Will Cherry leads Montana

Former McClymonds star Will Cherry is enjoying a solid freshman season for Montana:

Johnson, Cherry lead Griz to win over EWU
Dave Guffey, UM Sports Information
1/8/2010

Guards Anthony Johnson and Will Cherry combined for 42 points to lead The University of Montana Grizzlies to a 79-66 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles in a Big Sky Conference game Friday evening in UM’s Dahlberg Arena...

...Johnson, a senior, scored a game-high 25 points, while Cherry, a "true" freshman tied his career-high with 17...

...Cherry scored 16 of his points in the second half, when he made 7-of-10 shots from the field...

A pair of Bay Area players featured in the NY TIMES

The New York Times offers a tale about the friendship -- on and off the court -- of two Bay Area players:

Princeton Players Are Divided by Heritage, United by Basketball
Bill Finley
New York Times
January 8, 2009

PRINCETON, N.J. — When asked about their political views, cultures and backgrounds and whether they create problems for them on or off the basketball court, Niveen Rasheed and Lauren Polansky laugh simultaneously.

The Palestinian-American shooting guard and the Jewish point guard, freshman teammates on the Princeton women’s basketball team, understand why people bring up the subject, but to them it is not an issue. What they really care about, they say, are winning games and fostering a friendship that trumps whatever religious or ethnic differences may exist.

Rasheed’s parents are Palestinians, born and raised in the West Bank, and one of her sisters is part of the Palestinian diplomatic corps at the United Nations.

“It’s a big part of our family’s culture,” Rasheed said after a practice last week, adding: “You would think with all those factors I’d have in the back of my mind that L. P. is Jewish. But the way I was raised was that you should not have personal grudges against someone for their background.”

Polansky and Rasheed became friends playing together on an American Athletic Union team, the East Bay Xplosion, in Northern California, where they grew up a few miles apart. Polansky was the first to commit to Princeton, and her decision was among the reasons Rasheed decided to attend. On Polansky’s Facebook page, the featured picture is one of her and Rasheed in a friendly embrace.

“We are always hanging out together,” Rasheed said. “That’s the way this entire team is. On and off the court, we can’t get enough of each other. All the freshmen are close, and L. P. is one of my best friends here.”

Go here for the remainder.

An interesting recruiting story on Robert Sandoval

Fresno doesn't qualify as northern California but here's an article on one of my favorite players to watch:

Sandoval could be real deal for 'Dogs
Andy Boogaard
The Fresno Bee
January 7, 2009

Robert Sandoval is an extraordinary point guard who plays basketball at a high school 6 miles away from Fresno State, which is ordinary at the position.

But the Bulldogs don't want him -- not yet.

Baffling.

A week ago, the Clovis East senior dropped 31 points on Centennial-Compton, a top-50 team nationally.

Last summer, he toasted similar powers, Mater Dei-Santa Ana and Bishop Gorman-Nevada, for 36 and 30.

A year ago, he stepped out of a four-hour morning bus ride after playing the night before and delivered 31 points, 10 assists, eight steals and three rebounds against Cleveland-Reseda, whose coach, Osiris Nalls, said: "We see more athletic guards down here, but his skill level and IQ level are better. He's pretty much in a category by himself."

Against major-college guard prospects from these programs, the 6-foot Sandoval beats them off the dribble, defends them off the dribble, breaks their press, scores rim-high, passes and manages the game.

"Robert stands out in those games -- for both teams," Clovis East coach Tim Amundsen says...

Go here for the remainder.

A little more on Kiwi Gardner

There are some wonderful people selflessly stepping in to help out -- that's the best news. Plus, Brian VanderBeek provides more on Kiwi Gardner's current situation:

Gardner's suspension is talk of high school hoops
Brian VanderBeek
Modesto Bee
January 6, 2009

MANTECA — Kiwi Gardner was not in uniform for Manteca High's 55-42 victory over Oakdale on Tuesday, just as the high-scoring guard will be nowhere in sight tonight when the Buffaloes play at Lathrop, or Friday when they play host to Weston Ranch.

