Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (12/18)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

It would be hard to ignore the game turned in by Love, who had 36 points and 19 rebounds. He also played approximately the last four minutes of the game with four fouls. Without his teammates, though, Kevin Love would have been hard-pressed to win this game by himself. Lake Oswego Review 12/13

Kevin Love is like a rock star headlining a cross-country tour, except it's what he can do with a basketball and not a guitar that has fans shrieking in envy. Love, a 6-foot-9 1/2 center from Lake Oswego, Ore., is coming to Los Angeles on Friday night, playing Compton Centennial at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, his future home court. L.A. Times 12/13

With 31 seconds left, Fairfax experienced a scary moment. UCLA-bound Chace Stanback went for a dunk but picked up a foul and crashed to the court. He appeared to be in severe pain, but it was only cramps in both legs. L.A. Times 12/14

What they saw was a 6-foot-9 1/2 senior from Lake Oswego, Ore., who could play the starring role in any highlight film demonstrating the fundamentals of basketball. From making 10 consecutive free throws to blocking nine shots, from grabbing 13 rebounds to scoring 25 points, Kevin Love was a formidable force in Lake Oswego's 58-37 victory over Compton Centennial before 1,500 in the second game of the Verbum Dei Paul Pierce Real Run Winter Classic. L.A. Times 12/16

Likewise, the coaching staff at UCLA tried to convince Oregon big man Kevin Love to commit early to the Bruins, put himself on an academic fast track and enter school in time to play this season. (Can you imagine the nation's No. 1 team with Love in the lineup right now?) Love wasn't ready to commit early enough to clear that bar, but it's only a matter of time before someone else does. SI 12/17

Recruits

Rick Pitino already has one 2008 commitment from a California big man – 7-0 San Diego junior Jeff Withey. Is the Louisville coach looking to add another west coast giant to the Cardinals roster? 6-10 Edgar Garibay, a junior from Compton (CA) High School, made an unofficial visit to Louisville last weekend. Garibay, a three-star prospect, watched the Cardinals play in the NABC Classic. Sports Washington 12/10

The Pioneers are loaded with talent....Piney Woods and transfer Renardo Sidney. Artesia is the third nationally ranked team that Galena (2-3) has faced this season. The Grizzlies, who are coming off a 77-73 victory over View Park (Calif.), are led by highly recruited 6-foot-8 center Luke Babbitt (25 ppg last season) Nevada Appeal  12/13

The game then turned into a struggle for Mitty, but The Chronicle's top-ranked team was able to pull out a victory on the road, beating Bishop O'Dowd 61-52. It's the type of win teams like to point to when they prepare for the postseason. "We have to get used to calls not going our way and keeping our composure," Drew Gordon said. San Francisco Chronicle 12/13

Pioneers senior guard James Hardin (an Arizona State signee), junior guard Malik Story (USC), senior guard Martin Whitmore and the No. 1-rated sophomore in the nation, 6-foot-9 Renardo Sidney each had 19 points in the win. Senior guard Anthony Gasporra also chipped in 10 for Artesia....A Luke Babbitt drive cut the lead to nine at 43-34 before Artesia stretched its lead back to 13 on a finger-roll by Harden. Nevada Appeal 12/14

In the end, the point differential was slightly worse as Artesia walked away with a 21-point 71-50 win, but Douglas was able to make it interesting until well into the third quarter in the first round of the George Maldonado Classic at Galena High School....For Artesia, Renardo Sidney, the No. 1-rated sophomore in the country, and James Harding each had 18 points to lead the Pioneers. Record-Courier 12/14

Derrick Taylor, the most successful boys' basketball coach in Woodland Hills Taft history, said Thursday he will finish out this season but then step down as coach because he no longer wants to deal with parents complaining about their sons' playing time....This season's team, led by junior point guard Larry Drew Jr., is off to a 5-1 start. L.A. Times 12/15

Drew Gordon, a 6-foot-8 junior power forward, finished with a double-double. He had a game-high 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots for Mitty. He put the game away with a two-handed jam, which put the Monarchs up 60-55 with just 54 seconds to go.  Inside Bay Area 12/16

With the victory, Galena improved to 4-4 on the season and will play Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) in the championship game today at 5 p.m....Luke Babbitt led all scorers with 40 points ("I felt like if the shots were there, I'd take 'em," he said).  Nevada Appeal 12/16

Verdell Jones has a problem. He can't gain weight. "I do everything to try," the Champaign Central High School guard said Saturday. "I eat five, six meals a day. My dad says it will take time." While Jones would like to add muscle to his slender 6-foot-4 frame, the smooth junior showed his game is plenty strong in the inaugural Shootout at the Hall.  Pantagraph.com 12/16

He is barely Mater Dei's tallest player, though, since 6-10 twins Travis and David Wear are in the starting lineup this season for the first time. They will be McDonald's All-American candidates in two years, but for now the team's best player remains Duke signee Taylor King. Naples News 12/17

Artesia 63, Galena 40. Galena center Luke Babbitt's lay-up narrowed the gap to three (22-19) and his 3-pointer brought the Grizzlies back within two (24-22) with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter. Babbitt had a team-high 25 points, but no other Grizzly finished in double figures. Renardo Sidney had a team-high 24 points Nevada Appeal 12/17

Drew Gordon, regarded as one of the top juniors in the country, finished with 13 points, but also battled early foul trouble and had just one basket in the fourth quarter as the Warriors turned up their defensive pressure. Inside Bay Area 12/17

(photo credit: Jack Rosenfeld)