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It's been an eventful month for head coach Ben Braun and the California Golden Bears.
The Golden Bears, who tied for second in the Pac-10 regular season race, finished the year 23-9, losing to Pittsburgh (at Pittsburgh) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Then 6-foot-11 sophomore reserve Gabriel Hughes asks for a release from his letter of intent. Then, 6-11 freshman starter Jamal Sampson announces (in the same week as Hughes' request) that he's putting his name in the NBA draft.
And in the past two weeks, Cal's prized recruit from the Class of 2002, 6-6 small forward Kennedy Winston (Blount H.S./Prichard, Ala.) asks for his release from his letter of intent (Winston expresses a desire to be close to his home with his mother, who has been sick, and his grandmother, who has a history of heart trouble). Braun, who recently visited with Winston's mother in the hospital, granted Winston his request and gave him a full release.
Once Braun gave Hughes his release, it left the Golden Bears with only 6-10 sophomore-to-be Amit Tamir and 6-7 junior-to-be walk-on power forward Connor Famulner returning from this season's frontline. If anything, that means lots of playing time opportunities for incoming freshman David Paris (Modesto Christian H.S./Modesto, Calif.), a 6-8, 250-pounder who signed with Cal last November.
Cal, however, received some good news and some sorely need depth when it received a verbal commitment from 6-9, 215-pound Rodrique Benson (Torrey Pines H.S./Del Mar, Calif.), who made an official visit to the Berkeley campus last weekend. Benson is a developing big man, who caught the eyes of recruiters this past December, with some impressive performances. He's athletic, long and has a developing post game.
As for Hughes, a very athletic shot blocker-type, he has already received interest from the likes of UC Santa Barbara, Rutgers, Fresno State, Utah, Texas A&M, Delaware, Texas-El Paso, San Jose State and UC Irvine. He's the younger brother of Cal graduating starter Solomon Hughes and he's got three years to play two at the Division I level.
Now that he's received his release from Cal's letter of intent, the strong rumor has the sweet-shooting Winston headed to Alabama, though that is unconfirmed.
Also on the Cal front, 6-6 small forward Marquise Kately (Riordan H.S./San Francisco, Calif.), who had previously verballed to California, may be headed elsewhere. Kately, who has yet to qualify, was rumored for a year of prep school to shore up his academic standing, prior to enrolling at Cal. However, Kately did take an official visit to the University of Utah last weekend, which puts his commitment to Cal in some doubt.
Cal, by all reports, is still his top choice, but the Golden Bears do not take non-qualifiers straight out of high school. Utah does, as does UNLV and Fresno State, who are also looking at Kately.
On The Recruiting Trail
Head coach Michael Holton and the University of Portland had two pieces of good news this week. First, they learned that 6-4 shooting guard Donald Wilson (Dorsey H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.), who had verballed to the Pilots earlier in the spring, had received a qualifying score on his SAT. Then, last Wednesday, they received a signed national letter of intent from Wilson, who is one of the biggest steals on the West Coast. One of the best athletes in the country (he triple-jumped over 47-feet as a 10th grader), Wilson is a stellar defender, excels in transition and gets to the bucket in the half-court offense. He's also shown off a consistent outside jumper this spring; expect him to be an impact freshman in the West Coast Conference next season.
Keleena Azubuike (Victory Christian H.S./Tulsa, Okla.), an athletic 6-5 forward, has decided to be a Kentucky Wildcat. Long rumored to be headed to Oklahoma, Azubuike is a strong slasher to the rack, who should see some immediate playing time in Lexington.
UCLA commitment Evan Burns, the very live-legged forward with the outside shooting touch, has become a full-qualifier and will play for the Bruins next season.
A couple of standout juniors from Motown have both decided to announce early verbal commitments. Junior combo guard Brandon Cotton (DePorres H.S./Detroit, Mich.), considered among the top 100 juniors nationally, has given a verbal commitment to Michigan State. Cotton is a scorer, who is at his best, slashing to the basket.
Another top 100 caliber player, 6'9, 260-pound junior Walter Waters (Southeastern H.S./Detroit, Mich.) has given an early verbal commitment to Pittsburgh.
Arizona State has received a signed letter of intent from 6-6 swingman Jamal Hill of San Jose City College in California. Hill, who teamed in high school with Kansas Jayhawk star Drew Gooden at El Cerrito High School in the Bay Area, was recruited by the likes of Kansas, Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico and TCU. Hill, a prolific outside shooter, averaged 23 points and five rebounds this season.
6-5 junior Adam Morrison (Mead H.S./Spokane, Wash.) has given an early verbal commitment to play locally at Gonzaga.
Speaking of early verbal commitments, 6-11 sophomore Greg Steimsma from Randolph High School in Randolph, Wis., has decided to become a Wisconsin Badger, after making an unofficial visit to the Madison campus this past weekend. Head coach Bo Ryan and the Badgers also received a commitment from 6'1 senior point guard Marcetteus McGee (Farragut Academy/Chicago, Ill.).
Temple has received a commitment from 6-5 small forward Maurice Collins (Simon Gratz H.S./Philadelphia, Pa.).
6-6, 230-pound forward Shun Jenkins (Itawamba JC/Georgia) has given a verbal commitment to Ohio State.
Texas A&M has received national letters of intent from 6-1 shooting guard Kevin Turner (Fullerton JUCO/Fullerton, Calif.) and 6-1 point guard Leandro Garcia-Morales (Miami Dade JC/Fla.). Turner is a scorer, who can stroke the jumper from deep or off the dribble, while Uruguay native Garcia-Morales is a skilled scoring point. Garcia-Morales started his collegiate career off with a strong freshman season at Division II Lynn University (Boca Raton, Fla.) before transferring to the JUCO ranks for the past season.
Illinois got the word they've been seeking all spring when 6-9, 250-pound Aaron Spears (Dunbar H.S./Chicago, Ill.) gave the Illini his verbal commitment at the end of his official visit to Champaign. It was Spears' second official visit, having tripped to Iowa in recent weeks. He averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds during his senior campaign.
6-foot junior point guard Matt Causey (East Hall H.S./Gainesville, Ga.) has given an early verbal commitment to Georgetown. He's a pure point guard, a distributor, who can score when needed.
6-8 power forward Kevin Gardner (Peninsula H.S./Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) is taking an official visit to Boston University this weekend. Gardner, a long-armed leaper, known for his shot-blocking and dunking ability, has already taken an official visit to the University of Denver, while Tulane has also made a strong push recently. Gardner, a full-qualifier, who was coveted by the Ivy League schools earlier, has also seen San Jose State enter the recruiting fray.
Dayton has received a commitment from 6-foot point guard Warren Williams (DeMatha H.S./Hyattsville, Md.).
David Benezra and Mark Mayemura cover the national college basketball recruiting scene at their Recruiting USA (www.recruitingusa.com) website. E-mail at: hoopsusa@mindspring.com or call (818) 783-2244 or (818) 783-2212 for subscription information.
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