I love this time of year.
College football is almost in Bowl season, the NFL is in the thick of its season, the NBA has started, and perhaps best of all college basketball is back.
You know its back when you put on ESPN and you see Dick Vitale having an orgasmic seizure as he talks about who he thinks are this year's best teams. Speaking of Dicky V, if you look at college basketball right now there are some amazing "Diaper Dandies" this year. ("Diaper Dandy" is a term coined by Dicky V referring to the best young, talented freshmen.)
This year there is a particularly great group coming out of Southern California.
UCLA had the best recruitment class in the country this year. They welcome some amazing young freshmen, the most touted of whom is Gatorade Player of the Year, Jrue Holiday. This kid is sick.
- B/R Ticket Guide
He is like a young Dwayne Wade. He didn't have to travel far to become a Bruin coming out of Cambell Hall High School in LA. He is joined by fellow McDonald's All-American Malcolm Lee, who is a solid point guard from Riverside.
Ben Howland also got commitments from Jerime Anderson- a guard from Anaheim, CA, who was a top-25 prospect. And I'll give the Bay some love because Drew Gordon from San Jose is going to be huge for the Bruins this year.
But there is a lot of talent from SoCal that didn't go to UCLA.
USC got arguably the best prospect coming out of high school in Demar DeRozan from Compton, CA. DeRozan will go pro at the end of the year, and will be a high-lottery pick. He plays similar to Kevin Durant.
North Carolina got Larry Drew II. He is another really solid point guard from Los Angeles. Arizona signed Jeff Withey from San Diego, who was one of the most highly recruited centers.
Finally, Brandon Jennings who was ranked as the no. one prospect for 2008 by ESPN, is playing in Europe this year. He was going to go to Arizona, but couldn't because of low SAT scores. He also grew up in LA before transferring to Oak Hill Academy to play high school ball.
Clearly there is a ton of flat out "ballers" coming out of So Cal...at least six of this year's freshmen from Southern California will eventually end up in the NBA.
Don't expect the talent to stop. Class of 2010 member Jeremy Tyler, who goes to San Diego High School, is ranked as one of the top prospects on every ranking board and is expected to be No. 1 by the time he is a senior. The kid is a beast and is currently having a documentary made about his recruitment to college.
If you are a fan of college hoops you should keep your eyes on some of the guys I mentioned this season, or you can YouTube them (Do it!).
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