Thanks to none for sharing on BZ.
VIDEO: Clips of Dominic Artis
By Tracy Pierson
Scout.com
Posted Aug 3, 2011
Check out the point guard from Cali, 5-11 Dominic Artis, who improved his stock this summer and then committed to UCLA...
Prospect: Dominic Artis
High School Team: Las Vegas (Nev.) Findlay Prep
AAU Team: Oakland Soldiers
Class: 2012
Ranking: 95
Height: 5-11
Pos.: Point Guard
Schools Recruiting: Committed to UCLA.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jordan Farmar signs with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Jordan Farmar signs with Maccabi Tel Aviv
New Jersey Nets Guard Signs with Israeli Powerhouse
By: Leonard Carl
ShalomLife
Published: August 3rd, 2011 in Culture » Society » News
Thanks to the National Basketball Association lockout, New Jersey Nets guard and former first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers Jordan Farmar is making aliyah, well, that is temporary aliyah.
According to reports, Farmar, whose step-father is a Tel Aviv native, has signed a one-year contract with Israeli power house Maccabi Tel Aviv. The deal is said to include a special clause which allows the to Farmar to return to the NBA Nets if and when the lockout is settled.
"I'm very excited to play in Tel Aviv,'' Farmar told the Star-Ledger. "I went there as a little kid. My stepdad is from Tel Aviv. I watched Tel Aviv play basketball and football -- soccer.''
Farmar signed a 3-year contract with the Nets prior to last season after spending his first four years in the NBA with the Lakers who chose him 26th overall in 2006.
Last season, Farmar averaged 9.6 points and 5.0 assists.
Farmar, who had also reportedly been talking to Maccabi Haifa, will attempt to go through the traditional “aliyah” route, which would make him an Israeli citizen, giving his new, albeit, temporary team, added flexibility since Israeli teams are allowed to dress only four foreign players.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Shabazz Muhammad is in no hurry to make his college decision
ballislife.com/You Tube
hoopmixtape.com/You Tube
Shabazz Muhammad is in no hurry to make his college decision
The basketball standout from Las Vegas, who lists UCLA among the schools he is considering, wants to set his own timetable for picking a college.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
9:22 PM PDT, July 24, 2011
Reporting from Las Vegas
The retro UCLA jersey was endangered the moment it entered Shabazz Muhammad's house.
The basketball prodigy's mother had purchased the replica of the jersey that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore when he was with the Bruins as a gift for her middle-school son, only to later find it hanging in his closet with a large hole cut in the middle.
Muhammad's father couldn't resist the urge to snip on.
He played basketball for USC.
"My wife was hot with me," said Ron Holmes, a wing player for the Trojans from 1981 to 1985. "She wouldn't talk to me for about a week."
Holmes probably would take a more hands-off approach if his son decided to slip on a UCLA jersey late next year. It would have "Muhammad" stretched across the back.
Westwood is a possible destination for the consensus No. 1 player in the Class of 2012, an explosive 6-foot-6 forward from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High who has been fawned over like a rock star during the Las Vegas club tournaments.
A stray ball could not bounce into the stands at one of Muhammad's games over the weekend without hitting a major-college coach. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Kentucky's John Calipari and Florida's Billy Donovan were at one game, along with at least half of the Pacific 12 Conference's coaching contingent.
UCLA Coach Ben Howland, saying something about the bleacher seats being uncomfortable, plopped down in a courtside chair next to former Nevada Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian.
More comfortable -- and more visible.
"Sometimes when you're running back down the court, you see one," Muhammad said of the coaches at his games. "But most of the time you have to focus on the game."
Muhammad's list of suitors is so long that he often adds the caveat "and many more schools" whenever he ticks off his favorites, lest he hurt anyone's feelings.
The official list (in alphabetic order to avoid any message-board meltdowns): Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and UNLV.
Muhammad said the recruiting analysts who describe him as leaning toward the Bruins are not necessarily onto something.
"Everybody says that," Muhammad said as he sat in his family's den on the edge of a dark-paneled cabinet stocked with trophies and plaques. "They say I'm a Kansas lean, a Memphis lean, a UCLA lean. It's all rumors that everybody's talking about. At the end of the day, everybody's the same at this point."
