Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thomas on Cal Hi Sports
Did not show diving catch which they showed twice and he still did not make top 5
Saturday, April 23, 2011
April 20, 2011
Kevin McCarthy
NorCalPreps.com Analyst
Talk about it in the Message Boards
The package. For basketball recruiters, that means a prospect sporting prodigious talent alongside top of the chart physical skills. Rarely, if ever, do academics enter the definition, let alone the will and effort to get and perform better. That's why the number of flameouts exist in both national prep rankings and early NBA draft selections -- heart, determination and attitude are too often overlooked in lieu of eye-opening raw material.
Washington High's Brenden Glapion has never drawn the attention of the power elite in college hoops but, through his exemplified values, he has sculpted the odds in his favor for enjoying a successful collegiate tenure as well as a fruitful life afterwards in the real world.
The 6-foot-3 Glapion plays in the Academic Athletic Association in San Francisco. He and his team went 25-10, 14-2 this past season and his performance garnered him Player of the Year honors, earned in part by his 23 points per game scoring average. But his game doesn't rest on volume shooting attempts. In a game that decided the league crown against Mission High on December 4, Glapion went 14-17 at the foul line in a 75-72 victory. Two days before, he made 14-15 free throw attempts in a win over Lowell.
The outcome of that title match turned out to be his best basketball moment. "We won the city championship but it was a great game because we really played together well and clicked as a team," Glapion explained. Duly note the sentiment ultimately feeding his satisfaction. The Eagles had lost 77-66 two weeks earlier to Mission.
He notes his best basketball skill as "probably scoring but I like to dribble and then pull up." For Glapion, it's a matter of always working to add to his skills set, such as the element above in an era when it's long distance shooting and/or taking it to the rack, with a void for displaying any in-between game. This is another setting apart difference for the young man.
Glapion also offered the following as part of his skills set: "having a high basketball IQ, making the right plays at the right time and staying poised and composed."
He sees dramatic growth in his basketball evolution. "As a freshman to a senior, I've grown in every aspect -- physically, shooting, defending, being more focused and playing every game like it is your last one." The latter will bring a smile to even the most discerning of coaches.
The backcourter also sees himself as playing different roles, depending on the time of the year. "With Washington, I carry more of a scoring and leadership role but in club team ball I'm usually one of the main scorers but don't have to get 20 a night for us to win."
Two summers ago, it was the Bay Area Warriors and the San Francisco Rebels from sixth to eighth grade for Glapion in spring and summer hoops. He played for Coach Todd Petersen and the Silicon Valley Vipers last year.
Here's Petersen on Glapion: "Brenden was a combo guard for us, primarily a two and our backup at the point plus probably our leading scorer. He has a scorer's mentality, an effective mid-range game and finishes well for his size. He'll get by his opponent and the next thing you know the ball is in the basket. Brenden is as coachable as they come and he does what it takes to get better. I also worked individually with him last year and he's gotten bigger and stronger and his ballhandling has gotten better. I see him as a late bloomer, a smooth, understated player."
Jolinko Lassiter coaches the Washington High squad. He's a 2002 alumnus and worked with the Eagles' girls team for three seasons before switching over to the boys in 2008. Having enjoyed Glapion at his disposal of late, Lassiter describes his senior as "a high IQ player, not flashy but someone who has worked hard on his game. Brenden is a great student with a high grade point average and he is a great teammate on and off the court."
Glapion says his grade point average is 4.1.
As for what the future portends, Glapion again distances himself from others with what he is considering as majors in college: "Political science and history are my favorites," he explained, adding that he is thinking about a future as a lawyer.
But first comes choosing a school and he has four colleges currently under consideration and is certainly open to others joining in: Occidental (Los Angeles), UC Santa Cruz, Dominican University (San Rafael) and Academy of Art University (San Francisco).
"I will decide in a week and a half to two weeks after sitting down with my family and talking about the pros and cons," Glapion explained.
So some lucky school and coach will be receiving a student-athlete who possesses what constitutes the bonafide package for succeeding short and long term on and off the court.
