Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (1/19)
By Bruin Basketball Report
Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.
Commits
James Johnson's presence was felt on the defensive end as he shut down UCLA-bound forward Anthony Stover, who finished with four points, including just one field goal. "To be honest it was kind of easy on me," Johnson said. "I have known him for a long time and know his tendencies. he played hard though. But I knew when he was going to be soft." LA Daily News 1/12
MODESTO CHRISTIAN 98, ARGONAUT 72, at Salida -- Johnny Hutton erupted for 29 points and 11 rebounds as the Crusaders (5-7) trounced the Mustangs (2-12). Reeves Nelson scored 20 points and Anthony Pratt 12 for MC. Modesto Bee 1/14
With five players from its regular rotation sitting out the first half of the game for disciplinary reasons, the Rocklin High School boys basketball team put its incredible depth on display in an 83-43 win over Roseville Tuesday night....Even with the game all but iced away at 43-22, the Rocklin regulars returned to the floor after sitting out the first half, and senior center Brendan Lane quickly made up for lost time. Lane scored 14 points in the third period and 10 more in the first four minutes of the fourth before taking a seat for the night with 24 points and five rebounds in just 12 minutes. Placer Herald 1/14
Rocklin High’s varsity boys basketball team had another fast start Thursday night against visiting Nevada Union, jumping out to a 30-10 lead in just over 11 minutes. The Thunder’s lead grew as high as 31 points and they pulled out the 74-53 victory. Rocklin (17-2 overall) is now 4-0 in the Sierra Foothill League while the Miners are 1-2. Rocklin has dominated the first quarter since league began, including 20-0 against a tough Woodcreek team in the league opener. “We’ve started out really strong so far in league and we just go out and try to pressure as much as we can (in the first quarter),” Rocklin center Brendan Lane said. Lane finished with a game-high 15 points. Placer Herald 1/16
Setting up their inside game, the Mustangs seemed to have found a way to score. But the Crusaders intercepted passes inside the paint that led to long passes and many dunks and stuffs, mostly by UCLA-bound center Reeves Nelson, who scored 20 points in the game. Ledger Dispatch 1/16
Three boys basketball players from the Stanislaus District have made the opening list of nominees for the McDonald's High School All-Star Basketball Game, which will be played April 1 in Miami.
Modesto Christian's Reeves Nelson (top), Merced's Allen Huddleston (center) and Patterson's Felix Mapanda. Modesto Bee 1/17
Modesto Christian's Reeves Nelson (top), Merced's Allen Huddleston (center) and Patterson's Felix Mapanda. Modesto Bee 1/17
MODESTO CHRISTIAN 91, JOHANSEN 55 -- Jimmy Escudero scored 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and Johnny Hutton had 22 as the Crusaders rolled past the Vikings. Junior guard Dakarai King led Johansen with 19 points.
UCLA-bound forward Reeves Nelson didn't play his second consecutive game for MC. Crusaders coach Gary Porter said he was out because of a tender knee. Nelson had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the fall. Modesto Bee 1/18
UCLA-bound forward Reeves Nelson didn't play his second consecutive game for MC. Crusaders coach Gary Porter said he was out because of a tender knee. Nelson had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the fall. Modesto Bee 1/18
Recruits
But Miller (9-3, 1-1) got a big-time performance from Mychal Parker, who poured in a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals. Daily Progress 1/13
At Kentwood 60, Tahoma 29, The No. 3 Conquerors put the Bears away early with an 18-0 lead after one quarter. Josh Smith scored 19 for Kentwood. Christian Behrens of Tahoma scored a game-high 22. Seattle Times 1/14
Renardo Sidney emerged from the summer basketball circuit with more red flags than the Atlantic Coast during hurricane season. His focus drifted during games and he often appeared unmotivated. His poor diet resulted in an increasingly doughy appearance. He even had a few run-ins with referees, including a dustup during a Las Vegas tournament in which he was continually admonished for his behavior....The Renardo Sidney who takes the court at Fairfax tonight for the Lions' Western League showdown against rival Westchester is 13 pounds leaner than he was this summer -- the result of a new diet and conditioning regimen. When it comes to high school competition, though, he's still the heavy. Against the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies on Wednesday, Sidney scored 39 points and put together a fourth-quarter sequence lasting only a matter of seconds in which he had a thunderous one-handed dunk, a two-handed alley-oop slam and an uncontested layup amid a flurry of turnovers by the opposition. LA Times 1/16
Behind its talented backcourt and game effort from its big men, Westchester only trailed once after the first quarter and fended off every challenge by Fairfax in a 78-73 league victory that was more convincing than the final score indicated....The Comets (17-1, 4-0) were quite impressive again. They offset a 34-point performance by Fairfax standout Renardo Sidney, getting 22 points from O'Connor and 18 from shooting guard Jordin Mayes. Daily Breeze 1/17
Josh Smith knew his Kentwood boys basketball team didn't want to get into a track meet with No. 2 Federal Way.
