The summer AAU basketball season is fast approaching. Here is an update on the latest recruiting news on different prospects from around the state. If you have any tips regarding the Seattle basketball recruiting scene, please contact me at kcacabelos@gmail.com or on Twitter at @KevinCacabelos. (All photos are used with permission from local preps basketball photographer Jaime Corpus)
First, let's wrap up the class of 2012 and some commitments that happened after the state tournament back in March:
- Western Washington picked up two Seattle-area players after winning the D2 National Championship. Joey Schreiber (2012) led the Metro League in scoring at 20.2 points per game for Eastside Catholic. The 6'7" forward projects as a wing at the next level and has above average basketball savvy. He was versatile in playing the wing for his AAU team Emerald City while switching to the low post for Eastside Catholic. "It was a great opportunity to play right away on a championship team and it's close to home," Schreiber said.
- Another Metro league star, Dana Abe (2012) from O'Dea will be joining Schreiber at Western. Abe flew under the radar the past couple of years while Dustin Watts (2011), Jalen Ward (2012) and Sekou Wiggs (2012) grabbed most of attention for the Fighting Irish. The 6'4" wing showed a knack for scoring and stepped up on offense when much of the opposing defense's attention was on Wiggs.
- Speaking of Sekou Wiggs (2012), the 6'4" guard from O'Dea told me he is strongly considering attending prep school next fall. Wiggs holds offers from Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, Hawaii, Idaho, Portland St., San Francisco and UC irvine. The signing period ended two weeks ago, but Wiggs could conceivably still sign a financial aid agreement with one of these schools. Wiggs could be hoping a year at prep school will convince Cal, Washington St. or another school to offer him.
- Rounding out the O'Dea trio, point guard Jalen Ward (2012), will be playing basketball at La Jolla Prep and attending classes at San Diego Mesa College next year. Ward was a key player for the Fighting Irish, helping his team make four state appearances during his time there. In the past three years, La Jolla Prep has sent 33 players to play college basketball, with several making Division I squads.
- Nathan Hale point guard Badhasa Margasa (2012) will be playing at Edmonds CC next year.
- Seattle Prep's Jackson Clough (2012) is off to Whitman College in Walla Walla. Clough is an undersized combo guard who is lights out from outside but can also drive and finish in the lane. The 6'1" athletic guard was instrumental in Seattle Prep's second-place finish at State this past year. Clough chose Whitman over D1 walk-on opportunities at Sacred Heart University and Colgate. "Whitman had the best academic fit with a good coaching staff and players. It's a place where I'll be playing early," Clough said.
- Two-sport star Zach Banner (2012) from Lakes HS committed to USC in late January for football. I would not doubt him trying to play basketball as well, as USC may benefit from his 6'9" frame in the post.
- Seattle University added two very skilled local guards, D'Vonne Pickett Jr. (2009) and David Trimble (2012). Pickett, a Rainier Beach graduate, played two years at junior college Central Arizona and garnered interest from high major schools during his sophomore year. Pickett is an athletic guard with above average ball handling and passing skills. Here's a highlight video of him from last fall:
D'vonne Pickett Jr. 2011 Arizona Juco Jamboree Section 5 L.O.E (via therealdpickjr)
- Trimble played point guard and led Davis HS to a 4A state championship this past March. He is an unselfish guard who always seemed to be making the right pass, taking the right shot and sticking to his man on defense. He will be a quietly effective player for Cameron Dollar.
Onto the Class of 2013 and 2014:
- DJ Fenner (2013) from Seattle Prep HS is a top-five player in the state. According to an interview with the Slipper Still Fits, Fenner currently holds one offer from Seattle U and is receiving interest from Gonzaga, USC and Washington State among other schools. The 6'4" shooting guard/wing prospect needs to improve the range on his jumpshot and his ball handling this summer to improve his chances of landing more offers.
- Last month I posted this update on Tucker Haymond (2013), a 6'5" wing from Garfield HS. Since then, Richmond, Oregon, Lehigh and Portland have started recruiting Haymond -- those four schools are showing the most interest at this point. Haymond currently holds two offers from Seattle University and Western Michigan. This summer, Haymond will be playing for Seattle Rotary's top team.
- Keep your eyes on Josh Hawkinson (2013) out of Shorewood HS. The 6'9" forward will not blow you away with his athleticism, but he has a good feel for the game and holds his own down in the post. His size and offensive skill set is garnering him interest from regional mid-major schools along with a few Pac-12 schools. Hawkinson currently plays for Hoopaholics.
