Basketball recruiting for 2004-2005

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:36 pm

I think that Spoja was asked to tryout for the KC Chiefs as a tight end to back up Gonzalez.....Not too bad for a guy who never played a down of college football.

I remember playing rat ball with Spoja in North Gym while he was at MSU completing his degree. The guy who he was guarding thought he was pretty hot sh!t, until Spoja blocked his shot 4 consecutive times. The last time, the guy was shooting a 3 from the top of the key and Spoja was standing behind the free throw line, Spoja blocked the shot and took it the other way for a dunk...What an athlete, and he's an equally nice guy as well.

HelenaCat · Post by **HelenaCat** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:21 pm

wbftg: Interesting that Spoja was completing his degree at MSU. What was his degree in? I could take a potshot at um and their academic issues, but I would never do that

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:00 pm

Update on Tommy Craddock a 6-8 PF from Washington. Craddock is rate a three star basketball player on both Rivals.com and Scout.com and would be a great get for Montana State. He was being recruited by Pac-10 and WAC schools until he broke his leg before the summer. He is coming back from that injury but the larger schools backed off when they could not watch him during the summer. The Griz are said to be in the miz, and are still incontact but they are currently 1 scholarship over the limit for next year right now so they would have to Jetison 2 player in order to sign Him. (Lynch, Farr and McClay are you listening)

Big Man Considers Four

Tommy Craddock Profile

Tommy Craddock, 6-8 SR C Everett (Wash.) Mariner, didn't play last summer due to a broken leg. Since he didn't get seen by coaches in the summer, Craddock decided to wait until the spring to choose a college.

We spoke with Craddock yesterday and he told us that he's been hearing primarily from four schools.

"Montana, Montana State, Santa Clara and USC are the ones I've been hearing from," said Craddock. "I went down to Portland State to watch them play Montana State."

Link to his stats for the year.

http://read.nwsource.com/highschool/bas ... erID=55822

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:15 pm

Based on what I have heard MSU is after this would be my Ideal recruiting year.

High school Swing player:
Jack McGillis 6-6 Hellgate 2g/sf/pf
High school Forward:
Tommy Craddock 6-8 Marinier High PF/C
JC Forward:
Dennis Pease 6-8 Panola JC PF/C
Freshman Point Guard:
Scott Stockwell, 6-1 PG Post Falls Ida

Stockwell is a good choise but is the only point guard that I have found that they may be being recruiting so the only option I had there.
Durham is also, I hear, is recruiting High school player Philip Okonma a 6-9 210-pound forward /Center and if he could land him and Craddock I might look at not signing a JC player and go with the two high school power forwards/centers and hoping one could contribute some next year (ie Woodall's minutes)

Post by **kmax** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:16 pm

We spoke with Craddock yesterday and he told us that he's been hearing primarily from four schools.

"Montana, Montana State, Santa Clara and USC are the ones I've been hearing from," said Craddock. "I went down to Portland State to watch them play Montana State."

Ouch. Well I guess it could have been worse, he could have went to Nebraska to see that one. If this kid is so good, let's fly him into Bozeman to watch the PSU rematch. I am thinking that should leave a bit better impression of MSU Bball.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:45 pm

mslacat wrote:Durham is also, I hear, is recruiting High school player Philip Okonma a 6-9 210-pound forward /Center and if he could land him and Craddock I might look at not signing a JC player and go with the two high school power forwards/centers and hoping one could contribute some next year (ie Woodall's minutes)

Great info mslacat, thanks.

Woodalls minutes? As of the last 2 home stands, I dont recall Woodall getting much more than a handful of minutes at mop-up time.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 3:01 pm

mslacat wrote:
Durham is also, I hear, is recruiting High school player Philip Okonma a 6-9 210-pound forward /Center and if he could land him and Craddock I might look at not signing a JC player and go with the two high school power forwards/centers and hoping one could contribute some next year (ie Woodall's minutes)

BTW. A few weeks back a member of the BobcatNation emailed me directly some info on Okonma, but did not identify themselve, but I would like to thank the "mystery e-mailer" for the info.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:34 pm

The story on Craddock was just expanded:

Tommy Craddock

Premium Story Craddock Still Looking
By Greg Hicks West Coast Recruiting Analyst
Date: Feb 14, 2005

Tommy Craddock tells us he's hearing from schools in the Big Sky, WCC and Pac-10...

