Trigonis Tidbits:

“Hackett Qualifies Early…...Enrolls at USC”

(September 1, 2006)

6’4” guard Daniel Hackett (St. John Bosco/Bellflower CA) has apparently accelerated the completion of his high school graduation requirements and has enrolled at USC a year earlier than planned (which was supposed to be the Fall of 2007).  Finishing one’s HS graduation requirements in 3 academic years plus a summer is an impressive feat, but it should come as no surprise as Hackett is a sharp kid and actually more mature than kids in his grade level (Daniel will turn 19 years old in December).  This is a very important development for the Trojans as their backcourt has been devastated in recent months by the shocking shooting death of Ryan Francis and the announced academic suspension of Gabriel Pruitt.  Hackett looks to be the kind of floor general and leader that Tim Floyd needs to keep his Trojans moving in the right direction in just his 2^nd campaign at the helm of the Trojans and at a time when his new glitzy arena (Galen Center) opens this October……….........6’4” senior wing Quentin Watkins (Dominguez/Compton CA) parlayed an impressive summer into strong interest from schools across the country.  Schools scheduled to pay Watkins a visit when the contact period opens again on September 9^th include Washington State, New Mexico, Virginia, Notre Dame, San Diego State, Utah, Pepperdine and Nevada…………6’6” senior swingman Justin Holiday (Campbell Hall/North Hollywood CA) also had a very strong summer which resulted in increased high-major interest from the likes of Washington, Arizona State (both parents played their college ball there), Texas Tech and Nevada………Crafty 6’0” senior point guard Heiden Ratner (Silverado/Las Vegas NV) is getting interest from Tulsa, Santa Clara, Pacific, James Madison, Wisconsin-Greenbay, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona……………Athletic and active 6’0” combo-guard Hamid Ford has left Animo (Inglewood CA) and moved over to Findlay Prep (Henderson NV) where he will re-classify to the Class of 2008…………..6’4” junior Aaron Hawk-Harris has transferred from Palisades (Los Angeles CA) to Mt. Zion (Durham NC) after his mother accepted a research position at Duke University………..San Bernardino Valley JC coach Phil Mathews has accepting a spot on new Nebraska coach Doc Sadler’s Cornhusker staff which gives Sadler a much needed recruiter with strong California JC connections.  Former SBVC assistant Derrick Pugh appears to be the logical choice to succeed Mathews (who previously served as the head coach at the University of San Francisco and Ventura JC) although new SBVC athletic director Rudy Washington could also be a possibility………Long time Santa Barbara HS coach Jeff Lavender has stepped down as the coach of Dons and has been replaced by Chris Hantgin (previously the head coach at cross-town rival San Marcos HS (Santa Barbara CA)…………Will Hooker (formerly the head coach at San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno CA and just recently an assistant for Darren Matsubara’s EBO club program) has just accepted a job as an assistant at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo CA…………….David Grace has been named as an assistant at Sacramento State.  Grace formerly served as a HS coach in the Phoenix AZ area (South Mountain and Precision high schools) as well as a club coach in the Arizona Magic and Compton/Phoenix Magic programs and provides the Hornets with great recruiting ties to not just Arizona but into California as well………………After long anticipation, heralded rising freshman 6’5” Dwayne Polee Jr. has decided on a high school – Westchester (Los Angeles CA).  Polee is a long and athletic swingman with great potential and a nice pedigree – his father Dwayne Sr.  was a standout at Manual Arts (Los Angeles CA) and Pepperdine and played in the NBA……….Rick Barrett’s annual Gym Rats Midnight Madness will be held on Saturday September 30th at Atlantic City HS (Atlantic City NJ).  The move from the customary Voorhees NJ location to the Boardwalk will welcome an expected strong contingent of high school talent including 6’4” junior Tyreke Evans (American Christian/Aston PA), 6’2” senior Senario Hillman (Wilkinson County/Irwinton GA), 6’11” junior BJ Mullens (World Harvest/Canal Winchester OH), 6’8” junior Yancy Gates (Winthrow/Cincinnati OH), 6’8” soph Derrick Favors (South Atlanta/Atlanta GA), 6’8” junior Howard Thompkins (Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson VA), 6’8” junior Samuardo Samuels (St. Benedict/Newark NJ), 6’5” soph Lance Stepheson (Lincoln/Brooklyn NY), 6’4” senior Chris Allen (Meadowcreek/Norcross GA/committed to Michigan State) and 6’7” junior Renaldo Woolridge (Harvard-Westlake/North Hollywood CA).  NBA players that have displayed their skills at this event include Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets), Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks), Shaun Livingston (Los Angeles Clippers) and Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks)……..For the first time ever in the school’s existence, Miramar Junior College (San Diego CA) will field a competitive basketball program.  The Jets will be coached by Nick Gehler (currently also serving as the school’s athletic director) and be assisted by Nick Booker (former local star at the Bishop’s School in La Jolla CA who played his college ball at Davidson).