Article 436: JUCO Jamboree standouts

7/8/2016

The annual NorCal JUCO Summer Jamboree normally fields 18 teams but this year’s edition had a reduced 12 team field. Despite the abridged schedule in San Bruno, 15 college coaches (Fresno State and Portland State in Division I) attended day one of the two-day event. Here are some player updates.

Jovian Cormier 6-foot-5 Wing Heritage (San Joaquin Delta) 2015: Cormier has good size but is still agile with his feet. The Heritage product hit several mid range shots, can create through his dribble, and was not afraid of contact in the paint. When grading on an aggregate of athletic, physical, and basketball skill levels, Cormier was probably the highest rated player on day 1.

Marquel Hodge 6-foot-4 Wing WC Overfelt (De Anza) 2015: Hodge is a good all around scorer. His lateral movement allows him to be a strong defender. He plays strong and helps with rebounding.

Jovontae Carleton 6-foot-4 W El Cerrito (Diablo Valley) 2014: Carleton looks more and more comfortable to make the move to the four year college level competition. He has good size and body control as he is effective in perimeter shooting and can finish on the fast break. The El Cerrito alum is undersized for his wing position and could benefit by improving his ball handling.

Karim Ndiaye 6-foot-9 PF Archbishop Riordan (Marin) 2015: Ndiaye was highly publicized during his high school years as his size was always enticing but knee injuries and inconsistency set him back. At the College of Marin, Ndiaye will be a key contributor going into his second year as his defensive presence with his size and length to make a difference in rebounding and defending the paint. Offensively, he looked for his shot but still needs to refine his post moves and finish more consistently.

Soren Carpenter 6-foot-0 PG Lowell (Skyline) 2015: The Lowell product is a crafty guard that moves efficiently on the court. Carpenter displays a nice perimeter touch and made a few athletic baskets going to the rim. He is a bit undersized on the defensive end and could be overpowered by bigger opponents.

Chris Turner 6-foot-5 Wing Pioneer (De Anza) 2015: Turner is long and athletic but needs to add size for rebounding. The wing product has an accurate perimeter shot but needs improvement on his dribble drive moves.

Jeremiah Alston 6-foot-4 Wing San Lorenzo (Contra Costa) 2015: Alston is long and versatile as he has a good shooting touch. As a freshman, he shot close to 44 percent from 3-point range for Contra Costa. Alston is wiry but could add some bulk.

Rodney Pope 6-foot-1 PG Freedom (Diablo Valley) 2014: Pope is another scoring point guard who is athletic. He moves his feet well on defense. Pope can add some bulk and needs to be more of a floor general by distributing more.

Austin Haro 6-foot-3 SG Manteca (Modesto) 2014: The Manteca product has good size for a shooting guard as it shows in his on ball defense and rebounding. Haro also has a good shooting touch and is strong on his dribble drive attacks.

David Lerma 5-foot-10 PG Jim Elliot Christian (San Joaquin Delta) 2015: Lerma is another undersized point guard but benefits from getting playing time at the JUCO level. A good perimeter shooter who is a scoring point guard and also attacks the basket aggressively. On defense, Lerma moves his feet well and uses his body for leverage.

Jaimon Robinson 6-foot-2 PG Vanden (Marin) 2012: The Vanden prospect is the floor leader for the Marin program. He is a scoring point guard that can score anywhere on the floor. He moves well laterally on defense and uses his size to rebound well.

Dru Solis 6-foot-2 CG Concord (Contra Costa) 2016: Solis looks to be a contributor as a freshman at the JUCO level. The Concord alum is comfortable handling the ball, can create his own offense inside or outside, and has good length at the guard position. To play at the four year level, he could add more bulk.

Eric Nielsen 6-foot-10 Post Dublin (Diablo Valley) 2013: Nielsen was part of some high flying Dublin teams in high school. After high school, Nielsen went the baseball path but had Tommy John and rotator cuff surgeries that ended his career on the mound. Nielsen still has college level height and size but is working himself back into game shape. His offense trails his defense as he rebounds well and is a space eater in the paint.

Article 434: Nor Cal Spring Showcase Day 1

4/23/2016

In April, the college basketball season concludes with a champion while NBA teams begin their playoff passage.  For the high school level, the club season commences with the college evaluation period where NCAA coaches can view future recruits.  Day 1 of the Fifth Annual Nor Cal Spring Showcase at Jamtown in Oakland had five games on each of the four courts.

Here are some players of note on Day 1:

Jaden and Jovon Mcclanahan 5-foot-9 G Splash City 15 (Salesian) 2019: The twins play interchangeably and similarly as they both control the tempo well on offense while being disruptive on the defensive end.  Both can drive and finish well in the paint with contact.  Salesian is young and talented for the next few years.

Kaleb Hedstrom 6-foot-8 West Valley 16 (San Lorenzo) 2019: The sophomore-to-be has good size and footwork.  Hedstrom is a back to the basket player who rebounds well and uses his size for post scoring.

Daniel Bessolo 6-foot-4 Wing Bay Area Warriors Gold (Castro Valley) 2017: The 2017 product is athletic and versatile for size.  He rebounds well and was able to finish around the rim.  Bessolo also competes in track after the basketball season.

Nick Lombardi 5-foot-10 PG Red and Black Basketball 17U (Justin-Siena) 2017: Lombardi is a solid floor leader with a good shot.  The Prolific Prep prospect also displays tenacious perimeter defense.

Miles Tention 6-foot-4 PG Palo Alto Midnight (Palo Alto) 2017: The Palo Alto product has a balanced game as he has good size for a guard as he rebounds well and plays in control.  He has grown almost half a foot in the past year to increase his recruiting stock.

Shemar Morrow 6-foot-4 Wing Oakland Soldiers 15U (Sacramento Country Day) 2020: The current Sacramento middle school product is headed to La Mirada.  Morrow plays with athleticism and strength beyond his age.  If his basketball skills development can match his physical skill level, then Morrow could be a high level recruit.

Tony Covington 5-foot-9 PG Bay Area Warriors Gold (Mt. Eden) 2017: The undersized guard can create on the dribble and finish at the rim.  He has good quickness and directs the team well.

Kyree Walker 6-foot-5 Wing Oakland Soldiers 15U (St. Martin De Porres) 2020: The Hayward native has similar characteristics as Oscar Frayer.  Walker is quite skilled at his age and is a local product to watch in the 2020 class.  He can score inside or outside and has a frame that can evolve well for the college game.

Colby Orr 6-foot-0 PG Red and Black Basketball 17U (De La Salle) 2017: Orr does a little of everything and is a glue guy type of player.  The team focus is consistent with the De La Salle program as Orr dribbles well either hand and is steady at the point guard position.  His perimeter scoring needs to be more consistent.

Notes:

Eric Musselman (Nevada) and Rodney Tention (San Jose State) were in attendance as their sons were competing with their clubs.  Several lower division and junior college coaches were also in attendance.

Brandon McGee 6-foot-3 G KBA Seniors (Salesian) 2016: McGee has several Division II and JUCO offers.  The Salesian product is playing into the summer to see if any other offers come up.

Nikhil Peters 6-foot-4 Wing KBA Seniors (De La Salle) 2016: Another unsigned senior, Peters is a productive guard that can provide instant offense.  His academic status has been squared away and he is playing into the summer seeking additional offers.

Article 423: NorCal versus SoCal

August 24, 2015

The end of August typically signals the start of the next high school academic year. But before the school year goes into full drive, the inaugural California All-Star Classic will be held this Sunday (August 30th) at Las Positas College in Livermore. This two game event will feature 48 of the top boy's basketball prospects from the 2016 and 2017 classes representing both halves of the state. This event provides a unique opportunity to view a large collection of prep basketball talent in one setting in the Northern California area.

