Sunday, March 14, 2010

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (3/15)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.  

Commits

Kaela King scored 23 points and Tyler Lamb added 21 to lead Mater Dei to an 80-48 win over Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley on Thursday in a CIF Southern California Division I quarterfinal game at Mater Dei High. The win advances the Monarchs (31-1) to the semifinals, where they will face Taft of Woodland Hills on Saturday at home at 7 p.m.  OC Varsity 3/11

Mater Dei beat the state’s No. 3-ranked Taft of Woodland Hills, 75-73, Saturday and now gets ready to play No. 2 Westchester. Mater Dei, No. 1 in calhisports.com’s California rankings, will play Westchester next Saturday at 8 p.m. at USC's Galen Center in the CIF Southern California Regionals Division 1 championship game....The Monarchs regained the lead on two free throws by Gary Franklin, then Mater Dei’s Tyler Lamb made a 3-pointer with 1:21 left to give Mater Dei a 72-68 lead. Lamb’s shot turned out to be the one that was the final momentum maker in a game in which there were 15 lead changes. “I didn’t think about it,” Lamb said about the 3-pointer. “I just let it go.” Lamb scored a team-high 21 points. OC Varsity 3/13

Recruits

Of course, then there is Mt. Pleasant guard/forward Trey Zeigler, son of the CMU head coach. Zeigler has offers from Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA, Arizona and Pittsburgh, among others, but has been playing his recruitment close to the vest. Despite offers from just about every school in the nation, Zeigler, the No. 26 player in the nation according to Rivals, routinely acknowledges that playing at CMU under his father is a possibility. Detroit Free Press 3/9

Instead, Calipari's main purpose for taking the trip to see Findlay was to get looks in at some of the Pilots' younger talents. Among those he was taking a look at, according to Peck, were junior guard Nick Johnson, sophomore forward Winston Shepard and freshman guard Nigel Williams-Goss. Las Vegas Sun 3/9

For Hoover, a season that began with state title aspirations will end without one. Facing Compton in the second round of the Division II state playoffs on Thursday night, the Cardinals didn’t play a complete game, losing 69-53....Ingram led Hoover with 15 points and center Angelo Chol added 10. Chol faced different defenses nearly every possession and ended up without a point in the fourth quarter. San Diego Reader 3/11

Sacramento boys 87, Miramonte 84 – Not to be completely outdone by his cousin Shine, Josiah Turner keyed a fourth-quarter rally to hold off the Matadors of Orinda in a second-round game. A nationally recruited 6-foot-3 junior guard, Turner scored seven of his 37 points in a fourth-quarter run that put the Dragons (25-6) ahead to stay. He had a steal and layup, a three-pointer and another steal and score to make it 85-78. Sac Bee 3/11

Jefferson senior Terrence Jones, among the highest-ranked uncommitted basketball recruits in the class of 2010, has not made a decision on a college, Jones and coach Pat Strickland told The Oregonian's Aaron Fentress on Friday. The words of Jones and Strickland contradict persistent rumors posted on Internet sites that Jones has decided on Washington or Kentucky. Jones is also considering UCLA, Oregon and Oklahoma. Oregonian 3/12

After a buzzer-beating, one-point loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday in Indianapolis, University of Michigan coach John Beilein traveled to Midland Dow and witnessed the latest in a long line of impressive performances by Mount Pleasant's Trey Zeigler in the Class A boys basketball district final against Bay City Western. Zeigler finished with 28 points and lifted Mount Pleasant to its fifth consecutive district championship with a 58-39  win over the Warriors. MLive 3/12

The final bear of 2010 turned out to be a wounded No. 1-ranked Westlake on Friday night. Milton — with no seniors on its roster — won its first state championship in basketball with a 56-46 victory in the Class AAAAA boys final at the Gwinnett Arena. Those year-older sophomores for Milton — juniors Dai-Jon Parker (19 points, six rebounds), Julian Royal (15 points, five blocks) and Shannon Scott (five assists) — did their parts. AJC 3/12

You know what Ray McCallum brings to every single game.  First Effort, then Energy, and last if you can imagine this is his unbelievable talent.  As skilled a basketball player at the guard position we have seem in Michigan is some time.  This youngman handles his leadership role with style and grace of a college coaches son.  Oh, he is a college coaches son!  At the end of every game you want to say "Ha Ray" thanks for the great performance I know you put your heart into it.  Ray Mc Callum scores the usual 21 point
s in a workmenship effort. MLive 3/13