Muhammad said UCLA will receive one of his coveted official visits, though he already has more than a passing familiarity with Southern California. His father attended Lake Forest El Toro before going to USC. His mother was a track and basketball star at Long Beach Poly and Long Beach State.
The family moved to Las Vegas in the mid-1990s, in part because the city reminded Holmes of Orange County. Shabazz received his name through the family's Muslim faith, with his mother, Faye, changing her last name from Paige to Muhammad.
For many years, Holmes tried to impose his USC allegiance on his son. He would break out footage of USC-UCLA games in which he went head to head with Bruins star Reggie Miller.
"It was so funny to watch him," Muhammad said of his father. "I mean, he had a big Afro and those guys had Converse on."
But USC coaches couldn't make as strong a push as Holmes. Largely because of recruiting restrictions the Trojans faced after NCAA sanctions related to O.J. Mayo's acceptance of impermissible benefits, they were unable to keep up with the pack of suitors.
"They've had some issues with not making phone calls because of the sanctions or couldn't come and visit, so it's hurt them," Holmes said. "Other coaches have recruited a little harder."
Muhammad is being pulled in so many directions that he might feel like Play-Doh in the hands of a 3-year-old. After prep star Jordan Adams committed to UCLA last month, he sent a text message to Muhammad: "I'm ready for you to commit now."
The friends discussed the possibility of playing together for the Bruins again Friday after Muhammad's Dream Vision club team edged Adams' Atlanta Celtics in the Adidas Super 64 tournament. UCLA's recruiting class is shaping up as a good one, with the Bruins receiving a commitment Sunday from top point guard prospect Dominic Artis of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep.
"He was saying what we could do on the wings as freshmen," Muhammad said of Adams, a swingman from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. "We could open up everything."
Muhammad was also hearing it all weekend from UNLV fans who followed him from gym to gym, cheering his every move. And the Rebels have another strong ally in Grant Rice, Muhammad's high school coach and the brother of UNLV Coach David Rice.
There are other factors to consider. Muhammad likes Kentucky's up-tempo offense and has formed strong relationships with several of the coaches pursuing him. It's almost too much for a teenager to process.
"That's why he's confused. That's why I'm confused," said Holmes, who does not oppose UCLA, because he likes Howland and considers himself a West Coast guy.
"I mean, there's a lot of things that go into this and we want to make the right decision because I don't care what happens, he's not transferring."
Switching schools may be one issue that Muhammad won't have to confront. If his precociousness is any indication, he could easily be focusing on the NBA draft by the spring of his freshman season.
Kellon Hassenstab, an analyst for the recruiting website hoopniks.com, said Muhammad's tenacity and maturity separate him from the other top players in his class.
"He never takes plays off," Hassenstab said. "He finishes with authority at the rim and has a consistent jump shot that extends to the three-point range. His work ethic and coachability are refreshing and unusual for a player of his talent."
Muhammad's willingness to wait to make his college choice also is uncommon at a time when many elite players are making commitments as eighth-graders.
Muhammad said he would evaluate every aspect of his prospective schools during his official visits, scrutinizing the coaches, the academic environment and campus life.
"We're going to sit down after this AAU season," Muhammad said of his family, "and figure out when I'm going to commit and when I'm going to cut down the list."
Good thing for UCLA that Muhammad, and not his father, will be the one doing the cutting this time.
hoopmixtape.com/You Tube
Shabazz Muhammad is in no hurry to make his college decision
The basketball standout from Las Vegas, who lists UCLA among the schools he is considering, wants to set his own timetable for picking a college.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
9:22 PM PDT, July 24, 2011
Reporting from Las Vegas
The retro UCLA jersey was endangered the moment it entered Shabazz Muhammad's house.
The basketball prodigy's mother had purchased the replica of the jersey that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore when he was with the Bruins as a gift for her middle-school son, only to later find it hanging in his closet with a large hole cut in the middle.
Muhammad's father couldn't resist the urge to snip on.
He played basketball for USC.
"My wife was hot with me," said Ron Holmes, a wing player for the Trojans from 1981 to 1985. "She wouldn't talk to me for about a week."
Holmes probably would take a more hands-off approach if his son decided to slip on a UCLA jersey late next year. It would have "Muhammad" stretched across the back.
