Meet the 2012 707's Finest

The 707's Finest basketball organization is directed by Cary Noble and features four teams, the 17s Elite, the 16s Elite, the 15s and the 14s.

As explained by Coach Leon Williams, the purpose of the organization is to teach the game so that players can learn the fundamentals and possibly get on to college.

Here's the 2012 17s Elite roster (with commentary supplied by Williams):

* Jordan Callier, 6-foot-5, wing, Vanden High, 2013

Long and lanky, he's a great shotblocker and rebounder and can run like a deer

* Anthony Gonzales, 6-foot-1, forward, Vacaville High, 2013

He isn't very fast but he's smart and reads, reacts and anticipates very well

* Matt Hayes, 6-foot-1, guard, Pleasant Grove High, 2013

Matt is a very good three-point shooter who has point guard abilities and plays solid perimeter defense

* Spencer Hollie, 6-foot-6, forward, Dublin High, 2013

A basketball/football player, who is really mobile and has quick feet and great hands

* Jamaal Johnson, 6-foot-3, forward, Oakland Tech, 2013

A defensive guru who can guard a big or someone his size, he really moves his feet, is very fast and runs the floor well, getting a lot of layups as a result

* Dylan Kavanagh, 6-foot-4, shooting guard/forward, Piedmont High, 2013

Strokes it really well and has missed some games but will be ready for July

* Cameron Moses, 5-foot-11, guard, Dublin High, 2013

A great kid who is more of a scoring guard, he can handle the ball and is pretty good on man-to-man defense, we would like him to facilitate more

* Lejon Sewell, 6-foot, combo guard, Will C. Wood High, 2013

A combo guard who handles it well and can attack the basket, he shoots the three well when open

* Leon Williams V, 6-foot-2, point, Vanden High, 2013

A floor general and facilitator who plays very unselfishly, he can shoot accurately from mid-range, is one of our best foul shooters, is great man-to-man defensively, and willingly sacrifices his body taking charges and hitting the floor for a loose ball

* Gary Wilson, 6-foot-4, forward, Rodriguez High, 2013

Shows a great mid-range jumper and is someone who can rebound and block shots

The Elk Grove Matt Hayes

This Matt Hayes, as opposed to the senior at Yuba City High, is a 6-foot-1, 170 pound Pleasant Grove High junior who is now playing for 707's Finest this spring and summer.

Leon Williams, his 707's coach, offered an up-to-date assessment on Hayes: "Matt's one of the better shooters in northern California and definitely one of my better players. He knows how to score but isn't overly selfish. I've known him since the fifth grade and he's very polite and respectful and a great teammate. He's good at helping defensively and team defense but we want him to keep his focus more."

Members of the Delta River League, Pleasant Grove is coming off a 24-7 overall record, 6-4 in league. Yes, all-around contributor Cody Demps is moving over to Sacramento State and thus leaving a big hole but a trio of seniors-to-be, Hayes included, are set to step up:

* Hayes, who contributed 11 points a game

* Malik Thames at 15.5 points per game

* Cole Nordquist with 12.9 points a contest

Highlights of the Eagles' season included beating Franklin 63-54 February 24 in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs, before falling to Jesuit by just two on February 29, 64-62. A 64-57 takedown of Castlemont on March 8 was another to remember before losing to De La Salle 54-40 to conclude the season.

Asked to name something about himself that the public isn't aware about him, Hayes responded with: "people don't know that I'm a born leader." Pleasant Grove will be needing that expressed on the court next season.

Hayes is looking to major in mathematics come college and is wide open as to preferences.