Based on the Rivals 150 rankings for each class, the Southern California 2016 and 2017 classes will have six and seven prospects respectively competing while the Northern California 2016 and 2017 classes will have two and zero prospects respectively competing. In addition the combined Southern California rosters have seven prospects taller than 6-foot-9 while the combined Northern California rosters have one prospect.

The Southern California 2016 roster is headlined by national top 15 prospects in UCLA commit Lonzo Ball and recent Arizona de-commit, T.J. Leaf (who also played for the Israeli national team) while the stacked Southern California 2017 roster suffered a late blow with top national prosepct DeAndre Ayton unable to play in the game. He will be replaced by Myles Johnson from Long Beach Poly. The North's 2016 squad will have Cal commit Oscar Frayer and Oregon State commit Ben Kone to counter while the 2017 roster has a plethora of athletic guards and wings including Damari Milstead and Jade Smith.

Ty Nichols of Sierra Canyon will coach the Southern California 2016 team. Sierra Canyon won the Division V state champion this past year and will also have four players in the event. Redondo Union's Reggie Morris will coach the Southern California 2017 roster and will bring two of his players. Lou Richie of the Open Division winning Bishop O'Dowd program will coach the Northern California 2016 team. Brian Botteen of Division I state champion San Ramon Valley leads the 2017 squad, as he is the replacement coach for former De La Salle coach, Frank Allocco (now an assistant coach at the collegiate level with San Francisco).

In addition to Redondo Union (two) and Sierra Canyon (four) in having multiple roster members for the combined South teams, Corona Centennial, Chino Hills, Foothills Christian, and Bishop Montgomery are also sending two players to the event each. The Northern California rosters with multiple high school members of two each include Moreau Catholic, Archbishop Mitty, De La Salle, Immanuel, Sacramento, Manteca, and Sacred Heart Cathedral.

15 of the 24 players from the Southern California teams are attending private schools while the Northern California teams have 14 of their 24 players in private schools. Brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball of Chino Hills are on the South squads while cousins Kenneth Wooten and Tydus Verhoeven are on the North teams.

Many of the players play with and against each other during the high school season and also the summer club season. The Ball brothers play for Big Ballers that is coached by their father and includes a younger brother. Cal Supreme featured Jordan Schakel, Brandon Mccoy, and Devearl Ramsey. Southern California based Compton Magic had Ike Angibogu, Jalen Hill, Jaylen Hands, and Milan Acquaah. The Double Pump program had Colin Slater and Keith Fisher. The Oakland Soldiers 17 roster included the aforementioned Kone, Frayer, and Milstead in addition to Jordan Ford, Christian Terrell, and Solomon Young (also played for the Norcal Wildcats) on the North squads while the South has Ira Lee and Remy Martin. Visalia based Team Superstar had Vittorio Reynoso-Avila and Donovan Mitchell on their 17s team while Darrin Person and Jordan Roberts was on the 16s team.

The 2017 game will be at 1:30pm while the 2016 contest starts at 3:30pm.

Article 419: Vegas champs crowned

July 27, 2015

Sunday was the conclusion of bracket play and the final summer evaluation period. The Lakeshow 16s Elite had one of the more impressive showings from Northern California as they won the Fab 48 16U Diamond Championship. Here are some players of note on Day 5:

Jade Smith 6-foot-2 PG Team Superstar 16 Elite (St Joseph Alameda) 2017: For his grade level, Smith has ideal point guard height and size. He played good on ball defense and has long arms to disrupt passing lanes. Per his club coach, he has nine offers with the most recent ones being Nevada, San Jose State, and San Diego State.

Darne Duckett 6-foot-0 PG Lakeshow 16s Elite (St Joseph Alameda) 2017: Duckett sees the floor well to make his passing effective. He displayed an accurate perimeter shot while not hesitant in taking the ball to the basket and being able to finish. He moves his feet well on perimeter defense. Weber State and San Diego have been in contact.

Jack Wilson 6-foot-11 Center Oakland Soldiers 15 Elite (Serra) 2018: Wilson playing in the 15U tournament is easily one of the biggest and tallest prospects. He labored running up and down the court as his conditioning may not be where it needs to be but he displayed soft hands and a soft touch in the paint. He will have the opportunity at Serra to compete against some challenging post players in the upcoming season.

Ben Kone 6-foot-10 PF Oakland Soldiers 17 Elite (Archbishop Mitty) 2016: Kone held his own during the week as he faced comparable size opponents. His trip to Peach Jam resulted in an offer from Auburn to bring his total offers to six. He probably will be one of the few 2016 prospects to have multiple BCS level offers to choose from with the possibility of being in the rotation as a college freshman due to his versatility as a power forward.

Austin Fadal 6-foot-3 SG Team Superstar 16 Elite (Monte Vista) 2017: For a guard, Fadal has good size and length that allows him to back down smaller defenders or shoot over them. Per his club coach, the most recent contact from colleges has been Montana, Nevada, and Portland.

Shamar Morrow 6-foot-2 Wing Oakland Soldiers 15 Elite (Country Day) 2020: The middle school prospect has advanced skills on both ends of the court. He runs the court well and positions himself well on the fast break or when going after rebounds. He has good length and athleticism that makes the game look more fluid for him.

BJ Standley 5-foot-10 PG Lakeshow 16s Elite (St Patrick St Vincent) 2017: Standley is a pass first point guard but also displayed a consistent shooting touch. He has plus quickness that helps him create space on offense while being disruptive on defense. Pacific is interested as he went to their summer camp.

Khalil Chatman 6-foot-6 F Oakland Soldiers 15 Elite (Franklin) 2018: Chatman showcased primarily post skills in his rebounding and shot blocking abilities. He is thin and wiry but has time to increase bulk and develop his overall skills. The sophomore should benefit from competing with the Soldiers and with Franklin in the Delta League.

Article 418: Vegas: Bracket play

July 26, 2015

Saturday started bracket play with losers going home and the winners extending their stay in Las Vegas into Sunday. Here is a breakdown of the action on Day 4:

Elishja Duplechan 5-foot-10 PG Team Superstar 16 Elite (Sheldon) 2017: In the opening bracket game, Duplechan looked for his shot as a point guard as he hit a few midrange jumpers and went to the foul line by initiating contact. He had a key 3-point make in the second half as he probably accounted for half the team's points. Per his club coach, Pacific has expressed interest.

Dejon Davis 6-foot-7 F Oakland Rebels 17 Red (Oakland Tech) 2016: Davis is slightly undersized to be a power forward. He has good foot movement and plays physical in the post. The Oakland Tech prospect displays a nice midrange game.

Cole Taira 5-foot-10 G E-Time Hoops 17U (Kennedy) 2016: Tiara has a non-stop motor as he plays hard on both ends. He displayed an accurate perimeter touch. Chico State, CSU East Bay, and Sonoma State have shown interest.

Peter Hamilton 6-foot-7 F Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (Central Catholic) 2016: The Central Catholic prospect is a good face up shooter who moves well laterally. He rebounds well for his size. Per his club coach, Chaminade, CSU East Bay, and Point Loma are in contact.

Jordan Ratinho 6-foot-5 SF Lakeshow 17s Elite (De La Salle) 2016: Since Anaheim from last week, his club coach has stated that Oregon State and Utah have stepped it up in their recruiting interest. Ratinho is a versatile scorer but his perimeter shooting is his calling card. Along with teammate Nikhil Peters, De La Salle should be one of the top teams from Northern California in the upcoming season.