Westwood is a possible destination for the consensus No. 1 player in the Class of 2012, an explosive 6-foot-6 forward from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High who has been fawned over like a rock star during the Las Vegas club tournaments.
A stray ball could not bounce into the stands at one of Muhammad's games over the weekend without hitting a major-college coach. Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Kentucky's John Calipari and Florida's Billy Donovan were at one game, along with at least half of the Pacific 12 Conference's coaching contingent.
UCLA Coach Ben Howland, saying something about the bleacher seats being uncomfortable, plopped down in a courtside chair next to former Nevada Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian.
More comfortable -- and more visible.
"Sometimes when you're running back down the court, you see one," Muhammad said of the coaches at his games. "But most of the time you have to focus on the game."
Muhammad's list of suitors is so long that he often adds the caveat "and many more schools" whenever he ticks off his favorites, lest he hurt anyone's feelings.
The official list (in alphabetic order to avoid any message-board meltdowns): Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and UNLV.
Muhammad said the recruiting analysts who describe him as leaning toward the Bruins are not necessarily onto something.
"Everybody says that," Muhammad said as he sat in his family's den on the edge of a dark-paneled cabinet stocked with trophies and plaques. "They say I'm a Kansas lean, a Memphis lean, a UCLA lean. It's all rumors that everybody's talking about. At the end of the day, everybody's the same at this point."
Muhammad said UCLA will receive one of his coveted official visits, though he already has more than a passing familiarity with Southern California. His father attended Lake Forest El Toro before going to USC. His mother was a track and basketball star at Long Beach Poly and Long Beach State.
The family moved to Las Vegas in the mid-1990s, in part because the city reminded Holmes of Orange County. Shabazz received his name through the family's Muslim faith, with his mother, Faye, changing her last name from Paige to Muhammad.
For many years, Holmes tried to impose his USC allegiance on his son. He would break out footage of USC-UCLA games in which he went head to head with Bruins star Reggie Miller.
"It was so funny to watch him," Muhammad said of his father. "I mean, he had a big Afro and those guys had Converse on."
But USC coaches couldn't make as strong a push as Holmes. Largely because of recruiting restrictions the Trojans faced after NCAA sanctions related to O.J. Mayo's acceptance of impermissible benefits, they were unable to keep up with the pack of suitors.
"They've had some issues with not making phone calls because of the sanctions or couldn't come and visit, so it's hurt them," Holmes said. "Other coaches have recruited a little harder."
Muhammad is being pulled in so many directions that he might feel like Play-Doh in the hands of a 3-year-old. After prep star Jordan Adams committed to UCLA last month, he sent a text message to Muhammad: "I'm ready for you to commit now."
The friends discussed the possibility of playing together for the Bruins again Friday after Muhammad's Dream Vision club team edged Adams' Atlanta Celtics in the Adidas Super 64 tournament. UCLA's recruiting class is shaping up as a good one, with the Bruins receiving a commitment Sunday from top point guard prospect Dominic Artis of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep.
"He was saying what we could do on the wings as freshmen," Muhammad said of Adams, a swingman from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. "We could open up everything."
Muhammad was also hearing it all weekend from UNLV fans who followed him from gym to gym, cheering his every move. And the Rebels have another strong ally in Grant Rice, Muhammad's high school coach and the brother of UNLV Coach David Rice.
There are other factors to consider. Muhammad likes Kentucky's up-tempo offense and has formed strong relationships with several of the coaches pursuing him. It's almost too much for a teenager to process.
"That's why he's confused. That's why I'm confused," said Holmes, who does not oppose UCLA, because he likes Howland and considers himself a West Coast guy.
"I mean, there's a lot of things that go into this and we want to make the right decision because I don't care what happens, he's not transferring."
Switching schools may be one issue that Muhammad won't have to confront. If his precociousness is any indication, he could easily be focusing on the NBA draft by the spring of his freshman season.
Kellon Hassenstab, an analyst for the recruiting website hoopniks.com, said Muhammad's tenacity and maturity separate him from the other top players in his class.
"He never takes plays off," Hassenstab said. "He finishes with authority at the rim and has a consistent jump shot that extends to the three-point range. His work ethic and coachability are refreshing and unusual for a player of his talent."
