News Bits
The Jaylen Wells story is worthy of at least a documentary. He comes out of Folsom High, attracts ZERO D1 offers so he heads to Sonoma State. After two seasons there and with multiple honors bestowed on him (including conference player of the year), he earns a D1 roster spot with Coach Kyle Smith and Washington State. I am not sure if any other D1 coach offered Wells at that time but I don't think so. Smith saw a scholarship-able talent, one he missed on or may not have even been aware of two years previous. Give him credit. Wells' junior season concludes as the top talent on the Cougars and Wells becomes a second-round draftee, going 39th overall. He now has a four-year, $7.9 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and the first two years guaranteed. Get the cameras rolling.
Here is our May, 2023 feature on Wells.
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Larry Lewis: "I’m excited to announce that I will be attending the Academy of Central Florida where I’ll doing a postgrad year with Coach Sullivan and Coach Chaney."
This was actually announced a week or so ago. Here's wishing the 6-foot-7 Vacaville High grad well.
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Anthony Moore: "Blessed to receive an offer from Southern Utah. Thank you to the coaching staff for believing in me."
Moore is a 6-foot-4 2025 prospect at Lincoln High in Stockton. He currently also owns offers from Texas-Rio Grande Valley, UC San Diego, Cal Poly, High Point and Weber State.
The guessing right now here UC San Diego or Weber State.
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Joshua Leonard: "Blessed to receive an offer from The University of California!!!"
Leonard is a 6-foot-7, 2027 forward out of South Carolina.
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Gavin Sykes: "Very blessed to receive a D1 offer to Southern Utah University. Thank you to the whole staff for believing in me and my talents."
This one ain't happening as Sykes is loaded with suitors. California for one. UC Santa Barbara for another. Plus, USF.
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Simply Basketball: "Luke Isaak (2025) is as consistent as it comes! Another impressive performance at Cali Live! Will be running with Jalen Green Elite at 3SSB championship in South Carolina."
Isaac stands 6-foot-4 and attends San Ramon Valley High.
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Jon Chepkevich: "Jasir Rencher was the biggest, most physical guard at the SPIDA Elite Camp. Powerfully built frame enabled him to routinely bully mismatches and finish through contact throughout the camp. Stands within reason that he’ll be able to guard up the lineup at the next level."
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"Stan State Men’s Basketball Adds Transfer Guard Jason Cibull to 2024-25 Roster"
Besides being effective at the point, Cibull is fun to watch. Stanislaus fans are in for a treat.
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"Stan State Men’s Basketball Announces the Signing of Fabian Reichstadt"
Big and broad, a bull not necessarily in a china shop, is Reichstadt.
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"A talented trio of South Fork Cubs recently announced they will be taking their talents to College of the Redwoods. Tommy Rotbergs and Shevy Bero-Van Meter will each play basketball for head coach Ryan Bisio..."
Rotbergs stands 6-foot-3 and Bero-Van Meter is 5-foot-11.
"‘3rd grade all the way to college’: South Fork stars sign to play basketball at CR"
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Jon Chepkevich: "Cal’s Fardaws Aimaq has agreed to join the Sacramento Kings for the California Classic Summer League, I’m told. The 6’10 ½" Afghan-Canadian center is among the NCAA’s most prolific rebounders of the 2020’s + an unselfish passer. 14.5 PTS, 11.0 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.0 BLK this season."
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Jon Chepkevich: "Vichy’s Lucas Dufeal has agreed to join the Sacramento Kings for the California Classic Summer League, I’m told. The 6’8” Martinican forward brings an enticing combination of length, fluid mobility, athletic pop (42 dunks), rim-protection (10+ BLK%), and quick playmaking reads
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Jon Chepkevich: "Prolific Prep’s Winters Grady impressed at the SPIDA Elite Camp w/ his combination of size, shooting, and competitiveness. The camp’s tallest prospect at 6’7” is a lethal shooter spotting up, off the bounce, and on the move. Received a USC offer at the conclusion of the camp."