If the Conquerors did, he was sure it would turn out like the last meeting, with a loss.
That didn't happen.
The 6-foot-9 Smith dominated as usual inside with 25 points and 18 rebounds, and third-ranked Kentwood won 52-50 Saturday night in a clash of top teams in the South Puget Sound League North Division. Seattle Times 1/18
If the Conquerors did, he was sure it would turn out like the last meeting, with a loss.
That didn't happen.
The 6-foot-9 Smith dominated as usual inside with 25 points and 18 rebounds, and third-ranked Kentwood won 52-50 Saturday night in a clash of top teams in the South Puget Sound League North Division. Seattle Times 1/18
Labels: Prep News Roundup
BBR :: Article Link :: 4:07 PM ::
9 comments
9 Comments:
BBR, I recall that you were high on Stover prior to his being signed (or maybe you reported that the coaching staff was high on Stover?). Whatever the case, are you still high on him? He seems the weakest of the C players/recruits of the Howland era...
Looking at various clips of him on the internet, his footwork seems very clunky.
This site is dead...
Steve,
If by dead, you mean more devoid of some of the comments and put downs by people who have nothing better to do than frequent forums and often spew inane comments, you are right.
When it comes to information shared by knowledgeable people and good summaries of articles pertinent to our UCLA Bruins, you are dead wrong! Long live BBR!
We have no inside game and lack flow on offense....glad I could tell the readers....BBR, COME BACK PLEASE....
Stover will likely be a four-year player at UCLA. Morever its healthy for a program to have a mix of one-and-done and four-year players - it gives the program some continuity while at the same time a chance to win it all.
Stover will give the Bruins depth in the middle and may become a starter by his third year if he is dedicated to developing his game, and from all indications, he chose Howland and UCLA for this very reason.
UCLA won't need Stover to start next season or even his sophomore year. Gordon and Morgan will be back next season and likely the following season as well.
- BBR
Word BBR. Stover is signed for that big ol' senior season. Nelson might even be around for 5 seasons with that knee causing problems. I see some mega role players for our future tourney runs.
Howland seemed to fall asleep in the 2nd half of the ASU game. Seriously how hard is it to get your players to attack the basket and start earlier in the shot clock. Or to sub in a player to pass out that instruction. Harden can only go left and thats what he did. No change to what they were doing defensively in the OT. Left Holiday on the bench to long. Just a bad game for Howland. He's not nearly as good an offensive coach as a defensive coach. Just a fact. As for Stover he's still in HS. You can't teach that kind of height and wingspan. The AAU and HS circuit is void of teaching sometimes. Seems to me Ryan Hollins was a similar player at that age, though maybe better footwork and he turned out alright. We should be more worried about the development of Morgan at this point and why he can't crack a very weak inside rotation.
BNR,
I dont think it is because Coach Ben is not a good offensive coach, but rather, their main focus is on defense. On top of this, UCLA for years really do not have a great offensive player who can create their own shot. On top of this, the inside game is very weak so I am thinking Coach Ben probably feels if we go up tempo a little bit on offense, it will wear out our defense faster.
The faster the game, the more defensive stance we will have so I am thinking he is trying to slow down the game and rely more on defense to create opportunities.
There are still a lot of things to work on for UCLA. Recruiting is a big factor in the success of college game as well as coaching. This season is our weakest one of the last few so we will need to rely even more on great teamwork all around.
It is nice to see the players play hard on defense yet heartbreaking seeing them work even harder on offense to just try and get a devent shot off. I am sure they will improve though.
BNR: I agree with you. It seems to me UCLA was better at creating an inside game through set plays before Kevin Love. At present, we seem to be one-dimensional. If you play us tough on the periphery, what is UCLA's response? I think this team is still finding it's identity on offense, and is still softer than previous teams on defense. Frankly, I think they are sacrificing defense and defensive rebounding for fast-break points and it isn't paying off. Better to stress defense and defensive rebounding on one hand, coupled with developing an "inside-outside" game based on a set offense. The motion offense isn't working out.
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