Norman Powell (6-3 200 SG San Diego, CA) signs NLI

"ESPNU ranks the 6-foot3 guard at No. 47 overall and No. 15 shooting guard in the class of 2011. Powell averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in guiding Lincoln to the CIF Division II state title last season." -- ESPNLA









UCLA Signs Standout Norman Powell to a National Letter of Intent

Powell led Lincoln High School to the 2010 CIF Division II Boys' State Championship.

Norman Powell

Nov. 10, 2010


LOS ANGELES - UCLA head coach Ben Howland announced today the signing of Norman Powell to a National Letter of Intent to attend UCLA in the fall of 2011.

Powell, a 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pound guard out of San Diego, Calif., and Lincoln High School, was named to the first team Press-Telegram's 32nd Best in the West team and finished ninth in the voting with 231 points.

Powell helped the Hornets to a 29-2 overall record as a junior in 2009-10 for head coach Jason Bryant. Lincoln HS won the Western League with a 12-0 mark and won the final 24 games of the year, culminating in the 2010 CIF Division II Boys' State Championship. Powell led the Hornets in the title game, their first state title since 1994, scoring 24 points as his team defeated St. Francis of Mountain View, Calif., 74-59. The Hornets ended the year ranked No. 10 in the state and No. 75 in the nation.

"I'm really excited about Norman Powell joining our basketball program and family," Howland said. "He's one of the most athletic kids that we will have had in this program in a while and one of the most athletic kids since I've been here. He's very explosive and has outstanding quickness and will be an excellent defensive player.

"He's very good at making plays, both for himself and his teammates. He is an outstanding addition to our program and is an outstanding young man and comes from a great family."

Powell averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals (led the team), 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks per game last year as a junior. He scored a season-high 34 points twice on the year (in a 79-74 loss to Crenshaw HS and in an 84-72 win over Central HS (Fresno, Calif.) He averaged 7.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore during the 2008-09 campaign. He is rated as the No. 15 shooting guard in the nation and the No. 47 overall recruit in the country by ESPN. He was rated the No. 2 shooting guard in the state, the No. 15 shooting guard in the country and the No. 69 overall recruit by Scout.com. Powell was also rated the No. 3 guard in the state, the No. 16 shooting guard in the country and the No. 59 overall recruit by Rivals.com.
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Powell - and Howland - excited to be a Bruin

By Jon Gold on November 10, 2010 8:38 PM
Inside UCLA blog
LA Daily News

It's hard to tell who's more excited that Norman Powell is joining the UCLA basketball program - Norman Powell or Ben Howland?

Lincoln High (San Diego) shooting guard, rated the No. 15 off-guard in the country by Scout.com, signed a national letter of intent with the Bruins on Wednesday afternoon, finally sealing the deal on what had been a heated recruitment.

"I'm overexcited," said Powell, who verbally committed to UCLA in September over Arizona and San Diego State. "Words can't explain how I feel right now. I'm so relieved I get to go a college I've been looking to since I was little."

Howland, who said he was just "really excited" about Powell joining the program, gets a highlight-reel caliber athlete who should thrive in the Bruins' increasingly up-tempo offense. Powell averaged 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds as a junior while leading the Hornets to a 29-2 record and a CIF Division II state championship.

"He's one of the most athletic kids that we will have had in this program in a while and one of the most athletic kids since I've been here," Howland said. "He's very explosive and has outstanding quickness and will be an excellent defensive player. He's very good at making plays, both for himself and his teammates."

With only one scholarship currently available for next year - UCLA has 10 scholarship players but two more will go to David and Travis Wear, who are currently redshirting after transferring from North Carolina during the offseason - Howland searched extensively for a high-level point guard.

The No. 4 point guard in the nation, Quinn Cook of Oak Hill Academy, spurned the Bruins for Duke last week, and UCLA is not likely to seek another until perhaps the spring.
But Powell is excited to head to UCLA on a solo mission, hoping to make an immediate impact.

"That's the best feeling right there," Powell said. "I'm the only player in the class right now, and they're looking for me to show that ability. It's exciting, but it's a lot of pressure. I know a lot of people are looking at me to change UCLA basketball and take them another step further. I like that Coach Howland is looking to me so early."

If the Bruins continue to push the pace, Powell could get his shot.

The team is employing a more up-and-down philosophy than in recent history, with Howland realizing he had the athletes to make the transition.
He will add another next season.

"A lot of people talked to me about why I made my decision, that they're a slow team," Powell said. "They're really trying to get an up-tempo pace. I feel like I can step in there and be that leader in that offense. That's my style, and I can't wait to help."
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Basketball: Norman Powell signs on line

November, 10, 2010 Nov 104:15PM PT
By Blair Angulo
ESPNLA

Guard Norman Powell (San Diego, Calif./Lincoln) signed his national letter of intent Wednesday and will join the UCLA basketball program next season, the school announced on the first day of the early signing period.

ESPNU ranks the 6-foot3 guard at No. 47 overall and No. 15 shooting guard in the class of 2011.

Powell averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals in guiding Lincoln to the CIF Division II state title last season.

”I’m really excited about Norman Powell joining our basketball program and family,” coach Ben Howland said in a statement released by the school. “He’s one of the most athletic kids that we will have had in this program in a while and one of the most athletic kids since I’ve been here. He’s very explosive and has outstanding quickness and will be an excellent defensive player.

“He’s very good at making plays, both for himself and his teammates. He is an outstanding addition to our program and is an outstanding young man and comes from a great family.”

Bridesmaid, never a Bride

from UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Bruins ring in new year in proper fashion
By Jon Gold,Staff Writer
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Posted: 11/04/2010 10:32:58 PM PDT
Updated: 11/04/2010 11:23:31 PM PDT

Rich get richer

While UCLA's current point guard battle between Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson was on full display on Thursday night, the Bruins lost a different point guard battle earlier in the day.

Maybe a more important one.

Oak Hill (Virg.) point guard Quinn Cook — the nation's No.4 point guard and a five-star recruit — chose Duke over UCLA in an ESPNU-televised announcement, giving the Blue Devils their third five-star recruit of the season, along with No. 3 overall prospect Austin Rivers and Michael Gbinije

"What really won me over and was a big factor was that Austin (Rivers) told me he wanted me to be his point guard," Cook told Scout.com's Evan Daniels.

"Just hearing that from a player of that caliber really stood out to me. I just can't wait to get up there."

Cook's decision potentially puts the Bruins in a precarious situation, one they certainly are not used to being in.

Point Guard U. during the past decade — with Jordan Farmar, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday as recent stars — is left with only Anderson and Jones available for next season, when both will be seniors.

Already spurned by No. 5-rated Josiah Turner, who verbally committed to Arizona, and No. 7 Jahii Carson, who has committed to Arizona State, UCLA could once again be shut out at a position the Bruins used to dominate.
________

a share by Puffdaddy on Bruin Zone

looking at the remaining point guards for 2011

Ryan Boatright tops list of available PGs
By John Stovall
ESPN Recruiting
Originally Published: November 4, 2010


With the early signing period set to start in less than a week, here's a look at the top uncommitted point guards.

Quinn Cook (Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill Academy)
Player rank: 24 | Position rank: 5 | Grade: 96 | Stars: 4
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180 pounds
Why they want him: Cook is a scorer first. He has good quickness and can get off a shot against almost anyone. He is an excellent creator and can manufacture scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. He has improved as a decision maker but I would still consider him more of a lead guard than a pure point guard. Cook is a good competitor and will definitely contribute immediately.

Recruiting update: Cook is supposedly down to UCLA and Duke and could annouce as soon as today. At Duke, he could possibly replace Kyrie Irving, who could be a one-and-done player. At UCLA, the Bruins have been having point guard issues and while there are several candidates to run the floor this year, if they don't work out Cook could walk in and take the ball from Day 1 in Westwood.


