Dateline: 7/4/2008
Big Sky recruit for 2009-10 season
When he was living in a dangerous New Orleans housing project and pursuing his football and basketball dreams three years ago, Anthony Turner had never heard of Diablo Valley College. He couldn't have found Pleasant Hill on a map. Ditto for Martinez. Now he is an NCAA Division I basketball prospect entering his sophomore season at DVC and is sharing a three-bedroom apartment with five teammates in Martinez. Rarely a day goes by, Turner said, that he doesn't shake his head over the events that led him light years away from his childhood home and may well have saved his life. "It's crazy," Turner said Saturday, sitting in an office a few steps from the DVC gym. "I never would have imagined this." Then again, who could have imagined Hurricane Katrina? Who could have imagined a natural disaster that claimed more than 1,800 lives, devastated New Orleans and forced thousands upon thousands to flee the city? Turner survived Katrina's fury, spending three days on the top floor of his flooded home before swimming to a nearby park. He was rescued and taken first to the Louisiana Superdome and then to the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., where he slept on the ground for two nights with no blanket and was bitten by red ants. Eventually, he was reunited with his mother and sister in Houston. Katrina was the catalyst for Turner's journey to California, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- away from a city where so many of his friends have been murdered or locked up in jail. The hurricane and flood destroyed his family's home in New Orleans' Third Ward. It set off a chain of events that led him to Oakland, where he attended Castlemont High School as a senior. Then last year, coach Steve Coccimiglio recruited him to DVC. "I was running the streets, but after lots of my partners were getting killed, I was falling back," Turner said. "So many of them died. Everybody gone. Now, the friends that I did have left, that I left (after) Hurricane Katrina, all of them are in jail except one. "One of my close friends, he just recently got killed. So there's a lot of crazy stuff. Yeah, I miss it," he said of New Orleans, "but I'm glad I'm not out there. Because I know I would have been running with them. I know it. Either I would have been dead or in jail." It's hard to picture anything good coming out of something as bad as Katrina, but Turner's story qualifies. He earned his high school degree at Castlemont. Now he's on track to graduate from DVC and, according to Coccimiglio, has the talent to become a low- to mid-level Division I scholarship player. He averaged 11.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a freshman center. This season, he will play power and small forward, giving him a chance to better showcase his offensive skills and impress college scouts. "I think he's going to be able to play in the Big West "... and I also think he'd be a real good prospect to go into the Big Sky Conference," Coccimiglio said of the 6-foot-6 Turner. "You know what's exciting for him I think is just getting a chance to grow into his dreams." Turner didn't attend high school the year following Katrina. He had all but conceded that his basketball and college dreams were dead. Then one day he got a phone call in Houston from a former teammate in New Orleans. "He asked me, 'Do you still play basketball?' " Turner said. "I was like, 'I do, but I'm not trying to pursue it.' " Turner's friend put him in touch with an amateur basketball recruiter who was looking for players to move to California. "So I end up coming out here," Turner said. "The thing is, he gets kids out here, but he doesn't have a stable place for them to live. So I'm living out of another player's grandmother's house when I first moved here." Turner said he nearly returned to Houston before the school year began. But that's when the family of his AAU and future Castlemont teammate Omari Evans asked Turner to live with them. "God made a way, that I met Omari Evans and his family took me in like they did," Turner said. "I'm just thankful for that. Because without them I don't think any of this would have been possible.." Turner's mother, Andrea Stansberry, said she had some mixed emotions when Anthony got on that bus for California two years ago. She was worried but also excited for Anthony's opportunity. "I had been waiting a long time for him to really branch out, get from out beneath me," she said from Houston. "That was his opportunity to branch out and meet other people than what he came from." Anthony's older brother, Brandon, is in jail now and has been in and out of jail since he was 10 or 11, Andrea said. She had often prayed that her family would "get out of this project," but it took a natural disaster for that to happen. "Katrina is a devastation, a disaster, but it's a blessing in disguise for a lot of people," said Andrea, who is now living in a spacious three-bedroom home in Houston with her husband, daughter and baby granddaughter. Anthony, meanwhile, is pursuing a basketball scholarship and a college degree. "I know I might not go so far in this," Turner said of basketball, "but this is going to be the reason I get a scholarship and get into school. I know I'm going to get my degree because I'm going to stick at it. I know I'm going to graduate."

Dateline: 7/4/2008
Juco Star guard looking at five schools
David Tairu Shooting guard Levelland (TX) South Plains C.C. Ht: 6-foot-3 Wt: 177 lbs Class: 2009 (Junior College) The Red Raiders successfully pulled guard Nick Okorie from South Plains College a few months ago and it appears that Pat Knight and his staff are headed back to SPC to try and land more guard help in 2009. David TAIRU BIO NOTES Tairu was part of a national championship in his true freshman season with South Plains winning it all in March of 2008. COLLEGE CHOICES : Nebraska , Texas Tech , George Mason , San Francisco , and Weber State ..

Dateline: 7/3/2008
Weber State recruit picks Bradley U.
Bradley basketball received an oral commitment Monday from Sean Harris, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Yuba College with three years of eligibility remaining. Harris, who averaged 14.9 points and 11.7 rebounds for 32-4 Yuba as a freshman, will not join the Braves until the 2010-11 season because he will be leaving soon for a two-year Mormon mission. He chose Bradley over offers from California-Santa Barbara, Weber State, Pacific, Wyoming and Fresno State. "You guys are going to love Sean," said Yuba coach Doug Cornelius. "He plays (all) out all the time."

