Article 439: Milstead ready for more at Moreau

8/25/2016

Four-year starters are rare at either the high school or the college level for any team sport. Even more rare is the four-year starter for programs that have successful postseason runs. For the Moreau Catholic program, senior Damari Milstead is looking to cap off such a run.

The point guard started from day one and has led his Mariners to succeeding win totals of 27, 23, and 25. His stats at Moreau progressed from 15.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.3 steals to 16.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.4 steals to 19.1 points, 3.65 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 3.0 steals.

In his 17 number years of Bay Area high school basketball coaching, Moreau Catholic Head Coach Frank Knight says, “Damari's game is so unique that it’s really hard to find a player that he reminds me of in particular. But he is a cross between Kwame Vaughn (Skyline Oakland) and Will Cherry (McClymonds). Kwame and Damari both have that offensive game that's not flashy and not littered with highlights of dunks but will have filled up the stat line at game’s end. Will Cherry because of his defensive intensity and they just have that will to win down the stretch. They both will have finished high school with lots of wins.”

In his first three seasons, Milstead missed only six games out of 94 total regular and postseason games. Despite that, he has a strong chance to be the all time leader in points (will likely break the 2,000 point mark in his senior year), assists, and steals in Moreau Catholic history. As the point guard who runs the Mariners, Milstead has guided Moreau Catholic to two league championships, a NCS Division 4 championship, a NCS Division 3 Championship, a NCS Division 3 runner up, a NorCal Division 4 NorCal Championship, and a Division 4 State Championship runner up.

The 6-foot-3 and 175 pound prospect previously played for the Oakland Soldiers program. Milstead says about the move to Splash City, “I was going to leave the Oakland Soldiers after the summer of my sophomore year before Splash City was even formed. I just felt it wasn't a good fit for me and I wanted something different.”

The chance to make a mark on the newly formed Splash City 17 program was too good to pass up on as he averaged 16.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. The team’s inaugural season in the Under Armour circuit, Splash City made it to the championship game. Milstead says about the summer season, “Being the first year for Splash City and playing on the UA Circuit was a lot of fun and we did really well as a team in the spring as well in the summer. I feel like we put Splash City on the map and set the bar for the organization going forward.”

Coach Frank Knight provides an anecdote of Milstead’s toughness, “When Damari was a freshman and we were playing Salesian in the NCS D-4 championship game he sprained his ankle pretty bad at the end of the third quarter. Salesian started to pull away in the fourth while he was out and he was adamant on returning. After our trainer taped him back up, he walks up to me during game and said he is ready to go back in. I asked him was he sure and he said he wanted to be out on the floor with his brothers in this game. He did the same thing last season in the first round of the Open Division playoff against Sheldon. Came back with a partially broke nose, and we cut a 20 point lead to a one possession game with less than one minute remaining. He has an ultimate desire to win.”

Moreau Catholic has the chance to send another four-year starter to a Division I program. Oscar Frayer was a four-year starter who is now with the Grand Canyon Antelopes program of the Western Athletic Conference. In addition from last year’s team, Terrell Brown is at San Jose State, Brandon Lawrence is a preferred walk on at St. John’s, and Armond Simmons is at Columbia College in Southern California. Milstead’s strong summer bolstered his recruiting exposure. In addition, he was invited and attended elite camps during the summer that included Pangos All American Camp (June 3-5), Steph Curry Select 30 Camp (June 28 - July 1), and Under Armour All American Camp (July 5-8).

Knight says about his point guard’s future, “Damari has worked on every one of his deficiencies each summer, tackling one specific one each year and has really made himself a good all around player. I think what he needs to work on most to play immediately at the next level is his speed and athleticism. If he can keep improving his overall speed and agility and his ability to change pace in traffic with the ball, he will be tough to deal with.”

Milstead holds offers from Grand Canyon, Montana, New Mexico, Pacific, Pepperdine, Southern Utah, St Mary's, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, USC, and Wyoming. Schools showing interest include Iowa State, Oregon State, Stanford, Utah, UNLV, and Virginia Tech. As of now, he has official visits scheduled for Wyoming (October 7) and St Mary's (October 14).

Knight says about Milstead’s leadership, “He is like another coach on the floor. The one final piece of development Damari has left at Moreau Catholic is his ability to lead a team. He is a winner. Now, can he lead a team that is younger, not as experienced but oozing with potential? We will learn a lot about his character after this up coming season. I’m excited on what kind of legacy he leaves here at Moreau.”

After working to improve his jump shot during the summer, Milstead will be looking to be more efficient running his team to make a deeper postseason run. His Moreau Catholic roster is young but includes Kyree Walker, Maxwell Anderson, LJ Anderson, and Dvan Molden. Look for Milstead to guide this team as he caps off a successful four-year run with the Mariners in Hayward, Calif.

Article 438: Calcaterra looking to light it up

8/23/2016

Joey Calcaterra has been a proficient scorer throughout his high school years. At Marin Catholic, he averaged 5.8 points as a freshman and 20 points as a sophomore. In a 19-11 season for the Wildcats last year, the shooting guard prospect averaged 27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

Coach Mike Saia considers Calcaterra a unique talent, “In the 6 years of coaching at Marin Catholic, I can’t think of an accurate comparison to Joey. His unique style on the offensive end of explosiveness, body control, toughness in getting to the rim, and mid and deep range shooting is something I haven’t seen, especially from a player with as ‘slight’ of a build that Joey has. He doesn’t have the bulk that many would think of a guy who puts up big numbers, but he is wiry strong, and a very tough kid. Accepts the physicality of the game, and has the concentration to finish.”

Calcaterra came into his freshman season as a lanky scorer but has also evolved his athletic and defensive skills. Over the past summer, he played for the inaugural Splash City team in the Under Armour circuit. The competition from the circuit pushed his play to a new level.

According to Calcaterra, “Playing against Trevon Duval and Jalek Felton forced me to really work on my defense and quickness because while playing in front of over 75 college coaches every game, I couldn’t have any weaknesses on the court. I'm being recruited as a player who can score as well as handle the ball. All the schools I've talked to are looking for scorers and ball handlers and I feel like I can take on that role at the next level.”

This strong showing of his overall and comprehensive basketball and athletic skill set increased his recruiting status. Pacific, San Diego, San Francisco, Stetson University, and UC Davis have offered while he has decided on his official visits to be Pacific, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and UC Davis. During his junior year of high school and club basketball, over 30 schools contacted him with varying levels of interest with the most recent being Davidson, Hofstra, seven Ivy League schools (out of eight), Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Southern Utah, and UC Santa Barbara.

Coach Saia says about what his star guard needs to do during his senior year and thereafter, “Continue to get stronger, and that will come over the rest of his high school and college careers. He is very committed to working on his game in the off-season, and that includes weight room and speed work. I don’t believe he is done growing and filling out. And he has to show that he can defend both the PG and SG at the next level. His offense will get him into games, but his defense will keep him in games. He has a very good feel for the game, and is excellent in the open floor. He has offers from excellent schools and basketball programs. Very excited for him and his family.”

