Potpourri, Oct 30

Mikey Lewis (Oakland, CA) Prolific Prep Press Release:

Friday October 27th, 2023 

Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (CA) 2024 6'4" G Mikey Lewis (Oakland, CA) chooses St. Mary's College (CA) of the West Coast Conference over the University of Illinois, Ole Miss, and a host of other schools.

Mikey Lewis played for the Oakland Soldiers (CA) of the Nike EYBL throughout his High School career and had a huge Spring and Summer this past year (2023) averaging 18.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2 APG.

Mikey Lewis is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in the Grind Session league and a 2 time All League player his sophomore and junior seasons on the Grind Session.

Mikey joins 6'8" F Zion Sensley as the 2nd committed player in the Class of 2024 for St. Mary's College (CA) and Coach Randy Bennett's squad. Zion also hails from the  Bay Area and played his sophomore and junior seasons with Prolific Prep of Napa Christian.

Excellent choice. Lewis will get better with the Gaels system, St. Mary's will continue to win, even more.

Speaking of the Gaels, they bopped Fresno State 103-68 in an exhibition matchup.

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Illinois topped Kansas 82-75 in an exhibition pairing as Coleman  (Prolific Prep/Antelope High) Hawkins scored 14 points and contributed five rebounds. He shot 4-9 from three-point range.

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BYU bested Stanford 77-72 in another exhibition. 

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Menlo College 82, Simpson University 64

Landon (Wood High) Seaman led Menlo with 17 points, Kaito (CSU East Bay/Sheldon High) Williams supplied 16 points and Nick (Foothill High) High contributed 13.

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"2024 3* PG Elijah Crawford commits to Stanford"

Crawford is a 6-foot-2 point. Here's a feature.

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Ohlone College Coach Jordan Lee has six northern Californians on his 2023-24 roster: 

• Matthew Villanueva G So. 5-11 Hayward, CA/Moreau Catholic 
• Sam Manzo G Fr. 6-1 Alameda, CA/Saint Joseph Notre Dame 
• Jason Cibull G So. 5-11 Alameda, CA/Alameda 
• Jude Jennings G So. 6-3 Newcastle, AUS/Newcastle Falcons 
• Frank Mixon G Fr. 6-2 Chicago, IL/Comer 
• Samuel Prescod G Fr. 6-0 Toronto, CAN/Golden State Prep 
• Nebiyu Teklemariam W So. 6-6 Alameda, CA/Saint Joseph Notre Dame 
• Adam Zalmai W Fr. 6-4 San Ramon, CA/California 
• Ashton Proctor W Fr. 6-5 Maitland, AUS/Maitland Mustangs 
• Sami Tanasic F Fr. 6-9 Melbourne, AUS/Geelong United 
• James Arterberry F Fr. 6-8 Oakland, CA/Oakland Tech 
• Andrej Kuljic F Fr. 6-9 Nevesinje, Bosnia/Pepi Sport 
• Kayne Gilmore F Fr. 6-8 Newcastle, AUS/Newcastle Falcons

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"Kings' De'Aaron Fox signs with Stephen Curry's Under Armour line"

Isn't this called aiding the enemy? What if Fox goes for 40 against Golden State in Curry's shoes?

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"Cal's Jaylon Tyson denied waiver for immediate eligibility"

Background on Tyson's departure from Texas Tech. 

This will really hurt Coach Mark Madsen's team in 2023-24..

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Trilly Donovan: "Things we don’t talk about enough:

Tum Tum Nairn, former Michigan State Spartan and current Bowling Green assistant coach, starts for his country’s national team alongside multiple NBA players.

He has to be the first D1 assistant to do that right?"

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"'He has championship pedigree': Mark Madsen breathes new life into Cal basketball"

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The Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder) nabbed Logan Johnson with the ninth pick in the first round of the NBA G League draft. 

His bio at St. Mary's.

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In the first round of the NBA G League draft, Arinze Chidom was chosen with the 27th pick by the Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State Warriors).

His ProBallers bio.

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Kyree Walker has been selected in the third round (#62) of the NBA G League draft by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets). Wikipedia has the 6-foot-6 talent at Moreau Catholic High as a freshman.

His Wikipedia bio.

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Cosumnes River College Head Coach Jonathan James' 2023-24 roster consists of all northern California prospects save one, David Abdullah out of Chicago:

• David Abdullah G 6-0 182 SO Chicago, Illinois/King College Prep
• Aalijah Gillyard G/W 6-3 155 FR Sacramento, California/Laguna Creek HS
• Luca Davis G/W 6-4 182 FR Sacramento, California/Grant HS
• Karlos Zepeda G 5-10 155 SO Elk Grove, California/Elk Grove HS
• Brian Unachukwu F 6-8 220 FR Union City, California/James Logan HS
• Isaiah Griffin G 5-11 175 SO Sacramento, California/Burbank HS
• Elijah Lewis G/W 6-4 185 FR Fairfield, California/Vanden HS
• Paul Lewis W 6-1 190 FR Sacramento, California/McClatchy HS
• Kole Simon F 6-4 205 FR Folsom, California/Vista Del Lago HS
• Antonio Tercero W/F 6-7 215 SO West Sacramento, California/River City HS
• William Goebel G 6-0 175 FR Sacramento, California/Foothill HS
• Craig McMillan G 6-6 225 FR Sacramento, California/Capital Christian School
• Montell Shelton F/C 6-9 285 SO Antelope, California/Antelope HS

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Diablo Valley College Head Coach Ervin Anderson's 2023-24 roster is primarily home grown with but just three players from outside of northern California: 

• Romeo Traylor F 6'1 215 Clayton Valley Charter
• Marshawn Smith G/F 6'4 180 Weston Ranch
• Khai Curry G 5'10 170 American Canyon
• Cole Webster F 6'8 180 L.A. Premier Prep
• Mozell Wilson G 5'11 175 Ygnacio Valley
• Lorenzo Pardo G 5'10 170 Heritage
• Nelson Palmer G/F 6'2 180 Berkeley
• Ben Tellez G 6'2 185 College Park
• Vincent Hurtado G 6'1 185 Clayton Valley Charter
• Isiah Pullin F 6'3' 180 College Park
• Michael Wood F 6'6 205 Las Lomas
• Vincent Estrada-Smith F 6'3 190 Concord
• Dawson Schaefer G/F 6'1 185 Nome Beltz AK
• Tristin Redman F 6'7 185 Berkeley
• DJ Evans G 6'3 185 Boardman OH
• Elijah Keys F 6'4 225 De La Salle
• Kameron Moore C 6'7 260 Wood
• Maysan Neubauer C 6'5 310 Chico

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Mateen Rafiq to the Ivy League

"For me to be able to play at the D1 level was my dream and goal," said Mateen Rafiq, "and now also enrolling into the world's best education is unbelievable. I couldn't get a better education for my career." The 6-foot point formerly of El Camino High and now Weston Ranch High recently committed to Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York and one of the eight members of the academically vaunted Ivy League.

Wishing to pursue a legal career, Rafiq has already been accepted into Cornell's Pre Law ILR School. "I want to work in the legal field with athletes. I have a close family friend who does that."

Still, it was a tough decision. "My family could come and see me play if I had chosen one of the California schools recruiting me."

Rafiq and both his parents went on an official visit to Cornell on October 20-21. Head Coach Brian Earl extended an offer while the family was in his office on Saturday, the 21st.  Mateen responded affirmatively -- "I told him I was ready to accept it." A celebration ensued but one caveat, as requested by Rafiq, needed completion before any announcement could be made. That being his notification of the other college coaches pursuing him that he had chosen Cornell as his college of choice. He completed that task, thereby joining the Big Red program. "Those were some tough conversations," Rafiq recalled.

