All star game Saturday in Marin

John Dugan writes about a high school all star game on Saturday featuring the best senior (and we're not talking age 65 and up) ballers in Marin County.

Peter Pappageorge to Long Beach State

Former Burlingame High star Peter Pappageorge, now at Cañada College, has decided to walk-on at Long Beach State. Glenn Reeves has the details.

An update on Jordan Richardson

Jordan Richardson came from Texas and played his senior season (2009-2010) at West High in Tracy before signing with Weber State of the Big Sky Conference. He just completed his freshman season and probably played more than expected due to Damian Lillard's season-ending foot injury.

Richardson participated in all 32 games, playing just below 20 minutes a game in league play, in which he averaged 4.4 points per contest. He shot 31% overall, 42% from three-point range and 95% from the foul line.

Remember Terrence Jennings?

So Louisville's Terrence Jennings is all in the NBA draft. The 6-10 junior who was raised in Sacramento and went to Capital Christian High in 2004-2005 (but attended a number of high schools), is turning pro one way or the other.

By the way, anyone know who his agent is?

I recall (but the memory is getting hazy) Jennings, Matt Simpkins, Eli Holman and Wendell McKines playing in a tourney game one summer 5-6 years ago at San Jose State. The latter two were on the same team (that we recall) and I think Jennings and Simpkins were opposing them. Talk about potential on the court that day!

Brad Winton's Top 100 JUCO players

Brad Winton is out with his Top 100 JUCO players across the nation and in his list northern California is repped by the following:

* #4 De'End Parker, CCSF to UCLA

* #22 Casey Arent, Sierra College to Oklahoma

* #35 Greg Allen, Navarro College to USC

* #42 Julian Welch, Yuba College to Minnesota

* #70 Collin Chiverton, CCSF (destination still undecided)

* #82 Jonathan Williams, CCSF to Wagner

Local basketball skills trainers win YouTube prize

The Curtiss family is well known in Santa Cruz County as Mr.'s Basketball in the area and now YouTube has recognized them:

Curtiss family wins $35,000 prize from YouTube for Shot Science videos
Ryan Moses
Santa Cruz Sentinel
5/03/2011

What started as a fun project to share his family's love of basketball has turned into a full-time job for Soquel's Casey Curtiss -- a job he's now getting paid for.

YouTube selected Curtiss' online instructional basketball video series, called Shot Science, as one of 25 winners of the website's inaugural Next Up contest Monday. The contest is designed to help promote the talents and careers of some of YouTube's best video producers. Each of the winners will travel to New York later this month to attend the first YouTube Creator Camp for training and mentoring on how to build the brand, and receive a $35,000 grant to spend on their projects...

Go here for the remainder.

Here is the trio's Shot Science site.

More on Will Davis coming back to California

The New England Recruiting Report has a feature on Will Davis's commit to UC Irvine.

Notes on Brandon Ashley and Jabari Bird

Ian Powers wrote this after viewing Brandon Ashley/Oakland Soldiers this weekend:

"This kid has transformed his game from strictly being a low post player to one who can shoot it to three and face up and put it on the floor. He is 6'10" and still seems to be growing. He is very long and has huge, soft hands that allow him to catch and finish in traffic. He has nice form on his jump shot which bodes well for him in the future as he continues to expand his game. He is a very active shot blocker and is active on both backboards. Had some trouble staying on the floor this weekend due to foul trouble. Needs to add strength and bulk to his frame, but he his physique has gone through a good transformation already. Easily one of the top 5 players in his class and could quite possibly end up being the player with the most upside."

ESPN's Paul Biancardi also wrote about Ashley, plus Jabari Bird:

"He has always been a high-level prospect and is now becoming a high-end productive player. Ashley is a super athlete who runs the floor with long strides and blazing speed. Offensively, his developing skill level to drive the ball from the high post is smooth for his size. Defensively, he is an adept shot blocker from the weak side or in transition, where he chases down his opponent."

Here's Biancardi on Bird:

"He is an explosive athlete who thrives in the transition game or half-court set. Bird scores the basketball with grace, and his pull-up jumper and 3-point shot are legitimate weapons. He also can beat guys off the bounce and get to the rim, but he must make a greater effort to not allow dribble penetration on the defensive end. California and Arizona are his only two offers to this point, but Washington, Washington State, Louisville, Marquette, Texas and Providence are showing strong interest."

Kudos to Shawn Lewis

Congratulations to former Bishop O'Dowd star Shawn Lewis for his receiving Most Valuable Player honors on the Cal Poly basketball team.

Will Davis to UC Irvine

Pete Hutchins, the coach at New Hampton School, tweets about Will Davis' commit to UC Irvine and Coach Russell Turner.

Loved the headline of this article

Pete Thamel of the New York Times has another compelling article up on college basketball recruiting and the writer of the headline deserves extra credit.

Key quote: "That guy is a cancer to everything he touches”

We ask: how can someone have your best interests in mind when the level of his bank account is determined by someone else?

More love for De'End Parker

Scroll down to the Ranking The transfers section of Mel Grussing's article to read a bit more about De'End Parker and UCLA.

Brandon Ashley, Dom Artis and Stephen Domingo getting some national love

Jerry Meyer of Rivals posted this yesterday (a Rivals sub is required) after viewing games at the Jayhawk Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas:

Brandon Ashley (2012, Oakland Soldiers) - Ashley is progressively expanding his game. Friday night he looked great attacking the basket off the dribble from the wing.

Ohio State and Connecticut are the latest schools to offer Brandon Ashley. Planning to formulate a list by mid-summer, Ashley also mentioned offers from all the Pac-10 schools, along with Kansas, Kentucky, Texas, Wake Forest and interest from North Carolina.

Dominic Artis (2012, Oakland Soldiers) - ...Artis played with composure and confidence at the point guard position. Constantly in command of his handle, he broke down the defense with regularity and found open teammates.

Then, Eric Bossi of Rivals posted this today (a Rivals sub is required):

Stephen Domingo, SF, Dream Vision 16's- A thin wing, the near 6-foot-6 Domingo is the owner of one of the smoothest jump shots in the class of 2013. Skilled around the perimeter, he shot faked and used a control dribble to create a little separation. A four-star prospect, his game will open up even more if he looks to get into the lane and attack the rim a bit more.

Wendell McKines, on stage

No, we're not talking a basketball court here.

Check it out.

A Chris McNealy update

Former San Ramon Valley star Chris McNealy earned 20 minutes of court time a game in 31 contests this past as a freshman for UC Irvine Coach Russell Turner.

His numbers: 5 points and 2.2 rebounds a game, 38% overall shooting, 35% from long distance and 22 steals. He actually led his team with 14 shotblocks.