Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (11/09)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday 

Commits 

Tyler Lamb, one of three Mater Dei players selected to the first team, was third in the balloting with 330 points and six top prospect designations.
Lamb - who is expected to sign a national letter of intent with UCLA on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA's fall signing week - is one of 10 players from Southern California who landed on the 15-member BIW first team. Press Telegram 11/7

Recruits 

Harrison Barnes recaps his trip to UCLA last weekend:  After practice I had dinner with the assistants and the players, and my mom had dinner with Coach (Ben) Howland and his family. Then I went out with the players and had a chance to enjoy some of the social aspects of the university. Since it was Halloween there were a lot more things going on, especially at some of the frat houses. My hosts were Malcolm Lee and Tyler Honeycutt, and they were cool guys. Dime Magazine 11/6

It was equal parts Iowa State men’s exhibition basketball and Harrison Barnes love fest Friday night at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat North Carolina-Pembroke 106-54 on a night Barnes, who some call the No. 1 high school recruit in the country, made his unofficial recruiting visit. He sat in the front row behind the basket closest to the Iowa State bench. Next to him was Ames High School teammate Doug McDermott, the son of Cyclone coach Greg McDermott and a Northern Iowa recruit. Barnes wore a warmup suit with “Jordan” on the back, and didn’t turn down anyone requesting an autograph. Des Moines Register 11/6

The very best of the Best in the West is once again located in the Pacific Northwest.
Six-foot-eight Terrence Jones of Jefferson High in Portland topped the results of the voting from among 64 coaches and scouts who cast ballots for the latest edition of the Press-Telegram's yearly survey on the best college prospects among the current crop of seniors in the western portion of the country. Press Telegram 11/7

This weekend, the Bruins are entertaining Terrence Jones, a 6-foot-7 forward from Jefferson High in Portland, Ore. Jones has a reputation for being a versatile player, able to operate from three-point range as well as down low with his back to the basket.  The Bruins are thought to be competing against Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma and Kentucky. LA Times 11/7

Now that Kentwood's football season is over (the Conquerors were eliminated by Issaquah last night), it shouldn't be long before Joshua Smith announces whether he plans to continue his basketball career at Washington or UCLA. But he's apparently not ready yet. I saw Smith this morning at the West Central District 4A volleyball tournament at Kentwood -- the 6-foot-10 senior is here supporting the K-dub team that still has a chance to qualify for state. I asked him when he was going to announce his decision, and he said he didn't know. I asked him if he's made his decision and he said no.  Seattle Times 11/7

Let the anticipation build. Fans of Duke, North Carolina and four other schools that remain finalists for the services of top-ranked recruit Harrison Barnes of Ames, Iowa, will learn his decision Friday. Shirley Barnes, the player's mother, said in an e-mail that Barnes will announce his school choice Friday. No decision has been made on a possible broadcast of the announcement. Barnes spent the final weekend before his announcement on an unofficial visit to his hometown school, Iowa State, his mother said. Shirley Barnes works in the music department at Iowa State. A 6-foot-6 forward, Barnes is rated the top recruit in the nation by scout.com. In alphabetical order, his finalists are Duke, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and UCLA. News and Observer 11/8

Michigan point guard Ray McCallum is expected to select his college basketball choice Wednesday — Arizona, Oklahoma, UCLA, Florida or Detroit Mercy. It is a monumental decision as it relates to the point-guard-needy Wildcats. I wonder: Why wouldn't he stay home and play for his father, also named Ray, in Detroit? Some of it could be that Detroit is a midmajor or less.  Arizona Star 11/8

The Division I early signing period starts Wednesday, Nov. 11. That's for the lucky few, but two of the state's best are skipping it, Mount Pleasant's Trey Zeigler and Country Day's Ray McCallum. But that's by choice. For most other prospects, they'll be playing through their senior seasons trying to prove themselves college worthy. And they may supply a hidden bounty. MLive 11/4

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (3/30)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday 

Commits 

There is much debate about whether Rocklin's Brendan Lane can be an impact freshman next season at UCLA. Many scouting reports say the same thing: The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Lane is going to have to get stronger and tougher. But there are no arguments that Lane is a skilled player with enough all-around ability to play power forward, small forward or even center in a pinch. With the core of coach Ben Howland's team - seniors Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya - departing and freshman guard Jrue Holiday possibly headed for the NBA, next season could be a rare rebuilding year for UCLA. Sac Bee 3/26 

L.A. Times Boy All-Star Team: Tyler Lamb, Mater Dei, 6-5, G, Jr.: Top shooting guard averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 steals for Southern Section Division I-AA runner-up. Committed to UCLA. LA Times 3/29 

Reeves Nelson has played in his share of big games in his four years at Modesto Christian High School.
His teams won four Sac-Joaquin Section titles and advanced to the CIF NorCal Championship game three times. This year, the Crusaders lost to St. Mary's of Berkeley in a NorCal semifinal.
But ask the UCLA-bound forward what one game he'll remember the most, and he can't think of it. Instead, he'll remember the journey.
Nelson, who averaged 24.7 points and 14.0 rebounds a game for Modesto Christian, is The Bee's 2009 Boys Basketball Player of the Year. It's the second consecutive year Nelson has won this honor. Modesto Bee 3/29 

Recruits 

It doesn’t take any basketball fan long to notice that Trey Zeigler is a special player.
The junior guard for Mt. Pleasant has been turning heads since he first became a teenager, making a name for himself with his strong performances in basketball camps across the country.
In his first two seasons as an Oiler, Zeigler helped Mt. Pleasant get to two regional finals. But in each instance he was sidelined with injuries that forced him to miss a good portion of the season.
This season he took the next step, emerging as a dominant player while leading Mt. Pleasant to yet another regional final. Morning Sun 3/28 

The Parade All-America team has reaffirmed what became obvious this winter: Washington had some great boys basketball players this year.
Three players from the Seattle-Tacoma area, and another with local ties, made this year's team, which will be released in the April 5 issue. Bellarmine Prep senior guard Abdul Gaddy and Kentwood junior forward Josh Smith made the second team....So did Kentwood, even with Josh Smith in the middle. The 6-foot-10 center Rivals.com's No. 1 junior recruit in the country, led area big schools with 24.3 points per game, and he averaged more than 16 rebounds. He has yet to decide on a college, though UCLA and Washington are among the many schools on his list. Seattle Times 3/29