After after that, no one yet knows when Gardner — averaging 27.4 points and arguably the most talented player in the Stanislaus District — will return to action...

Go here for the remainder.

He's back (this is another one)

Rob Collins has returned to Richmond High, and that's a good thing, especially for the young basketballers there:

Richmond High's Collins rebuilding basketball program, and his life, at the same time
Ben Enos
Bay Area News Group
1/04/2010

When he resigned from his job as boys basketball coach at Pleasanton's Amador Valley High School in 2008, Rob Collins needed a break.

Coaching didn't hold the same appeal it always had, and the veteran educator of 22 years thought he might not be making as big an impact with kids as he could.

So Collins took a step back. He returned to a place where he was comfortable, resuming his former job as a physical education teacher at Richmond High, where he tried to refocus his life before returning to the court.

That focus is finally returning, but not without some significant bumps along the way...

Go here for the remainder.

He's back

He is back. No, The Arnold hasn't announced he is going to run for Guv again (thankfully), it's Jabari Brown being back in O-town after a semester attending Findlay Prep. Jimmy Durkin provides the details:

Former Salesian basketball star Jabari Brown transfers back to the East Bay to play for Oakland High
Jimmy Durkin
Oakland Tribune
1/05/2010

Jabari Brown is back home.

The former Salesian High basketball star, who transferred to high-profile Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., over the summer, decided Sunday to return to his hometown of Oakland and has enrolled at Oakland High.

"It wasn't really working out," Brown said of Findlay Prep, which is ranked in the top 10 in several national polls after finishing last year as the USA Today's top-ranked team. "I just decided it would be a good decision for me and the team and I decided to come home."

Go here for the remainder.

Kiwi Gardner sidelined

Hopefully, this will be a learning experience:

Gardner’s future uncertain
MHS guard must sit until section rules on Dec. 28 incident
Jonamar Jacinto
Manteca Bulletin
January 5, 2009

Manteca High junior Kiwi Gardner could miss a handful of games or forfeit the rest of his athletic eligibility depending on Sac-Joaquin Section sanctions. He will likely not play in tonight’s Valley Oak League opener with visiting Oakdale.

His uncertain status stems from an incident during Manteca’s second-round contest against Inglewood in the 10th Annual Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic on Dec. 28.

Gardner, who averaged 27.4 points, 4.5 assists and five steals in eight non-league contests, was ejected from the game with 43.7 seconds remaining. Inglewood won, 68-57.

Gardner quickly assessed two technicals for disputing a foul. The main issue centers around physical contact Gardner made with the official and the intent behind it...

Go here for the remainder.

A TIME magazine feature on Jeremy Lin

Remember his w-i-l-l-i-n-g Palo Alto High to the state championship?

Harvard's Hoops Star Is Asian. Why's That a Problem?
Sean Gregory
TIME
December 31, 2009

Certain truths are tied to March Madness, that time of year when the NCAA men's basketball tournament turns every cubicle-dweller into a college hoops junkie. That batty lady who picks the winners based on the cuteness of the mascots will crush you in your office pool. Duke will have a guy that gets under your skin. And the Harvard basketball players will be locked in the library instead pulling off the Cinderella upset.

It's been 64 years since the Crimson appeared in the NCAA tournament. But thanks to senior guard Jeremy Lin, that streak could end this year. Lin, who tops Harvard in points (18.1 per game), rebounds (5.3), assists (4.5) and steals (2.7), has led the team to a 9-3 record, its best start in a quarter century. Lin, a 6 '3" slasher whose speed, leaping ability, and passing skills would allow him to suit up for any team in the country, has saved his best performances for the toughest opponents: over his last four games against teams from the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference, two of the country's most powerful basketball leagues, Lin is averaging 24.3 points and shooting nearly 65% from the field. "He's as good an all-around guard as I've seen," says Tony Shaver, the head coach of William & Mary, which in November lost a triple overtime game to Harvard, 87-85, after Lin hit a running three-pointer at the buzzer. "He's a special player who seems to have a special passion for the game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the NBA one day."

