June 4, 2009
Under the Radar
There are the headline grabbers whose on-court -- and sometime off of it -- feats receive major media coverage. But there are plenty of other players who depart from high school or junior college to a four-year institution with very little notice, student-athletes more often than not in the truest sense of the phrase. Let’s offer some names and newly found destinations.
Standifer is a 2010 target
Charles Standifer enjoyed a marvelous season, having transferred to Capital Christian High from Woodcreek. He averaged 16 points per game in 2007-2008 but advanced his scoring to 24.8 points a contest this go-around. That’s in addition to nabbing 10 boards each time out. Standifer is a 6-foot-4 lefty with major bounce in his legs, a quick first step and the ability to take the ball to the hoop and be equally effective from long range.
Also a member of the Play Hard, Play Smart club basketball team, Standifer received rave reviews for his recent play in the Rumble in the Bay tournament, being a top 10 player selection.
Standifer is headed to Maine -- the Bridgton Academy prep school in particular -- for a post graduate year based on three specific reasons. "I didn’t receive the offers I wanted so I’ll take another season to get better and gain weight." His academics are fine -- there are no grade or SAT issues with him. It’s a matter of fortifying his body and garnering a mutually beneficial collegiate address.
Patrick Scott signs national letter of intent with Sonoma State
Patrick Scott averaged 25.7 points per game this past season, including nailing 67 treys, for Bear River High (Grass Valley). He also grabbed over seven boards a contest. The 6-foot-3, 200 pound backcourter was difficult to defend because he was equally proficient at taking the ball to the hoop, shooting from long-range and also stopping midway and nailing the jumper.
Bear Valley finished the season with a 21-8 record and won the Pioneer Valley League championship as Scott became the team’s all-time leading scorer. He was also a player with Joe Fuca’s MVP/Lakeshow club team.
Now he is headed to Sonoma State on a basketball scholarship. Why did he choose the Seawolves? "I liked the campus when I took my visit, the coaches were friendly and I felt I fit in with the team," Scott offered.
As for off the court, Scott said, "I plan on majoring in criminal justice."
Sonoma State is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Conference, along with Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Stanislaus, Chico State, Humboldt State, San francisco State, UC San Diego and Cal State Monterey Bay. A number of these schools were also pursuing Scott.
Brue will be a Triton
Over at Diablo Valley College (DVC), Coach Steve Coccimiglio is a veteran of the nature of community college athletics -- the two year intervals in comings and goings. Former Castlemont High star Anthony Turner, whose life and high school attendance in New Orleans was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina until he connected with a relative in Oakland and again managed some stability, is headed on scholarship to the University of Arts and Science in Oklahoma (USAO). It’s an NAIA institution in Chickasha and a perenially national championship contender, having won it all in 2002. Jordan Fillmore, ex of Acalanes High, also played at DVC in 2008-2009 and is mulling his sports future.
Coccimiglio is bringing in Jordan Estrada, a 6-foot, 180 pounder out of De La Salle High with a reputation for defensive prowess. Monte Vista’s Tyrelle Phillips will also be a Viking next season. The 6-foot-3 Phillips will add excellent athletic ability to the DVC roster.
6-foot-4 Justin Brue is bound for UC San Diego, a prominent research university playing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. A veteran of fours years on the varsity at Bishop O’Dowd, Brue averaged 16 points and seven boards a game while earning three All-Hayward Area Athletic League(HAAL) nods. The Tritons became interested in Brue about six weeks ago after witnessing him play in a tournament in Los Angeles. He also played for MVP/Lakeshow.