Joel Francisco on the recent Nor Cal Tipoff

ESPN's Joel Francisco offers some player evaluations -- agree or disagree with some of 'em -- from the recent Nor Cal Tipoff:

Juan Anderson's versatility impressive
Joel Francisco
ESPN Recruiting
November 28, 2010

The 4th Annual Nor Cal Tip Off Classic, orchestrated by Nor Cal hoops guru Gerry Freitas, possessed a nice combination of elite-level talents like ESPNU 100 prospect Jabari Brown (Oakland, Calif./Oakland) and quality depth (approximately 30 Division I prospects)

Although Brown had a somewhat pedestrian outing due to the smothering defense of Newark Memorial, other less-heralded prospects like Marquette-bound Juan Anderson (Castro Valley, Calif./Castro Valley) and unsigned sleeper Andre McPhail (Antioch, Calif./Deer Valley) put together outstanding all-around performances...

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Khufu Najee to San Jose State

Here's an article in the Diablo Valley College student newspaper about Khufu Najee's signing in early November with San Jose State University basketball.

Najee gets full ride to SJSU
First-year guard signs letter of intent to play at San Jose
Gerardo Recinos
December 1, 2010

Basketball players are athletes with speed and strength, and Khufu Najee possesses both. 

Najee, a 6 foot-3 inch tall guard, now playing for the Vikings, was this season's first DVC basketball player to sign his letter of intent to play college ball at San Jose State University next year on a full-ride athletic scholarship.

Najee, 18, a freshman, played only a handful of games at DVC before signing his letter...

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Santa Rosa JC beats Redwood

Former Analy High basketballer Kevin Aronis helped spark a victory in Santa Rosa Junior College's h0ome opener.

Chico Averbuck's Basketball Academy

If you're in the area or region, here's a basketball academy to check out

Chico Averbuck’s basketball academy accepting registrations
Bob Padecky
Santa Rosa Press Democrat
December 3, 2010

The idea is a sound one, the one advanced by Chico Averbuck, the 1985 graduate of El Molino who has gone to become the director of international scouting for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the West Coast for that NBA team.

Averbuck will hold a 31-week basketball academy beginning in January, an eight-month program that does much more than teach kids how to dribble with both hands.

“It teaches life lessons,” Averbuck said. “And it is not a camp, where you come for three or four days and that’s it...”

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Remember Justin Standley?

After graduating from McClymonds High, backcourter Justin Standley headed to New Mexico State but then decided he needed practice and playing time so he transferred to Western Nebraska. He redshirted last season but is the starting point in 2010-2011.

In eight games this far this season, the freshman is averaging 11.2 points a game on 37% overall, 38% from three and 78% at the foul line shooting. He is passing for 3.5 assists and nabbing 3.8 rebounds a contest.

He scored 24 points in a recent close loss to national power College of Southern Idaho.

Standley is listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.

Rob Jones leads St. Mary's but Gaels fall to San Diego State

Getting into the proper St. Mary's modus operandi, Rob Jones scored 17 points, including going 5-10 from three-point range, in a 69-55 road loss to San Diego State.

For the season, Jones leads the Gaels with a 13.5 points per game average and is second on the team in rebounding at 5.8 a contest.

He is shooting 45% overall, 30% on his trey attempts which number third on Randy Bennett's squad.

San Diego State, powered by Chase Tapley, tops St. Mary's

Behind sophomore Chase Tapley's team-leading 16 points and five boards, host San Diego State downed St. Mary's 69-55. The sophomore from Sacramento High shot 6-9 overall and went 2-3 from long distance. On the season, Tapley is shooting an unbelievable 62% from the floor (29-47). San Diego State is currently 7-0 with a home game upcoming against Wichita State followed by a December 8 matchup at Cal.

Venturing a bit afar, critiquing ESPN's College Game Day

We want to learn something, points we had no idea about, information that makes us better informed. Keep the 'pyrotechnics' and the brown-nosing (and Dick Vitale) away -- tell us something we didn't know.

Highlighters & Headsets: Critiquing College Gameday

Highlighters and Headsets is an occasional look at the coverage of college basketball – from television to print (they still make paper?), blogs to bracket busters, and Gus Johnson to Gameday – written by RTC contributor Steve Moore. He welcomes your comments, column ideas and Dickie (V) jokes at smoore71@gmail.com. You can follow him on Twitter @smoore1117.

Taking a Look at College Gameday

ESPN has yet to start this season’s edition of Gameday for basketball, but for me, it seems interesting to discuss just how uninteresting the hoops edition has turned out to be.  Each Saturday in the fall, I make it a point to watch some or all of the football version of Gameday. Why? It’s not any sort of college football obsession – heck, my alma mater cut its football program 13 years ago, and the closest I come to rooting interest is hating on Penn State.