A Harvard hoopster with pro-level talent? Yes, that's one reason Lin is a novelty. But let's face it: Lin's ethnicity might be a bigger surprise. Less than 0.5% of men's Division 1 basketball players are Asian-American. Sure, the occasional giant from China, like Yao Ming, has played in the NBA. But in the U.S., basketball stars are African-Americans first, Caucasians second, and Asians. . . somewhere far down the line.

Go here for the remainder.

Jordan Richardson at it again

West High's Jordan Richardson is torchin' the nets this season -- 46 points ealier this season versus Vallejo -- and just went for 40 against Chavez:

West guard steals spotlight at showcase
Kevin Niendorf
Stockton Record Correspondent
January 3, 2010

STOCKTON - West High's Jordan Richardson scored 40 points, including a go-ahead layup with 19 seconds remaining in overtime, to lead the Wolf Pack to a thrilling 82-81 victory over the Chavez Titans during Saturday's second annual Stockton Showcase at Delta College...

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Last second Larry Gurganious shot wins it

Larry Gurganious has been on a circuitious route since Berkeley High but he's finishing up his college basketball career helping UC Riverside compete in the Big West Conference.

Gurganious' Lay-In With 1.3 Seconds Remaining Gives UCR 69-67 OT Win

Larry Gurganious' lay-in with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Highlanders men's basketball team a 69-67 come-from-behind win over Long Beach State Saturday evening at the Student Recreation Center.

UCR (7-6, 1-0) trailed by as many as 11 points on the night and went more than 7 minutes in the first half without scoring, but Kyle Austin (17 points after the break) and Gurganious (11 points) found their offensive stroke after halftime to complete the comeback...

Go here for the remainder.

Damian Lillard leads Weber State over Montana

Damian Lillard is keeping it up, scoring 30 points to topple visiting Montana:

Second Half Rally Sends Weber State Past Montana, 64-56, Saturday Night in Ogden
Courtesy: Weber State
1/02/2010

Damian Lillard scored a career high 30 points, 11 of them coming in the final four minutes, leading Weber State to a 64-54 win over the University of Montana, Saturday night in Ogden

The Wildcats led 33-23 at half time behind 16 points from Lillard and appeared to have control of the game. The Grizzlies came out in the second half and out scored the Wildcats 8-1 in the first three minutes. WSU stopped the run on a basket from Steve Panos, a three-pointer and free throw by Nick Hansen, making it 40-34 for the ‘Cats...

Go here for the remainder.

It was a bit of a homecoming as former McClymonds star backcourter Will Cherry scored 16 points for Montana. Surely, Cherry and Lillard have matched up many times back in Oakland. Here's the game report from the Ogden Examiner:

Lillard's career night leads Weber State to win over Montana
Jasen Asay
Standard-Examiner
January 2, 2010

Since he had been putting in some extra time in the gym, Damian Lillard figured that he'd be out to reap some rewards from his extra work. The Weber State point guard did just that on Saturday, as he scored a career-high 30 points and led the Wildcats to a come-from-behind win.

Lillard scored 30 points, including 11 of WSU's final 14, as the Wildcats topped Montana 64-56 at the Dee Events Center.

"In the past couple of games I haven't made a lot of shots, and it was coming from me not being in the gym enough and not getting up enough shots," said Lillard, whose previous career-high 28 points came in a win over Utah earlier this season. "I just came in (Friday) night and made sure my stroke was right, shot some free throws, shot a lot of 3's, some mid-range jumpers. If I'm putting in the work, why not show it?"

Lillard also led WSU with five assists and grabbed seven rebounds, while Steve Panos also reached double digits with 10 points...

Go here for the remainder.

