News Bits
CCCMBCA: "Hall of Fame coach Percy Carr passed away yesterday (June 26, 2024). He coached at San Jose City College for over 40 seasons. His 900 career wins are most in California community colleges history."
..................................
This is one of the best dunks I have ever seen. I love that it's during a game and not an artificial setup. Semetri Carr has already left the floor on his way up, has to reach out a tad, connects one-handed with the ball and guide-slams it. Wow.
Four new offers have come in for Carr from Loyola Marymount, Southern Methodist University, California and New Mexico.
..................................
Okay, not counting Jared McClain and his tenuous Nor Cal connection going to the 76ers, California shooting guard Jaylon Tyson is the sole local/regional first rounder. Cleveland nabbed him with pick #20.
With the first selection in Round Two, San Francisco's Jonathan Mogbo went to Toronto. named as the 31st talent chosen. Jaylen (Folsom High/Sonoma State) Wells heard his name called by Memphis as a second round selectee, the 39th prospect taken..
Yes, Bronny James was taken by the Lakers at #55 in Round Two.
..................................
Let's have some fun with the initial round of the NBA draft. We're offering various selections and the positives/negatives minus any explanations about each one. Their names appear in the second paragraph on each talent. Age appears to be exceedingly important in getting drafted early as is the level of promise and projection.
We begin: Why My Phone Never Rings With The Caller (An NBA Draft Exec) Asking For Help
A 6-foot-6 19-year-old freshman, he shot 27% from three-point range this season yet went fourth to San Antonio in Wednesday's NBA draft. WHY?
Connecticut's Stephon Castle, who shot better in the last half of the season and especially in the NCAAs. He certainly makes plays at the defensive end.
..................................
With the fifth pick, Detroit selects a 6-foot-7, 200 pound, 18-year-old who played for the G League Ignite and shot under 30% (11-46) this season. His likely NBA position is as a wing. WHY?
Ron Holland II is uber athletic, tops in the draft, and plays aggressively. He will be a fantastic pick if he develops a consistent face-the-basket jumper with decent range. If not...
..................................
At the sixth spot, another 18-year-old is chosen after he posts averages of 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds in 54 games and 40 starts. WHY?
6-foot-9, 220, French wing Tidjane Saldaune is noted for his shooting prowess possibilities, his motor and his long term promise.
..................................
At #10 goes a 6-foot-9, 19-year-old, D1 college wing who averaged 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game and more turnovers than assists in 2023-24. WHY?
Colorado's Cody Williams comes from a hoops family (brother Jaylen is blowing up with Oklahoma City in his second year after an excellent first season). Much promise is present plus great length.
..................................
With the 17th selection, the Los Angeles Lakers nabbed a wing who was expected to go within the top 10 but he is 23, the oldest player in the draft, and likely without much left in his further development tank and with questions about his defensive effectiveness. You see what you'll get here. WHY?
See 6-foot-6 Dalton Knecht who who averaged 21.7 points per game on 46%, 40% and 77% shooting. He earned the SEC Most Valuable Player honor this season and is the most ready offensive prospect in the draft. He'll contribute right away and for the next 10 or so years rather than develop over two or three seasons into becoming a steady, count-on-him-nightly type.
..................................
Plucked as the #23 best talent, this 6-foot-4 guard put up terrible numbers this season in Australia. He played in a league he wasn't ready for and defines projection. At 170 pounds or less, his body isn't yet ready for playing against men and his skill set is mostly a minus. WHY?
AJ Johnson defines upside but it will take an organization both willing to wait for any payoff and to patiently construct and instruct. Every so often he'll do something on the court that displays his promise (but not consistently). So is Milwaukee the right place to be for him?
..................................
At #28, the Phoenix Suns selected a 6-foot-8 talent who didn't average even 10.0 points per game collegiately this season. He also is a minus with his ballhandling. A team taking him won't get a payoff for a number of years. WHY?
Yes, he is a void on offense but Ryan Dunn is a defensive stopper and can shut down opponents at multiple positions.
..................................
Max Feldman: "Top-150 2026 wing Drew Anderson has heard from the following programs since last night:
| • San Francisco | • Harvard |
| • Boise State | • New Mexico |
| • UC Riverside | • Seattle |
| • UC Irvine | • Montana |
| • Yale | • UCSD" |
Anderson is a 6-foot-8 2026 forward in the SoCal prep ranks.
..................................
Clint Parks: "Salesian is a high level program with some dudes. Real hoops being played over there. The Elias kid and the lefty shooter can GO."
Parks is a longtime SoCal prep coach who speaks his mind minus any superfluous words. He's referring to 6-foot-4 junior Elias Obenyah (above) and 6-foot-4 senior Alvin Loving (below).
..................................
