Article 375: Kone moving up

July 21, 2014

Transition is always a constant in life. For the typical high school student athlete, moving is always a challenge.

After making the move from Salesian High in Richmond to Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, Ben Kone was instrumental as a starter in helping the Monarchs to a 27-5 record in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) and second round finish in the Northern California Open playoffs. The 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds power forward averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Kone faced the move and the competition in the WCAL head on. He says, "I learned how to focus. You can see the results just from my free throw percentage increasing from 50% to 85% over the season. Coming in to Mitty and the WCAL, I faced larger crowds that were very vocal and directing things at me specifically. It was the best thing that could have happened because now I have the ability to focus completely on the game."

After playing for the Oakland Soldiers 16U Elite club, Kone will be moving to the Oakland Soldiers 17U Elite club for the Big Foot event in Las Vegas this week. Kone says, "It's been really great. The talent level continues to get stronger on each team I've been on over the years with the Soldiers. I'm excited about moving up to the 17U Elite team."

Oakland Soldiers 16U Elite Coach Ansar Al-Ameen says, "Ben's ability to score around the basket and in the mid post is his strengths. He is a tenacious player on the open. He is a strong influence on the out come of the game when he is on the court."

The No. 2 prospect in the initial 2016 NCP rankings has been working on ball handling, shots off the dribble, and overall fitness. He wants to play a more proactive offensive role in the upcoming season. Kone says, "I'm really trying to turn myself from a four to a stretch three and I'm really looking for a coach that supports that. I like to pass. I like to dribble the ball."

Cal, Cal Poly SLO, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Jose State, UC Davis, and UC Irvine have been inquiring while New Mexico State (Aerick Sanders) has given him an offer. Kone made an unofficial visit to Cal and plans to make most of his trips next summer.

Al-Ameen who previously was an assistant coach at Prairie View A&M says, "He has made a lot of progress this summer. He has been playing with an increased sense of urgency. He wants the college coaches to see that he is getting better from game to game. I believe he can play at a high major level. As he continues to develop, he'll be ready to play at a Division I level."

The experience of playing at a high level in both the WCAL and Oakland Soldiers program has made Kone realize that he must be prepared mentally and physically. The punishment of being a starter and the physical contact in the post contributes to that necessity. Kone says, "It's a marathon not a sprint. At Mitty, we tend to have very long seasons and post seasons. As the primary post player, my body took a beating and as a first year starter I didn't know how to manage that over a long season. My biggest lesson has been to take care of my body by eating well, sleeping right, icing regularly, and just staying on top of things more proactively. My team depends on me and I take that seriously."

Kone has also had a good relationship with his high school coach in his first year. He says, "TK (Tim Kennedy) is not only a coach. He is turning into a friend for me. Having a coach I can be on the same page with was huge. We talk through offensive stuff constantly. He'll take the time and go three hours with me on the chalkboard. A lot of coaches don't really do that. I bought in."

As the summer ends, watch for Kone to continue moving forward for the Monarchs in San Jose, Calif.

Article 374: Ratinho leads DLS revival

July 19, 2014

For most high school programs, a 21 win season would normally be considered a success. But for the De La Salle Spartans last season, their first round postseason exit was below the 25 plus win season streak of eight years that started in 2005.

In the upcoming season, expect the Spartans to have a revival in their number of wins as 2016 prospect Jordan Ratinho leads the way. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists last season and has been having a solid summer for his Greenline club that is also the De La Salle summer team.

Spartan Coach Frank Allocco is excited about his upcoming three year varsity player and says, "Jordan is a "team first" guy who is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. He is a coach's dream: a player who listens, works hard, and accepts coaching and challenges! Jordan is an outstanding shooter, hit 9 threes in a summer league tournament this year! He is a committed player who has advanced his game each year. An outstanding shooter, Jordan has now developed a 'slashing' game with great skills to get to the rim."