Muhammad's willingness to wait to make his college choice also is uncommon at a time when many elite players are making commitments as eighth-graders.
Muhammad said he would evaluate every aspect of his prospective schools during his official visits, scrutinizing the coaches, the academic environment and campus life.
"We're going to sit down after this AAU season," Muhammad said of his family, "and figure out when I'm going to commit and when I'm going to cut down the list."
Good thing for UCLA that Muhammad, and not his father, will be the one doing the cutting this time.
UCLA basketball: Top point guard prospect Dominic Artis commits to Bruins
NothingButKicks+yayareasfinest+courtcred/You Tube
yayareasfinest/You Tube
UCLA basketball: Top point guard prospect Dominic Artis commits to Bruins
By Ben Bolch | The Los Angeles Times | July 24, 2011 | 8:54pm
The Class of 2012 is already shaping up to be full of promise for UCLA.
The Bruins on Sunday received a commitment from Dominic Artis, a 6-foot-1 senior at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., who is considered to be one of the top point guards in the country.
Artis becomes the second highly touted player to commit to UCLA, joining Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy small forward Jordan Adams. And the Bruins are still in the mix for Shabazz Muhammad, the consensus top player in the country.
"I'm really excited," said Artis, who picked UCLA over California, Florida State, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Baylor and Florida International. "It could be a great class."
Artis said he liked Bruins Coach Ben Howland's history of producing NBA point guards. He also liked that UCLA runs a lot of ball screens, something he said suits his game well, and is already friends with incoming guard De'End Parker.
The prospect of battling North Carolina transfer Larry Drew II for playing time doesn't intimidate Artis, who said Howland told him the duo would likely be on the floor together at times. And if Artis had to come off the bench?
"Of course I would want to start," Artis said, "but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."
_____________
Dominic Artis commits to UCLA
Posted By: Mitch Stephens
The San Francisco Chronicle
July 24 2011 at 11:27 PM
The Bay Area has been shut out again.
Dominic Artis, who three weeks ago announced he will transfer to national basketball power Findlay Prep from Salesian-Richmond, said Sunday from the Fab 48 AAU Tournament in Las Vegas that he will play his college ball at UCLA.
Artis, an incoming senior, told us last week his other finalist were Cal, Florida State and Oregon.
The 6-foot-1 point guard has risen his game greatly even after a superb junior season when he was named the Bay Shore Athletic League's Most Valuable Player and led the Pride to the state Division IV finals.
He joins Oak Hill Academy's Jordan Adams as early UCLA commits from the Class of 2012.
"I'm really excited," Artis told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. "It could be a great class. ... Of course I would want to start but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."
Artis told Bolch he was attracted to UCLA because of its history of producing NBA point guards. He's also friends with former Lincoln and CCSF standout De'End Parker.
Artis is the second Bay Area elite star who will transfer to Findlay Prep. Bishop O'Dowd's Brandon Ashley, rated the sixth best player from his Class by MaxPreps.com, also is transferring to the Henderson (Nev.) school, which has claimed four NBA draft picks in the last two seasons including 2011 first-rounders Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph.
Ashley also announced last week his seven college finalist - none of which included Cal or Stanford, but did include UCLA. Ashley's other finalists were Arizona, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oregon, Syracuse and Texas.
The duo play for the Fab 48 defending champion Drew Gooden-Oakland Soldiers who were upset and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.
_____________
from ESPN Men's College Basketball Recruiting
Dominic Artis
Point Guard
CLASS: 2012
SCOUTS GRADE 91
Grading Scale
Hometown: Richmond, CA
High School: Findlay College Prep
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 lbs
Position Rank: 16
Strengths:
Artis is looking like the No. 1 point guard prospect out west for his class. He has solid speed, quickness, and he changes gears very well to separate from opponents. He doesn't have ideal height for the high-major level, but he does have very long arms and he looks very young in the face-which may suggest he isn't through growing. In terms of skill he has a tight and crafty handle and he can get into seams of the defense to set up his teammates. He advances the ball well in transition and generally exhibits a high basketball IQ while operating the half-court offense.
Weaknesses:
Artis must get stronger to play at the highest level, but that should come with maturity. In addition, he needs to continue to improve his shooting touch beyond the arc. His shot is playable, but it needs to get more consistent to keep the defenses honest.