Ryan Boatright (Aurora, Ill./East)
Player rank: 76 | Position rank: 14 | Grade: 93 | Stars: 4
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 165 pounds
Why they want him: Boatright is one of the fastest point guards with the ball in this year's class and can be a one-man fastbreak as he streaks past his opponents. He thinks score first, but can create and pass as well. Boatright is a very good athlete, very tough to keep out of the lane and is also a solid shooter with range to 20 feet. As he continues to develop and improves his decision making, he can become a difference maker at the collegiate level.

Recruiting update: Boatright, who decommitted from West Virginia recently, has four schools he's mainly considering. At UConn there is always the possibility that they could lose Kemba Walker to the NBA draft and Shabazz Napier is the only other PG on the roster. At UNLV, Oklahoma and Miami, he is already probably more talented than any PG on their roster and could probably step in and play immiately.


Spencer Dinwiddie (Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft)
Player rank: NR | Position rank: 25 | Grade: 91 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 160 pounds
Why they want him: Dinwiddie is a long and lanky point guard who is a good passer and a good shooter. He has good range on his shotm though it is a little slow. He has good vision and knows how to set up his passes. Dinwiddie is a solid slasher, has a good handle and is effective at getting into the lane off the dribble.

Recruiting update: Dinwiddie has a broad list of suitors including Harvard, Colorado, UNLV and UCLA. At Harvard, Spencer could complete a class that has everything but a point guard. If he were to choose Colorado, he would be an immediate impact player as the Buffs have just one legitimate point guard on the roster. For UNLV, he would be able to contribute from Day 1 in the Mountain West. Finally, for UCLA he is insurance in case the Bruins miss on Cook.


Derrick Wilson (Lakeville, Conn./Hotchkiss School)
Player rank: NR | Position rank: 26 | Grade: 90 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205 pounds
Why they want him: Wilson is a big, strong point guard who can do a little bit of everything. He is built like a tailback and can bully his way into the lane and is also an excellent rebounder for the position. Wilson is a good athlete, a solid finisher in the paint and a decent decision maker, although he could improve some in that department. The bottom line is Wilson makes tough, winning plays.

Recruiting update: Down to a final three of Georgia Tech, Marquette and Notre Dame, it's interesting to look at their rosters. Marquette has two underclassmen who can play point guard, while Georgia Tech has three who can play the point, but one (Maurice Miller) is a senior and Iman Shumpert is an NBA early entry possibility. Notre Dame has only pure point guard on its roster right now. Either way, Wilson will be able to help any of the three programs.


Angel Rodriguez (Miami, Fla./Dr. Krop)
Player rank: NR | Position rank: 32 | Grade: 89 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165 pounds
Why they want him: An under-the-radar prospect, Rodriguez is a tough and strong point guard. He competes on both ends of the floor and plays with great urgency. He has good, but not great, speed and quickness but can get to the basket because of his toughness. He is strong for his size and can finish with either hand.

Recruiting update: Reportedly Louisville, Kansas State and NC State are his top three schools and he will have visited all three by the end of the week. It remains to be seen if any of the three can impress him enough to have him sign during the November signing period.


Jordan Daniels (Etiwanda, Calif./Etiwanda)
Player rank: NR | Position rank: 35 | Grade: 89 | Stars: 3
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 150 pounds
Why they want him: While he doesn't possess ideal size, Daniels has other skills that make up for it. He has high-level speed and quickness, especially in transition and off the bounce. His handle is slick and deceptive (he has a terrific crossover) and he has a quick burst to get by his defender. He can deliver the nifty assist in traffic or settle for one of his patented floaters. He always has his head up in transition and is ultra-competitive.

Recruiting update: There hasn't been much talk about Daniels, but the latest is that while UCLA is sniffing around, Tim Floyd and UTEP were leading the way.

Austin Rivers to Duke; Adonis Thomas, Quinn Cook visit UCLA this Saturday

Rivers Ends Recruitment, Commits To Duke
Posted: 2:15 PM Sep 30, 2010
WIBW.COM

Austin Rivers -- a star at Winter Park High in Florida who is ranked No. 1 at Rivals.com, No. 2 at MaxPreps.com and No. 3 at Scout.com in the Class of 2011 --has verbally committed to Duke, multiple recruiting analysts (Scout.com's Evan Daniels, Rivals.com's Eric Bossi and ESPN.com's Paul Biancardi) reported Thursday morning.

Austin Rivers -- a star at Winter Park High in Florida who is ranked No. 1 at Rivals.com, No. 2 at MaxPreps.com and No. 3 at Scout.com in the Class of 2011 --has verbally committed to Duke, multiple recruiting analysts (Scout.com's Evan Daniels, Rivals.com's Eric Bossi and ESPN.com's Paul Biancardi) reported Thursday morning.

"He picked Duke because of [Mike Krzyzewski] and his staff," Winter Park coach David Bailey told Biancardi. "There is a ton of tradition at Duke, and it was the best place for him from a basketball and academic standpoint."

Rivers is a 6-foot-4 guard and the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

He chose Duke over North Carolina, Kansas and Florida, where he was once committed.

Rivers' commitment to Duke leaves Adonis Thomas as MaxPreps.com's highest-rated prospect yet to announce his college decision. The 6-6 wing from Melrose High in Memphis is ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2011 and is still considering Arkansas, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee and UCLA.

Thomas is visiting UCLA this weekend along with No. 12 Quinn Cook, a 6-0 point guard from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.


Adonis Thomas (Memphis, TN) 6-6 210 SF






Quinn Cook (DeMatha, MD) 6-1 180 PG

Exclusive chat with Adonis Thomas

Exclusive chat with Adonis Thomas
By Jon Gold on September 28, 2010 12:34 PM
Inside UCLA
The LA Daily News


Adonis Thomas has been to Los Angeles three times, but he's never been on the UCLA campus.

He knows about the Southern California weather, he knows the food and the people. He's eaten in L.A. and he's met the people himself.

But this weekend, when he ventures to Westwood for an official visit as the No. 2-ranked small forward and No. 8-ranked overall player - one of three in the country still uncommitted - Thomas wants to really feel what UCLA is about.



"I'm familiar with the program, what they've produced, the tradition they have, but I really want to go to see the campus, see the enviornament, the players that are there," Thomas said in a phone interview on Tuesday. "It gives them a chance to really show me what they have to offer. I want to see the academic side of the school, the style of play, what I can expect if I come here.
"This is my third time in LA, first on campus, so I have to really tune in on the visit."

Visiting this weekend along with friend Quinn Cook, the No. 4 point guard in the country, Thomas hopes to get a feel most for the players and Ben Howland's playing style.

"That's great for me to get a chance being with the guys," Thomas said. "I might be there for four years. I want to be familiar with the guys I'll be hanging out with on the off the court. That chemistry off the court leads to success on the court."

UCLA is one of five schools still in the running for Thomas' services, including Memphis, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida, and he said "all five of the schools all have a great shot right now."

Unimpressed by factors such as weather and location and the quality of campus, Thomas is really just trying to get a grasp of his future development, hoping to become another in a successful line of pros who matriculated at UCLA.

"When I get there, I want to develop," Thomas said. "I want to get to the next level. I want to go to a school that puts me in the league. No, (location, etc.) doesn't matter at all. No matter where I go, the weather's going to be changing."

The biggest sell for Howland and Co. on this trip: Trying to convey that the development of some of the recent stars - Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, Jrue Holiday - was furthered along by Howland.

"That's one thing I have to see," Thomas said. "I'm a guy who can fit into any type of offensive or defensive strategy. I havent really had a chance to see those guys play, but I've heard he's a really good defensive coach and runs a good pick-and-roll system.
"From what he's produced, they've been successful. I want to be in the league just like those guys."


Comments
Martin said:
Not buying it. Hope he has a great career in the east coast and enjoy your visit.

September 28, 2010 12:57 PM
Reformed Droog said:
Yeah, I tend to agree. Best of luck to the kid, wherever he decides to go, but you have to figure Tennessee or Memphis have him in the bag.