The 6-foot-3 and 165 pound Wildcat is working to gain some more pounds and get bigger during the rest of summer. He is also focusing on improving his quickness, ball-handling, and perimeter shot.

Marin Catholic has had win totals of 17, 23, and 19 during Calcaterra’s first three seasons. Coach Saia walks through his own timeline with Calcaterra on his roster, “Biggest difference is his evolution as a leader on this team. He played with his older brother Frankie his first 2 years. Last year and this year, as a captain, he needs to continue working on leading this team. We, as a team, have goals that we want to achieve, and Joey will lead us, both on and off the court. He was our 7th man as a freshman, and has started every game since the beginning of his sophomore year. On the court, he just keeps getting better and better, and much stronger every year. Early in his high school career, he was the recipient of many passes. We expect him this year to be more of a distributor, even though we will be expecting him and need him to get his share of touches.”

Calcaterra muses about his final high school season, “I’m looking to make another run at a NCS Title like my sophomore year as well as a run at state. We didn’t get as far as we wanted to last year so we need to make up for it. Our team is made up of most of my senior class this year so we have experience and we’re looking to have a strong team this year.” The senior captain is looking to light it up again from the hard wood with his Wildcats in Kentfield, Calif.

Article 437: Bibb holds two offers

8/11/2016

The Salesian program overachieved last season with a young but talented roster that finished 28-5 and pushed eventual state runner-up De La Salle into overtime (51-45) in the Open Division. The Pride’s championship run in the NCS Division IV bracket and high profile Open Division matchup helped increase the exposure of 2018 standout, Jamario Bibb. The junior-to-be parlayed that successful regular season into the summer by getting more recruiting attention.

Bibb played previously for the Fresno-based Team Superstars program that evolved into the Splash City program this past summer. The Salesian prospect played with Splash City at the start of the AAU season before switching to the Bay Area Red & Black program to be closer to his home.

Going into the summer, Bibb had a lone offer from San Jose State. After the summer, Bibb put up impressive numbers for his Red & Black club by averaging 15.5 points and 6.7 assists per game while bulking up to 194 pounds to go with his long 6-foot-5 frame. More importantly after the summer, UC Davis made an offer to him while Boise State, Montana, and Yale have been in serious contact.

The Salesian roster was young this past season with nine underclassmen. Bibb averaged 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as the junior will be one of the leaders of the Pride. The deep postseason imparted on Bibb this thought, “I learned that any five that's on the court have to have chemistry, communication, and motor to win.”

Salesian went undefeated in Tri County Rock League that will have other teams to watch that include El Cerrito, St Patrick St Vincent, and St Joseph Notre Dame. Bibb plans to push his Pride as he has a jungle lion mentality, “Eat while you can, you never know when your life can be taken.”

The Salesian rotation has a talented and battle tested bunch that includes James Akinjo, Derrick Langford, and twins Jaden and Jovon McClanahan. Bibb believes that this is a tough minded group that knows how to finish games in another one of his favorite quotes, “Players play, tough minded players win.”

The Pride may have snuck up on some teams, as they were labeled young and inexperienced. Opponents will have Salesian circled on their scheduled this upcoming season. The new sets of challenges should not intimidate Bibb as he looks to parlay a successful summer with his upcoming junior season for the Pride in Richmond, Calif.

Article 435: McClanahan twins pace the Pride

5/12/2016

In the past twelve years under Bill Mellis, Salesian has won 315 games (26.25 average, 34 high, and 19 low). The Pride outperformed expectations this past season by going 28-5 and undefeated in the Tri-County Rock League. The roster had nine underclassmen including freshman twins, Jaden and Jovon McClanahan.

The twins are 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds as Jaden averaged eight points, five rebounds, and five assists while Jovon averaged sevn points, six rebounds, and five assists. The brothers play both guard positions and are interchangeable in either guard position or with each other.

Mellis believes that the duo has potential for improvement, “Both Jaden and Jovon enjoyed success as freshmen. Jaden started for us and Jovon came off the bench. As far as next year and in the future, I could see either or both of them starting for us, if they continue to progress and develop their skills. They could certainly be on the court at the same time, keeping in mind that we have numerous other players who will be returning. For us, it is not a matter of who starts or who plays the most minutes, it is a matter of making sure that you play hard and unselfishly while you are on the court, and both of them are great examples of this.”

In the recent Nor Cal Spring Showcase, the twins played an attacking style on both sides of the court. Their skill set and activity look seamless as they both disrupt the backcourt and on the full court press. On offense, the twins can attack the rim and but also looked comfortable in distributing on offense.

The twins played for Team Superstar last summer for the first time before transitioning to the Under Armour Splash City 15U program (run by the same Team Superstar coaches). The Under Armour Association stops in Los Angeles next during Memorial Day weekend. The Salesian pair will be at that event before playing a couple of local tournaments and concluding the summer in Las Vegas.

This past year’s Salesian team had its tallest player listed at 6-foot-5 as the Pride played a multi guard set that allowed the brothers to hone their skill set and versatility. In addition, both were on the junior varsity football team as Jaden was the quarterback while Jovon was both at running back and at linebacker. Both plan to go out for the varsity football team next season.

The Salesian program has produced several Division I prospects as Mellis sees that for the McClanahans, “As far as their future in college is concerned, I believe that both of them will be recruited fairly heavily at the Division I level. They are attractive to college coaches because they play extremely hard and they both have a tremendous work-ethic. Specifically, Jaden is a good defender and ball handler, and Jovon is a good shooter and ball handler. Because of their desire to get better, I know that they will improve in the areas that need work and they will become very good all-around players.”

The brothers expect to top out at 6-foot-2, which is a very serviceable height for a college level point guard. Jaden, who is older by one minute and more social, has a 3.57 freshman GPA while Jovon is at a 3.27 GPA. They want to play for a college system that is up-tempo in nature.

Jaden says, “Playing with my brother is a true blessing because we know where each other are on the court on the defensive end, I don't have to tell him anything because we can just read each other’s minds.” They want to play together at the college level. Jovon says, “We have a signal that we made in 6th grade, and it's like a click-click type of sound. When we make that signal to each other, we can read each other's mind. So, he knows what I want him to do or what he wants me to do.”

In the TCAL, Salesian went undefeated in a league that has been historically dominated by El Cerrito. The Pride defeated El Cerrito three times this past season, each victory by five points or less. The Pride’s dominance led them to an opening round overtime defeat (51-45) to eventual State runner up De La Salle in the Open Division. Salesian’s quick growth allowed Jaden to win Freshman of the Year in the North Coast Section in basketball.

The Pride jumped from 19 wins to 28 wins in this past year. Salesian returns the twins plus a talented roster including James Akinjo, Jamario Bibb, and Derrick Langford. Look for the Pride to make a run at 30 wins and a state title with the McClanahan twins in Richmond, Calif.

Article 430: Fadal running wild with Mustangs

1/24/2016

Since Nick Jones took over Monte Vista in 2012-2013, the program has had season win totals of 20, 32, and 27. In the current 2015-2016 season, the Mustangs are 14-3 and look to be on pace with the previous seasons’ win totals. A big reason for this year’s success has been the play of transfer combination guard, Austin Fadal.

