Trigonis Tidbits:

Jennings Latest Top Prospect to Pledge Allegiance to USC

(December 4, 2006)

First it was 6’4” super senior OJ Mayo along with 6’8” ultra-athletic Davon Jefferson and two big-time Bayou forwards 6’6” Leonard Washington and 6’5” Marcus Simmons inking with USC at the last minute to give Tim Floyd a 2007 class ranked #3 by both Van Coleman (Hoop Masters) and Clark Francis (Hoop Scoop).  On the heels of those signings, 6’1” junior point-guard supreme and California native Brandon Jennings (Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson VA) announced that he too will call the sparkling new Galen Center on Figueroa Street home.  That makes it two back-to-back #1 point guard (and arguably national) prospects pledging allegiance to USC and these developments seem sure to catapult the Trojans to the top tier of the Pac-10 along with the likes of UCLA, Arizona and Washington.  Jennings is perhaps the finest SoCal point guard prospect since Baron Davis was Tinsletown’s high school darling in 1997 and the Kenny Anderson-type playmaker’s verbal has overshadowed the recent announcements of cross-town rival UCLA’s future point guards – 6’4” Malcolm Lee (North/Riverside CA) and 6’1” Jerime Anderson (Canyon/Anaheim CA).  With USC recruiting with the best in the nation and Ben Howland getting UCLA back on top of the national polls, the next few years in Los Angeles should be memorable to say the least……….One fall signature that flew under the radar screen was the signing by Texas-San Antonio of 6’10” senior center Matt DeWaal (Dominguez/Compton CA).  DeWaal is one of the most underrated and improved centers in the nation and a real steal for Brooks Thompson’s Road Runners………………A college program that quietly assembled a stellar recruiting class this fall is Idaho – thanks in large part to the hard work and keen eyes of Vandal assistants Leroy Washington and DeMarlo Slocum.  Idaho landed a very underrated group composed of Las Vegas native 6’5” Andre McFarland (Brewster Academy/Wolfeboro NH), 6’7” Demetrius Crowell (Mesa/Mesa AZ) and 6’8” JC transfer Luis Augusto (West Oklahoma State JC/Altius OK)……………..One of the top California JUCO freshmen this season has been 6’3” combo-guard Tyree Thompson (Santa Ana College/Santa Ana CA).  The Compton Centennial product is a big-time scorer who according to SAC coach Dave Breig (former HS coach of Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress) should be a high-major target…………..5’11” junior point guard Michael Elliott (Canyon Springs/Las Vegas NV) scored 25 points, dished off 7 assists and had 5 steals as Canyon Springs knocked off El Dorado (Las Vegas NV) to win the Las Vegas Hoop Tip-Off Classic held recently at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy in Las Vegas.  Elliott (an excellent defender and one of the top junior point guards in the West) was named MVP of the event.  Also named to the all-tourney team was 6’4” junior Curtis Malone (El Dorado/Las Vegas), 6’5” junior Raveon Samuels (Canyon Springs/Las Vegas), 6’3” junior Jason Walter (Spring Valley/Las Vegas) and 5’9” junior Deremy Geiger (Canyon Springs/Las Vegas)…………..Last week was the first official week of high school hoop action in Southern California.  Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA) stormed through the field to capture the Cerritos/Gahr tourney.  Tourney MVP 6’7” senior Taylor King (Mater Dei) scored 33 points as MD soundly defeated Gahr 105-61 in the championship game.  In Mater Dei’s first game of the tourney, 6’9” soph David Wear scored a career high 19 points in the Monarch’s win over Whittier.  Other players that impressed here include 6’5” junior DeMar DeRozan (Compton/Compton CA), 6’3” senior Cameron Jones (Los Alamitos/Los Alamitos CA), 6’9” soph Travis Wear (Mater Dei/Santa Ana CA), 6’5” freshman Tyler Lamb (Colony/Ontario CA), 6’10” senior Clint Amberry (Los Alamitos/Los Alamitos CA), 6’9” senior Genesis Maciel (Centennial/Compton CA) and 6’10” junior Edgar Garibay (Compton/Compton CA).  