As the summer winds down, Ratinho hopes to get more college interest as Eastern Washington, Pacific, Portland, Saint Mary's, Santa Clara, and UC Santa Barbara have already been inquiring. He is open to his recruiting process and has not narrowed down his criteria yet. Ratinho has a 3.8 GPA and is undecided about his major but wants to play in a program that needs a shooter/slasher with good ball handling skills and court vision.

Allocco has this take on the college potential, "Jordan is the 'silent assassin,' a player who quietly tears you up with his prolific scoring ability and unselfish play. A total team player who can score from the outside, get to the rim or post up. He is a fine ball handler who I truly believe could play point guard at the next level."

Playing at a high profile high school such as De La Salle can cause many prospects to be hidden from the limelight. Ratinho describes himself as being team oriented and almost workmanlike who just tries to do his job for the team's sake.

Allocco confirms this about Ratinho's demeanor, "Jordan has been described as "one of the most humble 'stars' you will ever meet. He does not like attention and lives by the adage 'quietness and confidence shall be my strength.' A committed student-athlete, who achieves at a superior level in the classroom. One of the most loyal people I have ever known. A committed player only interested in the success of his team! He always puts the needs of the team before any personal interests."

When asked what have been some setbacks in his life that he had to overcome, he lists two from the past few months and how he puts them in perspective. Ratinho says, "Losing in the Norcal Playoffs last year, and being determined to not let it happen again. Losing my grandfather this past month, and that life is too short. That you need to play hard every day and every game."

Coach Allocco echoes these sentiments, "I have coached many players who have gone on to the Division I level and Jordan definitely has the ability to succeed at that level. As he continues to work on his game, gain some strength and maturity, I believe the sky is the limit for him. Very comparable to Elliott Pitts, who plays at Arizona. With his coachability, desire to get better, and fantastic work ethic, I believe Jordan is a can't miss prospect!"

Allocco continues, "I have been impressed with Jordan since his freshman season. His ability to step into the bright lights, playing at a national level as a freshman is certainly an amazing feat. He is a committed student-athlete who truly excels at everything he does." Watch for Ratinho to lead the revival for the Spartans this upcoming season in Concord, Calif.

Article 373: Summer Tip Off finale

July 14, 2014

The Nor Cal Summer Tip Off ended its two day event at City College of San Francisco on Sunday. The venue allowed college coaches to view the Northern California basketball talent in an NCAA sanctioned event. Here is a look at some of the top players from day two.

Greg Polosky 6-foot-10 Post San Ramon Valley (2015) Lakeshow 17 Elite: Polosky was the most college ready post player at the event. He has quick feet for his height and size. According to him, he has no offers yet but has interest from Montana, Portland, SJSU, and UCSB.

Jeff Wu 6-foot-3 G Modesto Christian (2015) Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue: Wu will be going into his third year of American high school basketball competition as the Taiwan import is playing his first year of club basketball. Last summer, he was participating in the Nike Taiwan event. He plays in control and was aggressive in looking for his shot both to the basket and from the perimeter. He did not garner many rebounds but does a fair job of keeping his opposing number in check.

Armani Collins 6-foot-5 W Stuart Hall (2015) SF Rebels: Collins has a long frame and a nice wingspan. He runs the floor well and was effective in finishing. He needs bulk for the next level but has overall good basketball skills. He will go back to playing with his Dream Vision club for the rest of the summer.

Ryan Brice 6-foot-2 G Pinewood (2015) Lunardis 17: Brice hustles on both ends as his defense is tenacious and he anticipates passing lanes. The Pinewood product is athletic but will need to improve his perimeter shooting and ball handling to increase his recruiting stock.

Damari Milstead 6-foot-1 PG Moreau Catholic (2017) Oakland Soldiers 16u Elite: Milstead runs the point position with efficiency as he gets his teammates involved, makes good passes, brings the ball up the court with ease, and occasionally looks for his own offense. He plays more mature than his 2017 class status. During the summer, he has gotten new offers from Loyola Marymount and Montana.

Justin Abney 5-foot-10 CG Enterprise (2015) E-Time Hoops 17U: The undersized rising senior is an explosive athlete who attacks the lane aggressively. He is hard to cover in the open court as he runs well in transition and is quick off his feet. Abney is also a good pressure defender.