Sean Gilmore 6-foot-8 F Bay Area Warriors 17U (University) 2016: Gilmore was the team's most effective player as he filled up the stat sheet with points, rebounds, and blocked shots. He is versatile with his offense as he can score inside or on the perimeter. He has heard from schools like Army and Chico State but getting the most interest at the Division III level that includes Claremont, Pomona, and Whitman.

Connor O'Dea 6-foot-3 SG Greenline (De La Salle) 2017: O'Dea has good size and athleticism. He was aggressive in his rebounding and ran the court well. Per his head coach, interest from some Division II level schools has started.

Eric Galindo 5-foot-11 PG Bay Area Warriors 17U (Archbishop Riordan) 2016: Galindo is a quick and versatile guard. He displayed a fearless perimeter shot. Per his club coach, Galindo is recruited by Division III programs, which include Oberlin, Pomona, and Vassar.

David Menary 6-foot-6 F E-Time Hoops 17U (Nevada Union) 2016: Menary is an agile forward who can shoot, put the ball on the floor, and is a solid passer. He led his Nevada Union team with 18.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Per his club coach, he is getting interest from Chico State, Pacific, and several other Division II schools.

Nicholas Macarchuk 6-foot-7 W Greenline (De La Salle) 2016: Macarchuk is an outside shooter with length. He is not the most agile player but will be depended on for rebounding for De La Salle as he is the tallest player on the roster. His recruiting should benefit from playing alongside Peters and Ratinho.

Tavian Henderson 6-foot-4 Wing Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (St Patrick St Vincent) 2017: The junior is a slashing wing who is a versatile scorer. He has good defensive attributes with his feet movement and long arms. Montana and Portland State have expressed early interest.

Austin Clarke 6-foot-6 SF Lakeshow 17s Elite (Campolindo) 2016: Injuries are a part of sports but Clarke has had some untimely injuries this past summer. He had a concussion on the opening day of the April evaluation period. Per his club coach, Clarke sprained his ankle in their opening game in Las Vegas and has sat out the rest of the weekend. Campolindo won 28 games last year and will need Clarke to be on the court to help them match those totals.

Some of the teams (with Northern California players) that will continue bracket play on Sunday (Team Name and tournament):
Lakeshow Elite 16U, Fab 48 16U Diamond
Oakland Soldiers Elite 15U, Las Vegas Classic 15U Platinum Elite
Oakland Soldiers Elite 17U, Las Vegas Classic 17U Platinum Elite
NorCal Pharaohs 17s, Fab 48 17U Platinum
Team Superstar 16U Elite, Fab 48 16U Invitational

Article 417: Vegas: Pool Play concludes

July 25, 2015

Friday concluded pool play in Las Vegas and several Northern California teams went undefeated. As bracket play starts on Saturday, here are some players and teams of note on Day 3:

Noah Stapes 6-foot-5 SF Lakeshow 17s Elite (St Francis) 2016: Stapes hit three 3-point shots in the second half of their second game in pool play to increase the margin to double digits. Stapes has a good frame to rebound but his lateral movement and quickness will determine if he can compete at the Division I level. According to his club coach, several Division II schools are interested but Boston University and Colgate from Division I have been in contact recently.

Peter Hewitt 6-foot-10 PF Lakeshow 17s Elite (St Francis) 2016: The major change week over week for Hewitt is according to his club coach that Utah State is very interested in the post prospect. Hewitt helped anchor the post in Lakeshow's undefeated pool play results.

Aidan Green 6-foot-1 Wing BFS Blackout Elite 16s (Tokay) 2017: Green is an athletic wing who can score inside and outside. He has good ball handling and defends well laterally. He is a bit undersized currently but is a tenacious defender and can rebound well for his size. Per his club coach, CSU Bakersfield and UC Santa Barbara are in contact.

Trevor Drake 6-foot-7 F NorCal Pharaohs 16s (Del Oro) 2017: Drake is a versatile player who has a good shooting range and can handle the ball well for his size. He rebounds well but will need more perimeter skills to be recruited at the Division I level. He complements his teammates well by doing the little, hustle plays and fits the glue guy role well.

Christian Terrell 6-foot-5 SG Oakland Soldiers 17 Elite (Sacramento) 2016: Terrell played several minutes, as his versatility is evident by his athleticism and size. He has enough length to guard forwards while he has enough lateral movement to defend guards. On a loaded Soldiers team, he did not look for his offense like some of his other teammates but will be the main perimeter offensive facilitator and scorer on his Sacramento High program.

Anthony Booker 6-foot-8 PF BFS Blackout Elite 16s (Weston Ranch) 2016: The senior is a mobile post player who runs the court well. His frame is good in blocking shots and rebounding. Per his club coach, Pacific is in contact.

Matt Manning 6-foot-6 Wing Lakeshow 17s Elite (Sheldon) 2016: Manning competed on Thursday but was not available for the Friday morning game. Per his club coach, Manning had to make a trip to San Diego as there was a baseball AAU scouting event being viewed by MLB scouts. Manning is an elite baseball prospect as well.

Yamori Derouen 6-foot-7 PG NorCal Pharaohs 17s (Burbank) 2016: Derouen is a face up, athletic forward with a respectable mid-range game. He has good jumping abilities and has long arms to be effective and disruptive on defense. The Pharaohs 17s went undefeated in pool play with his assistance.

Thomas Avent 5-foot-10 PG Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (Vanden) 2016: Avent is a low to the ground point guard who is built like a running back. He takes and initiates contact well and is also aggressive in his rebounding. Per his club coach, Division II interest includes CSU East Bay, CSU Maritime, and Holy Names.

Emeka Udenyi 6-foot-5 F Greenline (De La Salle) 2017: Udenyi displayed soft hands in his shooting touch and passing. He goes hard to the basket with his size. If his size does not change, he is a tweener as he is too short to play the post and would need to add to his perimeter skills. His brother, Amadi, is on the Pepperdine roster.

Some of the teams (with Northern California players) that won all three games in their pool play (Team Name and tournament):

E-Time Hoops 17U, Las Vegas Classic 17U Platinum
Greenline, Las Vegas Classic 17U Platinum Elite
Lakeshow Elite 17U, Fab 48 17U Invitational
NorCal Pharaohs 16s, Fab 48 16U Diamond
NorCal Pharaohs 17s, Fab 48 17U Platinum
Oakland Soldiers Elite 17U, Las Vegas Classic 17U Platinum Elite
Team Select 17U, Las Vegas Classic 17U Silver
Team Superstar 16U Elite, Fab 48 16U Invitational

Notes
New De La Salle coach AJ Kuhle was with the Greenline team in the stands. He did not coach on the sidelines but did give the post game review with his team. Kuhle is a former De La Salle alum and was previously an assistant coach for eight years with the University of Denver.

The Las Vegas Classic is holding a separate eight-team sub-tournament called "The 8" in the main gym's court at Rancho High. Last year, it was called the Chris Paul Jordan 8 Tournament and usually is composed of Nike sponsored teams. The Northern California based Oakland Soldiers participated last year and also is participating this year. They lost both of their first two games and will be playing in the 7th place game on Saturday.

Per one club coach's explanation, players can play for two teams during the event. One player who normally was on the 16s had the opportunity to play on the 17s team due to a player injury in the Fab 48. Another player played for his regular club at the Fab 48 event but hurriedly went to play for his high school summer club at the Las Vegas Classic event.

Article 416: 2017s shine in Vegas

July 24, 2015

Thursday was a full day of basketball in the final NCAA certified evaluation period of the summer in Las Vegas. Many college coaches need to plan ahead for their recruiting needs as Northern California has a strong 2017 class that should begin to get more recruiting attention.

