Jackson heads to Idaho

College of Southern Idaho Coach Steve Cox has announced:

"We got a kid named Charles Jackson out of Sacramento, CA., that signed with us [from Lassen Community College],” Cox said.

The incoming recruit was teammates with the former Kentucky star back in their AAU days and was the Golden Valley Conference MVP last season, where he led the league in rebounds as a freshman.

“[He’s] a 6'9 kid that we think is skilled,” Cox said. “He's athletic, [and] he really chases the boards—especially at the offensive end."

This is not exactly bond-building in the coaching fraternity: "He came here for more coaching and structure,” Cox said.

Jeez. Talk about staying classy.

Oliver back across the pond

Former Modesto Christian High, Washington and San Jose State backcocurter Adrian Oliver is again playing in Europe.

Phil Jordon lauded

Phil Barber informs readers about the late Phil Jordon, a former NBA player out of Lakeport and Willits High, who is unfamiliar to most basketball fans even those from northern California. Kudos to Barber for this historical and educational piece.

Westwind Prep is reeling

As part of the fallout over the absence of NCAA academic approval, Westwind Prep in Phoenix has let Basketball Director Jeff de Laveaga go.

Upshaw departs the Bulldogs

7-foot Robert Upshaw has been dismissed from the Fresno State basketball program.

6-foot-11 sophomore Tanner Giddings, out of Windsor High, looks to be the only center on the Bulldog roster.

Another guard to Merritt

Merritt College Coach Keenan McMiller has added to his 2013-14 backcourt with the addition of 5-foot-9 Larry Jones out of James Logan High.

Jones was an all Mission Valley Athletic League selection in 2011 and McMiller describes him as "cat quick with shooting and playmaking ability." He was at Stoneridge Prep in southern California the past couple of years.

Below is some 2011 video:

Ransom goes way north

From Dave Rogahn: "JC BB signing: Marquis Ransom, Sequoias in 2011-12 and Orange Coast in 2012-13, to Humboldt State"

The 6-foot-2 sophomore averaged 13.4 points per game in 2012-13, shooting 49% overall, 32% from three-point range.

Haupt to the Broncos

getnashty at the Santa Clara MB posted this about Connor Haupt:

"Of burlingame HS, will walk on at SCU next season. Senior captain for the panthers."

Below is some video of the 6-foot sharpshooter who averaged 17.9 points per game this past season:

Here's Brent Jameson

The lure of the basketball coaching profession is a mysterious one unless you are on a first-name basis with the address changer at the post office and a steady diet of Top Ramen agrees with you.

All kidding aside, the world of coaching is chock full of unheralded people who possess a special appreciation when seeing their players get better and in being great examples away from the court.

(Jameson on the right with the Sac High staff)

Count Brent Jameson among them.

Unfortunately, the Lakeshow Black 17s head coach and assistant at Ohlone College is soon departing from the Bay Area (our loss, Indiana's gain). So let's tell his story while he is still around.

Jameson grew up in a small town of 3,300 outside Flint, Michigan, a town that now has seen better days but home to a solid contingent of talents from Mateen Cleaves to Morris Peterson and, going further back, Glen Rice, Roy Marlow, Jeff Grayer and Terry Furlow. As he put it, "we had an edgy competitiveness because we had to earn the respect of the city schools" when playing ball. Jameson participated in five sports -- golf, soccer, football, baseball and basketball -- but it was the latter that stuck.

He also played hoops at Kalamazoo Valley Community College where he was a key contributor on teams that won back-to-back league championships in the Western Conference of the MCCAA (Michigan Community College Athletic Association).

Later, a move to Los Angeles to live with his sister took place.

"When I was 24, 25, (he's 29 now) I had an epiphany," Jameson recalled. "I had so many great coaches when I was growing up, coaches who really made an impression on me."

So entering the coaching field it was.

Although he had never met him before, Jameson emailed Sacramento High Coach Derek Swafford. The Dragon program was a very successful one and that was attractive.

The result?

Three years as a volunteer assistant, working under Swafford and Earl Allen Jr.

Oh yes, Jameson also met the woman who would become his wife during this period. It was at a team camp both he and she were working. She was employed by the St. Mary's basketball program and they married a year ago.

Thus began an introduction to Randy Bennett. Rick Croy (now the head coach at Cal Baptist) became a mentor.

