News Bits
Verbal Commits: "2025 Modesto JC (CA) G/F Ylan Esso-Essis has received an offer from Southern Utah. Qualifier w/three years to play."
He's 6-foot-8, versatile with major potential. Other recent offers: UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis and San Jose State University.
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Jake Lieberman: "6'5 guard Damarion (Monterey Trail High) Vann-Kelly out of of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College tells me that he's been in recent contact with UNLV, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Weber State, St. Bonaventure, Washington State & Cal State Northridge."
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CJ Willenborg: "Blessed to receive an offer from Stetson University! Thank you Coach Bracco and the rest of the staff for believing in me in me."
He's a 6-foot-4 freshman guard at West Valley College and out of Folsom High.
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Verbal Commits: "2025 West Valley College (CA) G Jake Davis has received an offer from Old Dominion."
The 6-foot-4 sophomore Davis is receiving multiple offers (Fresno State, Cal Poly, Stetson, Radford) as the word is finally out on him.
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Jake Lieberman: "2026 6'2 PG Jaden Bailes out of St. Augustine HS (CA) tells me that he is receiving interest from San Diego State, UC Irvine, Stanford, Oregon State, Yale, Dartmouth, University of San Diego, Cal Baptist & New Mexico.
Offers: UCSD, UC Davis & Pepperdine."
Stanford already has a commit from Modesto Christian point Myles Jones.
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Jake Lieberman: "2026 6'9 prospect Drew Anderson out of Santa Margarita HS (CA) & Jalen Green 3SSB tells me that he is receiving interest from Boise State, Oregon State, St. Mary's, Yale, UCSD, San Diego State & Montana.
Offers: UCSB, UC Riverside, UC Irvine & Dartmouth."
It's very easy to picture this young man and his game in a Gael uniform.
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Weston Ranch High Boys Basketball: "Congratulations to 2025 Darrion Lilly on earning SJAA Most Valuable Player! Well deserved recognition for the 4-year varsity player!"
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Josh Dubow: "Damian Lillard on his favorite Oakland athlete: "My favorite athlete growing up from Oakland was a guy named Paul Marigney, P-40. Oakland people know." Loved watching Marigney at Saint Mary's."
Marigney is a 6-foot-3 guard out of Castlemont High and the St. Mary's who is still playing (last noted as taking to the court recently (this season?) in Equador). It's hard to determine Marigney's actual age but it's around 42, 43, 44.
Noting Dubow's post, Marigney wrote: "I must’ve been doing something right in my life journey to have a NBA top 75 all-time player @damianlillard drop my name in an interview at All-Star weekend. This video is motivation and a inspiration for everyone on all levels. So, this is bigger than Dame or myself. This is big for our Oakland culture and this can really get us back on map and respected for our hoop talents in the city. When it comes to this hoop we have a lot to offer. Let’s Keep Swimming."
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6-foot-3 freshman Zander (Salesian Prep) Jimenez continue his 'en fuego' streak at Swarthmore with 31 points, nine rebounds and four steals in 35 minutes versus Johns Hopkins. He shot 8-13, 2-4 and 13-16 respectively.
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Wednesday, Feb 19, NCAA D1 scores
St. Mary's 79, Portland 66 box. The final score was much closer than expected. Three items stood out: the Gaels shot just 6-8 at the foul line, Portland lost shooting 48% overall and, off the bench, center Harry Wessels contributed 11 points plus five boards and freshman guard Mikey (Prolific Prep) Lewis added 12 points.
Utah State 105, San Jose State University 57 box. The visiting Spartans were never going to win this one but wow! USU maximized the point differential between the teams to 83-36 in the second 20 minutes, aided by a 23-2 scoring run.
Rutgers 89, Washington 85 OT box. In 45 minutes, Tyler (Granada High) Harris finished with 17 points and four rebounds in the UW loss.
Thu, Feb 20, NCAA D1 scores
San Francisco 71, Pacific 58 box. The score was 29-28 USF at the half. Malik Thomas paced USF with 23 points and freshman Tyrone Riley IV finished with 14 points, 10 boards and four steals. Elijah Fisher scored 23 points for the Tigers.
Northern Colorado 95, Eastern Washington 76 box. For NCU, shooting 9-11 at the foul line, Isaiah (Tracy High/USF) Hawthorne scored 18 points and Quinn (Bellarmine College Prep/West Valley College/Cal State San Marcos) Denker came off the bench to put up 12 points on a very efficient 5-6 shooting overall including 2-3 from long distance.
Santa Clara 76, Loyola Marymount 61 box. The Broncos proved to be rude hosts in turning away LMU as four of Coach Herb Sendek's players (three off the bench) finished in double figures scoring, led by 16 from Carlos Stewart Jr. Santa Clara held the visitors to 37.5% overall shooting.
Sacramento State 80, Weber State 77 box. The Hornets notch a road victory powered by foreign players! Jacob (Canada) Holt posted a 27 point, 13 rebound double-double (plus hit a key trey with 36 seconds remaining) and teammate Lachlan (Australia) Brewer tallied 14 points, shooting 5-6 on three-point attempts. Sacto's leading scorer Julian Vaughns again did not play.
Cal State Bakersfield 71, UC Davis 66 box. In the loss, guard TY Johnson led with both 21 points and four assists but the host Aggies didn't help themselves by going 9-22 at the foul line. Johnson shot a confounding 3-9. In contrast, Bakersfield shot 23-28 at the charity stripe. Davis was also out-rebounded 46-24.
Louisiana Tech 85, Middle Tennessee 74 box. Aided by 16 points from Al (Franklin High/San Diego City College) Green, Louisiana Tech got by the Blue Raiders on the road. Green shot 5-10, 3-5 and 3-4 respectively.
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Thu, Feb 19, CCCMBCA scores
City College San Francisco 83, Chabot College 80 Chabot box Gladiator freshman guard Zion (Salesian Prep) Yeargin led with 15 points plus five assists but suffered six turnovers and soph guard Marcellus (Speights Academy) Edwards provided 11 points and a team high seven assists. Both ended up fouling out.
West Valley College 101, Hartnell College 51 That win #11 in a row for WVC.
Las Positas College 97, DeAnza College 67 Matt Schwab: "Sterling McClanahan led Las Positas rout of De Anza with 28 pts (9-10 ft), 5 ast, 3 reb, 2 stl, blk. Washington grad Jorren Edmonds 14 pts, 5 stl, 4 reb, 3 ast. Jaden Woodard big off bench: 13 pts, 8 reb. Good team balance: 8 with at least 6 pts"
San Jose City College 72, Cabrillo College 67
Columbia College 91, Coalinga College 66 Coalinga box.
College of the Sequoias 85, Porterville College 66 box. Leyton McGovern paced CoS with a gigantic 30 points.
Skyline College 81, Ohlone College 69
Feather River College 77, Butte College 61
Canada College 84, College of San Mateo 76
Foothill College 82, Monterey Peninsula College 72
Fri, Feb 20, CCCMBCA scoresz
Yuba College 83, Napa Valley College 55
Contra Costa College 64, College of the Alameda 55
Los Medanos College 75, Merritt College 67
Solano College 111, College of Marin 107 OT
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