The former Dougherty Valley standout transferred to Monte Vista as his family moved to Danville during the summer. Jones said about the transition period, “Austin has transitioned very well into Monte Vista. I still think that everybody is learning how to play together and his teammates are learning his strengths and he is learning theirs as well. He had to play point guard early in the season (he has never played PG before) due to injuries and that was an adjustment for him but things on our team have resolved themselves and he is only playing the point about half the game now.”

As a junior, Fadal has been averaging 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while making 50 percent of his 3-point shots (33-of-66 shooting). Six of the Mustang victories have been by more than nineteen points. As a result, player minutes are spread out more evenly through both the first and second rotations.

Jones had a successful stint at Castro Valley High where he developed several college level prospects. Talking about Fadal’s abilities, Jones said, “Austin really has knack for scoring. He has a tremendous first step and can really get to the rim. He has been a consistent 3-point shooter as well.”

This year’s East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) may be a two team race between Monte Vista and De La Salle. As Fadal gels with his teammates, Jones wants to see his junior improve in certain areas as well. “We are pushing him everyday in practice to become an outstanding defender, both on-ball and off the ball. I think he has the skill set to be an excellent defender who is getting 3-5 steals a game.”

During the summer, Fadal will continue to play with Team Superstar in the Under Armour Association. Fadal felt that his previous summer helped him improve most in his ball handling, shooting accuracy, explosiveness to the basket, shooting off the dribble, and playing the combo guard position. Fadal currently sports a 3.20 GPA.

The programs that are either in contact with him or have seen him in open gym practices include Montana, Nevada, San Jose State, St. Mary’s, UC Irvine, San Francisco, and Weber State. Aside from his AAU and high school basketball involvement, Fadal trains with Teohn Conner and Kelvin “KP” Potts.

The 2014-2015 EBAL regular season ended with Monte Vista and De La Salle tied at 12-2 while San Ramon Valley was 11-3. The 2013-2014 EBAL regular season had Monte Vista at the top at 13-1 while De La Salle and San Ramon Valley were 11-3. Expect the current EBAL season to be a wild scramble to the top as Fadal runs wild with the Mustangs in Danville.

Article 427: Bibb leads Salesian Pride

1/5/2016

Salesian has nine underclassmen on their roster of twelve. Despite the youth, the Pride have started the season 9-4 and are ranked No. 15 in NorCal.

One of the underclassmen making his mark is Jamario Bibb, the No. 8 player in the 2018 Top 20. Bibb is a long, athletic wing that will be the focal point on Salesian for years to come.

For a Salesian team that has its tallest player listed at 6-foot-5, the 6-foot-4 Bibb is expected to help with post defense and rebounding even though his natural position will be at wing or shooting guard on the next level. During the summer, the sophomore played for the Team Superstars 15U program. Bibb plays with a high motor, is always in attack mode, and competes at a high level.

Team Superstars 15U Coach Grady Dodson says, “Jamario plays bigger than he is. Slashes to the bucket with force. He loves to rebound and block shots. Jamario is an animal on the court. High motor for playing (helps that he plays football). He fears no one. He is a proven leader on and off the court.”

Team Superstar 15U ended their AAU season with a 30-4 record beating the Oakland Soldiers 15U team twice (once for the Memorial Day Championship) and Earl Watson 15U (fellow Under Armour Team) as well as another 20 plus teams while capturing three of the six championships that the team played during the past summer.

Without a doubt, the summer team was led by Bibb. The Salesian prospect already has high interest from several schools including Boise State, Cal, and Nevada while San Jose State has offered.

As a local prospect, Bibb will initially get interest from the Big West, Mountain West, and West Coast (WCC) conference teams. As he matures and grows his body and skill set, he will garner more Pac 12 and even national interest.

The Pride finished 19-11 overall and 5-5 in league play last year. Salesian is the lone team from the Tri County Rock League ranked in the current NCP Top 20 rankings. Look for the Pride to challenge for league with Bibb in Richmond, Calif.

Article 426: Langford leading the Pride back

December 2, 2015

After seven straight 20 plus win seasons, Salesian fell back to earth with a 19-11 record last season. The Pride lost two seniors from that squad but return a plethora of talented underclassmen including sophomore Derrick Langford.

The 6-foot-2 combination guard has room to grow as he plays similarly to former Ohio State Buckeye D'Angelo Russell. Langford is a floor general who facilitates for his teammates but has the ability to score with his dribble. During the past summer, Langford was travelling with Team Superstar 15U on the Under Armour circuit.

Team Superstar Coach Kellan Carter says, "Derrick's best strength is scoring. He is very shifty with his dribble and attacks the basket very well. Also has a great shooting touch. Made seven 3s in one game this summer. On the court, he is very poised. He is a very good teammate and I always could count on him to get the team back on the right track. Whether we needed a basket or somebody to make a play, he stepped up."

By all accounts, Langford is a humble and easygoing type of student. He considers math to be his subject and wants to major in Sports Science. He is looking for a program that can help him maximize his playing abilities while winning some games.

The schools that have expressed interest in Langford have primarily been on the west coast in the Pac-12, Big West, Mountain West, and WCC conferences. The Salesian program has produced several Division I level prospects recently including guards like Mario Dunn (Montana) and Markel Leonard (Cal Poly, Lewis and Clark).

Coach Carter has high hopes for Langford, "At the next level, I think he will become a great PG. His size is very good for the position and his decision making improved greatly over the summer. He will be a great play maker and a great leader. Derrick was by far my most consistent player this summer. His recruiting should sky rocket this year."

El Cerrito went undefeated in the Tri County Rock League last season but the Gauchos lost half their roster due to graduation or transfer. Salesian has great depth in the backcourt that includes Langford, fellow sophomore Jamario Bibb, and senior Brandon Mcghee. Look for the Pride to be back in the mix with Langford in Richmond, Calif.

Article 422: Kone Moving to Corvallis

August 13, 2015

Making progress and moving ahead are standards that every individual tries to achieve in any endeavor undertaken. The metrics can be either empirical or statistical. In the case of Archbishop Mitty's Ben Kone, his advancement can be clearly explained and measured by either method as the power forward prospect has committed to Oregon State.

As a freshman, the 2016 prospect was playing across the bay at Richmond based Salesian College Prep. His playing time and statistics were minimal as he was playing on a senior laden team led by current Cal wing Jabari Bird and current Montana guard Mario Dunn (Beaver head coach Wayne Tinkle was previously the head coach at Montana at the time of Dunn's recruiting). The experience of practicing against Division I level talent at Salesian helped set the standard for Kone during his high school career.

As a sophomore, Kone transferred to Mitty due to his mother's employment situation. The Monarchs were coming off the graduation of current NBA forward, Aaron Gordon. Replacing Gordon was no small feat as Mitty went 27-5 with senior guards leading the way in Kone's first season with the Monarchs. He averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists.