Kevin McCarthy
NorCalPreps.com Analyst
Talk about it in the Message Boards
The package. For basketball recruiters, that means a prospect sporting prodigious talent alongside top of the chart physical skills. Rarely, if ever, do academics enter the definition, let alone the will and effort to get and perform better. That's why the number of flameouts exist in both national prep rankings and early NBA draft selections -- heart, determination and attitude are too often overlooked in lieu of eye-opening raw material.
Washington High's Brenden Glapion has never drawn the attention of the power elite in college hoops but, through his exemplified values, he has sculpted the odds in his favor for enjoying a successful collegiate tenure as well as a fruitful life afterwards in the real world.
The 6-foot-3 Glapion plays in the Academic Athletic Association in San Francisco. He and his team went 25-10, 14-2 this past season and his performance garnered him Player of the Year honors, earned in part by his 23 points per game scoring average. But his game doesn't rest on volume shooting attempts. In a game that decided the league crown against Mission High on December 4, Glapion went 14-17 at the foul line in a 75-72 victory. Two days before, he made 14-15 free throw attempts in a win over Lowell.
The outcome of that title match turned out to be his best basketball moment. "We won the city championship but it was a great game because we really played together well and clicked as a team," Glapion explained. Duly note the sentiment ultimately feeding his satisfaction. The Eagles had lost 77-66 two weeks earlier to Mission.
He notes his best basketball skill as "probably scoring but I like to dribble and then pull up." For Glapion, it's a matter of always working to add to his skills set, such as the element above in an era when it's long distance shooting and/or taking it to the rack, with a void for displaying any in-between game. This is another setting apart difference for the young man.
Glapion also offered the following as part of his skills set: "having a high basketball IQ, making the right plays at the right time and staying poised and composed."
He sees dramatic growth in his basketball evolution. "As a freshman to a senior, I've grown in every aspect -- physically, shooting, defending, being more focused and playing every game like it is your last one." The latter will bring a smile to even the most discerning of coaches.
The backcourter also sees himself as playing different roles, depending on the time of the year. "With Washington, I carry more of a scoring and leadership role but in club team ball I'm usually one of the main scorers but don't have to get 20 a night for us to win."
Two summers ago, it was the Bay Area Warriors and the San Francisco Rebels from sixth to eighth grade for Glapion in spring and summer hoops. He played for Coach Todd Petersen and the Silicon Valley Vipers last year.
Here's Petersen on Glapion: "Brenden was a combo guard for us, primarily a two and our backup at the point plus probably our leading scorer. He has a scorer's mentality, an effective mid-range game and finishes well for his size. He'll get by his opponent and the next thing you know the ball is in the basket. Brenden is as coachable as they come and he does what it takes to get better. I also worked individually with him last year and he's gotten bigger and stronger and his ballhandling has gotten better. I see him as a late bloomer, a smooth, understated player."
Jolinko Lassiter coaches the Washington High squad. He's a 2002 alumnus and worked with the Eagles' girls team for three seasons before switching over to the boys in 2008. Having enjoyed Glapion at his disposal of late, Lassiter describes his senior as "a high IQ player, not flashy but someone who has worked hard on his game. Brenden is a great student with a high grade point average and he is a great teammate on and off the court."
Glapion says his grade point average is 4.1.
As for what the future portends, Glapion again distances himself from others with what he is considering as majors in college: "Political science and history are my favorites," he explained, adding that he is thinking about a future as a lawyer.
But first comes choosing a school and he has four colleges currently under consideration and is certainly open to others joining in: Occidental (Los Angeles), UC Santa Cruz, Dominican University (San Rafael) and Academy of Art University (San Francisco).
"I will decide in a week and a half to two weeks after sitting down with my family and talking about the pros and cons," Glapion explained.
