Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Analysis of Rivals150

Every year, Rivals.com releases their list of the top 150 prospects in a given class. We here at CA/CO Prep Sports took a look at this list and found some very interesting things!

If you asked your average basketball junkie, most would think that the states of California, Illinois and New York would produce the most HS level basketball talent. After analyzing the list, only one of these 3 states is in the top 3 in terms of the number of prospects on the 150 list.

1. Georgia-GA leads the nation with 14 prospects on the list. In recent years, GA has become arguably the nations top prep basketball state. Schools like Norcross HS have made their name on the national scene and the AAU club the Atlanta Celtics played host to current NBA stars Josh Smith and Dwight Howard. With the expansion of the Atlanta metropolitan area, GA's talent level should only rise.

2. CA/NJ- Jersey and the Golden State tie with 11 prospects a piece. With national powerhouses like St. Benedicts and St. Anthony's it is not totally surprising to see NJ putting out big time talent. CA is a players paradise. There is competition in every gym. Los Angeles puts out players that range in style from Aaron Afflalo and Gilbert Arenas to Tyson Chandler and Teyshaun Prince. Oakland is one of the most historically rich basketball towns, and The Town loves to produce big guys like Drew Gooden, Leon Powe and Cal's Devon Hardin.

3. FL- It isn't just UF that is strong in basketball these days. With 2 major metropolitan areas in Tampa and Miami, it isn't hard to put out some of the top talent in the country. Edgewater and Clearwater HS's are big time programs. One of Florida's home grown boys? Vince Carter.

4. North Carolina- While the Carolina state is rich in College tradition with Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest and NC State, the high school scene has picked up as well. While NC is putting out talent, much of it is transplant talent due to the high volume of Prep Schools. For example, the star of the Pendletton School, Matt Simpkins, is from Northern California.

Others of Note: TX 7, IL 7, NY 6, VA 6

Monday, December 3, 2007

Top Ten

Now for the good stuff, here are the top 10 CO basketball teams as of 12/04/2007.

1. Denver East- Simply put, the Thorton brothers are dominating. Combining for 49 points against Doherty, the brothers helped east down the #4 team in Colorado 79-70. When the Angels get star Mookie Gilbert back, Rudy Carey should have his 3rd state title in 5 years.

2. ThunderRidge- This program has no excuse to ever be out of the top 5 as they are just that deep with talent. Coach Joe Ortiz has the talent and the experience to get this team to the Coors Event Center yet again.

3. Poudre- Dallas Elmore and company dispensed Xavier Howard-less Smoky Hill this past week to boot the Buffaloes out of the top 10. If the rest of Poudre can step up when Elmore is focused on, this team could be simply dangerous!

4. Doherty- The loss to #1 East drops the Spartans only one spot. Doherty has some big shoes to fill from last year, but has the talent to do it. The league games against Reggie Jackson and Palmer will be exciting.

5. Mullen- Two Final Fours and a state championship are things that programs often dream about. For Coach Cutrell and the Mustangs that is the level of expectations that they must live up to. Cutrell has built Mullen into a perennial powerhouse and with stars Terrance Dent and Stan Jones, I don't see Mullen falling to short of those expectations.

6. Cherry Creek- They have talent year in and year out and this year is no exception. Trey Eckloff is looking to have a monster senior year and lead CC back to Boulder. Will he have enough support from his fellow Bruins?

7. Palmer- This team could catapult up these rankings very soon. Reggie Jackson has a very capable cast around him and should they split with Doherty, I like them come tourny time. For now though, Palmer is at #7.

8. Boulder- Word is that this group of seniors has changed their attitude and set their sights on playing up the hill on campus come later in the season. Will the Panthers finally live up to their potential?

9. Wheat Ridge- One of the taller teams in the state and they should have a favorable league schedule. Will the Farmers have the guard play to compete with the state's elite? Early indications are negative, but the post play is enough to warrent a top 10 ranking.