Bottom Line:
Although the point guard class is weak nationally, Artis projects well at the highest level. He isn't as quick as former Bruin Tyus Edney, but he does have similar characteristics in terms of playing style.
Notes
Travel Team: Oakland Soldiers...Committed to UCLA in July 2012...
yayareasfinest/You Tube
UCLA basketball: Top point guard prospect Dominic Artis commits to Bruins
By Ben Bolch | The Los Angeles Times | July 24, 2011 | 8:54pm
The Class of 2012 is already shaping up to be full of promise for UCLA.
The Bruins on Sunday received a commitment from Dominic Artis, a 6-foot-1 senior at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., who is considered to be one of the top point guards in the country.
Artis becomes the second highly touted player to commit to UCLA, joining Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy small forward Jordan Adams. And the Bruins are still in the mix for Shabazz Muhammad, the consensus top player in the country.
"I'm really excited," said Artis, who picked UCLA over California, Florida State, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Baylor and Florida International. "It could be a great class."
Artis said he liked Bruins Coach Ben Howland's history of producing NBA point guards. He also liked that UCLA runs a lot of ball screens, something he said suits his game well, and is already friends with incoming guard De'End Parker.
The prospect of battling North Carolina transfer Larry Drew II for playing time doesn't intimidate Artis, who said Howland told him the duo would likely be on the floor together at times. And if Artis had to come off the bench?
"Of course I would want to start," Artis said, "but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."
_____________
Dominic Artis commits to UCLA
Posted By: Mitch Stephens
The San Francisco Chronicle
July 24 2011 at 11:27 PM
The Bay Area has been shut out again.
Dominic Artis, who three weeks ago announced he will transfer to national basketball power Findlay Prep from Salesian-Richmond, said Sunday from the Fab 48 AAU Tournament in Las Vegas that he will play his college ball at UCLA.
Artis, an incoming senior, told us last week his other finalist were Cal, Florida State and Oregon.
The 6-foot-1 point guard has risen his game greatly even after a superb junior season when he was named the Bay Shore Athletic League's Most Valuable Player and led the Pride to the state Division IV finals.
He joins Oak Hill Academy's Jordan Adams as early UCLA commits from the Class of 2012.
"I'm really excited," Artis told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. "It could be a great class. ... Of course I would want to start but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."
Artis told Bolch he was attracted to UCLA because of its history of producing NBA point guards. He's also friends with former Lincoln and CCSF standout De'End Parker.
Artis is the second Bay Area elite star who will transfer to Findlay Prep. Bishop O'Dowd's Brandon Ashley, rated the sixth best player from his Class by MaxPreps.com, also is transferring to the Henderson (Nev.) school, which has claimed four NBA draft picks in the last two seasons including 2011 first-rounders Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph.
Ashley also announced last week his seven college finalist - none of which included Cal or Stanford, but did include UCLA. Ashley's other finalists were Arizona, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oregon, Syracuse and Texas.
The duo play for the Fab 48 defending champion Drew Gooden-Oakland Soldiers who were upset and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.
_____________
from ESPN Men's College Basketball Recruiting
Dominic Artis
Point Guard
CLASS: 2012
SCOUTS GRADE 91
Grading Scale
Hometown: Richmond, CA
High School: Findlay College Prep
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 lbs
Position Rank: 16
Strengths:
Artis is looking like the No. 1 point guard prospect out west for his class. He has solid speed, quickness, and he changes gears very well to separate from opponents. He doesn't have ideal height for the high-major level, but he does have very long arms and he looks very young in the face-which may suggest he isn't through growing. In terms of skill he has a tight and crafty handle and he can get into seams of the defense to set up his teammates. He advances the ball well in transition and generally exhibits a high basketball IQ while operating the half-court offense.
Weaknesses:
Artis must get stronger to play at the highest level, but that should come with maturity. In addition, he needs to continue to improve his shooting touch beyond the arc. His shot is playable, but it needs to get more consistent to keep the defenses honest.
Bottom Line:
Although the point guard class is weak nationally, Artis projects well at the highest level. He isn't as quick as former Bruin Tyus Edney, but he does have similar characteristics in terms of playing style.
Notes
Travel Team: Oakland Soldiers...Committed to UCLA in July 2012...