Tommy Craddock, 6-8 SR C Everett (Wash.) Mariner, didn't play last summer due to a broken leg. Since he didn't get seen by coaches in the summer, Craddock decided to wait until the spring to choose a college.

We spoke with Craddock yesterday and he told us that he's been hearing primarily from four schools.

"Montana, Montana State, Santa Clara and USC are the ones I've been hearing from," said Craddock. "I went down to Portland State to watch them play Montana State."

Craddock went on to say, "I just started talking to Coach Cantu at USC. I've been talking with Montana State a lot and my coach has been talking with Montana -- they've come to a few of my games. USC is coming this week to watch my last game of the year."

Craddock said he plans on taking trips over the next couple months. "I'll just go to the one that is the best fit," said Craddock.

We asked about his averages this year and Craddock said he averaged around 17 points and 11-12 rebounds a game.

BTW there is also a JC center in Oregon who I here the Griz are recruiting.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:54 pm

mslacat wrote:BTW there is also a JC center in Oregon who I here the Griz are recruiting.

Your sources must be wrong, mslacat. The almighty grizzlies never recruit JCs, and very rarely recruit anyone that isn't from Montana. Well, I guess at least he isn't from California, so maybe he isn't completely evil!

Bigtime75 · Post by **Bigtime75** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:59 pm

who is the JC player that the Griz are @??????

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:56 pm

Bigtime75 wrote:who is the JC player that the Griz are @??????

I just posted some info @ egriz under basketball. Thought it might be better appreciate there.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:26 pm

Found on the Net:

Forward Still Open
February 21, 2005 at 2:08pm ET

Kellen Hasquet Profile

Kellen Hasquet, 6-6 SR SF Missoula (Mont.) Sentinel, told us yesterday that he's still hearing from Montana, Montana State and Northern Colorado.

"Those three schools have been in contact, along with some D2 and NAIA schools," said Hasquet. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do right now. We'll see after the season."

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 6:47 pm

Found on the net.

Dastrup Dares To Have D-I Dream

If you live outside of Southern Oregon, you may not have heard about the season Jake Dastrup has had. The solid 6-foot-2 wing from Grants Pass High School is lighting it up from the outside this season and his play has helped take the Cavemen to the brink of earning the SOC's number one seed. While he's concentrating on getting GP to state, he is thinking about his college future - and two D-I programs from the Beehive State are paying notice.

"It's going pretty good," Dastrup said. "We're in a three-way tie for first place, and we won the coin flip so we'll play the winner of Roseburg and South Medford. I'm happy with the way that I'm playing - I'm shooting the ball with a lot of confidence."

Dastrup currently ranks as the number three scorer in the Southern Oregon Conference at 17 points a contest, but especially as of late, 20 point games are more commonplace than not. He's shooting over 50 percent from beyond the arc - and it's that accuracy from the outside that has several college programs interested.

"I've talked with some schools, but our coaches want me to wait (to do anything) until after the season," Dastrup said. "But Humboldt State stopped by the school the other day, and I've been talking to Utah State and Utah Valley State in southern Utah. Portland, Montana State have sent me some stuff too."

One school in particular currently stands out to Dastrup, and it's the one that is in the transition of moving up to Division I.

"I like Utah Valley State," Dastrup said. "My brother plays at Southwestern Oregon and he is also talking to them, so it would be cool if both of us go there. The coach said to send some film and I'm going to do that after the season ends. Utah State wants some film too."

A number of schools from lower divisions have also been in touch with Dastrup, but he continues to aim high.

"I've been talking to a bunch of Division II schools," Dastrup said. "Of those, I probably like Seattle Pacific the most. I also like Northwest Nazarene and Western Oregon just left a message for me."

"But if D-I doesn't work, I might just go to JC," he continued. "My dream is to go D-I. Plus, after one year I might go on a (LDS) mission too."

Dastrup and Grants Pass will play the winner of the Roseburg / South Medford game on Saturday night - if it's Roseburg it will be at home, if it's South Medford, it will be at the Panthers.

[/quote]

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:09 pm

Found thanks to Mr. Welch

Godfather of Grizzball epitome of leader
Joe Santoro RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
3/11/2005 12:32 am

Derek Lorenzen prepares to shoot during basketball practice at Galena High School on Nov. 22. The senior averaged 21.7 points per game. -

Derek Lorenzen was all things to all people this season for the Galena Grizzlies.