So some lucky school and coach will be receiving a student-athlete who possesses what constitutes the bonafide package for succeeding short and long term on and off the court.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Hideki Matsui celebrates Japanese Heritage Day with his 2,500th professional hit
By Joe Stiglich
jstiglich@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 04/03/2011 06:38:39 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2011 10:48:20 PM PDT
A's headlines
Oakland A's, who've fared poorly away from home in recent seasons, embark on first road trip of 2011
Oakland A's finally put it all together, beat Seattle Mariners 7-1 for first win of season
Inside the A's blog
A's try to salvage one before tough trip; bullpen already searching
Kurt Suzuki back in A's lineup despite sprained ankle
More on the A's
A's section
Facebook page
Special Report: A's move
Team shop
Stats and schedule
Matsui hits milestone on Japanese Heritage Day
Japanese Heritage Day turned out to be a big hit at the Coliseum on Sunday, highlighted by Hideki Matsui's first official hit with the A's and the 2,500th of his professional career.
Matsui, hitless in seven at-bats in Oakland's first two games, led off the second inning with a double down the left-field line. Feeling frisky, he tagged up on Kurt Suzuki's subsequent fly out to right field but was gunned down by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki at third.
Matsui admitted afterward he wanted to try something special for the crowd of 22,292, many of them Japanese fans who came out for the occasion.
"I know the strength of (Ichiro's) arm and usually I don't run in those situations," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "But knowing it was Japan Heritage Day, I took a chance, and unfortunately it didn't quite work out."
Manager Bob Geren thought it was a good aggressive play to make with one out.
"There aren't too many guys who would throw him out," Geren said. "Ichiro's one of the few who would, but even though he got behind the ball on the throw, he just got him by a couple of inches."
Even though a number of teammates lauded Matsui's 2,500th hit afterward, the veteran designated hitter wasn't terribly thrilled by it.
"I feel more relief just getting a hit as a member of the A's and getting our first win," he said. "I'm not focused on
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the combined 2,500 hits between the U.S. and Japan. I kind of feel the same way about the goal of 3,000 hits. I think I'd like to focus on one hit at a time and just see what happens."
The A's generated more than $65,000 for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief through the Heritage Day event. The team donated $1 from every ticket sold, and amid other fundraising functions, raised more than $10,000 through a silent auction of game-worn jerseys by Matsui and Suzuki. Ichiro's netted $6,015 and Matsui's $4,555.
After hitting a single, triple and double earlier in the game, Coco Crisp admitted he was thinking cycle when he came to bat to lead off the eighth. He grounded out weakly to first base.
"I got a pitch up and I like pitches up, but I'm like Kit from 'A League Of Their Own' -- sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't," he said. "This was one where I didn't get it. But it definitely crosses your mind."
Mark Ellis has a 16-game hitting streak dating back to last season. He is hitting .387 (24-for-62) over that span.
Daric Barton dropped a foul pop in the first inning, his third error in three games. He made just 10 all last season, including three over his final 127 games
By Joe Stiglich
jstiglich@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 04/03/2011 06:38:39 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2011 10:48:20 PM PDT
A's headlines
Oakland A's, who've fared poorly away from home in recent seasons, embark on first road trip of 2011
Oakland A's finally put it all together, beat Seattle Mariners 7-1 for first win of season
Inside the A's blog
A's try to salvage one before tough trip; bullpen already searching
Kurt Suzuki back in A's lineup despite sprained ankle
More on the A's
A's section
Facebook page
Special Report: A's move
Team shop
Stats and schedule
Matsui hits milestone on Japanese Heritage Day
Japanese Heritage Day turned out to be a big hit at the Coliseum on Sunday, highlighted by Hideki Matsui's first official hit with the A's and the 2,500th of his professional career.
Matsui, hitless in seven at-bats in Oakland's first two games, led off the second inning with a double down the left-field line. Feeling frisky, he tagged up on Kurt Suzuki's subsequent fly out to right field but was gunned down by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki at third.
Matsui admitted afterward he wanted to try something special for the crowd of 22,292, many of them Japanese fans who came out for the occasion.
"I know the strength of (Ichiro's) arm and usually I don't run in those situations," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "But knowing it was Japan Heritage Day, I took a chance, and unfortunately it didn't quite work out."
Manager Bob Geren thought it was a good aggressive play to make with one out.
"There aren't too many guys who would throw him out," Geren said. "Ichiro's one of the few who would, but even though he got behind the ball on the throw, he just got him by a couple of inches."
