Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) junior standout Tyler Lamb opened a text message from his teammate Gary Franklin Friday night and at first smiled. He then snarled and feverishly texted right back.
The USC-bound Franklin was at the Staples Center for the Pac-10 Tournament semifinals. His message to UCLA commit Lamb was simply a picture of the Staples scoreboard he had just snapped off: “USC 65, UCLA 55.”
Lamb’s message back: “UCLA 64, USC 60; UCLA 76, USC 60.”
Those were the scores of the first two meetings between the cross-town rivals.
It’s tournament time and battle lines are drawn, stakes are set and passions run deep.
Even among high school kids.
MaxPreps contacted many of the top prep players in the country to tell us why they think their future schools will battle their way through the bracket of 64, through the trenches of the Sweet 16 and all the way to the promised land of the Final 4.
Some, even predicted the ultimate.
Peyton Siva, Franklin (Seattle, Wash.)
Photo By Juliann Tallino
Like Louisville-signee Peyton Siva, a 6-foot point guard at Franklin (Wash.). He’s ranked No. 14 on the MaxPreps Top 100 recruits of 2009.
“We’re going to win it because we have the best team, the best program and the best coach in America, Rick Pitino,” he said just days after leading his team to a Washington 3A championship. “I don’t want to jinx them but I have that much faith in my guys and I honestly think they’re going to get it done.”
Even though the prep kids are months away — in the case of Franklin and Lamb more than a year — from officially joining their teams and school, all have taken a certain amount of ownership to their future teams.
Washington-bound Abdul Gaddy (No. 18 in Top 100), from Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), has attended many Huskies’ home games this season. When he can’t, he catches them on the tube.
“It’s kind of like I’m watching them on the bench,” he said.
Kenny Boynton (No. 7), a 6-2 shooting guard from American Heritage School (Plantation, Fla.) who is headed to Florida, said he’ll often bark at the television during Gators’ games, especially during scoring droughts.
“It’s not like I’m yelling at my (future) teammates,” he said. “I’m rooting for them.”
Fairfax (Los Angeles) senior Solomon Hill (No. 64), who has committed to USC, has taken his allegiance to a whole new level. The 6-6, 195-pound guard/forward broke down the current Trojans like Billy Packer.
Solomon Hill, Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photo By Nicholas Koza
He detailed the offensive and defensive games of Taj Gibson, Dwight Lewis, DeMar DeRozan and Daniel Hackett and noted that if all on, the Trojans are a dangerous threat for at least the Sweet 16.
With the addition of Hill and his Fairfax teammate Renardo Sidney (No. 3) next year and Franklin the following, USC figures to be an annual tournament threat in the near future.
“I have to know my guys because I’m going to hopefully help make them better next year,” Hill said.
With that kind of perspective into their future teams, here is how these blue chip recruits analyze the 2009 tournament. Also included are comments from their high school coaches on how blue chippers will help their future teams get to the 2010 Tournament.
Gary Franklin (Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.), 6-3, 180 junior: USC
USC (21-12) No. 10 seed in Midwest, opens with No. 7 Boston College (22-11)
“We haven’t had a full roster because of injury the entire season until these last seven or eight games. Once healthy, you can see how we’ve done, winning the (Pac-10) tournament and all. The way (freshman) DeMar (DeRozan) is playing and scoring, I think we can get to at least the Sweet 16. It’s not going to be easy though. Boston College is tough and if we get past them we have Kansas.”
Abdul Gaddy (Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma, Wash.) 6-3, 180, No. 18: Washington
Washington (25-8) is No. 4 seed in West, opens with Mississippi State (23-12).
“I think we’re definitely capable to get as far as the Elite Eight and possibly Final Four. We got a tough first-round draw, but coach Romar will have them ready. We’ve had a great year and are ready.”
Bellarmine Prep coach Bernie Salazar on why Gaddy is ready for college;
“He’s obviously a high-caliber player and athlete with a lot of potential. What they’ll love about him right away is that he’s a total team guy. He’s confident and you want that in your point guard. He’s tough and can handle any situation. He’s such a great passer and obviously he can score too.”