Hoops Gameday Needs to Broaden Its Horizons

It’s not the insightful “analysis” of Lee Corso or Kirk Herbstreit, and it’s not even to look at Erin Andrews (although that’s not a bad way to start your weekend). Sure, there’s the occasional funny feature, or heartfelt story about a player or program you never knew existed. But that’s not really it, either.  To be honest, the main reason I watch is because I like to feel like I’m a part of the “event” that is a college football Saturday. The signs, the cheerleaders, the massive sea of fans behind the stage. Just the feel of it all makes me, at least for one fleeting instant, wish I had a big-time program to root for. Heck, I’d even take a 1-AA team (and no, NCAA, I’m not calling it FCS – so take that).

My point is that college football Saturdays are an event, whether you’re in Tuscaloosa or Towson. College basketball doesn’t have that “big day” of action, and there’s nothing the sport can do about that. Yet one of the main reasons we all love college basketball is the atmosphere that surrounds a big game, inside and outside of the gym. And there is plenty ESPN could do to improve on that aspect...

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Former Weston Rancher James Nunnally scores 29

From the UCSB athletics site:

James Nunnally scored a career-high 29 points, including 13 during a decisive 18-0 second half run, and UC Santa Barbara shot 61.7% from the field en route to a 77-67 win over visiting Loyola Marymount on Wednesday night...

...Nunnally made 11-of-14 shots overall and 4-of-5 from three-point territory...

Drake and San Ramon Valley take wins

Mitch Stephens has a couple of game reports, one a major upset -- go here.

Jeremy Russotti's Central Cali's Finest event results

Here's a writeup from October by Jeremy Russotti about the top participants in his Central Cali's Finest event. Go here to learn more about Jeremy, one of the wisest and best basketball trainers in the country:

October 16th-17th marked the 4th Annual Central Cali's Finest Instructional Showcase Event. Once again it was a huge success with approximately 125 players in attendance from the Central Valley.

The drills sessions were impressive and each guy worked very hard, was attentive, and reaped the knowledge the training staff had to offer. Evaluation games followed the drills sessions and below is a write-up of the top players from the event.

Central Cali's Finest Notable Players

# Justin Leathers (2011) Foothill
Justin was a beast at this year's CCF event. He was constantly around the ball and his team just seemed to win in every drill. Around 6-foot-6, Justin has the height to go inside but also has decent skills on the outside. With continued work on his wing game, he could become a really tough small forward at the next level.

# T.J. Viney (2013) Edison
T.J. is a really quick point guard that can get to the rim. He reminds me of a young Kiwi Gardner. Just like Kiwi, T.J. let everyone know at our event that you have to be on your top D-Game to stay in front of him. However, his game will really elevate when he learns to dominate a game with his floor leadership and passing, rather than scoring. T.J. is one of the top players in the 2013 class and should be a potential D1 player in the upcoming years.

# Michael Best (2011) Terra Linda
Michael had a very strong showing at this year's event. He has improved light years from last year. His confidence, competitiveness, and skill level separated him as the top big man at the event. His skill set around the basket is very high and he can definitely step out and hit the deep shot. A bona fide D1 prospect, with added weight and strength he will be a major contributor to a college program.

# Colin Slater (2016) Middle School
We never really have middle school players in our event, but Colin is a rare exception. Colin is years ahead of his peers in relation to skill. Even though he came off an ACL surgery, Colin looked pretty good. His handle and skill set are very good. However, he is going to have to find that next gear once he reaches high school since the others will catch up at some point. With that said, if Colin improves at the same rate as his peers, he could be a top recruit in years to come.

# Britton Williams (2012) - Liberty
Like T.J., Britton is another cat-like quick guard that loves to compete. Britton is a fierce competitor and you can just see on his face that he loves this game. He has a nice skill set and seems to understand the point guard position. He is a solid high school player and should have a shot at playing at the next level.

# Antwoun Whitfield (2011) - Clovis East
Antwoun has what I call "cool-game". He is very effective, however, and looks like he is moving in slow motion. He was one of the top shooters at the event, and also showed more ability to put the ball on the floor then he did last year. He should thrive in the East system and put up a lot of threes. However, he should continue to work on his pull up shot and ability to finish at the rim in order to play at the next level.

# Ronald Williams (2012) Bullard
This very athletic combo guard really shined at the event. He is a big time slasher and finished around the basket very well. He is a great defender and really gets after it when guarding the ball. He simply does not let guys get by him. He will be a huge cog in Bullard's attack this year and will cause headaches for a lot of the guards in the top league in the Valley.