I mean, how interested could he be if he's only "heard [Howland]'s a good defensive coach and runs a good pick-and-roll system"?

September 28, 2010 1:13 PM
Anonymous said:
He just wants a free visit to SoCal. Who wouldn't?

September 28, 2010 2:07 PM
Dallas Bruin said:
I call BS too. "I know the weather is going to be changing?" But for the occasional 113 degree day, it really doesn't- that's the beauty of it. "See the academic side of the school?"- If he is looking for a good academic side, then it is a no brainer among those five schools. "It gives them a chance to really show me what they have to offer"-- Translation- BMW please.... wrong LA school. Smells like Blue Chips to me...

I could be totaly wrong. I hope so. We need the help.

September 28, 2010 2:34 PM
MichaelRyerson said:
you think this guy's got a little entitlement issue going? judging by this, he ain't Bruin material.
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More on Adonis Thomas from ESPN College Basketball Recruiting

Strengths:
Thomas is a multiple-faceted forward who has no true position on the floor, but you could never play without him. At 6'6, he lacks the great height of proto-typical forwards in today's game. However, he more than makes up for it with his combination of quickness, athleticism, and intelligence. He is a match-up nightmare who is too strong and athletic for small forwards to guard and too skilled and quick for power forwards to handle. He proved all summer long to bre a more consistent mid-range jump shooter both off the bounce and the catch. He is a terror on both backboards and plays with a high motor.

Weaknesses:
Thomas is not your 6'8 power forward with great length and size. He can get over-matched defending in the post at times simply because taller opponents can shoot over him. Although, Thomas obviously worked hard on his handle and shot over the past year he struggles at times handling I. The open floor and making good decisions. His perimeter consistency has improved but he lacks consistent range to 22' which helps defenders guard his drive.

Bottom Line:
Overall, he is very talented and a terrific person who makes your program better. His overall skills are very strong and put him in position to get a lot done on the floor, but it's the intangibles that stick out. Thomas is a coach's dream who wins not only games but championships while leaving a lasting impression on your program.

Notes
Travel Teams: Memphis Stallions/Memphis Magic...Wingspan: 82"...Kansas is the final school on his list...Official visits to Tennessee (Sept. 11), Arkansas (Sept. 24), UCLA (Oct. 2), Florida (Oct. 9) and Memphis (Oct. 15)...

Star Normal Powell verbally commits to UCLA basketball team for 2011-2012 season

Photo SLAM

Star Norman Powell verbally commits to UCLA basketball team for 2011-2012 season
By SAM STRONG
The Daily Bruin
Updated: September 28, 2010, 1:34 AM


With just more than a month remaining until the UCLA basketball team opens its season, coach Ben Howland reportedly received a verbal commitment from one of the top high school shooting guards in the nation on Sunday.

Norman Powell, the No. 15 shooting guard in the nation and a four-star recruit according to Scout.com, gave the Bruins a verbal commitment to play for the 2011-2012 team.

Powell comes from San Diego’s Lincoln High School where he averaged 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He is billed as an incredible athlete and impressive leaper at 6 feet, 4 inches and 200 pounds.

Powell reportedly took a recruiting visit to UCLA earlier this month, but the UCLA athletic department declined to comment on his status. He turned down a chance to stay close to home by choosing UCLA instead of San Diego State. Powell also showed interest in Arizona and Arizona State.

After losing star point guard recruit Josiah Turner to Arizona earlier this month, the team focused all of its attention on Powell.

Powell is the only recruit to commit to the 2011 class and will likely remain as such, with no seniors appearing on this year’s roster.

Highlights from last year’s recruiting class included North Carolina transfers Travis and David Wear, along with former Washington center Josh Smith and Tyler Lamb from nearby Mater Dei High School.

Powell and Lamb are slated to provide depth behind current junior shooting guard Malcolm Lee. Lee has yet to emerge as the dominant scoring threat that has typified Bruin guards in years past.

The addition of Powell could allow sophomore Tyler Honeycutt to permanently move to his natural small forward position, where he would be better suited to battle for rebounds and score in the paint.

After a season that saw the Bruins miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years and the second time in Howland’s tenure, UCLA fans can expect this young team to return to the big dance this season.

The Bruins begin the season against Westmont College in Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 4. Other noteworthy games include a potential trip to New York for the finals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, provided they win their opening-round games at home, and a midseason matchup against St. John’s, which is coached by former UCLA coach Steve Lavin.
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Norman Powell Q + A: Powell is rising up the charts

by Jeremy Bauman
SLAM Online
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 2:55 pm

Its a funny thing how rankings work these days. A few years ago when John Wall was a sophomore in high school, even with all of the recruiting services around, Wall was hardly noticed. Last week, Wall was the top player selected in the NBA Draft.

My point is this: Even with all of the rankings that have shaped the basketball world for the past decade, players still fall through the cracks. With the way the game works these days, its probably for the best.

One of the latest players to be uncovered and find himself in a similar frenzy is west coast star Norman Powell, a 6-3 combo guard who combines rare athletic ability with a feel for getting to the tin. Schools have hopped onto Powell’s bandwagon from all over the country and he’s open going into the live period.

I got a chance to sit down and talk all things basketball with Norm this past Saturday June 26th as he took in the action at the Adidas Phenom Camp in San Diego.

SLAM: Alright, Norman Powell from Lincoln High School in San Diego is here with SLAM and you’re one of the fastest rising seniors in the country. How did it feel to go unnoticed for so long.
Norman Powell: Shoot, I don’t know. Its crazy, like from where I was an where I’m at right now. It feels good because this is what I wanted but I still feel that like, I’m not rated where I want to be and so it makes me want to work harder to get up there more.

SLAM: Why do you think you were so unnoticed before, what changed in that time period that helped you go from unnoticed to, now you’re noticed?
NP: I think really that people all around, people were saying I was good, that I should be able to go to any school I want. But the steps to like, getting out on the circuit they didn’t take, it was more talk. Then I came to Lincoln with Coach Jeff and Coach Glen and Coach Jason and they all helped together to get me on an AAU basketball team and from there I just, you know, started exploding.

SLAM: And what AAU team do you play with?
NP: Dream Vision.

SLAM: Was that your first AAU team?
NP: First I started playing with the San Diego All Stars and then last spring I started playing with Dream Vision.

SLAM: Cool. So how does it feel to finally get the attention that you deserve? You’ve been the same player?
NP: Yea.

SLAM: So you didn’t just change overnight…
NP: You know, I’ve had to humble myself because a lot of people, when they get to your head because they think your all that but its really humbling. I know how to humble myself and take care of it because when it gets to your head that’s where the problem starts.

SLAM: What are you doing in the gym to get to the level that you’re at?
NP: We go in there and well, first I get my music on to get pumped up and all that. Gotta get my mind right. In order to be good you have to have your mind right and ready to practice so basically then I get some shots up, work on defense [defensive slides], probably get up about a 1000 shots probably about three times every week.

SLAM: Definitely working on that shot. Are there any players or teams that you want to play against next year in San Diego, like a rival?
NP: Yea its Lincoln and Morris. We beat them this year but they’re still talking.

SLAM: Who normally wins?
NP: Linoln. We won by one this year but we was up by 35.

SLAM: Wow how’d that play out?
NP: First three quarters they couldn’t handle us, we had fresh legs that we were rotatin’. Then the fourth quarter rolled around and we stopped rotating and they started chipping away and coming back. They had the ball last shot but it didn’t matter.

SLAM: Shows you can’t get humble for a minute…
NP: Yea!

SLAM: What about nationally, are there any players you want to play against on the circuit?
NP: Yea I wanna play against Deuce Bello, Jahii Carson, PJ Hairston, CJ Gurerro. Pretty much people from the NBA Camp I wanna play against them more because those are people I haven’t really seen and so if I play against them more and I do what I’ve been doing, my ranking should go up.

SLAM: How was the NBA Camp?
NP: It was great I liked it, I learned a lot. There was a lot of skill development and NBA players, active and retired ones.