Dateline: 7/2/2008
High School point guard gets A&M offer
Stoglin gets offer from Texas A&M The college options are starting to increase for Santa Rita High School junior basketball star Terrell Stoglin. Texas A&M, which went 25-11 this past season and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to UCLA, extended the 6-foot-1 point guard a scholarship offer Wednesday morning. Stoglin now has four scholarship offers - Texas A&M (Big 12), Penn State (Big 10), San Diego (West Coast Conference) and Northern Arizona (Big Sky). He said last month his "top four" hopefuls include the University of Memphis, San Diego, Maryland and USC. Stoglin last week was named by Rivals.com as one of the top 100 recruits in the class of 2010 and holds a four-star rating by the recruiting-based Web site. Of the No. 94 ranking, his coach at Santa Rita, Jim Ferguson, said, "I think that's lower than he deserves actually. I think he's a top 50 guy and people keep coming around to seeing that." Ferguson said Stoglin may not get the respect he deserves because he doesn't have the jaw-dropping athleticism of guards like former University of Arizona Wildcat Jerryd Bayless. "I think people look for pure athleticism and not strictly basketball skill," Ferguson said of those who rank high school players. "He doesn't have a 35-inch vertical leap, but he's as skilled a player as there is at his position. He makes everyone around him so much better. And he's getting more athletic. He's jumping better, he's getting quicker. His athleticism is definitely improving." Stoglin averaged 21.7 points and 6.1 assists per game as a sophomore this past season and led the Eagles to a second-straight Class 4A Division II state title game. Among Stoglin's highlights from this past season was a 34-point performance in a matchup against USC-bound Demar DeRozan, who Rivals.com ranks No. 3 in this year's recruiting class. That's one spot ahead of UA signee Brandon Jennings, who is considering bypassing college to play professionally in Europe (Jennings is Rivals.com's No. 4-ranked recruit).

Dateline: 7/1/2008
Soph Mecham best in class for 2011 ?
Box Elder soph Mecham could be the next Haws We mentioned earlier this week that the top basketball player in Utah's class of 2011 (guys who will be sophomores this coming year) was undoubtedly Brighton's Corbin Miller, a 6-2 combo guard who helped the Bengals get to the 5A state semifinals last year as a freshman. Well, there's apparently another 2011 prospect in the state who might be just as good, I've been told. His name is Brant Mecham, and he is a 6-5, 191-pound phenom at Box Elder High in Brigham City. Mecham was the Bees' sixth man as a freshman most of last year, but still led the team with 33 three-pointers. The kid can shoot it with Danny Ainge-type range, one college source told me. His father, Keith, is also his high school coach, and his mother, Robin, is Box Elder's volleyball coach. He's got athletic bloodlines and has grown up in a gym. Keith Mecham told me this morning that his son doesn't have an official offer yet, but that Weber State coach Randy Rahe has jokingly reminded him that when the big boys come around to remember that the Wildcats offered him first. Recently, Utah State invited Brant to play in their weekly pickup games, and he ended up guarding Tyler Newbold for an hour. "For his age, he's getting some nice attention and some good exposure," Keith Mecham acknowledged. All the locals are familiar with the young man's skills, from Southern Utah coach Roger Reid to BYU coach Dave Rose to Utah's Jim Boylen. Louisiana Tech, with former Ute assistant Kerry Rupp at the helm, sends him three letters a week. Brant spent much of the past two weeks at BYU's team and individual camps, and assistant coach Dave Rice is said to have kept a close eye on him in every game. Last October, he attended a Utah practice and got some one-on-one time with Boylen. Mecham plays for Dave Hammer's Salt Lake Metro club team in the spring and summer, and helped Metro's 15-under team reach the championship game at the Las Vegas Easter Classic. He will play on Metro's 17-under team later this month at a tournament in Vegas alongside Lone Peak's Tyler Haws and some of the state's other top rising seniors. Keith Mecham said his son is good friends with Brighton's Miller and that the two have joked about being a package deal for some lucky college. Mecham turns 19 the September after his senior season ends, so he will likely go on an LDS Church mission before enrolling at a college, his father said.

Dateline: 7/1/2008
Wil Carter 6'9" post on second year on mission.
Wil Carter @ Salt Lake Community College...... Despite receiving heavy attention from several Big Sky programs, Wil Carter did not play college basketball at the Division I level next season. Instead of signing a national letter of intent with one of his many DI suitors, Idaho State, Weber State, Montana and Utah Valley State. the one-time Highland standout will be suiting up at Salt Lake Community College. Those schools wanted me bad, Carter said. I guess I broke a few hearts. The 6-foot-9 Carter admitted it wasn't the easiest decision to make but said playing time was the reason he ultimately committed to the JUCO school. SLCC were offering me a full ride from the beginning, but they already had a guy at my position, Carter said. but a few weeks later their coach (Norm Parrish) called and told me that guy left and I would get 35 minutes a game if I came. That sounded pretty good to me. Carter said he was excited about the decision, on top of the opportunity for serious PT, because Salt Lake Community College plays in a good JUCO conference and everything he’s heard indicates SLCC will be a competitive team next season. Still, he said he was only committing to SLCC for a year. After that, he will go on a LDS Mission for two years and hopefully join a bigger program at that point. In Oct. he can sign a LOI, and go anywhere,..

Dateline: 6/29/2008
Utah prep signs with Idaho Juco
Ali Langford, the 6-foot-6 wing player, has signed with Northern Idaho College, a junior college in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Cardinals play in the same league (Scenic West Athletic Conference) as SLCC, Snow College and the College of Eastern Utah. He played with Olympus Utah ave 14 ppg and 8 rbs