Besides the academics, what also sold Rafiq on Cornell was the camaraderie he witnessed between the players themselves as well as the closeness between the players and coaches, plus his enjoyment while hanging out with the players off the court. Add in his connection with Coach Earl's offensive style. "I saw them play and practice and the fit couldn't be better. They shot a lot of threes and used a bunch of pick-and-rolls."

Rafiq's game is built around a quick release and accurate outside shot plus his ability to penetrate. As posted in an earlier feature: "In a total of 12 games at a July national tournament in Atlanta and another in Las Vegas, Rafiq averaged 21.9 points per contest, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds. He enjoyed a high game of 41 points." Plus, "In his last go-around at El Camino High (as a junior), he averaged 26.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists, earning a Second Team All State selection by CalHiSports, while finishing with 271 made threes.

Rafiq issued thanks "ultimately to God as I prayed a lot about my decision, to my parents and my family for their guidance and the coaches and players at Weston Ranch High, El Camino High and the Rose City basketball program for allowing me to be successful as a person and a player and for providing a platform for me to excel." Plus, "Weston Ranch High Head Coach Nic Podesta and Assistant Coach Eddie Menzel for holding us accountable on the court and in the classroom." Finally, "I I want to thank all the coaches who recruited me."

Participating in March Madness is Rafiq's next goal. Only the foolish would count him out.

Here is our July 21 feature on Rafiq.

Potpourri, Oct 27

Isaiah Chappell has committed to UC Davis. The Aggies offered in mid-July. A 6-foot-9 stretch power forward out of Los Angeles who currently attends the South Kent prep school in Connecticut, he had other offers from Montana, Boston University, Montana State, Colgate, American, Brown, NJIT, Furman and New Hampshire. He owns dual New Zealand citizenship.

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Also in the Land of a Gazillion Bicycles, UC Davis Coach Jim Les has also garnered a commitment from Jacob Gilchrist, a 6-foot-6 wing attending 12 Bridges High School in western Placer County. Sacramento State also offered.

Here's our October 4 feature on Gilchrist.

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Former Franklin High guard Al Green, now a 6-foot-4 sophomore at San Diego City College, has committed to Louisiana Tech. He received an offer in mid-September from the Bulldogs. 

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Contra Costa College Head Coach Miguel Johnson has posted his 2023-24 roster:

• Kaleb Allison PG Freshman 6-foot-1 155 Pinole Valley HS/Pinole, CA
• Mikey Pierce G Freshman 6-foot-4 165 American Canyon HS/American Canyon, CA
• Amari Robinson G Freshman 6-foot-2 155 Paraclete HS/Quartz Hill, CA
• Prime Payton G Sophomore 6-foot-3 185 Lincoln HS/Jersey City, NJ
• Daniel Carter G Sophomore 6-foot-3 175 Meade HS/Fort Meade, MD
• Joseph Gould PG Freshman 6-foot-22 165 Rodriguez HS/Fairfield, CA
• Keith Allison G Sophomore 6-foot-2 165 Hercules HS/Hercules, CA
• Curtis Glover G Sophomore 6-foot-2 170 Hoover HS/Fresno, CA
• Jelani Clark G Freshman 6-foot-3 210 Riordan HS/San Francisco, CA
• Christopher Sanders Wing Sophomore 6-foot-6 185 Salesian HS/Richmond, CA
• Devyn Mclean Wing Freshman 6-foot-5 185 Glencoe HS/Hillsborough, OR
• Robert Chang G Freshman 5-foot-10 185 Castro Valley HS/Castro Valley, CA
• Zayn Kimbrough G Freshman 6-foot-3 185 Balboa Prep/San Diego, CA
• Jamil Harris Wing Freshman 6-foot-2 190 Oakland HS/Oakland,CA
• Alvon Watts Wing Freshman 6-foot-4 175 Oakland Technical HS/Oakland, CA
• Kamron Robinson F/C Sophomore 6-foot-9 230 Jefferson HS/Portland, OR
• Dylen Jefferson F/C Freshman 6-foot-6 175 Hamilton HS/Chandler, AZ

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Mendocino College Head Coach Billy Offill has posted his 2023-24 roster:

• Benji Crebs G Fr 6'0 180 Box Elder/Rocky Boys
• Ahmad Artis G So 6'3 185 / Bishop Noll
• Indy Dosanjh G So 5'10 155 / Yuba City
• Jordan Emory G So 6'2 175 Atlanta, GA/SW Atlanta
• Omare Edwards G Fr 5'10 135 Sacramento, CA/Fortune
• Nik Burns G So 6'0 180 Santa Rosa, CA/Elsie Allen
• Keanu Ford G Fr 5'10 175 Lakeport, CA/Clear Lake
• Eduardo Badillo G Fr 5'10 165 Wendover, NV/W. Wendover
• Nathan Behr F So 6'7 200 Bozeman, MT/Odysseyware
• Gavin Reid G Fr 6'3 190 Occidental, CA/Analy
• Tre'quan Scott G Fr 6'2 185 Darlington, SC/Darlington
• Darius Ford G So 6'3 180 Lakeport, CA/Clear Lake
• Jaymaree Johnson F Fr 6'5 235 Fresno, CA/Washington Union

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Napa Valley College Head Coach Steve Ball has posted his 2023-24 roster:

• Oliver Aandahl Guard FR 5' 10" 155 American Canyon/American Canyon
• Chris Farrington Guard So 6' 1" 165 Milwaukee/Shorewood
• Jerard Jackson Guard FR 5' 9" 150 San Jacinto/San Jacinto
• Jalen Encinas  Guard FR 5' 11" 150 Fairfield/Vanden
• Raekwon Bell Forward So 6' 3" 165 American Canyon/American Canyon
• Ethan Williams Forward So 6' 5" 175 Bangkok/Rio Linda Academy
• Nico Franco Guard FR 5' 11" 150 Napa/Napa
• Jalen Moore Guard FR 6' 5" 160 Fairfield/Armijo
• Jaleel Turner Forward FR 6' 3" 180 Richardson/JJ Pearce
• Antoine Thaxton Forward So 6' 5" 185 Fairfield/Vanden
• CJ Mitchell Guard FR 6' 2" 185 American Canyon/American Canyon
• Hassan Flemming  Forward FR 6' 4" 165 American Canyon/American Canyon
• Keith Nyangena Forward So 6' 6" 205 Richardson/JJ Pearce
• Nate Broome  Forward FR 6' 6" 195 Benicia/Benicia

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Solano College Coach John Nagle has posted his 2023-24 roster:

• Trey Knight Guard 6'2 185 Fr Daly City, CA/Westmoor 
• D'Angelo Chatman Wing 6'4 185 Fr Fairfield, CA/Fairfield 
• Justin Armstrong-Wilson Guard 6'1 170 Fr Fairfield/Vanden 
• Jacques Jones Guard 5'11 160 So Fairfield/Vanden 
• Miles Gunter Guard 6'2 180 Fr Richmond/St. Mary's 
• Andree Nickel Guard 5'10 165 So Fairfield, CA/Vanden 
• Samuel Lenjik Guard 6'2 185 So Zilina, Slovakia/GBA Academy 
• Ray Holt Wing 6'2 185 Fr Fairfield, CA/Fairfield 
• Kameon Whitaker Guard 6'6 205 Fr El Cerrito, CA/Summit K2 
• Noah Bishop  Wing 6'4 210 Fr Vacaville, CA/Will C. Wood 
• Matthew Elliott Guard 6'0 180 So Vallejo, CA/Bethel 
• Edwin Akpolki Guard 6'1 170 So Fairfield, CA/Rodriguez 
• Jermiah Cardwell Wing 6'4 215 Fr Fairfield, CA/Fairfield 
• Isaac Sanchez Wing 6'4 190 Fr Vacaville, CA/Will C. Wood 
• Abram Bennett Wing 6'6 200 Fr Grass Valley, CA/Bear River 

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Potpourri, Oct 25

"Omari Moore: Joining Toronto"

Signed by Milwaukee but recently let go. Named MVP of the Mountain West Conference last season while at San Jose State University.