John Henson (Sickles, Tampa, Fla.), 6-11, 205 (No. 13 in Top 100): North Carolina
North Carolina (28-4) No. 1 seed in South, opens with No. 16 Radford (21-11)
“I think we’re definitely capable of taking it all. We have everyone back from team that made it to the Final Four last year. We have that experience. So many other teams don’t have that experience and that makes a huge difference. … I can’t wait to see the regional final if we face Oklahoma, Tyler Hansbrough versus Blake Griffin. That’s going to be something.”
Sickles coach Renaldo Garcia on Henson;
“John is out of the new age big men who can do so many things. He can handle the ball in the perimeter. He has a great shooting touch. He’s a great shot blocker. He basically can fill up the stat sheet. Beyond that, he’s well aware of the campus he’s stepping on. He knows it’s a special place. But he’s one of those kids who embrace those kind of challenges. He loves to compete yet on the court he’s very unselfish.”
Solomon Hill (Fairfax, Los Angeles), 6-6, 210 (No. 64): USC
USC (21-12) No. 10 seed in Midwest, opens with No. 7 Boston College (22-11)
“If we play basketball like we did at the Pac-10 Tournament then there’s no reason why we can’t get to at least the Sweet 16. If our big four keep shooting like they are we’re extremely hard to guard. I’m going to have my phone on for live updates every game. I think anything is possible with this group.”
Fairfax coach Harvey Kitani on how Hill will contribute right away at USC;
“What makes him so valuable is he can do so many things. He was a power forward for us early in his career when we needed him there and this year he played the 1, 2 or 3 at times. He’s really developed all facets of his game and should continue to do so at USC.”
Tyler Lamb (Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.), 6-5, 185 junior: UCLA
UCLA is No. 6 seed in East, opens with No. 11 VCU (24-9)
“It’s a tough draw on the Eastern side. If we come out and play the defense that coach Howland preaches, I think we can get to the Final Four again. But the east is loaded with tough teams.”
Travis Wear (Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.), 6-10, 230, No. 16: North Carolina
North Carolina (28-4) No. 1 seed in South, opens with No. 16 Radford (21-11)
“I definitely think we can win it. The team is so mature and filled with so much veteran leadership. When the defense is on, we’re almost unbeatable.”
Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight on Travis and his twin David Wear at North Carolina;
“I think they both have the chance to contribute immediately because they have such great outside-inside games. Both are so extremely talented and coachable. They’ll have outstanding careers.”
Peyton Siva (Franklin, Wash., Seattle, Wash.) 6-1, 165, No. 14: Louisville
Louisville (28-5) is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest, opens with Morehead State (20-15)
“I’ve been watching them all season and just the way they play defense and how they have so much balance, they’ll be hard to beat. You can’t key on one player. (Terrence) Williams is having a breakout season. But everyone is getting hot at the right time. Everything is coming together.”
Kenny Boynton (American Heritage, Plantation, Fla.), 6-2, 190, No. 7: Florida
Florida didn’t make the tournament this season, but opened NIT Tournament Wednesday against Jacksonville. Boynton on how he hopes to help Florida get back to the tournament next year;
“I’m just going to try to come in, play tough on the defensive end and score. I just want to give them a spark with my intensity. … We (Florida) were just a little inconsistent this year. We were way up and way down. But honestly, the sky is the limit with this team. Hopefully we’ll hit our shots (in the NIT), win it and have a lot of momentum heading into next year.”
Derrick Favors (South Atlanta, Ga.), 6-9, No. 1: Georgia Tech
Tech finished 12-19 and didn’t qualify for any tournaments. Favors, who just led his high school team to a state title, on how that can turn around;
“We have some good players coming in and just talking to all the guys there’s a real good team chemistry. I’m just going to go in and try to fit in and help in every way I can. We’ll get it done. … As far as this year’s tournament, I think Uconn is going to go all the way. They have the best all-around team.”
South Atlanta coach Michael Reddick on Favors at Georgia Tech;
“He’s obviously a special talent but what sets him apart is that he wants to be the best. His game, his demeanor is perfect to go in there right away and contribute. He never gets too high or too low. He’s hard to rattle. Physically, he’s long but quick off the floor. He’ll bring it every night and I’m sure he’ll get them into the tournament right away.”
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com
