Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (12/24)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Somogyi plays defense, too. Mitty's Drew Gordon, the area's top player, struggled offensively against the 7-footer in an AAU matchup last spring. "I think I did a good job on him on defense, but I couldn't do much on offense," Somogyi said. SF Chronicle 12/19

As a former point guard, I'm quick to admit that Jrue Holiday is my favorite player that I've scouted for Rivals.com. As you pointed out, he can make pretty much all the plays with and without the basketball. On top of that, he is a fierce competitor and one of the best, if not the best, perimeter defenders that I've scouted. Rivals 12/19

Spartans coach Tom Hofman would have loved to have had Malik against Riverside J.W. North's Malcolm Lee. Unfortunately for Hofman, all Malik could do was watch as the UCLA-bound point guard put on a show. Lee made a short bank shot with 34 seconds left in overtime to give the Huskies a 67-66 victory and the tournament title. The 6-foot-3 senior scored 22 points as J.W. North (5-3) snapped the Spartans' four-game winning streak. "We knew they were going to be hungry, and they played a great game," said Lee, who was named the tournament's most valuable player. LA Daily News 12/21

Jerime Anderson scored 25 points for Canyon. That was in Capistrano Valley’s plans. Also in Capistrano Valley’s plans — Anderson’s teammates would not be as much a hindrance. Anderson’s teammates scored only 22 points between them, and Capistrano Valley beat Canyon, 59-47, Friday in the Orange County North-South Challenge at El Toro. Anderson, a senior guard who was All-Orange County first team and has signed with UCLA, is at his most dangerous when he is distributing the basketball to teammates for easy baskets in addition to his own scoring. OC Register 12/21

Oak Grove battled hard before Drew Gordon took over to lead Mitty to a 57-47 non-league victory at Independence High on Saturday night. It was the smallest margin of victory for the Monarchs (5-0) this season. Oak Grove twice closed to within three in the fourth quarter, but each time Gordon responded - first with a midcourt steal and breakaway slam, and then by getting to the free-throw line. Gordon outscored Oak Grove 9-3 down the stretch to break open a game that stood at 47-44 with 2:30 left. He finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Mercury News 12/22

Recruits

Most come to pursue Ater Majok, a 6-10 forward from Australia who is considered perhaps the best uncommitted big man in the 2008 freshman class. Majok has worked out in front of more than 25 colleges during the past month. Smith, the Australian coach who handles Majok's recruitment, keeps his cellphone turned off unless he's making an outgoing call. Otherwise, Smith said, "These recruiters would talk all day and make me go broke." Washington Post 12/19

There's a buzz now, wherever the team goes. The biggest reason -- both literally and figuratively -- is Ater Majok, a 6-foot-10-inch Sudanese who arrived in town a little more than a month ago and has been treated like a rock star ever since. Several Web sites project him as a future NBA star. Nobody disputes he is a blue-chip college prospect for next season....Outside, Baylor University head basketball coach Scott Drew is waiting on the curb. Inside, a crowd is beginning to gather. Among the dignitaries: recruiters from UCLA, Connecticut, Louisiana State and Louisville. Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg is here to take a look. Later, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will settle into his seat. Roanoke Times 12/20

Fairfax, which won the California state championship back in March, featured a lineup which included 6-foot-10 Renardo Sidney, considered by one scouting service as the top junior in the U.S. plus 6-5 Soloman Hill, and a pair of 6-3 guards in sharpshooter Lance Bailey and Chris Solomon. Sidney had 18 points before fouling out, and Solomon had 16. The Ledger 12/20

Miles Plumlee, Christ School’s 6-foot-10 senior post player who is headed to Stanford, overcame a sluggish first half to score 18 of his game-high 22 points in the final 16 minutes to lead the Asheville school to a 72-64 victory....Plumlee’s younger brother, 6-10 junior Mason Plumlee, scored 11 points and had 11 rebounds. Lakeem Jackson and Dee Giger had 15 and 11 points, respectively. The State 12/20

Dominguez 53, Urspring (Germany) 40: Jordan Hamilton scored 23 points and Aaron Moore added 14 for the Dons (5-1) at the Amare Stoudamire Invitational in Florida. Press Telegram 12/21

There was a buzz in the gym with the anticipation of a late night showdown between the Jeremy Tyler, the No. 1 sophomore and Renardo Sidney, the No. 1 junior in the country. However, most of the crowd at the Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic headed home at halftime since Tyler and his San Diego High School team had no answer for Sidney and Los Angeles Fairfax High School. Sidney dominated his match-up with Tyler. Halftime score: Fairfax 40, San Diego 18; Sidney 15 points, Tyler 0 points. Final score: Fairfax 62, San Diego 34; Sidney 32 points, Tyler 0 points. Gator Bait 12/21

When asked about his recruiting situation, Renardo Sidney rattled off an unconvincing school list of UCLA, USC, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Ohio State. When pressed on who is really recruiting him the hardest, however, USC was the only school mentioned. In fact USC assistant Gib Arnold, showed up an hour or so before the game after spending 13 hours flying to the Orlando area from an event in Hawaii where he was scouting. Gator Bait 12/21

Smooth 6-9 junior Milton Jennings’ 17 points led the way as the Panthers beat Logan 64-55 in a first-round game at the Chick-fil-A Classic basketball tournament at Richland Northeast High. Pinewood Prep (11-2), the two-time defending SCISA Class 3A champion, advances to play host Richland Northeast at 5:15 p.m. today in a winner’s bracket game. Jennings showed his versatility by hitting three 3-pointers and blocking six shots. The State 12/21

Jordan Hamilton was the man of the night and fellow Southern Californian Renardo Sidney was awful good as well. Due largely to their efforts the championship game of the Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic will be the battle of Los Angeles. Hamilton came up big for Dominguez. In a hard fought game through three quarters, Hamilton sank a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter putting Los Angeles Dominguez up by one point over Kathleen (Fla.) High School. From that point on neither team had more than a one point lead before Hamilton drained another three pointer with three seconds left to give Dominguez a 55-53 win. Gator Bait 12/22

A 2009 five-star prospect, Jordan Hamilton is down to Texas, Connecticut, Syracuse, California and USC. He had these comments about his favorite school Texas. "I took an unofficial visit there and really liked the campus. They have great coaches, and I love the way Coach Barnes runs his offense." Gator Bait 12/22

MODESTO CHRISTIAN 95, RIPON CHRISTIAN 36, at Ripon -- Junior standout Reeves Nelson scored 24 points to lead the Crusaders past the Knights in their Trans-Valley League season opener. Modesto Bee 12/22

Despite first-half foul trouble to its best player, the Dominguez High boys basketball team showed off its depth, not to mention some clutch free-throw shooting, in knocking off Fairfax, 57-52, in the championship game of the Amare Stoudemire Invitational on Saturday night in Davenport, Fla. Junior guard Jordan Hamilton led the Dons (7-1) with 17 points and 10 rebounds, despite picking up his third foul early in the second quarter....The Lions (7-1) were led by 6-foot-10 junior center Renardo Sidney's 20 points. Sidney, a transfer from Artesia High, was selected the tournament MVP. Press Telegram 12/22

(photo credit: The Ledger)