Diablo Valley College Coach Steve Coccimiglio was also helpful in Jameson eventually landing positions at Ohlone College and with the Lakeshow program run by Joe Fuca.

That move to an assistant position at Ohlone College led to the gleaning of knowledge from Coach John Peterson as well as Renegade assistants Justin Carter and Pete Morales, the latter a longtime East Bay coach in the high school ranks including Bishop O'Dowd.

"Coach Peterson has been an amazing mentor. He's one of the great teachers in the game regardless of level. I literally had a NotePad and a pen out for the first couple months of practice. He cares deeply about his players and looks after them like they were his own kids. When I was looking for a job last year, my goal was to get with a master coach. I'd say I met that goal, plus some."

All this on top of playing for his high school coach John Fattal -- "a great leader and unbelievable worker" -- and Dick Shilts --"he won 700 games in 36 years at Kalamazoo Valley and Western Michigan."

The move to Indiana -- where basketball is as close to a state religion as possible -- will have Jameson assisting at Seymour High, home to the third largest gym (seating 8,100) in the country. He also was appointed to the Director of Parks and Recreation position for the city of Seymour. 

"I love the high school level," Jameson said. "The kids are more open books and easier to mold if you have good kids open to coaching."

The following about his spring and summer Lakeshow crew offers a prime example of why coaching for Jameson:

"They played extremely unselfishly and together… qualities that aren’t often associated with summer basketball. This team really came together this year and made huge strides from spring to summer. Individually, each player worked on their game and made drastic improvements over a three month period. As a group, they showed what happens when you play team basketball. They were coachable, unselfish, and disciplined. They played for one another and enjoyed being around each other on and off the court. I had a handful of college coaches tell me that we were their favorite team to watch because the character of our kids shined through on the court. I would highly recommend each and every player on this team and I know each player will make a huge contribution at their high schools this year and their colleges in the future."

The rewards for those coaching for the right reasons such as Jameson cannot be topped when five become one. It's an experience of grace in a world of so much the opposite.

Stanley taking over at Foothill

With Shanan Rosenberg returning to Oregon, 33-year-old Matt Stanley has moved over from Cañada College in Redwood City to Foothill. It's some proverbial big-sized shoes to fill after a 22-5 season but Stanley is well acquainted with the Owl basketball program.

Since 2011, the Chico native headed the Cañada Colts program but prior to then, he assisted Rosenberg in Los Altos Hills beginning in 2008. It was a robust era for the El Monte road-based basketball program.

Stanley also assisted at Nevada (Coach Mark Fox) and at California State University Chico (Coach Puck Smith) after playing at Shasta College and later Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon. Rosenberg was an assistant there when Stanley played at L & C.

"After my last game in college, I decided I wasn't ready yet to be done with hoops," Stanley said. "So I called Puck Smith at Chico State and asked if I could be a GA. Best decision I ever made. "

He owns a physical education master's degree from Chico and will also be teaching kinesiology courses at Foothill.

Coming from a basketball family, Stanley has spent over half his young life enmeshed in hoops. His father played in college and it became like father, like son: "I would tag along with him whenever his dad went to the gym."

Stanley said "[Coach] Rosenberg is one of my mentors" but he will be putting his personal trademark on the program. "It will be little differences."

What won't be changing is the Foothill coaching staff continuing a strong presence at area high school games.

Also, Assistant Coach Jimmy Herrera is returning to the program.

Stansberry in The City

John Murphy reports on sophomore backcourter Eddie Stanberry's new address.

Sharp scores 12

Portland is in Spain on a summer exhibition tour and matched up with the Angola Senior national Team last night. The Pilots fell 83-78 but former Santa Rosa JC backcourter Bobby Sharp finished with 12 points on 3-7 shooting from long distance. Sophomore Bryce (Jesuit High) Pressley totaled six assists, four points and a trio of steals.

Good news on Sean Harris

Former Yuba College frontcourter Sean Harris missed time as both a sophomore and then as a junior at Utah State due to a leg injury but it appears he'll be back on the court for his senior go-around:

"I saw Sean yesterday in a store and asked him if he was back playing BB? He said he will be soon. I asked if he his knee was doing good, and he said it was. I hope so. The four position needs all the help it can get and the poor kid deserves a break after sitting out two years with injuries."

es."