Dateline: 6/24/2008
NCAA to move 3 point line back?
NCAA to move 3-point line back in 2008-09 The signature moment of the recently completed men's college basketball season was a 3-point shot. That drama will carry over to every team next winter. The 3-point line has been extended by a foot, which should make for curious strategizing and viewing. The two local schools, BYU and Utah Valley State College, have coaches that aren't great fans of the new distance -- 20 feet, nine inches -- yet the new lines have been applied to their home courts. "I don't know why that was chosen," UVSC's Dick Hunsaker said, miffed that the "great equalizer" in college hoops has been altered. "I don't know how much it will affect the game." BYU's Dave Rose guesses it's like any other policy change -- that everyone eventually adapts. A former baseball player, he recalls turning his focus to softball, where the bases are about half as far apart. "You wondered how on earth a fielder could ever make a play," Rose said. "But it's the same thing with this: once you see it for a little while, it will become normal." There could be one trick to the change -- instinct. The women's 3-point line will not change, meaning there will be two lines (of different colors) on the court at BYU's Marriott Center. UVSC, which had a new court paid for by the NBADL's Utah Flash, will have three separate two-inch arcs -- counting the NBA line of 23 feet, nine inches at McKay Events Center. "Too, too many for officials to see accurately," Hunsaker frets. He's coached in the minor-league professional ranks before, and has seen the dizzying effect multiple lines can have on a game. "Many players, and sometimes officials, in the heat of the moment can get confused," Hunsaker said. "It's mostly unfair to the kids." At least if referees are confused, Rose points out, the play could be reviewed. But what about those players? BYU was in France for five games last summer, and Rose noticed there was some difference with his team's long-distance shooting accuracy. They used the international (FIBA) line of 20 feet, six inches (which, incidentally, is also being increased about 1 1/2 feet to approach the NBA distance). Some BYU players adjusted fluidly, others were beyond range. The Cougars have extended their school record in 3-pointers the past two seasons. With Jonathan Tavernari and Jimmer Fredette, who proved capable of swishing from beyond 19-9, the added distance may be quite an advantage. Besides shooting from further back, Tavernari said in the offseason he's emphasizing how to draw defenders further out, then having the option to drive by them. That would change the complexion of court spacing. "I think it will be a good thing for our team," the junior said. "But there are a lot of 3-point shooting teams in (the Mountain West Conference) and it will be interesting to see how every team handles it at both ends of the floor." Teams may be dared to take more shots further away from the old line, which was in effect since 1986. Defenses will instead, theoretically, clog the middle in search of rebounds and to avoid dribble penetration. More zone defense could be played, coaches speculate. The extended line has been used on an experimental basis in some early-season tournaments and exhibition games. However, NCAA statistics have not shown a dramatic change the past few years. "It will be a factor in some way to each player," Rose said. "But the fact is, you can look at it both ways (positive and negative)." Hunsaker and Rose agreed independently that they wouldn't have any seminars on the new distance -- it will never be mentioned in team meetings. To borrow an en vogue coaches' cliche: it is what it is. In a verbal shoulder shrug, Rose points out the rule that changed on how players lined up for free throws; no longer is the block closest to the rim occupied. It seems normal now. It remains to be seen how the new line affects recruiting, though most coaches appear to believe that a 3-point shooter at the high school level (also 19-9) can adapt. What fans could see: Better shot selection, different post-play emphasis and perhaps a return of the long-lost midrange jump shot. What will be interesting is how 3-point shots are set up. Will there be more emphasis on spot-up shooting, or will some rolling off screens to attempt slightly off-balance shots still be effective? And how about the future of March Madness? With about two seconds left, trailing by three points, Kansas' Mario Chalmers unleashed a shot that forced overtime and sparked the Jayhawks to a national championship. That indelible moment would have been about six inches short of tying the game next season. The vote for change by the NCAA men's basketball rules committee was announced last May in a memo to all schools. Rose recalled getting it. He had sat in on two meetings where he thought the straw vote was split evenly. He leaned on the axiom if it ain't broke... So does Hunsaker. "Why dabble with the greatest game and the single greatest equalizer in college sports?" he wondered.

Dateline: 6/23/2008
Portland State coaching getting ready for 2009
It’s mid-June and Portland State’s four men’s basketball coaches are thinking 2009. Well, perhaps it’s more accurate to say they’re trying to concentrate on 2009, because at the same time, they’ve just spent two days phoning high school juniors they think might be prospects for 2010 (the NCAA contact period for that group just began) and they’re trying to stay on top of the academic progress of their current crop of players. Over the next few weeks, Head Coach Ken Bone, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Tyler Geving, and Assistant Coaches Eric Harper and Curtis Allen will be haunting basketball tournaments from Los Angeles to Seattle logging very full recruiting days throughout July trying to fill the needs they’ve identified for the 2009 version of the PSU Vikings. If all goes according to plan, graduation will leave five holes to fill on what they hope will be a next season’s very successful team, which was the center of their attention this time a year ago. This July, PSU’s coaching staff will attend events in Seattle, Bellevue and Vancouver in Washington; Tulsa, OK; Oakland and Los Angeles (several times) in California, and in Las Vegas. These are long days with opening games often beginning at 8 a.m. and the final games finishing at 10 p.m. The 20 or 30 players they’re vetting have been culled from a list of somewhere between 100-200 brought to their attention mostly by high school coaches and the three or four scouting services to which they subscribe. “We’re fine tuning our list of 2009 prospects now (June). We have a list of the kids we’re interested in and we find out what tournaments they’ll be playing in, what AAU team they’ll be playing for. We pretty well know the players that are prospects for us in Oregon and Washington—that’s our job. We use the services for California and elsewhere,” said Geving, who will log the most arduous July with 20 days on the road and just five days off in the middle. Recruiting is a 365-day process (“if you let a few days go by without talking to coaches or making phone calls, it’s going to catch up to you”), but it becomes more concentrated in June and July. They concentrate on what they think they’ll need. For instance, they aren’t recruiting point guards to the current point-guard heavy squad, but are concentrated on finding a junior college two-guard, said Geving. After deciding what positions need to be filled, they begin looking generally for the appropriate skill level. “I think we always shoot high. We’d like to find prospects with the skill to play at the mid-major college level or above. On the other hand, we don’t want to spend a whole lot of time on a kid who obviously is going to play for Kansas or North Carolina,” Geving said. This year, PSU finds itself in the enviable position of being a known quantity by players outside the state thanks to its first-ever NCAA National Tournament appearance in March and the attendant publicity. “It’s amazing how many out-of-area kids we talk with who’ve heard of PSU...’you guys played Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament,’ they’ll say. Two years ago, it was a different story, we had to sell the program a little harder,” he said. In terms of sell, Geving said the city of Portland is probably the thing prospective players find most attractive (although, playing in even Portland’s fairly tame inner city can be an obstacle for some players from smaller communities). “Portland and our urban location are more often a plus, though. It’s the advantage we often have in recruiting against most of our Big Sky rivals”. As an example, he pointed to highly regarded 6’5” guard/forward Wendell Wright, a recent addition to next year’s team, who is from the Los Angeles area and chose PSU over Northern Arizona. PSU’s nationally ranked business school also can be a draw for players who are interested in business. “They like the idea of being in a major city with a lot of job opportunities around.” Before taking some time off in August, the coaches will meet to compare notes and narrow the list to a handful of players. They’ll check academic transcripts and do background checks. Then, they’ll begin setting up home visits and official campus visits for the fall. “We follow up on the phone with the group we’ve chosen and might find that if we’ve chosen five guys, for instance, only three are interested in us,” he said. Then, fall gets fully underway and it’s back to concentrating on the 2008-2009 version of the Vikings and the chase for another league championship. But the 2009-2010 considerations are never too far away...and all too soon it’ll be time to begin thinking 2011.