# Korey Anderson (2011) Clovis High
- Korey may have improved the most over his 3 years in High School in regards to body conditioning, skill level, and aggressiveness. Korey simply was ferocious in all the drills and has really leaned out and gotten so much stronger. It is very obvious that Korey has really worked on his strength, agility, and athleticism. He's a 6-foot-7 left handed power forward that finishes with authority, has great touch, and can shoot the basketball out to 18 feet. He simply dominated the skill development portion with the big men, although playing through an injury to his lungs. Korey is smooth and crafty and really knows how to use his body. Korey will thrive at the next level.

# Matt Johnson (2011) Palma
Matt had a really good event shooting the ball. His confidence was on point as he knocked down shot after shot. A pure 3-point spot shooter, but also understands the game as well. Should be a key part of Palma's talented squad coming back in 2010-2011.

# Vinny Lidgett (2011) Stockdale
- You've got to love a player like Vinny. You can tell Vinny is a gym rat that loves to play the game. He was also one of the top shooters at the event with a beautiful shot. Though undersized, Vinny makes it up with his passion for the game and willingness to compete.

# Ryan Swain (2012) Buchanan
The son of a coach so you know he can shoot the basketball. But he also has such a good feel for the game. Very intelligent and skilled and knows how to play. A 6-foot-4 swing forward, Ryan loves facing the rim and shooting the basketball. With pick and pops he was deadly as his defenders simply could not come out to challenge fast enough.

# Dom Katter (2011) Buchanan
The "masked man", Dom was one of the most effective guards at the camp. Dom always had a smile on his face, seemed to win every drill, and his team seamed to always come out on top. He's a smooth lefty that can get to the rim, shoot the 3, but also can defend the perimeter. Should be one of the top guards in the Fresno area.

# Brett Parishan (2011) Reedley
I fell in love with this guard. Brett is hard nosed, tough, and if you don't watch out, will smash on you very easily. He can get to the rim, is a consistent shooter, and definitely has D2 potential. Needs to work on his muscle size and strength, but with his size and athletic ability, he should have a monster year for Reedley.

# Ashton Richardson (2011) Turlock
By far the most functional athlete we had at the event. Ashton constantly was slicing through the lane, using his angles, and finishing with abandon. Ashton was also able to hit the open pull up shot and showed a willingness to defend. If Ashton improves on his long range shot, should be a nice college prospect.

# Kellan Howard (2013) Central
Kellan is a young, up and coming big man in Fresno. He runs the floor very well and plays with passion. Though he is still very thin and needs to improve his skills, he definitely has the frame to play at the next level. I expect within a few years, Kellan will be the cream of the crop at our CCF events.

# Rashad Jackson (2014) Garces
Rashad was one of the only middle school kids to ever attend our event last year. This year as a freshman, he didn't disappoint. Rashad plays above his years and has a body of an upperclassman. However, Rashad needs to improve his Basketball IQ and shot selection. When he learns that, he will be one of the top Central Cali players for the next 3 years. A bona fide D1 prospect if he continues to work.

# Tyler Harris - (2012) Bakersfield Christian
Looks can be deceiving, but Tyler was one of the most feared offensive threats at the event. He can put up points quickly and proved that all weekend. Though he needs to improve on his consistency and not fall in love with the 3-pointer, I expect Tyler will have some huge games this year in Bakersfield. Next year, while maturing his game even more, he should be one of the top players in our event.

# Corey Silverstrom (2013) Bullard
With the tutelage of Coach Amundson, I predict Corey will be one of the toughest guards in Fresno in the next few years. A strong, tall guard who looks slow, Corey was deceptively quick, and had a very good change of direction crossover. He has a knack for the ball and consistently scored during all of his games. Big things to come for Corey.

# Aaron Cochran (2013) Buhach Colony
POTENTIAL is written all over Aaron Cochran. Aaron could be a future 1st round pick in the NFL or could be a D1 basketball player as well. New to the game, Aaron is a beast in the middle and showed great hands and feet for a 6-foot-9 sophomore player. It is scary to imagine how good he will become in the next few years. His future is looking really bright.

# Eriq Belt (2011) Buhach Colony
At first I questioned Eriq's shot selection and demeanor on the court but the more I watched him, the more I liked his game. Eriq can be a true point guard when directed and can make his team better. He is hard to guard, knocks down shots, and showed that he can make the highlight pass as well. If he continues to set up his teammates to control the game, he will be the link Buhach needs to take league this year.