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (3/23)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday 

Commits 

Despite having no one on the court taller than 6 feet 4, the Eagles (32-3) relied on the intangibles, not to mention an effective 2-3 matchup zone defense, to defeat hometown favorite Rocklin, 73-61, to win the state Division II championship. It's the first time a San Bernardino County boys' team has won a state title....The Eagles' quickness and leaping skills helped them prevent 6-10 UCLA-bound Brendan Lane from taking charge inside until it was too late. Lane ended up with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. LA Times 3/20 

Facing Windward-Los Angeles for the California Interscholastic Federation Division V boys basketball title, the Pilots fell down early and couldn't muster enough of a comeback in a 69-53 loss Friday that denied them their fourth state crown in school history....It didn't take long for Windward's Anthony Stover to make his presence known. The 6-foot-10 UCLA-bound center had three blocks before St. Joseph finally made its first bucket - a jumper by D'Angelo Hutton to make it 10-2. The game started the way we didn't want it to with (Stover) blocking shots," Lippi said. Stover had only three more blocks the rest of the game, but the tone appeared to be set, and he finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. "He was a big part of their team, but we still had to go at him," Hutton said. "I guess we got a little timid." Inside Bay Area 3/20 

Recruits 

Trey Zeigler scored 28 points, lifting Mount Pleasant to a 57-47 win over Marquette in a Class A boys basketball regional semifinal on Monday at Petoskey. MLive 3/16 

Sophomore center Kyle Caudill of Brea Olinda has been invited to be a member of the Developmental National Team that will begin training June 4 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. A group of finalists will be selected to compete in the U16 FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina. LA Times 3/18 

San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral 62: Huntington Beach Ocean View 55: Pete Carroll and Tim Floyd would have been smiling if they had seen the performance of 6-5 Kevin Greene, who had 20 rebounds and made a key basket in the final minute to stop an Ocean View rally in the Division III final.... Junior Anthony Brown scored 18 points for Ocean View, which made only 18 of 60 shots.  LA Times 3/22

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (2/23)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

The chance to complete the Sierra Foothill League season undefeated will come Friday for Rocklin High’s varsity boys basketball team.
The Thunder (24-2 overall, 11-0 in the SFL) will play Del Oro (20-5, 8-2) in Loomis at 7:30 p.m. Thunder senior center Brendan Lane, 6-foot-10, led Rocklin over Nevada Union 73-54 Monday night in Grass Valley.
Lane collected 35 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks while teammate Tony Williams scored eight points and Thunder forward Pat Stover went for seven points and six boards. Placer Herald 2/18 

The Bishop Diego boys basketball team was fed to Windward on Wednesday in the first round of CIF playoffs, absorbing a 85-21 blow from the No. 1 team in Div V-A.
The Wildcats (21-6) feature a pair of blue-chip NCAA recruits - 6-foot-4 Darius Morris, heading to Michigan, and 6-foot-10 Anthony Stover, heading to UCLA.
“They’re the best team I’ve seen all year,” credited Bishop head coach Ray Vazquez, saying Windward’s athleticism was second to none.
“I don’t see anyone beating them.” Presidio Sports 2/18 

The game was pretty much over at halftime with the Thunder up 51-25. Other than Del Oro standout junior Spencer Butterfield, who had 24 points, Rocklin's suffocating trapping defense kept the rest of the Golden Eagles in check.
The 6-foot-10 Brendan Lane showed why UCLA has invested a scholarship in him. He finished with a game-high 26 points and dominated on the boards and defensively.
"As the season as progressed, our chemistry has gotten so much better," Lane said. "We've really started playing well the second part of league." Sacramento Bee 2/21 

Grant, the reigning Class 6A champion, has a two-game lead in the Portland Interscholastic League with two games left following a 59-54 victory at Lincoln on Friday.
Senior Mike Moser, selected to compete in the Nike Hoop Summit earlier in the week, led the Generals with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Oregonian 2/21 

Recruits 

Harrison Barnes was seated behind the Duke bench for the Blue Devils' 101-87 loss to North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Wednesday. Duke and North Carolina are among the schools Barnes, a junior at Ames High School, is considering.
"It was crazy,'' Barnes said.
Asked if it was everything he was looking for in a college atmosphere, Barnes said, "It was college basketball at its greatest. You just have to go and see it. Des Moines Register 2/17 

It's still days away before Sunday's announcement by Fairfax center Renardo Sidney about his college choice, but UCLA fans seem to think Westwood will be his destination, and they might be right.
UCLA's top assistant coaches have been frequent visitors to Fairfax games in recent weeks. Sidney is known to prefer staying in Southern California. The Bruins have shown they need a skilled big man.
The question is whether UCLA has offered Sidney a scholarship. He still has to take the SAT.
But I think that Sidney has made so much progress on the court and off in the past few months that it probably means UCLA can't pass him up. LA Times 2/17 

Westchester clobbered visiting Carson, 80-35, in the first round of the L.A. City Section Division I boys basketball playoffs on Thursday night with a stifling defensive performance....Dominique O'Connor and Jordin Mayes both scored 14 points to lead Westchester. Mayes showed off his shooting stroke, making three of his four 3-pointers in the first quarter, when Westchester rolled up a 27-6 edge. Daily Breeze 2/21 

Basketball analysts aren’t afraid to throw around monikers like “man-beast,” “baby-Shaq,” and the overused phrase “he has a great motor.” Every time Digger Phelps and Jay Bilas throw those around the scouting reports, most basketball people roll their eyes and find reason to down on the kid. Don’t let that happen with Josh Smith.
(VIDEO) Josh is huge. Right now he’s 6-10, 270 pounds, so he’s bigger than just about everybody he plays. Hell, in kindergarten, he was taller than his teacher—Smith was already 5-feet tall. Allow yourself to be immersed in the many “man amongst boys” lines that Brent Musburger shouts to the nation. SLAM 2/21
 

Renardo Sidney, a 6-foot-11 center from Los Angeles Fairfax considered one of the top college basketball prospects in the nation, announced today that he has committed to USC.
Sidney, who moved to Southern California from Mississippi in 2006, is averaging 24.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Fairfax (24-3). Sidney still must take the SAT to gain athletic eligibility next season. The earliest he can sign a letter of intent is April 8.
"I'm very excited," Sidney said. "It was a hard decision. After I heard my dad and mom had the same school as I had it was a relief."
He'll become the third consecutive McDonald's All-American to join the Trojans, following O.J. Mayo and DeMar DeRozan. LA Times 2/22