10. Fairview- Coach Lee has all three components of a team to make a run for CEC; they have a great PG, a star on the wing, and they play great defense. Fairview could shoot up the rankings and gain a #1 seed coming tourny time, or they could finish mid pack in the Centennial and make a Cinderella run at the title.

Players to Watch

We all know about the stars of Colorado like Dallas Elmore, Trey Eckloff and Demetrius Thorton, but who are the top players in each class that could have break out years?

Freshman: T.J. Adams (Silver Creek)- Adams stands at about 6'4 and is as coordinated as it gets at that age. Despite the lack of a consistent outside shot, Adams is a strong rebounder and has a high motor at all times. It looks like Adams will be starting for the Raptors and Coach Banning, so he should have plenty of opportunities to succeed.

Sophomores: Nick Tomsick (Broomfield)- Tomsick should be the next great guard to wear an Eagles uniform. Tomsick performed very well in the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase and is looking to lead Broomfield towards a state title in 4A.

Juniors: Beau Gamble (Fairview)- I can't say how much I like his game. He is a quick point guard who simply does not turn the ball over. He is every coaches dream PG. Gamble also possesses a great shot. Gamble will be the beneficiary of double teams on fellow teammate Travis Shepherd.

Seniors: Mitchell Frasier (Boulder)- While Frasier is a common name to CO HS basketball junkies, many out side of the Centennial League know about this athletic guard. Frasier posses the passing ability of a point guard, the shooting of a shooting guard, and the athleticism of a power forward. Look for him to possibly lead the Centennial League in scoring.

League Rankings

1. Centennial: With 4 of the top 10 teams in the state, it is hard to argue against this choice. Over the past 5 years the Centennial league has only won a single state title, but has produced 6 Final Four teams including an All-Centennial Final Four.

2. Denever Prep League: While not all the schools are 5A, the DPL has a total of 3 teams ranked the top 10 of their respective top 10 polls. Included in those rankings are Colorado's #1 Denver East, defending 4A champion Lincoln and 4A powerhouse Thomas Jefferson.

3. Continental: The Continental league may not be as deep in terms of good teams as the Centennial, but they are more competitive in the middle than the DPL. ThunderRidge again leads the way for the conference with Gateway, Arapahoe and Regis leading the middle.

Friday, November 23, 2007

DC runs to the upset


When Mullen's starting QB Johnny Miller went down earlier in the year, Sophomore Tim Tancik stepped up to the plate for the Mustangs. With 14 TD passes to 3 interceptions, Tancik had yet to be rattled; Douglas County was able to do that Friday night at De La Salle Field winning 21-14.
Down 14-7 at halftime, the Huskies of DC rushed for over 225 yards in the 2nd half. The go ahead TD was by Jose Astorga on a 82 yard TD run in the 4th quarter. QB Will Arnold ran for the second TD in the 3rd quarter while Astorga scored from 7 yards in the 1st.
"It took a lot (to beat Mullen)," said Arnold. "We dug down and took it to them."
With under 3:00 to go, Mullen got the ball at their own 22 yard line with a chance to score. After converting on 4th down and 3rd and long, Tincik completed a 13 yard pass to Mullen senior Terrence Dent to get Mullen inside the 20 yard line. After nearly being intercepted by Douglas County LB Ryan Misare on a sideline pass, Tincik went back to the same rout only this time Misare hauled it in.
"I jumped it and came down with it, it was awesome," Misare said
With the win, Douglas County moves to its second state final in three years. As of Friday night, the Huskies look to face either Bear Creek or Grandview.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Action packed?

If you are well connected in the circle of Colorado prep sports, it's likely that you've heard about what happened on November 3rd when Highlands Ranch faced Rangeview on the gridiron. If not, then check out this video http://www.9news.com/video/player.aspx?aid=43553&bw= on 9news.com.

What you will see is following the play, a Highlands Ranch player grab the face mask of a Rangeview player and toss him to the ground using his strength and body weight. This action resulting in a serious neck injury (reportedly a broken neck) to the young man in the Raider uniform. What makes this so different then any other dangerous play on the football field that unfortunately results in serious injury? There was no penalty, and no response from CHSAA.