Even though a number of teammates lauded Matsui's 2,500th hit afterward, the veteran designated hitter wasn't terribly thrilled by it.
"I feel more relief just getting a hit as a member of the A's and getting our first win," he said. "I'm not focused on
Advertisement
the combined 2,500 hits between the U.S. and Japan. I kind of feel the same way about the goal of 3,000 hits. I think I'd like to focus on one hit at a time and just see what happens."
The A's generated more than $65,000 for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief through the Heritage Day event. The team donated $1 from every ticket sold, and amid other fundraising functions, raised more than $10,000 through a silent auction of game-worn jerseys by Matsui and Suzuki. Ichiro's netted $6,015 and Matsui's $4,555.
After hitting a single, triple and double earlier in the game, Coco Crisp admitted he was thinking cycle when he came to bat to lead off the eighth. He grounded out weakly to first base.
"I got a pitch up and I like pitches up, but I'm like Kit from 'A League Of Their Own' -- sometimes I get them and sometimes I don't," he said. "This was one where I didn't get it. But it definitely crosses your mind."
Mark Ellis has a 16-game hitting streak dating back to last season. He is hitting .387 (24-for-62) over that span.
Daric Barton dropped a foul pop in the first inning, his third error in three games. He made just 10 all last season, including three over his final 127 games
Monday, April 4, 2011
SF Chronicle Player of the year
Boys player of the year: Mitty's Aaron Gordon
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Mitch Stephens, Special to The Chronicle
Monday, April 4, 2011
At one end, in the WCAL championship game against Serra, Mitty's 6-foot-7, 215-pound sophomore Aaron Gordon blocked a shot off the backboard and secured the rebound.
He dribbled the length of the court, twice changing directions - first going behind his back to go left, then immediately spinning right to avoid two defenders.
Gordon was fouled as he approached the free-throw line, but he took one more dribble before floating 7 feet through the air and swishing a finger roll that didn't even count.
It didn't matter. The crowd groaned in amazement anyway. Gordon's coach, Tim Kennedy, and his teammates barely blinked.
"He does that sort of thing at practice every day, and he has for two seasons," Kennedy said. "We're almost spoiled how good he is."
The sequence might have bored the Monarchs, but it showed almost all of the vast skills that have made Gordon ESPN's No. 8 recruit nationally from the Class of 2013. It also demonstrated why he's The Chronicle's Player of the Year.
Gordon - the younger brother of two-time first-team All-Metro player Drew Gordon, who averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds per game at New Mexico this season - averaged 18.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.
Among all the big-name Bay Area players up for the award - and there were many - Gordon was the only to lead his team to a state title. He is the first sophomore to earn WCAL Player of the Year honors and is the first to win The Chronicle's boys Player of the Year in recent memory.
He had 17 points and tied a state Division II championship-game record with 21 rebounds in a 53-50 win over Summit-Fontana. He had 17 rebounds in the NorCal finals and 15 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks in the WCAL title win over Serra.
Beyond his long wingspan, big vertical jump and guard skills, what sets Gordon apart is his maturity and competitiveness. He shot 63 percent from the field and took perhaps 10 bad shots all season as Mitty finished 32-2 and No. 1 in The Chronicle's rankings.
"The main thing about Aaron is he just wants to win," Kennedy said. "He doesn't care if he scores two or 20, he just finds a way to win, whether by block or assist or rebound ... or dunk."
Regional players of the year
Contra Costa/Tri-Valley
Travis Pacos (De La Salle-Concord): The 6-foot-3 senior was the heart, soul and leading scorer of the overachieving Spartans (27-6), who surprisingly won the NorCal Division I championship. Pacos, who scored fewer than 20 total points as a junior, averaged more than 17 per game and led De La Salle to a 49-43 win over Castro Valley in the NorCal title game, scoring 13 of his team-high 19 points during an 18-0 run starting in the third quarter.
East Bay
Jabari Brown (Oakland): The 6-5 senior guard, an Oregon signee, averaged 24.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Wildcats (20-9), who lost in the NorCal Division I semifinals. One of the nation's top 15 recruits, Brown was even better during the postseason, when he averaged just less than 30 points per game.