As a junior, the 6-foot-9 and 240 pound prospect was expected to be the leader. Kone did not disappoint, as Mitty were California CIF State Division II runner up in a 20-11 season. The Monarch program was breaking in new guards and had high level prospects in sophomore transfer Sebastian Much and freshman Riley Grigsby but Kone was the focal point as he averaged 20.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks.

Kone had visited Corvallis in mid-June and the current week. He pulled the trigger on the decision as he says, "My decision to select Oregon State really boiled down to the coaching staff and the overall culture on campus. I really feel like with hard work I can become a better player, a better student, and grow in to a good man there. I appreciate all of the offers and opportunities I had from other programs and I was really fortunate to have comparisons. Every program had their great points. I had to pick the place where I felt like it was the best fit for me personally. Oregon State was the opportunity that I knew all the support and coaching was in place for me to be successful and the rest would be up to me."

The current Beaver roster has a Bay Area flavor with former Berkeley High and Oakland Soldier, Langston Morris Walker, and Gary Payton II, son of the former local basketball star with the same name. Both Walker and Payton II are graduating seniors. The incoming Oregon State recruiting class features six freshmen including two sons of the coaching staff, Stephen Thompson Jr. and Tres Tinkle. Oakland Soldiers teammate and 2016 prospect Jordan Ford has the Beavers in his final three in the same recruiting class as Kone. Kone forecasts his potential role as a freshman, "Right now, it looks like I will play a 3/4 role, but I will do whatever the coaches and team needs. I'm all in."

Corvallis is a city with over 55,000 in population and is often found on the list of best college towns. The city is close knit and considered to have a dynamic intellectual environment. The trips to Corvallis made Kone feel as such, ""I've never been anywhere where the people are as genuinely nice as in Corvallis. I'm not just talking about on campus. Just in daily life at the store or the gas station, the people are nice. It's a great town."

Tinkle who is 6-foot-10 and 233 pounds played at Montana and coached at Montana (head coach for eight years). He will be going into his second year as the head coach at Oregon State. Kone says about the coaching staff, "We (Kone's mother Kristy and Ben) came on our second visit to commit in person. I knew that I wanted to play for Coach Tinkle and wanted to tell him in person. Coach Gottlieb was my main recruiting contact and is a great guy. About six months ago, Coach Tinkle jumped in as well and has been personally involved. I feel like I have a great relationship with all the coaches and can't wait to play for them. Coach Tinkle is not only a great coach, but a great person and a mentor. I have an enormous amount of respect for him."

The Monarch program has always had solid academics and athletics. As a result, Oregon State's basketball plus its academics made Kone say, "I am very interested in Brand Marketing and Communications, but haven't officially decided on a major yet. OSU academics and facilities stood out to me. Not only are they top notch, the staff in every department is approachable and knowledgeable."

Before Kone makes the move up to Corvallis, look for him in the upcoming season to help the Monarchs move up in San Jose, Calif.

Article 421: Duplechan gives Huskies hope

August 10, 2015

The Sheldon basketball program has gone through a roller coaster the past few seasons that can match the ride of their point guard, Elishja Duplechan. After four consecutive 24 plus win seasons, the Huskies have had recent disappointments that include an eight-win season two years ago, a one point lost in the section finals this past season, and a first round playoff upset to Berkeley High in NorCals also during this past season.

Similarly, the No. 12 player in the NCP 2017 basketball class was considered one of the rising middle school prospects three years ago but had to sat out his freshman year due to undue influence and had to endure the postseason defeats during his sophomore campaign.

Duplechan is a 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds point guard who averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in his sophomore campaign with Sheldon. During the summer, Duplechan is playing for Team Superstar, which is an elite program in the Under Armour Association.

Team Superstar Coach Grady Dodson says, "Elishja is an explosive point guard who not only can score the ball but takes joy in getting other players involved. If he is not throwing the alley-oop or hitting a 3, he is taking pride in playing 90 feet of defense on the other teams point guard. With his speed and footwork, he causes a major disruption while the other team is trying to run their offense.

Duplechan started playing AAU in the 5th grade but was on the recreational league scene earlier that garnered an offer from Josh Pastner and the Memphis program. His basketball abilities earned him a spot on the varsity roster at Sheldon but undue influence forced him to sit out his freshman year. He practiced with the team but could only sit idle as the team went 8-18. Playing at full strength with Duplechan, the Huskies went 21-8 but the postseason ended with disappointments.

During the last viewing period in Las Vegas, Duplechan displayed a complete game on both ends. He was able to score from all over the court while facilitating and directing the offense. Defensively, he disrupted the opponent's rhythm.

Pacific, Sacramento State, San Francisco (plans unofficial visit), Stanford, and Weber State have expressed in interest. Per Duplechan, he has not heard much from Memphis after their initial offer and he attributes that to his not playing AAU basketball during his 8th grade year. He currently has a 3.66 GPA, considers Math or Science as his best subject, and wants to major in Business Management.

Look for the Huskies to rebound in the fall with Duplechan in Sacramento, Calif.

Article 420: Smooth as Jadé

August 8, 2015

Prior to last year's 17-16 mark, St. Joseph Notre Dame had had six consecutive 24 plus win seasons. For the Pilots to return to that win total, they will need to be as smooth as Jade Smith.

The No. 4 ranked player in the NCP 2017 basketball class averaged 11.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in his sophomore campaign. Smith has been playing basketball since the 5th grade and has been a varsity contributor since his freshman year.

Smith is one of the top prospects in his Northern California class and can raise his visibility and stock on the national level while playing with Under Armour league member, Team Superstar, during the summer season.

Team Superstar Coach Grady Dodson says, "Jadé's strengths are his command of the game, ability to control the flow, and making his teammates better. He is like another coach on the floor."

As a sophomore, Smith's Pilot went 3-7 in the competitive Tri-County League. The 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds prospect has ideal point guard height, size, and quickness. On the court, he allows the game to flow naturally to him, as he does not force the issue. His size and length helps him to gather rebounds and to be disruptive on perimeter defense.

Coach Dodson's thoughts of him at the NCAA level, "He is going to be a high major player. Jadé is a complete player. He has a high Basketball IQ, has a driven motor, and is a true point guard who can score."

These strong basketball attributes have not gone unnoticed. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico State, and San Diego State have offered Smith while Cal, Fresno State, and San Jose State are on the radar.

Smith overcame a kneecap injury from February to play solidly on the Under Armour circuit with the Team Super 16U club this past summer. Smith currently has a 3.20 GPA and considers Science to be his best subject, as he wants to major in Sports Medicine.

Watch for the Pilots to be running smoothly in the fall with Smith in Alameda, Calif.

Article 414: Ben Kone Update

July 21, 2015

Peach Jam just concluded with the Oakland Soldiers finishing a disappointing 1-4 record without advancing to the quarterfinals. But one of the key members of this past summer's team is Ben Kone, who is looking to finish the summer strong in Las Vegas this upcoming week as the Soldiers will compete in both the Bigfoot Las Vegas Classic and the Chris Paul Jordan 8 Tournament.