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On Monday, UCLA was short-handed on the frontline and fell 64-53 to Santa Clara in an exhibition.

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San Francisco State Head Coach Vince Inglima's current roster houses eight talents from northern California (including a trio from Dublin High): 

• Caleb Oden, 6-foot-5, 190, guard, redshirt sophomore, (Nevada/Dublin High)
• Tyjean Burrell, 6-foot-2, 175, guard, (College of the Sequoias/Antelope High)
• Jake Paxton, 6-foot, 185, guard, senior (Sacramento City College/Rio Americano High) 
• Devon Jackson, 6-foot-2, 175, guard, junior Dublin High)
• Jonah Roth, 6-foot-9, 215, center, senior (Yuba College/Snow College/Rio Americano High) 
• Donovan Cooks, 6-foot-1, 180, guard, freshman (Dublin High)
• Jailen Daniel-Dalton, 6-foot-6, 220, forward, junior (Gavilan College/Mountain View High) 
• Pearse Uniacke, 6-foot-9, 235, center, junior (College of San Mateo/Serra High) 

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Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink is heavy on guards with six of his seven northern California players on his current roster being backcourters:

• Ned Joyce, 6-foot-1, 180, guard, sophomore, (Pleasant Valley High)
• Miles Daniels, 6-foot-2, 170, guard, sophomore, (De La Salle High)
• Joshua Hamilton, 6-foot-2, 185, guard, senior, (Central Catholic High)
• JoJo Murphy, 6-foot-2, 180, guard, sophomore, (Piedmont High)
• Max Walters, 6-foot-3, 190, guard, sophomore (Soquel High) 
• Isaiah Kerr, 6-foot-3, 180, guard, freshman, (Montana/St. Francis High)
• Travis Hightower, 6-foot-7, 196, forward, junior ( Justin-Sienna High)

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Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Head Coach Ken Scalmanini's current roster features a quintet of northern Californians:

• Cahal Connolly, 6-foot-9, center, sophomore (Bishop O'Dowd)
• Reid Jones, 6-foot-3, guard, freshman (Jesuit High) 
• Joey Kennedy, 6-foot-6, forward, freshman (University High) 
• James Frye, 6-foot-5, guard, sophomore, (Miramonte High)
• Matt Meredith, 6-foot-5, forward, junior (Miramonte High) 

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Dominican University Head Coach Justin Argenal features seven northern Californians on this season's roster:

• Dale Currie 6-foot, 176, senior, guard (Holy Names University/Sheldon High)
• Nathan Ilunga, 6-foot-8, 228, senior, forward, (CCSF)
• Marcus McCutcheon, 6-foot-6, 205, senior, forward (Columbia College)
• Garrett Siebels, 6-foot-3, 190, guard, senior (Santa Rosa Junior College/Casa Grande High)
• Jeff Snure, 6-foot-8, 245, junior, center (College of the Siskiyous)
• Nanik Tagore, 6-foot-3, 190, redshirt freshman, (Holy Names University)
• Isaiah Chandavong, 6-foot-3, 175, freshman, (Inderkum High)

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San Jose State University Head Coach Tim Miles has three northern Californians on his 2023-24 roster:

• Myron Amey Jr., 6-foot-2, 185, junior, guard (Vacaville High) 
• Pasha Goodarzi, 6-foot-3, 190, freshman, guard (Valley Christian High) 
• Christian Wise, 6-foot-6, 205, freshman, forward (Archbishop Riordan)

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USF Head Coach Chris Gerlufsen also has a trio of Nor Cal talents on his roster:

• Ryan Beasley, 5-11, 172, guard, freshman (Dougherty Valley High) 
• Isaiah Hawthorne, 6-foot-8, 212, forward, redshirt junior (Tracy High)
• Robby Beasley, 6-foot-2, 188, guard, junior (UC Davis/Montana, Dougherty Valley High) 

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Question about Twitter (or X) of late. I don't have a personal Twitter account but have always been able to access and re-post various Twitter posts of others (player signings, player visits, game highlights, etc.) But of late, Twitter seems to have gone haywire, republishing posts from years ago. An example: the second post right now at Simply Basketball's Twitter account is from 2019. Hence the meager posts I've been presenting of late.Plus, there are now many Twitter accounts that no longer allow me access. Is this just happening to me or is it something widespread? Please let me know.

Kevin McCarthy norcalbasketball@yahoo.com

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Jordy McKenzie Nabs a 'Ship

Jordy McKenzie to Eastern Washington University

6-foot-4 guard Jordy McKenzie desired to determine his future collegiate destination, if possible, before taking to the court in his final high school season at Archbishop Riordan in late November 2023. Wrap that aspiration up with a large "Mission Accomplished" bow as McKenzie recently committed to Eastern Washington University (EWU) of the Big Sky Conference.

So why the choice of the Eagles and Head Coach David Riley? "I liked the staff and the players," McKenzie explained, "it was like a big family with everyone believing in each other." EWU broke down the offer barrier, with USF, Idaho State, Montana and a few other D1 schools also tracking McKenzie's play this summer.

Jordy McKenzie's New Gym

"I didn’t play AAU last summer which significantly affected my recruitment," McKenzie noted. "I took a risk and spent the summer skill training and strength and conditioning training in hopes that it would all pay off." Ultimately, it did because all it takes is one enamored suitor.

Jordy McKenzie is a Star in the Making!

McKenzie and his parents took an official visit to EWU on October 6. Regarding his decision, "I had a great feeling along with a sense of relief."

According to McKenzie, Eagle fans will be seeing "shooting, being able to score and make plays, finishing over opponents with contact and good defense. I want to do everything and like to work on all aspects of my game."

Regarding hoops influences, McKenzie said, "my Dad who has trained me all my life and all my former coaches who gave me knowledge and helped me see the game better." Plus, the late Kobe Bryant. "I always enjoyed watching his film." Bryant's play actually influenced McKenzie into getting into basketball. "I found out I loved it and had a talent for it. But I do like watching football."

Asked to name a best basketball moment, McKenzie offered, "in my sophomore year, I scored 38 points against Fremont, a team we had lost to earlier in a tournament." More currently, "during the final live period of the summer, I dropped 25 points in a huge win against California Stars, a team full of high major players." 

From the Crusaders to the Eagles

In the academic element, "I posted a 3.5 grade point average in my first two years." That was at Pinole Valley High prior to his transfer down to Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco.

Asked to detail what has changed in his game since his freshman year, McKenzie replied, "I was kind of nervous and quiet as a kid but now I just play my game. I've gotten stronger, more athletic and improved my handle."

As for a major, "It will either be business or journalism. I'm in a journalism class right now."

Potpourri, Oct 23

 6-foot-5 Serra High guard Ryan Pettis earlier posted a list of his five final college possibilities (Weber Stater, Montana, Pacific, Long Beach State and Fordham University. His final choice? Fordham University, a Catholic school located in the Bronx borough of New York City. 

Did anyone see this 3,000 miles away choice coming?

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"Who fills the leadership void for the Aztecs?"

First question, is there one (a void)? Like Butler a lot but Darrion Tramell isn't exactly chopped liver. 6-foot-9 Cade Alger is out of Ripon Christian High. 