Here are some players of all classes of note on Day 2:

Sebastian Much 6-foot-8 PF Oakland Rebels 17 Red (Archbishop Mitty) 2017: The Mitty prospect has battled against bigger bodies in the paint but has held up well. Much spent part of the summer with the German national team. With a European influence, Much looks like a face up power forward that can stretch the defense but still has enough size to contribute in the post. He is the lone 2017 prospect on the Rebels top team.

Stone Smart 6-foot-3 PG NorCal Pharaohs 16s (Del Oro) 2017: Smart is the likely starting quarterback for the football power, Del Oro. The dual threat quarterback displayed similar leadership and athletic skills on the basketball court. He has good leaping abilities as he swatted a few shots while also connecting from the perimeter a few times. Per his coach, CSU East Bay, Portland, Sacramento State, and San Jose State have expressed interest for basketball.

Keith Smith 6-foot-0 PG Team Superstar 17 Elite (San Ramon Valley) 2015: Smith has graduated already and will be going to Mount Verde prep school in Orlando despite having a few Division II offers. Smith plays low to the ground with crisp movements with and without the ball. He directs the offense well and moves up and down efficiently. He finished a few difficult driving baskets as well.

Joey Calcaterra 6-foot-2 SG Lakeshow 16s Elite (Marin Catholic) 2017: Calcaterra is quite advanced from a skills perspective for a guard. He moves well without the ball to find his open spots, has an accurate shooting motion, and moves well on defense. Adding size and bulk would improve his recruiting stock and effectiveness on the college level.

Kai Tease 6-foot-1 PG NorCal Pharaohs 17s (Antelope) 2016: Tease led Antelope to 23 wins with a team high 16-point average. The senior is crafty and takes the ball strong to the basket. He has a good perimeter range while also able to play good on the ball defense. Fresno State, CSU East Bay, Portland, and San Jose State have interest.

Oscar Frayer 6-foot-7 Wing Oakland Soldiers 17 Elite (Moreau Catholic) 2016: Frayer is not afraid of contact as he attacked the basket several times with dunk finishes. He has good length and looks like he glides like a gazelle when running the court. The Cal commit is looking more versatile with his abilities and physical attributes.

Arash Poorsina 6-foot-10 C PHPS (St Ignatius) 2016: Poorsina is a back to the basket center that runs the floor well. He has good size and uses it to rebound and to position in the post. St Ignatius has a tough schedule in the West Catholic Athletic League but should improve on the four wins in league with Poorsina leading them.

Bryson Ryan 6-foot-11 C NorCal Pharaohs 16s (Tokay) 2017: Tokay should improve on their 15-win season with Ryan in the fold. The traditional back to the basket center deters shots in the paint and is a good rebounder. He displayed a nice jump hook. Per his coach, Portland, Sacramento State, and San Jose State are interested.

Ryan Chappell 6-foot-4 Wing Team Superstar 17 Elite (Capitol Christian) 2016: Chappell is an athletic wing who has nice body control as he had a few spin moves to create scoring opportunities in the paint. The senior plays above the rim as he had a few dunks and block shots. He currently has some Division II schools interested but can get more interest with another solid year at powerhouse Capitol Christian.

Article 415: Hoops tips off in Vegas

July 23, 2015

On Wednesday evening, the final NCAA certified evaluation period of the summer tipped off in Las Vegas. Some of the higher profiled Northern California clubs were in action including the Oakland Rebels, Oakland Soldiers, and Play Hard Play Smart.

Here are some players of note on Day 1:

Sayeed Pridgett 6-foot-5 SG Oakland Rebels 17 Red (El Cerrito) 2016: Pridgett is a versatile scorer as he attacked the basket and connected from 3-point range a few times. He has a wiry frame but does not back down. Several mid majors seem interested but one mid major coach had questions regarding Pridgett's academic status.

Kevin Warren 6-foot-3 SG Oakland Rebels 17 Red (St Mary's Berkeley) 2016: Warren is a flashy scorer as he can score both inside and outside. His frame is thin which can raise durability questions on the next level. But Warren is athletic and has developed skills.

Carlos Johnson 6-foot-5 Oakland Soldiers 17 Elite (El Cerrito) 2016: Johnson had a strong all around performance against a club from his former home state of Arizona. The senior prospect plays intense and hard all the time. Johnson had several attacking drives to the baskets and strong moves in the paint. He hit two 3-point shots in the first half to round out his game.

Robinson Idehen 6-foot-9 Oakland Soldiers 17 Elite (Modesto Christian) 2016: Idehen's calling card is his athletic defense. He runs the floor well and can help on weak side defense with his length and shot blocking. The few offensive opportunities were in the paint on offensive rebounds or close range passes but he had trouble converting the high percentage attempts. Idehen, however, did show a nice lefty free throw touch.

Jordan Brown 6-foot-10 PF Play Hard Play Smart (Woodcreek) 2018: Brown is already skilled around the basket with versatile scoring moves. Despite being a sophomore playing up, he took initiative in his rebounding and defense against opposing teams. He has thin limbs but still has three years to bulk up to be college level in size.

Phillip Fayne 6-foot-8 PF Play Hard Play Smart (Franklin) 2016: Fayne made several athletic offensive moves and rebounds in the paint. He has a good wingspan for defense and has enough lateral movement to defend smaller, quicker guards. Per his club coach, a few mid majors are interested with one wanting him to walk on as a freshman.

Notes
Day 2 gets into full swing as Fab 48 begins as well. All three major events will have games that run from 8am till 10pm.

Article 412: JUCO Jamboree

July 10, 2015

Skyline Junior College in San Bruno, Calif. was the site of day 1 of the NorCal JUCO Summer Jamboree. Close to 40 college coaches attended day one of the two day event that featured primarily Northern California based junior college programs. Here are some player updates.

Spencer Clark 6-foot-5 W Concord (Diablo Valley) 2014: The second year player has interest from Montana as he is likely to be a wing at the four year level. He is active on the floor and displayed an accurate perimeter touch. The Concord product needs to work on his ball handling skills.

Jalen Canty 6-foot-9 PF St Patrick St Vincent (CCSF) 2014: Canty is physically imposing and plays well in the low post. He headlines a deep CCSF program as he returns from Casper College with teammate Shon Briggs of Heritage.

Chris Bene 6-foot-7 Wing Sequoia (Canada) 2015: Bene is athletic and explosive despite being thin. The recent high school graduate had a strong dunk in one game and shows a solid mid range game. To be effective on the four year level, Bene will need improved dribbling and ball handling skills in addition to adding bulk.

Steve Daly 6-foot-5 Wing College Park (Diablo Valley) 2015: The 2015 high school graduate is active and can shoot from the perimeter. Daly was positioned more at the post during high school but can benefit from JUCO competition to hone his ball handling and guard skills. Daly has the potential to be a low Division I prospect.

Matt Mcandrews 6-foot-1 PG Archbishop Mitty (Foothill) 2014: The Mitty alum handles the ball well and distributes effectively. His shooting is adequate as his best move is an in and out maneuver to create space. Mcandrews has made significant progress since his high school days as he grey shirted this past year.

Jonah Underwood 6-foot-9 PF Willow Glen (San Jose) 2015: The incoming first year player is one of three 6-foot-9 players on San Jose. Underwood has good size and strength as he rebounded well and runs the court. His offensive game and passing skills are still in development. He is academically qualified and has the frame to be a potential low Division I prospect.

Kendall Mcintosh 6-foot-8 W Freedom (CCSF) 2015: The wiry but versatile Mcintosh made plays both inside and outside. Freedom went undefeated in league play during his senior year and he should help CCSF with their winning ways. He is academically qualified and can help a four year college that needs a glue guy.

