Gillis finds suitors at unique Philly program

Fresno State's football program popularized the mantra, "Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere," but Philadelphia's Rise Academy is taking it to a new level this high school basketball season.

Rise Academy is taking a unique approach to providing exposure for its players and early results indicate it may just be working.

Philadelphia basketball organizer Sam Rines started Rise Academy in 2005 as an attempt to provide a full-service destination for hoops prospects – on-court skills and training, conditioning, nutrition, college placement and consulting. Rines now serves as the athletic director.

Vin Sparacio joined the program prior to the 2009-10 season as head coach.

"Our goal was to do everything different than every other prep school," Sparacio said. "We want to give the kids a chance for exposure in front of high-level coaches all over the country. We play an independent schedule and play everybody."

And Sparacio means everybody.

Included in the Academy's exhaustive October-to-April schedule are standard public high schools, academy programs like Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), post-graduate programs like Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and even junior colleges. There are over 70 dates listed on the team's schedule at sites in over a dozen states.

Tuition at Rise can cost up to $23,500 per year, but athletes from California, New York, West Virginia and Canada – a mixture of high school students and post-graduates – are on the roster this winter in hopes of catching the eye of the right college coach.

Warren Gillis, a transfer from Academy of the New Church (Bryn Athyn, Pa.), has a chance to be one of Sparacio's first big success stories. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard, Gillis averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a senior at ANC, but college interest was primarily coming from Division II football programs.

His post-graduate season at Rise has expanded his options dramatically. Gillis is posting 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, including 31 points against nationally-ranked Findlay Prep, 29 against Brehm Prep (Carbondale, Ill.) and 27 against Brewster Academy.

"He has excelled at everything put in front of him while at Rise," Sparacio said.

Colorado State, Florida State, Nebraska, Rice, San Diego, South Alabama, Texas Christian, Tulane and Virginia Commonwealth are among the schools that have taken notice and expressed interest.

Gillis' performance against Findlay Prep was a signature moment for the program, as Rise pushed the two-time defending National High School Invitational champions to the wire before losing 95-84.

But there isn't a lot of time to celebrate at Rise. The next game or road trip is usually just hours away.

"Played Findlay to a standstill. Tape will be available next week for coaches. Still have 15 games left," Rines relayed Feb. 20 via his Twitter account.

Cal lands Washington sleeper

Mike Montgomery and California received a commitment Monday night from Tahoma (Kent, Wash.) forward Christian Behrens, a prospect who slipped off the radar of many programs following a rough last 12 months.

Behrens, a perimeter-capable 6-8, 200-pound forward who averaged 21.8 points per game this season, has been on the mend from not only a torn ACL suffered in January 2010, but also an aching heart.

A month after the future Golden Bear's injury, his father B.J. lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer.

"The year he has had, it's not an easy thing and not something you get over right away," Tahoma head coach Rob Morrow said. "The 1-2 punch he got, I've never really seen before."

After an up-and-down start to his senior campaign, Behrens caught fire in late December and went for 20 points or more in 12 of his final 13 high school games, including a season-high 32 points in a 71-65 win over Kent-Meridian.

California has been on the trail for over two years and took notice of the rejuvenated Puget Sound standout. An offer materialized two weeks ago. Following a visit to Berkeley last weekend, Behrens pulled the trigger.

"He walked in my room and looked so relieved," Morrow said. "He seemed like he was really at peace. The smiles were coming easily and that hasn't been easy for him to do."

Behrens also had offers from Eastern Washington, Portland State and Seattle University, and strong interest from Nevada and Washington.

He joins an incoming recruiting class for the Golden Bears the includes junior college guard De'End Parker and Missouri forward David Kravish.

Behrens also adds to Kent's booming basketball reputation, which includes current Detroit Piston Rodney Stuckey (Kentwood), UCLA freshman Josh Smith (Kentwood) and Gonzaga signee Gary Bell (Kentridge).

Top Wisconsin junior set to decide

One of the nation's top juniors will make his college decision Thursday night at – where else – the local Dave & Buster's.

Jean-Pierre Tokoto of Menomonee Falls (Wis.), a 6-6 shooting guard/small forward rated the No. 10 2012 prospect nationally by MaxPreps, will pick between Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, Maryland, North Carolina, UCLA and Wisconsin.

Tokoto is averaging 20.4 points per game this season, but Menomonee Falls has scuffled to an 11-11 record.