Whatever argument Terrence Jones might want to put forth about why he deserves to be mentioned among the great basketball players out of Oregon, it should always begin with this: Three in a row, baby.  Jones talked from the beginning of the season about trying to make history and leading his team to a three-peat. And although Mountain View did not let the coronation come easy Saturday in the OSAA Class 5A boys basketball final at McArthur Court, the Democrats won 57-48. "We made (winning three championships) our goal freshman year," Jones said. "We worked hard since then. This is the best way to end it, to leave this way, especially with my brothers that I came in with." Oregonian 3/13

20 Comments:

At Mar 14, 2010, 10:17:00 PM, Anonymous BruinFan said...

T Jones and Ray M, the red carpet is out in Westwood/Hollywood
The best athletic program in the USA (#1 in titles)
So Cal - hot girls
Get connected w/ advertisements if u go pro
Play 25+ minutes a game as a Frosh.
No brainer....
U.C.L.A.

 
At Mar 16, 2010, 6:00:00 AM, Anonymous Brew In said...

Hey BruinFan, not to mention our current resume of (Howland)players recently drafted and starting, leading their team in some category, or making a significant impact for their squad:
Russell Westbrook - Thunder
Kevin Love - T-Wolves
Darren Collison - Hornets
Jrue Holiday - 76ers
Arron Afflalo - Nuggets
Jordan Farmar - Lakers
Come on all you recruits out there, see the light of what type a player this program will make out of you!!!
(Here's to hopefully breaking out some nachos next year)

 
At Mar 16, 2010, 6:42:00 AM, Anonymous Swami Mikey said...

And it was interesting to see the L.A. Times articles this morning reporting that Chace Stanback (quitter) was on the all-defenseive team (and defensive player of the year?) in UNLV's conference. Gee, I wonder if he learned a bit about defense from Howland?!

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 1:28:00 AM, Anonymous ASK said...

I know he quit UCLA but I have always liked Stanbacks game. Same for Gordon, bad attitude and couldn't control his mouth but he is a baller. They will both do well in college and possibly the NBA, just wished they would have lived up to their commintments to the Bruins.

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 3:03:00 AM, Anonymous BruinFan said...

1) We still can't play man to man
2) We still don't have a proven solid center
3) We still dont have a defensive stopper
4) We still have the terrible trainer
5) We still have the darn ast. coaches who goofed with recruiting
6) We still have Bobo, Anderson and Stover
I'm going to church

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 6:16:00 AM, Anonymous Sandip O'malley said...

I'm sorry...Drew Gordon, a baller. you're kidding right? He was physically gifted but he played soft. Frankly, I was glad he left. As for next year, I'd be happy to make it back to the Tournament with a small run. I'm gearing for 2012!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 6:23:00 AM, Anonymous Brew In said...

Uuuuuuuuughh! You make it sound pretty grim!
In regards to number 2) I am getting nervous that reports are circulating that Smith has ballooned up to 320lbs!
Damn, where'd I put my Jack n' coke?!

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 9:54:00 AM, Anonymous AZBruin said...

Who has the scoop on Kaela King? How did ASU scoop him when we got Tyler Lamb? Sure could use a point guard LOL. 6'5" playmaker.... I understand he plays defense too..

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 10:06:00 AM, Anonymous AZBruin said...

Hee hee. Scout.com has Smith at a hefty 320. He also grew an inch they list him at 6'10". And we thought Kevin Love was kinda hefty when he showed up!!!
Let's hope his summer with Kevin will tone him up.

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 10:59:00 AM, Anonymous Swami Mikey said...

With Kevin, Josh and Bobo in Westwood together over the summer, there may not be any food left in West L.A. for anybody else. Swami say: Hide your food.

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 5:12:00 PM, Anonymous BruinFan said...

Fellas, read the posts, doesn't sound like we will make the Big Dance nxt yr, UNLESS there are drastic changes to the program...
I think Howland is toast after this coming year....even if he does drastic changes like this:
1) Get rid of Bobo, Stover and Anderson
2) Get rid of the trainer
3) Gut the staff for crummy recruiting
4) Add Ray M and 2-3 Power Forwards/Centers
Add youth...whos gonna score...either we run and gun with our 320 lb center or call in the season...
Lee - buddy u will be in Westwood until your Senior Yr...you shot 13% from the 3 pt line..straw man
Honeycutt...you will be here at least 2 years...be a leader next yr and improve ya gm..u r getting a full ride so shut up n play...
I AM REALISTIC
Going to church...NIT nxt yr is a possiblilty only if CBH does some MAJOR CHANGES (roster and staff)
Lamb won't contribute much
LJ, who knows
Smith - rumors are...he is whale...
not looking good...I hope Holwand recruits more Camerooooooooonians.....