Derek King 6-foot-2 SG Santa Teresa (Foothill) 2012: King redshirted at NAIA San Diego Christian before transferring to Foothill. The second year player has shot well from the perimeter and has a good frame to attack the basket. The shooting guard needs to work on his ball handling to increase his recruiting.

Case Dufrane 6-foot-8 F Half Moon Bay (Canada) 2015: After coming off of some productive and winning seasons at Half Moon Bay, Dufrane will need to adjust to the physicality and pace of college level competition. The Half Moon Bay product is wiry strong and has a good mid range game. He has a good back to the basket game but is better suited as a stretch four on the four year level.

Jacques Carraway 6-foot-7 PF Mcclymonds (Diablo Valley) 2013: The Mcclymonds product is a legit low Division I prospect based on his blend of size and skills. He is athletic but plays strong too as he can hit the boards effectively. Carraway can work on a more consistent perimeter game.

Rodrigo Puliceno 6-foot-5 Wing Burlingame (Canada) 2011: Puliceno has a strong back to the basket game but needs to improve his lateral movement and quickness. Per his coach, the Burlingame alum has interest at the Division II level from Chico State, West Georgia, and Western Washington while Cal Poly and CSU Fullerton have inquired at the Division I level.

Jerrod Nodar 6-foot-5 Wing St Mary's Berkeley (CCSF) 2014: The second year player has a good perimeter game when left open and has a nice running hook to complement his offensive game. Nodar could improve his lateral movement and ball handling to increase his recruiting.

Damien Banford 6-foot-7 PF Newark Memorial (Diablo Valley) 2014: The vertically undersized power forward has hit the weight room, as he looks different from his Newark days. Banford is solid back to the basket, rebounds effectively, and passes well from the paint. Per his coach, he should be academically qualified and has been getting feelers from low Division I programs.

Notes
Trevor Dunbar was sitting out due to transfer rules, as he will join CCSF after being at Washington State.

Frankie Ferrari is in a similar situation with Canada College as he left San Francisco.

36 college coaches at all division levels attended day one of the event. Many of these coaches will also stay for day 2 in addition to the 2015 Nor Cal Summer Tip Off during the weekend at City College of San Francisco to view the high school talent.

Article 410: SCU Team Camp Notes

June 22, 2015

During the summer, many college programs will hold basketball camps on their campuses to build relationships with high school teams and to evaluate players. The Santa Clara Team Camp has been a mainstay during the summer since Coach Dick Davey's tenure. Current Coach Kerry Keating is entering his ninth season with the Broncos and has continued the camp on an annual basis.

The Team Camp is a three-day event where the high school programs go through skill development clinics, strength and conditioning demonstrations, and competitive games. The Broncos have recruited Northern California notables who have attended the camp including Robert Garrett (Sacramento 2011), Niyi Harrison (Bellarmine 2009), and John Mcarthur (De La Salle 2010).

Some of the high school teams that participated this past weekend:

Archbishop Mitty
Bay School
Bellarmine HS
Christopher HS
Eastside Prep
Fort Bragg
Gunderson
Half Moon Bay
Heritage
Hillsdale
Irvington HS
James Logan HS
John F. Kennedy HS
Lee HS
Los Altos HS
Los Gatos HS
Lynbrook HS
Mission HS
Mountain View HS
Newark Memorial HS
North Medford
Oakwood
Oceana HS
Placer HS
Sacred Heart Prep
Salesian
Salinas HS
San Joaquin Memorial
St. Francis HS
Thousand Oaks
Willamette HS OR
Valley Christian

Here are some notes on some of the Northern California teams and their players:

Archbishop Mitty's strength and weakness from this past season will be the same starting out the following season. The strength will be the frontcourt with Ben Kone, Sebastian Much, and Riley Grigsby. The 6-foot-10 Kone continues to play physical and athletic as he is looking to decide on his official visits after Peach Jam and Las Vegas to end the summer. Much was not at the camp as he was in Germany with the under-18 German national team. As a sophomore, Grigsby is looking more for his shot and has shown more versatility in his scoring. The unknown for the Monarchs will be their guard play as they are undersized and were spotty with their ball control. Mitty will look to improve on their 20-win season.

Heritage will look to close the gap between themselves and Freedom in the Bay Valley League. The Patriots will have bulk in senior 6-foot-5 forward James Ned who is an aggressive rebounder and post presence. The guards complement each other as Marcus Wallace is a wiry 5-foot-7 perimeter scorer while Anthony Dennis is a 6-foot-0 attacking guard with size.

Los Gatos was a middle of the pack program last season in the De Anza League. Sophomore Dylan Belquist and junior Drew Krulevitch accounted for 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats as they both are 6-foot-6. Belquist uses his length well in scoring over shorter competition but has time to add strength. He hurt his left foot to end his Saturday early while Krulevitch was also injured.

Newark Memorial was 14-14 last season as they had one of the more brutal non-league schedules. The Cougars return size with senior 6-foot-10 center Kevin Kahriman who is built like a lineman but is surprisingly agile and runs the court efficiently. He will be a post and rebounding force. Seniors Reginald Pugh and Lovelle Shackelford will man the backcourt, as they both are 6-foot-2, athletic, and wiry. Last season, Moreau Catholic went undefeated in the Mission Valley League as Newark Memorial had four losses while only having one league loss in the previous ten combined seasons.

Oakwood High of Morgan Hill has an enrollment of 350 students but that did not stop them from a 19 win season from a year ago. The team has a good inside and outside combination. 5-foot-9 junior guard Youssef Eshra has a quick dribble that allows him to create offensive space as his perimeter release is quick and accurate. Sophomore Ekene Success has a good wingspan as the 6-foot-8 forward is an effective rebounder and shot blocker. Oakwood went undefeated in the Mission Trail League and should be the favorites again.

Sacred Heart Prep returns two of their four double-digit scorers in seniors Connor Moses and Mason Randall. The two guards accounted for over 150 made 3-point shots for last year's 24-win season. Randall was not at the camp as the varsity quarterback was at Princeton for football reasons. Moses is a 6-foot guard who is slight of build but has a quick release. The Gators will still be guard oriented for their scoring and should be the favorites in the West Bay League.

Salesian will be guard and perimeter oriented this upcoming season. Senior guard Brandon McGee is a versatile, lengthy 6-foot-3 that will be the leader of the Pride. Junior guard Ke'Mare Wright plays bigger than his 6-foot frame as he is physical in the paint, is accurate from the perimeter, and plays tenacious on the ball defense. Salesian did well to win 19 games last year but El Cerrito should be the favorites in the Tri County League.

Salinas won 21 games last season but graduated eight players. The summer team is undersized and will rely on guard play. The Cowboys have two 2017 5-foot-7 guards in Daniel Bost and Taylor Dacpano that run the offense well, can initiate contact in the paint, and play pressure defense. Salinas finished runner up to Palma in Monterey Bay League play as the Chieftains will have the size advantage also this upcoming season.

St Francis went 22-6 and was in the Open Division in the playoffs. The team has a complete team returning headlined by their interior play. Senior Peter Hewitt is a 6-foot-10 post player who has several offers from mid major programs. Two senior wings, 6-foot-3 Gabe Adzich and 6-foot-5 Noah Stapes, flank Hewitt. Adzich has an offer from Carroll College (Montana) while Stapes has an offer from Point Loma. Both help stretch the defense with their perimeter shooting and will complement Hewitt with rebounding and post defense. The Lancers have solid guard play and a serviceable bench. St Francis should be the favorites in the West Catholic League along with Archbishop Mitty.