Leave it to the Narrows League champion Foss Falcons to try something that may have worked all season long in the South Puget Sound League: the “Hack-A-Josh” defense.
Foss sent Kentwood big man Josh Smith to the free throw line 16 times, watched him miss 11 times, and claimed a spot in the Class 4A state tournament with a 50-44 win on Saturday night at Mount Tahoma High School.
The 6-foot-9, 300-pound Smith didn’t have as big of a size advantage as he is accustomed to, as Foss has big, rugged post players in Jeremy McClain and Jonathan Payne. News Tribune 2/22

(photo credit: LA Times)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (2/16)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

Campbell Hall had won 62 consecutive league games and 60 consecutive home games until Tuesday night, when Los Angeles Windward pulled out a 61-57 overtime victory. Darius Morris, who scored a game-high 20 points, clinched the victory by making two free throws with 6.9 seconds left. Wesley Saunders had 17 points, Anthony Stover 12 points and Malcolm Washington 10. LA Times 2/10 

Forget about Mater Dei looking ahead to the playoffs. The Monarchs came out Thursday night like they were in the biggest game of the year, jumping to a huge lead and going on to beat Orange Lutheran, 97-71, in a Trinity League game at Orange Lutheran that was the final game of the regular season for both....Most of his points came from layups, thanks to excellent passing by David Wear, Tyler Lamb and Gary Franklin. Franklin and David Wear had six assists apiece, and Lamb had five. OC Register 2/12 

MODESTO CHR. 96, RIPON 65, at Ripon -- Reeves Nelson, after missing a week due to suspension, has returned with a vengeance. The UCLA-bound star scored 36 points, and guard Leo Prophet had 16, as the top-ranked small-school Crusaders (16-8, 8-0) clinched the Trans-Valley League championship by beating the Indians (13-12, 4-4). MC scored at least 20 in every quarter to approach 100. "Reeves Nelson is dominant," said Ripon coach Rod Wright, whose club nearly upset MC three weeks ago. " It was a fun-filled first quarter, then they kind of just pulled away." Modesto Bee 2/14 

Sylmar 106, Reseda 101 (OT); Leading contributors: Senior forward Tyler Honeycutt had 26 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks for Sylmar. Senior forward Ryan Watkins scored 31 points and senior guard Randall Harris had 27 points and 13 assists for Reseda. LA Times 2/14 

Recruits 

Westchester 79, Hamilton 39: Jordin Mayes had 21 points and DeShun McCoy had 14 to lift visiting Westchester (24-2, 10-1). Daily Breeze 2/9 

Kentwood (16-4, 14-2) was led by 6-foot-9 junior Josh Smith, who poured in 25 points to go with 14 rebounds and four blocks. Smith's presence was felt no matter where his large frame was parked on the court, but the Eagles (18-2, 14-2) consistently worked the ball patiently to find openings in the Conquerors defense. Seattle PI 2/10 

To say that Josh Smith dunks the basketball would be to underemphasize the word dunk. Josh Smith DUNKS! And with each dunk he brings swaying backboards, cowering opponents and wincing athletic directors who know that Smith’s next dunk might be the last for that particular backboard. And yet dunking is only part of the game for Smith, a mountain of a man who at just 16 years of age and 270 pounds, already dwarfs defenders and teammates alike. His athleticism and made-for-the-NBA body already have college scouts drooling and have helped him earn the tag of the No. 1 junior in the country. It’s a badge he wears with honor, if not trepidation.... While many college recruiters make Kentwood a regular stop on their scouting journeys, Smith has yet to decide where he will play once he graduates despite already receiving 15 offers from schools incluindg UCLA, Duke and Kentucky. Well-spoken and thoughtful, Smith is enjoying high school and hopes to eventually study sports medicine and English. “It’s too early to choose a school,” Smith said. “My goal is to just be successful in whatever I do. Maybe I don’t go to college, maybe I don’t go to the NBA, but as long as I’m successful at what I do, that will be okay. My dad says that the only thing he wants for me is to have a better life.” MaxPreps 2/11 

Renardo Sidney, a 6-foot-10 forward from Fairfax High in Los Angeles who is considered by many recruiting analysts to be one of the nation's top 10 senior prospects, hasn't made up his mind regarding his college destination, but Virginia may still be on his final list of considerations. The Los Angeles Times reported that Sidney's list of schools included U.Va., UCLA, Southern California, Louisiana State, Oregon and Mississippi State. The newspaper also reported his father, Renardo Sr., said all the aforementioned schools were on his son's final list, except Connecticut and Kansas State were in place of U.Va. and LSU. Daily Press 2/12 

Westchester 73, Palisades 35: Jordin Mayes had 18 points, and Deshun McCoy had 17 points for host Westchester (25-2, 11-1), which will share the league title with Fairfax. Daily Breeze 2/12 

Harrison Barnes is quite a hot topic right now in the recruiting world. Barnes, from Ames, Iowa, traveled to Durham for his second unofficial visit and sat behind the bench in a Duke T-shirt. It was thought that Barnes would have a drawn-out recruitment. But things appear to be loosening up and momentum seems to be building toward what could be an earlier-than-expected commitment to Duke. Rivals 2/13 

As for Renardo Sidney, LSU has taken a stab at trying to land the top-10 prospect. But Sidney, a Mississippi native who goes to high school in Los Angeles, doesn't have LSU on his latest list of schools, which includes UCLA, USC, UNLV, Mississippi State and Texas. If Sidney gets a qualifying ACT or SAT score this spring, look for him to go to either UCLA or USC. Rivals 2/13 

James McAdoo scored a career-high 52 points as Norfolk Christian cruised past host Peninsula Catholic 88-35. Dayne Keese and Sam Kush led the Knights with nine apiece. Daily Press 2/13 

Take note, future opponents of the Kentwood boys basketball team, the Conquerors aren’t all about center Joshua Smith. Sure, the highly coveted recruit scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots in second-ranked Kentwood’s 55-48 win over Curtis in the SPSL playoffs Saturday at Auburn. But foul trouble sent him to the bench for much of the second half, and his teammates fended off the Vikings in the 6-foot-9 junior’s absence. “Josh is a very good player,” Conquerors coach Michael Angelidis said, “but at times I don’t think the rest of the team has gotten the respect they deserve.” Smith was whistled for his fourth foul with 1 minute, 57 seconds left in the third period and Kentwood leading 42-36. He sat out for the next six minutes, and when he returned to the court Kentwood had extended its advantage to 53-46. News Tribune 2/15 