The First Annual California Classic

Gerry Freitas' First Annual California Classic proved to be quite success ful and here are the outcomes involving northern California teams:

1st Annual California Classic Schedule
January 2, 2010 at Cerritos College

Newark Memorial 58, Campbell Hall (North Hollywood) 52

Leading Scorers: NM - Khion Sankey 19, Kendall Andrews 15/CH - James Johnson 18
Leading Rebounder: NM - Kendall Andrews 9/CH - James Johnson 8
Player of the Game: Khion Sankey of Newark Memorial

Per Ronnie Flores at CalHiSports:

The team that was a surprise finalist at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic used a 16-0 run at the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter to spark a victory over a scrappy Campbell Hall team.

Unlike Sacramento High, which stayed in the SoCal area on New Years Eve and Day after playing in a local post-Christmas Holiday tourney, Newark Memorial was home to ring in the New Year. The Cougars drove down to Cerritos College on Saturday morning and the long drive may have led to some early rust versus Campbell Hall (10-4).

Trailing 22-17, they used two inside baskets from junior forward Kendall Andrews to turn the game around. With the Vikings leading 22-21 after Andrews' inside buckets, a 3-pointer by stocky point guard Isaiah Clark that would have gave Newark Memorial (10-2) the lead rimmed in and out with under ten seconds remaining. On the other end, the Vikings' Austin McBroom had his 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer rim out, but the message had already been communicated.

Newark Memorial had come to play hard, and to win.

"At the beginning of the game, we couldn't get anything going," said Newark Memorial head coach Craig Ashmore. "Sometimes success creates energy. But there are no excuses, I thought Campbell Hall played well."

Ashmore's club scored the first 12 points, mostly underneath, of the third period to complete the run and take a 33-22 lead. The carnage ended when Campbell Hall's Zack Klein made a free throw with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter. Campbell Hall recovered at the end of the third period and trialed 35-30 entering the final period, but the Vikings could never get over the hump.

They cut Newark Memorial's lead on one occasion to two points (37-35), but the Cougars' Casey Norris answered right back with a 3-pointer. Campbell Hall shot a higher percentage from the field, 54 to 40 percent, but Newark Memorial got up 17 more shot attempts, and many of them were from point blank range by the Cougars' muscular scorers.

Andrews finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while running mate Khion Sankey scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. James "Deuce" Johnson led Campbell Hall with 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. He made eight of nine field goal attempts, but had to work hard to just get in position for a field goal attempt against the undersized bruisers of Newark Memorial.

"There is a nice chemistry between the two," Ashmore said of Sankey and Andrews. "Against a zone, we got the ball in position to score with our inside-outside game. We expect more games like that the rest of the way. People are going to be coming at us, but I like the effort we bring."

+++++

Compton 65, Sacramento 58

Leading Scorers: C - Anthony January 22, Allen Guei 15/S - Josiah Turner 20, Will Davis 13
Leading Rebounder: C - Anthony January 10/S - Will Davis 12
Player of the Game: Anthony January of Compton

Per Ronnie Flores at CalHiSports:

The Dragons were in Southern California all week and after a solid performance at the Oaks Christian Tournament, they simply didn't have enough in the tank to defeat Compton. Both teams did not shoot well from the field, but Compton (4-8) was quicker to the loose balls and converted easier shots from the field. Sacramento (7-4) played at a much slower pace than head coach Derek Swafford would have liked, as they had only 24 total points (35-24) with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter.

Even though Compton had a comfortable lead (43-31) entering the fourth quarter, the Tarbabes could not put away the Dragons. They cut the lead to six points on a jumper by junior Josiah Turner with 41 seconds remaining, but could not catch any other breaks the rest of the way.

Turner's performance mirrored that of his team. After a memorable 48-point performance against Pasadena at the Oaks Christian in which he hit a three-pointer to give the Dragons a 71-70 victory, Turner visibly struggled in this game. He led Sacramento with 20 points, but he made only eight of 25 shots from the field for a team that shot 35 percent (20/57) as a unit.

