2007 Fullcourt Press JUCO Showcase Report
By Etop Udo Ema
(April 17, 2007)

The 2nd Annual Fullcourt Press JUCO Showcase presented by All West Hoop Report was held on Sunday April 15th at Long Beach Jordan HS and showcased the top unsigned seniors and junior college players in California. Here are some of the highlights of the event.:

The top performer of the sophomore/post grad category was 6-6 Cornell Williams of San Diego City College. He stroked the jump shot going 4 for 4 from 3 point range the first game to go along with many highlight reel dunks in both games. He really has made the transition to the perimeter which makes him a legitimate division 1 prospect.

6-6 James Silvie (Santa Ana) has some of the best offensive tools in the state. He can score any way you want from the perimeter or the post. Insiders say that he is headed to Chaminade in Hawaii. Silvie is a division 1 player also but has to go down due to his clock.

6-5 Anthony Pimble (Ventura) is one of the top athletes in the country and he definitely showed the crowd why. He is a Rucker Park legend originally from New York. Insiders say he is headed for Southern Indiana although every division 2 school in the country is yearning for his services.

6-5 Eric “50” Williams (Long Beach City) is also one of the top division 2 prospects in the country. He has an unbelievable body and can score in a variety of ways.

6-8 Bryan Smoothers (Consumnes River) had a big night from beyond the arc and in the paint. Before he hurt his ankle he was one of the most productive guys in the tournament.

6-1 Larry Dew (Chaffey) is a post grad who is one year removed but is NAIA eligible. Dew is a super athletic combo guard who can defend and score. He is a legitimate division 1 prospect which will make him a top notch NAIA impact player right now.

6-2 Mike Hernandez (Santa Ana) reminds you of Steve Nash with his feel and passing ability. He has to go division 2 as well and it looks like Cal State Dominguez is the leader for his services.

The JUCO freshman class is loaded with big time talent…

The best player at the event regardless of class was 6-0 Dante Smith (Mt SAC). He was the 2nd leading freshman scorer in the state. Smith is a legitimate top 10 player nationally and the top JUCO point guard on the West Coast maybe the nation. He put on a clinic shooting the ball, passing the ball and getting to the rack on guys. He is a super strong point guard who has great passing ability and can become a big time scorer when needed. Dante is a high major point guard who was almost a qualifier out of high school. He is already hearing heavy from many schools led by Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU, Fresno State and many others.

Cerritos College has 4 returnees that could be the best group of players returning in the state. They are led by 6-8 Travele Jones who can play any position on the floor from point to post. He's a smooth big who can really handle the ball.

6-3 Aaron Thompson is a big point guard who is strong and can stick the jumper. 6-4 Cortez Ward is an athletic wing who can shoot and slash to the basket. 6-5 DJ Norman is a silky smooth shooter who can also score in a variety of ways. With this core group of guys Gary Cain, Tito Ortiz and company should contend for the state title. All 4 of these guys are division 1 players at some level.

6-7 Dajuan Flowers (Mt San Jacinto) is an athletic wing forward who isn't afraid to get inside and bang with the big boys. He is a solid mid major prospect.

6-8 Brian Santiago (Cuesta College) is currently ranked top 100 in CSTV's JUCO rankings but what most of the media doesn't know is that he is freshman. This really changes things because he was formerly listed as a sophomore. He is a qualifier out of high school. His recruitment should intensify heavily when the word gets out. He is an athletic wing forward who is long and rangy.

6-4 Jamel McGuire (San Diego City) will be one of the top combo guards in the state next year. He has big time speed and can go by anybody.

6-5 Chris Brown (Long Beach City) was a beast the whole tournament. He got to the basket and overpowered anyone that got in his way. Next year should finally be his team.

Here were the top unsigned seniors:

1. 6-5 Larry Anderson (Long Beach Jordan)
2. 6-9 Genesis Maciel (Compton Centennial)
3. 6-9 Eric Neely (Ribet)
4. 6-6 Greg Murray (San Diego Serra)
5. 6-5 Kenneth Woods (Cabrillo)
6. 6-2 Lauren Heard (Long Beach Jordan)
7. 6-6 James Hancock (Mission Bay)
8. 5-10 Troy Draves (Hacienda Heights Wilson)
9. 6-3 Charles Grays (Arroyo Valley)
10. 6-0 John Johnson (Compton Centennial)
11. 6-3 Brandon Smith (San Bernardino)
12. 6-7 Moala Tatuaa (Clairemont)
13. 6-0 Patrick Rembert (Lakewood)
14. 6-2 Eric Garcia (San Diego Mira Mesa)
15. 6-3 Darius Davis (San Bernardino).