Potpourri, Sep 14

News Bits

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"UC Davis Men's Basketball Adds Jay Flores to Coaching Staff"

Back in northern California, Flores is out of Jesuit High, Sonoma State and Chico State as a player plus Cal State East Bay and Montana as a coach

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WCC Supremacy: "Gaels sign Brennan Blackett the number 2 recruit in Utah. Appears to be a Mantas replacement. He’s 6’7 and from what I hear he plays the 3 and can shooooot itt."

He has committed to come to Moraga, not signed, which first can happen on November 11.

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St. Mary's Hoops: "Join us in welcoming Jeremy Dent-Smith to Moraga! Dent-Smith, a SoCal native and two time D2 All-American, competed last season at Stanford in the ACC. With the Cardinal, Dent-Smith averaged 8.2 PPG shooting 37.9% from 3-point range."

The 6-foot-1, 200 pounder will certainly add experience to an backcourt in need of it. 6-foot-3 Miles Che has apparently left the squad.

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Now at Granada High and playing AAU with Team Lillard, 6-foot-2 Jaylen Smith has committed to the University of San Diego. He'll be back in the Bay Area for WCC games against St. Mary's, USF, Santa Clara and Pacific.

A Smith feature: "Commanding the Court: How Jaylen Smith (’26) Sets the Pace for Amador Valley"

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"Alexander Birsan’s Long Rise Leads to San José State Commitment"

and

"A Sunday Read: With family roots in Bucharest and Belgrade, and a deep love of Euro-hoops in his soul, Centennial’s Grade 12 big man Alex Birsan turns versatility into 35 points-per-game!"

and

"SPARTANS ADD WAKE FOREST TRANSFER MEKHI MASON"

Mason is a 6-foot-4 guard with three-point shooting ability.

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College of the Sequoias Men's Basketball:"Please welcome Romello Bruhn to the GIANTS family! Romello comes to COS from Weston Ranch HS. Mello averaged 27.8 PPG and scored over 3,000 points in his HS career. He was named league MVP and first team all-state. Bright future ahead for an outstanding young man!"

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Modesto Junior College Men's Basketball: "Excited to welcome 7’ C Lazar Smolović from Podgorica, Montenegro to the Pirate Family! A true 7-footer with size, mobility & upside."

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"Senior guard (GJ Hill-Thomas) bags Pro-West Camp honors" Frank Burlison

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Verbal Commits: "2028 Basha (AZ) G Lleyton Leonard has received an offer from Sacramento State."

He stands 6-foot-4 and has about 10 other offers to date including one from California.

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"Pleasanton Preps: Reflections in aftermath of Amador Valley basketball scandal"

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Skyline Basketball: "Another member of our #SkylineMBBFam signs overseas. Colby Vazquez (Mills HS) was a two-time All-Conference selection before signing a scholarship to Jamestown University, where he appeared in the Sweet 16. Another LOCAL player who achieved #SkylineSuccess."

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AMHS Mens Basketball: "Congratulations to Brady Clugage on his commitment to play basketball at Chapman University next year!"

Clugage is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard.

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AMHS Basketball: "Congratulations to Nicholas Gklaros-Stavropoulos on picking up offers from Air Force Academy and Seattle University."

He's a 7-footer.

"Nicholas Gklaros-Stavropoulos’ Greatness Begins with Culture"

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Verbal Commits: "Montana State and UC Davis offered 2028 De La Salle (CA) G Parks Weaver."

The 6-foot-4 guard has 12 offers to date including one from California and another via Fresno State

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6-foot-4 former Long Beach State sophomore Gavin (Modesto Christian High) Sykes has already settled in at his new college address, Texas Christian University. TCU is on a summer tour of Costa Rica and Sykes led the Horned Frogs with a team-leading 20 points (five treys) in the opening game victory and game two found him providing another 20 points (three treys) as TCU notched another win.

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Verbal Commits: "2029 Archbishop Riordan (CA) G Judah Van Ewijk has received an offer from Oregon State"

He's a 6-foot-1 point.

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Cañada Colts Mens Basketball: "The Cañada Basketball family mourns the loss of Coach Michael “Mike” Legarza.

Coach Legarza left an incredible legacy at Cañada College, leading the Colts from 1989-2000 and compiling a record of 259-59, winning 3 Coast Conference titles and making a Final Four appearance in 1998. His Colt program produced 11 All-Americans and 59 of his 60 players graduated and transferred to 4 year institutions.

His accomplishments earned him induction into the Cañada College Athletic Department Hall of Fame, class of 2013.

Coach Legarza’s impact extended far beyond the Cañada gym. In 1989, he started Legarza Basketball Camp with just 13 campers—an idea that would eventually introduce more than 500,000 young people to the game.

Coach Legarza built a foundation at Cañada that continues to impact players, coaches and the basketball community to this day. His legacy lives on through every Colt, every camper and every person he believed in."

Obituary

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Potpourri, Sep 7

News Bits

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Dushawn London: "NJ Gray, a three-star point guard in the class of 2027, has committed to Loyola Chicago, 247Sports is told. Gray averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists while at Branson High School. Held offers from Virginia Tech, Cal, Stanford among others."

The 6-foot-2 guard is now attending Salesian Prep. This is a curious signing.

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Gavilan College MBB: "Myron Stamps is officially moving on!"

