Kone honored

Darren Sabedra reports that Archbishop Mitty's Ben Kone is the Mercury News Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Briones & James tripping

From Chabot Men's Basketball: "Congratulations to Noel Briones and Khalil James for their first college visit today. They are heading up to the Napa area to visit Pacific Union as a potential next stop for their education and basketball career!"

$51K to 'find' Rick Barnes

"Tennessee paid Collegiate Sports Associates $51,000 for the search firm’s help in hiring new men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes."

Really. Gotta get me some of that action.

Danville honors San Ramon Valley hoops

Here are 20 photos of a parade held in Danville to honor state champion San Ramon Valley High.

Love that small town kind of celebration.

Sierra Canyon vs. Moreau Catholic highlights 9th annual Prep2PrepTip Off Classic

The ninth annual Prep2Prep Tip-Off Classic will be held Saturday November 28, 2015 at Newark Memorial High School in Newark.

The event is designed to promote/showcase Northern California basketball to college coaches, media/scouts and the general public. 

There will be seven games on the day beginning at 11:00 am. High-profile programs such as Newark Memorial, Modesto Christian, Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland), St. Mary’s (Albany) and Folsom will be featured. The event will culminate with the marquee matchup at 8:30 pm between national powers Sierra Canyon and Moreau Catholic (Hayward).

Sierra Canyon is led by four elite level prospects: 2016 standouts forward Cody Riley, guard Remy Martin and forward Ira Lee in addition to 2015 point guard Devearl Ramsey. Moreau Catholic features high-level stars 2016 wing Oscar Frayer - who has committed to California - and 2017 point guard Damari Milstead.

Other elite prospects include 6-8 2017 forward Richard Polanco of Army-Navy Academy and 6-9 2018 combo postman Jordan Brown of Woodcreek.

Four Northern California regional finalist teams are participating in the event: Bishop O’ Dowd, Modesto Christian, Woodcreek and St. Mary’s.

2015 state championship teams in the event are Bishop O’Dowd (open) and Sierra Canyon (Division V).

For further information, media credentials or sponsorship opportunity information contact Event Director Gerry Freitas at gerryfreitas@hotmail.com or Prep2Prep Vice President of Business Development, Ruben Camacho at rcamacho@prep2prep.com. 

9th Annual Prep2Prep Tip Off Classic Schedule
Saturday November 28, 2015 at Newark Memorial High School

Game 1: 11:00 AM St. Mary’s (Albany) vs. Manteca
Game 2: 12:30 PM Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) vs. Dublin
Game 3: 2:15 PM Immanuel (Reedley) vs. Weston Ranch (Stockton)
Game 4: 3:45 PM Sheldon (Sacramento) vs. Army-Navy (Carlsbad)
Game 5: 5:30 PM Modesto Christian vs. Folsom
Game 6: 7:00 PM Newark Memorial (Newark) vs. Woodcreek (Roseville)  
Game 7: 8:30 PM Moreau Catholic (Hayward) vs. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

Briggs back

From CCSF Men's Basketball: "CCSF family help us welcome back home Shon Briggs." Out of Heritage High, he played at Casper College in Wyoming this past season.

Merritt College basketball in the so-called off-season

As a two-times-in-three-years participant in the California Community College Final Four, Merritt College has earned the status of one of the elite programs in the Golden State.

But no resting-on-laurels is taking place. Next season began when the last buzzer sounded.

Such as:

On the way back from Cerritos College, Coach Keenan McMiller had the bus carrying his team make a specific stop -- at Las Positas College. Specifically, the school gymnasium known as The Nest. The significance? Having his underclassmen see where the next state Final Four would be taking place. Concrete symbolism, no pun intended.

"I asked the bus driver on interstate 5 on our way back to Merritt to stop at Las Positas College to show all of the freshman where we will be playing to win the 2015-2016 Mens Basketball state championship. I told them it is important for them to remember, learn and be humbled by everything they accomplished this season. More importantly, preparation starts now to win the state championship, It was brief moment but it was necessary to seize the moment for our goals in the 2015-2016 season."

Then there was this past weekend. McMiller was at the CIF state championship games on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was a Team Select tourney with Merritt College as the venue. Call it talent evaluation not being a nine-to-five, Monday - Friday duty. For him, if doing the job requires weekend work in the so-called off season, then so be it.

Here Is McMiller riffing on various basketball topics:

"I strongly believe the head coach should be the one out evaluating. There are so many guys who don't appear on anybody's list but who can play. They're under the radar but you'll see them if you get out there. Take D.J. [Kennedy] or Jovontae [Carleton]. They were on nobody's lists of top prospects." For the record Kennedy averaged 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 52%, 46% and 75% and Carleton provided 13.3 points and 4.0 rebounds, shooting 51%, 38% and 77%. At 6-foot-4, Both were Thunderbird freshman this past season.