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UC Santa Barbara Coach Joe Pasternack has a team picked to finish first by the Big West Conference coaches and a trio of Nor Cal talents appear on the roster:

• Cole Anderson, 6-foot-4, 185, junior, guard, Clovis West High
• Konner Baroni, 6-foot-8, 210, redshirt junior, forward, Placer High/Yuba College
• Mezziah Oakman, 7-foot, 230, junior, center, CCSF/Mt. Diablo High

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Coach Dan Monson returns to the Long Beach State bench aided by former St. Francis High star  Senque Carey who has multiple college assistant coaching spots throughout the West under his belt as well as Director of Basketball Operations Alex Manfredi, whose basketball lineage includes his father Ken Manfredi, longtime head coach at Franklin High in Elk Grove as well as his grandfather.

The Beach squad this season includes:

• Amari Stroud, 6-foot-10. 210, senior, center, Allan Hancock College/Chico State
• Isa Silva, 6-foot-4, 190, junior, point, Stanford/Jesuit High 
• Varick Lewis, 6-foot-2, 175 freshman, guard, Monterey Trail High
• AJ George, 6-foot-6, 190, sophomore, guard, Hoover High (Fresno)

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In exhibition action, St. Mary's walloped Hawaii 92-58 on Friday as Austin (Campolindo High) Mahaney led with 25 points and fellow guard Augustas Marciulionis contributed 22. Jovon (Sheridan College WY/Salesian College Prep) McClanahan led the hosts with 16 points. The score totals were 46-29 in each 20 minutes.

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Also in exhibition play on Friday, Illinois routed Ottawa 116-65 as Coleman (Antelope High/Prolific Prep) Hawkins provided 10 points, five boards and five steals in just 16 minutes for the Land of Lincolners. 

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Sonoma State Head Coach Rich Shayewitz has seven northern Californians on his current roster:

• Nick Medeiros, guard, 6-foot, 160, sophomore, St. Patrick St. Vincent
• Dillon Iyawe, center, 6-foot-9, 250, senior (Cosumnes River College/Franklin High)
• Matt Williams III, guard, 6-foot-3, 190, junior, (CCSF)
• Julian Bryant, guard, 6-foot-4, 186, senior (College of Marin/Albany High) 
• Cole Cummings, center, 6-foot-8, 200, senior (Justin Sienna High/San Diego Miramar College)
• Audon Forgus, guard, 6-foot-3, 200, freshman (Stevenson High) 
• Pierce Rexford, senior, 6-foot-7, 200, (Vista Del Lago High/Folsom Lake College) 

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Cal State San Bernardino Head Coach Jim Saia has three talents out of northern California this season:

• Alexander Sokol, guard, 6-foot-6, 190, senior, (Valley Christian High/Cal State Northridge)
• Shane Bell, guard, 6-foot-3, 175, sophomore (Salesian Prep) 
• Jaden Lazo, guard, 6-foot, 160, sophomore (Salesian Prep) 

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Potpourri, Oct 20

Archbishop Riordan's Jordy McKenzie has committed to Eastern Washington (scroll a bit down down from here) EWU is a member of the Big Sky Conference and offered the 6-foot-4 guard in mid-to-late July. 

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Tobias Bass: "NEWS: 4starCG Mikey Lewis will announce his commitment on Oct. 27. It’s between:

• Ole Miss
• Illinois
• St. Mary's

He averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds & 2.2 assists at the Peach Jam"

Ole Miss? Chris Beard is a helluva coach but c'mon. Ole Miss? (imagine Allen Iverson shouting "Ole Miss" a la his rant about practice!)

Illinois just landed 6-foot-4 combo guard Jase Butler. But these two could play together.

St. Mary's means landing with the best program in California and playing alongside Aiden Mahaney.

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Cal State East Bay Coach Bryan Rooney's 2023-24 roster contains a trio of northern California-connected players: 

• Teiano Hardee, guard 6-foot-5, 210, junior (Sacramento State/ Vanden High)
• Trey Knight, guard, 6-foot, 182, freshman (Moreau Catholic High)
• David Filipovas, forward, 6-foot-8, 205, freshman (Dublin High)

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Menlo College Coach Brendan Rooney (brother of Bryan) has six northern California talents on his latest roster: 

• Kaito Williams, 6-foot-1, guard, senior (Sheldon High) 
• Nick High, 6-foot-6, forward, sophomore (Foothill High)  
• Landon Seaman, 6-foot-8, forward, junior (Will C. Wood High)
• Julius Alcantara, 6-foot-6, forward, junior (Skyline College/Serra High)
• Salim Arikat, 6-foot-9, forward, freshman (Petaluma High)
• Austin Ito, 6-foot-2, guard, freshman  (Woodcreek High) 

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"Bucks waive Omari Moore..."

"...The decision to waive Moore comes as a bit of a surprise, even though he hadn’t made much of an impact on the court in Summer League or the preseason. The undrafted rookie out of San Jose State signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Bucks in early July — that level of team control is rare, since most two-way deals only cover a single season...."

Plus: "Those first two weren’t surprising, but Moore was somewhat unexpected. After all, they signed the San Jose State product to a two-way deal that lasted two years on draft night. He had his moments in Summer League back in July, and his 6’6” length plus collegiate point guard experience made him an interesting prospect if a longshot. He seemed likely to be a regular feature with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League season ahead. However, Moore saw no action in the first three preseason games and only made his “debut” last night with five scoreless minutes, his only contribution being one rebound. That lack of playing time had me wondering if the Bucks weren’t as enamored with him anymore now that they’ve had over three months to look at him, and this move seems to confirm that.

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"How a basketball prodigy from Guinea made it to the NCAA with an assist from a Markham school

Ibrahima Sacko moved from Guinea to Markham to make his basketball dream come true. Now, he’s headed to Georgia Tech on a full-ride NCAA scholarship."

So much of life is about who knows you and that has blessingly worked in this young man's favor. 

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A trio of northern California talents dot Cal Poly Pomona Coach Greg Kamansky's current roster, all three underclassmen:

• Derrick Claxton, 6-foot-5, guard, sophomore, Inderkum High He averaged 8.5 points plus 3.8 boards while shooting 46%, 45% and 66% overall.
• Edric Dennis, 6-foot-7, forward, freshman, Vanden High 
• Kody Weary, 6-foot-5, forward, freshman. Modesto Christian High

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"'Then the alligators got him': Inside Ja Morant's 18-month downfall"

A fascinating read -- which way will he turn?

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Monterey Peninsula College Coach Blake Spiering has five locals on his 2023-24 roster:

• Jamey Paull 5-foot-7 Pacific Grove High
• Matthew Gallagher 6-foot-2 Monterey High 
• Charlie Kosta 6-foot-1 Palma High 
• Jordan Lopez 6-foot-6 Everett Alvarez High 
• AJ Gbeintor 6-foot-1 Rocklin High

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"Coaches vote Chico State as favorites in Men's Basketball preseason poll"

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Stanislaus State Coach Paul Trevor's 2023-24 roster contains but five talents not connected to northern California:

• Jeremiah Jones, 6-foot-3, 180, junior, Salesian Prep
• John Wade, 6-foot-6, 185, junior, American Canyon High
• Jordan Smith, 6-foot-5, 180, sophomore, Capital Christian High 
• Baljot Sahi, 6-foot, 160, junior, Modesto Christian High
• Mahda Fallay, 6-foot-6, 215, junior, Moreau Catholic High
• Isaiah Jones, 6-foot-4, 180, junior, Columbia College
• Dontrell Hewett, 6-foot-5, 190, Shelton High
• Lloyd French, 6-foot-4, 200, freshman, Downey High
• Cam Walker, 6-foot-1, 165, junior, Turlock High/Porterville College
• Will Chavarin, 6-foot-4 210, sophomore, Bishop O'Dowd/Cal Poly Pomona
• Cheikh Gueye, 6-foot-8, 230, junior, St. Joseph Notre Dame/Mendocino College
• Noel Alexander, 6-foot-8, 210, senior, Columbia College
• Jason Zimmer, 6-foot-4, 200, junior, Clayton Valley Charter/Los Medanos College
• Drew Nelson, 7-foot, 285, redshirt freshman, Redding Christian High