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Jon Chapkevich: "Mantas Rubštavičius has agreed to join the Golden State Warriors for NBA Summer League, I’m told. The smart, competitive, skillful 6'8 ½" Lithuanian wing is coming off a strong season w/ the New Zealand Breakers as part of the NBL Next Stars program."
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Jon Chepkevich: "Iowa State’s Hason Ward has agreed to join the Sacramento Kings for NBA Summer League, I’m told. The Bajan big man w/ a significant plus-wingspan holds a 10+ BLK% for his NCAA career. Joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League last month."
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The following cut-and-paste player descriptions are from the article "2nd Annual Boys California Scholastic Live: 20 Standout Performers (Central Section Edition)
5’9 McKae Amundsen | 2026 | Clovis North (Fresno CA)
Amundsen continues to provide the lead guard play that mimics that of his brother, Connor, and averaged 13.5 points per game at the event, with a high of 21 points against fellow Central Section rival Bakersfield Christian in a win to close out the weekend. Amundsen has shifty moves, keeps the ball on a string, has range on the deep ball, and is a creative finisher over size at the basket. Amundsen has good court vision, finds open teammates when on the attack, and is an underrated on-ball defender that looks to disrupt his opponent’s dribbling space and create turnovers that lead to transition buckets. Gritty player that leaves it all on the court, as was evident with his right eye-lid stitched up from an elbow to the face the week before at section 7 and still played his style of basketball.
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6’3 Loukas Jones | 2025 | Clovis North (Fresno CA)
Jones has truly asserted himself as the leading scoring threat for the Broncos and that continued into this past weekend, as he would have games of 27 points, 25 points, and a pair of 18 point games and continued to show his value as a 3-level scoring threat. Jones has good moves and handles to create off the dribble, creates space from his defender to get open looks, moves fluidly off the ball to get open catch and shoot opportunities, has a smooth stop and pop jumper, and is a creative finisher at the basket. Jones is a solid on-ball defender, has good timing and instincts to deflect passes and jump passing lanes, which lead to turnovers and open court buckets. Jones plays with good pace and control, has range on the 3-ball, and has solid court vision to make the right pass off the drive and kick. A player that continues to evolve and adapt to whatever his team needs from him, and this coming season it will be scoring.
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6’8 Parker Spees | 2026 | San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno CA)
Spees is a lengthy and rangy forward that can stretch the floor with the 3-ball and leaves his mark on both sides of play, as he is an underrated defender and rim protector. Spees controls the boards, has the handles to push the ball off the glass, good court vision to facilitate and find open players cutting off the ball, and can create off the perimeter along with the moves to operate and score in the post. Spees moves well off the ball to get open catch and shoot looks, has nice touch on shots within 10 feet of the rim, can raise up and shoot over most perimeter defenders, and tough to guard on the mid-range jumper. Spees is an asset as a rim protector around the basket, moves well enough laterally to close out on perimeter shooters, and just has a great overall feel for the game and fills up a stat sheet. Also underrated for his toughness and relentless effort on the court. 4.0+ GPA and would be an intriguing high academic D1 prospect with continued growth in his game.
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6’2 DJ Stickman | 2025 | Clovis West (Fresno CA)
Stickman was one of the most athletic and physically imposing guards at the event, as he made his presence felt on both ends of the court as one of the top two-way players in the facility. Stickman has a large wingspan and elite bounce that allows him to play much taller than his actual height, is a tenacious on-ball defender with active hands and quick feet to stay in front of most perimeter players, generates steals and gets into the open court routinely, and is a high-level shot blocker at the rim or on the wing. Stickman has great court vision, keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, and makes accurate, pin-point passes to teammates moving off the ball. Stickman makes nice use of the crossover to create space, gets a good burst of speed when attacking off the dribble, and is very creative on finishes around the basket with the ability to take flight in a moment’s notice. Stickman can switch on and defend bigger players, is improving his accuracy with the jump shot, and does things on the basketball court that you cannot teach but just God-given talent and athleticism.
Go here for the entire report from Paul Hernandez.
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