There's good news and bad news to report on 6-foot-11 center Renardo Sidney of Fairfax. The good news is that he does his chores in the morning. The bad news is that while washing dishes, he cut his right index finger, requiring four stitches, according to Coach Harvey Kitani. It forced Sidney to miss last Friday's game against Venice. Kitani is hoping Sidney is cleared this week so he can play in Fairfax's City Section Division I playoff opener on Thursday. LA Times 2/15

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (2/9)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

MODESTO CHR. 55, RIPON CHR. 44, at Ripon -- With Reeves Nelson out of the lineup, Johnny Hutton's career-high 29 points lifted the Crusaders (12-7, 5-0 Trans-Valley League) over RC (11-10, 2-3). Modesto Bee 2/4

Last Friday night, I watched one of our local big-time players have one of his best games in a special environment. They were turning people away at the door at Woodcreek High School Friday when the Timberwolves were hosting Sierra Foothill League powerhouse Rocklin in boys basketball. With a raucous crowd environment and full house as his backdrop, Rocklin center Brendan Lane showed why he is headed to a Division I power, UCLA, on a basketball scholarship. He was absolutely dominant at both ends of the floor, and delivered a big win to his team. Placer Herald 2/4 

Upland 61, Los Osos 51: Zach Robbins had 31 points and 17 rebounds to help Upland (17-7, 4-3) pull closer to second-place Los Osos (15-10, 5-2). Kendall Williams scored 17 for Los Osos, which trailed by four entering the fourth quarter. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin 2/4 

UCLA commit Reeves Nelson, a 6-foot-7 forward at Modesto Christian High, was suspended from his prep team for an alcohol-related incident. UCLA had no comment. LA Times 2/5 

Rocklin High’s varsity boys basketball team led Oakmont 61-13 at halftime in Wednesday night’s 83-35 victory in Rocklin....Anthony Romero led Rocklin with 15 points while Brendan Lane joined Kale with 13 points and Tony Williams had 10. Jackson Cummings and Zach Moss scored seven points each for the Thunder. Placer Herald 2/5 

But McMillan chose to drive to Portland to scout high school players and have lunch Friday with incoming UA freshman Mike Moser. "Moser's going to replace Budinger next year and start at small forward; thank God he isn't going to play for UCLA," O'Neill said. "We'll be young, but Abdul Gaddy is going to be an absolute stud at point guard. He's going to be for us what Isaiah Thomas is at Washington this year. Arizona Daily Star 2/7 

As expected, the Gray Bees (22-2) didn't fold down the stretch. They scored 26 in the final quarter but after scoring 35 through three, not nearly enough. Sophomore Tavon Sledge is a one of the most explosive players you'll ever see at this level and led St. Benedict's with 17 points, Thompson had 14 but most of those were after the game was long decided. Myck Kabongo added 12 points. As usual remarkably balanced scoring for the Monarchs (23-0) as David Wear had 18, Tyler Lamb 17, Travis Wear 13 and Connor Hughes, the new starter in place of injured Andy Brown, had 12. Max Preps 2/7 

The first-place team in the Sierra Foothill League had no trouble with the last-place team on Friday night as the Thunder crushed visiting Roseville 84-28. The Thunder (22-2 overall) are 9-0 in the SFL while the Tigers (10-14 overall) are 0-9. Rocklin led 25-10 after one quarter, 43-12 at the half and 70-22 through three quarters. Thunder center Brendan Lane led the way with 19 points while teammates Pat Stover (12 points), Cody Kale (11) and Joel Day (eight) also got into the act offensively. Placer Herald 2/7 

Sylmar 106, Monroe 65: Garry Ricks and Tyler Honeycutt combined to score 50 points for the visiting Spartans (16-7, 7-1) in a Valley Mission League win.
Ricks scored 24 points while the UCLA-bound Honeycutt had 26 points and 24 rebounds. LA Daily News 2/7 

Kendall Williams hit a last-second 3-pointer to give Los Osos an 87-84 victory over Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. Khalil Kelly led Rancho Cucamonga with 35 points and 21 rebounds. Redland Daily Facts 2/7 

Recruits 

Westchester 69, Venice 52: Jordin Mayes had 17 points and five rebounds and Dwayne Polee had 13 points and seven rebounds for visiting Westchester (22-1, 9-0). Kareem Jamar had 11 points for Westchester. Daily Breeze 2/4 

Birmingham Detroit Country Day's Jordan Dumars was basking in the glory of his 30-point game -- which included eight triples -- against Kalamazoo Central in December. He was then asked about teammate Ray McCallum Jr., who's making the transition from Indiana since moving with his dad, Ray, in his first season as the University of Detroit Titans head coach. “He makes the game so much easier," said Dumars. “He’s a great passer and he can score. He takes the pressure off." Detroit Free Press 2/5 

There was a sense of urgency Friday night for Los Angeles Fairfax. "It was a must-win game," 6-foot-11 center Renardo Sidney said. With the Western League title at stake and a possible No. 1 seeding for the City Section Division I playoffs on the line, the Lions came up with their best defensive effort of the season to upset No. 2-ranked Westchester, 49-42, before an overflow crowd at Westchester. Sidney came through with an effort that was nothing short of sensational. He had 26 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots, causing one college recruiter to remark, "He played like the best player in the nation." Sidney had to limp to the bench at the end of the third quarter after grabbing his right hamstring in pain from a cramp. He came back in the fourth quarter and never left. His two free throws with 23 seconds gave the Lions a 45-42 lead. "I think I was dehydrated," Sidney said. "It was hot. I knew the team needed me, and I had to suck it up." LA Times 2/7 

The Mt. Pleasant High School boys basketball team was defeated Friday night by powerful Saginaw High School at home by a count of 71-55....Trey Zeigler poured in 24 points to go along with 11 rebounds to lead the Oilers, while Dan Pittsley added 12 points. Morning Sun 2/7 

It was like running a marathon...and turning around and doing it again the next day. That's how playing two nationally renowned teams in less than 24 hours felt for Fairfax, which breasted the tape in fine fashion both times. A day after defeating Western League rival Westchester, the Lions knocked off Chicago Whitney Young, 64-57, in the Nike Extravaganza. Senior center Renardo Sidney had 19 points and nine rebounds and Solomon Hill had 12 points for Fairfax. LA Times 2/7 

