Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (1/5)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits

After a Saturday loss dropped the Rocklin boys basketball team out of the championship bracket at the MaxPreps Holiday Tournament at Torrey Pines, the Thunder responded with a vengeance, dominating West Valley of Hemet at both ends of the court Monday....Brendan Lane, the 6-foot-10 Rocklin center, dropped seven-of-seven free throws on his way to a 29-point game to lead his team to the win. Placer Herald 12/29 

The Crusaders came back in the second half, even taking the lead midway through the fourth quarter, before San Leandro secured a 75-72 win in the third day of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic....Reeves Nelson scored 27 points -- including 10 in a row to start the second half -- and Johnny Hutton added 20 points for the Crusaders. But they couldn't counter the Pirates' Jared Cunningham (25 points) and Demetrius Owens (24 points). Modesto Bee 12/30 

The Thunder outscored Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma, Wash., 41-21 after intermission to win a first-round game 69-52 on Friday. This match-up was the first head-to-head battle between Brendan Lane, who is headed to UCLA, and his future Pac-10 opponent, Washington-bound Abdul Gaddy. While Gaddy, a 6-foot-3 guard, won the individual scoring battle with 24, it was Lane’s team that delivered the win with a dominant second half, after trailing by three points at the break. Lane scored 21 points to lead the way for Rocklin, and Kale added 18 as the Thunder answered Gaddy with an impressive inside-outside attack. Placer Herald 12/30 

Rocklin High’s varsity boys basketball team beat Windward of Los Angeles 77-66 on Tuesday to finish 3-1 at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines in San Diego....Rocklin 6-foot-10 center Brendan Lane scored 25 points in Tuesday’s victory over Windward while Rocklin senior forward Pat Stover scored 19 and Thunder junior Tony Williams had 17. Lane led the Thunder by averaging 24.3 points over the four games. Placer Herald 12/30 

Cajon last won the Kiwanis Tournament in 1989 but after a 70-56 win over Los Osos in the semifinals at Pacific High School on Monday night, the Cowboys (10-3) are one victory from the championship....Los Osos' UCLA-bound guard Kendall Williams was held scoreless in the third quarter, most of which he missed after a hard fall forced him from the game. The 6-3 junior point guard scored 13 in the first half and finished with 18 points. Daily Bulletin 12/30 

Another game, another close loss for the Modesto Christian High boys basketball team. The Crusaders lost their third consecutive tight contest, this one an 86-80 setback to Sylmar in the seventh-place game in the Ninth Annual Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic on Tuesday.
Gary Ricks scored 32 points and Tyler Honeycutt added 22 in the Spartans' victory. Leo Prophete led Modesto Christian with 17 points, followed by 15 from senior forward Reeves Nelson. Modesto Bee 12/31 

James Spicer's 3-pointer from the corner with 5.8 seconds left in the third-place game gave Los Osos the lead for good in an up-and-down win over Silverado. After trailing by as many as 12 points, the Grizzlies (8-8) outscored Silverado (7-7) 29-16 in the final quarter, including an 11-2 run to open the final frame. Los Osos UCLA-bound junior point guard Kendall Williams had a game-high 32 points and six assists, including the game-winning helper to Spicer as Williams was swarmed driving the lane. Daily Bulletin 12/31 

The Wolverines followed up that win with a 57-48 victory over Windward High School of Los Angeles. Christian led all scorers with 21 points and Bellevue held 6-10 UCLA recruit Anthony Stover to only four points. Windward was led by Michigan-signee Darius Morris’ 18 points. Bellevue Reporter 12/31 

Mater Dei won, 90-66, in the last game of the 15th annual Pangos Dream Classic at Long Beach City College, taking its foot off the gas in the second half and coasting to the finish. David Wear finished with 26 points, brother Travis added 10 and Tyler Lamb scored 18 points off the bench for the Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times. LA Times 1/3 

Sunset started fast in its Monday match-up against Grant, faded almost as quickly then spent the fourth quarter crawling back into contention before falling just short against the Generals (5-2). The Apollos led 14-8 late in the first quarter on a Michael Holton three-pointer, but saw the Generals — led by Mike Moser’s 19 points and 12 rebounds — outscore them 29-10 over the next 14 minutes, 16 seconds and take a 37-24 lead on Mike Fendall’s “three” midway through the third. Sunset rallied from there, though, eventually closing within 56-53 on Bernards’ driving left-handed layin with 39 seconds to go. But Kelvin Cain scored inside and Moser hit two free throws in the final 38 seconds to help Grant hold on. Beaverton Times 1/3

Recruits

But even when Fairfax slowed, the threat of domination always loomed.
Renardo Sidney, the Lions' 6-11 center, drove OK,0021.08þeasily to the basket several times -- apparently whenever the mood struck him -- for dunks. He finished with two three-pointers and 21 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. "He's a huge load inside," Coons said. Sidney did a little of everything. He made a three-quarter court bounce pass through Westview defenders to a fast-breaking teammate. He had a powerful breakaway slam worthy of Sunday's dunk competition. And his scowl is NBA-ready as well. Oregonian 12/29 

Who will be next to head for Europe? California native Brandon Jennings blazed the new trail to Italy last summer, but Mississippi-born Renardo Sidney may be the next in line to take his game international rather than intercollegiate. Both players have been counseled by former sneaker impresario Sonny Vaccaro, who since exiting the summer circuit continues to grow his influence and peddle his wares to the next generation of lost soles. Jennings never revealed whether he qualified academically to attend Arizona, but if more top players do not clear their way with the NCAA, they, too, may wind up in Greece, Italy or some other professional setting for a year or two abroad. Sports Illustrated 12/31 

Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Ames (Iowa) High School, attended on an unofficial recruiting visit and sat behind KU’s bench. Before the game, Barnes left his seat to shake hands with Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, who had wandered to KU’s side of the court to visit with the Jayhawk coaches. KU and Tennessee are on Barnes’ list of schools, with Duke, Iowa, North Carolina and others. KU Sports 1/3 

(photo credit: Placer Herald)