a natural vocal leader. He was that way as a frosh on varsity the previous year. He is not afraid to confront his teammates if they are slacking off. He also does a great job of controlling the locker room during games. Also, he is a player who plays best against better competition. His game rises against the better teams and players. Lastly, he is a great 4th quarter player. No matter how bad he has played in the other 3 quarters, we know he will step up at the end of the game. He made a lot of clutch plays for us this season during the 4th quarter of close games."

Smith has many similarities to his BVAL rival Lee. If Smith has a great summer and successful regular season, then he could also break out on the national recruiting scene. Watch for this Falcon to soar higher in the next two years in Oakley (Calif).

Article 310: Putz emerging from fog

June 1, 2012

Half Moon Bay is often known for its foggy disposition along the San Mateo County coastline. In addition, the idyllic community is often overshadowed by San Francisco to the north and San Jose to the south. In prep basketball, this is also the case for 6-foot-10 post prospect, Owen Putz, from Half Moon Bay High.

The No.33 ranked 2013 NCP prospect was critical in leading his Cougars to a 24-7 record and an appearance in the NorCal regional tournament. Half Moon Bay is a defense-oriented team that likes to play man to man. With a post presence in Putz, the Cougars can plan their defensive strategy around their starting center.

Putz is primarily a back to the basket player who has good length and makes for an easy target for entry passes. His strengths include offensive rebounding, blocking shots, and helping on weak side defense. During the upcoming summer, Putz plans on working on his offensive post moves, rebounding positioning, and improving his strength for battling low post opponents.

In addition, Putz will play in his second year for his Bay Area Warriors club. The team plans to make trips to Las Vegas and Southern California for additional exposure.

Bay Area Warriors Head Coach Randal Bessolo says, "I have known Owen since his freshman year when he was already about 6-foot-6. In addition to growing a couple more inches, his basketball skills, feel for the game, athleticism, and level of aggressiveness have all improved significantly. Frankly, the continual improvement is a great sign of more improvement to come in the future. In short, Owen still has a lot of upside! This upside should make him a great recruit for whichever school gets him."

Surprisingly, Putz says that he has not received any legitimate contact from college programs. He is academically eligible and is open to playing anywhere in the country.

Bessolo has coached the high school levels in both Chicago and San Francisco where he has helped send numerous prospects to the college level. "Owen is very coachable and a super teammate that gets along with everyone. He is always thinking of others and keeps a positive perspective on things regardless of the situation."

"Owen is clearly a college player with the ability to play at the D3, D2, and D1 level," continues Bessolo. "That being said, he is a very good student and will be looking for a school that will be the right fit for him academically and socially as well as basketball. His parents Ingrum and Lene are super people and have done a terrific job supporting Owen in his efforts to be the best basketball player and person he can be."

In the early summer events, Putz has been showing signs of aggressiveness in his post play in terms of rebounding, blocking shots, and attacking the basket. He is often the tallest player on the court but would benefit from adding some bulk and strength to battle against equal sized opponents. Watch for this Cougar to emerge out of the fog in Half Moon Bay during the summer club season.