The Archbishop Mitty senior helped his Monarchs to a 20-11 season that ended in a double overtime loss in the CIF State Division II finals. The 6-foot-10 and 240 pound power forward averaged 20.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game during the season and shot 58 percent during his junior campaign. In his final three playoff games, he averaged 25 points and 18.7 rebounds.

As a junior, Kone was the focal point on both the offensive and defensive ends for the Monarchs. He feels that the attention that he got from opposing teams helped him develop his game and leadership, "Having the opportunity to play in a league against guys that go hard every game has really pushed me to be better. There are no easy baskets or rebounds. At Mitty, we all need to support each other as a team in order to succeed and I do everything I can to support my teammates on and off the court. Together we can be great."

The No. 2 prospect in the 2016 NCP rankings has garnered interest from Arizona (Coach Pasternack), UNLV, and Oregon (Coach Stubblefield) while receiving six offers from Auburn, Cal, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Oregon State, and San Diego State.

Mitty Head Coach Tim Kennedy, who played at Loyola Marymount at the college level, says, "Ben makes a good division I prospect because he has shown how dominant he can be on the high school level. He has elite strength and athleticism with a desire to improve that resonates with college coaches. He has the ability to dominate a game from the offensive and defensive end."

Kone's current top four is Auburn, Cal, Oregon State, and San Diego State in no particular order. He has these comments about these programs and the coaches that he has been in contact.

Auburn, Coach Pearl
"The opportunity to play in the SEC which is a physical league and against schools like Kentucky would be huge. Coach Pearl and I just started talking and I really like him."

Cal, Coaches Webster and Martin
"Coach Martin and his staff have created an amazing family atmosphere. They have done a great job recruiting top players. Being close to home and having friends already on the team is a big pull."

Oregon State, Coaches Gottlieb and Tinkle
"I love the entire coaching staff and everyone I met at Oregon State. When I think about who I want to become as a player, I know that there I would have all the support and guidance I need to be successful. Their plans to develop me and the entire team are solid. It would be an opportunity to be a part of something really special."

San Diego State - Coaches Velasquez and Fisher
"The coaching staff has a great history of success and I fit well within their style of play. Of course the location is great, but I was most impressed with the Aztec fans. They are focused on winning and loyal to their players. It would be fun to play there."

After playing for the Oakland Soldiers 16U Elite club most of last summer, Kone moved up to the Oakland Soldiers 17U Elite club for the event in Las Vegas at the end of last summer and going into this summer. Peach Jam in South Carolina is considered one of the elite summer events that feature many of North America's top prep talent while attracting all the major college programs.

During the EYBL regular season, Kone averaged 9.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. At Peach Jam, he averaged 10.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. His overall EYBL shooting percentage was 56 percent while at Peach Jam he shot just over 60 percent.

Kone's experience playing on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit helped him grow in his words, "My teammates, the coaches, and the entire Oakland Soldiers organization are like family to me. I've been with them since the 7th grade when they told us that the odds were that maybe one of us would make the 17u EYBL team. I was the one that made it. I thought about that before every game. I have worked hard over the years and things haven't come easily. To be able to take on the best players in the country with my Soldiers family behind me has been a great experience. Every game I learned something and it's made me a better all around player."

Kone wants to make his decision early fall so that he can make the most of his senior year and keep focused on academics. He is working hard on his ball handling and shooting to help his Monarchs make a run to the California State Open Division Championship.

Coach Kennedy continues, "After having Ben for two years, the three things he has improved the most are his footwork, his shooting and his ability to defend multiple positions. All of these are related to the fact he has been able to transform his body and has become more committed to the weight room and his nutrition program. We want Ben to continually improve his ball handling for his senior year and ability to deal with double teams. His decision making and passing will be key to our success."

As the summer ends, watch for Kone (note about pronunciation of last name is "Ko-nay" and not "Cone" as in ice cream cone) to continue going strong for the Monarchs in San Jose, Calif.

Article 413: Fadal moving to EBAL

July 17, 2015

Dougherty Valley High School started in 2008 and the basketball program has shown consistent improvement year over year. But the Wildcats will be without the services of Austin Fadal after the 2017 prospect made the decision to transfer to Monte Vista of the East Bay Athletic League in May. The family is moving to Danville (NCS decision pending).

As a sophomore, Fadal helped the Wildcats to a 16-10 record as he averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. The 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds prospect has been part of the Visalia based Team Superstar program as he is playing a level up on the 16U club.

Team Superstar Coach Grady Dodson says, "Austin is a tough player, a bit of a throwback. He is a great slasher and finisher around the rim. Austin also has great defense. He plays chest to chest physical D that disrupts offensive players. Austin is a bull dog with a mean streak when he steps on the court."

Monte Vista went 27-4 last year and play in the competitive EBAL with rival league members, De La Salle and San Ramon Valley. During the summer, Fadal has been playing with Team Superstar in the Under Armour Association, which makes stops in New Orleans, Louisville, New York, and Atlanta.

Either the Team Superstar coaching staff or Austin has been in contact with Cal, Cal Poly SLO, Montana State, Nevada, Pacific, Portland, Portland State, San Jose State, UC Irvine, and Weber State.

Coach Dodson says, "Austin is going to be a solid college player. If he puts the work in the gym on his 3 ball and mid range jumper, then he will have mid to high level college offense to go with his D. Austin reminds me of another Team Superstar alumni, Roderick Bobbitt of Castro Valley, who is currently entering his senior year at Hawaii. Both are tough physical guards who like contact and do not mind rolling off the sleeves to get dirty."

The 2017 prospect has been playing organized basketball since 1st grade and has been a starter since his freshman year. Fadal's go to move on offense is his pull up jumper as his offensive game is a finesse style. During the offseason, he has been working hard on his ball handling and defense. Fadal currently has a 3.40 GPA and considers Chemistry and Creative Arts to be his best subjects.

Watch for the Mustangs to be on the move in the fall with new transfer Fadal in Danville, Calif.

Article 411: Lawrence Bulldogs full ride

June 30, 2015

He can't make it official under the auspices of the NCAA until early November but Brandon Lawrence has made his college call and it will be Fresno State University.

The NCP No. 17 prospect in the 2016 class went with the Mountain West Conference Bulldogs this past weekend for multiple reasons. "It's a great conference and the best opportunity for me. I have a good relationship with Assistant Coach Byron Jones (the recruiting coordinator) and got to know Coach [Rodney] Terry on my visit." Terry is the fifth-year head coach whose team notched a 10-8 won-loss league record in 2014-15 and won 21 games overall the year before.

Moreau Catholic Coach Frank Knight believes that this is a good fit for his 6-foot-3 shooting guard. "I think Brandon will fit well at Fresno State. The Mountain West is a good basketball conference especially on the west coast. Anytime you get to go up against UNLV, San Diego State, Nevada and New Mexico twice a year, then it's a highly competitive conference. Brandon is known for his shooting ability but Fresno will play him as a combo-guard. Brandon will be called upon to shoot the ball and to run the club. I think that was the biggest reason he felt that Fresno was the right fit for him."

