2009 Recruiting

[ironlions]

Its no secret we need some bigs.

Here is a interesting prospect for LMU. We aren't listed on his schools yet but I read somewhere Coach RT and Coach Byrd were at one of his games.

FROM RIVALS:

Andy Brown, 6-7 JR PF Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, is an interesting prospect. Brown has pretty good ball skills and the ability to play both inside and on the perimeter. He moves well for a young big kid and has a nice upside.

I spoke with Brown recently and he gave me his current list of schools.

“Right now, the main ones are Utah, Michigan, Notre Dame, Santa Clara, San Diego, SMU and Portland,” said Brown.

Brown said three programs on his list have offered.

“Santa Clara, Utah and San Diego have offered,” said Brown.

Brown talked a little about the issues he’ll consider when picking a school.

“I want to go someplace that not only has a good basketball program, but also good academics,” said Brown. “I’m looking to see where I fit in best with the players, coaches and students. I’m not really sure yet about location. I’d kind of like to stay in the west, but Michigan and Notre Dame are both great schools. If I don’t end up at one of those two, I’ll probably stay in the west. As far as early playing time, I definitely want to play as soon as I get there.”

Brown said he’s not close to making a decision.

“I want to see what schools offer,” said Brown. “I’ll probably decide after the summer – I want to see how I do in the summer.”

Brown said he has a GPA “around 3.8 or 3.9.”

[ldawg]

Thanks ironlions. Sounds like many WCC schools should be looking at this student athlete.

[fanblade]

Never too soon to get the recruiting crystal ball polished!

"I’d kind of like to stay in the west ... I’ll probably stay in the west. As far as early playing time, I definitely want to play as soon as I get there.”

Check, check, check.

[fanblade]

Here is a lead from Scout.

Derrick Williams, 6'6" PF Med Interest **

Good schools looking at him w/ LMU
scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3127032

Derrick Williams, 6-6 JR PF La Mirada (Calif.) High, is a long and intriguing young prospect. Williams showed some promise last year and he has the potential to end up at the mid to high major level.

I spoke with Williams recently and he gave me a list of schools that have been in contact with him.

"USC, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Loyola Marymount, Cal and Penn State," said Williams.

I asked Williams what he is looking for in a college.

"I'm not really sure yet," said Williams. "I'll have to sit down with my Mom and talk about it. I would like to stay in California."

I asked Williams if early playing time is an issue with him.

"Yes, I would like to get some time early," said Williams. "I want to play."

...

[fanblade]

ESPN's evaluation of Williams.

#58 PF rank (76 score)

Evaluation: November, 2007: Williams is one of the more intriguing "fours" on the west coast. He has a great frame with long arms and broad shoulders. He is a good athlete (runs well) and although he isn't very bouncy, his overall length makes up for it. Williams has a solid upside - we believe he is going to be one of the late bloomers in this class. He is very young looking and it wouldn't surprise us if he ends up around 6-9. His skills are quite good in the paint area and he has a real knack to score underneath. He utilizes the drop-step very well and he has very good hands. He can step out and hit the 15-foot shot consistently as well. In the open court he handles the ball pretty well and usually makes good decisions. Overall, Williams - due to his length and savvy - should be a solid get for the WCC and with an added growth spurt could be recruited at a higher level.

Evaluation of Brown

#31 SF (80 score)

Evaluation: Brown has improved immensely in the past year. The biggest area of improvement has come from the defensive side of the ball. He has solid length and plays the lanes (has great instincts) as well as any high school wing. He is just a fair athlete (not to bouncy) at this point in his career; however, he does possess solid speed and excellent lateral quickness. Offensively, he can hit the 15-foot jump shot (although his release is odd) with regularity and generally has a nice feel for the game- he is always around the ball. He is a solid rebounder and possesses nice instincts around the basket. If he is to become a high-major recruit, he must continue to hone his perimeter skills, especially his jump shot. Overall, Brown is an aberration of the typical high school player where the passion of scoring points comes before playing good defense. However, in his case shutting down the other teams best player is his main priority. His defensive fundamentals are very sound at this point and are much more advanced than his offensive game.

Enjoy

[fanblade]

Interesting. What is this all about? A recent Scout (2/21) article on Bryce Smith says we have been talking to him "a little bit"?

When asked who was courting him:

"Air Force, Cleveland State, Jacksonville, Army, a little bit from Loyola Marymount, some Ivy League schools," said Smith.

[ironlions]

I saw this Bryce Smith article too but didn't post. I think we could do better!

We want more of this:

2009 four-star prospect Darius Morris registered on the national radar with his strong play during the summer. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard has continued that strong play for Los Angeles Windward High School and is hearing from a number of top programs from across the country.