When he is out looking at talent, it's not completely about who can be brought in for next season. "I'm also looking two years away." With the built-in turnover at two-year colleges plus the unexpected departures, McMiller feels it's critical not to be left without say a point who can successfully manage the offense or enough inside size.

His best line regarding landing talent is "recruiting is never etched in stone," meaning this promise to come aboard or that expressed desire to sign on can waver and disappear day-to-day.

A little know element of the job for community college coaches but an essential one is when calls come in from four-year coaches or their assistants. But it's not always necessarily the subject fans imagine it to be. "Sometimes, they want opinions on JC players at other schools that we've faced or seen. Other times, it's if I know of any good-sized wings I could recommend." Such endorsements, if they pan out, just might build a bridge to a down-the-road elevation of coaching at the highest level.

As for his relationships with the players on his roster, McMiller professes strong opinions. "I spend more time talking about non-basketball subjects with my players. You need to constantly monitor the relationships. How do they think? What are they thinking about? It's a part of teaching. Each kid should feel your vision.. Maybe the most interesting: "you've got to be in coaching for more than winning games."

One other important McMiller note is this distinction. "Steve Fisher had a blueprint for being successful at Michigan but a different blueprint for San Diego State" as budgets, talent pools, the desires of school president and athletic directors and more can be different and therefore adaptability is required.

Seizing the day, building connections and thinking ahead -- the McMiller way.

Sacramento Bee player honorees

Joe Davidson offers the Sacramento Bee's Players of the Year, Coach of the Year, First, Second and Third team honorees plus Honorable Mentions and the final capital area team rankings.

Ivan Rabb PoY

You guessed it, Ivan Rabb is the East Bay Boys Basketball Player of the Year

If you didn't, maybe take up lacrosse.

The BANG All East Bay Boys Basketball honorees

The Bay Area News Group details its All East Bay Boys Basketball First Team, Second Team and Third Team selections plus Coach of the Year. Included are capsule writeups on the First Teamers.

Williams with an honor and another offer

Southern Illinois is the latest school to offer Gary Williams Jr. plus he just earned NJCAA D1 Third Team All-American honors for his play this past season.

McNiff finds four year school

From Frank Allocco: "Congrats to all time fav Joe McNiff, signed w/ Univ of Antelope Valley. Gr8 success story!"

It's a brand new school and basketball program located in Lancaster in southern California. Brad Rogers, who has assisted at William Jessup University and Sierra College, is the head coach.

"...The Pioneers, a member of the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), opens their inaugural season at home against Benedictine University on November 6, 2015."

From Darren Sabedra:

The Blossom Valley Athletic League senior showcase and game will be played Saturday at Leigh High School.

The game features some players who received all-Mercury News honors Wednesday, including Gunderson’s David Awolowo and Leland’s Josh Kim in the boys game...

...The girls game starts at 11 a.m., the boys game at 2. In between, there will be a girls 3-point shootout at 12:30 p.m., a boys 3-point shootout at 1 and a slam-dunk contest at 1:30.

Here are the boys rosters:

BVAL (EAST) TEAM

David Awolowo, Gunderson
Rey Lowe, Piedmont Hills
Isaiah Stewart, Piedmont Hills
Isaac Kiep, Piedmont Hills
KeDraun Buckner, Piedmont Hills
Miko Relojo, James Lick
Jeremy Ishimaru, Independence
Charles Rosen, Independence
Lewis Dudley, Silver Creek
Issac Pech, Silver Creek
Marquel Hodge, Overfelt
Nico Almogela, Evergreen Valley
Eric Ibana, Mt. Pleasant
Tai Nguyen, Yerba Buena

BVAL (WEST) TEAM

Josh Kim, Leland
Luke Rohrer, Leland
Jonah Underwood, Willow Glen
Naz Basma, Santa Teresa
Derrik Lawrence, Santa Teresa
James Nguyen, Oak Grove
Brandon Bice, Oak Grove
Jelani Marsh, Pioneer
John Nowell, Pioneer
Branden Keding, Pioneer
Alex Hall, Branham
Luke Morin, Branham
Nate Azure, Lincoln

Brown ups with Lakers

Mark Medina: "The Lakers signed Jabari Brown to a multi-year deal while formally waiving Steve Nash, who officially retired last week after missing the entire 2014-15 season because of a chronic back issues. Brown will stay with the Lakers for the rest of the 2014-15 season and have a non-guaranteed deal for next year..."

More.

Concordia's Grosey honored academically

"...Junior Stephen Grosey (JR/San Mateo, CA) is a first-time honoree, with a 3.65 GPA and he is a biology major. Grosey also is a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection..."

Grosey played the most minutes on his squad (1,110) as well as posting a team-leading 12.1 rebounds a game as well as 70 steals.