Knight has also worked with his senior during the summer and says, "Brandon worked on his shot release and quickness getting his shot off. He also worked on his ball handling skills to better prepare him for his role as both shooting and lead guard. I have witnessed him get stronger, be more athletic and defend better. These were his focuses when we had our end of the year meetings after the season. Brandon really took a step forward in all of the categories we asked him to."

It was a full family vetting process as Lawrence explained. "My parents did the research on the schools I was considering and I explored the basketball side. I feel excited with a little bit of relief."

What was also beneficial in getting to yes is that Fresno State has three senior guards, the top scoring trio on the squad, who will be departing after this coming season.

So what will Bulldog fans be seeing from Lawrence? "I'll bring energy, be a good teammate and do everything coach asks me to do. I can knock down shots and also create."

As for a major, it's between civil engineering, philosophy and a new possibility, music technology. Eligibility should be no issue as Lawrence sports a 3.8 grade point average.

But before college, Lawrence still has his senior year with Moreau Catholic to complete. Knight sees these areas of improvement needed. "I think the remaining things he needs to work on, and what we will address this pre-season and season are his strength and speed. For him to be a major contributor right away, Brandon will need to really focus on building his body and his strength. I think this will help him with preventing nagging injures and allow him to go up against bigger shooting guards and wings. Brandon is working on his lateral quickness and his quick-twitch motor reflexes. This will allow him to guard smaller and faster point guards but still have the explosiveness and athleticism that he already possesses."

Lawrence is coming off a season where he averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals each Moreau Mariner contest alongside at least three other teammates who will also go D1.

Moreau finished 14-0 in the Mission Valley Athletic League in 2014-15 and 23-7 overall. Coming off hosting a high school tournament this past weekend, Lawrence offered, "we're looking really good, everything's clicking."

Lawrence wished to thank "first of all God, my parents who have always been there for me, Coach Knight who made me a better player and Oakland Rebels Coach Ray Young who motivated me and pushed me."

Article 407: The next Cougar standout

April 7, 2015

Capital Christian has been churning out 25+ win seasons for the past four years. The next few years also look bright for the Cougars as freshman Zachary Chappell was a key contributor in the state title game where they lost to Crespi. The 2018 prospect averaged 10.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest.

The 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds prospect has been part of the Visalia based Team Superstar program and will play a level up on the 16U club this upcoming summer. Team Superstar Program Director Lerohn Dodson says, "Zach is a big, strong, physical athletic guard. He has a great feel for the game on court. He is a high major guard. He has a John Wall type game with great size and is very explosive. Sky is the limit for Zach. I believe he's the one of the best PG in the country for his class."

Capital Christian has been churning out Division I level prospects the past few years that have included Nifae Lealao, DJ Wilson, and Justice Shelton-Mosley. Chappell will be the returning leading 3-point shooter for the Cougars. Chappell uses an effective crossover to create space for his perimeter shots or to take the ball to the basket.

The 2018 prospect has been playing organized basketball for over ten years and was a freshman starter on this past year's Cougar program. Chappell also competes in soccer but expects basketball to be his sport on the next level. Chappell will team with his older brother, 2016 wing Ryan Chappell, for another year to make another run at state.

During the upcoming season, Chappell plans on working on his jump shot. His Team Superstar 16U club will be participating in the Under Armour Association, which will have stops in New Orleans, Louisville, New York, and Atlanta.

Team Superstar Coach Grady Dodson says, "Zach has a good feel for the game has good basketball IQ and an understanding of offense and defense of sets Zach can finish at the rim along with knocking down the mid range and three point shot. With that athletic frame and ability, Zach has all the potential to be a high major kid."

Capital Christian had another great season finishing runner up in state. Watch for the Cougars to be on the prowl in the fall with Chappell leading them in Sacramento, Calif.

Article 399: Verhoeven on the loose

December 17, 2014

For Northern California basketball fans, the last name Verhoeven should sound familiar recently. The Stanford Cardinal roster includes junior center Grant Verhoeven who is from the Hanford area as he prepped at Central Valley Christian High. Further north at Manteca High, the Buffaloes have a Verhoeven of their own in sophomore, Tydus Verhoeven.

Manteca was the runner up in the Valley Oak League (VOL) last season with a 19-9 overall record (10-4 league). As a freshman, Verhoeven was the sixth man as he averaged nine points, seven rebounds, and six assists per contest. In the current season through seven games, he has been quite effective, averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks.

Most of the past Verhoevens who have played basketball had positions in the post. Verhoeven is related to second cousin, Grant Verhoeven, as Tydus' mother is a cousin of Grant's father. Grant's father, 6-foot 9 Peter Verhoeven, played collegiately at Fresno State and then competed professionally for the Portland Trailblazers. Kenneth Wooten is another cousin (through their fathers) who is a 6-foot-8 post on the same Manteca team.

This Buffalo has post size at 6-foot-8 and 192 pounds but expects to be a guard at the next level. He compares his game to both Magic Johnson and Kyle Anderson who are taller point guards with good vision and feel for the game.

During the past summer, Verhoeven competed with the Team Superstar program based in Fresno. Team Superstar Coach Lerohn Dodson started the program in 1997 with the goal and mission to help local talented high school basketball players in Central and Northern California to gain exposure to the college recruiting system. This was Verhoeven's first year with the program as he had been with the Manteca Wildcats for the previous four summers.

Dodson comments on Verhoeven's strengths, "At 15 years old, being a 6'8 wing with his skill set and basketball IQ make him special. He is a very smart player who very seldom hurts his team. Can impact a game without scoring. Very good passer, also a really good rebounder and shot blocker."

Verhoeven competes on the football and track and field teams as well but plans to only play basketball in college. He considers his best play to be the pick-n-roll, which creates space and provides options for him to pass or to shoot. He is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the court that his coach may need him. He prefers facing the basket as he is an unselfish player.

Coach Dodson believes Verhoeven will be a major prospect, "Reminds me of DJ Wilson, who is now at Michigan. Might even be more skilled than DJ was at this age. Sky is the limit with Tydus. If he ends up being a 6'10 wing, there won't be too many kids in the country with his size, length and skill set when it's all said and done. He is big time in the classroom. His academics will open up many doors for him. His mom was a former student athlete (played basketball at Fresno State) and works in the education field so academics come first in that household."

Despite only being a sophomore, Verhoeven has an offer from Fresno State. In addition, he has made unofficial visits to Cal (Coach Hufnagel), Cal Poly SLO (Coach Fortier), Fresno State (Coach Terry), San Diego State (Coach Hutson), and UCLA (Coach Grace). His freshman GPA was 3.50 as he considers History to be his best subject and he would like to major in Sports Management.

Manteca has started this young season at 6-1. Watch for the Buffaloes to be on the loose with Verhoeven leading them in Manteca, Calif.