Dateline: 6/23/2008
Big Sky recruiting 6'9" post from Washington
Eric Hutchison Power forward Longview (WA) Mark Morris AAU: Yakima Elite & Pioneer Tech Ht: 6-foot-9 Wt: 218 lbs GPA: 3.2 Class: 2009 (High School) In the two seasons that Eric Hutchison has played for Mark Morris High School's (Longview, Wash.) varsity basketball team, the Monarchs have compiled a 50-5 overall record. Eric HUTCHISON BIO; Plays hard, runs like a deer. Great hands. needs strength, weight room would help. Has great attitude, and team player. COLLEGE CHOICES :,,,, Virginia Tech , Washington , Pepperdine , Portland , East. Washington , Idaho , Montana , Northern Arizona , Portland St. , and Weber State .......

Dateline: 6/22/2008
Idaho best prep's for 2008-09
Idaho Best for 2008-09 ............................................................................................... Emry, Austin 6-1 175 2009 Homedale HS Gregg, Peter 6-8 190 2009 Lewiston HS Higham, Tanner 6-1 175 2009 Shelley HS Kartes, Jacob 5-11 160 2009 Bishop Kelly HS Kelly, Taylor 6-2 175 2010 Eagle HS Peterson, Zach 6-3 175 2009 Timberline HS Van Lith, Ben 6-4 170 2009 Eagle HS Young, Ryan 6-0 177 2009 Lewiston HS Cramer, Jordan 5-10 150 2009 Capital HS Edwards, Robert 6-5 187 2009 Skyline HS Garner, Connor 6-2 175 2009 Declo HS Pugmire, Daniel 6-2 185 2009 Blackfoot HS Taylor, Marc 6-7 240 2009 Skyview HS

Dateline: 6/21/2008
Snow College done recruiting
Basketball: Snow College adds 10 players Snow College has announced its 2008 men's basketball signing class, which features a couple of 6-9 centers and a couple of return missionaries. Most of these signings have been mentioned before, but here's a comprehensive list, with comments about each player: * Brenan Davis, point guard, American Fork Recently returned from an LDS mission to New Zealand, Davis averaged 15 points a game for the Cavemen and was a first-team all-stater in 2005. * Jordan Wood, guard, Cedar City Wood redshirted at Southern Utah in 2006 and is a "tough, athletic scoring guard and a great fit for our program," said coach Michael Ostlund. * Tylan Jackson, wing, Manti Jackson led the Templars to the 2A state championship and was the Tribune's 2A MVP. The 6-foot-4 star averaged 14 points per game last winter. * Cameron Evans, forward, Clearfield Evans averaged 16 points and 9.5 rebounds a game in 2008 and was a first-team all-state selection. The 6-6 start helped his team reach the 5A quarterfinals. * Jordan Rex, center, Pine View Rex, 6-9, helped Pine View win the 2007 3A state championship as a junior. He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds a game and shot 53 percent from the field as a senior in 2008. * Melvin Haynes, guard, Akron, Ohio Haynes was a first-eam all-ciity performer for Garfield High as a senior, and averaged 22 points per game. * Henrique Nunes, guard, Porto Alegre, Brazil Nunes is a prolific three-point shooter and was a "Basketball without Borders" all-star in 2007. * Gerald Hill, wing, University Place, Wash. Hill, a 6-4 wing, led Charles Wright Academy to the 1A title in Washington and averaged 19 points and nine rebounds a game. He was the Seattle Times 1A Player of the Year in 2008. * Dominique Hatcher, forward, Monroe, La. Hatcher, a 6-6 prospect, sat out his senior year at Wossman High due to transfer rules. He averaged 11 points and seven rebounds a game as a junior. * Justin Vorwallers, center, Parker, Colo. Vorwallers, 6-9, returned from an LDS mission to Houston in August of 2008. He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds a game in 2006 for Ponderosa High.

Dateline: 6/21/2008
Utah Prep 6'10" Harwood offed by Utah State
Utah State offers Orem's 6-10 Harward Add Orem High's 6-foot-10 center Ian Harward to the list of members of the class of 2009 who being recruited by Division I basketball programs. Harward has received a scholarship offer from Utah State and will probably decide this week whether he will commit to the Aggies, his high school coach, Mike Conner, said Monday morning. Harward is rated by the Intermountain Hoops Scouting Service as one of the top prospects in the state. He plays for the Utah Pump-N-Run club team, coached by Todd Phillips.

Dateline: 6/16/2008
Weber State recruits swingman
Derek Montoya Shooting guard Artesia (NM) Artesia Ht: 6-foot-4 Wt: 200 lbs Class: 2009 (High School) College Choices : New Mexico State , Pepperdine , Santa Clara ,and Weber State ...

