Merritt and SJCC winning down south

From Dave Rogahn:

"SGV Shootout Merritt 61 SD City 37. Darien Williams, Maceo Bell 14 pts and Sammy Allen 11 pts for Merritt. Nate Edwards 10 pts for SDC"\

and

SGV Shootout San Jose 82 Canyons 67. Very entertaining game! Maurice Joiner 19 pts 8 rebs, Bobby Grey 18 pts 7 asts for SJCC

Gill #11

Zack Farmer places Pacific's Tony Gill at #11 in his rankings of the returning West Coast Conference talents as the Tigers move from the Big West Conference.

The Aggies offer a Cheesehead

Mark Miller tweeted: "University of California-Davis has extended a scholarship offer to Sussex Hamilton senior Brady Ellingson, 6'4" WG 2014"

Per Rivals, he also has offers from Albany, South Dakota and South Dakota State in addition to one yesterday from Northern Colorado.

Here's a May 31 feature.

Below is a 2012 video interview:

Ugbaja breaks the ice

A Verbal Commits tweet: "The Citadel has extended an offer to 2014 Riordan (CA) G Jiday Ugbaja, his first"

Of what is sure to be many.

Galloway receives a Mustangs invite

From Phil Doherty: "6'10 2014 PF-C Jonathan Galloway of Salesian HS and @NorcalWildcats got offered today by Cal Poly SLO. Jonathan has had a great July so far"

USF offers a 2014 Winconsin talent

From Mark Miller: "USF (San Francisco) offered Riley LaChance today. He had 39 in championship game at NY2LA"

The young man is a 6-foot-1 combo guard.

From ESPN: "LaChance is a tough and competitive point guard that can shoot the ball with range. He is a knockdown 3 point shooter off the catch and has a pretty good pull up and can also straight line drive. LaChance passes on time and on target..."

Oklahoma State has also just offered.

Below is video posted in May of this year:

Thinking about Solomon Young and Marquese Chriss

It was fun finally seeing Norcal Wildcats Elite members Solomon Young and Marquese Chriss in action this past weekend, even more so when speculating to what degree they will take their respective games.

Young looks the image of a bruising high flyer, 6-foot-6 with a muscular athletic body yet he surprised many, if not most, with a very deft touch from three-point range. He displayed fine form and a soft landing with his shot despite physically projecting the image that he would be bruising the rim and backboard a la Shaquille O'Neal once the ball left his hands.

With just a brief inspection, the expectations are his game would be knocking opponents out of his way en route to close-in shots and dunks and, while that was apparent at times, let's allow the class of 2016 Sacramento High prospect to be all that he can be.

Young also played unselfishly -- not even a whiff of me-me-me despite obviously being among the top two talents on the Wildcats.

As for Chriss, he is in the 2015 class and stands 6-foot-9, with a couple more inches down the road a strong possibility and certainly many more pounds. But he's very effective already inside with his quickness and agility. However, look for him to expand his offensive repertoire to something akin to Kevin Durant before he is finished with high school. Being a wing at the next level is the plan.

Harris on the road back

It's looking like (click on the name) Sean Harris of Rocklin High/Yuba College is getting back on the court for Utah State after an ACL tear:

USU offers Austin

From Josh Gershon: "2015 DreamVision PG Paris Austin landed a Utah State offer"

SJSU offered the Bishop O'Dowd point recently and so has Boise State -- count the Mountain West Conference as already enamored.

The latest on Spencer Butterfield

From Kyle Goon's recent update:

Spencer Butterfield, who took on a leadership role after the team’s devastating injuries, has been restricted since his hip surgery this spring. Although he should be cleared by the start of school, Butterfield’s hip probably won’t be fully healed next season.

"It’s probably going to be a nagging problem next year," Morrill said. "He had the surgery so they could do what they could, but it’s not necessarily a fixable situation. But he’s a very tough kid, and he should be mostly better when it comes time to play."

At Del Oro High, Yuba College and Utah State, nobody has out-toughed Butterfield.

More press for D.J. Wilson

Sean Moran:

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar
In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.
- See more at: http://hoopniks.com/ua-summer-jam-thursday-recap/#sthash.1rJo9EPa.dpuf

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar
In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.
- See more at: http://hoopniks.com/ua-summer-jam-thursday-recap/#sthash.1rJo9EPa.dpuf

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar
In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.
- See more at: http://hoopniks.com/ua-summer-jam-thursday-recap/#sthash.1rJo9EPa.dpuf

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar

In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.

and

Scott Phillips:

D.J. Wilson -- 2014 -- SF -- Team Superstar
6'9 -- Capital Christian -- Sacramento, CA

After a strong showing during day two, Wilson came out and had another good game in a morning win over the Wisconsin Playground Warriors. Wilson has a good-looking jumper but against the Playground Warriors he also made some plays off-the-bounce and was productive on the interior. With his size and skill on the wing, high-majors will likely check in on Wilson.

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar
In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.
- See more at: http://hoopniks.com/ua-summer-jam-thursday-recap/#sthash.1rJo9EPa.dpuf

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar
In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.
- See more at: http://hoopniks.com/ua-summer-jam-thursday-recap/#sthash.1rJo9EPa.dpuf

Norcal Wildcats Elite creating noise

William Whelan/Nor Cal Preps has a post up on the impression the Norcal Wildcats Elite collectively and individually are making this weekend down in southern California.

A sub is required (get that subscription now) as Nate Ambrosini, Jonathan Galloway, Marquese Chriss and Solomon Young are all featured.

The Hornets extend an offer

A Josh Gershon tweet: "2014 Pangos Elite PF Justin Strings landed an offer from Sacramento State"

Here's a truncated ESPN description of the 6-foot-4, 190 talent: "Strings is an undersized 4-man with very long arms and good hands. He can attack off the dribble and his 1st step is pretty potent. He has a knack to score in the paint area and his touch out to the elbow is solid. He plays hard at both ends..." 

Here's a January 2013 feature.

The latest on Josh Akognon

Will the Mavs be able to keep Josh Akognon or will another team put in a claim?

Gershon hearting Terrell

Josh Gershon tweeted: "Really like 2016 NorCal Wildcats PG Christian Terrell. Good size for position, athletic, passes and can score. Very bright future"

He's out of Sacramento High.