North Bay
Stuart Wesonga (San Marin-Novato): The powerful 6-7, 220-pound senior led San Marin to a historic season, claiming the school's first North Coast Section title in 43 years. The UC Irvine-bound forward averaged 21.5 points, 20.3 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game. He had a combined 52 points, 55 rebounds and 11 blocks in NCS semifinal and championship-game wins.
San Francisco
Brenden Glapion (Washington): The 6-3 senior guard averaged 23.0 points per game, seventh most in the Bay Area, leading the Eagles to their first San Francisco Section title since 1982. Glapion scored 27 points in the Eagles' wild 75-72 win over Mission in the final, making 14 of 16 foul shots. He was a model of consistency, scoring at least 20 points in his final 13 games and in double digits in all 35 games (25 wins).
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Mitch Stephens, Special to The Chronicle
Monday, April 4, 2011
At one end, in the WCAL championship game against Serra, Mitty's 6-foot-7, 215-pound sophomore Aaron Gordon blocked a shot off the backboard and secured the rebound.
He dribbled the length of the court, twice changing directions - first going behind his back to go left, then immediately spinning right to avoid two defenders.
Gordon was fouled as he approached the free-throw line, but he took one more dribble before floating 7 feet through the air and swishing a finger roll that didn't even count.
It didn't matter. The crowd groaned in amazement anyway. Gordon's coach, Tim Kennedy, and his teammates barely blinked.
"He does that sort of thing at practice every day, and he has for two seasons," Kennedy said. "We're almost spoiled how good he is."
The sequence might have bored the Monarchs, but it showed almost all of the vast skills that have made Gordon ESPN's No. 8 recruit nationally from the Class of 2013. It also demonstrated why he's The Chronicle's Player of the Year.
Gordon - the younger brother of two-time first-team All-Metro player Drew Gordon, who averaged 13 points and 10.5 rebounds per game at New Mexico this season - averaged 18.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.
Among all the big-name Bay Area players up for the award - and there were many - Gordon was the only to lead his team to a state title. He is the first sophomore to earn WCAL Player of the Year honors and is the first to win The Chronicle's boys Player of the Year in recent memory.
He had 17 points and tied a state Division II championship-game record with 21 rebounds in a 53-50 win over Summit-Fontana. He had 17 rebounds in the NorCal finals and 15 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks in the WCAL title win over Serra.
Beyond his long wingspan, big vertical jump and guard skills, what sets Gordon apart is his maturity and competitiveness. He shot 63 percent from the field and took perhaps 10 bad shots all season as Mitty finished 32-2 and No. 1 in The Chronicle's rankings.
"The main thing about Aaron is he just wants to win," Kennedy said. "He doesn't care if he scores two or 20, he just finds a way to win, whether by block or assist or rebound ... or dunk."
Regional players of the year
Contra Costa/Tri-Valley
Travis Pacos (De La Salle-Concord): The 6-foot-3 senior was the heart, soul and leading scorer of the overachieving Spartans (27-6), who surprisingly won the NorCal Division I championship. Pacos, who scored fewer than 20 total points as a junior, averaged more than 17 per game and led De La Salle to a 49-43 win over Castro Valley in the NorCal title game, scoring 13 of his team-high 19 points during an 18-0 run starting in the third quarter.
East Bay
Jabari Brown (Oakland): The 6-5 senior guard, an Oregon signee, averaged 24.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Wildcats (20-9), who lost in the NorCal Division I semifinals. One of the nation's top 15 recruits, Brown was even better during the postseason, when he averaged just less than 30 points per game.
North Bay
Stuart Wesonga (San Marin-Novato): The powerful 6-7, 220-pound senior led San Marin to a historic season, claiming the school's first North Coast Section title in 43 years. The UC Irvine-bound forward averaged 21.5 points, 20.3 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game. He had a combined 52 points, 55 rebounds and 11 blocks in NCS semifinal and championship-game wins.