Dateline: 6/16/2008
Damian Lillard plays in All-Star game
It looked as though the Bay was going to sweep all four games (underclass and senior boys and girls) of the 3rd Annual Sac Bay Showdown on Sunday. Julian Welch from Franklin of Elk Grove sizzled down the stretch for Sac boys team. The Bay underclass girls and boys had each posted impressive victories and the Bay senior girls bent but never broke in beating their Sac counterparts. However, unlike the Boston Celtics, who won after hanging on to a 24-point fourth quarter lead at the very same moment the Bay boys extended its lead over Sac to 72-49 with 18:00 remaining in the second half, the Bay boys snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, falling to the Sacramento squad, 115-114. A young man named Julian Welch from Franklin (Elk Grove) had a little to say about the outcome. Enough to be named MVP. With the Bay squad going into highlight reel mode way too early, Welch's pinpoint shooting, court leadership and aggressive defense helped Sac slowly chip away at the lead. While UCLA-bound Drew Gordon (Mitty, San Jose) was missing dunks on alley-oops and his mates were missing free-throws (12-of-25 in the fourth quarter), Welch was a picture of near perfection. Welch finished with 29 points, 27 of which were in the second half. With 4:00 remaining and his team trailing 100-99, Welch drilled a long three-pointer and although the Bay had its chances and the game was tied three times down the stretch, that shot sealed the end result. Welch went on to drain another trey, two free throws and a long two-pointer that proved to be the game's final points. He was also 8-for-8 from the line in the second half. Bay could have won the game on Oliver McNally's two free throws with 1.3 seconds left, but after making a lay-up with 1:21 to go that somehow never found its way onto the scoreboard, McNally (Branson, Ross) missed the pair as the DJ did the turntable screechy-screechy while he shot. Everyone had fun, including the overflow crowd at Newark Memorial High (Newark) that packed the sweltering gym, and Sac ended the Bay's eight game winning streak, although it still trails 9-3 overall in the series. "We needed that one," said event organizer Phil Handy, who hails from the Sacramento area. Other double-figure scorers for Sac were Oakmont of Roseville's big Milos Milosevic, who had 13 points and seven rebounds and pounded the Bay big men all game. Rio Americano of Sacramento's Drake Uu had 12 points, Kyle Baxter (El Camino, Sacramento) had 12 points and seven rebounds, Natomas of Sacramento's Jovan Daniels added 12 points and Keenan Prince of Marysville chipped in with 11 points. Colin Chiverton (Mitty, San Jose) led the Bay with 21 points. Stephen Lumpkins of Serra of San Mateo (12 points), Frank Otis of McClymond's of Oakland (11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals), Damian Lillard of Oakland (11 points), and McNally (11 points) also reached double figures.

Dateline: 6/15/2008
6'9" Noel Hollingsworth ready to play for Brown U.
Noel Hollingsworth, a 6’9”senior, played center on the 2008 Judge Memorial Catholic High School State Championship basketball team. Hollingsworth was also a member of Judge Memorial’s 2006 State Championship basketball team. “This is the first time in the history of Judge Memorial to have two state titles in basketball within such a short time, and it means a lot to me,” said Hollingsworth. “The Bulldogs also went undefeated in Region 10 for the third straight year. Hollingsworth said the two state championships were exciting and a nice feeling. He will attend Brown University this fall. “Hollingsworth was recruited on his academic ability as well as his ability to play basketball,” said James Yerkovich, Judge Memorial head basketball coach and vice principal. “He is brilliant. He is off the charts on test scores. He carries a 3.96 grade point average, and he is an outstanding player. Some people forget the fact that Hollingsworth was very instrumental as a sophomore on the 2006 state championship team. He came in many times and picked up the level of play. In his senior year, he was certainly the hub of our team. Everybody had to be so concerned about him that it opened up things for other players. “Hollingsworth played the best her ever played at the ACIT tournament in Cumberland, Md.,” said Yerkovich. “He played great. Hollingsworth played against two big time recruits from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in one game, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in the next game, and he dominated both of them. He more than doubled their scoring, and doubled them in rebounding. I think of all the awards he has received, in my mind, the most prestigious is his First Team All ACIT award. He was one of the first five members of the All ACIT team. It is the most prestigious award because it is such a big tournament. “For a combination of athletic talent and academic talent, he is about as good as it gets,” said Yerkovich. “I have had a great career here at Judge Memorial and accomplished most of my goals,” said Hollingsworth. “I am really happy that I will be in the state record books for three separate rebounding records. In my senior night I have 27 rebounds in a game, which is sixth all time; in my career record, I am seventh all time in rebounds, and this season I was eighth best season all time.” Hollingsworth earned these records as the center by rebounding and playing post defense and preventing players from getting easy baskets. He also scored down low in the block. Hollingsworth received a scholarship based on a combination of extremely good academics and athletics. “Academics are really important to me,” said Hollingsworth. “Being able to play in the Ivy League and play basketball at Brown University is something I have been working for my whole life. Now I am just going to keep working to have a good career there too. “I played basketball for Salt Lake Metro, a club team, during the summer against the kind of competition I will face at Brown University because we traveled everywhere,” said Hollingsworth. “We went to Las Vegas, Pittsburg, Los Angeles, and Kentucky. Everyone who plays on those teams wants to play college basketball, so it is pretty competitive. Those are the teams who receive exposure and are the teams college coaches are watching. Playing in the ACIT Conference also gave our team some good experience. I thought I played really well in that tournament. It was a good chance to play in that environment. The summer is slower, and not quite as fast a pace. “I learned from Coach James Yerkovich, that basketball is really a team-based game. ‘We’ is printed on all our shirts. The main thing he teaches is about working with others in the community and how community is going to be important in our adult lives.” Hollingsworth also won two matches to advance to the state semi-finals of the 3A state tennis tournament, in which Judge won the state title. He plans to major in electrical engineering at Brown University.

Dateline: 6/15/2008
6'2" Shooter Rick Shoff back from Mission
Rick Shoff Shooting guard Salt Lake CC (UT) AAU: Utah Vipers Ht: 6-foot-2 Class: 2009 (Junior College) Rivals.com Rating: NR (About) Position Ranking: NR BIO: Unsigned senior and three-star prospect Rick Shoff is playing very well for his 17-3 American Fork High School squad in Alpine, Utah. Shoff, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, is putting up very solid numbers while also providing...Signed with SLCC went on a LDS mission and now is ready to put up some impressive numbers. Ave 24 ppg out of high school and is in shape to play for SLCC... Updates College Choices: Utah , Portland St. , and Utah State ....

