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 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 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.