This was no ordinary action either. It is clear in the video, that this was done with malicious intent and you see the head referee come into view at the end of the video. Where was his flag? Did he leave it with his glasses in the car? There is no way that he did not see the act because the quarterback ran and was down just yards from the incident. This kind of action is inexcusable and the player should be penalized accordingly: career long suspension, anger management classes and his parents should cover the medical bill of the injured Rangeview player. This is similar to the incident in the NHL when Todd Bertuzzi attacked a player from the Avalanche and critically injured him. Criminal acts are criminal acts, whether they take place in a bar or on a playing field and whether they are premeditated or in the heat of the moment. The staff at CA/CO Prep Sports strongly encourages the justice department and the Highlands Ranch administration to do the right thing.

Monday, November 5, 2007

5A League Predictions

As basketball try outs near, it is time to look at the prediction champions in each 5A conference in Colorado.

Continental:
Favorite- ThunderRidge- Coach Ortiz returns a squad this year that is looking to help the Grizzlies return to Coors Event Center in 2008. David Arnold and Corey Stern will carry the Grizzlies.

Sleeper- Gateway- The Olympians are led by all everything player O'Rion Hughes. With a dominant showing at the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase, Hughes is looking to lead his team to a possible Cinderella type season.

Centennial:
Favorite- I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Mullen here. I think Mullen has gained the competitive mental edge over Cherry Creek in the last few years even with the loss of All-State Devin Aguilar (right) and I love Coach Cutrell. Terrance Dent and Stan Jones headline the Mustangs this year.

Sleeper- Not much of a sleeper with Mr. Basketball candidate Trey Eckloff (committed to Colorado) on the squad. Cherry Creek could easily take the #1 spot from Mullen, but they will have to overcome the losses that they have suffered in the past few years.

Colorado Springs Metro:
Favorite- Doherty should be the overwhelming favorite on nearly every board. With a junior class that is probably the best in the state, the Spartans will make a run at state for the next two years.

Sleeper- Palmer, led by Reggie Jackson (committed to Boston College) will give Doherty all they can handle. Jackson, arguably the state's top player, will need to trust his supporting cast if Palmer plans on making a run at Doherty.

Denver Prep:
Favorite- The East Angels. Need I say more? The name alone brings chills to teams that have been conquered by Rudy Cary and company. Demetrius Thornton and Mookie Gilbert will lead the Angels into the season as the top ranked team in Colorado and defending 5A champions. This year is the most likely year that we will see a repeat champion since the early 2000's with ThunderRidge, but it will not be easy.

Sleeper- I am going to go with Manual. Oh wait, Manual closed. Well, that about shows who is going to be able to steal the city title from East.

Front Range:
Favorite- Poudre is lead by Mr. Basketball favorite Dallas Elmore (committed to Boston College) but will need to prove that they can get the job done as a team unit.

Sleeper- Legacy has their own star in Trevor Noonan (committed to Air Force) but will they have enough to stop the Impalas?

Jeffco:
Favorite- Chatfield is my pick here. They lose some talent but they also have some underclassmen that provide the new talent along with senior leadership. They will likely struggle outside of conference but the Jeffco is one of the weaker leagues in 5A Colorado.

Sleeper- Anyone.

Skyline:
Aurora Central- The Trojans lose nearly everything from the State Runner up last year, but new addition Kojo Mensah from Brooklyn, NY should give AC the athleticism, experience and talent to win the weakest 5A conference in the state.

Sleeper- Noone.

Southwest:
CA/CO Prep Sports has yet to evaluate teams from this conference.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Nick Gills Commits

Nick Gill, the stand out point guard from Faith Christian, committed to Colorado Christian this past week. Gill has played for the Colorado Chaos AAU Club for the past few summers and has shined. CA/CO Prep Sports wishes Nick and his family the best of luck taking this next step in their lives.

