Jeremy Russotti's latest training event

Jeremy Russotti, Philippe Doherty and the rest of the coaching team work wonders at these events. Go here for all sorts of information on Russotti and the training he offers plus do check out his j-glove, designed for improving shooting accuracy.

Here's a writeup on the latest One % Club Basketball training event:

This past weekend was the mark for the 4th Annual “North Bay’s Finest” Instructional event held at Sonoma State University. The North Bay is where Jeremy Russotti’s “The Finest” events originated and this year’s group did not disappoint. The coaching staff noted several times that this year’s bunch included the top overall talent in its 4-year existence.

Players that stood out:

Brian Crow (Novato) 2010 ­ Overall this 6-foot-6 power forward took the cake as the top performer at the event. Over this past summer, Brian has slimmed down to be a rising recruit in the Bay Area. He has the muscle to bang with bigger bodies, skill to be an anchor in the post, and willing to run the floor to out work his opponent continuously. Look for a huge season in the MCAL from Brian.

Jordan Semple (Arcata) 2010 ­ Jordan is what every coach at the next level is looking for when it comes to potential. He is a legit 6’6”, can handle the ball, solid in the triple threat position, very smooth around the basket, and has a nice shot. His release point on his shot has risen from last year, making him that much harder to guard. However, on day 1, Jordan was lethargic and played with a limited killer instinct. With the guidance of Phil Doherty, Jordan hit another level on Day 2 and showed he had another gear and why he can be a very good scholarship prospect.

Ben Freeland (Montgomery) 2011 ­ Ben has made huge strides since last year’s event. A true 6’9”, Ben has the body to play Division 1 basketball. Following in the footsteps of former Monty Big man Kyle Jeffers (Oregon State), Ben should be the next in line to play at the next level. His skill level has improved and his demeanor on the court shows much more confidence than in the past. If he continues to add weight (weight room) and shows the dedication Coach Fitchie strives for in his players, Ben should be the talk of next year’s event.

Stuart Wesonga (San Marin) 2011 ­ Stuart has really improved since last year. He is still raw and needs work on his offensive game, however, he is eager to be a top power forward in the bay area by next year. He is super athletic, rebounds every miss, and runs the floor with abandon. He should lead a much-improved San Marin team in the MCAL in the upcoming season.

Tyler Gaffaney (Branson) 2010 ­ Mr. Gaffaney is probably the nicest kid you will meet off the court. However, on the court he is all business. Tyler can flat out get it done! He rarely turns the ball over, had his hand in every possession, was the best shooter at the event, and always made his teammates better with the extra pass. To top it off, he was a lock down defender; causing the players he guarded fits throughout the weekend. A lower level college coach is going to get a very productive, model student athlete after this
season.

Kenneth Woodward (Terra Linda) 2010 ­ Kenneth is a basketball sponge that knows how to control the game of basketball from the point guard position. He consistently pushed the ball on the break, while hitting the open man flawlessly. He showed a nice handle of the basketball and the type of player that is eager to learn and wants to get better. Should be the top floor general in the MCAL for the upcoming season.

Xavier McCall (Cardinal Newman) 2011 ­ Anybody with the nickname “X”, you know is going to be tough. Xavier did not disappoint this weekend and showed he is the cream of the crop in the North Bay in the 2011 class. Xavier is close to breaking out and reaching
his full potential. He has great body balance and strength; however, he needs to work on his hand speed and quickness with his ball-handling. He tends to over-dribble, which causes unneeded turnovers. Xavier can shoot the ball, however, simplifying his game will
really allow him to be the top guard in the NBL for the next two years.

Brandon Cole (Vallejo) 2010 ­ Brandon instantly caught our attention during the ballhandling session. Brandon has extremely quick hands, allowing him to really control the ball at ease. During the games sessions, he utilized that skill in order to get to the basket
with ease. His shot mechanics has flaws, however, his mid range shot was solid. Brandon competed all weekend, showing the will to play defense and do what it takes for his team to win.

Mike McKinney (Fairfield) 2010 ­ Mike was one of the next solid Fairfield guards to come through our event. He is super bouncy, has a nice shot, and great feel for the game. He has a continuous motor and should be a tough guard in Coach Wilson’s offense for the
upcoming season.

Tom Witzel (Arcata) 2012 ­ Though only a sophomore, Tom is 6’6” with a very strong frame. He rebounded the ball great this weekend and finished well around the basket. However, he needs to work on his athleticism off two feet, and continually develop on his perimeter shot. Just like Jordan Semple, Tom needs to find another gear and play with fire. If so, he should be one of the top North Bay prospects in the upcoming years.

Tyler Idowu (Rodriguez) 2010 ­ Tyler is a very hard-working and relentless once he steps out on the court. He worked so hard during the drills and games session that he started to cramp by the end of Day #1. However, he still had enough motivation to throw down the jam of the event with his tomahawk slam on an opponent. Tyler is undersized (6’4”), raw in talent, and needs work on his offensive skills and jump shot in order to succeed at the next level.

Micheal Best (Terra Linda) 2011 ­ This is our first time seeing Michael, and he stood out with his upbeat performance during the drill and games sessions. He is 6’8”, can block shots, and has some skill, however, he needs to build on his strength. Since he is only a junior, he has the height to be a strong force in the MCAL and to play at the next level. However, he needs to fight through adversity and not get down when he makes a mistake. Should be a great pick and roll tandem with Kenneth Woodward.

Max Schmidt (Arcata) 2011 ­ Max is a true 6’9, and has some muscle in the post. Though not athletically gifted, Max uses a sweeping hook shot around the basket that is impossible to block. Each year he shows improvement, therefore, Max needs to really improve his body composition, conditioning, and athleticism to be a solid college prospect.

Tyler Imhoff (Napa) 2010 ­ Tyler is a bouncy combo guard that loves to get to the basket. He is strong on his drives and usually takes his defenders with him. However, he needs to improve his shot for the next level and his awareness on how to run a team. If so, he is going to be a tough guard in the SJ section.

Ryan Morris (Ukiah) 2010 ­ Ryan was a man-child over the weekend. Though only a 6’5” power forward, Ryan has a mean-streak to completely dominate his opponent. Also, Ryan has a skill set to match, showcasing a variety of offensive moves to complement his toughness. We can guarantee Ryan will be a first team All-League Player in the North Bay League.

Dominic Davis (Vanden) 2010 ­ Dominic really had a fine weekend, letting it be known he is one of the top guards in the North Bay. His competitive nature and willingness to play defense are some of his best attributes. He worked really hard during the drills sessions and showed a skill set to match just about any guard at the event.

Other players to watch for:

Ronnie Baker (Rodriguez) 2010
LeQuan Gomes (Fairfield) 2011
David Ahern (Marin Catholic) 2010
JaVonte Willis (Fairfield) 2010
Omar McLean (Armijo) 2010
Ryan Richardson (Clear Lake) 2010
Demarqus Wiggins (Redwood) 2010
Rashaad Allen (Rodriguez) 2010
Brian Johnson (Maria Carrillo) 2011
Akintoye Akindele (Hogan) 2010
Patrick Conroy (Marin Catholic) 2013
Elliot Collins (Piner) 2010
John Dunn (Branson) 2011
Tanner Giddings (Windsor) 2012
Joey Odetto (Windsor) 2010