Westchester bounced back from a defeat against its Western League rival less than 24 hours earlier, defeating short-handed Seattle Rainier Beach, 75-65, this afternoon in the Nike Extravaganza. The Vikings were missing four players because of injuries, including Louisiana State-bound guard Aaron Dotson and another would-be starter. Senior guard Dominique O'Connor scored 21 points and junior guard Jordin Mayes had 19 for the Comets (23-2), who pulled away by outscoring the Vikings (11-6), 19-8, in the second quarter. LA Times 2/7

(photo credit: Placer Herald)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (2/2)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

He’s as automatic as they come. Tuesday night at Modesto Christian High, Reeves Nelson, the Crusader’s UCLA-bound wunderkind, just missed a triple-double in leading MC past Ripon, 75-58. Nelson scored 38 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, handed out eight assists and blocked four shots in a contest the Crusaders led from wire to wire. Manteca Bulletin 1/28 

The Spartans built a 19-12 lead behind Tyler Honeycutt midway through the first quarter, as the UCLA-bound forward had nine of his game-high 40 points and eight of his 21 rebounds in the first quarter. Then, Fowler got hot, hitting four 3-pointers during the Regents' run, including a big trey as the first quarter ended. LA Daily News 1/28 

In front of a packed house, filled with energy, Rocklin’s 6-foot-10 senior center Brendan Lane nearly recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots as he dominated the paint all night long. “Brendan is better in big games,” Rocklin coach Steve Taylor said. “The challenge of playing against their two big men in front of this crowd really motivates him.” Placer Herald 1/30 

MODESTO CHRISTIAN 86, RIVERBANK 46, at Riverbank -- Reeves Nelson scored 24 points, leading a wave of players that scored a lot of second-chance points, as the Crusaders (12-7, 4-0 TVL) beat the Bruins (8-11, 1-3 TVL). Modesto Bee 1/31 

Sylmar 99, San Fernando 84: Tyler Honeycutt finished with 24 points, 20 rebounds, 10 blocks and five assists for the Spartans (15-7, 5-1) and Garry Ricks had 24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists in a Valley Mission League win. LA Daily News 1/30 

In a clash of future Division I college players Friday night, Kendall Williams utilized the built-in advantage afforded by the nature of his position. lta Loma High School forward J.J. O'Brien was phenomenal when he had the ball in his hands, but the junior couldn't outshine the Grizzlies point guard in a 69-57 Los Osos win. Williams had 23 points and six assists to O'Brien's 30 points and seven rebounds in a game that helped Los Osos (15-9, 5-1) maintain its firm grip on second place in the Baseline League. Williams not only initiated the Grizzlies offense, he didn't have a defender in his back pocket all night. When Alta Loma opened the game with aggressive defense on the 6-foot-3 junior who committed to UCLA before his sophomore season, Williams burned the Braves (10-12, 2-4) with four assists in the first quarter. The 6-foot-6 O'Brien's turn guarding Williams didn't last too long either. SB Sun 1/31 

Michigan-bound guard Darius Morris scored 27 points and sophomore forward Wesley Saunders had 21 to lead Windward to an 82-68 victory over San Diego Hoover tonight in the Fairfax State Preview Classic at Fairfax High. UCLA-bound center Anthony Stover scored 14 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks for Windward (16-6). LA Times 1/31 

Recruits 

Trey Zeigler's all-around game won a personal showdown with Cadillac's Ben Siimons on Monday in Mount Pleasant. His Oilers walked away winners, too, beating Cadillac 73-61. Zeigler scored 31 points, pulled down seven rebounds with six assists and two blocks as the Oilers raced out to a 27-9 lead after one quarter. MLive 1/26 

Harrison Barnes, the pride of Ames High School, was a popular guy at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday when Iowa State played Kansas. Complete strangers chanted his name, patted him on the back, told him "You'd look great in cardinal and gold." Kansas Coach Bill Self smiled broadly in his direction, once as Self entered the arena and again when he returned for the second half. Self knew exactly where Barnes was sitting and wanted — needed — to make eye contact. Barnes, a 6-foot-6 junior with rare basketball skills, did not tip his hand. He stood, politely, and clapped when the Cyclones took the floor, then visited the Iowa State locker room after the game. The Gazette 1/26 

Jordin Mayes had 13 points, Dwayne Polee had 12 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, and Dominique O'Connor had 12 points and eight assists as host Westchester defeated LACES, 75-30, in a Western League game. Daily Breeze 1/26 

Heavily favored Fairfax is breathing a sigh of relief after Lance Bailey made a free throw in the closing seconds to give the Lions an 84-83 victory over Palisades in a Western League game Wednesday. A Fairfax loss would have wrapped up the league title and likely the No. 1 seed in the City Section Division I playoffs for Westchester. Renardo Sidney scored 37 points and had 12 rebounds for Fairfax (16-3, 5-1). LA Times 1/28 

Fairfax and Westchester each scored easy Western League victories, continuing on a collision course to play for the league title next Friday at Westchester. Fairfax defeated Hamilton, 82-44, with Renardo Sidney scoring 30 points. Westchester defeated University, 84-43, with Jordin Mayes scoring 22 points and Dwayne Polee adding 13 points. LA Times 1/30 

With Kentwood leading 60-59, Kentridge sophomore guard Alec Wilson hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining....Then came the Joshua Smith Show. Smith came into the second half with gusto, grabbing rebound after rebound en route to scoring 18 of Kentwood's 21 third-quarter points. "We know (Smith) is going to get his points," Jamison said, "but he wore us down." Smith's tear on both ends of the court changed the dynamic of the game and left the Chargers fighting to keep up. Seattle PI 1/31

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (1/26)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

Twentynine Palms had Los Osos on the ropes, but the Grizzlies rallied for a 66-65 victory over Twentynine Palms on Monday evening. Los Osos junior Kendall Williams scored 36 points on 13 of 18 shooting, setting a school record with six 3-pointers. Inland Empire Bulletin 1/20 

UCLA has another highly regarded group of basketball players coming in next year. Although the current freshman class is known for guards, next year will feature mostly big men — but that doesn't mean they aren't athletic. Check out this wild dunk from forward Mike Moser, a four-star verbal commit out of Oregon:LINK LA Times 1/20 