Per Dave Matthews, the Chaos club director:

As a junior last season, Gill averaged 14 points, 6 assists and 3 steals per game while leading his team to the state semi-finals. He was named first team All Conference and second team All State.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

CO HS Player Rankings

As the season creeps closer and closer, the discussions of league champions, state champions, and Mr. Basketball begin. Here at CA/CO Prep Sports, we would like to start off with the top ten players in Colorado, regardless of class. Have an opinion on our rankings? Let us know in the comments section directly below the rankings!

Top Ten:

1. Dallas Elmore (Poudre)- He has the ability to take over any game, at any time. His three point shot has shown improvement since last year. As of now, I have to believe that he is the front runner for Colorado 5A Mr. Basketball.

2. Reggie Jackson (Palmer)- Another player that has the ability to make a game changing play every time down the floor. Has tremendous potential.

3. Trey Eckloff (Cherry Creek)- Eckloff has blown up on the scene over the past year, and continues to display development in his game. As deadly from 20 feet as he is from 2 feet. At the RMFS, showed the ability to guard quicker players.

4. Trevor Noonan (Legacy)- I love this kids game. He is smooth to the basket, but can kill you from deep. Look for him to help Legacy advance deep into the post season.

5. Corey Stern (ThunderRidge) Junior- At times, he is simply impossible to guard. He is long, athletic and skilled. While he needs to get more aggressive when he goes to the hoop, his 3-pointer will open up plenty of options for him.

6. Demetrius Thornton (Denver East)- Thornton continues the tradition of great players at East. Thornton is looking to make a splash on the scene after sitting out last year's state championship run for the Angels. If East is ranked 1 or 2 in CO going into the playoffs, he could surprise as Mr. Basketball.

7. O'Rion Hughes (Gateway)- Hughes brings an energy to the game that is unmatched. His enthusiasm and passion are a fun thing to watch. Hughes should lead a Gateway team that will surprise many.

8. James Klemm (Heritage) Junior- Shooting, shooting and more shooting. This kid can do it anytime, and everywhere. Should be one of the best players in the Centennial State for the next two years.

9. Justin Coughlin (Yuma)- The favorite for Mr. Basketball 3A. At 6'8 he should have no problem dominating the competition at his level.

10. Terrance Dent (Mullen)- Dent moved to Mullen last year and helped take them to the Final Four last season. With the loss of all-everything player Devin Aguilar, Dent will need to take on a heavier load.

Monday, October 15, 2007

RMFS Lasting Impressions

Well it has been a few days since the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase and I have seen the final stats for both junior and senior games. After going over my notes again, talking with other Colorado hoop minds, and seeing the stats, here are my lasting impressions hip-hop style:

"Get your roll on"- Big Tymers: Corey Stern (ThunderRidge '09) did just that. Setting a new RMFS scoring record with 28 pts, Stern also recorded 13 rebs, 3 assists and 4 blocks. Stern looks to be the best player in the 2009 class, and should be one of the best if not THE best in the region. If not for his outside shot, Stern would just be another good high school player. Stern hit 4 three-pt shots for the Junior Whites. As he gets stronger at penetrating to the basket, his shot will keep defenses honest and make him nearly impossible to guard at the HS level in Colorado.






"Drop it like it's hot"- Snoop Dogg: Travis Shepard (Fairview '09) "dropped it like it's hot" with his 20 pts in 9-15 shooting including two 3's. He is a long 6'4 guard that along with teammate Beau Gamble should lead Fairview towards the top of the Centennial League in the next two years. Shepard benefited from the penetration abilities of teammates, but there is no mistaking his personal ability. He is an all-league and possibly 2nd team all state type player.






Look for the 2nd half of my Lasting Impressions within the next few days!


***Please note that all pictures from the RMFS were obtained from the Colorado Prep Sports link on Smug Mug. These pictures are not used for personal profit and can be purchased from CPS at http://coloradoprepsports.smugmug.com/gallery/3646105.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase Recap


This annual event has become the best place to catch the most talented players that the Rocky Mountain Region has to offer. Ca/CO Prep Sports would like to thank Dave Matthews and the Colorado Chaos organization for this great event.