Hickman checking out Chico

6-foot-7 Jordan Hickman is taking an unofficial visit to Chico State. The St. Patrick/St. Vincent and Lakeshow sharpshooter also makes an impact defensively.

Below is a recent description of Hickman by Lakeshow Coach Brent Jameson:

Name: Jordan Hickman -- Playmaking Small Forward with Size and Versatility        
Pos. Small forward Ht. 6’7” Wt. 176
Hometown: Vallejo, CA              
High School: Saint Vincent Saint Patrick’s High

Comments: Point Forward with excellent size and athleticism. Shoots the 3 really well. Is a great playmaker and decision maker. Uses quickness and fakes effectively to get in the paint. High IQ guy who has a knack for getting in the paint, jump stopping and kicking, or using fakes to create his own shot. Really good floor leader who plays with great passion. Tough, versatile defender. Can guard 2-5. Young senior (16 years old) with a lot of upside.

Meet the well-rounded Jason Conrad

We watch basketball players performing and what do we see?

Basketball being played (duh!), whether it be a high school talent, a collegiate all-conference star or even Lebron James himself.

But the lens we are viewing with constricts our vantage point, always whittling the human beings in front of us to single dimensional status. Their participation in roundball solely defines them.

So reverse the image and what do these talents see when perusing the stands during games?

Basketball fans (another duh!).

Is that a well-rounded and comprehensive assessment of us?

Hardly.

In reality, the basketball talents are in many ways just like us, this despite a remarkable skills set. So are authors, politicians, short order cooks, doctors, coaches and so on. Plying a trade is but one of many facets that make up all of us. There may be major salary and lifestyle differentials but we all bleed and hurt at times, seek nurturing relationships, fall short in many capacities and certainly have multiple and varied interests.

So mind-melding all this, what comes to mind when you see a 7-footer in his 20s, adorned with multiple tats?

Gotta be a basketball player.

Well, why not a fine artist of multiple mediums who also possesses the skills of a multi-starred chef?

Jason Conrad represents all three, and still much more.

Yes, he stands at a full-fledged 84 inches.

Yes, he played basketball at Gilroy High, at Chico State and soon to be professionally in Europe. 

But he also sketches and paints while also being able to whip up multiple culinary delights.

Besides Conrad, can you name one other individual in their early twenties who would most like to meet Leonardo da Vinci (let alone know of da Vinci)? 

Granted, how are fans to discern these talents unless a gallery showing is held and an appearance on one of the myriad of television cooking shows occurs?

So now you know a bit more about Conrad the person. Just remember it's a cross-section of humanity and what makes them tick that you're surrounded by and witnessing the next time at a game.

The next professional step for the newly married Conrad will be heading to Holland to play as a member of the ZZ Leiden franchise, which will also be representing the country in the Eurocup event. He has a two-year contract.

Just imagine the sketching and painting opportunities this will present along with new recipes to try and collect.

So why the lure of the art, basketball and cuisine trifecta? "I come from an artistic family (he majored in art at Chico State), my parents were college athletes (plus his sister played volleyball at San Jose State University) and I love to eat."

This is someone who fully embraces his unique self.

On the court, Conrad said his best moment to date was "winning the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) championship." That took place in February 2012 after the Wildcats were chosen by the league's coaches during pre-season to finish in the seventh spot.

Asked what he might serve as a first dinner to impress, Conrad matter-of-factly offered, "home pulled pork with whiskey barbeque sauce."

Just tell me when and where to show up.

Post basketball, "I want to get a teaching credential," Conrad explained -- yet another venture.

He played for Bud Ogden and also Jeremy Dirks while at Gilroy High and Conrad looks at both as his biggest basketball influences. With Dirks, there is a special bond: "he's been there from the start. I met Jeremy at the end of my freshman year and since then there has been only a couple of days that we haven't talked. I probably wouldn't be where I am with out him.'

Attending Conrad's recent wedding were many teammates from his Chico State days, plus current Wildcat Head Coach Greg Clink, former Chico assistant Gus Argenal who now heads the Cal State East Bay program, as well as Dirks, Ogden and many others. No word on whether Conrad catered the affair.

Conrad sports a cross tattoo on his back which accompanies the words "you pay the price for the life you choose."

Touching words for a well-chosen life, one still blossoming and bursting with self-expression.