SLAM: Who was your favorite player from the camp?
NP: Jerry Stackhouse.

SLAM: Who is your favorite NBA player now?
NP: Now its Kobe Bryant.

SLAM: Gotcha. So how’s the recruiting going, who’s on you?
NP: Good, colleges are coming from everywhere so I’m liking it. Got offers from UCLA, USC, San Diego State, USD, Arizona, Arizona State, UTEP and Cal.

SLAM: And you just started playing AAU this year?
NP: No last year. I played in July last year and that’s when my name wasn’t out there, but it was like ‘Oh let me look at him, he’s athletic.’ But really my name came out at the last tournament in July. I was playing against Mater Dei and Tyler Lamb. I dunked on Tyler Lamb and that’s when it all kindof happened. ESPN was there and ranked me an 88. Right now I’m a 96. I’m ranked 33rd in the country though.

SLAM: And you’re gonna try to improve that…
NP: Yea I’m gonna try my best.

SLAM: So do you have any favorites?
NP: I mean, like the west coast is good but traveling makes all the other places look great. I would say my favorites right now are San Diego State because Coach has been on me before all this stuff happened, from Day 1. UCLA Coach Scott Garson, he’s funny I like him. Arizona Coach Archie Miller I don’t know if we ever stop emailing each other. James Harden got me interested in Arizona State. Coach Laflour from UConn always has me laughing too.

SLAM: What about back east?
NP: Back east we got UConn.

SLAM: A lot of guard tradition there.
NP: Yea and also Kansas, they were number one so I’m definitely interested in them but I gotta see who’s ahead of me there.

SLAM: You got Josh Selby there right now. What’s gonna factor into your decision, playing time?
NP: Yea exactly. I wanna come in and I wanna play right away. Like not be a John Wall but be in a similar circumstance.

SLAM: John Wall was in a similar circumstance to you. He wasn’t really so known and then he was the number one player. It kindof helped him. You see yourself in that kind of mold?
NP: Yea, hopefully. He’s nasty all around; left hand, right hand, give it to you with the shot, he’ll give it to you going to the bucket in transition, he’ll set up other players so he’s just nice all around and so obviously I hope my skills can come around with dedication to get like his.

SLAM: So you’re hops compare to his?
NP: Just a little bit, he has a little more bounce than me.

SLAM: So who would you compare yourself to in the NBA?
NP: In the NBA? That’s hard! Russell Westbrook, from Cali. He dunked on Lamar Odom and he didn’t dunk until his senior year of high school and look where he is now!

SLAM: Exactly. Do you have a favorite video game?
NP: For X-Box 360 NBA 2K10, Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto, I’m on it! I don’t play it that much because I have to balance everything. This summer I’ll take my X-Box 360 on the road though.

SLAM: Aright have fun, great interview thanks a lot.
NP: No problem.

Norman Powell (6-3 190 SG San Diego, CA) commits to UCLA

Boys' basketball: UCLA gets guard from San Diego

By Jack Pollon
LA Daily News
September 26, 2010 3:01 PM

Norman Powell, a guard at Lincoln High in San Diego has committed to UCLA.

Powell plays for former Van Nuys coach Jason Bryant and helped lead the Hornets to a Div. II state championship last March.
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Powell reportedly commits to UCLA

By Jon Gold on September 26, 2010 7:33 PM
Inside UCLA with Jon Gold
LA Daily News

Scout.com's Greg Hicks is reporting that shooting guard Norman Powell - Profile Here - has committed to UCLA, choosing the Bruins over San Diego State.

After point guard Josiah Turner committed to Arizona recently, Powell, Scout.com's No. 15 shooting guard, became the team's No. 1 priority.

Powell has tons of potential and could become a major player for UCLA as he'll be slated to eventually fill in for Malcolm Lee. Powell is a four-star prospect, but is considered to have a higher ceiling than some above him, and his athleticism is a big plus for the Bruins.

Oh, vell...Zona gets Josiah Turner, too

We'll just have to beat these guys to a pulp in every game to show these kids what kind of "tradition" they seem to think Zona has in basketball.

ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Turner could be running point for Cats in 2011-12

'Crazy' Iowa football game sways point guard's choice

Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010 12:00 am


When Josiah Turner arrived Friday on Arizona's campus for an official visit, Wildcat basketball coaches hardly had to recruit him anymore.

Plenty of others successfully stepped in, generating UA's third commitment from the 2011 class.

Committed Arizona guard Nick Johnson of Nevada's Findlay Prep was on hand for friendship and a bit of persuasion. So were the current Wildcat players, who played with Turner and Johnson informally on Saturday.

Then there was the UA football team, whose showing against Iowa provided an environment that bowled over the Top 25 point guard.

"The game was crazy," Turner said.

So just before he left town Sunday morning, Turner told UA coaches at his Tucson hotel that he was committing to the Wildcats.

"I had a lot of fun here," he said via telephone as he was preparing to fly home to Sacramento, Calif. "I bonded with everybody. I liked the teammates, the coaches and I got to meet the AD."

Turner visited Louisville and UCLA earlier this month and was scheduled to go to Kansas on Oct. 15 for its vaunted Late Night in the Phog practice-opening ceremonies but decided to cancel.

"I'm pretty surprised that he didn't make the Kansas visit," Scout.com analyst Dave Telep said. "That tells me about the job that Arizona did this weekend."

The job even enlisted the help of Johnson's mother, Michelle, who attended the football game along with Turner's mother, Doris Ward, and UA assistant coaches Archie Miller, Book Richardson and James Whitford. Turner and Johnson sat in the student section.

"We had an idea (Saturday) night that it was looking good," Michelle Johnson said. "Doris wanted to wear a U of A shirt to the game, so I figured that was a good sign."

Michelle Johnson said her son told UA coaches upon committing last month that he wanted to help recruit another player from the 2011 class, and that Turner was his top choice. Turner and Johnson played together on the Drew Gooden Soldiers traveling team, with both having scoring and point- guard skills - though Turner is considered a more regular point guard with quickness and court vision.

"Although Nick's a point guard, he's also a two, and they played really well together" with Turner at the point, Michelle Johnson said. "I was there when Josiah committed and there were smiles all around."

The Wildcats have several other combination guards already on hand, and are expected to have sophomore MoMo Jones run the point this season, but both Turner and Johnson likely will work their way onto the floor during the 2011-12 season.

At 6 feet 3 inches and 175 pounds with a keen ability to get to the basket, Turner is rated No. 10 overall in the class of 2011 by Rivals.com, No. 24 by Scout.com and No. 29 by ESPNU. Johnson, known for his athleticism and scoring, is rated No. 21 by ESPNU, No. 26 by Scout.com and No. 40 by Rivals.

"Between Johnson and Turner, those are two guys you expect to play heavy minutes as freshmen," Telep said. "They're talented."

Telep said Turner's point-guard skills improved significantly over the summer, while he also showed potential to be an elite defender.

As a point guard, Turner is embracing the kind of ground he will be stepping on as a Wildcat.

"I wanted to be a part of the U of A tradition," he said.

Turner and Johnson will join another 2011 commit, New York forward Sidiki Johnson, and it is also possible the Wildcats will pursue a fourth 2011 commitment even though they face a tight scholarship situation. Arizona is scheduled to host Top 10 forward LeBryan Nash of Dallas next weekend, while Sidiki Johnson is expected to visit next month.

Because of NCAA sanctions, UA is restricted to 12 scholarships in 2011-12, one fewer than normal. The Cats would be two over that limit if all their current players with eligibility return with the three committed players, but they are expected to suffer early pro departures and/or other transition the next 12 months.


Arizona'S 2011 COMMITMENTS

Josiah Turner, PG

• Ht./Wt.: 6-3,175

• Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.