Now, I was only able to make it for the junior game, three point contest, dunk contest and the senior game. Below is my recap with player evaluations.

Senior Game:

Trey Eckloff, Denver (CO) Cherry Creek, committed to Colorado- Trey looked great in the senior game. He showed off an exceptional perimeter game while still being able to get to the basket. Defensively, he guarded Demetrius Thorton. While Thorton seemed to be the more athletic, Eckloff looked great moving his feet. When Thorton did get passed him, Eckloff was able to record about 3-4 blocks in the first

quarter. While at CU, Eckloff needs to improve his handle and strength.

O'Rion Hughes, Aurora (CO) Gateway- Hughes was the champion of both the dunk contest and the 3 pt contest. Hughes is one of the quickest defenders in recent years and he has the ability to get out on the break as well as anyone. He would be a great get for a RMAC team.

Demetrius Thorton, Denver (CO) East- Thorton looked great going to the basket, but was rejected several times by Eckloff. Initially, he lacked the explosiveness to finish above the rim in traffic, but he began to go harder to the basket and reached the charity stripe consistently. Thorton is a very good player that has a high ceiling. At this point, he is a low-major D-1 to a D-2 prospect.

Trevor Noonan, Broomfield (CO) Legacy, Committed to Air Force- At times, Noonan looked like the best player on the floor. He is dynamic going to the basket as he can go to the rack and finish or he can pull up for the jump shot. At 6'8 with long arms and quick feet, he has a huge upside. His mid range game is nice, but it is his driving ability that impressed me. Because he can shoot as well as anyone, he has the opportunity to go by defenders. Look for Noonan to blossom into a great MWC player.

Justin Coughlin, Yuma (CO) Yuma, Committed to Denver- Standing at 6'8, it would be easy to tell why DU recruited Coughlin. Still, Coughlin was one of the thinnest men on the floor, and simply looked over matched. Solely based on what I saw yesterday, Coughlin does not look like a D-1 prospect.

Mitch Frasier, Boulder (CO) Boulder- While not physically imposing, Frasier is a player that simply gets the job done. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor at anytime. If he is left open, he will make it, plain and simple. If you give him 1 foot of room, he will make it. He is simply the most deadly shooter in the state.

Junior Game:

Corey Stern, Highlands Ranch (CO) ThunderRidge-
Stern was named the MVP of the Junior Game. Had over 20 pts, I believe over 10 rebs., and quite a few assists. At times he looked like he couldn't be guarded with his long frame, athleticism to the basket and sweet stroke from 3. Stern looks to be good at just about everything, but not great at anything. In order for him to be a solid D-1 prospect, he needs to improve his explosiveness and ball handling. At 6'6 or so, he is going to need to be able to dribble penetrate past quicker defenders (handling) and then rise up in traffic and finish above the rim. Right now, Stern is a low-mid major prospect based on my observations.

Marquis Burleson, Colorado Springs (CO) Doherty- Burleson looked to me like the most dynamic player on the court at times. He has to ability to get to the basket and finish with crafty moves and a thick body. His shot looked to be solid from 3, but his midrange game did leave some to be desired.

Bryse Velazquez, Colorado Springs (CO) Doherty- While Velazquez has been talked about as possibly the best player in the 2009 class, it did not show at the RMFS. He forced the actions consistently, and looked to get his nearly every time. He is generally a reliable ball handler and showed some flashy passing skills. He was consistently able to get past the first two defenders but was too small to finish at the basket.

Beau Gamble, Boulder (CO) Fairview- Gamble fits the classic mold of a Frank Lee (Fairview coach) player. He is quick, tough, plays great defense, and shoots the lights out. Gamble was able to provide full court pressure without getting beat once. He simply dedicates himself to stopping the other player and it works. On offense, he does not turn the ball over and if left open, is deadly from deep.