Article 409: City Championship report

May 17, 2015

The 8th Annual City Championship Tournament at City College of San Francisco features bracket play that culminates on Sunday. A middle school prospect and two African natives stood out on Saturday, which completed pool play games. Here are some player updates:

Riley Grigsby 6-foot-4 Wing West Valley Basketball 17U (Archbishop Mitty) 2018: Grigsby just finished his freshman campaign with Mitty. He has a good perimeter touch and was able to create some nice mid-range shot opportunities. He plays for his father, Cal alum Al Grigsby, on the West Valley club. The younger Grigsby already has received inquiries from San Jose State and Stanford.

Peter Hewitt 6-foot-10 PF Lakeshow 17s Elite (St Francis) 2016: The St Francis product is rounding into a solid mid-major recruit. Hewitt has recently added San Jose State and UC Davis offers that included ones from Pacific and Southern Utah. Hewitt will likely be a back to the basket player in college. He needs some more consistency in finishing near the basket and in developing a consistent mid-range jump shot.

Mamoudou Diarra 6-foot-9 PF Oakland Soldiers 16 Elite (Prolific Prep) 2017: The Mali (country on the western side of the African continent) native just finished his first year of American basketball at Prolific Prep. Diarra is long and active but could add bulk and more perimeter skills development. He was not shy about pulling up from the arc but is more effective in the paint as he did show some ability with finishing with his off hand (left).

Sean Gilmore 6-foot-8 F Bay Area Warriors 17U (University) 2016: The University product was accurate when left open for spot up 3-point shots. His lateral movement is average but has enough size to be a lower division prospect. Chico State has been expressing some interest.

Amadou Sow 6-foot-8 Post Oakland Soldiers 16 Elite (Prolific Prep) 2018: The freshman teammate of Diarra is also from Mali and also finished his first year at Prolific Prep. Sow is a back to the basket post player. He has raw size and athleticism and has the time to develop into a Division I prospect.

Sandor Rodriguez 5-foot-9 PG West Valley Basketball 17U (Saint Francis Watsonville) 2017: Rodriguez has a good dribble and was able to navigate through the press. He is undersized but found his teammates with accurate passing. His Saint Francis team had 22 wins as he led the team in assists with 8.3 points and 5.4 assists per game.

Shamar Morrow 6-foot-2 Wing Oakland Soldiers 15s (Sacramento Country Day) 2020: Just finishing the seventh grade, Morrow has athleticism and skills beyond his age group. He finished a few times above the rim with ease, runs the court well, and uses his length effectively on defense. The left-hander also has a quick release and should be rising on the recruiting radar.

Alfred Hollins 6-foot-6 Wing Oakland Soldiers 16 Elite (Sacred Heart Cathedral) 2017: Early on, Hollins was labeled as having the size and athleticism to be an elite prospect but his skills development was trailing. On Saturday, Hollins had an accurate 3-point shot as he hit several shots when left open. The early signs from the summer season look promising in Hollins' skills development.

Robert Colton 6-foot-5 SF Bay Area Warriors 17U (Archbishop Riordan) 2015: Colton is still trying to make up for his lost senior season due to transfer rules. He plays strong with his moves in the post and has consistent perimeter release. Colton has gotten some partial offers but may take the junior college route if a full offer does not materialize.

Austin Henderson 6-foot-3 SG Lakeshow 17s White (San Ramon Valley) 2016: Henderson will be one of the senior-to-be called upon to help San Ramon Valley repeat their state title run. The 2016 prospect displays an accurate perimeter shot but will need more versatility with his dribbling skills. Henderson has gotten some Division II interest.

Ken Williams 5-foot-8 PG Top Flight Elite 17U (Leigh High) 2017: Williams is a stocky, athletic guard who handles the ball well. He broke the press well and sees the open court for good passing opportunities.

Jess Spivey 6-foot-5 SF Central Valley Warriors 17U (Sierra High) 2016: Spivey is lanky but was effective in scoring from both inside and outside. He is accurate when left open and was able to create space for his shots in the paint. The Sierra High prospect will need to add strength and more dribbling skills to increase his recruiting.

Spencer Lashells 6-foot-9 PF Lakeshow 17s White (Monte Vista) 2016: Monte Vista had a 27-win season and will have a solid foundation to build on next season with Lashells. He is a back to the basket player who has been getting interest from primarily Division II programs including Point Loma and Sonoma State. Improvements in his perimeter shot and ball handling would help spur Division I interest.

Jake Killingsworth 6-foot-5 Wing Lakeshow 17s Elite (Serra) 2016: Killingsworth has good size, as he is an effective rebounder for a wing player. To increase his recruiting, he needs a more consistent perimeter shot and has to be more comfortable with his ball handling. Navy has expressed interest in the Serra product.

Nate Robinson 6-foot-1 PG Oakland Soldiers 15s (Sacred Heart Cathedral) 2018: The 2018 prospect runs the offense well and attacks the basket. He has an accurate spot up jump shot. With Alfred Hollins and Ramzi Carter returning, Sacred Heart Cathedral will have a solid point guard running the team in the upcoming season.

Article 408: Spring Showcase Day 1

April 25, 2015

On Friday, the Fourth Annual Nor Cal Spring Showcase at Jamtown off of highway 880 in Oakland kicked off the first day of the current NCAA certified viewing period. The first evening of action had five games on each of the four courts. Day 2 starts at 8am on Saturday with 15 games apiece.

Here are some players of note on Day 1:

Brandon McGee 6-foot-3 G Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (Salesian) 2016: A guard with good size, ball handling, and scoring abilities, McGee was effective finishing in the paint several times. McGee will be the senior leader next year for Salesian as he is drawing interest from Pacific, Portland, UC Santa Barbara, and Weber State.

Robert Colton 6-foot-5 SF Bay Area Warriors 17U (Archbishop Riordan) 2015: The Australian native has good size and plays big in the paint. He has a good release and is comfortable with initiating contact. Despite being ineligible this past season due to his transfer, the senior has drawn interest from Denver and UT San Antonio.

Connor Rubattino 6-foot-2 PG Lakeshow 17s White (Cardinal Newman) 2016: Rubattino is a burly point guard that takes contact when going to the basket. He directs his team's offense well and plays strong defense. Eastern Washington and Sacramento State have expressed interest.

Eddie Ionescu 6-foot-5 SG Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (Miramonte) 2016: Ionescu had the shooter's touch, as his perimeter offense is his calling card. With good size for a guard, the junior is getting inquiries from Pepperdine, San Francisco, St Mary's, and Westmont (Santa Barbara).

Jordan Ratinho 6-foot-5 SF Lakeshow 17s Elite (De La Salle) 2016: Offense has always come naturally to Ratinho, but he was playing with more intensity and physicality on the defensive end. The De La Salle product has added more size during the past year. Ratinho holds offers from Denver, Montana, Pacific, San Francisco, and UC Santa Barbara while Weber State is interested.

George Dancer 6-foot-3 G Revolution Basketball Club (Beyer) 2016: Dancer has an accurate perimeter shot as he hit several three-point baskets in both games. He also was the focal point on offense as he directed his Revolution club that is made up entirely of the Beyer High team. Beyer finished runner up to Modesto Christian in league play but Dancer is a legitimate scoring threat.

Will Emery 6-foot-8 F Bay Area Warriors 17U (St Ignatius) 2016: Emery is a lanky prospect but plays tougher than his size. He ran the floor well and is versatile in his scoring methods. The St Ignatius product has gotten feelers from Brown, Columbia, and Princeton.

Joey Calcaterra 6-foot-0 SG Lakeshow 16s Elite (Marin Catholic) 2017: The sophomore product can flat out shoot from the perimeter. He has a wiry frame but was not afraid of taking the ball to the basket. His perimeter skills have already drawn inquiries from Cal, Eastern Washington, Portland, and San Francisco.