Demarre Walker 5-foot-11 PG Vanden (2015) Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue: Walker is shorter than the prototypical point guard size but has good bulk and strength. He can rebound and has strong hands to attack opposing players who are careless with the ball. Walker can help a lower division program and is a hidden gem.

Peter Hewitt 6-foot-9 Post St Francis (2016) Lakeshow 16 Elite: The former Oakland Soldier earlier in the summer has moved to the Lakeshow program. Hewitt looked much more comfortable and productive in his new squad. The St Francis prospect was more assertive in every aspect of his game as the change of scenery may have been a needed catalyst.

Andy Isokpehi 6-foot-8 Wing Woodside Priory (2015) Lunardis 17: The athletic wing has the raw skills and size to be a college prospect. He could play the post at the lower division college levels but will need to work on his perimeter skills to see the floor at the Division I level. His offensive skill set needs more refinement but that should not stop him from getting college inquiries.

Eddie Ionescu 6-foot-5 W Miramonte (2016) Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue: Ionescu is one of two players playing up his grade level on this Soldiers team. He has a good clean perimeter shot. He looks comfortable handling the ball. His sister, Sabrina, is the top rated girl's player in the 2016 class in the region.

Tarrez Blaylock 6-foot-2 SG Lincoln (2015) Bay Area Warriors 17U
Jemiel King 6-foot-2 PG Lincoln (2015) Bay Area Warriors 17U:
If the maxim of guard play being critical in postseason is indeed true, then Lincoln will have a solid backcourt in Blaylock and King for the upcoming season. The two are similar in their athleticism and aggressiveness. But they complement each other offensively as Blaylock is a versatile scorer while King is a distributor with good ball handling. The two seniors should also be solid in full court pressing defense and on the ball half court defense.

Druce Asah 6-foot-2 G Tracy (2015) BFS Blackout Elite 17u: Asah is a jitterbug in his movements with and without the ball. The Tracy product converted offensively both inside and outside. He is a bit wiry in frame and probably will have to develop more point guard skills to increase his recruiting stock.

Vinny Ferrari 5-foot-10 G Burlingame (2016) Lunardis 16 Blue: Ferrari is a gritty player who defends aggressively. He has a perimeter game but needs more consistency. His older brother (Frankie) is an incoming freshman at the collegiate level at San Francisco.

Andre Green II 6-foot-2 G Bear Creek (2015) BFS Blackout Elite 17u: The senior was a streaky shooter as he scored efficiently and often against the Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue team in the first of their contest but Green's team including him went cold to start the second half. Despite the cold spell, he was aggressive in continuing to look for his offensive chances. The Bear Creek product is a versatile scorer but also played at a frenetic pace and out of control at times.

Austin Clarke 6-foot-5 W Campolindo (2016) Lakeshow 16 Elite: Clarke is ranked No. 24 in the initial 2016 rankings. The Campolindo product has a good frame and moves his feet well to get good position. He made crisp passes and hit some mid-range shots. The fundamentals are strong for him as his father is an assistant coach at St Mary's in Moraga (Marty Clarke).

Esteban Lovato 6-foot-0 CG San Leandro (2016) Lunardis 16 White: Lovato handles the ball well and is quick while being able to create his own offense. His quickness allows him to put pressure on opposing guards. He may have been overshadowed at St Joseph's Alameda but will get more exposure at San Leandro.

Notes

Over 50 college coaches of all levels were in attendance during the two day event. Notable Division I schools in attendance included Cal (Cuonzo Martin), Pacific, Portland (Eric Reveno), Princeton (Assistant Coach Marcus Jenkins), San Francisco (Rex Walters), Santa Clara, Stanford, St Mary's (Randy Bennett), UC Irvine (Assistant Coach Booker), UC Santa Barbara, and Washington State (Ernie Kent).

Most of these west coast clubs and college coaches will be heading to Anaheim and Las Vegas for the following two weeks to close out the summer schedule before the regular school year commences.