Out of Andrew Hill High, the 6-foot-7, 190 Stamps averaged 9.3 points plus 7.9 rebounds over this past season.

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Now former LSU women's basketball player Kate Koval has decided to leave her scholarship because she is Ukrainian and the LSU coach just signed a Russian player. Geopolitics, or more graphically, matters of real life and many deaths was the decisonmaker for her.

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Verbal Commits: "2028 Ridge View (SC) F C.J. Moore has received an offer from Sacramento State."

He's a 6-foot-6 wing. The Hornets are his 10th offer, including one from California.

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Delly Mouthguard: "Bart Torvick WCC rankings: A lot of moving pieces and projections throughout his data. But Torvick thinks the WCC is one bid league, and Saint Mary's is poised to win their 5th straight (if we can figure out our best players and break in a rookie coach). That sounds right."

Hit this link for the projected finish.

Torvick has the Gaels on top, Santa Clara at #2 (and this came out before Elijah Mahi's return for a fifth year) and Pacific in the #4 spot. USF ia projected to finish ninth.

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USF has an almost completely new roster for this coming season with the majority of players being freshman. As of September 3, the frosh include 2/3 of the roster possibilities:

• 6-foot guard Mason Magee
• 6-foot guard Yoav Vitlem
• 6-foot-3 guard Wisdom Fode
• 6-foot-4 guard Andrew Hilman (Archbishop Riordan)
• 6-foot-5 guard Dashel Wiley
• 6-foot-5 guard Dylan Bordón
• 6-foot-7 forward Adam Tyson
• 6-foot-8 forward Gustav Knudsen
• 6-foot-9 forward Jaroslavs Pihtovs (Archbishop Riordan)
• 6-foot-11 forward Žiga Daneu

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Cañada Men’s Basketball

 

"Congratulations to 6-foot-3 sophomore Darius Jackson (Castro Valley HS) on his commitment to the University of Mobile.

Darius was a three year member of the program. After a grayshirt year, he immediately stepped into a starting role as a freshman. This past season, he started 27 games and was 3rd on the team in scoring, 3rd in rebounding and 2nd in assists. He also took on the challenge of guarding the other team’s best perimeter player. His skill set, unselfishness, and locker room presence helped lead the Colts back to the playoffs. 

We are excited for “Captain Jack” to begin his next chapter and grateful for the contributions and sacrifices he made while a part of the program. We are proud he will be representing Cañada Colts MBB next year and beyond!"

and

Cañada College Men’s Basketball: "Congratulations to 6-foot-6 sophomore Jake Skaggs (Los Altos HS) on his commitment to Whitworth University!

Jake walked onto campus over two years ago and immediately established himself as a force for the Colts. Jake was a 2 time first team all Coast-North conference selection. Over his two seasons, he started every game played by the Colts. He led the Colts in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks, free throw percentage and steals as a freshman.

As a sophomore, he led the Colts once again in all of those categories. Jake was a member of the  CCCMBCA 2025 academic all state team and graduated in the spring Magna cum laude with an AA in psychology. He averaged 14.2 points per game.

He epitomizes #thecoltsway. The success of the last two years doesn’t happen without him. We are so thankful to have had him in the program and grateful for the many ways he has impacted this program for the better. Proud he will be representing Cañada MBB next year and beyond!"

and

Cañada College Men’s Basketball: "Congratulations to 6-foot-2 sophomore Justin Moore (Menlo Atherton HS) on his commitment to Stillman College!

Justin was another vital member of last season’s playoff squad. He started 27 games and was second on the team in scoring at 12.2 ppg. He provided big scoring games and baskets when the Colts needed it.

A graduate of San Mateo County’s Menlo Atherton High School, Justin, originally from Alabama, gets to return home to play in front of family, friends, and loved ones.

We are so happy for him and this opportunity. We are proud of the growth and development he made on and off the court during his time in the program. We are grateful to the contributions he made these last two seasons and proud he will be representing Cañada College MBB next year and beyond!"

and

Cañada College Men’s Basketball: "Congratulations to 6-foot-8, 245 pound Omer Sukur (Los Altos HS) on his commitment to the University of Portland of the WCC. Omer’s growth and development in his second year on and off the court was vital to the Colts finishing the season as a regional semifinalist.

In conference games (Coast-North), he ranked top 10 in rebounds (11.3) and field goal percentage (56%). His inside presence will be missed! We are happy and excited for this new opportunity for him. There is no doubt his best basketball is ahead of him.

We are so proud of the growth, improvement, and development he showed on and off the court this year and proud he will be representing Cañada Men’s Basketball next year and beyond!"

and

Cañada College Men’s Basketball: "Congratulations to 6-foot-2 freshman Gavin Cao (Alameda HS) on his commitment to Coker University!

Gavin’s story is one of hard work and perseverance. After gray shirting his first year, he suffered a season ending knee injury in his second year which led to a medical redshirt year. He battled all the way back to be a key member of the program. Gavin’s worth ethic, attitude, and coachability were valued and needed. He was great at helping build the culture and was a phenomenal teammate.

We are happy and excited to see what he will do with his next opportunity. Proud he will be representing Cañada College MBB next year and beyond!

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"Amador Valley boys’ basketball hit with penalties, put on probation over player ineligibility"