Monday, October 8, 2007

DU gets a bball commit

Brian Stafford, Walnut Creek (CA) Las Lomas, recently verbally committed to play for the University of Denver. The Pioneers are getting an excellent shooter that makes plays all over the floor. Stafford played for Northern California's top ranked AAU team, Lakeshow.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Northern California Boys Basketball Commits

Always one of the most talented regions for basketball in the country, Northern California features one of the most talented 2008 classes in the country this year. Here is a list of commits so far from Norcal.

PS: If I am missing someone, please comment with the player, school, and college!

Drew Gordon San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- UCLA
Over the past few years, UCLA has gained a reputation of playing arguably the toughest defense in the country. The Bruins have another defensive stud coming to Westwood in Gordon. A freak athletically, Gordon has become a force in the paint by altering shots and cleaning up the boards. For him to have NBA potential, he needs to improve his offensive skill set dramatically.

D.J. Seeley Modesto Christian (CA)- California
Creates match up problems at the Shooting Guard with his long frame. Could have an amazing career at Cal if he improves his perimeter skill set namely his ball handling.

Elston Turner Roseville (CA) Roseville- Washington
While Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar has recruited himself lots of athleticism the past few years, Turner looks to be of a different mold. Turner is a lights out shooter that will extend defenses. His athleticism leaves a little bit to be desired so his defense will be an issue in college.

Other commits:
Chris Jones Newark (CA) Newark Memorial- Fresno St
Collin Chiverton San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- St. Mary's CA
Tim Williams Antioch (CA) Antioch- St. Mary's CA
William Brew Berkeley (CA) St. Mary's-Berkeley- Santa Barbera
Oliver McNally Ross (CA) Branson- Harvard
Enoch Andoh San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty- Bucknell

Friday, October 5, 2007

Past Material

Here are links to some of my past material that I have written over the last two years or so.

My award winning piece regarding High School recruitment: http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8715&aid=133800

Northern California's 2007 NCS semi-finalist California HS http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8871&aid=135887

Again, California HS's basketball http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8893&aid=136713

Column regarding the 2007 sexual assault case at De Anza College (Aptos, CA) http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8931&aid=136803

Another feature story regarding HS recruiting http://my.highschooljournalism.org/ca/sanramon/chs/article.cfm?eid=8898&aid=136392

Thursday, October 4, 2007

CA Game of the Week

While De La Salle vs. Mission Viejo has been a classic match up for the last couple of years, I am looking at an EBAL match up between California and Monte Vista. Cal comes off a huge 31-7 win against Foothill (Pleasanton) while Monte Vista is looking to win it's 2nd EBAL title in the last 3 years. I look for this game to be a bit of a shootout with both teams featuring serious talent on the offensive side of the ball. I'm interested to see how Cal's DB's handle the passing attack that Monte Vista QB Drew McCallister brings to the table.

Spotlight is on:

QB/DB Drew McCallister- The Monte Vista standout committed to the University of Southern California before the season. Look for the match up between him and the Cal WR's to be the deciding factor in the game.

QB Nick Spalliero- Cal's QB has yet to commit to a school. Since Nick is a dual-threat QB, he is going to create match up problems all year. If he can establish the passing game early, much like against Foothill, then he will have open space to run in.

CO Week 6 game of the week

While the game of the week lies on Thursday between Arvada West and Columbine, I am looking forward Boulder v. Cherry Creek. Boulder is coming off their first victory against Overland in 8 years while Cherry Creek is looking to keep up with Mullen in the upper echelon of the Centennial League.

Spotlight is on:
LB Will Pericak (6'4 247 lbs) Boulder- Committed to the University of Colorado this past week.
QB Jack Elway (6'2 197 lbs) Cherry Creek- Has yet to commit, but as the son of Denver Bronco great John Elway, Jack has garnered plenty of attention.

Colorado Basketball Commitments

The class of 2008 in Colorado is starting to look like the strongest class CO has seen in the last decade. With many touting the 2006 and 2007 classes as the deepest that the state has seen in quite some time, the young men of 2008 are starting to show high-major commitments already.