Outside of the Northern California region, clubs from New York, Nevada, Oregon, Southern California, and Utah were in the field.

Article 372: JUCO Jamboree Day 1

July 11, 2014

Day 1 of the NorCal JUCO Summer Jamboree featured primarily California-based junior college programs battling in scrimmages at Skyline Junior College in San Bruno, Calif. Over 30 four-year college coaches attended day one of the two day event. Here are some player updates.

Markel Leonard 6-foot-0 PG Salesian (Santa Rosa) 2013: Leonard played all of eight minutes at Cal Poly SLO last season. He expects to play one season at Santa Rosa before returning to a four year program. Leonard still has the floor general skills expected of a point guard. Adding a consistent perimeter game and bulking up more would increase his recruiting stock.

Spencer Clark 6-foot-4 W Concord (Diablo Valley) 2014: The Concord prospect is academically qualified and had offers from Chico State, San Francisco State, and some NAIA programs during his senior year. But Clark stated that he went the JUCO route to see if he can get a Division I offer during his freshman season. He has good size and athleticism for a wing as he slashes to the basket and plays with a motor. His perimeter shooting and ball handling still need improvement.

Jacques Carraway 6-foot-7 F Mcclymonds (Diablo Valley) 2013: Carraway fits the "stretch four" position as he is comfortable handling the ball and has a clean perimeter game. In addition, Carraway is long and rebounds hard. He probably needs to add some size to be a pure power forward. Carraway played his first three seasons in high school at Rodriguez as he is entering his first year of play at the junior college level.

Stephen Dorsey 6-foot-6 F Monterey (Monterey Peninsula) 2012: Dorsey sat out last season as he competed and won the state decathlon title. The Monterey product is athletic and active as he had several dunks and was physical in the post. His perimeter game and ball handling need improvement. But just his size and athletic abilities would make him a worthwhile prospect at the next level.

Jelani Hardaway 6-foot-3 G Freedom (Diablo Valley) 2012: Hardaway is finishing up his third year in the JUCO ranks as he sat out last year due to an ankle injury. The combo guard has good size and strength as he can score from the perimeter or to the basket. He attacks the basket consistently. Hardaway claims an offer from Prairie View A&M while getting interest from Cal State Northridge and Long Beach State.

Mitch Wood 6-foot-8 F Alvarez (Monterey Peninsula) 2013: The Salinas based product shoots well from outside, moves well laterally, and runs the court. He needs to add size for rebounding and be a more effective passer.

Rico Nuno 6-foot-7 F Half Moon Bay (Diablo Valley) 2014: The 2014 high school graduate helped lead Half Moon Bay to a 26 win season. Nuno is not the most nimble of feet but he handles the ball well by using his size and has a consistent outside shot. At first glance, his size and bulk stand out as he uses those attributes in the paint effectively.

Marcus Walton 6-foot-3 SG Concord (Los Medanos) 2012: Walton was accurate from the perimeter as he made three 3-pointers in the stretch of a few minutes. He is a good rebounder for a guard and passes well. Improvements on the defensive end would increase his recruiting stock after this upcoming season.

Dan Afeaki 6-foot-9 Post Capuchino (Skyline) 2012: The post prospect had minimal minutes last season but should be the main interior player this season. Afeaki runs the floor well for his size. He is not bulky but has enough size to defend and to rebound in the paint. His height and size will garner looks from four year colleges.

Devin Koeplin 5-foot-8 PG Dublin (Monterey Peninsula) 2013: Koeplin is undersized but does everything that is asked of a prototypical point guard. He runs the offense, is vocal, passes well, hits the occasional perimeter shot, and plays gritty on ball defense. He may be a gem if teams are willing to overlook his height.

Dalvin Guy 6-foot-6 F Mcclymonds (Santa Rosa) 2013: Guy sat out last year due to a toe injury. Guy does not have the ideal height for a power forward but makes up for it with his size and aggressiveness in his rebounding and defense. His perimeter shooting and ball handling is still a work in progress.