Dateline: 6/14/2008
Portland State signs late guard
Guard/forward Wendell Wright of Lakewood-Mayfair, Cal., who gained a requested release from his signed letter to Loyola Maryland after the coaching change, has signed with Portland State. Wright averaged 11 points, five rebounds and four assists as a junior at Mayfair, earning All-Suburban League honors. As a senior, Wright averaged eight points per game. "We are excited about the addition of Wendell, because he is the type of player we want to continue to recruit; an athletic wing, a skilled player who is a good driver to the rim," said Head Coach Ken Bone. "What I also like about him is he is a good passer and a very unselfish passer." Wright is the fifth player to sign with the Viking program this year. He joins a roster with six returning letterwinners, three returning starters and three returning redshirts. Portland State is coming off its finest basketball season in school history. The Vikings set a school record with a 23-10 record, winning the Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament titles, and making a first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament. The grant-in-aid signing by Wright is non-binding since it has come after the basketball letter of intent signing period. PORTLAND STATE BASKETBALL GRANT-IN-AID SIGNING - June 12 Wendell Wright, FR, G/F, 6-5, 185, Lakewood, CA (Mayfair HS) 2008-09 PORTLAND STATE BASKETBALL NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES Jason Conrad, FR, C, 6-11, 220, Gilroy, CA (Gilroy HS) - signed during fall signing period Glen Dean, FR, G, 5-11, 165, Seattle, WA (Roosevelt HS) - signed during fall signing period Paul Guede, SO, G, 6-5, 205, London, England (Grace Christian HS/Tallahassee CC) - signed during spring signing period Donatas Visockis, JR, C, 6-10, 235, Siauliai, Lithuania (Cardinal Gibbons HS/Southern Mississippi/Butte JC) - signed during spring signing period

Dateline: 6/14/2008
Yuba Juco moving on
Yuba Cal. Juco 49ers send off eight players on scholarship, bring in eight new recruits Is too much a good thing? Well, if one's speaking about Yuba College basketball coach Doug Cornelius, absolutely not. "I'm never satisfied," he said. "I'm always working and trying to find the most talented players." It's because of that work ethic and the end result of an aggressive recruiting program, that Yuba basketball gleams with recent success. Since Cornelius' hiring seven years ago, the 49ers have captured three Bay Valley Conference titles, broke the all-time wins record at the school (32), along with just about every other milestone, and most recently, marched to back-to-back State Elite 8 finals. Over the course of the last seven seasons, the team has made a total of three Elite 8 appearances and Cornelius has a combined record of 157-70. While Cornelius' wily recruiting efforts bring in the talent, it is assistant coach Ken Griffin who has earned a reputation for being a basketball guru with the white board. "It's a perfect marriage really," Cornelius said. "We work great together and even though "Griff" gives off that tough love attitude, we've never had a kid not love the guy." Griffin amassed 429 wins at Marysville High during his 28 years as head coach and led the Indians to two Sac-Joaquin Section titles in four appearances. The two coaches have combined to turn Yuba College basketball from a one-time afterthought into a state powerhouse and a haven for university recruiters. In the past three years, Yuba College has shoveled sophomores, and an occasional freshman, to play at four-year schools — 18 players to be exact — including eight from this past season's Elite 8 team. Headlining the 2008 bunch is Royal Edwards, who committed to University of the Pacific, while Xavier Crawford will play for CSU Northridge. Other players from last year's teams: Sean Harris (UC Santa Barbara or Bradley); Kyle Rische (Alaska Fairbanks); Darsenio Carter (Eastern New Mexico); Casey Cutts (CSU Stanislaus); and Courtney Tyler and Kevin Ukhagbe (Bethany College). While the send off is typically viewed as the first step of next season, at Yuba College, it's closer to the final step. The recruiting began last fall, and helping out in the process this year was new assistant coach Dwayne Canada. "He's really helped this year, which is great, because it gives me more time to be with my family," Cornelius said. In Cornelius' eyes, Yuba is bringing in a top-notch class. While the 49ers are already expected to bring back one of the more spectacular guards in the state in Tristan Wilson, and a steady starting point guard in Mayse Walker, the team is also reloading with what coach Cornelius refers to as "an overlooked and heck of a recruiting class." Eight featured players have made the commitment. Two players from state title runner-up Sacramento High are expected to join the team this fall. Bobby Evans, a 6-foot-5-inch wing who averaged eight points a game and led the Dragons with nine rebounds and three blocks a game, joins teammate Kyle Allen, a 6-7 forward, who was second on the team in scoring (11 points a game). Cornelius believes the two recruits already bring a winning mentality to a group full of athleticism. McDonalds All-American nominee Sean Brownhill, a 6-2 guard from Portland, Ore., who grey-shirted at Yuba College last season is one of several players who will vie for a starting spot in the backcourt. "We'll probably end up having the deepest group of guards we've ever had by far," Cornelius said. "And they'll all compete to start. Everything is wide open right now." Three other incoming guards include Marysville's Keenan Prince (6-1), and two former Sacramento High products: Bridgton Academy (Maine) top recruit Cervante Burrell (5-10) and Montana State transfer Shaun Thomas (6-4), who can also play wing. Thomas, Burrell and Evans all played together during the Dragons' 06-07 state title run, where they fell short but finished 26-6 overall. Burrell and Thomas averaged double figures in scoring, while Burrell also averaged nearly seven assists and three steals a game at Sac High. Wrapping up the featured recruits are forwards Tyler Monroe (6-7) of Inderkum and British Columbia forward Niko Monachini (6-6). Monachini was chosen to play in the British Columbia high school all-star game his senior season, while Monroe averaged 18.5 points and nine rebounds a game for Inderkum.

Dateline: 6/14/2008
Montana State signs new Asst, Coach
Loyola Marymount assistant Brian Priebe has been named assistant men's basketball coach at Montana State, coach Brad Huse said Tuesday. Priebe has 15 years of NCAA Division I college coaching experience, as an assistant at Loyola Marymount from 2000-2008 and at Eastern Washington from 1995-2000. "I'm excited to add Brian to the staff for a number of reasons," Huse said. "First, he is an experienced recruiter and really knows the west coast, having actively recruited in the region for the past 13 years. In addition, he is familiar with the Big Sky Conference through his experience at Eastern Washington." Priebe graduated from the University of Washington in 1995 and completed his master's degree in athletic administration at Eastern Washington in 1997. Priebe joins former Marshalltown Community College assistant coach Temesghen Starr as new assistants for the Bobcats. They take over for Danny Sprinkle and Shawn Dirden, who resigned last month.