Saturday, July 23, 2011
New UCLA basketball assistant Korey McCray out to show what he has to offer
Thanks to Puffdaddy for posting this on BZ.
UCLA assistant basketball coach Korey McCray hopes to bring in more talent for the Bruins in the years ahead. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times / July 18, 2011)
New UCLA basketball assistant Korey McCray out to show what he has to offer
The former Atlanta club coach is confident he can do more than attract top prospects. McCray has developed a reputation as a strong teacher of fundamentals.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
5:00 PM PDT, July 21, 2011
Korey McCray won't need to wear the standard-issue UCLA polo shirt in Las Vegas gyms the next few days for two of the Bruins' top recruits to identify him.
He used to be their coach.
Jordan Adams and William Goodwin both played for McCray's Atlanta Celtics club basketball team until UCLA Coach Ben Howland added McCray to his staff last month as his newest assistant.
The easy punch line: If you hire him, they will follow.
McCray didn't burden himself with perception. He's confident he has more to offer than a couple of blue-chip prospects who may or may not come to Westwood.
McCray, 32, effortlessly relates to college freshmen and sophomores. He's also developed a reputation as a strong teacher of fundamentals, working with NBA stars Dwight Howard and John Wall in the off-season.
And over the next five days, as he travels from one high school gym to another keeping tabs on the major club tournaments that commence Friday, he can show his new boss his ability to identify which players have the most game.
McCray said he doesn't view himself as a torchbearer for club coaches as much as someone who wants to make proud a family with deep basketball roots.
"I just want to represent myself well, my family well, this university well," McCray said earlier this month as he sat in his new office, which was bare except for five NCAA championship trophies perched on a top shelf. "Hopefully by doing that, I put AAU basketball in a good light."
McCray is hardly the first club coach to be hired by a major school, even in the Pacific 12 Conference. Arizona assistant Emmanuel "Book" Richardson once coached the New York Gauchos and helped the Wildcats land New York natives Lamont Jones and Kevin Parrom, both former Gauchos.
UCLA already has received a non-binding verbal commitment from one of McCray's former players. Adams announced earlier this month that he would become a Bruin, calling McCray "a great factor" in his decision.
"They were recruiting me before he got the job," said Adams, a small forward who could become the first player from storied Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy to play for UCLA. "I pretty much already liked them, but he kind of helped."
Just as the Bruins can thank McCray for Adams' commitment, McCray can salute Adams and Goodwin for his arrival in Westwood. McCray said he first met Howland last fall as part of a tour of universities his players had listed as potential destinations.
"I didn't want to put my guys in a situation that I didn't think was a good situation," McCray said, "so I was just looking at all the schools they were interested in."
McCray liked the way Howland ran his practices. Howland began to develop an appreciation for McCray's endearing smile and ability to relate to young players.
"He's got a great personality," Howland said. "He's really upbeat; he's positive."
He also had an intriguing back story. A former point guard at Mercer, McCray has made coaching stops at his alma mater, Chipola Junior College and Florida State as a graduate assistant under Leonard Hamilton. The Seminoles coach praised McCray for his communication skills and attention to detail.
"UCLA is getting a guy who has the whole package," Hamilton said. "He's more than capable and qualified to do a great job for them."
McCray also helped coach the Celtics, a collection of boys' and girls' teams that have produced 16 NBA players — including Howard, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson — and approximately 400 college players since being co-founded in 1990 by Karl McCray, Korey's father.
The McCrays are well versed in the criticisms of club basketball. Among other things, skeptics say it is rife with coaches eager to provide access to their players in exchange for a spot on a college staff or other perks.
"It's always bad when people put everybody under the same label," said Karl McCray, president of the Celtics and coach of the organization's 16-under boys' team. "We're all individuals; we all do things differently.
"I always drill into my coaches three things: It's got to be legally, morally and ethically correct. That's what I've always had as my motto because it's critical that we do the right thing."
The younger McCray is such a stickler for proper fundamentals that he started a skills development program out of a church gymnasium in Atlanta. Its name? Fundamentals. McCray's clients included Howard and Wall.
Howland said McCray would primarily work with the Bruins' perimeter players, but his reach as the youngest member of the coaching staff should extend to the entire roster.
"I understand the music they're listening to," McCray said. "I'm not so far from where they are now."