Assistants from Kansas, Louisville, Arizona State, Pepperdine and Iowa State were among the schools that stopped by to see the extremely athletic DeRozan who had a game high 26 points as Compton upset Los Alamitos in a quarter-final game and 24 points versus Gahr in the semis.   Jones (who had a game high 31 points against Compton) is one of the top sleepers in SoCal and the very solid combo-guard (cousin of Stanford freshman Landry Fields) plays with no fear and makes plays at both ends.  Travis Wear (like his twin Dave) is one of the nation’s top Class of 2009 players and his agility and high skill level make him potentially a special player that is already being sought after by the likes of UCLA, Arizona and Stanford.  The sharp-shooting Lamb had 20 points in his HS debut - Colony’s 88-16 win over South Gate.  Amberry (who officially visited Idaho this fall) is a multi-skilled post that has range on his jump shot as well as being a very good passer for his size.  Maciel is one of the West Coast’s top unsigned “bigs” with a nice touch around the basket and strong rebounding ability while Garibay is an intriguing center armed with an accurate outside shot and a strong knack for physical defense………….Behind 27 points and 8 rebounds from McDonald’s All-American candidate 6’6” senior James Harden (Artesia/Lakewood CA), the Pioneers (down at one point in the first half by a margin of 36-16) stormed back to cut the Mayfair (Lakewood CA) lead to just 3 points at the intermission and continued in the 2^nd half with the same defensive intensity that  they finished the 1^st half with to walk away with a 74-57 win as well as the championship trophy of the Pacific Shores tourney at Redondo Union HS (Redondo Beach CA).  Harden’s MVP effort was supported by Artesia’s 6’5” junior Malik Story (as good a spot-up shooter that exists in California) and Mississippi import 6’9” soph Renardo Sydney (who contributed 22 points in the final of his very first high school tourney).  This event also served as the return of former Pepperdine assistant and newly minted Calabasas (Calabasas CA) coach Jim Nielsen to the high school ranks as well as a homecoming back to Redondo where Jim had a successful HS coaching stint – developing the likes of Dijon Thompson (UCLA/Phoenix Suns), Andrew Zahn (Arizona), Marcus Moore (Washington State) and Adam Zahn (Oregon).  Nielsen’s first game back was a successful one as his Coyotes edged Price (Los Angeles CA) 60-59.  Although his team lost a close one, 6’7” junior Tyreese Breshers (Price/Los Angeles CA) was the most impressive performer in the game as he scored often on an array of moves in the paint as well as exhibiting great energy and effort on both ends of the court.  For Calabasas, 6’6” soph Evan Smith (whose dad played at both UCLA and Hawaii) showed nice ability to run the floor and is a prospect that has future promise.  Other players that fared well include 6’3” senior Bryan Emanuel (Mayfair/Lakewood CA), 6’4” senior Shane Morgan (Redondo Union/Redondo Beach CA) and 5’11” senior Alex Tucker (Redondo Union/Redondo Beach CA).  Emanuel sparked Mayfair past Fairfax (Los Angeles CA) and into a championship match-up with Artesia where the Long Beach State signee scored 17 points and was an impressive defender before being sidelined much of the rest of the game with foul trouble.  Morgan showed nice ability to score all week long, but saved his best for last as his three-pointer from the corner with no time remaining knocked off Fairfax 55-52 in the Third Place game whileTucker (a very quick lead guard) is one of the best unsigned points in California………..At the Warrior Hoop Invitational at the SCBA Center in Cypress CA, 6’1” soph point Darius Morris (Windward/Los Angeles CA) was clearly the top prospect in attendance as his 26 point/8 assist effort in a win over Brethren Christian (Huntington Beach CA) demonstrated…………..6’3” Avner Alkhas (Northwood/Irvine CA) began his senior season on the right foot by pumping in 21 points and handing out 6 assists in the Timberwolves 74-50 win over Loara (Anaheim CA)……….. 6’5” senior Larry Anderson had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Jordan (Long Beach CA) to the Buena Park Tourney title (earning MVP honors in the process).