The kid dressed in black and gold with the shaved head was hero, mentor, cheerleader and emotional security blanket for his young teammates. He took the toughest shots at the toughest times. He led, he pushed, he guided and he carried his toddler teammates to the mountaintop — a regional title — of Northern Nevada basketball this season.

“Derek was double-teamed and face-guarded all year,” said Galena coach Tom Maurer, who surrounded Lorenzen with a bunch of kids who hardly had a sniff of varsity basketball before this season. “And he still had to be a leader for our young kids.”

Lorenzen was the Godfather of Grizzball this year. He commanded respect. He dripped with experience. His teammates deferred to him, idolized him and obsessed about giving him a championship before he left the 12-year-old school on Mount Rose Highway.

“We want to win this for Derek,” freshman Luke Babbitt said during the regional tournament, echoing a familiar theme that dominated Galena’s postseason that ended in the state tournament semifinals.

The 6-foot-4 guard with the assassin’s jumpshot was their leader, the guy who set the tone, who put the ball in the basket, who settled them down at the craziest times. He was in charge of driving the Grizzlies bus this year because he was the only one who knew the route to the promised land. But he also handed over the keys to the youngsters at just the right times, if only to see if they could drive.

He simply taught them how to win.

“He was a director on the court,” Maurer said.

Lorenzen, who is the Reno Gazette-Journal’s Northern Nevada boys basketball Player of the Year, was whatever the Grizzlies wanted him to be this year.

“Derek had kind of a dream career at Galena,” Maurer said. “He had a lot of success as a sophomore, leading us to a regional championship. As a junior he dominated down the stretch. And this year he became more of a well-rounded player and a leader for our young kids.”

Lorenzen was at his best on the biggest stage — the regional tournament. Galena was 7-1 in regional games over the past three seasons with Lorenzen, winning two regional titles. He averaged 20.4 points in those eight games, scoring 19 or more points six times. He also hit 18 3-pointers in those eight games and converted 80 percent (45-of-56) of his free throws, many of which came in the fourth quarter.

This past February, he averaged 21 points a game with seven 3-pointers in the Grizzlies’ march to the regional title over three 20-win teams — Hug, Reed and Bishop Manogue.

“Coach (Maurer) just told me, ‘This is your time to shine now,’” Lorenzen said. “I knew when the time came for me to take over, that’s what I had to do. We had a lot of guys who had never been in big games like that. It was my responsibility to help carry us through those tough times.”

Lorenzen ended his career by scoring 16 points against Bishop Gorman, the eventual state champions, in the state tournament in Las Vegas.

“We had kind of a Cinderella story this year with our young kids,” Maurer said, referring mainly to starters Babbitt and sophomore Eric Maupin, neither of which had even sniffed a single second of varsity basketball before this season. “Nobody expected us to do anything because we were so young. But Derek showed those kids how to win.”

Lorenzen showed them by averaging 21.7 points, 2.3 steals, 4.8 rebounds and three assists a game. But it was more than that. He also showed them what it meant to play varsity basketball at Galena, a school that has already built a storied tradition in its dozen years.

“Derek just had a great demeanor on the floor,” Maurer said. “He played evenly emotionally. The other kids saw that.”

The young Galena lineup, it turns out, was just what Lorenzen needed this year.

“Derek was kind of reborn playing with all the young kids,” Maurer said.

“It was fun and also frustrating because sometimes younger players don’t work as hard as they should,” Lorenzen said. “But it was exciting to see how good they can be.”

Lorenzen scored in double figures in 32 of Galena’s 33 games this year. He had 29 against Green Valley in a Las Vegas tournament, 29 in a two-point loss to Reed in January and 29 against Bishop Manogue in the regional title game. He scored 14 of his team’s 15 fourth-quarter points in a seven-point win over Fallon. He topped 20 points 15 times.

But for Lorenzen, who ended up second on Galena’s all-time scoring list with 1,697 career points (Lance Buoncristiani had 1,987), it was never about the numbers.

“I didn’t want to be a senior who just shot the ball all the time,” he said. “I’ve seen other guys do that, and it doesn’t work. I wanted to be a leader.”

“There were a lot of games where Derek could have scored more,” Maurer said. “But usually he’d get around 20, help us build a lead and then we’d let the young kids (Babbitt and Maupin) get their work in.”

