Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (3/26)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

It only makes sense that two of the top prep basketball
players in Oregon history would end their illustrious
careers in historic fashion. In a rare twist, the state's coaches have named Lake
Oswego senior Kevin Love and South Medford senior Kyle
Singler co-players of the year on The Oregonian Class 6A
all-state boys basketball team. Oregonian 3/21

"He wasn't strong enough to finish against guys two and three years older," Coach Harvey Kitani said. Everyone envisioned a day Chace Stanback's body would begin to mature. It
started last summer. Suddenly, there were muscle sightings and times
he'd drive down the key, get hit and finish the play. It has carried over to a magnificent senior season in which the
6-foot-8 Stanback is averaging double figures in rebounds, making
three-point shots in bunches, driving the middle with no hesitation and
becoming a talent like few others. LA Times 3/23

On Saturday night, the City Section champion Lions (28-5) concluded
their most successful season in school history, benefiting from a wave
of missed shots by Oakland McClymonds to come away with a 54-29 victory
in the Division I boys' championship game....Ja'Shon Hampton led Fairfax on offense with 14 points, and Chace
Stanback, Rod Singleton and Chris Solomon added 10 points apiece. LA Times 3/25

Recruits

Sophomore forward Renardo Sidney is nearing the end of his first
season with the Artesia High boys basketball team and over this past
weekend, he admitted he's sad to see it go for several reasons. After transferring in from Mississippi, the 6-foot-10
Sidney has been magnificent for the Pioneers this season. He's
averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game Press-Telegram 3/20

His stats aren't mind-blowing, but as Foster says: "He could score no points and dominate a game." It is Drew Gordon's potential that excites coaches most. Only 16, he's still growing into his frame. Gordon is being courted by nearly every major-college program in the
country.  Gordon has made unofficial recruiting visits to Cal, Duke, North
Carolina, UCLA and Washington and soon will take one to Arizona. He has
plenty more schools on his list and plans to narrow his choices to five
within the next couple of weeks. A decision is likely by summer. San Jose Mercury News 3/22

With Southern Section co-Player of the Year
James Harden (with Mater Dei's King) moving on to Arizona State and
Story headed to the East Coast, some are wondering if 6-10 sophomore
Renardo Sidney, who transferred to Artesia from Mississippi last
summer, might look to move somewhere else. "I don't think Renardo is going anywhere," Artesia coach Loren Grover told the Times. Sacramento Bee 3/23

Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight stood with his arms and fists extended
upwards in triumph -- or relief -- as his players converged on the
court to celebrate their 69-64 overtime victory over San Jose Mitty. Sophomore David Wear had 10 points and seven rebounds, and senior
Kamyron Brown made seven of 12 free throws and finished with nine
points.... It was barely enough to off-set 20 points by 6-5 junior Collin
Chiverton and 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots from 6-9
junior Drew Gordon. LA Times 3/24

Justin Holiday hoisted the championship plaque over his head after
Campbell Hall High of North Hollywood's 70-34 victory over Cardinal
Newman of Santa Rosa in the CIF Div. IV state title game Saturday....Jrue Holiday finished with 20 points, Justin Holiday and Ford added 15 each, and Hornbuckle contributed 10 points.  LA Daily News 3/24

Renardo Sidney once considered high school basketball unimportant.
Fast forward to Saturday afternoon, and he had a change of heart.The
sophomore from Artesia High School of Lakewood led his team to a 91-64
pounding of Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland in the California Interscholastic
Federation Division III Boys State Basketball Championships at Arco
Arena.After the game, the 6-foot-10, 235-pound Sidney
bear-hugged and high-fived his teammates, celebrating Artesia's second
consecutive D-III title and fifth overall state championship.
"I love high school now," he said. "Everybody wants me to hurry up,
graduate and move on to the next level. But I've always said I want to
enjoy my high school career. It's not better than AAU, but the high
school game does get you ready for college." Sacramento Bee 3/24

(photo credit: LA Times)