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Potpourri, Oct 18

Idaho Coach Alex Pribble has set up a Nor Cal basketball outpost of sorts up in Moscow for his first year. Check out his 2023-24 roster:

• Quinn Denker, 6-foot-3, junior, guard, San Jose, CA (Bellarmine College Prep, West Valley College, Cal State San Marcos)
• EJ Neal, 6-foot-5, junior, guard, San Francisco CA (Balboa Prep, City College San Francisco
• Takai Hardy, 6-foot-7, freshman, forward, Fairfield, CA (Vanden High, Sunrise Christian Academy)
• Miles Klapper, 6-foot-3, freshman, guard, Hillsborough, CA (Serra High School, Bridgton Academy)

This quartet will provide a solid competitive core.

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"Position Rankings: Top Five Point Guards in the NBA   The position is loaded with players who have very different styles"

Interesting selections.

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"Bill Self vs. The NCAA: The Inside Story that Nearly Changed KU Hoops History Part one of a series looking behind-the-scenes at the NCAA's IARP investigations"

Not necessarily Nor Cal-related but a fascinating read.

and

"The FBI, IARP and corruption in men's college basketball, explained"

Ditto.

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NCAA to discuss NIL changes allowing more school involvement

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"Rookie Brandin Podziemski learns important lesson in first start for Warriors

Podziemski got the start at point guard with Steph Curry and Chris Paul resting on Sunday"

Time will still be necessary  as ups and downs  are still forecast but Podziemski looks like he will become an all-around contributor.

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Basketball Recruitment: "2023 6'8 SF Osiris Grady has committed to Utah Valley. Grady chose the Wolverines over Ole Miss, Arkansas, West Virginia, Texas Tech, California, USC, Nevada, UNLV, Washington St, New Mexico, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Howard, and Cal Poly."

I don't know Osiris Grady but wish him all the best. The same for Utah Valley. Grady is out of the Las Vegas area and played his senior season at Wasatch Academy in Utah. 

My quibble, however minor it may be, is that it's difficult to believe Grady truly chose to attend a Western Athletic Conference school over say Final Four contender Arkansas or likely PAC-12 Conference winner USC or even his hometown school of UNLV. Were offers from that trio still in effect at the time of his final decision? 

Granted, UVU is coming off an extremely successful 28-9, 15-3 season under now California Coach Mark Madsen. New UVU Coach Todd Phillips worked for five season as Madsen's Associate Head Coach. It is a program on the rise but not yet nationally known.

My take: an offer is an offer when it is made, but is not always current, meaning a school may have pulled its offer and signed or is pursuing a similar-sized different prospect. That information is rarely announced.

Anyway, good decision on Grady's part.

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Washington State Coach Kyle Smith extended an offer to 6-foot-8 wing Jaylen (Folsom High) Wells, then finishing up his sophomore season at D2 Sonoma State. It became a mutual admiration society and Wells is expected to be among the top scorers for the Cougars this season despite the leap in competition. Check out our early May article on Wells' move to the Northwest.

6-foot-9 sophomore AJ Rohosy is the other northern Californians on Smith's current roster. He walked on last season.

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Meet the New Kenny Hatch

Kenny Hatch today

It's time to check back in with Kenny Hatch, 10 years down the road from the publishing of his initial Nor Cal High School and College Basketball Central feature. Here's the link to Hatch's complete earlier article. 

For those who don't wish to read long, a brief summary of Hatch's initial article begins just below:

Never taking 'no' for an answer in his lifelong pursuit of greater challenges in earning basketball playing time, Kenny Hatch began as a 4-foot-11, 97 pounder, in his attempts to earn roster spots at St. Ignatius first and then Jefferson High. Both failed to come to fruition. As a junior back again at St. Ignatius, Hatch then took a position working as the varsity boys basketball team manager. He finally earned an SI roster spot as a senior, making such a solid impression as he won'the 'player who works the hardest' team award.

Following his dream, he enrolled at University of Kansas but his phone calls seeking a tryout weren't returned. Instead, Hatch played for a club team during his short tenure in Lawrence. He returned home and enrolled at Cañada College in Redwood City, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Playing for Texas A&M International

Two seasons later, his play at Cañada earned him a spot on DII Texas A&M International's roster. It was one of his efforts during the late season playoffs that made his journey to The Lone Star State happen. In one game, Hatch made what turned out to be the play of his basketball life to date. "I had just turned the ball over, so I knew I had to get the ball back. It was at mid-court where I tipped the ball away from their point guard. I dove on the ball, got fouled and hit the free throws. (Texas A&M International) Coach (Bryan) Weakley was in the stands watching the game. Later, he told me that play convinced him to offer me a scholarship because he wanted guys who hustled." As a senior with the Dustdevils, TAMI won the conference with Hatch as a solid contributor.

As Hatch put it of his time in Laredo, "it was the reality of being comfortable with being uncomfortable, and allowing myself to be coached, even when I was being stubborn."

Hatch then headed overseas, with a roster spot designated for him in England. However, that promise failed to materialize but he soon moved on to a tryout camp in Spain and earned a contract. He powered past this particular challenge knowing he had but a used one-way ticket in his pocket. That's one of the backbones of Hatch's success, convincing others of his value in do-or-die situations.

---

Now on to a new Kenny Hatch article (October 2023)

Players taking instruction

"I always wanted to be involved with player development work and I actually did some camps when I was playing in Spain and Italy," Kenny Hatch noted. He married last summer to a longtime girlfriend, a former Cal State East Bay soccer player familiar with the details of modern sports, and decided to end his playing days and go full focus on basketball skill development.

"I began generating a clientele using St. Ignatius (aided by former SI Coach Rob Marcaletti) and local gyms as venues," Hatch explained. Knowing this was a stopgap situation, Hatch kept looking for space he could call his own, square footage he could develop into a basketball training center. On Harrison Street in San Francisco, he found the right building. "For 30 years, it had been used as a fencing academy. The ceilings were 20 feet high. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, a real learning process in getting it ready."

Inside Kenny Hatch's new basketball facility

Alongside this work, simultaneously came the just-as-important elements of networking and making connections as well as generating interest utilizing such prominent social media as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook alongside the old school method of posting flyers.

Among his number of clients is Jake Paxton, a 6-foot guard now entering his senior season at San Francisco State and formerly of Rio Americano High and Sacramento City College. Paxton actually showed Hatch the now 10-year-old article he had come across on this web site which spurred Hatch to reach out.

Hatch now resides in nearby Daly City.

For further information, head to Kenny Hatch's site.

Kenny Hatch Basketball is physically located at 2419 Harrison Street, Suite 10, San Francisco, CA.

Potpourri, Oct 16

 "6-foot-6 Zion Wilburn, formerly of Pinole Valley High is moving on once more, heading from Veritas Prep in southern California to Arizona Compass Prep as his current Twitter heading indicates.

Current SJSU Assistant Coach Ed Gipson is a year out of heading the Arizona Compass prep program and that may prove important down the road but Wilburn has plenty of pursuers including an official visit taken to Samford University, offers from SJSU, USF, Montana, Weber State, Cal Poly and Cal Baptist.

His relative Gavin Wilburn recently signed with Tarleton State in Texas. 