He's suddenly a few thousand miles from home, though he fully expects to help UCLA make recruiting inroads in a region where it has traditionally struggled to land top prospects.
As he leaned back in his office chair and contemplated his new opportunity, McCray smiled. Just as quickly, his lips straightened. The pinch-me moment had faded.
"I had to tell myself just this past week, OK, the excitement is over," McCray said. "Now it's time to produce."
New UCLA basketball assistant Korey McCray out to show what he has to offer
The former Atlanta club coach is confident he can do more than attract top prospects. McCray has developed a reputation as a strong teacher of fundamentals.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
5:00 PM PDT, July 21, 2011
Korey McCray won't need to wear the standard-issue UCLA polo shirt in Las Vegas gyms the next few days for two of the Bruins' top recruits to identify him.
He used to be their coach.
Jordan Adams and William Goodwin both played for McCray's Atlanta Celtics club basketball team until UCLA Coach Ben Howland added McCray to his staff last month as his newest assistant.
The easy punch line: If you hire him, they will follow.
McCray didn't burden himself with perception. He's confident he has more to offer than a couple of blue-chip prospects who may or may not come to Westwood.
McCray, 32, effortlessly relates to college freshmen and sophomores. He's also developed a reputation as a strong teacher of fundamentals, working with NBA stars Dwight Howard and John Wall in the off-season.
And over the next five days, as he travels from one high school gym to another keeping tabs on the major club tournaments that commence Friday, he can show his new boss his ability to identify which players have the most game.
McCray said he doesn't view himself as a torchbearer for club coaches as much as someone who wants to make proud a family with deep basketball roots.
"I just want to represent myself well, my family well, this university well," McCray said earlier this month as he sat in his new office, which was bare except for five NCAA championship trophies perched on a top shelf. "Hopefully by doing that, I put AAU basketball in a good light."
McCray is hardly the first club coach to be hired by a major school, even in the Pacific 12 Conference. Arizona assistant Emmanuel "Book" Richardson once coached the New York Gauchos and helped the Wildcats land New York natives Lamont Jones and Kevin Parrom, both former Gauchos.
UCLA already has received a non-binding verbal commitment from one of McCray's former players. Adams announced earlier this month that he would become a Bruin, calling McCray "a great factor" in his decision.
"They were recruiting me before he got the job," said Adams, a small forward who could become the first player from storied Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy to play for UCLA. "I pretty much already liked them, but he kind of helped."
Just as the Bruins can thank McCray for Adams' commitment, McCray can salute Adams and Goodwin for his arrival in Westwood. McCray said he first met Howland last fall as part of a tour of universities his players had listed as potential destinations.
"I didn't want to put my guys in a situation that I didn't think was a good situation," McCray said, "so I was just looking at all the schools they were interested in."
McCray liked the way Howland ran his practices. Howland began to develop an appreciation for McCray's endearing smile and ability to relate to young players.
"He's got a great personality," Howland said. "He's really upbeat; he's positive."
He also had an intriguing back story. A former point guard at Mercer, McCray has made coaching stops at his alma mater, Chipola Junior College and Florida State as a graduate assistant under Leonard Hamilton. The Seminoles coach praised McCray for his communication skills and attention to detail.
"UCLA is getting a guy who has the whole package," Hamilton said. "He's more than capable and qualified to do a great job for them."
McCray also helped coach the Celtics, a collection of boys' and girls' teams that have produced 16 NBA players — including Howard, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson — and approximately 400 college players since being co-founded in 1990 by Karl McCray, Korey's father.
The McCrays are well versed in the criticisms of club basketball. Among other things, skeptics say it is rife with coaches eager to provide access to their players in exchange for a spot on a college staff or other perks.
"It's always bad when people put everybody under the same label," said Karl McCray, president of the Celtics and coach of the organization's 16-under boys' team. "We're all individuals; we all do things differently.
"I always drill into my coaches three things: It's got to be legally, morally and ethically correct. That's what I've always had as my motto because it's critical that we do the right thing."
The younger McCray is such a stickler for proper fundamentals that he started a skills development program out of a church gymnasium in Atlanta. Its name? Fundamentals. McCray's clients included Howard and Wall.