# Will Nelson (2012) Mt. Whitney
Will is a great slasher and finisher at the rim. He was also relentless in his attack of the basket. Will is a great looking forward who can guard all positions and can play all positions. He is extremely versatile and will be a tough guard this year as he exposes guards and big men guarding him.

# John Brinson Clovis East
- John is another guard molded in Clovis East's system of attacking. John was very aggressive and attacked the rim at will. John can really get in creases to shoot and drive and has a way of creating space to get his shot off. John can really play off Kevin Bailey and Antwoun Winfield and will be a huge factor in Clovis East's run at the league title.

# Other Notables

Jordan Belton (2012) San Benito
Courtland Duckworth (2012) Porterville
Alec Carlson (2012) Turlock
Mike Hill (2011) Bullard
Grant Getz (2013) Bullard

A Langston Morris-Walker feature

Here's an interview article all about Berkeley High's Langston Morris-Walker:

"A lot of times when we observe basketball players, we tend to overlook their “other side”. We would only focus on the athletes basketball career and their success, while closely scrutinizing their performance on the court. But, what they do and how they act on the court only represents 50% of who they are; there is more to the picture than what we as fans, writers, and audiences see. Some of these players are not only talented and driven on the court but also off the court. Alongside the 50% you and I know, what are other qualities of a person that we try to examine or look for in ourselves and in others that will complete us as individuals?… A person’s sense of humor?… A person’s competitive drive? …Or how about someone who is family oriented, like for example Langston Morris-Walker. Morris-Walker, as we know, is a 2012 forward straight out of Berkley, California. This young man not only shows his Cali swag on the court but also has his inner “family side” off the court. It appeared in the interview that I had with Morris-Walker that his family and where he comes from plays a big role in his life; especially when it comes to the schools on his list: “My list includes the following: Cal, Cal Poly, Riverside (offered), University of San Francisco (offered), Stanford, Utah (offered), UC Davis, Washington, Arizona, Oregon, WVU, UNLV, and Nevada.” As you can see, just from the list alone that the West Coast has a huge influence on this young man..."

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Did you catch this? (Damian Lillard)

From the Weber State athletics site:

 Damian Lillard's two free throws with six seconds left, lifted the Weber State Wildcats to an 82-81 victory Saturday afternoon over Drake University in the third place game of the 33rd Annual Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska.

The two free throws came on a bizarre call. Drake took an 81-80 lead with 20 seconds left on a driving lay up by Rayvonte Rice. The Wildcats called time with 15 seconds left to set up the potential winning basket, but Damian Lillard was called for an offensive foul driving to the hoop with eight seconds left giving Drake the ball.

But Drake's Aaron Hawley grabbed the ball in jubilation and slammed it to the floor. Hawley was called for a technical foul. WSU coach Randy Rahe put Damian Lillard on the line and he calmly sank both shots giving him a game, and season high, 31 points.

Drake then inbounded the ball and Kurt Alexander drove the lane throwing up a driving lay up which bounced off the rim.

Davion Barry performing well

In two games so far this season, former Hayward High star Davion Berry is averaging 18 points a contest. The other highlights for the sophomore at Cal State University Monterey Bay: 20-24 at the foul line plus five assists and five rebounds a game.

Will Cherry nabs POW honors

The leader on his Grizzly team, former Mack star Will Cherry -- just a sophomore -- has earned a league honor:

Cherry picks up player of week award
Jon Kasper - Big Sky Conference
November 24, 2010

Montana guard Will Cherry has been selected as the Big Sky Conference player of the week for games for games played between Nov. 16-22.

Cherry, a 6-foot-1, 177-pound sophomore from West Oakland, Calif., averaged 18 points, 3.7 steals and 3.7 rebounds and one block per game as the Grizzlies earned victories over Idaho and Montana Tech, and lost by nine points at Utah.

Cherry capped his week Monday night with a career-high 24 points, four rebounds and three steals as the Grizzlies dismantled Idaho of the WAC 75-33. Cherry made 9-of-12 shots from the floor, was 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Cherry helped a Grizzly defense that limited Idaho to just six made field goals out of 50 attempts. The UM defense forced 16 turnovers.

Cherry scored nine points with six rebounds, five steals and four assists in a 78-51 win over Montana Tech on Friday.

In an 80-71 loss to Utah on Nov. 17, Cherry scored 21 points with three steals two assists and two blocked shots.

In the three games, Cherry shot .559 percent from the field, .429 percent from 3-point range and .813 percent from the free-throw line. As a freshman, Cherry shot .434 percent from the field and .603 percent from the free-throw line.