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"The Warriors prioritized basketball smarts this offseason. It’s looking like a sharp decision."

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"St. Mary's is predicted to finish ahead of Gonzaga. link

Nor Cal locals and regionals on the current Gael roster

With an elevation of 199 feet, 17,000+ residents and being home (at the time) to 2014 National Scrabble Championship winner Conrad Bassett-Bouchard, will the Moraga City Council soon re-name any streets in town to Aidan Mahaney Drive?  

How much would such an act translate into an NIL individual player value? Could Mahaney also then impose eminent domain proceedings on any homes situated there? 

That's why the major of pre-law will never go out of vogue. Anyways, where did we lose the basketball direction here?

Here are the other Nor Cal locals and regionals on the current Gael roster:

• 6-foot  sophomore walk-on guard Cade Bennett, Campolindo High (that name sounds familiar)
• 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman Kevin Gad, Granada High
• 6-foot-9 forward Mason Forbes, Harvard University
• 6-foot-6 guard/wing redshirt junior Luke Barrett, Piedmont High
• 7-foot-1 center Andrew McKeever, Granada High

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Who on Coach David Patrick's 2023-24 Sacramento State roster possesses Nor Cal bonafides?

• 6-foot-1 190 senior guard Brandon Bettson is out of Salesian Prep.
• 6-foot-190 freshman guard Michael Wilson is out of Sacramento High.
• 6-foot-2 190 junior guard Julia Vaughns is out of St. Patrick St. Joseph, Chico State, CCSF and University of Alberta.
• 6-foot-3, 185 junior guard Austin Patterson is out of Sonora High and Wofford. 

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Simpson University's Northern California talents

New Simpson University Head Coach David Cone has a number of northern California talents as his disposal this season, including:

• 5-foot-11 freshman point Kellen Torrey is a freshman out of California High in San Ramon.
• 6-foot-1 senior Jonny Cruz is a senior out of Foothill High in Redding.
• 6-foot point Trey Conrad is a redshirt junior out of Kelseyville High in Redding.
• 6-foot-5 forward Jaiden Piercey is a sophomore out of Redding Christian High.
• 6-foot-5 forward San Shields is a sophomore out of Rio Americano High.
• 6-foot-4 Derek Gorton is a junior out of Red Bluff High.

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Coach Mark Darnall has taken over the top spot at William Jessup University and a quartet of Northern Californian-ers dot Darnall's initial roster as a head coach:

• Xavier Lovelace, wing, 6-foot-6, 200 lbs senior Placer High
• Troy Crighton, guard 5-foot-10, 170 lbs freshman Sheldon High .
• Wyatt Studer, wing 6-foot-7, 190 lbs freshman Eastvale, CA  (near Fresno)
• Jake King, wing 6-foot-5 195 Concord, CA Clayton Valley Charter HS

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UC Merced Coach Kevin Pham

UC Merced Coach Kevin Pham continues to do a remarkable job and has landed a large group of new Nor Cal talents:

• Chris Bramah, Guard 6-foot-4 180 senior Foothill College
• Aidan Sevilla, Guard 6-foot-0 junior formerly of Regis University/Dougherty Valley High
• Myles Haynes, Forward 6-foot-6 junior Grant High (Sacramento)
• Skylar Robinson, Forward 6-foot-8 senior Dublin High/Chabot College/ Metro State
• Blake Hudson, Guard 6-foot-3 Dougherty Valley High
• Cameron Brown, Guard 6-foot-2 sophomore Bishop O'Dowd High
• Evin Goodman, Guard 6-foot-2 freshman Salesian Prep
• John Taylor, Guard 6-foot-0 freshman The King's Academy
• Joseph Ajiake, Guard 6-foot-5 senior Bellarmine College Prep
• Jason Mertle, Forward 6-foot-6 senior Clear Lake High
• Austin Dewes, Forward 6-foot-10 freshman Alhambra High
• Landon Edmond, Forward, 6-9, 220, freshman, Dougherty Valley High

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Potpourri, Oct 13

6-foot-4 Jordan Espinosa has recently received an offer from Cal State East Bay Coach Bryan Rooney, who is one of the gems of the coaching profession. Espinoza is out of Clovis North High. Espinoza may not do anything great but he does a lot of things well and would be a solid addition to the Pioneers.

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"Coach Andy Newman is also bringing one of his former players at Cal State San Bernardino with him, being 6'6 big man Mahmoud (Santa Teresa High/West Valley College) Fofana.  Fofana was a major reason CSSB made the Division 2 Final Four last season, as he averaged 8.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 65.2 percent from the field.  At 6'6 Fofana is most productive in the painted area, but he can make mid range jumpers with some consistency. Offense aside, if there's one thing Fofana will bring to the team, it's interior defense and rebounding."

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Seth Davis: "Multiple sources told The Messenger that the Big 12 and Gonzaga have resumed negotiations about the possibility of Gonzaga joining the league, possibly as early as next year. My story. 

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In The Almanac, the Beasleys, 5-foot-11 Ryan and 6-foot-4 Robby are listed both on the USF Roster and under USF Key Newcomers and there is a note that the younger will play right away but not a word on the eligibility status of his elder. Does Robby's double D1 transfer status (first Montana and then UC Davis) require some sort of an official NCAA ruling before he is allowed to return to the court?

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Whatever happened to 6-foot-5 Ryan Johnson of College of the Sequoias/Hanford High? Could the emergence of a hefty NIL change his mind about the financial viability of supporting his family while playing D1? Yes, he was that good. link

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"5* G/F AJ Dybansta announces he has reclassed from 2026 to the Class of 2025."

He's at Prolific Prep.

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Frank Knight's Bay Area Coaching Clinic, Saturday, October 28, 10:00 to 2:00 p.m., House of Hustle, 3531 Arden Road,  Hayward.

AAU, CYO, Youth, Jr High & Middle School basketball coaches. The Bay Area Coaches Clinic 2023. Come watch live on floor instruction, coaches chalk talk and expand your network.

square.link/u/AR3nAXzd

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Coach Greg Clink's Chico State Wildcat 2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster -- the northern California members:

• Miles Daniels 6-foot-2 sophomore guard sophomore Business Accounting, Concord, CA, De La Salle HS 
• Joshua Hamilton 6-foot-2 senior guard MA Business Entrepreneurship Modesto CA, Central Catholic HS
• Ned Joyce guard 6'1" sophomore guard Undeclared Chico, CA Pleasant Valley HS
• Jojo Murphy 6-foot-3 senior guard Undeclared Oakland, Piedmont HS
• Max Walters G 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Business Finance,  Soquel, CA, Soquel High

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Coach Chris Tifft's Cal Poly Humboldt 2023-24 Men's Basketball roster -- the northern California members:

• Braeden Watts 6-foot-3 junior guard Phoenix, OR, Phoenix HS OR, College of the Siskiyous
• Brandon Bento-Jackson 5-foot-10 freshman guard 5-foot-10 Arcata CA, Arcata HS
• Kareem Clark 6-foot-3 senior guard Sacramento CA, Sacramento CA Capital Christian High/Alabama State University
• Jordahn Johnson 6-foot-8, 220 junior post San Leandro CA, Weston Ranch High, Las Positas College
• Varun Madabhushi 6-foot-5, 190 freshman forward Sunnyvale, CA, Los Altos HS

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Aiden Rollins Bettering His Best

Aiden Rollins

It doesn't take much in the skill of predicting to determine that 2026 Franklin High talent Aiden Rollins possesses a future that will quickly surpass his present level of achievements and skills. While it's true the 6-foot-3 sophomore point forward is worthy of the multiple accolades having already come his way, his next few years and beyond will be his best. 