"We played five games in six days, so we knew we were going to come out flat," Swafford said. "We just didn't think it would be like that. Josiah has been sick with the flu. As far as how he compares to Chase Tapley as this stage, Josiah is unselfish, but he's still figuring out how to work with his teammates."

Compton's Anthony January Jr. continued to show why he's one of California's better tenth-graders. He used his length, athleticism and improving jumper to score a game-high 22 points and grab 10 rebounds. Senior Cliff Sims Jr. (12 points) and junior point Allan Guei (15 points, 7 assists) also played well for coach Tony Thomas' club, which is more formidable than its won-loss record indicates.

+++++

Orange Lutheran 73, Oakland 63

Leading Scorers: OL - Tyler Funk 21, Gabe York 19/O - T.J. Taylor 21, Dominique Taplin 14
Leading Rebounder: OL- Scott Barton 6/O - Dominique Taplin 9
Player of the Game: Tyler Funk of Orange Lutheran

Per Ronnie Flores at CalHiSports:

The Lancers from Orange Lutheran used a decisive second quarter to defeat the Wildcats in the event's first game. Orange Lutheran (10-4) outscored Oakland 22-6 to take a 36-25 halftime lead. Leading the way for the Lancers was the duo of senior Tyler Funk and sophomore Gabe York.

Funk scored a team-high 21 points and made four of six 3-point shots. He also made seven of eight free throws and dished out six assists. York, last year's CalHiSports.com state freshman of the year, added 19 points. T. J. Taylor led three players in double-figures for Oakland (6-8) with 21 points, but made only three of 10 3-point attempts.

A Lucas Devenny update

Freshman Lucas Devenny is getting on the court and making a contribution at UC Santa Barbara:

Devenny Getting Time On Gauchos
Michael Coit
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
December 31, 2009

Banging bodies with big college centers is a tough initiation for former All-Empire Player of the Year Lucas Devenny.

But the UC Santa Barbara freshman is getting more court time as he adapts to playing closer to the basket than the forward position Devenny was recruited to play.

“I’m getting more and more minutes, just working in as best I can,” Devenny said as the Gauchos prepare for their Big West Conference opener Saturday at UC Irvine.

Usually the only freshman in the regular rotation, Devenny has played in every game of the Gauchos 5-5 campaign. Eighth on the team in playing time with over 12 minutes a game, Devenny averages 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds a contest...

Go here for the remainder.

Mikhael McKinney on display

Do make an effort to catch Washington High in action because that will provide you an opportunity to watch Mikhael McKinney. Yes, he needs to add strength for the next level (as does almost all high schoolers) but he displays a great handle, a high basketball IQ and a nice touch from outside.

Here's Kyle Bonagura with the latest:

Surging Washington High captures Tim Cole Memorial boys basketball tournament championship
Kyle Bonagura
Oakland Tribune
12/31/2009

There is no doubt that Washington High boys basketball coach Mike Tripp has high expectations for his team this season. He put together an ambitious nonleague schedule designed to challenge his team and prepare it for Mission Valley Athletic League play and a potential run in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.

Coming into American's Tim Cole Memorial tournament, the Huskies had already advanced to the championship game at two tournaments, but fell in overtime on both occasions to Castro Valley and Rocklin.

The third time was a charm.

Washington led by as many as 23 points in the second half before hanging on to beat Antioch 61-55 on Wednesday to claim the Tim Cole title.

"It'll be nice to take a (first-place) trophy home after coming close at the other tournaments," said Washington guard Mikhael McKinney, who earned tournament MVP honors. "This is what we work so hard for..."

Go here for the remainder.

Drew Gordon is a Lobo

Well, we were wrong in our prediction as Drew Gordon has cast his future lot with Coach Steve Alford and New Mexico.

Here's the original story from Mark Smith/Albuquerque News.