Dateline: 6/13/2008
Weber State Walk-on signs with College
Drew Arnold, a 6-foot-10 senior transfer from Weber State University , will play for the Lewis-Clark State College men's basketball team next season, the Warrior coaching staff has announced. Arnold spent two years at Montana State University-Billings, an NCAA Division II school, before transferring to Weber State . Because of NCAA transfer rules, Arnold wasn't eligible to play for the Wildcats until mid-January last season. "Drew brings good size to our program," LCSC coach Tim Walker said. "He works hard and plays with great enthusiasm. Drew runs the floor well, can post, and really shoots the ball well facing the basket. We're excited he chose to earn his degree and play at Lewis-Clark State ." Arnold is originally from Phoenix , Ariz. , where he was a standout at Seton Catholic High School . He was a two-year letterwinner in basketball, earning second team all-conference honors as a junior, and then first team all-state honors as a senior. During his senior season, he averaged 14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots a game. He earned first-team all-region honors after helping his team to the regional title, and then to a second-place finish at the state tournament. He was named to the state all-tournament team. After graduating from high school in 2004, he started his college career at MSU-Billings where he played in 24 games and started three for the Yellowjackets as a freshman. He averaged 11 minutes of playing time per game and finished with 58 points and 69 rebounds. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds a game and had season highs of 10 points and 12 rebounds. He also blocked eight shots. During his sophomore year, he played in 25 games and started three, putting up similar stats to his freshman year with 77 points and 58 rebounds. He averaged 3.1 points and 2.3 boards per game and had 11 points in one game and hit two 3-point shots in another contest. He shot 50 percent from the field and 77 percent at the foul line. He then sat out a year before attending Weber State . He only saw action in one game, which was in the Big Sky Conference Tournament late in the season. In that game, he had two rebounds in two minutes of playing time. LCSC is coming off a 22-10 season and won both the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament titles for the second straight season, the first time it has been accomplished since LCSC joined the league in 1999. The Warriors lost six seniors from the squad, including conference MVP Mike Gordy. The Warriors only have two players taller than 6-foot-4 returning next season.

Dateline: 6/13/2008
Oregon Prep to Wyoming J.C.
6-2 J.J. Ross - Hermiston Oregon to Casper (WY) JC

Dateline: 6/13/2008
Northern Colorado center leaves
Junior 6-9 center Kirk Archibeque from Northern Colorado to D-2 Fort Lewis.

Dateline: 6/13/2008
BYU signs player now lets him go on Mission
Michael Boswell Power forward Beaverton (OR) Aloha AAU: Oregon Rebels Ht: 6-foot-9 Wt: 210 lbs Class: 2008 (High School) The Latest: Boswell Picks BYU.. He will first go on a mission then have four years to play. His senior season, Michael Boswell was undoubtedly one of the top unsigned big men on the West Coast. The status of the emerging 6-foot-9, 210-pound post from Aloha High School continued on through the spring then he now has a sign and go on a mission much like Green for Utah State Updates College Choices Videos Bio The Dish Scouting Michael BOSWELL BIO NOTES He held offers from Weber State, Utah State and Toledo. COLLEGE CHOICES : BYU (solid verbal), Oregon State , Utah , Portland , Toledo , Portland St. , Utah State , and Weber State ...

Dateline: 6/12/2008
6'11" Morrison and 6'4" Huff want to play
After leading the men's basketball team to its most successful season in Portland State history, seniors Scott Morrison and Deonte Huff find themselves facing a new challenge upon graduating--trying to get paid to play the game they love. Like the majority of college basketball players in this country, if Huff and Morrison want to turn their hoop skills into cash, they are more than likely going to have to earn a roster spot somewhere overseas or in one of the minor leagues in the United States, such as the CBA or NBDL. The idea of playing in a foreign country does not bother either of these two Viking stars. "I wouldn't want to go to Korea or Russia, or the Middle East, but, China pays well," Morrison said. "The best leagues are in Italy, Spain and Greece, which are also some great countries to be in, and the money is more secure." Huff, who grew up in Lancaster, Calif., says he does not have a real preference for where he ends up. "To be honest, I have always loved playing basketball and I would like to get paid to do something I love," Huff said. "Going in, I can't be picky, I just want to play." Whether you are a 6-foot-11 shot-blocking machine like Morrison, or 6'4" with amazing athletic skills like Huff, securing an opportunity to collect a check for playing basketball is not easy. The fact that Morrison is the Vikings' all-time leader with 187 blocked shots and was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year this past season might help get him a tryout, but to earn a place on team, Morrison is going to have to improve and perform when his number is called. For Morrison, that means developing a more solid and complete offensive game, a feature that is particularly important in the European leagues. "I'm trying to run as much as I can and I'd like to put on 15-20 pounds of good weight," said Morrison, the Vancouver, B.C native. "I played at about 245 and would like to weigh 265 by September, but also keep my foot speed. Here (at Portland State), I've mostly been a back to the basket kind of player, but I'm working to develop an outside shot to go more with the European game." Leading the Vikings with his energetic play on the court, Huff has a number of intangibles that make him an attractive prospect. Fans may remember him diving on the floor for loose balls, out-hustling opponents and throwing down a thunderous dunk on a fastbreak. These traits earned Huff recognition throughout the Big Sky, but he will have to prove that he can consistently perform at a high level against tougher competition. "I probably need to work on my jumper the most," Huff said. "And get more used to the European game. I would definitely like to end up in the NBA, but I don't know if that's a realistic goal right now. I'm just trying to stay in shape" Morrison has already hired an agent based out of San Francisco, Calif., and says he has received two unofficial offers from teams in Belgium and Germany. Huff, a first-team All-Big Sky selection and Big Sky Tournament MVP, has yet to hire an agent. Deonte Huff 2007-2008 13.7 points per game 6.0 rebounds 2.6 assists First Team All-Big Sky Big Sky Tournament MVP Set school record 17-17 free throws and scored a career-high 26 points vs. Montana State 2/2/08 Scott Morrison 10.4 points per game 5.8 rebounds 53 blocks (led the Big Sky) All-time Portland State leader in blocks (187), games played (119) Second Team All-Big Sky 2008 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year 2008