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 5:18:00 PM, Anonymous bruinfan said...

I'll be the first to start a FIRE HOWLAND post....
4 HUGE factors affecting our program...
1) Players he must tell to leave
2) Players he adds
3) Ast. coaches he keeps/adds
4) Trainer - keeps or gets rid of

 
At Mar 17, 2010, 6:55:00 PM, Anonymous AZBruin said...

6' 9" 320 lbs. Neuheisel must be drooling. Let's offer him a football scholarship. With Sua Filo going on a mission we need a left tackle.
That will open a slot for Ziegler this year or Chol next year.

 
At Mar 18, 2010, 6:48:00 AM, Anonymous Sandip O'malley said...

This may sound gay but I think it would be good to get a buff dude on the team - an enforcer type. Someone to motivate these fatasses and beanpoles to hit them weights.

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 1:50:00 AM, Anonymous DB said...

Sure Ucla has done a poor job recruiting overall the last two years but really it happens so lets get over it. Let us face it, just about everyone here gets caught up about the rankings of a recruit anyways so stop complaining about coach. Sure looking back we can say a few guys probably shouldnt have been recruited but it happens.
Heck even Jordan made the huge blunder of drafting Kwame Brown so it happens here and there. Why not also remember and give credit to coach for recruiting guys like Westbrook and Collison when I bet most guys on this form didnt even realize those guys were big deals.
In short, people gotta get over the 5 stars or so on a recruits name. Look at Reeves Nelsen, heck he was ranked the 40th something PF and we all know how well he did.
Coach Ben has done more with lesser recruits than any other coach really in NCAA. Teams like UNC, Texas, Duke, Kansas, UK, and Uconn usually rolls with 4-5 players with 5 star status on their roster at any given time but look how some of them fell apart too.
The current UCLA issue is losing too many to NBA too quickly as well as a few recruits not living up to potential. As far as we know, a few might turn out for the better since it is their first year. A few were disappointing sure but lets not be too quick to write someone off. Bigs tend to take awhile to develop and with recent problems we come to realize how much more Klove was special.

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 5:23:00 AM, Anonymous Brew In said...

Word!!!

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 6:45:00 AM, Anonymous Ebeneezer Choi said...

Foshizzle my dizzle....

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 7:29:00 AM, Anonymous Bruin4Life said...

I agree that we have been very lucky to get some outstanding PGs as well as Kevin Love, but my beef with Howland comes from his decision to play Dragovic and his reluctance to switch to a zone.
Dragovic is a joke. His defense has always been terrible (I have seen better D from shorter people in pick up games). My guess is that he is a smoker and that it effects his endurance. On top of that his shooting was way down this year...so I really don't get why Howland insisted on continuing to play (and start!) such a deadbeat.

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 8:54:00 AM, Anonymous Matt Stairs said...

Yeah, and Steve Lavin took a rough talent like Baron Davis and made him into the superstar he is today...puhlease!!! UCLA will always get talent - no worries there. Howland, win or get out! UCLA can win and recruit with any coach. Thanks to the legacy of John Wooden. In my book, Howland better shape up or he's out!

 
At Mar 19, 2010, 11:35:00 PM, Anonymous AZBruin said...

The disagreement in this forum has been about whether Coach can be successful.
We all agree this has been a disasterous year due to a gap in recruiting, departures to the NBA and a dirth of talent (Dragovic and disappointments with the Sophmore class).
One camp believes that this year exposed coach's deficits (judgement, flexibility, offensive prowess etc.) which has been covered by a bevy of first round talent. All that talent should have resulted in a couple of titles. They believe that we should fire coach and move on.
Another camp believes that although predictable this season was unavoidable.
If we land key recruits this year and the rest of the team evolves then we should be back on track next year and our faith in coach justified.
The bottom line: Are you willing to give coach another season and what are your expectations.
For the record, my minimum expectations next year: A winning season, NCAA bid (or highter) if we sign a top rated point guard. Anything short of that I will tend to agree with the other camp.
Also I agree with many in the forum about coach's use of Dragovic. I do not understand why he wasn't benched (ala Michael Fey).

 

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