Rocklin center Brendan Lane found himself surrounded most of the night by a collapsing defense, and struggled to find his shots. The senior scored just half of his usual scoring average, with 12 points, but he also grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots. Granite Bay 1/20 

MODESTO CHR. 83, HUGHSON 66, at Modesto Christian -- Reeves Nelson had 37 points and 15 rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter of the Crusaders' (9-7 Trans-Valley League) victory over the Huskies. Modesto Bee 1/24 

Sylmar 83, Kennedy 65: Gary Ricks had 23 points, Kobe Hooks added 17 and Tyler Honeycutt had 13 as the Spartans (13-5, 4-0) got a Valley Mission League victory. Daily News 1/24 

Los Osos 69, Claremont 40: Kendall Williams had 23 points and 12 steals as the first-place Grizzlies (14-7, 4-0) defeated the Wolfpack. David Arnold added 10 points for Los Osos, including two three-pointers. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin 1/24 

MODESTO CHR. 69, CAMPBELL HALL 62, at Los Angeles -- Reeves Nelson led the Crusaders with 27 points against the defending Division IV state champion. Modesto Bee 1/25 

Recruits 

The loss was on the minds of Josh Smith and the Conquerors. The came into the game prepared to redeem their loss and came out with a two point victory. Smith led the way with 25 points, but more importantly he helped his team get the win. Examiner 1/20 

Renardo Sidney, the 6-11 center from Fairfax, scored 27 points, had 10 rebounds and four blocks while contributing at least four dunks in an 84-72 Western League victory over University Wednesday. LA Times 1/21 

Kentwood 72, Auburn Riverside 47: Josh Smith had a season-high 39 points — his fifth game with 30 or more this season — to power No. 2 Kentwood (11-3, 9-1 SPSL North). The 6-9 junior raised his scoring average to 25.3. Seattle Times 1/21 

Westchester 80, Palisades 46: Jordin Mayes had 17 points and six assists for visiting Westchester (18-1, 5-0). Dominique O'Connor added 15 points, 10 assists and five steals, and Dwayne Polee had 15 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Kareem Jamar had 10 points and eight rebounds. Daily Breeze 1/22 

With a core roster of underclassmen, Westchester downed rival Fairfax 78-73 last week in a meeting of Los Angeles boys powers who are nationally ranked and will likely compete for Southern Section Division I honors. It's not too early to ponder the chances that it could be one of these teams against De La Salle or McClymonds in the state finals at Arco. The Comets of Westchester include USC-bound Dwayne Polee, who had 11 points and four blocked shots. Westchester could not contain Renardo Sidney (34 points). In attendance: USC coach Tim Floyd, former Fairfax and NBA player Chris Mills and UCLA assistant coaches. Sacramento Bee 1/23 

Josh Smith (Covington, Wash./Kentwood) is one of the best true centers in this class. His play this season has helped him move up two places to the No. 2 spot in the Class of 2010. He is getting double- and triple-teamed throughout each contest, but Smith still has dominated. He finishes everything in and around the basket -- frequently doing so with an emphatic dunk. He has remarkable agility and bounce with an outstanding pair of hands. Smith still has a ways to go with his conditioning, but his upside is enormous. ESPN 1/23 

As for the one-on-one matchup between Tyler and Fairfax center Renardo Sidney, currently being pursued by a number of Division I schools, it could be considered a push – Tyler finished with 29 points and eight rebounds while Sidney had 28 and 11. Both players exchanged blows in the low post and monster dunks. “Personally, I really don’t have too much respect for his game,” Tyler said of Sidney. “I just don’t think he’s a great basketball player.” San Diego Weekly 1/24

(photo credit: Oregonian)

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 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 

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

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)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (12/29)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

In this second meeting, one that actually counts in the official standings, the Thunder sent a clear message with a resounding 63-39 thrashing....Senior center Brendan Lane was held below his scoring average, scoring eight of his 13 points after the intermission, but the Rocklin big man made his presence felt on the defensive end with five blocks and also pulled down 11 rebounds. Placer Herald 12/23 

Sylmar 71, Sheldon 61: Tyler Honeycutt had six blocked shots and combined with teammate Gary Hicks to produce 29 points in Sylmar’s National Division fifth-place finish. San Luis Obispo Tribune 12/23

UCLA signee Reeves Nelson, The Bee's 2007-08 boys basketball player of the year, is expected to play his first minutes of the season after suffering a torn meniscus during football. It was repaired via surgery. "He's been practicing since the Gridley Tournament was over (Dec. 13)," Porter said. "He looks very good in practice. He's going to play. "I don't know how much he'll be playing, but he'll play. It's a matter of getting back in shape." Modesto Bee 12/24 

he Rocklin High School boys basketball team outscored Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma, Washington 41-21 after intermission to win a first-round game 69-52 at the prestigious MaxPreps Holiday Tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego....The Friday evening matchup was the first head-to-head battle between Rocklin center 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, the 6-foot-10 center, scored 21 to lead the way for Rocklin, and junior guard Cody Kale added 18 as the Thunder answered Gaddy with an impressive inside-outside attack. Placer Herald 12/26 

It's been a long time since Reeves Nelson felt nervous before a basketball game. But just before Modesto Christian took the floor for its game against Merced in the first round of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic, there they were: Butterflies. "There was a little tingling in my stomach," Nelson said. "First time playing each year, I feel it a little bit."
After the game, the standing-room-only crowd was tingling. Nelson scored 39 in his first game back after knee surgery in the fall, countering a 50-point night by Bears guard Allen Huddleston, in a 94-89 Crusaders win Friday night. Modesto Bee 12/27 

Grant 64, Sheldon 46: Mike Moser scored 18 points and blocked three shots for the reigning Class 6A champion Generals, who had a 43-22 rebounding advantage against the Irish of Eugene. Oregonian 12/27 

Niyi Harrison had 20 points, but 5th-ranked Bellarmine (3-2) couldn't overcome the two-man effort of Michigan-bound guard Darius Morris (22 points) and 6-10 UCLA-bound Anthony Stover (eight points, 13 rebounds, 15 blocks) as Winward-Los Angeles (8-2) posted a 54-50 win. San Francisco Chronicle 12/27 