Sean Gilmore 6-foot-8 F Bay Area Warriors 17U (University) 2016: The junior battles hard inside against bulkier opponents. Gilmore looks comfortable spotting up from beyond the arc and is more likely a face up player. He currently has interest Division III programs like Trinity and Tufts.

Alec Andrews 6-foot-3 SG Earl Watson Elite High Academic 17U (Folsom) 2016: The Folsom product is playing for the Southern California based Earl Watson club. Andrews is often overshadowed by playing alongside Jordan Ford at Folsom, but he showcased a very similar offensive game as he hit several three point shots and was able to create his own offense by going to the basket. By being a primary offensive option on this club during the summer should help in his recruiting.

Nick Peters 6-foot-3 SG Oakland Soldiers 17 Blue (De La Salle) 2016: Peters has missed the beginning of the spring season the past two years due to injuries but is healthy starting this one. Peters has good size for a guard and is a versatile scorer at the high school level. Pacific, Santa Clara, UC Santa Barbara, and Weber State are in the mix for the junior.

Darne Duckett 6-foot-1 PG Lakeshow 16s Elite (St Joseph's) 2017: The St Joseph's prospect has a good feel of running the offense but his scoring prowess was on display on Friday. Duckett scored from the perimeter, made a few pull up jumpers, and was able to take the ball to the basket and finish strong. He has a good frame for a sophomore and his offensive versatility have drawn interest from Loyola Marymount and San Diego.

Peter Hewitt 6-foot-10 PF Lakeshow 17s Elite (St Francis) 2016: Hewitt has added size and bulk to his frame in the past year. The St Francis product is continuing to improve on his rebounding, post moves, and passing. Hewitt has offers from Pacific and Southern Utah while San Francisco, Santa Clara, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and Weber State are interested.

Notes

Pacific (Ron Verlin), Santa Clara (Assistant Brandon Rosenthal), Southern Utah (Assistant Drew Allen), St Mary's (Assistant Marty Clarke), UC Davis (Jim Les), and Weber State were some of the Division I coaches that attended on Day 1. Several lower division and junior college coaches were also in attendance.

Osi Nwachuk 6-foot-6 F Lakeshow 17s Black (San Leandro) 2015: Interest and visit (Master's College)

JT Jarret Branch 6-foot-6 F Lakeshow 17s White (Antioch) 2015: Interest and visit (Regis-Denver)

Kevin Crosno 6-foot-6 F Lakeshow 17s White (College Park) 2015: Interest and visit (Dominican)

Kyle Roach 6-foot-2 G Lakeshow 17s White (Marin Academy) 2015: Committed (Wittman)

Other commitments are Ben Wood to Cal Baptist and Wilson LaShells to William Jessup.

Article 381: Leaving Las Vegas

July 28, 2014

For the teams that got to play on Sunday, it culminated a long week in the desert and an even longer summer. But the final day of summer basketball was also a prime chance to play in front of the college coaches on the final day of the final recruiting period before school starts. 


Tydus Verhoeven 6-foot-6 PF Manteca (2017) Team Superstar 15U: The last name should a ring a bell as his cousin, Grant, is on the Stanford roster. Verhoeven is a stretch four forward who is a good shot blocker and strong rebounder. He has a nice lefty stroke and has the height and vision to make good passes when pressured. Manteca High is rumored to get a high profile post transfer to team with Verhoeven. Even though he just finished his freshman year, Verhoeven has gotten interest from Harvard, Pacific, and Sacramento State.

Chris Snyder 6-foot-10 Post Ponderosa (2014) Nor Cal Pharaohs Elite 17U: The Nor Cal Pharaohs are not a household club expected to make it to the semifinals in a Las Vegas event. A big reason for their showing was 2014 prospect, Snyder. He has a good mid-range jumper and plays the pick and roll well. He has good size to rebound at the next level. Three years ago, Snyder's mobility and lateral movement was quicksand slow but he looks much lighter on his feet now. According to his Pharaohs coach, he is headed to Division II Regis College in Denver even though Division I programs have still been in contact.

Justin Asuncion 5-foot-6 PG Woodcreek (2016) E-Time Hoops 17U: The 2016 prospect is a quick point guard who is a lock down defender. He is a floor general that breaks down the defense and creates for his teammates. He was able to connect from the mid range as well. His size will be a big parameter for his recruiting.

Nikhil Peters 6-foot-4 Wing De La Salle (2016) Greenline: Peters just returned to playing two weeks ago as he had both an ACL and a thumb injury. On Saturday, he looked tentative at times in the morning game. On Sunday, he looked more comfortable as he played well on both ends. Peters returns as the leading three point shooter from last year's De La Salle team. On his Greenline team, he was playing the post at times as he does have good size for a guard to help with rebounding and post defense.

Zach Chappelle 6-foot-3 G Capitol Christian (2018) Team Superstar 15U: Chappelle looks bigger and taller than someone who just finished middle school. He has good length and is a lean guard who was not unnerved playing against older competition. Older brother, Ryan, is also on the Capitol Christian program.

Justin Abney 5-foot-11 G Enterprise (2015) E-Time Hoops 17U: Abney is an efficient scoring guard with sneaky athleticism. He plays with a Steve Nash style of being able to control the tempo to set up his perimeter shots or to use a change of pace to get to the basket. In Sunday's morning game, he hit several shots to keep his team in the game and eventually a win in overtime.

Kevin Dent 6-foot-4 Wing West Campus (2015) Nor Cal Pharaohs Elite 17U: Dent is a versatile player as he can play any of the perimeter positions. He has good ball handling and is a versatile scorer. He plays for West Campus which is in the same division as Capitol Christian and may be overlooked at times. Biola, Chico State, and La Verne have shown interest.

Jordan Ratinho 6-foot-4 SG De La Salle (2016) Greenline: Ratinho continues his strong summer play as he played well on both Saturday and Sunday. His three-point shooting was consistent. He was comfortable breaking down the press. He still needs to bulk up for the college level physicality.

Brandon Gray 6-foot-1 PG Cosumnes Oaks (2017) Team Superstar 15U: Gray is a pesky defender who gets after it on the full court press and on the half court perimeter defense. He has good speed and can slash to the basket with ease. He hit a few perimeter shots to keep the defense honest.

Notes

Six Northern California teams made it to the semifinals or better for the various Bigfoot Las Vegas Live brackets including E-Time Hoops, Greenline, Nor Cal Pharaohs 17U, Oakland Soldiers 17U Elite, Oakland Soldiers 17U Blue, and YBA. The Oakland Soldiers 17U Blue team finished as the only champion (co-champions in their bracket).

Nor Cal Pharaohs' Snyder was drawing interest from college programs on both days that were still looking to add a 2014 post player. Snyder is headed to Regis as of now.

For college coaches not from the west coast, they were quite impressed with the Greenline system. And many of the college coaches were there to view Peters and Ratinho.

Article 380: Win or go home in Vegas

July 27, 2014

Saturday is typically moving day in Las Vegas as losing in bracket play ends summer play for prospects and their clubs. As an example of contrast, the Team Superstar 17U club is finished while its younger Team Superstar 15U and 16U clubs will play into Sunday. Other teams of note from Northern California extending their summer include the E-Time Hoops, Greenline, Nor Cal Pharaohs 17U, Oakland Soldiers 17U Elite, and Oakland Soldiers 17U Blue. Here are some player updates.