Luke Isaak: "Thank you Section7Az for the opportunity!!!3-1 (Lost in OT in championship):
| • 23.5 ppg | • 9.3 rpg |
| • 3.5 apg | • 2.3 spg |
| • 46.5% FG% | • 43.3% from 3 (7.5 Attempts)" |
Isaak is a 6-foot-4 2025 guard with topnotch grades.
..................................
Compton Magic: "6-7 Bruce Branch III @PerryPumaMBB has picked up an offer from San Francisco."
Besides the Dons, Branch owns offers from Texas, Fresno State, Nevada, West Virginia and Tarleton State. He's a 2027 talent.
..................................
Riordan's Semetri Carr now has an offer from California and New Mexico.
..................................
Verbal Commits: "2026 Dream City Christian (AZ) G Miles Sadler has received an offer from California."
Sadler is a point guard.
..................................
Jasir Rencher: "Blessed to receive an offer the University of New Mexico #GoLobos."
..................................
Anthony Moore: "After a great conversation with Coach DeGeorge, Coach Sam, and the rest of the coaching staff. I am blessed to receive an offer from Cal Poly."
Moore is a 6-foot-6 combo guard at Lincoln High in Stockton.
..................................
Jalen Stokes: "After a great talk with Coach Fennell, I'm grateful to say that I received a D1 offer from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley!"
Not gonna happen. This is like me trying to ask Scarlett Johansson for a date. But it doesn't hurt to ask, at least in basketball.
..................................
Steve (Nes) Emeneke: "Blessed to say I received a D1 scholarship from the Montana state university!! Thanks to Coach Logie and Coach Sam Scholl and the rest of the staff for this amazing opportunity!!"
and
Steve (Nes) Emeneke: Blessed to say I received a D1 scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania!! Thanks to Coach_Donahue and the rest of the staff for this amazing opportunity!!"
Get the process for academic acceptance to enter Penn started ASAP!!! The 2025 Emeneke sports a 4.1 GPA at Archbishop Riordan.
..................................
Derek Murray: "2026 Caeden Hutcherson (6’4 G) of Mitty Men's Hoops and Team Lillard AAU has earned an offer from the University of Idaho."
and
Derek Murray:"2026 Caeden Hutcherson (6’4 G) of Mitty Men's Hoops & Team Lillard AAU has earned an offer from the University of Montana.
..................................
Rocky Mountain College: "The frontline just got a whole lot better for the Battlin' Bears! Welcoming our newest addition Jaylon Lee! We are excited to have Jaylon coming to play for us. He will make an immediate impact in our program!"
Lee is 6-foot-9, 245 out of College of the Sequoias.
..................................
Max Feldman: "Top-30 2026 G Slim Rogers has heard from the following programs since last night:
| • Stanford | • Harvard |
| • New Mexico | • Utah |
| • San Diego | • Boise State |
| • UNLV | • UC Riverside" |
When is the last time (first time) Stanford admitted anyone with the first name of Slim?
..................................
Darryl DJ Stickman: "Blessed to receive my first official offer from Fresno State."
and
Darryl DJ Stickman: "Blessed to receive my second official offer from the University of Montana."
Stickman is at Clovis West High and received an offer from new Fresno State Coach Vance Walberg who formerly coached at CW High.
..................................
Jake Lieberman: "6’10 2025 prospect Nes Emeneke out of Archbishop Riordan HS (CA) & Oakland Soldiers tells me that he’s receiving interest from Stanford, Princeton, San Jose State, UNLV, Hawaii, UTEP, +. Emeneke just picked up offers from UPenn, Montana & Montana State."
He sports a 4.1 grade point average.
..................................
Lewis & Clark State: "Excited to announce new assistant coach Kevin Warren! “We’re excited to add Kevin Warren to the staff. Kevin begins his coaching career after a successful playing career at Chico State and overseas in Australia. He brings great energy and insight to our program!"
Warren was a 6-foot-4 shooting guard for the Wildcats out of St. Mary's College High with Oakland as his hometown. He earned a master’s in communications studies with a minor in broadcasting.
..................................
Lance M. Carr: "I am blessed to have received an offer from San Jose State MBB."
Out of the Texas prep ranks, Carr is a 6-foot-7 guard/wing in the 2025 class.
..................................
Cameron Carroll: "After a great conversation with Coach Sleight I am blessed to say I have received a Division 1 offer from San Jose State!" (Austin Sleight is the recruiting coordinator)
Carroll is a 2025 6-foot-3, 185 point guard out of Texas. Besides SJSU, Sam Houston State, Montana State, TAM-Corpus Christi, Rice, Long Beach State, Texas State, SMU and Mississippi State have also extended offers.
..................................
San Jose State University has offered (June 21) 6-foot-1 Mason Magee, a 2026 point out of Arizona.
..................................