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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