SYLMAR 79, CLOVIS EAST 75 -- UCLA-bound forward Tyler Honeycutt scored 25 points and Gary Ricks added 22 as the Spartans beat the Timberwolves. Kevin Bailey (22 points), Robert Sandoval (20) and John Hedrington (18) led Clovis East. Modesto Bee 12/27 

Tyler Honeycutt (6-8, 180), Senior, Sylmar, Calif.: Honeycutt has as much talent as any prospect in the country, but in order to reach that elite status, he must become more tenacious at both ends. His skill level is quite high and his overall talent should project to the NBA level. His athleticism is terrific and he displayed it in the dunk contest where he jumped over four players standing up in the paint area. In addition to his exceptional leaping ability, he is one of the most gifted passers in the country and has savvy beyond his years. On the other hand, he defers too much to his teammates and lacks that killer instinct, especially when games get tight. Whether he develops that desire to be the best remains to be seen, but it better improve by the time he arrives at UCLA because "toughness" is what personifies the Ben Howland program. ESPN 12/27 

Kendall Williams (6-2, 170), Junior, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./ Los Osos: Williams developed a national reputation after committing to UCLA after his freshman campaign. However, his game has not progressed in quite some time. He still has a frail frame and as a result struggled to finish in traffic despite having decent bounce. He has solid speed in the open court but he doesn't have that highly coveted 2nd gear. In addition, he is predominantly right-handed and had trouble separating defenders off the dribble throughout the tournament. He has 3-point range on his shot, but his release is mechanical and consequently his shot is streaky. Williams has the leadership qualities of what you look for in a point guard and is a confident player, but there needs to be a significant amount of improvement at both ends if he expects to make an impact at UCLA. First, he needs to develop a jump-stop to his game and a mid-range pull-up to become more efficient as a player. In addition, he'll need to get considerably stronger which should help smoothen out his jump shot. ESPN 12/27 

Mater Dei’s Tyler Lamb is more athletic than I thought. Not in a traditional, 40-inch vertical way, but moreso in how he maneuvers in the air to finish. He’s also a good passer, but the final pieces to the puzzle are improving his ballhandling and strength. SLAM 12/28 

The Eagles from Rialto showed off all phases once again en route to their 10th win in 11 outings with a 77-66 throttling over a very strong Rocklin squad in a National Division quarterfinal matchup at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines on Saturday....The Eagles harassed Rocklin (9-2) into 21 turnovers and limited entry passes to 6-10 UCLA-bound post Brendan Lane, who was effective when he got the ball with 22 points. Max Preps 12/28 

Mike Moser has been stamped as "UCLA-bound" and has been discovering what that means ever since signing his letter of intent last month. On Saturday at the Les Schwab Invitational, it meant facing Fairfax High School of Los Angeles, ranked No. 9 nationally by USA Today and eager to see what the Grant standout was all about. And an even bigger name was also waiting. Renardo Sidney Jr., at 6-foot-11, 259 pounds, is the biggest attraction in the tournament, literally and figuratively. And he took it to Grant with 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for a 70-59 victory in a quarterfinal game. Sidney has not signed yet, but UCLA is on his short list, and many believe he is a one-and-done talent who could potentially be considered the No. 1 pick of the 2010 NBA draft. Sidney hadn't heard of Moser before Saturday's game. "When (coaches) told me, I was like, 'OK, let's see what 'UCLA-bound' can do,' " Sidney said. Moser, a slender 6-8 forward, is still coming to grips with what being a future Bruin means in the here and now. Should he try to carry his team? Should he trust his teammates? Against Fairfax, the pressure to perform was palpable. Moser made 6 of 19 shots and finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Oregonian 12/28

Recruits 

Kentwood 51, Los Osos 49: Kentwood outscored Los Osos 14-6 in the fourth quarter to seal seventh place in the National Division Kentwood’s Josh Smith led his team with 18 points. Los Osos’ Kendall Williams scored a game-high 20. San Luis Obispo Tribune 12/23

Freshman Jeff Withey, 6'10, has yet to play for Arizona and will transfer as a redshirt to Kansas because of the retirement of Lute Olson, it was confirmed Wednesday. Withey, a 6'10 center from San Diego, has not played at all this year for the Wildcats. Arizona's top 2008 freshman, Withey requested a release from his scholarship before the season began after coach Lute Olson suddenly retired in October. At first, his request was denied in November by Athletic director Jim Livengood because he wanted Withey to stay on at least one year, as stated by his letter of intent. Withey chose to transfer to Kansas over Texas, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego, San Diego State and Boston College. All Headlines 12/25 

After wins on Friday in the first round of the Governors Division of the Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, 7-foot sophomore Kyle Caudill from Brea Olinda High and 6-8 junior Tanner Clayton of Rancho Bernardo will square off in a second-round game at 7 tonight at Rancho Bernardo. With 23 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, the 265-pound Caudill helped his team beat San Marcos 66-48. North County Times 12/27 

Josh Smith (6-9, 280), Junior, Kentwood, Wash.: With the exception of one game, Smith was battling foul trouble throughout the tournament. However, that did not stop him from dominating his opponents. Despite his enormous frame he has some of the most nimble feet in the game. He gets off the floor rather easily and can throw down the monster slam in traffic. He is blessed with some of the softest hands I've seen and literally grabs anything in his vicinity. His footwork is solid and he utilizes his massive frame to ward off opponents. He is a very good passer out of the post and has an overall solid feel for the game. Like most bigs he needs to continue to polish his fundamentals (keeping the ball high), become a better free throw shooter, and work on finishing with his left hand. In addition, he'll need to play with more intensity and develop more stamina for the next level to make that expected immediate impact. ESPN 12/27 

J.L. Mann’s super sophomore Damien Leonard poured in 28 points, but but it wasn’t enough as Boys & Girls (NY) prevails 71-56 in the first round of the Beach Ball Classic at Myrtle Beach Convention Center. SCNow 12/28 

(photo credit: Modesto Bee)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (12/22)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

The Windward Winter Classic gets underway today, and there's no doubt the Windward Wildcats were hoping to enter the games with better than a 3-2 record. Windward senior guard Darius Morris Michigan-bound guard Darius Morris and UCLA-bound center Anthony Stover were supposed to push the Wildcats into the upper-echelon of Southern California teams. A blowout loss against Westchester and a one-point heart-breaker against Bishop Montgomery slashed those dreams though, and now Windward coach Miguel Villegas says his team is more focused than it was at the start of the season. Rivals 12/16

