Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (5/14)
By Bruin Basketball Report
Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.
Commits
Drew Gordon, a 6'9 235 lb junior from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose CA, has verbally committed to UCLA. Gordon is ranked the #16 overall player by Rivals and No.20 by Scout in
the Class of 2008, while ESPN ranks him as one of the top six power
forwards in his class. Bruin Basketball Report 5/7
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound junior from Mitty picked the Bruins over Cal,
Arizona and Washington. North Carolina and Duke were on his short list as well. "I actually made up my mind about a week-and-a-half ago," Drew Gordon said.
"I kept it to myself for a while to see how it felt. Once I ran it past my
family and coaches and got their backing, that was it." San Francisco Chronicle 5/8
Recruits
New Rivals 150 Ranking Rivals.com 5/7
Larry Drew, meanwhile, is looking primarily at Arizona, North Carolina
and UCLA. Drew is the No. 4 point guard in 2008, according to both
rivals and scout. Arizona would be in great shape with a commitment
from either Drew or Jennings. Arizona Daily Star 5/7
There are a lot of positive things to be said about California guard
Jrue Holiday. In April, he added dominating guard to the list of
descriptions. The 6-foot-3 standout helped his Pump N Run Elite team
win the Real Deal on the Hill. Holiday also shined at the other
national events. The nation's top guard is being heavily pursued by
UCLA, Washington and North Carolina. Scarlett Nation 5/7
Trey Thompkins used to be known as Howard Thompkins, Jr. and he is a bonafide athlete that Head Coach Bruce Weber is fighting strongly for....According to Howard, Sr. his son has a list of schools that would make most college suitors nervous. “We hear a lot from Florida, Georgia, Florida State, North Carolina and UCLA. All of those schools are great schools, but Illinois is right up there in the mix with them. I like them.” Inside Illini 5/8
Jrue Holiday, a 6-foot-4 junior guard at North Hollywood Campbell Hall
who is ranked as the No. 2 basketball prospect in the nation by one
recruiting service, has narrowed his college choices to UCLA and
Washington, his mother, Toya, said Thursday. Bruin Basketball Report 5/10
Representing the guard faction in the Top 5 is Californian Jrue Holiday. Skilled, determined and a guy who always finds the winner’s circle, Holiday has been strong in each of his outings this spring. Like Kyle Singler last year, he’s one of those guys we’ve heard nearly every college coach comment on how much they'd love to have him. Why? He places a high value on winning and it shows. Go Jackets 5/10
Arizona Cactus Classic: try to see California-based Pump N' Run Elite, a star-stocked club that includes Modesto, Calif., power forward Reeves Nelson and Mater Dei High School 6-foot 9-inch twins Travis and David Wear.
All have included Arizona and UCLA among their final choices. Their
team will play at 8:20 p.m. Friday at McKale and again at McKale at
2:50 p.m. Saturday. Arizona Daily Star 5/13
Gary Porter, who coached Chuck Hayes at Modesto (Calif.) Christian, might have another outstanding player. He's Reeves Nelson, a 6-foot-7 player who just completed his sophomore season.
Porter described Nelson as "Chuck Hayes with more scoring-type power." Lexington Herald-Leader 5/13
(photo credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Lance Iversen)
Labels: Prep News Roundup
BBR :: Article Link :: 5:00 PM ::
12 comments
12 Comments:
Is it me ... or does Larry Drew really want to be a Bruin. I'm just picking up the vibe of him following in Jordan Farmar's shoes er footprints. Not sure if he'll get offered or not ... because I imagine there is a wait and see what happens with Jrue Holiday first.
Is that deal - wait to see what Holiday does and then revise the plans moving forward?
yes you're correct
Clyde, that is pretty much how I am seeing it too. Jrue seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the guards in the west, so he is priority number one. Drew may very well be plan B, however, they really will need some scoring from the guard position so there are other options as well.
Any takes on the 2009 class? Renardo would clearly be a great catch, but those Wear twins could be huge too. Their scoring should go way up with Taylor out of the picture next year. Will be interesting to see their development. I assume Howland is all over the twins at this point.
Right - at least Howland doesn't have to travel too far this year for the majority of his recruiting class. Artesia and Mater Dei. I wonder if BBR has any other insight information on those 3 guys you mentioned. Sidney and the Wear twins. If nothing else time to stop the pipeline of twins to Stanford.
Looking ahead recruiting wise - when the 2005 class graduates (shipp,collison,aboya,mbah a moute) certainly that is going to be a big void of bodies. Of course I understand that one or two folks (collison,shipp) may leave next year when Mata graduates. I would prefer to see the Bruins fall back into recruiting classes of just 3 blue chippers (hey - r.sidney, d.wear, t.wear would fit perfectly).
I heard we hired an assistant coach from Mater Dei. Hmmm I wonder why? So we can get the Wear twins?? Colleges are becoming sneaky, but it is legal.
BBR, dish out your knowledge on this subject. Fellas, I believe BBR sits on the bench with our players...he will never tell us who he is yet he has access to incredible statistical insight...dish it like Collison to Love for alley oooops upside the Trojans heads...
I understood that UCLA hired the son of the Mater Dei basketball coach. Whether that helps the pipeline of players from that school or now - not sure. I believe I read it here - perhaps not - perhaps BBR can double check and confirm and explain what it all means. Side note - Renardo Sidney is shown as listing UCLA and USC in his two school preferences (on Scout.com) but I suspect that list will expand and some of the other elite programs jump on his wagon. It would be a nice haul to pick up him and David/Travis Wear from Mater Dei.
Gents, look at that pic of Gordon vs. the Wear twins. Maybe we should use those two scholarships on some ballers with muscle. Ignore the maybe part and read again...
Clay McKnight, son of Mater Dei Head Coach Gary McKnight, was hired last season as UCLA's video coordinator. Clay McKnight was previously the assistant basketball coach at an unstable situation at UC Riverside.
Scott Garson had been UCLA's video coordinator before earning a promotion to assistant coach. No doubt, McKnight has similar aspirations for himself in the future.
What is the effect of McKnight's hire on the Mater Dei basketball pipeline to UCLA? Needless to say, it certainly doesn't hurt. As for the Wear twins recruitment, the positive relationship between Coach Ben Howland and the Wear family will be the main factor in the twin's decision.
- BBR
Comparisons between Gordon and the Wears are tough to make. First, Gordon is a physically mature junior while the Wears are only sophomores and still growing into their bodies. Secondly, they play a different game. Gordon is strictly a post player with tremendous leaping ability and good defensive instincts. The Wears play both inside and on the perimeter, and at this point are more comfortable facing the basket.
Although as the Wear twins physically mature and gain more experience over the next two years in high school and AAU play, they'll have the chance to develop a more solid inside game to go along with their perimeter play. They certainly have the work ethic and skills to get to that point.
- BBR
Thanks BBR for confirming the hiring of Clay McKnight. Probably can't read too much into that - but like you said can't hurt.
I'm definitely interested in catching one of the AAU games showcasing many of the UCLA prospects for the next two years.
Mr. BBR ... what is your take on Arizona recently being added to the AAU rotation. This is something new for them - just hard to quantify the impact in the recruiting wars. I suppose it can't hurt if nothing else. Arizona certainly has pulled their weight in recruits for many years - not quite sure how they do it.
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