Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (11/19)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland announced today high school senior standouts Jerime Anderson, Drew Gordon, Jrue Holiday, and Malcolm Lee have all signed and returned their national letters of intent to play basketball in Westwood next season. All four players are ranked in the top 50 of their basketball class, as a result, many scouts consider the Bruin's 2008 class as the best in the nation. "I'm a happy guy because I think we have a great recruiting class," Howland said. "Not only in terms of their abilities but also because all of them are great kids from great families."  Bruin Basketball Report 11/15

Recruits

"He brings a size and presence that we haven't seen since Amir Johnson," Taylor said of  Renardo Sidney. "He could have the same effect, and his offensive game is far more advanced. He's a matchup problem for anybody who has to deal with him." Sidney is considered the No. 1 center prospect in the nation for the class of 2009, but the challenge for Kitani is to get him to play hard and play consistently. Perhaps that's why in Sidney's first appearance in a Fairfax basketball class the second week of October, after taking a month off because of a knee problem, he faced an immediate challenge from Kitani, who made it clear what he expected. "I was breathing hard and getting frustrated," Sidney said of the practice. That didn't prevent Kitani from getting his point across, stressing fundamentals. "Coach Kitani is a hard coach," Sidney said. Kitani is almost certain to challenge Sidney to put forth the work ethic of past Fairfax standouts, Josh Shipp, Chace Stanback and Jamal Boykin. If Sidney comes close to doing that, coupled with his talent, the opposition will be in deep trouble. LA Times 11/14

Jordan Hamilton (6-7, Jr., Dominguez): He's not going to score nearly as much as he did last season at Dorsey, when he was an All-L.A. City selection. But, at least in fall settings, he's looking like a more complete player with a group that could be good enough to win the Southern Section's most challenging divisions (I-AA). The addition of point guard Dominick Lacoste also made the Dons even deeper, quicker and better in transition. Press Telegram 11/14

The arrival of 6-foot-10 transfer Renardo Sidney from Lakewood Artesia has thrust the Lions back into the favorite's role. Senior guard Chris Solomon and junior guard Lance Bailey distinguished themselves during the summer, and 6-6 junior Solomon Hill has gained in strength and skill. The one question mark about the Lions is at point guard, after teams exploited that weakness during the summer when Sidney was not on the team. LA Times 11/14

UCLA also had an assistant coach at Saturday’s game to evaluate Mason Plumlee. The Bruins are among a growing list of schools that have already offered the junior a scholarship. The others are Indiana, Wake Forest, Virginia, Louisville, Notre Dame, Stanford, Georgetown, Michigan and Miami. The tallest of the Plumlee brothers is versatile enough that Greenies coach David Gaines put him at point guard during last winter’s 3-A tournament, which Christ School won for the second time in three years. Mason averaged 9.5 points as a junior, but the forward saw his stock shoot up during spring and summer AAU tournaments. Citizen-Times 11/18

(photo credit: LA Times)