Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (1/1)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Moments after basketball practice, Kevin Love, still draped in a soaking-wet uniform, climbs out of the family Toyota and heads into his Lake Oswego home. He walks through the kitchen, past a 10-foot Christmas tree in the living room and down a hallway to his bedroom, where he pulls the door shut and smacks a piece of paper taped to the front. "Check it out," Love says of the paper, which reads: "Will they surpass Love??? Check back in March." The Oregonian 12/26

The 11th annual Les Schwab Invitational, one of the premier prep basketball tournaments in the United States, starts today at Liberty High School in Hillsboro with perhaps its finest field of teams ever...Kevin Love, 6-10 forward, Lake Oswego: The No. 1 player in the Class of 2007 according to many recruiting experts, Love was MVP of the Schwab as a freshman in 2003. Has signed with UCLA.  The Oregonian 12/27

Kevin Love was as sensational as ever, and Lake Oswego appeared ready to defend its state championship during opening-round play of the Les Schwab Invitational. Love finished with 35 points and 15 rebounds, and the Lakers trounced Sheldon 60-30 on Wednesday night at Liberty High School, easily advancing to the second round and a matchup against Aloha. The Oregonian 12/28

Competing in their third December tournament and second in two weeks, the Lions of Los Angeles got off to a quick start, beating state power O'Dea 54-41 on Wednesday night in the first round of the T-Mobile Invitational at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Senior forward Chace Stanback -- a UCLA signee -- had 26 points, four rebounds and four assists. Seattle Post-Intelligencer 12/28

The 6-foot-3 Jerime Anderson was a little careless with the ball at times, with five turnovers, and would have had 20-plus points if not for a wobbly (8 of 14) performance at the free-throw line. But Anderson, who also had six assists and four steals, presented a myriad of issues for the Poly defense to deal with. Press-Telegram 12/28

King, a senior forward for Santa Ana Mater Dei, broke the 32-year-old Orange County career-scoring record in the first quarter of a 69-38 victory over Anaheim Canyon in a semifinal of the Orange Holiday Classic....Jerime Anderson, who came in averaging 20.8 points for Canyon (10-5), was held to 12 points on three-for-17 shooting. LA Times 12/29

When Fairfax and LeFlore met 365 days ago in the Academy National Invitational in Houston, Fairfax snatched a 55-54 victory after trailing 20-6 after the first quarter....Senior forward Chace Stanback poured in a game-high 25 points. Seattle Post-Intelligencer 12/29

The win set up Thursday's second-round matchup (late for Argus publication) against 2006 Class 4A Oregon state champion Lake Oswego, which routed Sheldon, 60-30. Laker senior center Kevin Love, who has signed with UCLA, scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the one-sided win over the Irish.  The Oregonian 12/29

No. 2 South Medford Panthers to a 71-63 victory over No. 1 Lake Oswego in the semifinals. Kevin Love, who was in foul trouble in the first half, finished with a game-high 27 points on 11 of 23 shooting and had nine rebounds but no assists and only one blocked shot. Lake Oswego Review 12/30

In the third-place game, Kevin Love recorded another double-double, 27 points and 13 rebounds, as Lake Oswego (Ore.) beat local-rivals Westview (Beaverton) 63-37. Love, who signed with UCLA, made 10 of 18 shots from the floor. USA Today 12/31

Recruits

The dilemma occurred when center-forward Luke Babbitt, Galena's best player, wasn't - at least in Maurer's opinion - among the five hardest working guys during Tuesday night's practice. True to his word, Maurer didn't start Babbitt and didn't summon his best player until there was 7:53 left in the first half. "We're not afraid to teach our kids what's right," Maurer said. Babbitt, a junior, responded with a team-highs in points (26) and rebounds (nine). The Sun News 12/28

amp;In a matchup between two of the nation's top sophomores, Artesia's 6-foot-10 center Renardo Sidney was outscored by Dorsey's 6-foot-7 forward Jordan Hamilton, but the second-ranked Pioneers won the other championship semifinal at Chapman. Sidney, ranked No. 2 in the nation among sophomores by Rivals.com, scored 16 points for Artesia (12-0). Hamilton, ranked No. 5 by the same publication, scored 28 points for Dorsey (9-3). LA Times 12/29

It was none other than Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski. "They're not recruiting me," Larry Drew Jr. said. "They might start now." The 6-foot point guard netted eight points and dished out seven assists in the Toreadors' 57-39 win over Durham Riverside. Drew's biggest impact, however, came on the defensive end. News Observer 12/29

Luke Babbitt of Galena (Nev.) is further proof that basketball is changing for today's big men. The 6-foot-8 Babbitt plays a little bit of everything for the Grizzlies. He often goes down low as a post presence, but he can just as easily drain the outside jumper. After scoring 26 points in Galena's first game, he dropped 25 points and hit four 3-pointers on Thursday. He is shooting 57 percent in the tournament and is 13-for-15 on free throws. Sun News 12/29

Undefeated St. Benedict (Newark, N.J.) won for the 10th time in as many starts, this time 69-43 over Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.) to take the eight-team boys championship for the 35th annual GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational. Taft point guard Larry Drew Jr. managed just nine points on 2-of-12 shooting, but dished out five assists. News Observer 12/30

Galena lost to Scott County, the No. 1 team in Kentucky, 70-64 while Douglas beat Immanuel of Reedley, Calif., 60-56....Luke Babbitt scored 34 points. Nevada Appeal 12/30

Finals of the Orange Holiday Classic....Now they're joined by 6-foot-10 sophomore Renardo Sidney, who looks ESPN- ready right now. Sidney scored seven of Artesia's first nine points and, although he didn't play his best, showed off his skill from outside as well.  Mater Dei also was strong in the class of '09. David and Travis Wear, twin brothers at 6-foot-10, already fit in, as does fellow sophomore Andy Brown. OC Register 12/30

The final of the Orange Holiday Classic between the two top teams in California couldn't have been any tighter down the stretch, as the Artesia Pioneers prevailed, 58-57, after rallying from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter...Sophomore center Renardo Sidney, chosen the tournament's Most Valuable Player, finished with 16 points, 17 rebounds and a couple of blocked shots for the Pioneers. Press-Telegram 12/30

Artesia hates to see the year end: But the difference-maker so far has been 6-foot-10 sophomore forward Renardo Sidney, a transfer from Jackson, Miss. Sidney, ranked No. 2 in his class by Rivals.com, did not play high school basketball as a freshman, instead focusing on elite travel-ball tournaments. He had 16 points and 17 rebounds against Mater Dei.  LA Times 12/30

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds to help Campbell Hall (Calif.) win Saturday's fifth-place game of the National Division in the Bay Ball Classic with a 64-63 victory over Philadelphia's Simon Gratz. Delaware News Journal 12/31

(photo credit: Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Oregonian)