Here's Joel Francisco on the NorCalClash

For those who weren't there (and we're taking away your bonafides as a fan of high school basketball if you were elsewhere), here's a writeup and some player analysis on Sunday's Nor Cal Clash:

Gardner, Turner stay in attack mode
Joel Francisco
Scouts Inc.

SAN PABLO, Calif. -- The first annual Nor Cal Clash, organized by Gerry Freitas, provided a nice preview of things to come in terms of high school basketball in the Bay Area. The event was a showcase game between the region's top juniors and seniors. Although the Class of 2010 came out strong to take a comfortable 32-17 lead, it would be the sensational junior backcourt of 6-foot-2 Josiah Turner (Sacramento, Calif.) and 5-7 Kiwi Gardner (Manteca, Calif.) who led the 2011 prospects to a 105-99 victory.

Turner's pull-up game and Gardner's athletic ability in the transition game would be the difference; the 2010 team's defense got shredded to ribbons on a consistent basis. In addition to the aforementioned dynamic duo, the 2011 squad also received strong performances by 6-6 J.T. Adenrele (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont), 6-5 Darius Nelson (Sacramento, Calif./Sheldon), and 6-2 Roderick Bobbitt (Castro Valley, Calif.).

Standout players

Kiwi Gardner (5-7, 150) PG
2011, Manteca, Calif.
Gardner doesn't possess ideal size for a Division I point guard, but he has many other physical attributes, such as speed and quickness, that will attract coaches from that particular level. Gardner has an exceptional burst off the dribble. He gets in the lane whenever he wants with a blow-by or a crossover. He has great bounce and can finish much of the time in traffic. However, at the next level, his game will have to slow down because his decision-making, at times, will result in costly turnovers. He has a tendency to overpenetrate and leave his feet in traffic while passing. He is a true point guard who can knock down the 3-point shot and his shot overall looks solid with a smooth release. Gardner will need to learn to manage the game and not play at such a fast pace, but there is no question his talent will be recognized among Division I coaches...

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