• School: Sacramento HS

• Ratings: 10, Rivals; 24, Scout; 29, ESPNU

Sidiki Johnson, PF

• Ht./Wt.: 6-8, 220

• Hometown: New York

• School: Oak Hill (Va.) Academy

• Ratings: 41, ESPNU; 58, Scout; 71, Rivals

Nick Johnson, SG

• Ht./Wt.: 6-2, 175

• Hometown: Gilbert

• School: Findlay (Nev.) Prep

• Ratings: 21, ESPNU; 26, Scout; 40, Rivals

_________

Arizona lands top recruit Josiah Turner -- with an assist from football team?

By Tim Gardner
USA Today, Campus Rivalry, "The passion of college basketball and football live here"
Sep 20, 2010

Guard Josiah Turner made his official visit to Arizona this past weekend.
By the time Turner left, he told coaches he would be playing basketball for the Wildcats.

During his visit, Turner, the No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2011 according to Rivals.com, played some hoops with current Arizona players -- as well as fellow 2011 recruit Nick Johnson -- and was on hand for the Wildcats' stunning football upset of then-No. 9 Iowa.

"The game was crazy," Turner said, according to the Arizona Republic.

What's more impressive for Arizona is that Turner still had an official visit planned at Kansas before he committed to Sean Miller's program.

More from the Arizona Republic:

"I had a lot of fun here," he said via telephone as he was preparing to fly home to Sacramento, Calif. "I bonded with everybody. I liked the teammates, the coaches and I got to meet the AD."

Turner visited Louisville and UCLA earlier this month and was scheduled to go to Kansas on Oct. 15 for its vaunted Late Night in the Phog practice-opening ceremonies but decided to cancel.

"I'm pretty surprised that he didn't make the Kansas visit," Scout.com analyst Dave Telep said. "That tells me about the job that Arizona did this weekend."

Miller and his coaching staff might want to give at least partial credit to the Wildcats football team after its huge win -- and inviting atmosphere -- from the weekend.

As for Turner, he looks forward to joining a long line of top guards to play at Arizona.

"I wanted to be a part of the U of A tradition," he said.

UCLA 2011 prospect 6-2 180 PG Josiah Turner (Sacramento, CA) visits UCLA but does not commit

Sacramento Bee interview with Josiah Turner


Thanks to justme for posting on Bruin Zone.

Turner remains on the board

Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Monday, September 13, 2010 2:30 pm

Josiah Turner left Westwood without a commitment over the weekend, which is probably a good sign for the Arizona Wildcats.

But there are several obstacles to come for Arizona. One is the fact that Kansas coach Bill Self has arrived in Sacramento to watch Turner work out and to meet with him tonight, according to Doris Ward, Turner's mother.

Then Turner may visit Oregon in early October and is scheduled to visit Kansas officially for Late Night in the Phog, which he attended on an unofficial visit last year. Ward said today that her son may commit during the visit process, though, so if he goes to Kansas, that obviously doesn't bode well for the Wildcats.

"If he finds somewhere he likes, I'm sure he'll commit as opposed to taking the five visits," Ward said.

Ward also said that Sean Miller seems to have made Turner a "top priority" - he visited Turner in-home last Thursday - and complemented his staff.

"They've done a great job of recruiting him," she said. "The coaches came down and made him feel very comfortable. I think he's comfortable with coach Miller's system."

While Turner had been to UCLA many times before to play, he had a chance to play with the Bruins and meet various school officials this time, Ward said.

"It went fine," she said. "It was a good trip."
___________

Just a week ago...

Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com answers recruiting questions from Meyer's Mailbag (via JacketsOnline.com)

PG search is on at UCLA

When will UCLA recruit a point guard to play for them?

- Ben from Los Angeles

UCLA is in hot pursuit of five-star point guard prospect Josiah Turner out of Sacramento (Calif.) High School. In fact, the Bruins will host Turner on an official visit this weekend.

Kansas has been considered the favorite to land Turner, but Louisville made a favorable impression on Turner when he visited last weekend and UCLA is apparently gaining ground as well.

Arizona and Oregon will also host Turner on official visits, so UCLA has plenty of competition for Turner.

UCLA is also in the hunt for Quinn Cook, but it might be a long shot at best for UCLA to lure him off the East Coast.

Local prospect Spencer Dinwiddie is a viable backup plan for the Bruins at the point guard position.

Recruiting 2011: Kyle Wiltjer 6-9 PF goes to Kentucky

Top-25 recruit Wiltjer commits to UK

Kyle Wiltjer, a 6-9 senior power forward in Portland, Ore., led his Jesuit High School team to Class 6A state championships in 2009 and 2010. The Portland forward 4th high-ranked player in class remains true to his final short list which did not include UCLA and shuns Westwood to join Calamari's impressive 2011 class.

Herald-Leader Staff Report
kentuckysports.com
Updated: 6:51 AM ET Sun, Aug. 29, 2010



UK's class of 2011

High school seniors who have committed to UK for 2011, listed with their overall rankings in the class by three recruiting Web sites:

Player Ht. Pos. Hometown Rivals Scout ESPN

Anthony Davis 6-10 PF Chicago 6 1 12

Michael Gilchrist 6-6 SF Somerdale, N.J. 3 5 1

Marquis Teague 6-2 PG Indianapolis 2 6 9

Kyle Wiltjer 6-9 PF Portland, Ore. 25 21 32



It's almost time for Kentucky Coach John Calipari to move on to the class of 2012.

After securing the nation's No. 1 basketball recruiting classes for 2009 and 2010, Kentucky on Saturday put a cherry on top of what has to be considered the top-rated class of 2011.

Kyle Wiltjer, a 6-foot-9 senior power forward from Portland, Ore., announced that he will play for the Wildcats.

Wiltjer is rated the No. 21 overall prospect in the class of 2011 by recruiting service Scout.com and No. 25 by Rivals.com. ESPN places him at No. 32.

Wiltjer joins a loaded 2011 UK recruiting class that has previously received commitments from three top-10 rated prospects: 6-10 forward Anthony Davis of Chicago; 6-6 forward Michael Gilchrist of Somerdale, N.J.; and 6-2 point guard Marquis Teague of Indianapolis.

Wiltjer, who is known for his high skill level and basketball IQ, made his announcement during the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game in Venice, Calif., on Saturday night. Wiltjer made the announcement live on ESPNU at halftime.

"This is a very great recruiting class coming in (at Kentucky)," Wiltjer told the crowd. "I thought I would be a great fit."

Wiltjer chose Kentucky from a final list of seven schools that included California, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Kansas, Texas and Wake Forest.

Wiltjer helped lead his Jesuit High School team to Oregon Class 6A championships in 2009 and 2010.

He gained attention this summer playing in the Nike Beach Jam in South Carolina, the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio, and, earlier this month, the Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Ore., where he led Team Canada to a third-place finish and made the all-tournament team.

Wiltjer has citizenship in both Canada and the United States because his father, Greg, was born in Canada.

Greg Wiltjer, a 6-11 center, played for Oregon State in the 1980s and was a member of Team Canada in the 1984 Summer Olympics. He taught his son the low-post fundamentals, including a hook shot, that have made Wiltjer an attractive recruit.

"Since the fifth grade," Wiltjer said during the King City Classic in Cleveland this summer. "He had me do what he called the George Mikan drill: Left- and right-handed hooks. I was thinking, 'Why am I doing this?' But it paid off.

"He loves the old-fashioned hook shot. No one is really ready for it. No one can really block it, so I'm picking up on it."

Wiltjer, who is not necessarily finished growing at 6-9, has said he models his versatile offensive game after that of NBA star Hedo Turkoglu, a 6-10 swingman for the Phoenix Suns who presents matchup problems with his ability to score outside or around the basket.

This summer in Cleveland, Wiltjer cited three factors that made Kentucky an attractive choice: "It's a winning program. They have a great coach. They know how to get players into the NBA."

UCLA prospects update: 2011 PG Quinn Cook still lists UCLA, 2010/11 SG De'Andre Daniels going to prep academy, college in 2011

Props to ipsedixit for posting on Bruin Zone.





Quinn Cook to Cut List; Daniels to IMG
By Adam Zagoria on August 27, 2010, 9:37AM

Quinn Cook is down to seven schools and plans to determine his official visits soon.

