Las Positas this weekend

Las Positas College went 1-1 on Friday down in the Southern California Fall JUCO Jamboree. The Hawks opened with a 57-38 win against College of the Canyons and then fell 51-46 to Saddleback.

John Bynum:

"(so) Kameron Johnson (Las Positas) "6-2" has shown ability to create off bounce."

"Donald Mims is a rim protector but needs to add weight. Constantly was getting pushed out of post position but changed a lot of shots."

"Las Positas represented NorCal well today at the shootout. Kameron Johnson, Aaron Berry played well for the Hawks."

On Saturday:

James Giacomazzi:

"LPC beats Irvine Valley 58-54 in a good game. A free throw by Kameron Johnson seals the victory. Go Hawks!"

"A slow start proved to be too much to overcome in a 61-54 loss to San Bernardino Valley. LPC out scored SBVC 29-19 in the second half."

John Bynum: 

"Keith Hunter of Las Positas is a great scorer and has a variety of ways to score the ball. The "6-3" combo is going to have a solid season"

Cameron Belden:

"Thanks coach - thought Mims (former camper), Johnson, Hunter & Chaffee all performed well this weekend"

Wilson's suitors will be enormous

Coach Rob: "#CoachRob's #7 2018 @jackwilsonfc of @PadreAthletics holds offers from Cal, Nevada, Montana, Portland State, Pacific, USF, San Jose St."

Since 7-footers are scarce and both his body and skills set are still works-in-progress, Wilson should wait until spring of his senior season in order to see how high his offers will be. Then dig into 'appropriateness' -- the catch-all word that covers the numerous other factors in choosing a school/basketball program.

Josh Gershon: "2018 Team Arsenal center Jack Wilson has been offered by Oregon State."

Cal State East Bay center heading to Spain

"Okwudibonye Signs with Professional Team in Spain" -- Cal State East Bay athletics

Lee down to three

Ira Lee has Arizona, California and Oregon in his final three.

Not sure how to break the odds on this one down. Decent chance to win national championship while at Arizona (at least in the year DeAndre Ayton plays although the team will lose a lot after this season), the toughness Cuonzo Martin requires can only help Lee as a pro and Oregon would make him part of the Knight family which can be a down-the-road benefit.

Probably the most important question is how long does Lee play in college? Hard to see him as a one-and-done.

Akinjo being eyeballed

Chip Miller: "California's Tracy Webster and Nevada's Yannie Hufnagel are expected at Salesian College Prep (CA) Thursday to see 2018 guard James Akinjo."

Josh Gershon: "2018 Oakland Soldiers PG James Akinjo has been offered by Nevada."

According to Verbal Commits, it's SJSU, Texas A&M and Montana offering earlier. TAM is going to likely be a bit high unless Akinjo gains some inches. It's surprising that nobody in the West Coast Conference has offered. Likewise the Big West.

Delly & Johnson

"IN A SUMMER OF INFLATED CONTRACTS, WHO GOT THE BEST (AND WORST) VALUE" -- Daniel Zimmerman

"Matt Dellevadova – $8.9 million in new cap, $6.6 million in old cap.

Delly, the Aussie sensation, is coming off a world championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was living the life, as the sixth man of the top team in the East. Despite falling out of the playoff rotation a bit, Delly knew he was in for a pay day.

He brings grit and intensity to both sides of the ball, and for that, there was interest. He could have likely signed big deals with Brooklyn or Philly to be the starter, but instead he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, a team he knows he will come off the bench for. As a RFA, Cleveland had the chance to match, and they did, but in a sign-and-trade move that saw them net something in return for the Australian point man.

Delly is a valuable player for any team in this league. Just ask LeBron James –

““That’s a guy who is dedicated, who never cared about guys saying that Delly is not fast enough, Delly is not strong enough, Delly can’t shoot it well enough, Delly is not an NBA player. Well guess what? Delly is a champion. Thank you Delly.””

His contract, in the old cap, is a modest backup point guard salary. But he is going to enhance the Bucks in many more ways than any average backup. Teaming up with the gritty players like Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Michael Carter-Williams, the Bucks are going to have one of the nastiest, toughest defenses in the NBA."

and

"Tyler Johnson – $12.5 million / new cap, $9.2 million / old cap

This deal was one that you can’t criticize Miami as much for as you can criticize Brooklyn for offering it. Johnson, a 6’4″ combo guard with two years experience, has had minimum time to showcase his abilities in this league, playing behind Dwyane Wade for his whole career.

But Johnson, nonetheless, has potential. However, the good ole Brooklyn Nets really know how to kill a buzz, don’t they?

Johnson was content with waiting on Wade’s decision, then signing offer sheets from wherever he gets them. But the Nets just had to toss this 24 year old guard who averaged nearly 9 points in 24 minutes a night last season, a 4 year, $50 million offer sheet.

That is absurd. That kind of money for a combo guard, who in effect can neither play point guard nor shooting guard? Ridiculous.

The Nets already got PG Jeremy Lin on a bargain deal, so it didn’t make sense for them to go after Johnson in the first place. But to pour so much money into an unproven talent was downright offensive.


The Heat panicked, and they matched the deal after Wade left. Brooklyn was saved, Miami was screwed, and Johnson was paid."

++++++++

Maybe the point to be considered is that Johnson can play, period. He shot 48.6%, 38% and 79.7% overall in 24 minutes a game. Playing two and a half minutes more this season than last, each of his averages went up. All of this despite a number of nagging injuries which resulted in shoulder surgery.

This would be an interesting get but Brown will go higher

Josh Gershon: "St. John's head coach Chris Mullin + two assistants watched 2018 Roseville (Calif.) Woodcreek PF Jordan Brown today."

Can Mullin get the Johnnies into a more respectable status before Brown departs high school?

Updates on Quincy Smith and Roderick Bobbitt

"Valdes, Smith reportedly reach pro deals" -- Brian McInnis

Smith will be playing for BBC Telstar Hesperange in Luxembourg.

Plus, Zeljko Zule has the news that Roderick Bobbitt and GKK Sibenik have divorced.

Interesting idea

Dakota Schmidt: "I don't know if Bill Self will do this but i actually think that Josh Jackson's best role on offense is as the main ball-handler/facilitator."

LJohnson adds another offer

Logan Johnson: "Blessed to have received an offer from Utah State"

Both at what level and where Johnson goes will be a fascinating decision.

It's simple

"PENN STATE DOESN’T GET TO DECIDE JOEPA’S LEGACY: I KNOW" -- Mike Wise

Joe Paterno chose not to stop or report child abuse. End of story. That's his ultimate legacy.

It's a numbers game

"Why Sports Management Majors are Doomed to Fail" -- Michael Abramson

Argenal adds two to Pioneer squad

"Bird, Mbodj Round out Men's Hoops Recruiting Class" -- Cal State East Bay athletics

Frayer and Grand Canyon hoops

"Grand Canyon University basketball prepared with strong cast for greater competition" -- Richard Obert

Excerpt: "...Majerle pulled in arguably the greatest recruit out of high school in his tenure with 6-6 wing Oscar Frayer from Hayward (Calif.) Moreau Catholic.

"Whatever Coach wants me to do, I'm happy to do it," Frayer said. "I'm getting to know them day by day..."

The NorCal Fall JUCO Jamboree

The Nor Cal Fall JUCO Jamboree is taking place September 24 (Saturday) and September 25 (Sunday) at City College of San Francisco.

Here's the link to the schedule for both days. Santa Rosa JC, Yuba, Butte, San Jose CC, Merritt, Diablo Valley College, Las Positas, Fresno CC and many others will be on display.