Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (4/30)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

L.A. City Player of the Year and Best in the West selection Chace
Stanback of Fairfax High played as if he intends to make a serious run
at some immediate playing time as a UCLA freshman while leading his
teammates to a 104-95 victory over their Southern Section counterparts
Saturday night during the ninth Collision Classic All-Star Game at El
Camino College. The 6-foot-7 Stanback, who led the Lions to L.A. City and
state (Div. I) titles in March, scored 26 points with seven rebounds,
three blocked shots and three steals Press Telegram 4/24

If you have yet to take in Kevin Love, checking out a replay of the Hoop Summit should give you a pretty good feel for what he will bring to the table for Ben Howland and UCLA this fall. He displayed just about everything that has earned him the top spot in many analysts’ Top 100 lists, from the advanced skill level and the immense strength, to the near-superhuman feel for the game. In short, the Bruins are getting an All-American, the type of all-around presence that is more than capable of shouldering the load on a national championship run – even as a freshman. DraftExpress 4/25

Recruits

Drew Gordon, a top 20 power forward from San Jose, Calif., said he
intends to narrow his choices this weekend after meeting with his high
school coach. He has visited Arizona, California, Washington, Duke,
North Carolina and UCLA so far."They're definitely in the mix still," Gordon said of the UA. "I'm really interested. It was  a good visit." Gordon said he was looking primarily to see how he would fit in on
the floor, an area where the Wildcats should have an advantage: They
have only three post players, Jordan Hill, Mohamed Tangara and Alex
Jacobson, an incoming freshman this fall, on their tentative 2008-09
roster. Arizona Star 4/24

With a top and most likely final three of Arizona, UCLA and North Carolina, four-star point guard Larry Drew
certainly can't go wrong no matter what college he chooses. However,
the 6-foot-0, 160-pound Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft star is having
trouble coming to a final decision. Gator Bait 4/24

University of Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has signed the
first recruit of his tenure with the Wildcats and it’s a high-profile
player. Oak Hill Academy guard Alex Legion, a Parade Magazine All-American,
signed scholarship papers with the Wildcats earlier this morning. Courier Journal 4/24

Jrue Holiday grew up a Carolina fan and was mesmerized when he made an
unofficial visit to attend last season's game against Wake Forest, when
UNC's 1957 and 1982 national championship teams were honored at the
Smith Center. Mrs. Holiday has been just as impressed with Williams as Larry Drew has been. "I
just love him," said Mrs. Holiday, who has an effervescent personality.
"The man is wonderful. When you talk basketball, Roy Williams' name is
up there. But I like him because his character is outstanding. He is
just a wonderful man. "When I talk to him on the phone, we talk
about how he is a teacher. He talks about his family, his wife. My
husband and I think about it, what is it that I'm looking for? They
will be pretty much raising my child for the next four years. I want someone he can look up to rather than making it all just a business." Chapel Hill News 4/25

Elijah Johnson, 6-2 SO PG Las Vegas (Nev.) Cheyenne, is an explosive athlete with a very high skill level. Johnson can get to the rim at will, shoot to the stripe and create for his teammates. He’s still young, and needs to learn to maintain his focus, but he’s got a very high upside. As of this writing, he’s the top West Coast point guard prospect in 2009 and he’s got a chance to be one of the best prospects in the country.
We spoke with Johnson briefly about the early stages of his recruitment. We asked Johnson about the schools that he’s currently interested in.
“I like Kansas, Memphis and Texas,” said Johnson. “I like the way those schools play. I’d kind of like to get away from the West Coast. If I did stay in the west, the one school I would consider is UCLA. I watched them some this year and they play hard and work hard. And they never give up, no matter the score.” Rebel Nation 4/25

(photo credit: SI)