“I got seven schools, Duke, St. John’s, Rutgers, Georgetown, UCLA, Arizona and North Carolina,” Cook said by phone from the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game in Venice Beach, Calif.

Cook, who will play at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, is the No. 5 point guard in the Class of 2011.

In signing 2011 point guards, UCLA already lost out on Jahii Carson (Mesa, AZ) 5-10 170 (committed to ASU) and Nick Johnson (Findlay Prep, NV) 6-3 185(committed to Arizona). Still uncommitted are Cook, Cezar Guerrero (Bellflower, CA) 6-0 175 and Josiah Turner (Sacramento, CA) 6-2 180.

Cook said he hasn’t figured out where he’ll take his official visits yet.

“I’ll know by next week,” he said. “I’m not sure yet.”
Cook is very close with Duke guard Nolan Smith. Both are from the Washington D.C. area. Both played for D.C. Assault. And both have the Oak Hill connection.

So is Duke an option? It may depend on how the Austin Rivers situation plays out. Rivers is considering Duke, Florida and North Carolina, but many observers expect him to land at Duke.

“It’s an option that I’m looking into,” Cook said of Duke.

Cook is also considering both Rutgers and St. John’s. Thanks to Rutgers associate head coach David Cox, Rutgers now has a strong pipeline into D.C. Assault, as evidenced by the commitments of Jordan Goodman and Malick Kone.

St. John’s is also an option for Cook.

“They’re on my list,” Cook said. “I have a good relationship with Coach [Steve] Lavin. They’re definitely on my list right now.”

Whatever he decides, Smith thinks it would be best for Cook to make a decision in the early signing period.

“I think it would be best for him to get it out before his senior season,” Smith said recently in New York. “A lot of guys don’t think it would but it will make his senior year go a lot smoother and he can just focus on basketball. I think it should be coming real soon.”


DANIELS TO IMG ACADEMY


"The 6-foot-8, 180-pound Daniels is ranked the No. 3 shooting guard in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, and Derrick Taylor, his coach at Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft compared him to a young Scottie Pippen."

Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft also produced Bruin alum Jordan Farmar.

Daniels visited UCLA recently and was a possible signee for the 2010 season but now has opted to go to IMG Academy and postpone college till 2011.





DeAndre Daniels is expected to enroll in IMG Academy on Sunday, sources confirm.

“I want to be sure that I’m ready [for college] and get bigger and gain some weight and be a better basketball player,” he said recently.

The 6-8, 192-pound Daniels also confirmed he would head to college in 2011.

UCLA loses another 2011 PG prospect, Mesa AZ PG Jahii Carson commits to ASU

Mesa PG Carson commits to ASU
By Richard Obert
azcentral.com
"Keeping track of high school sports and college recruiting"
Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 01:57 PM


Mesa senior point guard Jahii Carson gave Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek a verbal commitment today after taking one more unofficial visit there.

Vanae Carson, Jahii's mom, said that ASU did the best job of recruiting Jahii since Jahii decommitted from Oregon State after his junior season when he averaged 23.5 points and 7.2 assists.

Carson, 5 feet, 11 inches, has a 42-inch vertical leap, also considered Arizona. But UA coach Sean Miller this week got a verbal commitment from combo guard Nick Johnson of Findlay Prep in Las Vegas.

Vanae, who went to ASU, said that Sendek told her and Jahii that Jahii was the only point guard he was recruiting for the class of 2011.

Carson, a member of The Republic's All-Arizona team last season, set Mesa High records last season for scoring and assists.

Carson is friends with current ASU players Carrick Felix, Corey Hawkins and Ty Abbott.

Those players also influenced his decision to stay home.

Vanae said Sendek also assured that he will change his offense to be more uptempo to take advantage of Carson's ballhandling skills and athleticism.

"Jahii has great trust in Coach Sendek," Vanae said.

2010/2011 prospect 6-8 180 SG/SF De'Andre Daniels de-commits from Texas, visiting UCLA

"The 6-foot-8, 180-pound Daniels is ranked the No. 3 shooting guard in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, and Taylor compared him to a young Scottie Pippen."

Daniels played at Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft, which also produced Bruin alum Jordan Farmar.





De’Andre Daniels Visiting USC, UCLA
By Adam Zagoria on August 20, 2010, 4:14PM
ZagsBlog.com

De’Andre Daniels will visit USC Saturday and UCLA Sunday, but beyond that his plans remain unclear, according to Derrick Taylor, his coach at Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft.

“I don’t know,” said Taylor, who was waiting to meet Friday with Daniels and his father. “I have to talk to his dad.”

Taylor said Daniels, who appears to be reclassifying to 2010 from 2011, will visit the California schools this weekend “because they’re both local.”

Taylor said Kentucky and Texas were also involved, but wasn’t sure who else the family was considering. Daniels recently decommitted from Texas.

The 6-foot-8, 180-pound Daniels is ranked the No. 3 shooting guard in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, and Taylor compared him to a young Scottie Pippen.

“I think he has a chance be an impact player,” Taylor said. “He’s improving as fast as anybody I’ve ever seen. Year to year he’s making gigantic leaps. He still has much more to go because he has a thin, young body. He shoots it well. He’s very skilled. He can handle, he can pass it. He’s a big, big rebounder. He rebounds very well. He’s a shot-blocker because he’s so long.

“I call him a poor man’s Scottie Pippen-type. He’s long and rangy on the wing and he’ll defend it. He’s a willing defender.”
__________

DeAndre Daniels To Visit Two Schools This Weekend
by Chip Miller August 21st, 2010 10:00 AM
Nation of Blue

De'Andre Daniels is a name Kentucky fans have quickly become familiar with. Thursday evening news broke that Daniels was looking to potentially get reclassified and become a member of the Class of 2010.

Initial reports indicated that Daniels "has in fact been cleared to play immediately in 2010", this according to his Head Coach Taylor at Taft High School.

UK wasted little time in getting an offer to De'Andre. "Coach Orlando Antigua made the call and offered him a scholarship, after having reviewed his transcripts".

"They want him in now," Taylor said. "They’re very interested, and they’d like to have him this year."

Then earlier today, ESPN stated that "The leader in the clubhouse is reportedly Kentucky, which is probably the least surprising and most unoriginal bit of news in this whole thing".

ZagsBlog now reports that De'Andre has scheduled two visits for this weekend. Daniels will visit USC Saturday and UCLA Sunday, but beyond that his plans remain unclear, according to Derrick Taylor, his coach at Taft High.

Taylor said Daniels will visit the California schools this weekend "because they're both local".

Kentucky is one of four schools mentioned in the article along with Texas. Taylor said he wasn’t sure who else the family was considering.

Coach Taylor described Daniels as a "Poor man’s Scottie Pippen-type. He’s long and rangy on the wing and he’ll defend it. He’s a willing defender".

If Daniels is as good as advertised, "poor man" won't be used in the same sentence with De'Andre, sooner then later. Some even say he could be another 'one and done'... If, I hope that ‘one’ is at Kentucky.

Go Cats!!! (UH-UH. GO, BRUINS!!!)

UCLA loses out on 2011 target PG Nick Johnson who commits to Arizona, fellow PG Jahii Carson might still be interested in AZ too

Johnson commits to Wildcats
By Bruce Pascoe
AZ Daily Star
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:43 pm

The telephone listed for Nick Johnson (6-3 185 PG Findlay Prep, NV) just sent me a text saying the shooting guard from Phoenix has committed to Arizona. I have not been able to reach him for additional comment yet.

That move will set up an interesting scenario for Sean Miller, who now will have to decide if he will take point guard Jahii Carson as well, if Carson wants to come. Carson's mother, Vanae, said Miller has indicated that would be no problem -- and she said she wouldn't mind if both guards came to UA -- though Johnson is believed to be interested in playing point guard.

Miller has no scholarships to offer in the class of 2011 but the Wildcats are recruiting to offer one or two extra in case of early departures or other roster movement.