Article 398: Wooten leads Buffaloe herd

December 10, 2014

Manteca was the runner up in the Valley Oak League (VOL) last season with a 19-9 overall record (10-4 league). With the addition of athletic 6-foot-8, 205 pound center Kenneth Wooten, the Buffaloes are looking to be the top herd in the VOL this upcoming season.

The junior transfer had been playing for Stagg in Stockton his first two years with his sophomore year being on varsity with 10 wins. As a sophomore at Stagg, Wooten averaged eight points, nine rebounds, one assist, and five blocks per contest. The 2016 prospect will be teamed with his cousin, Tydus Verhoeven, to establish a formidable frontcourt for Manteca.

During the past summer, he competed with the Team Superstar program based in Fresno. Team Superstar Coach Lerohn Dodson started the program in 1997 with the goal and mission at the time to help local talented high school basketball players in central and Northern California to gain exposure to the college recruiting system.

Dodson comments on Wooten's strengths, "His freakish athleticism! Kenny has done things in games that have made me say WOW, did he just do that. He's a natural shot blocker and can control the glass."

Wooten competes on the track and field team as well but plans to only play basketball in college. He considers his style of play to be a combination of finesse, craftiness, and athleticism with plus shot blocking abilities.

Coach Dodson believes the best is yet to come from Wooten, "While still raw offensively, his game has improved drastically over the past 6 months. He's starting to see what his potential is on the court. His hunger and desire to be better is what's going to put him over the top."

Wooten has good size, height, and mobility for his grade level. With a winning season at Manteca and another summer with Team Superstar, he should garner more collegiate interest. Currently, Cal Poly SLO (Coach Fortier), Grand Canyon University (Coach Benson), Fresno State (Coach Terry) and Portland (Coach Pfaff) have been in contact. Wooten is still open with his recruiting and has no real geographic preferences. He wants to play for a team that runs an open and spaced offensive scheme to take advantage of athleticism.

Dodson assesses his college potential, "I think he's a solid mid major prospect right now. If his offense catches up to his shot blocking and rebounding, no question high majors will jump onboard. He reminds me of Jordan Bell (LB Poly/Oregon). Attacks the rim on offense and protects on defense."

Wooten will be eligible to play the first week of January after sitting out due to his transfer. He should enable the Buffaloes to make a run for the VOL title. Watch for Wooten to lead the Buffalo herd in Manteca, Calif.

Article 397: Diaz headed for Dominican

November 27, 2014

In the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League (SCCAL) for the past four seasons, the Soquel program has been a mainstay as they have had 43 league wins during that time. A big reason for the basketball success for the Lady Knights has been due to their star guard, Natalie Diaz. As a junior last season, she helped Soquel go 19-10 while averaging 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Diaz will be going into her fourth year of varsity high school basketball as she has been playing competitively for over eleven years. Her 5-foot-11 and 155 pound size has garnered her much attention that she decided last month to commit to Dominican University in San Rafael. Second-year Soquel head coach Kananiomalama Thomas says about Diaz's decision, "The coaching staff is great. They are focused on their student athletes as students first and then athletes. It is a smaller school in a beautiful area. Natalie picked her school not purely on the basketball program but on the academics and campus itself. She knows she can't play basketball forever and wanted to make sure she got a great education first. Playing basketball on a full scholarship is just the result and a perk of the thousands of hours of practice she has dedicated herself to, to achieve a dream of hers."

Diaz characterizes herself as being a slasher as she is comfortable cutting in the paint to get her offensive looks. She also has the physical size to post up, but is also adept at shooting from beyond the arc. Her long arms and plus jumping abilities makes her turn around jumper effective while she is also able to affect opposing offenses with her blocking ability.

Coach Thomas continues, "Natalie is an incredible athlete. There are not many players that can match up to her speed and strength. Like Elena Delle Donne, she is quicker and more agile than most posts that attempt to guard her. If you try to play her on the perimeter, she can slice to the basket and finish over smaller guards. She is an incredible rebounder with a relentless pursuit of the basketball. She will not stop until the ball goes through the hoop. Recently, she has expanded her game to become more consistent from the 3 point line which is just going to make her more deadly this season and in college."

As stated by Coach Thomas, Diaz was looking for a balance in academics and athletics in college. Diaz has 3.62 GPA as her best subject is either Biology or Spanish while she is exploring to major in Physical Therapy, Communications, or Marine Biology. Before making the verbal commitment to Domincan, Diaz also had offers from Cal Poly Pomona (Danelle Bishop), Cal State San Marcos (Crystal Harris), and Sonoma State (Coach Rigby) while Cal State LA (Cassandra Renno), Cal State Eastbay (Kelsie Kruger), Portland University (Brianna Chambers), Northern Colorado (Anna Bateman), and Sacramento State (Coach Baxter) were still communicating.

Coach Thomas opines about Diaz's potential contribution at the college level. "Natalie will excel at the next level. Her versatility as an athlete will allow her to step into almost any position that Dominican Coach LaKose will challenge her with. The PacWest is an excellent and competitive conference. I played for Hawaii Pacific University several years ago and know that those Hawaii schools will keep her on her toes. Though what will make her such a valuable asset to Dominican is her work ethic and coach-ability. She still refuses to leave practice until she's made 10 free throws in a row. Dominican has scored themselves a competitor, who loves playing basketball and who will work and fill whatever role her team needs her to fill to be successful."

During her high school summers, Diaz has competed with the Palo Alto Midnight program. She works heavily on her ball handling as she is a tall guard who plays primarily the post during the school season. Diaz is looking to improve her off hand usage and ball handling during the upcoming season while helping her team win league and CCS. She also competes in track and field in the 4x100, 4x400, high jump, 200 meter, and 400 meter events but will be basketball only at college.

Coach Thomas sums up her 2015 hardcourt leader, "It's hard to put into words what makes a student athlete special. Natalie is starting her senior season 314 points shy of 1000 Soquel points, at which point, she'll join other great Soquel ladies who went on to have successful college careers. She always has a smile on her face, even during a 6AM practice. She is super humble about her abilities, almost to a fault. She has the most unique collection of crazy socks. She is a student of the game, who consistently strives to never stop learning how to improve herself and her team. Her passion for the game and her team is exemplified in her constant hustle, servant leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence. What will give her the ability to thrive on the court and off is her mistake response. Everyone makes mistakes, it is a part of life and especially basketball. What makes special athletes truly stand a part from the rest is not their talent but their ability to respond and animate after a mistake. She plays to make her mistakes irrelevant. She chooses to give life and energy to the situation and her team. Like other great team leaders, her teammates play better when she is with them."

Soquel is a sleepy coastal town in Santa Cruz County. But watch for Diaz to put her Lady Knights back in the basketball limelight in Soquel, Calif.

Article 395: Vanderdoes elevates Hillmen

October 31, 2014

Placer had a 15-13 season that ended in an opening round playoff loss to East Union last season. But the future is bright for the Hillmen as they are led by forward Baylee Vanderdoes. The 6-foot-2 Vanderdoes has been a varsity starter since her freshman campaign as she averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist last season.