- Arell Hennings (2013) is the leader and best player for Jason Kerr's Franklin Quakers. Hennings describes himself as a point guard that can push the tempo, run the offense and also be a scoring threat. Cal, Oregon State and Seattle U have shown the most interest in Hennings, though the 5'8" guard does not hold any offers at the moment. He will look to showcase his talents for Rotary's top team, coached by his father, Darryl Hennings.
- Lakeside's Tramaine Isabell (2014) is a 6'1" point guard with a scorer's mentality. Isabell said he will be specifically working to improve his vertical, strength and on-the-court demeanor this summer. He labeled his three-point shooting, quickness and overall athleticism as his strengths. Isabell will continue to work out with local NBA stars Will Conroy, Jamal Crawford and Brandon Roy throughout the summer. Several Pac-12 schools have shown preliminary interest; he's talked to coaches from UC Irvine, Gonzaga, Seattle University and Washington.
- The state's No. 1 recruit, Zach Lavine (2013) from Bothell HS, revealed his top five schools in order to the National Recruiting Spotlight. Lavine's top five in order is: UCLA, Louisiville, Washington, Arizona and Memphis. The shooting guard prospect is the state's best scorer and contains a killer crossover and a knack for getting to the basket.
- Tre'Shaun Lexing (2013) may be the best player in the state after Zach Lavine. The 6'6" Tacoma product is projected to play at the two-guard position or at the wing in college. He currently holds offers from Cal Poly, Gonzaga, Oregon State, Santa Clara and Washington State. Lexing said Washington State is his front-runner right now; UCLA, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Utah are all showing strong interest. The left-hander describes himself as a "long wing that can defend, score, and shoot." Lexing will be starring for the Northwest Panthers on the AAU circuit this summer.
- LaTrey Newsome (2013) out of West Seattle HS is a 6'5" combo guard with good shooting touch and an all-around offensive game. He averaged 14.9 points per game in his junior season. Hawaii and Santa Clara have shown the most interest so far; both teams have come to practice to watch Newsome. but WSU, Colorado, Cal, and Seattle U have also shown interest. Newsome is also a good baseball player, and was been named to the All-Metro team in both his freshman and sophomore years. He is being courted by every Pac-12 school for baseball, according to his father.
- Djuan Piper (2013) is a 6'6" wing who stars on Rotary and plays for the defending state champions, the Rainier Beach HS Vikings. Piper highlights his long arms and wing span as a main asset of his game, and also mentioned his mid-range shot and ability to get to the basket as strengths. Though he does not currently hold any offers, Piper is a definite sleeper to keep your eye on -- doctors say Piper can grow to 6'8", an ideal height for a small forward in college. Piper is currently getting the most interest from UCLA, Washington St. and Wisconsin.
- Ahmaad Rorie (2014) committed to Cal after the end of his sophomore basketball season. The Clover Park product is lightning quick and has one of the best first steps in the state. He has a strong basketball frame for a point guard and uses it effectively to finish at the rim.
- Mount Rainier's Caden Rowland (2013) is a 6'5" shooting guard/wing prospect who is gaining interest from a host of West Coast mid-major schools including Boise State, Portland, Seattle U and UC Santa Barbara. He stars on the Northwest Panthers with Tre'Shaun Lexing. Rowland describes himself as "a lights-out shooter who is long and can play defense, and handle the basketball well." Mount Rainier finished fourth in the 4A state tournament this March, with Rowland being named to the All-State second team.
- Jason Todd (2014) is a two-sport star from Jackson HS in Millcreek. The 6'5" forward is currently drawing interest from various schools from the Pac-12, Mountain West, WAC and WCC. Todd led Jackson to an appearance in the 4A state tournament and was later named as an honorable mention on the AP All-State team. He also was voted as the WesCo 4A South player of the year. The all-around player averaged 20 points per game for the Timber Wolves. "I'll rebound, defend, run the floor and battle like a warrior," Todd said. Todd is also an accomplished pitcher for Jackson's baseball team; he says he hopes to have a good idea of what sport he wants to pursue after his AAU season with Friends of Hoop. Schools from the ACC, Pac-12 and SEC have shown interest in Todd's future on the baseball diamond.
- DeeShawn Tucker (2014) is a point guard prospect out of Federal Way HS. At 6'0" Tucker's best strength is his ability to attack the basket and get to the rim, according to this piece on The Husky Haul. Tucker told me that the Pac-12 schools currently showing interest include Oregon State, Stanford, USC, Washington and Washington State.
For all the latest recruiting news on local basketball prospects, follow @KevinCacabelos on Twitter.