Morris continues to develop.
Michigan, Washington State and Wyoming have offered Morris, and these schools along with some others have watched Morris play this winter.

"Coach Romar from Washington and two of his assistants watched me the other day," said Morris. "Michigan, Georgetown, Washington State, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount and Wyoming have also been to games."

Expecting more offers to come his way during the summer, Morris is reluctant to narrow down his school list.

"I like the three schools that have offered me early," he said. "I also like Georgetown, Washington, Texas and Georgia Tech. I've been in contact with the coaches from Georgetown, Washington and Texas, and Georgia Tech has been sending me a lot of mail.

"I'm not in a rush. After the summer I should have a lot more offers. I'm improving my game and am willing to wait things out a while. I really am open to anything. Harvard just contacted me, and my father was really excited about that."

Morris did note that Michigan and Washington State are to schools that he would definitely like to visit.

Averaging 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, Morris is happy about his development as a combo guard.

"I'm doing a little bit of everything for my team," he said. "I'm trying to get the best out of my teammates and help out with rebounding as well. Early in the game, I come off a lot of screens looking to score, and then later in the game, I take over the point. I want to develop into the type of player who can contribute in college at either guard position.

Darius Morris scouting report:

Smooth and crafty with the basketball, Morris has a sound feel for the point guard position. Still developing physically, he projects to have the length and shooting ability to also play off the ball. Strength must improve regardless of position.

[fanblade]

I should have posted the Smith news under the 2008 recruiting post. I guess that was my main question. He is hoping to chose a school this spring to suit up for the 08-09 season. But we already have filled that class unless we have open spaces?

Was Smith just unaware that we are no longer recruiting for next year or is there a new space open. Kind of odd.

[lmu]

Smith can always be a walk-on.


I wouldn't mind that.

[ironlions]

Glad to see some bigs are on our radar.

Focus and working hard are the two words that best describe Lucas Devenny on the basketball court. Devenny, a 6-foot-9 junior power forward from Piner High School in Santa Rosa, is one of the emerging post prospects in the class of 2009.

A rugged rebounder who is strong and tough in the paint, Devenny averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds a game for the Prospectors this past season. He was selected co-MVP of the North Bay League along with Justin Herald, a 6-foot-7 junior from Maria Carillo.

Devenny averaged a double-double for Piner this past season
"I had a very good season overall with some big games," said Devenny. "Against Cardinal Newman at home, I had 27 points and 17 rebounds. At Santa Rosa High, I had 35 points and 20 rebounds, and in the NCS we lost to Hercules High, I had 28 points and 19 rebounds."

Carl Foster, director of the Slam N Jam club Devenny plays for, says that he is a "throw back player."

"He is an outstanding defensive rebounder who is able to use his body to create good position," said Foster. "He is most adept at being able to get great low post position and scoring in the post."

Devenny had a break out year his freshman year at Piner, as he was being looked at as one of the best emerging big men to come out of the North Bay since Kyle Jeffers from Montgomery High, who went on to play at Oregon State. But during his sophomore season, Devenny struggled on the court.

"He had an added focus on him towards stopping him," continued Foster. "He started to see double and triple teams on a consistent basis and he had not faced this."

Going into his junior year, Devenny also had to fine tune and refocus his game. He had a solid summer playing for the Oakland Soldiers and followed this up with a strong performance at the Reebok Breakout Underclass Camp for rising sophomores and juniors. He also began to put in a lot of gym time working out with Lou Richie and Jeremy Russotti, two of the top basketball trainers in the area.

Devenny was determined to get ready for the intense pressure he would face on the court. He worked on post moves, jumped rope to improve his quickness and worked on his shot.

"My mental state has improved as a player," said Devenny. "I am a lot more aggressive. This year, I took on a better role as a team leader. Last year, I was an underclassman and I let everyone get involved."

His play has also helped him attract a list of college suitors who are interested in his abilities as a player. Schools recruiting him include Utah, Pacific, Santa Barbara, San Jose State, UC Davis, Penn and Loyola Marymount. Devenny is wide open and looking for the proper fit as a player.

"Lucas, is going to remind a lot of people of a poor man's Kevin Love, because of his versatility of knocking down the 17 footer along with being an animal in the lane," added Foster. "He will be better in college. He will do the stuff that other people do not enjoy doing."

Until then though, Devenny will keep on doing what he does, which is working in the gym and focusing on getting better.

[lmu]

Poor man's Kevin Love? Hahaha...is this a compliment or a slam on the player? I don't know, I don't want to read too much into it.