Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (3/13)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup published every Monday during the season.

Commits

Artesia defeated Santa Margarita at home, 50-38, in the second round of the CIF Division III state playoffs. It was the second time in five days that the top-seeded Pioneers (31-1) have beaten the Eagles (27-5) ... James Keefe, a McDonald's All-American who's going to UCLA, finished with 16 points but only four came in the second half. Press Telegram 3/10


Recruits

It was sixth-tenths of second that felt like forever to Kevin Love.The Lake Oswego center could only watch helplessly from under the basket as South Medford's Michael Harthun's desperation 3-point shot at the buzzer missed its mark.‘‘Oh man I was scared when hit the backboard,'' Love admitted. ‘‘But when it bounced off the rim, that felt good.'' Love had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the No. 2 Lakers to a 59-57 win over the top-ranked Panthers in the OSAA Class 4A boys state basketball championship game at McArthur Court on Saturday. Herald and News 3/12

Kyle Singler, South Medford's 6-foot-8-inch junior, runs the floor and attacks from the wing in a style that recalls Mike Dunleavy, the former Jesuit High School and Duke star. Singler roams the floor like a point forward for South Medford. He rebounds well but his ballhandling and shooting suggest he'll bloom into a great perimeter player in college. But if Singler is a lanky Dunleavy, Kevin Love, Lake Oswego's 6-foot-10 junior is Elton Brand. Singler is a smooth cup of latte; Love a mug of joe, served straight up in the paint. Oregon high school basketball fans got to see these two great players collide Saturday night at McArthur Court in the Class 4A state title game. Lake Oswego prevailed, 59-57, in a thrilling, hard-fought game that was a capstone to a terrific state tournament. Oregonian 3/12

Kevin Love got 20 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 2 Lake Oswego to a 74-59 victory over No. 3 Jefferson in a semifinal game of the Class 4A state boys basketball tournament at McArthur Court Friday night.The Lakers (25-3) will play in their second straight state championship game, and for the second year in a row, they got there by beating the Democrats (23-4). South-Oregon 3/11

The game billed as Kevin Love vs. Andy Poling quickly developed into a showcase of Lake Oswego's oft-criticized guards. And the team billed as a "one-man team" looked like anything but Thursday at McArthur Court.Ernie Spada and Vince Thomas combined for 39 points, eight assists and four steals and overshadowed their heralded teammate, Love, in leading Lake Oswego to a 72-39 victory over Westview in the opening round of the OSAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament...The strong performance came at the urging of Love, who finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and three assists after scoring two points in the first half. Oregonian 3/10

Myles Daley hit a jumper at the buzzer to lift South Medford over defending state champion Jesuit.It was the only time South Medford had the lead.South Medford’s Kyle Singler hit two free throws to tie the game at 60 with 45 seconds left in regulation and Seth Tarver missed a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Corvallis Gazette 3/10

Kyle Singler had 20 points and 10 rebounds and top-ranked South Medford rallied from a halftime deficit to beat West Salem 62-42 in a quarterfinal game Thursday at the OSAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament. Oregonian 3/9

Today in Eugene, the Class 4A boys basketball tournament begins its 88th edition, drawing more interest than it has in years. Many fans can't wait to see Lake Oswego's Kevin Love and South Medford's Kyle Singler. The two much-hyped juniors are not only national-level college recruits, but also potential NBA material. Oregonian 3/9

The Panthers are led by 6-foot-8 forward Kyle Singler, who is one of the most heavily recruited juniors in the nation. Singler has made unofficial visits to Duke and UCLA this season, and he is also considering North Carolina, Arizona and Washington. Singler averages 20.5 points per game and is shooting 60.8 percent from the field, including 35.4 percent on three-pointers. He averages 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and more than one blocked shot. Register Guard 3/8

No. 1-ranked South Medford against No. 2 Lake Oswego. Kyle Singler against Kevin Love. It’s the Oregon version of Duke-Gonzaga, sort of a mini-Adam Morrison vs. J.J. Reddick. The Panthers taking on the Lakers for all the marbles. “It would be really fun — a hell of a game between two of the best teams ever out of Oregon,” says Love, the 6-10, 260-pound post man for Lake Oswego. “If it did happen, it would be some game. It would be a packed crowd (at the Pit) on that Saturday night.” Portland Tribune 3/7

Westview's Payton Brooks scored 20 points and Andy Poling blocked seven shots Friday afternoon to help the Wildcats beat South Eugene 62-49 in the consolation round at the OSAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament. Oregonian 3/11

Behind the terrific game of point guard Jeremy Lin (16 points, seven assists), clutch fourth-quarter shooting of Brad Lehman (13 points) and tough interior defense by Cooper Miller who helped hold 6-foot-9 Drew Gordon to six points, the Vikings caught, passed and eventually pulled out a tenacious 45-43 victory in the CIF North Region Division II finals at Arco Arena on Saturday. Palo Alto (31-1), the top seed which was embarrassed 55-35 in last year's NorCal final by eventual state champion Oak Ridge, now plays Mater Dei of Santa Ana in next week's state title game. San Francisco Chronicle 3/12

Archbishop Mitty 58, Montgomery 56: Drew Gordon had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Kevin Toth added eight points and six assists as the Monarchs (28-4) hung on for an overtime victory in a Division II quarterfinal. Montgomery forced overtime with a jump shot to end regulation. Mercury News 3/8

The Pioneers used an 11-point run during a stretch of the third and fourth quarters to turn what had been a close Div. III title showdown into a 73-55 rout of the Wolverines at the Sports Arena...Derek Glasser scored a career-high 25 points, Malik Story added 17 and James Harden finished with 16 for the Pioneers (32-1), who advance to the CIF State title game next weekend against St. Mary's of Stockton at Arco Arena in Sacramento. L.A. Daily News 3/12

James Harden was a short, pudgy freshman when he arrived at Lakewood Artesia. He carried an asthma inhaler, had a drawn-out jump shot and seemed apathetic during conditioning drills.Much has changed in the last 2 1/2 years. Though he still keeps his inhaler nearby, Harden has discarded everything else that impeded his development into a coveted high school basketball prospect. He is no longer chubby, having grown six inches into his 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame. He also developed a quicker release on his outside shot and discovered the benefits outweigh the pain when working to get into peak shape.Harden has averaged a team-high 18.9 points and eight rebounds for Artesia, ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports for most of the season. He has attracted interest from colleges, including written offers from Washington State and Pepperdine Los Angeles Times 3/11

Jrue Holiday led all scorers with 23 points and Justin Holiday added 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for fifth-seeded Campbell Hall (26-6), which fell victim to a 14-point second-quarter run, the final seven with Jrue Holiday on the bench after picking up his third foul.
Robin Lopez's blocked shots and Brook Lopez's rebounds. L.A. Daily News 3/10

And at the end, it came down to Campbell Hall star Jrue Holiday, a tie score and two free throws. Holiday hit both shots with 3.5 seconds remaining, and the visiting Vikings (26-5) pulled out a 74-72 triumph - their third victory this season over the Mounties - to advance to a Div. IV regional semifinal Thursday at top-seeded San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno (32-3). L.A. Daily News 3/8

(BruinBasketballReport.com)

(photo credit: Portland Tribune)