Posted in Pascoe on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:43 pm Updated: 7:47 pm.
_____________

from yesterday...

Carson to visit UA first
By Bruce Pascoe
AZ Daily Star
Posted: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:24 pm

Jahii Carson will take his first official recruiting visit to Arizona on the weekend of Sept. 17, his mother, Vanae Carson, said tonight.

Carson has also scheduled official visits at Washington on Oct. 9 and at UNLV for Oct. 16. St. John's and another school (possibly UCLA) are likely also receive visits at some point, she said.

Vanae Carson also said UNLV coach Lon Kruger and Washington coach Lorenzo Romar have scheduled in-home visits before each hosts Jahii on campus, too.

Among other things, Carson's mother said her son is curious to see whether Isaiah Thomas will leave Washington and whether ASU will run a more uptempo offense this season.

But Jahii may not have time to find out: Although Carson has said he is willing to wait until after the fall signing period to make a decision -- and his mother wants him to carefully sort out his options -- Vanae Carson said she would try to get her son to decide sooner.

"I don't want him to go into December or January," she said. "I can tell you, he's extremely conflicted."

A teacher at Central Arizona College, Vanae Carson is an ASU graduate who also started pursuing a PhD at ASU. She has put the studies on hold because of the demands surrounding her son, and says she is thinking of resuming her studies at Arizona (but only because of UA's offerings and not because Jahii might play there, she said).

"I don't have any allegiance to either school," she said. "I like Herb (Sendek) as much as Sean (Miller). I think they are both authentic individuals. The difference is Miller has coached a certain kind of game that Jahii fits into and Sendek is saying he's going to change. Jahii wants to play uptempo. And what we hear is that if Jahii commits (to ASU) other kids are going to want to come because they know he delivers.

"He is confused. He is genuinely confused, and has been since Vegas. He was tired and there was a flood of calls. ...

"We've told the coaches they should allow him to go through the process. For us, it's the first time making a life decision. They should be patient with him and not pressure him."

Posted in Pascoe on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:24 pm Updated: 8:30 pm.

UCLA 2011 prospect 5-10 170 PG Jahii Carson (Mesa, AZ) "Talk to me around December"

Hoop notes: Carson still undecided
by Richard Obert
azcentral.com blog "Keeping track of high school sports and college recruiting"
Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 01:57 PM


Mesa senior point guard Jahii Carson said in an e-mail that he will try to make his college decision "around December."

The early signing period for basketball is November.

Will he wait until the spring to sign? Will let you know later.

Anyway, after a strong showing last week in Oregon, where he averaged 23 points and six assists in three games for USA Midwest in the Nike Basketball Global Challenge, Carson said these schools have amped up the recruiting with him the most: Arizona State, Arizona, Washington, UCLA, Alabama, UNLV and Marquette.

"I won't say there are any leaders just yet," he wrote.

For a recent write-up by Wild About AZ Cats' Javier Morales comparing Jahii Carson (AZ) to all the other 2011 PGs (Cezar Guerrero (CA), Quinn Cook (MD), Nick Johnson (NV), Josiah Turner (CA) - all UCLA targets), check out earlier post here.

For more videos and write-ups on Jahii Carson, see earlier post here.

UCLA 2011 prospect 6-2 180 PG Josiah Turner (Sacramento, CA) down to 7 schools, will decide before Nov 10 (whoopee!)

Short article follows all these videos...









Sacramento Bee interview with Josiah Turner


Thanks to Puffdaddy for posting this on Bruin Zone.

Sac High basketball star Turner narrows college choices
By Bill Paterson
bpaterson@sacbee.com
Sacramento Bee, Sports - High School Sports
Published: Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010 - 12:00 am

Point guard Josiah Turner plans to select his college before the early signing date of Nov. 10.

Sacramento High School's Josiah Turner, one of the nation's top class of 2011 basketball prospects, has narrowed his list of scholarship offers to seven schools and has set his five official visits this fall.

Doris Ward, Turner's mother, said the 6-foot-3 senior, rated the No. 3 point guard prospect in the country by Rivals.com, will visit Louisville (Sept. 4), Connecticut (Sept. 11), Oregon (Oct. 2), Kansas (Oct. 15) and Arizona (Oct. 22).

Ward also said her son is still considering UCLA, where he already has taken several unofficial visits, and Oklahoma, which he may visit unofficially the weekend he attends the "Late Night in the Phog" event at Kansas.

While Ward says Turner has received "well over 30 offers," the final seven are firm. She said he will announce his college choice before the NCAA early signing date of Nov. 10.

"He wants to get it done before the start of basketball so he can focus on trying to help Sac High win state before he leaves for college," Ward said.

Turner wound down a hectic summer by playing for the United States West team in last weekend's Nike Global Challenge in Hillsboro, Ore.

He made all six of his free-throw attempts and finished fifth overall in the tournament in assists with 14 during the three days in which four U.S. regional squads competed in a field of eight against teams from Asia, France, Canada and Brazil.

Turner also was a member of the powerhouse Drew Gooden Soldiers team from Oakland that won the Best of the Summer Tournament in Anaheim and the Fab 48 championship in Las Vegas last month.

UCLA 2011 prospect 6-3 190 SG Norman Powell (San Diego, CA)

Class of 2011 Point Guards

All the HS junior point guards mentioned in this article - Jahii Carson, Cezar Guerrero, Quinn Cook, Nick Johnson, Josiah Turner - are UCLA targets for 2011. For videos on these gentlemen, please check out "UCLA Prospects" on right side bar.

Landing quality Class of 2011 point guard important for Arizona (and UCLA)
by Javier Morales on Aug. 04, 2010, under Sports
Wild About AZ Cats
Roundball Recruiting Roundup & the Rest


My observations of the following point guard prospects were in bits and pieces, moving from one venue to the next, during a five-day stretch in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago.

The Arizona coaching staff has a couple of years, much more communication and a heck of a lot more scouting time put in for the Class of 2011. Take my observations for what their worth, although how can you argue with my opinion that Nick Johnson is the best Class of 2011 prospect Sean Miller and Co. can land?

Signing Johnson goes beyond acquiring an explosive athlete on the perimeter who can play either guard position. He can evolve into a leader at Arizona the same way popular players such as Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson became the backbone of the Wildcats. Johnson can legitimately become the face of the program by the time he is a junior.

A lot has been written and discussed about Miller’s No. 1 recruiting priority for 2011. In my opinion, Johnson, 6-2, from Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep by way of Gilbert, should be 1-A and all the others can slip to the B category. Also well-chronicled is the idea of Johnson and good friend Jahii Carson of Mesa attending the same university, thereby giving the UA a good chance of having both.

Miller and his staff likely want to sign an assertive, scoring point guard such as Carson to complement Johnson. Other top-notch Class of 2011 point guard prospects showing interest in the Wildcats include Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill’s Quinn Cook and Sacramento’s Josiah Turner (who teamed with Johnson over the summer with the Drew Gooden Soldiers).

The chances of landing either Cook or Turner are more remote than acquiring Carson (a prized in-state target), but Cook and Turner have shown interest nonetheless.

Cook and Turner spoke favorably about Miller and his staff, and each talked about wanting to visit the UA campus either officially or unofficially. Turner went so far as to tell me that Arizona is one his leaders among schools he wants to officially visit. Understandably, those comments may have been made because he knew I represented TucsonCitizen.com and WildcatSportsReport.com, but nonetheless, the chance is there for Arizona to improve its standing with them.

Turner, 6-3, has Kansas ahead of Duke and Arizona on his pecking order, according to Rivals.com. Name an East coast power and Cook, 6-1, is likely recruited by its coaches. He told me he narrowed his list to seven East coast and two West coast teams: Arizona, UCLA, Villanova, Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, West Virginia, St. John’s and Georgetown.

UCLA coach Ben Howland and his staff are selling to Carson the NBA standouts the Bruins have produced at the point guard position, which is more impressive than Arizona in the last decade.