Howland said McCray would primarily work with the Bruins' perimeter players, but his reach as the youngest member of the coaching staff should extend to the entire roster.
"I understand the music they're listening to," McCray said. "I'm not so far from where they are now."
He's suddenly a few thousand miles from home, though he fully expects to help UCLA make recruiting inroads in a region where it has traditionally struggled to land top prospects.
As he leaned back in his office chair and contemplated his new opportunity, McCray smiled. Just as quickly, his lips straightened. The pinch-me moment had faded.
"I had to tell myself just this past week, OK, the excitement is over," McCray said. "Now it's time to produce."
Sunday, July 17, 2011
2012 target: Kyle Anderson (North Bergen, NJ) 6-7 210 SF (St. Anthony HS, Jersey City, NJ)
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Saturday, July 9, 2011
It's just beginning for De'End Parker
Big thanks to bruinjake for sharing this article on Bruin Zone.
It's just beginning for De'End Parker
By Larry Beil
ABC 7 KGO-TV San Francisco
Friday, April 22, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Now for the story of De'End Parker and yes, that is his name. Parker led City College of San Francisco to the state junior college title and just signed to play for UCLA.
To understand how far Parker has come, you have to go back to de-beginning. He was the youngest of seven children, Parker almost died at birth, prompting his mom to come up with his unique name.
"Her youngest kid, her last kid almost died. She was like, 'This is the end, I'm not having anymore. I'm not going through this again.' So, that's how I got the name De-End," said Parker.
Parker and I talked and shot and talked some smack. De'End is a 6'6" guard who can handle the ball, shoot, and oh yes, he can fly.
In the final seconds, Parker had the game-winning tip-in for City College as they captured the state championship.
"I never won a championship. In my 2 years I played at Lincoln High School, we lost both years in the championship. So I never had the feeling of winning it. So, that last play, I told coach, 'I'm not losing this game,'" said Parker.
When I faced him, he wasn't losing this game either, despite some creative attempts by yours truly. UCLA coach Ben Howland loved Parker's defensive intensity.
"Ben loved that. As soon as he came in, he said, 'This is my kind of guy. I got to have this guy. So yeah, I think that it will fit,'" said City College Coach Justin Labagh.
Parker averaged 12 points per game this season with an even more impressive 3.5 GPA. Parker has endured a difficult childhood, foster homes, siblings in trouble and overcome all challenges. He is smiling and dunking his way to success. He's just a natural-born winner.
"Whatever I do, I always try to win, even out here with you. I understand that your age is a factor in this..." said Parker.
Of course, I beg to differ that age was a factor... I say it was skill differential.
It's just beginning for De'End Parker
By Larry Beil
ABC 7 KGO-TV San Francisco
Friday, April 22, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Now for the story of De'End Parker and yes, that is his name. Parker led City College of San Francisco to the state junior college title and just signed to play for UCLA.
To understand how far Parker has come, you have to go back to de-beginning. He was the youngest of seven children, Parker almost died at birth, prompting his mom to come up with his unique name.
"Her youngest kid, her last kid almost died. She was like, 'This is the end, I'm not having anymore. I'm not going through this again.' So, that's how I got the name De-End," said Parker.
Parker and I talked and shot and talked some smack. De'End is a 6'6" guard who can handle the ball, shoot, and oh yes, he can fly.
In the final seconds, Parker had the game-winning tip-in for City College as they captured the state championship.
"I never won a championship. In my 2 years I played at Lincoln High School, we lost both years in the championship. So I never had the feeling of winning it. So, that last play, I told coach, 'I'm not losing this game,'" said Parker.
When I faced him, he wasn't losing this game either, despite some creative attempts by yours truly. UCLA coach Ben Howland loved Parker's defensive intensity.
"Ben loved that. As soon as he came in, he said, 'This is my kind of guy. I got to have this guy. So yeah, I think that it will fit,'" said City College Coach Justin Labagh.
Parker averaged 12 points per game this season with an even more impressive 3.5 GPA. Parker has endured a difficult childhood, foster homes, siblings in trouble and overcome all challenges. He is smiling and dunking his way to success. He's just a natural-born winner.
"Whatever I do, I always try to win, even out here with you. I understand that your age is a factor in this..." said Parker.
Of course, I beg to differ that age was a factor... I say it was skill differential.
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