Dateline: 6/12/2008
Weber State has new recruiter Coach
Charles Harral(HAIR-ell), an assistant coach at South Plains Junior College in Levelland, Texas has been named as the new assistant coach on the Weber State University men's basketball staff. Harral replaces Jeff Linder who left this past Spring to join the men's basketball staff at the University of San Francisco. Harral brings some solid coaching credentials to the Wildcat hoop staff. He spent the past two seasons at South Plains under Coach Steve Green. The Texans posted a 30-5 record in 2007-08 and defeated Salt Lake Community College in the championship game of the NJCAA tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. "We are very excited to have Charles join our staff, he's exactly the type of coach we were looking for," said Coach Rahe. "Charles is a well rounded individual. He can coach, recruit, scout and is especially strong in the area of guiding players in their academic endeavors. Above all those qualities, as a person he's fair, honest and has a tremendous work ethic. He's driven to succeed and he's been extremely successful where ever he's been." A native of San Antonio, Texas, Harral graduated from Churchill High School in 1999 and enrolled at Texas Tech University. As an undergraduate, Harral served as the student manager for the Red Raider's men's basketball team for two seasons under Coach James Dickey and two seasons under Coach Bob Knight. He graduated in May of 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science. From 2003 through 2005 he served as a graduate assistant coach at the University Texas-El Paso under Coach Billy Gillespie and Coach Doc Sadler while working on a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He obtained that degree in August of 2005. He left El Paso and was hired as an assistant coach at Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2005-06. Fort Smith was in it's last season as a junior college before moving up to the four-year level. That team posted a 33-3 record overall and won the NJCAA national championship game in Hutchinson, Kansas. He then left to coach at South Plains and on to Weber State.

Dateline: 6/11/2008
Portalnd State player transfers
6-8 Alex Tiefenthaler - Portland/Portland State to Concordia (OR)

Dateline: 6/10/2008
Best 2008-09 schedule goes to Idaho State
Idaho State's 2008-09 complete men's basketball schedule has been released by head coach Joe O'Brien, and it features 16 home games, including non-conference home games with Utah, Utah State, and Brigham Young, with the Cougars making only their second trip to Pocatello in the last 56 years. The other non-conference home games are a pair of exhibitions at Reed Gym against Montana Tech and Rocky Mountain (that game a doubleheader with the women's team), and regular season games against Long Beach State and Idaho, along with the regular season opener, a November 14th game at Reed Gym against Eastern Oregon. Idaho State will once again have a challenging road schedule, with games at Hawai'i, Boise State, Washington State, Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Arizona State, Nevada, and Kansas State. In all, the Bengals will take on six NCAA Tournament teams from last season (Portland State, Boise State, Wisconsin, Brigham Young, Washington State, and Kansas State) two NIT teams (Arizona State and Utah State), and two CBI teams (Utah and Nevada), giving the Bengals 11 postseason teams (counting Eastern Oregon's NAIA Sweet 16 appearance), and 10 out of their 14 regular season non-conference opponents. ISU's 14 non-conference opponent have a combined record of 280-180, a .609 mark. "I think our fans know my philosophy on scheduling," said head coach Joe O'Brien, who guided ISU to a fourth place finish in the Big Sky last year and a berth in the semifinals of the conference tournament. "What is exciting about this year's schedule, particularly non-conference, is that we have six home games, and the two exhibitions, so we won't have to constantly battle these teams on the road, and having four postseason teams in Holt Arena is pretty good for us."

Dateline: 6/10/2008
One time SLCC forward sign LOI
6-8 Brad Hodge - Hillsboro/Salt Lake (UT) CC/Western Oregon/Grays Harbor (WA) JC to Montana State-Billings

Dateline: 6/10/2008
Weber State recruit signs with Louisiana St. in Sh
Minden High School’s Derrick Parker signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Parker, a 6-foot-6 forward, was a two-year starter at Minden High School. As a senior, Parker averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks, while helping Minden High to their second consecutive District 1-4A title. He earned first-team All-State honors, and was also named the District 1-4A and Webster Parish MVP following his senior season. The Shreveport Times also selected Parker as a member of their All-Area team. “We are very excited about the addition of Derrick Parker to our basketball family here at LSUS,” said LSUS coach Chad McDowell. “Derrick comes from a great high school program with a lot of tradition and a very good coach in Alan Shaw.” In addition to his outstanding athletic achievements, Parker has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. As a result of his athletic and academic accomplishments, he was named to the 2008 Academic All-State team. “Derrick is what we consider a total package,” added McDowell. “He is an extremely good student, and a very talented basketball player that will have the opportunity to contribute immediately as a true freshman.” Parker chose LSUS over several NCAA Division I offers, including Centenary, Weber State and Cornell.

Dateline: 6/9/2008
Northern Arizona guard transfers
Buffalo gains Northern Arizona transfer # Guard Zach Filzen of North Field, Minn., is transfering from Northern Arizona to Buffalo. He played in 32 games last season as a freshman and averaged 6.6 points.

Dateline: 6/8/2008
Montana State recruits post player
Geoffrey Harrison Center Seminole (OK) Seminole J.C. Ht: 6-foot-9 Wt: 210 lbs Class: 2009 (Junior College) from California to Oklahoma, this post player can play.. COLLEGE CHOICES : San Francisco , San Jose St. , Saint Mary's CA , CS Fullerton , and Montana St. Bobcats....

Dateline: 3/23/2008
Juco Hutch All-Tournament team
Championship Game Photos All-Tournament Team Dwight Buycks - Indian Hills Dwight Hardy - Indian Hills Will Bynum - Eastern Arizona Reggie Chamberlain - Seward County Darko Cohadarevic - Seward County Brian Green - Salt Lake DaVell Jackson - Salt Lake Jonathan Hall - South Plains Nick Okorie - South Plains Mario Little - Chipola Bryan Sherrer - Three Rivers Eric Tramiel - Paris William B. French MVP of the Tournament Jonathan Hall - South Plains Coach of the Tournament Steve Green - South Plains Bud Obee Outstanding Small Player Award Brian Green - Salt Lake Sesher Sportsmanship Award Nikola Keeman - Eastern Arizona

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