Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (11/13)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

For the third year in a row, a consensus of voters has pointed toward the Pacific Northwest when asked to identify the best college basketball prospect among high school seniors in the west. In voting among 67 college coaches and talent scouts, Kevin Love of Lake Oswego High in Oregon finished atop the balloting for the 28th Press-Telegram Best in the West team. Press Telegram 11/6

Kevin Love, a 6-10, 250-pound center from Lake Oswego HS (Lake Oswego, OR) and Chace Stanback, a 6-7, 210-pound guard/forward from Fairfax HS (Los Angeles) both signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UCLA, Bruin head coach Ben Howland announced Wednesday. Bruin Basketball Report 11/8

You will have the opportunity to get an early look at UCLA prize basketball signee Kevin Love on Feb. 3 when Love and his Lake Oswego, Ore., teammates play Mater Dei in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei's new gym. The Nike Extravaganza will be a two-day event there Feb.2-3. OC Register 11/10

Gibbons, publisher of All Star Sports and a longtime college basketball recruiting analyst, published his rankings last week at bobgibbons.net. UCLA signee Kevin Love edged Indiana recruit Eric Gordon for Gibbons' overall No. 1. Journal and Courier 11/13

Recruits

This year, the unknown surrounding Artesia is about the eligibility of one player, incoming sophomore transfer Renardo Sidney. He happens to be regarded by most scouts as the top sophomore in the nation, a 6-10, 245-pound versatile talent orignally from Mississippi who made a national reputation for himslef on this summer's AAU circuit.  Gator Bait 11/9

The only other team from California in the preseason rankings is Mitty of San Jose at No. 47. The Monarchs feature 6-9 junior Drew Gordon, the state's top sophomore last year, in the middle and have a number of other key returnees plus a potential impact transfer coming in from Arizona. Gator Bait 11/9

The Washington Huskies capped their men's basketball recruiting class of 2007 by getting a letter of intent Thursday from forward Darnell Gant of Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. Gant, 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, was rated as the No. 12 prospect in the Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West poll earlier this week and chose UW over Oregon, Nevada, California and Kentucky. Seattle Times 11/10

Isaiah Thomas said he is leaving Curtis in University Place for South Kent to clear up some academic issues that will enable him to join the Huskies next season.  Thomas, a 5-foot-9 guard, was rumored to be having academic difficulties that might leave him ineligible this season....He committed to UW last April after also considering UCLA, Kentucky and Georgetown. Seattle Times 11/10

(photo credit: SI)