A basketball scholarship to UCLA is a rare treasure, an honor that is not lost on Rocklin High’s Brendan Lane. When the talented 6-10 post player makes his way to Westwood next fall, it will be another in a long line of athletic accomplishments for the Lane family. With all of the demands on parents’ limited time, raising active children is difficult, perhaps more today than ever before. For Steve and Leila Lane, the choice to support the athletic activities of their children has brought balance and virtue to five young lives. “We (Steve and Leila) were good athletes but not spectacular,” Steve said. “(In our family) being a couch potato was not an option.” That simple mantra was implanted in the Lane family children at a young age and the children understood it. Placer Herald 12/17 

UCLA is excited about top-30 prospect Tyler Honeycutt. With the earmarks of being a late bloomer in the mold of Austin Daye at Gonzaga, Honeycutt has a great feel for the game and some scoring punch as well. He has already gone for more than 30 points in two games this year. Jackets Online 12/18 

Whether the Mission Prep boys basketball team was working the ball down low to Casey or to Souza on the wing, the combination led Mission Prep’s impressive 65-60 win over Los Osos and UCLA-bound Kendall Williams.... Williams, a 6-3 guard, scored 10 of Los Osos’ 16 fourth-quarter points but was held scoreless over the final four minutes. Williams finished with a game-high 27 points. “To be honest there is no stopping him,” Mission Prep coach Terrance Harris said. “He is a very, very good player and he can get his shot at just about any point. The thing we wanted to do was A, make him work for shots and B, was to slow him down.” SLO Tribune 12/18 

Los Osos 58, Mission Hills 50 - UCLA-bound Kendall Williams scored 26 points to lead Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) to a win over Mission Hills (San Marcos) in a showcase game of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic. SLO Tribune 12/20 

Sylmar 70, St. Joseph 47 - Sylmar’s Gary Hicks scored 15 and Tyler Honeycutt scored 12 off the bench to lead the Spartans past the Knights in their opening game of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic. SLO Tribune 12/20 

A much larger Mater Dei squad jumped all over Roman Catholic for a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter..... After that point the game went back and forth until Tyler Lamb was fouled with 5.5 seconds and sank both free throws to win the game. Tyler Lamb- (19 points on 5-11 shooting, 1-4 from three, 8-8 from the line, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 turnovers in 32 minutes). Mater Dei's best defender struggled with Brookins, but he did lead Mater Dei in scoring. Lamb impressed with his overall play during the first two games. Cardinal Report 12/20 

No. 2 Rocklin (8-1) looked impressive in beating No. 15 Oak Ridge (8-2), a team that had defeated the Thunder in the exhibition Foundation Game Dec. 1. Saturday night, Oak Ridge couldn't match the Thunder's superior depth in being outscored 33-15 in the second half. Junior guard Cody Kale led Rocklin with 16 points and UCLA recruit Brendan Lane, the Thunder's 6-foot-10 senior forward, added 13 points and six blocks. Lane, who is averaging nearly 23 points a game, was named tournament MVP. SacBee 12/21 

Recruits 

Westchester 81, LACES 43: Jordin Mayes scored 24 points to lift visiting Westchester (10-0) in its league opener. Denzel Douglas, Dwayne Polee and DeShun McCoy each scored 10 points. Daily Breeze 12/16 

Jordin Mayes scored 17 points and Dominique O'Connor scored 14 points to lead unbeaten Westchester to a 62-47 victory at Fort Myers, Fla., in a first-round game of the City of Palms Classic on Thursday. Westchester (11-0) advanced to play Olympia of Orlando, Fla., today. Westchester has won the tournament twice and is 14-0 in the tournament. Daily Breeze 12/18 

Fulmer already is looking to the future. He has teams lined up for next year’s tournament. One club is Norfolk (Va.) Christian, whose star player is sophomore James McAdoo, son of former NBA great Bob McAdoo. “He will be top-five junior in country (next year),” Fulmer said. The State 12/19 

If Renardo Sidney seems to be the best player in this year's 'Iolani Classic, it's not because he's trying to steal the show. Playing everything from point guard to center in coach Harvey Kitani's system, the Fairfax senior showed the many facets of his game last night in a 68-40 win over Kamehameha, arguably the top boys basketball team in Hawaii. At 6-foot-10, 230 pounds, Sidney scored 20 points and dominated the paint with his strength -- he's built like a college tight end -- and made one of Hawaii's tallest teams look rather small. When Sidney began raining treys, he became unstoppable, and those came before the Magic-like no-look passes in traffic. Honolulu Star-Bulletin 12/19 

Renardo Sidney, who grew up in Mississippi, said he was mostly a football player in his early childhood but hit the basketball court one day and things came naturally to him. "I'm thankful I can do all the things I can," Sidney said. "And I'm thankful to my dad for pushing me and working with me." Renardo Sidney Sr. has been his son's AAU coach and personal trainer since he was in the seventh grade and taught the talented big man all the little-man skills as well. "He's been my workout guy," Sidney said. "I've never had a trainer other than him." Among other skills, Sidney made several no-look touch passes to open teammates in the lane. "He's a phenomenal player," Fairfax coach Harvey Kitani said. "He's been taught well by his father, and he developed all his skills. He's a tremendous passer, and that's the sign of an intelligent player who knows the game. He just keeps getting better, and he can get as good as he wants to get." Sidney has not yet signed a national letter of intent but is considering UCLA, Southern California, Mississippi State and Virginia. "I haven't made my mind up," Sidney said. "Right now I'm focused on this season." Honolulu Advertiser 12/19 

But Mount Pleasant features a very, very good player in junior Trey Zeigler. The 6-foot-5 guard scored 28 points, 20 in the second half. "In games I've seen him play, he usually has a big second half," Wilson said. "He's a great player. It's almost like he's floating out there in the first half, then takes over the game in the second. We told our players he was going to bust out in the second." Zeigler scored almost half of Mount Pleasant's points. MLive 12/19  

Westchester was stunned by unranked Winter Park in a 60-54 quarterfinal loss at the City of Palms Tournament Saturday, its first defeat of the season and its first loss at the tournament it won in 2000, 2001 and 2003. Jordin Mayes scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half for Westchester (11-1), which entered the tournament ranked No. 17 by USA Today. Mayes connected on eight of 23 from the field. Daily Breeze 12/21

(photo credit: Placer Herald)