Trey Eckloff, Denver (CO) Cherry Creek, 6'9 220 lbs- Univ. of Colorado (Big XII)
Rated as a 3* prospect by Rivals.com, Eckloff has yet to show flashes of dominance in the CO prep scene. Eckloff has a good upside, but needs to improve his athletic ability to be able to guard PF's at the Big XII level. He also held offers from Nebraska, Columbia, Harvard and Princeton.

Dallas Elmore, Ft. Collins (CO) Poudre, 6'4 200- Boston College (ACC)
Another 3* prospect by Rivals.com, Elmore made his name known this past summer in Vegas by putting up some of the most impressive offensive numbers of the weekend. Elmore is an explosive player that will thrive in the Eagles uptempo style. He also had offers from Colorado State and Wyoming.

Reggie Jackson, Colorado Springs (CO) Palmer, 6'3 170 lbs.- Boston College (ACC)
Shortly after receiving a verbal from Elmore, BC picked up their 2nd CO stud in Jackson. A high-flying athletic wing, Jackson has as much potential as any player in the country. With the improvement in his outside shot, Jackson could be an All-ACC type player by his junior year. He also had offers from Wyoming and Nevada.

Other 2008 Colorado commits:

Justin Coughlin, Yuma (CO)- Univ. of Denver
Trevor Noonan, Broomfield (CO) Legacy- Air Force
Terrance Dent, Denver (CO) Mullen- Weber State
CA/CO Prep Sports congratulates all of these players and their accomplishments!

COMING SOON!- A complete list of 2008 Norcal commits!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Prep Football 9-28

Northern California- The game of the weekend for me was California v. Foothill in a classic EBAL showdown. While Foothill entered the game ranked in the top 20 by Rivals.com, California came into the contest looking to solidify themselves as a top teir team in the Bay Area. Led by LB Nick Rosato and QB Nick Spalleiro, the Grizzlies of California dominated Foothill in every aspect of the game. Foothill's QB was forced out of the pocket on numerous occasions leading to a few INT's that jumpstarted the California offense. It took Cal three-quarters to really get going and finished off the game with a 31-7 victory. LB Rosato has the measurables of a D-1 prospect (MWC, WAC type) but has the work ethic of a BCS recruit. According to Rivals.com he currently holds offers from Colorado State, Air Force, Utah State, and Nevada. Foothill RB/LB Rob Andrews looked solid as usual and it consistently takes three or four defenders to bring him down. On defense, he is the leader and is in the mix on every play. At 6'2 211 lbs, he is good size for a college LB, but he is too slow to really be a force. I would not be surprised if he was a recruited walk-on at a BCS school because he is hard nosed and has a solid work ethic.

Colorado- The biggest upset of the year took place when Regis Jesuit took out #3 Douglas County. DC is headlined by Tyler Jackson, an athletic CD that according to Rivals.com is a 2* prospect. His best offers so far are from Washington St and Kansas, but look for Colorado to offer before long. Jackson is long, fast and has a knack for the grabbing the INT.

Thoughts on recruiting- When will some one step up and snatch James Logan (Union City, CA) CB Rashad Evans? This kid is a freak athletically, while only 5'9, but his instincts are there. Oregon is the only BCS school to offer, but he apparentally has garnered interest from Florida lately. Also, as I said earlier, Tyler Jackson (Douglas County, Castle Rock, CO) deserves that offer from Colorado. CU is thin at nearly every position, and Jackson will help that. Jackson has put up monster numbers so far this year, and that tape should bring more offers his way.

Welcome!

Welcomed to the newest outlet for prep sports coverage in Northern California and the metro Colorado regions presented by myself, William Whelan. I have been involved in prep sports in both regions for the last four years. I consider myself one of the most informed, and most dedicated minds in the business. I look forward to providing all of you with my takes and information on two the of the most competitive regions for prep sports in the country!