Armani Collins 6-foot-5 Wing Stuart Hall (2015) Dream Vision 17: The interest in Collins is there even on a loaded Dream Vision team. He can score going to the basket or from the perimeter. He has length and an active body on defense and in the paint. Adding size to handle the rigors of college ball would be a priority. Montana and UC Irvine have interest.

Joshua Patton 6-foot-8 PF Manteca (2015) Team Superstar 17U: Patton should add to his Sacramento State offer after the summer. He plays defense, rebounds, helps alter shots, hustles after loose balls, and runs the floor. He is not the most polished scorer and still needs more bulk to survive the college post battles but his defensive activity is always full throttle.

Kameron Johnson 6-foot-1 PG Granada (2015) Lakeshow Elite 17U: The summer ended earlier than expected for Lakeshow, but Johnson played well to highlight his attributes. His large size for a point guard, strong dribble, no hesitation in going to the paint, and tenacious ball defense. He shot the perimeter ball more than expected but can adjust his style of play based on his surrounding personnel.

Jemiel King 6-foot-2 PG Lincoln (2015) Bay Area Warriors 17U: King is quick with his feet to the basket and fearless in attacking the paint. He made some nice passes after breaking down the defense. He needs to play with more control as he is a high risk, high reward type of player.

Demarre Walker 5-foot-11 PG Vanden (2015) Oakland Soldiers Blue 17U: A serviceable point guard who has a low center of gravity and quickness to get to the basket to create opportunities for teammates. He helped lead and start several transition baskets in helping his team go into Sunday.

Matt O'Reilly 6-foot-5 SG Campolindo (2015) Team Superstar 17U: The 2015 has had a back and forth year with injuries as he broke a wrist during the high school season and has fought tendonitis in the knee during the summer. At times, he looks tentative but in one game, he put it all together as he played with the frenetic pace of scoring both inside and outside while playing attacking defense. Campolindo has a solid team this upcoming season, especially if O'Reilly can return to full health. He mentioned that Richmond is the latest college that has shown interest.

Demar Dunn 6-foot-0 PG Salesian (2015) Bay Area Warriors 17U: Dunn is undersized at the point guard position but makes up for it with his quickness and attacking nature. Dunn is one of three returning 2015 players on a young and undersized Salesian roster. He should see playing time with his seniority leadership and athleticism.

Stevie Matthews 5-foot-11 PG Sacramento (2015) Team Superstar 17U: Team Superstar had a strong showing on the Under Armour circuit but injuries slowed them down during the Las Vegas week. But point guard Matthews played effectively as a floor general in his passing and control of the tempo. Playing for a talented Sacramento High program should increase his recruiting interest as North Dakota and Northern Arizona have shown initial interest.

Steven Bush 6-foot-3 SG Bella Vista (2015) Nor Cal Warriors 17U: Bush is a bigger, stocky guard who has an adequate perimeter game. He has average quickness but punishes opposing guards physically. He is a lower division college level prospect.

Brandon Lawrence 6-foot-2 G Moreau Catholic (2016) Oakland Soldiers Blue 17U: Playing up in his age category may have been a catalyst as Lawrence contributed on both ends. At times during the summer, he looked tentative in his play. In bracket play, he contributed with perimeter scoring, rebounding, and on the ball defense. Another day of basketball can only help his exposure.

Vince Romeo 6-foot-0 PG De La Salle (2015) Greenline: Romeo is a scoring point guard as he showcased a good perimeter touch while also going to the basket. He is a pesky perimeter defender with adequate quickness. He is a scrappy player who hustles and makes plays in a team oriented system.

Vinnie Safin 6-foot-4. Wing Rocklin (2015) Nor Cal Pharaohs Elite 17U: Safin paced his team in the opening bracket game as he hit several perimeter shots to stretch the defense. He also went strong to the basket as he plays hard but needs to play defense more with his feet. According to his Pharaohs coach, Chicago State has offered while Chico State is interested.

Article 379: Las Vegas brackets in play

July 26, 2014

The Las Vegas Classic ended pool play Friday as the Bay Area Warriors had a nice day-ending win to finish their pool at 2-1. The adidas Super 64 started bracket play as the Oakland Rebels 16 had an impressive win to continue their run in the championship bracket. Here are some player updates.

Anthony Townes 6-foot-6 PF Modesto Christian (2015) Las Vegas Prospects 17U: The Pacific commit does not have the prototypical height for a power forward but makes up for that with his physical style and big hands to allow him to be an effective defender and rebounder. He has good mobility, runs the floor well, and has strong leaping ability. Offensively, he can add to his game with improved shooting range and ball handling.

Case Dufrane 6-foot-8 PF Half Moon Bay (2015) Bay Area Warriors 17U: Dufrane is a tweener in that his size may not be ideal power forward size while his perimeter game is not polished enough for the small forward role. He hit a few mid range shots and held his position in the paint. Half Moon Bay has optimism for another strong upcoming season. His club coach confirmed that Navy has some interest as a Navy assistant coach was in attendance.

Joey Calcaterra 6-foot-0 G Marin Catholic (2017) Lakeshow 16 Elite: With his team struggling in the first half, the 2017 prospect displayed some impressive playmaking abilities. He drove to the basket for a few scores, hit a few perimeter shots, and caused a few steals in the backcourt. He is undersized and thin but still has three years to add size as he was a contributor at Marin Catholic as a freshman.

Noah Blackwell 6-foot-2 G Roseville (2015) Team Superstar 17U: Blackwell is aggressive on offense as he did not shy away from shooting. His size may suit him better at the point guard role as he looked comfortable handling the ball. He has a solid center of gravity to take contact and be effective in the paint.

Kevin Warren 6-foot-2 G St Mary's (2016) Oakland Rebels 16: The 2016 product is a good outside shooter and moves well on perimeter defense. He finishes effectively in transition offense as well. Warren needs to add bulk and strength to his game.

Lewis Hayes 6-foot-5 F Chavez (2015) Nor Cal Warriors 17U: Hayes is a low division college prospect but is a space eater and puts up numbers. At Chavez High in Stockton last season, he put up 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds. He has good post skills but could add to his perimeter skill set.

Michael Sullivan 6-foot-2 PG Redwood (2016) Lakeshow 16 Elite: The point guard plays fundamentally well as he moves feet on defense and dribbles in control. He has good lower body strength as he is able to go to the basket strong and absorb contact well. Sullivan also displayed an outside touch.

Sayeed Pridgett 6-foot-4 Wing El Cerrito (2016) Oakland Rebels 16: Pridgett has the length and versatility to play any of the perimeter positions. He has solid ball handling and directs his team well as the Rebels 16 team won their bracket game.

Henry Feinberg 6-foot-4 Wing Branson (2016) Bay Area Warriors 17U: Feinberg does not jump out from an athletic nor a size perspective but he made several offensive and defensive plays in helping his club to rally for a second pool win. His game is multi dimensional as he rebounded, defended, scored, and distributed. Only a 2016 prospect, he still has time to develop into a more complete player.

Kendrick Jackson 6-foot-4 SG Granite Bay (2015) Team Superstar 17U: Jackson has bounced around the past few years in terms of both high school and club teams. But the 2015 prospect still has good size and fundamental skills for a guard as his father was former NBA player, Bobby Jackson. Jackson said that he may return to Northern California to Capitol Christian but that final decision will not be till mid August.

Kahliel Wyatt 6-foot-4 Wing Oroville (2015) Nor Cal Warriors 17U: Wyatt comes from the less travelled area of Oroville but shows some versatile ball handling and finishing skills. He has good length but will need some bulk. He is a prospect at the lower division college levels.

Notes

Team Superstar 17U Marquese Chriss did not play as he was at the USA basketball trials while Lance Coleman has mononucleosis.