Elijah Green 6-foot-2 G Oakland (Shasta) 2013: Green is a big and athletic guard who can score from both inside and outside. He is aggressive on defense and was physical in the paint.

Elijah White 5-foot-8 PG El Camino (Skyline) 2013: White is undersized for a point guard but makes up for it with his quickness and dribbling. He has a respectable perimeter game. He ran the half court sets well and was aggressive in transition offense.

Olajuwan Garner 6-foot-2 SG Deer Valley (Diablo Valley) 2012: The former Deer Valley prospect still is an offensive threat as he can create offense off the dribble either inside or outside. He has added some bulk since high school.

Jamboree Notes

City College of San Francisco (CCSF) did not play Thursday but will play on Friday. CCSF went 29-2 this past season. The most notable names from Northern California high school on the summer roster include 6-foot-6 Gabe Bealer (Antelope 2013) and 6-foot-8 Jashandeep Kahlon (Brookside Christian 2014).

Mainland China's global influence is expanding further into basketball as a college level team participated in the event. Shantou University brought a roster of ten players from the city of Shantou, which is in the Guangdong province in southeastern China. The team is coached by former USBA Coach Billy Mcknight and Australia National Coach Bill Tomlinson. Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is a major donor to the university.

31 college coaches at all division levels attended day one of the event. Many of these coaches will also stay for the 2014 Nor Cal Summer Tip Off during the weekend at City College of San Francisco to view the high school talent.

Article 371: Vunipola returns home

June 22, 2014

When the 2012 high school season ended for the Pittsburg High Pirates, Feao Vunipola was headed for Bozeman in Montana. Vunipola redshirted his freshman year at Montana State University. As a redshirt freshman in his second year, Vunipola saw limited action as a linebacker in the defensive rotation but did excel on the special teams.

But after some soul searching, the East Bay prospect decided to return home after completing the football season this past fall semester to play for Diablo Valley College (DVC) at the junior college level. A primary reason was that Montana State plays a relatively conservative defensive scheme while Vunipola is much more adept at playing in an attacking defense as he is listed at 6-foot-0 and 236 pounds.

In high school, Vunipola played running back with good size and speed. He utilizes those attributes well to cover slot receivers while still being able to blitz and to disrupt the offense. Vunipola has had family and friends who went to DVC before signing on to Division I programs. Vunipola cites some friends from the DVC program that have gone on to the next level that include defensive end Tui Talia (Oregon) defensive end Suia Taufa (Utah State), and current DVC defensive end Gabe Newman (Fresno State signed).

In his native Tongan dialect, Vunipola's name means "With God" as he will be playing the Willy linebacker position in the nickel package and will rotate to the Sam linebacker position to cover tight ends and the slot receiver. By Vunipola's account, his spring practices have gone well as he runs 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has a shuttle time of 4.31 seconds, bench presses 345 pounds, squats 425 pounds, and has vertical of 31 inches.

With the decision to go the junior college route, not many Division I programs are aware of his availability. The ones that have him on their linebacker radar include Boise State, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Georgia State, and Northern Arizona. Vunipola still would like to stay on the west coast. During the upcoming summer, Vunipola will work on his lower body, quads, hamstrings, and hips to increase his explosiveness and power.

Vunipola believes that his game can be compared to another former East Bay product in DJ Calhoun from El Cerrito High who is now at Arizona State. . Vunipola says, "We are not the tallest, nor the biggest linebackers. But our similarities and strengths are in our speed and aggression."

The linebacker prospect says, "Once I get comfortable with the defense here at DVC, I plan to lead this defense to a nationally ranking. We went up a division so we have a chance to play against those highly ranked schools."

Vunipola's best football skills are his speed and explosiveness. He has the speed to cover slot receivers while he still has the strength to plug a 320 pound guard running downhill. He understands the principle of leverage so his size difference does not affect his performance.

The DVC football website itself states to have matriculated over 100 scholarship football players in the past five years. The DVC defense was the top rated defense in the state of California last season on the JUCO level. Vunipola expects to spearhead another solid defense for DVC before deciding on his next four year program destination during the fall in Pleasant Hill, Calif.