San Francisco
Brenden Glapion (Washington): The 6-3 senior guard averaged 23.0 points per game, seventh most in the Bay Area, leading the Eagles to their first San Francisco Section title since 1982. Glapion scored 27 points in the Eagles' wild 75-72 win over Mission in the final, making 14 of 16 foul shots. He was a model of consistency, scoring at least 20 points in his final 13 games and in double digits in all 35 games (25 wins).
Boys Basketball: SanFranPreps.com All-City Team
Boys Basketball: SanFranPreps.com All-City Team
Sunday, April 3, 2011 | 24 Comments
SanFranPreps.com Player of the Year Johnny Mrlik (top center) and firhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifst team selections (clockwise from top right) Joshua Fox, Aaron Anderson, Brendan Glapion, Noah Springwater and Taylor Johns. (Photos by AJ Canaria, Devin Chen, Christian Chew, Doug Ko and Eric Luis. Illustration by Josh Jalil)
By Jeremy Balan
Brenden Glapion, Johnny Mrlik and Noah Springwater really have a lot in common.
All three are left-handed guards, stone-cold scorers, senior leaders and candidates for City Player of the Year.
While Glapion averaged 23 points per game to lead Washington to its first Academic Athletic Association title in 29 years, and Springwater wrapped up a four-year varsity career as University’s top scorer in school history en route to three consecutive Bay Counties League West titles, no player carried his team quite like Mrlik this season.
He averaged 18.4 points per game on the season for St. Ignatius, and led the West Catholic Athletic League in scoring with more than 17 points per game in league. He led the WCAL in made three-pointers and free-throw percentage and set a league record for free throws made in a season.
Mrlik also had a distinct sense for the dramatic, with big showings in the Bruce-Mahoney game against Sacred Heart Cathedral and a shocking upset over eventual Division II state champion Mitty (one of just two losses for the Monarchs on the year).
That’s why he’s the SanFranPreps.com boys basketball Player of the Year.
Mrlik may have edged out a deep group of guards for Player of the Year, but the first team is loaded with talent and athleticism.
Glapion was Washington’s leading scorer all season, and Columbia-bound Springwater (the City’s only Division I recruit this season) dominated the stat sheet, averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks per game.
Bucking the trend of solid guard play were Sacred Heart Cathedral junior forwards Taylor Johns and Joshua Fox, who led the Irish to a Central Coast Section title on the strength of their frontcourt play and imposing defense.
The pair could impact the momentum of a game with a thundering dunk just as much as a highlight-reel block.
Aaron Anderson, Riordan’s top scorer and rebounder, was also a lockdown defender. In a down year for the Crusaders, it’s hard to find another player who gave more effort on the floor, even when it meant playing against rival St. Ignatius with a debilitating sickness.
While the entire All-City team is ruled by mostly seniors, the favorites for next year’s Player of the Year are on our second team.
Johns and Fox should factor into the discussion, but just as it did this year, the fact that they play on the same team hurts their chances. But Marshall’s Theoatis Hill and St. Ignatius’ Stephen Domingo (both second team) will likely have to carry the load for their respective teams.
Domingo’s still-developing game should mature nicely, and Hill has already proven that he can carry the load, averaging a city-high 24.7 points per game this year, to go along with nearly 13 rebounds per game.
Our selection for Coach of the Year, like Player of the year, was also a three-horse race.
Randal Bessolo led University to a second consecutive NorCal title game and Lincoln’s Matt Jackson took over the reins of the program after the sudden death of coach Mike Gragnani, coaching both the Lincoln varsity and junior varsity programs, but our nod goes to Mission coach Arnold Zelaya.
Along with the pitfalls that can accompany coaching at any public school in San Francisco, and after winning the AAA championship last year, Zelaya led an almost entirely new lineup back to the league championship game.
Additional reporting by Bonta Hill
SanFranPreps.com Player of the Year
Johnny Mrlik, senior guard, St. Ignatius
Coach of the Year
Arnold Zelaya, Mission
First Team
Aaron Anderson, senior guard, Riordan
Joshua Fox, junior forward, Sacred Heart Cathedral
Brenden Glapion, senior guard, Washington
Taylor Johns, junior forward, Sacred Heart Cathedral
Noah Springwater, senior guard, University
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