Franklin High Coach Ken Manfredi is effusive in his praise of Rollins and offers convincing details that favor the case of his young protégé only getting better. "Aiden’s game is so well-rounded that he impacts both sides of the ball. He doesn't require the ball to always be in his hands or for him to lead us in scoring because his primary focus is helping his team win.”

Rollins' Best Basketball and People Skills 

Manfredi continued, "His best skills are getting to the basket, reading the floor very well and his desire to guard the best opposing player. Aiden is a hungry kid and there is no compromise in his approach. Even with things like breaking down film, Aiden wants all that. He's still growing and stands as the face of our program."

"But beyond his sports goal connections with his hoops teammates, what's telling is that Aiden's group of friends at Franklin High includes a variety of students who aren't into basketball but enjoy other interests. They like each other's company."

Rollins' Skills Round Two

Asked to detail his personal best basketball skills, Rollins offered, "my ability to get to the basket and being a skilled passer who creates opportunities for my teammates. I'm vocal with my leadership, talking a lot on defense and on bench too."

Growing up as a multi-sport athlete playing baseball and basketball, plus participating in soccer from 9 to 11 years old, he chose to take basketball more seriously and that sport became his focus.

The son of former St. Mary's frontcourter AJ Rollins who played professionally overseas but passed away last May at age 49, his father remains his greatest inspiration "as he got me started in basketball and paved the way for me to be successful. I also want to credit my Uncle Brian who stepped up when my father died."

In each school quarter in the last academic year, he earned a 4.25 grade point average, lauding his mother Christina for "working with me on the school side of things."

One telling anecdote regarding Rollins is "sometimes it pops into my mind that I have to always play well, that the team relies on me. But I see that not as a burden, more an incentive."

He played AAU ball this past summer with the West Coast Elite based in southern California. "I chose them because the coaching staff, being former pro and college players, has real good experience."

Recruiting

Western Illinois extended an offer

Although still an underclassmen, regarding recruiting, "I am looking for the school that is right for me." St. Mary's is likely to always be in consideration but Western Illinois was the very first to extend an official offer. Rollins is exploring majoring in sports broadcasting.

As for the upcoming season, he explained "Franklin High will be better than we were last year and this season I'll play at the wing."

Myron Amey Jr., Bennett Blackerby and Christian Wise

A San Jose State University player who is being largely overlooked during the pre-season because of multiple ankle injuries that kept him out of view/sidelined for most of last season, is 6-foot-2 Myron (Vacaville High) Amey Jr.

The junior scoring guard (who may be able to get a season of eligibility back after his senior year) possesses the potential to replicate a solid portion of former Spartan Omari Moore's point production. Do keep in mind that Amey also spent a prep season back east in Pennsylvania after graduating from Vacaville High so he is older and more experienced than most of the other current SJSU backcourters.

Amey Jr. just missed averaging in double figures in his freshman season at 9.4 points per game, while shooting 44%, 38% and 73% respectively. Last season, he played in just nine games at 13.1 minutes per outing

In this season's edition of The Almanac, Spartan Coach Tim Miles envisions Amey Jr. as a go-to-guy overall and when the shot clock is running down. "[Amey Jr.] is a bona fide, excellent scorer in the Mountain West. If we can get him on the floor, he will score.”

The latter is obviously the critical component.

Blackerby is both a point and shooting guard

Another note:  6-foot-1 Bennett Blackerby, a solid shooter out of Austin, TX has also been announced as a member of the SJSU roster for this season. He earned First Team, All District honors after last season. Plus, Blackerby also played football as a wide receiver some in high school.

Riordan vs Mitty | TOP 5 NORCAL MATCHUP | Christian Wise Puts On a DUNK CONTEST w/ 6 DUNKS!

Posted earlier: "Also in this past season but in the high school ranks, 6-foot-6 Archbishop Riordan frontcourter Christian Wise (#22) earned Second Team All-WCAL honors. After reviewing his options, he cast his lot as a walk-on in the 2023-24 season with the Spartans.

Wise has decided to walk-on at SJSU as a power forward in his initial college season. He may be looking at transitioning to a three if his ball skills expand.

We talked recently with Curtin in inquiring about what Spartan fans will be seeing in Wise and here is what he said. "It's hard for high school seniors to get scholarships. You are competing with the world and first there was COVID, now there's the transfer portal." Wise transferred to Riordan as a junior from Heritage High in Brentwood. Curtin also mentioned that Wise started late in basketball due to participating earlier in baseball.

According to Curtin, Wise received D2 and NAIA offers this year but "he wants to play D1 basketball. So his possible path will be longer."

Asked about Wise's strengths, Curtin offered, "he's amazing vertically, finishing above the rim with his jumping ability and power. He's a shotblocker with tremendous fluidity as an athlete and a one of a kind dunker, the best I ever coached. Christian has been working this summer on his ball skills and jump shot."

Potpourri, Oct 9

"Gators Guard Zyon Pullin Suspended First Three Games of 2023-24 Season"

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"Utah NIL group gifts Ram 1500 trucks to all 85 scholarship football players"

The headline is a tad misleading. 

What are the basketball team members receiving?

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Jeff Goodman: "James O’Donnell, a 6-9 forward in the Class of 2024 from the Centre of Excellence in Australia has committed to San Francisco, per source."

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"Jrue Holiday’s Wife Shares Powerful Message About Human Element of Husband Being Traded"

I'm am so guilty of this -- never taking into consideration all the uprooting that takes place and the changes in schools plus the loss of friends by children of players, etc. Yes, it is a chosen profession and a well paid one but there are prices to be paid and such should be acknowledged.

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"Stephen Holt ‘14 Selected as the First Pick of the 2023 PBA Draft"

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"City College of San Francisco 2023-24 Roster Preview"

The Rams appear to be guard heavy this season.

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Trent Perry appears down to six schools: "USC, Colorado, TCU, Oregon, Gonzaga and Stanford."

He's a 6-foot-4 2024 talent out of southern California

Love The Farm campus but hell, I'm 70 years old, not 18.

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"Team Rampage Fall 2023 Scout Day Recap"

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6-foot-4, 2026, Miramonte High Blake Bastani is already something -- more summer tournament game video.

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6-foot-4, 2024 Serra High talent Ryan Pettis has five remaining choices to decide from -- Weber State, Montana, Long Beach State, Pacific and one other I couldn't decipher. 

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Alexandre Kuminga: "After talking to Coach Riley, I’m blessed to receive an offer from Eastern Washington University."

He's the brother of Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors and attends Archbishop Riordan in San Francisco. Standing 6-foot-8, he weighs 175.

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AJ Oscona Is Already a Force

AJ Oscona (2026) Is Getting Ready for a Major Sophomore Year

It's likely AJ Oscona would still have embraced basketball as his sport of choice despite some efforts playing baseball but having a relative involved in hoops provided the visual attractions that clinched his decision. "My auntie played at D2 Stanislaus State," said Oscona, "and we would go and watch her. Plus my Grandpa played D3 basketball and helped coach at Vallejo High and St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School." Basketball was and is definitely all in this family. "I've been around the game my whole life and it became a passion," Oscona explained.

Oscona, a 6-foot sophomore point at Vallejo High, prides himself on "creating space for my teammates and myself. But if I'm not shooting well, I step up elsewhere by taking charges, getting stops and rebounds."

Regarding being front and center for his teams, for Oscona leadership "is setting the tone, being an example for others at full intensity. But I'm trying to be more vocal."

AJ Oscona (2026) Fall Ball Scout Day

Oscona joined forces with Coach Brandon Bracy and Team Rampage "when I was 12 and I really want to thank him for helping me get better and better. I started out doing decently in the camps and I appreciate that Coach Bracy keeps it real by pointing out my flaws and mistakes and even pulling me when I not reacting fast enough. He's a real mentor."