“This year, coach said I’d probably average less points than I did the previous year,” said Lorenzen, who averaged just over 20 points a game last year. “At first, I didn’t like hearing that. But as the season went along, I saw what he meant. We had other guys on this team who could score. I didn’t have to do it all this year.”

Lorenzen, who used to like to show off his eye-opening jumpshot that seemingly falls from the sky, became more of an inside threat this year.

“Derek is a great student of the game,” Maurer said. “He understands the game. He knows what he has to work on to get better. And every year he worked harder and got better.”

Lorenzen, who is likely headed to Montana State next year, just wanted to win this year. He already had all the big scoring games he could ever want. Last year, for example, he scored 98 points in one three-game stretch in February.

“I want to win a state championship,” Lorenzen said back in November. “That’s the only way people will remember you.”

It was all about winning this year.

“The moment that sort of defines Derek to me was during our game against Reed (late in the season),” Maurer said. “With the way the tiebreakers worked out, we needed to beat Reed by three points to win the league. It was a tied game in the final seconds and I called a timeout and told them, ‘We need three points to win.’

“Derek just looked at me and said, ‘I just want to win.’ It didn’t matter to Derek about finishing first. He was always about just wanting to win the game.”

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/20 ... /94310.php

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:16 pm

Found thanks to Mr. Welch

Jacques Wilson 6-1 PG Pocatello, ID
Have not been able to find actual year average Stats. on Mr. Wilson, but I can tell ou this. Of the games box scores I saw (most late season) he had a high game of 27 pts, and low of 17 pts. He was named West MVP of a recently played all star Game. Is a true point guard. He can shoot the 3 pointer, but is known more for his ablity to drive /slash strong to the hoop, and score or dish. Is very fast!

Now for the catcher: He is the son of Idaho State Assisitant basketball coach Louis Wilson

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:05 pm

Little info:
Scout.com's Greg Hick's top eight west coast unsigned player are:

Ken Bowman, Brian McTear, Tommy Craddock, Jessie Byrd, Brian Morris, Danny
Williams, David Carter and Derek Richie would be some of the top unsigned players in
the west.

Man I hope we are on Craddock like we were earlier!

Also I hear we will or have gotten an official visit from Idaho State Assistant basketball
coach Louis Wilson son Jacques Wilson (see above). Imagine Frank Brown more
aggressive offensively (almost cocky) with a 3-point shot.

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:18 pm

A tidbit I picked up today.

Coach James Clark had a recruit with him today from CA who said he is playing for us next year. Big Black guy looked athletic and strong. He was about 6'8 and I believe he said he was JC. Maybe 230 to 250? I didn't get a name and I feel bad about that for the faithfull on here who are starving for news but that is all i got. Maybe we can narrow it down from the list of possibles. I would say he looks more of a power forward than center. Maybe someone to spell moss?

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:01 am

Ok using my MSU degree and a little reasoning i would guess the guy i saw was Phillip Okonma 6-9 PF Los Angeles. Now lets see what I can find on him.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:27 am

peedintunnel wrote:Ok using my MSU degree and a little reasoning i would guess the guy i saw was Phillip Okonma 6-9 PF Los Angeles. Now lets see what I can find on him.

Phillip Okonma is a 5th year highschool player. After graduating from Antelope Valley
Christian in Lancaster CA. enrolled at Worcester Academy in Mass. for this year.
Worcester Academy is a prep school that is commonly ranked by USA Today in the top
20 highschools basketball powers in the country, year in year out. Eligibility wise he
would have 4 years and a redshirt. Phillip Okonma started on a team that featured some
big time college prospect. The team pressed all game and ran the floor constantly. His
stats most likely will not the 20 pts. 15 rb. type because of all the stars on his team. I
would compare him to Beye. He is not as skinny, as a matter he is very muscular, but
like Beye he is a big time athlete, can run the floor, block shots and jump out of the gym.
If it is him, boy oh boy oh boy! I did not think we had a chance to sign him. He would
also be the high school kid we were looking to sign.

About California recruiting. That is the mystery area of our recruiting, from my point of
view. Carse is recruiting high school's Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.
Brown is recruiting JC's in Oklahoma, Texas, and California. We are recruiting
California hard and I can not Identify any athletes other than Okonma, so it is quite
possible that this is a kid we have not heard of yet. In any case, 6-8 and 230 would just
what we are looking for!

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:50 am

i hope we are right