May 6, 2009
Standley from Warrior to Aggie
You don't have to migrate to southern California in order to be discovered and transformed into a star of stage and screen. But then again 16-year-old Lana Turner wasn't found at Schwab's Drug Store in say Bismarck, North Dakota and then eventually transformed into a Hollywood film star of the 1940s and 1950s.
Standley’s move paid off
Coach Brandon Brooks' McClymonds bunch turned in a 29-2 overall record in 2008-2009 and lost in the state championship game against Westchester. Last year, it was a Mack win over Dominguez in Sacramento and the year before a loss to Fairfax. The constancy of the Oakland school playing in state title games, enjoying very successful seasons and displaying college-level players throughout its lineup has brought a definite limelight and certainly college recruiters to Mack contests.
Such certainly were factors but ultimately it was up to Justin Standley to perform and that he did. So much so that he is headed to Las Cruces and New Mexico State to play for Coach Marvin Menzies.
"Coach Menzies seemed real and it felt like he cared for me as both a player and a person," Standley said of his future coach, noting that he understood recruiting is a business but that he connected best with Menzies. "It took me a while [to decide] but I kind of knew after visiting in March."
Standley offered, "They are looking for me to be a leader and I'll be a combo guard, at the point and two guard spots."
He made the move to become a McClymonds Warrior for greater exposure and the opportunity to win a state championship. The latter wasn't quite achieved, although the former is now obviously a success.
Plus, timing can play a factor in recruiting as Standley scored 24 points in an 82-42 win over Fremont on February 18 with Menzies in attendance. In the game, he shot 8-12 overall and went 4-4 from three-point range.
What's remarkable here is that Standley, who also played quarterback in football early in high school, suffered an ACL tear a few years back. Although the injury occurred playing basketball, Standley gave up the gridiron to focus on basketball. With hard work and a successful rehabilitation but just two full seasons of varsity high school hoops, he is headed to a D-1 mid-major program on scholarship.
Here's Brooks on his talented backcourter: "Justin was our best shooter and scorer and he plays very intelligently -- it's like having a coach on the court.. He was a major reason we were so successful and I wish he had been here all four years."
Standley also credits High Intensity club team coach Scott Alexander "for turning me into the player I am and for still working with me once a week." In an earlier interview, Alexander described Standley as "a coach's dream. Justin knows what we want to do and directs his teammates into position. Plus, he works to keep morale up off the court."
Standley will head to Las Cruces in August after completing a language class this summer