Another mentor of sorts is Oscona's father. "He stays on me, especially about my grades." That must be working since AJ sports a 4.0 grade point average. "I try and get my homework done before practice even though I might feel like taking a nap. Or I push through if I feel like going back to sleep because its early in the morning.

AJ Oscona (2026) Looks Ready for Sophomore Season

A no longer continual battle because Oscona has sped past his father is when they used to battle one-on-one. "My Dad could take me when I was younger but now I've gotten way better than him."

As for recruiting preferences, "it depends on the program and the best fit for me. I will take the best opportunity for myself." He has no set geographical parameters, with one exception. "I want to get on USF's radar."

As for Vallejo High this year, "I think we're going to shock a lot of people. Our energy is high even though we lost Tyriq McNeal to transfer."

Potpourri, Oct 6 (all Jase Butler)

 "Three-star guard Jase Butler commits to Illinois"

An excerpt: ""...Because of the winning history that the program and coach [Brad] Underwood has, it really stuck out to me," said Butler. "That's one of the more important things to me. Then, the opportunity to come in and have a chance to compete and play as a freshman. They also play in a high level conference and I want to be a part of that."

Butler recently completed an official visit to Illinois and his time on campus solidified his decision, knowing that was the place for him.

"The official visit was dope. The fans showed a lot of love just at the football game, the entire community is invested into the sports, especially basketball," said Butler. "Coach [Chester] Frazier, one of the assistants, is one of the coaches that I have been talking to for a while and we built a steady relationship. He always kept it honest and never sugar-coated anything and so that realness from the staff and coach [Brad] Underwood - I just felt very comfortable choosing them..."

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"Illinois Basketball lands commitment from 2024 guard Jase Butler"

An excerpt: "...I have Butler entering the Illinois program as a primary backup at the No. 3 guard spot. Luke Goode should be starting in this role when the 2024-25 campaign rolls around, but Butler will see minutes as the roster isn’t too deep yet.

Butler is a smart player with the basketball. He likes to drive and create contact, but he doesn’t go in without a plan. He is meticulous on the court. I also like that he can step back and knock down shots from deep. Butler has so many weapons in his arsenal..."

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"COMMIT: Illini land three-star combo guard Jase Butler"

Butler had a top six of Colorado State, Illinois, Loyola Marymount, New Mexico, San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara. He took official visits to Illinois, San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara before making his decision.

Scouting report: Butler has good size as a ball-handling combo guard at 6-foot-4 with a nice build. He’s a smooth operator with the ball in his hands, he’s crafty and he sees the floor really well. Butler has the ability to make good reads on the fly and he’s shown well in the pick ‘n roll. He can also shoot it on midrange pull-ups and from three, but he does need to work on being more consistent from beyond the arc. Synergy tracked him at 31 percent from deep during his time on the adidas circuit this spring and summer.

Butler doesn’t appear to be particularly quick or vertically explosive in comparison to most high-major guards. He does use his strength and skill to compensate. He plays at his pace, he absorbs contact very well and he can really set up that pull-up game. Butler has flown under the radar nationally, as he’s an unranked three-star prospect with only one high-major offer. He was very impressive at the Section 7 event in Phoenix back in June, which showed that he could be a big-time sleeper in this class.

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"Key insights Jase Butler's Impact on Illinois"

🏀 Jase Butler impressed during a high school event in Phoenix, showcasing his ability to make shots and standing out among the performers.

🏀 Jase Butler's ability to make shots and his versatility in defensive matchups make him a valuable addition to the Illini team.

🏀 The addition of Jase Butler to the team could potentially have an immediate impact and help Illinois win right away.

🏀 Jase Butler's commitment to Illinois has the potential to make a significant impact on the team's success, similar to the impact of previous players like Jay.

🎯 Jase Butler is seen as more of a scorer than a playmaker, which could be a valuable asset for Illinois or any other team he lands with.

🏀 "I think he's got a little Jaylen Brunson to him...he can kind of get into you with his body, pull back with that pull-up jumper, just has that craftiness that IQ that kind of maybe sometimes outweighs the athletic parts of it."

🏀 Jase Butler has loads of offensive talent, with the ability to shoot from anywhere and dynamic ball handling skills.

🏀 "I don't think you could pass up on the talent right like he's just a very very very talented player."

🏀 Illinois went all out to recruit Jase Butler, showing their determination to secure him as a player.

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Besides the Illini, San Francisco, Idaho, Montana, Montana State, New Mexico, San Jose State University, UC Santa Barbara, Colorado State, Seattle, Drake, Sacramento State, Loyola Marymount, Cal Baptist, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis were also among those offering the 6-foot-4 Butler. 

From our September 27 Potpourri post: "This one is difficult to call. Illinois is the most prominent hoops program. Santa Barbara has The Beach right next door but Joe Pasternack's roster no longer contains the usual 2-3 Nor Cal players, especially guards. SJSU just obtained two commits from high school guards. Can Alex Pribble pull off an upset? Will Travis DeCuire again work his Montana magic to team Butler up with recent commit Tyler Thompson? Drumrollllllllllll, it's LMU. 

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Jacob Gilchrist Looking Local Right Now

Gilchrist On the Dribble

12 Bridges High School came to be in 2021 and is located in Lincoln, California, part of western Placer County. That's one of the reasons why 6-foot-6 Jacob Gilchrist remains relatively unknown in the northern California prep hoops ranks.

Jacob Gilchrist 2024 CaliHoop Showcase (video)

But the 2024 youngster is a rising talent (consider his offers from Sacramento State and UC Davis), primarily due his incessant effort to get better. He has spent countless hours in the gym working on his game. "As his Youth Basketball Academy Coach Eric Cabrera explained, "Jacob has the best work ethic and he treats his body like a professional does." Cabrera noted that Gilchrist possesses "the standout skill of being a great shooter. He can get a bucket one-one-one against anybody and he displays good agility and strength."

Asked why and how he improved his shot, Gilchrist explained, "I fell in love with the game in the fifth and sixth grades and that made me want to get better. So I was always in the gym shooting a lot of reps with solid form." He cites himself as his own primary influence "because I use to not be very good." Credit him for such brutal honesty. Effective from both long-range and mid-range, he offered "I really like to score with my mid-range shot."

Jacob Gilchrist (2024) Twelve Bridges HS 6’6 Sniper (video)

Gilchrist has worked with trainers such as Nate Garth but it his immense personal desire to get better that absolutely appears front and center when he more often than not hits the gym by himself. For his body work, he goes to LEAD Athletic Prep in Roseville.

He honors his mother, a former college volleyball player at Utah, for her assistance in driving him to countless practices and games when he was younger. "My Mom set me up to play Little League basketball" where he found himself playing as a sixth grader against eighth graders.

Despite his current love affair with gyms, Gilchrist still sports a 3.5 grade point average, a remarkable feat considering the time taken up with practicing hoops. He is undecided on a major.

Chatter From College Coaches

Asked to repeat what college coaches have said to him the most about their plans to employ his skill set, Gilchrist said, "as a 3-and-D guy with ability off the dribble." What he is looking for the most in a program is a strong team culture and a good group of guys to be around."

A transfer from Lincoln High (also in Placer County) as a junior, Gilchrist is more a leader by example because "our team goes how I go so I have to come in with high energy. I embrace it."

He cited his best basketball moment as a game in which our team became bonded and developed a real closeness. We used to be really split by who liked one another and who talked with one another." Fortunately those cliques have remained a thing of the past.

Gilchrist has one season of eligibility remaining and upcoming official visits to set with UC Davis and Sacramento State. Maybe others will jump into the chase.