Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (12/31)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Archbishop Mitty (7-0) defeated first-round opponent White Rock Christian of British Columbia by 30 points....Drew Gordon, a 6-foot-9 forward ranked 16th nationally at his position by Rivals.com, scored 16 points and had eight rebounds. Oregonian 12/28

Archbishop Mitty coach Brian Eagleson claims his team's ability to precisely toss the ball around court at the Les Schwab Invitational led the Monarchs to a 79-45 victory over Grant on Friday night...Drew Gordon, a 6-foot-9 forward headed to UCLA, led the way with 29 points, 19 rebounds and three assists. He had a handful of dunks that brought the crowd to its feet. Guard Collin Chiverton scored 14 points, added four rebounds and used his leaping ability to block two shots. "This was not an easy win. But I think we played tough and played together," Gordon said. "I agree with Coach, passing was the key. We just got everyone involved." Oregonian 12/28

# 1 Mitty 79, Grant-Portland 45: In Hillsboro, Ore., Mitty got 28 points and 19 rebounds from Drew Gordon and shot 64 percent from the field to beat Grant of Portland 79-45 in the semifinals of the Les Schwab Invitational tournament. Gordon hit 13 of 18 field-goal attempts and finished three consecutive possessions with dunks in the second half for the Monarchs, who improved to 8-0. SF Chronicle 12/29

In front of a near-capacity crowd inside the Torrey Pines High gym, the No. 8 Vikings couldn't overcome 23 turnovers, were beat on the boards 43 to 28 and didn't have an answer for Hamilton, a junior guard. The Vikings' All-American guard Jrue Holiday spent most of the game guarding Hamilton but that wasn't enough. Hamilton finished with 26 points, including four 3-pointers, and 11 rebounds to help put the Dons (9-1) into today's National Division championship against undefeated 19th-ranked Simi Valley. LA Daily News 12/28

Campbell Hall 68, Compton 62: Dallas Rutherford, Jrue Holiday and James Johnson combined for 53 points as the Vikings beat the Tarbabes for third place in the National Division. Demar DeRozan scored 23 points for Compton (9-5). Press Telegram 12/29

Jerime Anderson scored 20 points and Braden Priest added 15 for the Comanches (10-4) in the third-place game. Canyon also beat Antelope Valley and Diamond Ranch of Pomona in the tournament. The Comanches lost to JSerra by one point in the semifinals. OC Register 12/30

Recruits

Wednesday afternoon at West Ashley High School that kid was Milton Jennings, a 6-9 junior forward from Summerville's Pinewood Prep. A full head taller than any of his teammates or opponents, he's the kind of kid that stirs conversation during a holiday tournament like the Roundball Classic. For you old- timers, Jennings is that rare combination of size and grace that reminds you of Alex English, South Carolina's great scoring forward from the 1970s who later starred for the Denver Nuggets. Post and Courier 12/27

Reeves Nelson, a junior forward, was unstoppable inside with 25 points as Modesto Christian rolled past Van Nuys 98-63 and into the quarterfinals of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic Wednesday night. Modesto Bee 12/27

I have to believe the chances are good. UCLA is right in their backyard. The Wears play for a Pump N Run travel squad with strong UCLA ties. Pump N Run players Jrue Holiday, Jerime Anderson and Kendall Williams are all either signed or committed to UCLA. On top of this, Howland targeted the Wears early in the process. The Bruins would love nothing more than to bolster its front line with the addition of Travis and David - along with Pump N Run teammate Reeves Nelson. Rivals 12/27

Dominguez is No. 23 in USA Today's national rankings. Franklin couldn't handle Dominguez's Jordan Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 junior who finished with 31 points. Hamilton is ranked eighth in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com, a recruiting Web site. Seattle Times 12/28

Most of Henton's points came off passes from teammates Reeves Nelson and D.J. Seeley, the two standouts drawing the defense and kicking it to Henton. He made mid-range jumpers all night. Seeley scored 21 points, while Nelson had 11, including a late fourth-quarter dunk that put an exclamation point of the Crusaders' win. Modesto Bee 12/28

The Modesto Christian High boys basketball team will play in the finals of its own tournament. Crusaders junior forward Reeves Nelson scored 29 of his game-high 33 points in the second half to lead Modesto Christian to a 90-84 victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco in a semifinal of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic on Friday night. Modesto Bee 12/29

Greg Smith, a 6-foot-9 giant, had 16 points and 12 rebounds. His one-handed dunk midway through the third quarter summed up the one-sided affair. With Cooper desperately hanging onto one arm -- like he was trying to give a foul -- Smith jumped to snare a backdoor lob pass. And then, in one swift motion, he stuffed the ball through the cylinder to give Edison (8-3) a commanding 65-36 advantage. Merced Sun Star 12/29

And when they finally did catch up, the Eagles went on a run to seal the 60-52 victory in front of a capacity crowd at Modesto Christian High. "We had so many chances, so many breaks," Modesto Christian coach Gary Porter said. "But we never could convert. They're a good team, but we didn't play our best tonight." D.J. Seeley scored 20 points and Reeves Nelson added 13 for MC. Modesto Bee 12/30

It was an all-around team effort that helped Mater Dei beat JSerra, 88-74, in the tournament final Saturday night at Chapman University. Five Monarchs scored in double figures: sophomore Gary Franklin scored 19, on 8-for-10 shooting; junior Travis Wear scored 17, as did senior Blake Arnet; Travis’ twin David Wear scored 14; and junior Andy Brown scored 10. OC Register 12/30

(photo credit: OC Register)