The 2016 prospect is a versatile scorer with a consistent perimeter game to go along with a deceptive drop step move in the post. During this past summer, she played for her JBS Basketball club where she worked on improving her perimeter skills to complement her post strength and skills.

Vanderdoes has had the benefit of a supportive family in her athletic endeavors. Her grandfather, Bernard Peat, has been her personal trainer since her 2nd grade. He played collegiately at Cal on the football team while playing basketball professionally in Switzerland 1978-1981, Giessen Germany 1981-1984, Ulm Germany 1985-1989, and Ulm Germany 1990-1994 (both player and coach) in Europe for seventeen years. In addition, Vanderdoes' older brother is Eddie Vanderdoes IV who is a defensive tackle for the UCLA Bruins.

Girls basketball does not have the variance in height and size as the boys game. As a result, being versatile and having multiple skills are highly desired in the girl's game. To no surprise, Vanderdoes has those traits and has been attracting college programs.

Arizona, Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Fresno State, Hawaii, Loyola Marymount, Oregon State, Portland, San Diego, San Diego State, San Francisco, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, and Yale have been in contact. Vanderdoes has had home visits from Cal State Northridge, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, and San Diego State. She has received offers from Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, Loyola Marymount, San Diego State, San Francisco, and UNLV.

She has no favorites in her college selection process but would prefer a family atmosphere while a basketball program that can utilize her post skills and perimeter shooting. Vanderdoes lists Communications or History as her possible college majors.

Placer Head Coach Tony Camillucci sums up his key player, "Baylee has the unique ability to play inside and out. She has great post moves and can also hit the 3-ball with consistency. She can also handle the ball and has become a great a passer. She is becoming a good leader on the court and has a strong competitive attitude. Off the court, she is very funny and easy to be around. She loves to be goofy and laugh. I feel she can and will play at the next level and hope she can get a quality education and enjoy four years of basketball at the same time. Baylee has put in the hours in the off season to deserve the success she will have."

Vanderdoes wants to help Placer to win the Pioneer Valley League and make a run in the postseason. Watch for Vanderdoes in the upcoming season to break out in Auburn, Calif.

Article 394: Bessolo striving for No. 1

October 28, 2014

Valley Christian (Dublin) has gone 58-8 over the past two seasons while being undefeated in the Bay Area Counties (East) League as well. A big reason for the Lady Vikings success has been the play of their 2016 prospect Nina Bessolo.

The two-year varsity starter helped key last season's league tournament title and the team's run to the Northern California quarterfinals. Bessolo primarily plays as forward on her high school team but her 6-foot-0 and 140 pound frame projects her to be a college level wing. That versatility allowed her to average 13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game last year.

During the previous decade, the Lady Vikings were consistent losers on the hardcourt. But this decade has been different, as the team has transitioned from Coach Scott Babinat to Coach Jeff Gadd. Babinat, who coached Bessolo during her first two years says, "Nina is a very good athlete with length. She reads the lanes well on the break and can either fill the lane or direct the break with good finishing skills. She is also able to play inside and outside. As her coach, I had to use her more in the post, but she is fully capable of hitting the outside shots and drive well from the wing, which will be more of her position in college. Her greatest strengths on defense are her rebounding and shot blocking ability - very good timing."

Height and size does not vary in the women's game as much as it does in the men's game. As a result, being versatile and having multiple skills are highly desired in the women's game. Bessolo models her game after Candice Wiggins because the former Stanford Cardinal was apt with her outside shooting and ability to drive to the basket. Similarly, Bessolo is trying to develop a versatile game by finishing with finesse or power.

These qualities in Bessolo have led her to being in contact with Colgate (Justin Paluch), Cornell, Portland (Brianna Chambers) and UC Davis (Jennifer Gross). Even though it is early for her recruiting, she had taken an unofficial visit to UC Davis and liked what she saw. She wants to play for a team where the coach can utilize her size and skills as a freshman. Bessolo sports a 3.25 GPA and is undecided about her college major.

Coach Babinat says, "I know she is getting looks since early last year. She has been playing out of position in high school for what she would play in college, but she is versatile enough to make this transition. She does need to get stronger physically for the college game. She definitely has the ability to compete well at the D-1 level on down."

During the past high school summers, this junior has been playing for her Palo Alto Midnight club where she honed her dribbling, ball-handling, and hesitation moves to help her be a greater offensive threat. In addition, she competes on the high school track and field team primarily in the middle distance running and in the long jump events. Bessolo has been playing basketball since the first grade and considers this sport to be her only college level goal.

Those efforts will slowly transition to her on the court performance as well. Babinat says, "Nina's on court demeanor is quiet. She has been surrounded by older players on the team. So, she has not had to be assertive verbally. As a junior, she could probably start to exercise more assertiveness there, but she has been able to dominate play on the court without being loud."

For many Bay Area, Chicago, and New York City basketball fans, the Bessolo name should sound familiar. Bessolo's uncle is Randy Bessolo who played high school basketball in Southern California for Thacher High, played collegiately at Columbia, coached the high school circuit in Chicago, and is currently coaching at University High in San Francisco.

In addition, Bessolo's parents competed at the collegiate level at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. Her father, Jim, played basketball as a guard and forward while her mother, Nicole, competed in track. As a result, her parental influence has carried on in the sports that she competes currently in high school.

This Lady Viking wants to play harder and smarter while focusing on rebounding and boxing out during her junior season. She hopes all her efforts will help Valley Christian make a run to state. Watch for Bessolo to strive to be the best in the upcoming season in Dublin, Calif.

Article 392: Filipovics to Portland

October 15, 2014

Before even stepping on the court to play a regular season high school game in America, Marko Filipovics made the decision to play for the Portland Pilots next year. The 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds Hungarian import made the move to United States at the end of summer. After playing for the Hungarian U18 national team, he decided to join up the Prolific Prep program in Napa.

Filipovics says about the decision to come to the Bay Area, "I came to the Bay Area because Coach Doherty and Coach Russotti are professionals and that was the perfect opportunity for me to develop my game." He adds about the Portland decision, "I chose Portland because Coach Michael Wolf saw me play on film and at the European championship and then contacted my Hungarian coach."

The current Pilot roster has Northern California alums in Jesuit's Bryce Pressley and Cardinal Newman's Bobby Sharp. But more telling is that the roster has five international transplants including four from the European continent. Hence, Filipovics' Northern California and European pedigree makes him a natural fit for the Portland program.

The 2015 prospect with his size and skills set will remind many of the European style of play for larger players. His signature skill is his shooting but he can also slash to the basket. He is not the traditional a post player as he plays more of a wing position. Filipovics can stretch defenses with his outside shooting.

The Hungarian is from Kaposvar, which is a city in the southwestern part of the country. He last attended Munkacsy Mihaly Gimnazium as the school won their league championship. Despite the proliferation of European players being drafted in the NBA, the only NBA player ever from Hungary was Kornel David who played in the league in the late 1990s.

Filipovics will be attending Vintage High while he plays his first and final year of high school basketball. Fittingly, he will be doing so at the newly formed Prolific Prep program. Watch for this Hungarian import to shine in Napa, Calif.