The Bruins boast recent point guards who are on the cusp of making it big in the NBA — Jrue Holiday, Russell Westbrook, and Darren Collison. Arizona’s last three regular starting point guards — Jason Gardner, Mustafa Shakur and Nic Wise — have yet to play an NBA game in the regular season.

If you're going back as far as Jason Gardner, then I'd add Jordan Farmar to the UCLA list - ATB

The letters NBA catch a recruit’s attention as much as the words, “Playing time.” UCLA is offering both to Carson. Hence, Carson’s comment recently that UCLA is the new leader for his services. The merits of that comment lasted a day before Carson started playing in the Duel in the Desert in Phoenix (in front of Miller and ASU coach Herb Sendek) last week.

Arizona can also offer Carson playing time, albeit shared with other guards such as Lamont “MoMo” Jones and the underrated Jordin Mayes (UCLA offered but lost out on Mayes - ATB). Jones and Mayes project to be off-guards more so than point guards. Make no mistake, Miller and his staff desire a point guard who will unequivocally run the show and be able to score as well (Mike Bibby comes to mind as an example).

UA’s current roster is void of a player with those particular attributes, or it at least lacks somebody proven to be that kind of player on a regular basis.

After observing Carson, Turner and Cook in a few games in Las Vegas, which one would I take over the other if I was a Division I coach? Not to sound like I am sidestepping the question, but it all depends. All of them provide something different.

Cook’s strength is his defense and ability to get his teammates involved. Carson, the best athlete of the three, also excels defensively and he is perhaps the most difficult to defend off the dribble. Turner has more size than Cook and Carson and is more fluid with his shot, mid-range and beyond.

All have the knack for knocking down the three-pointer. Turner, in my opinion, is the best finisher in terms of making his shot in traffic. Cook tops the others in finding the opening man off his penetration. Carson has a quick first step to get past the defender (similar to Turner), although he has room for improvement with how he finishes plays, shooting and passing the ball.

Cook is perhaps the best coach on the floor with his communication skills with teammates and keeping mistakes to a minimum. Landing him will broaden Arizona’s successful East coast recruiting effort led by assistant Book Richardson.

Carson’s importance to Arizona goes beyond his skills being a coveted in-state and West coast player. Turner likewise is important for Miller enhancing his image with California prospects and their coaches.

The UA coaches can’t go wrong with any of them. If they don’t land any, their attention may shift to Cezar Guerrero of Bellflower (St. John Bosco), a Rivals.com Four-Star player who impressed me in Las Vegas with his aggressive style.

Not once in three games that I watched him play for Belmont Shore did he attack the basket out of control. Also not once did I see a defender impede his path to the basket. Guerrero is fearless; the type of player Miller needs at that position to set the tone for others. Guerrero’s size (listed at 6-feet but is more like 5-10) is a concern, and he is not in the same class defensively as Cook and Carson.

If landing Nick Johnson should be 1-A on Arizona’s objectives for the Class of 2011, its 1-B slot should be the guy who complements Johnson the most. Turner and Johnson put on a show with the Drew Gooden Soldiers with alley-oop passes and pushing the ball up the court. Carson and Johnson are good friends with their Arizona backgrounds. Cook and Johnson are not as well connected.

The next three months leading up to the fall signing period are the most important in Miller’s brief time in Arizona. Will he continue what he’s started in terms of solid recruiting, building on his resume for a pivotal Class of 2012? Or will he suffer a setback not signing either Cook, Carson or Turner, which will put increased pressure on the staff to deliver in 2012?

For videos and writeups on the point guards mentioned, check out right sidebar "UCLA Prospects" for video links. If there are more recent videos on these gentlemen, please let me know in your comments. Thanks - ATB.

UCLA 2011 Prospect/Target 6-0 175 PG Cezar Guerrero (Bellflower, CA)

UCLA 2011 Target 6-9 190 PF Norvel Pelle (Dominguez, CA)

1-on-1 Video: Norvell Pelle
by Brad Allis
Wildcat Sports Report
Posted on July 30, 2010

Norvell Pelle
Compton big man Norvell Pelle is a challenging player to evaluate. Physically he has all the tools. He’s tall, long, explosive and athletic. He can move and jump, with a wingspan that seems to go on forever.

He’s listed at 6-8, but looks bigger. He’s the type of athlete you notice immediately. He blocks shots and skies for rebounds.

The problem is that he does not dominate games. He seems to lose focus at times and his feel for the game is spotty at best. He is a tough match-up down low, but has yet to really develop a well rounded offensive game, though he can put the ball on the floor and can hit the outside shot at times.

He’s too good to be a project, but he does need a lot of work. He needs to find a coach that can maximize his many talents. A coach that will keep him focused and working hard. He finds that guy and Pelle has NBA Lottery written all over him.

Right now Pelle is being recruited by just about everyone in the country, but is not ready to narrow down his list.
The Wildcats are involved and Pelle stressed that he is still considering Arizona.

See more of his comments in the 1-on-1 video interview from the Desert Duel earlier in the week (thanks for a local Phoenix radio station for providing the hip-hop soundtrack in the background).

Desert Duel: Norvelle Pelle from Gary M Randazzo on Vimeo.

UCLA 2011 Target 6-4 189 SG Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL)

Doc Rivers' son is a legit baller.











Austin Rivers still open
by Kevin Brockway
"Hoops Scoop - Gator Basketball News delivered Brockway style"
July 27th, 2010 10:02pm

Despite reports that he’s leaning toward committing to Duke, Austin Rivers said following Tuesday night’s AAU Super Showcase that he’s still open to a number of schools, including Florida.

Rivers committed to UF as a ninth-grader before re-opening his recruitment last April. Rivers has listed his top three schools as Duke, Florida and North Carolina in no particular order.

“Right now I’m not leaning toward anybody and I like all schools the same,” Rivers said. “I haven’t taken any official visits yet so I don’t have any favorites over the others. But I’m really looking forward to making the visits and I’m excited about talking to people.”

Rivers said he does not plan on scheduling his official visits until the start of the school year next month.

Rivers was effective in leading Each One Teach One Elite to a 77-60 win over the St. Louis Eagles in Tuesday night’s AAU Super Showcase finals at the Disney Complex. Rivers, from nearby Winter Park, scored 24 points while rotating between point guard and shooting guard. With his quick cross-over dribble, Rivers got to the free-throw line often, making 12 of 13 attempts.

Rivers, the son of former NBA point guard and current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, admitted that he “may have” committed to UF too early. But he doesn’t think that a proposed rule that would keep players from verbally committing to schools until the July before their senior year is necessary.

“If it was the right place, it’s the right place,” Rivers said. “If you commit in eighth grade and you commit and it’s always the right place, it’s never too early. I think if you are ready to go somewhere, you are ready to go. Just like them coming up with the rule that you have to stay at college for two years, if you are ready to go, you are ready to go.

“How are you going to hold someone back? I think it’s never too early, it’s just the situation I was in I thought it would be right to take my time and make the right decision.”

Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistant Rob Lanier were on hand to watch Tuesday night’s finals. But the Milk House also had a significant Duke contingent. Former Duke point guard Jay Williams, working for ESPNU, handed out the awards to both teams following the game. And former Duke forward Grant Hill was on hand and was spotted chatting up Rivers following the game (a secondary violation, perhaps?).

Rivers said he appreciated Donovan and Lanier being there.

“It means a lot, it shows their support, the Duke coaches and them, all the North Carolina coaches and all the schools that are interested came out and watched me,” Rivers said. “I’m really proud and really fortunate they took the time to see me play.”

Donovan and Lanier also were on hand to watch UF commit Bradley Beal, who had a rough finals performance for the St. Louis Eagles. Beal scored 12 points, going 5 of 15 from the floor and 1 of 5 from 3-point range. Afterward, the five-star shooting guard called it the worst game he ever played.

Beal said his commitment to Florida remains strong despite reports that Kansas is trying to woo him away. Beal can sign a letter of intent to UF as early as this November.