About this time last year, 6’9” junior Richard Solomon (Bishop Montgomery/Torrance CA) was a 6’6” sophomore playing on the Knights’ JV squad. Fast-forward a year and a couple of inches and you find a blossoming D-I player with tremendous potential. While Bishop Montgomery (currently 23-3 and the champions of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic in December) is anchored by the leadership of three senior guards: Minnesota-bound 6’1” Justin Cobbs, 5’9” Brandon Bibbins and 6’1” Mike Panaggio, it is Solomon that might have the best

long-term upside. Very long body (his torso hints that he might yet reach 6’10” or 6’11”) with ability to the run the floor like a wing, Solomon is athletic around the rim at both ends and has real ability to knock down mid-range jump shots as well as displaying a soft jump hook. Solomon also has good blood-lines as his father (Richard II) played hoops at Michigan for Johnny Orr while older sister Am’ra just finished her college career playing volleyball at Cal (helping the Golden Bears reach the NCAA Elite 8 last fall). Solomon’s play as of late is starting to attract high-major attention with the likes of Oregon State and Michigan focusing their attention on this top West Coast 2010 sleeper. The “sky is the limit” for Solomon who might just be a major surprise by the end of the July recruiting period…………………

Talking about sleepers, one of the West Coast’s most
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underrated 2009 prospects in 6’4” senior Justin Brue (Bishop O’Dowd/Oakland CA). Brue is having an excellent senior campaign – averaging 16 points and 7.7 boards per game. Justin was impressive at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in San Diego in December – being named all-tourney and scoring 18 big points versus national powerhouse St. Anthony’s (Jersey City NJ) while helping the Dragons defeat Bob Hurley’s team by a whopping 29 points en route to finishing third at the event. Besides being an excellent defender, Brue is a terrific leader and a stellar student!……………6’0” sophomore Cezar Guerrero (Workman/City of Industry CA) is having a splendid sophomore year averaging 28 points to go along with 6 assists per game. Guerrero is one of the top sophomore point guards in the

nation…………..Speaking of soph point guards, 6’0” Clayton Ragsdale (Brea-Olinda/Brea CA) is one of the most underrated young playmakers in the Southern California area. On a high school team that features heralded 6’10” soph Kyle Caudill, it was Ragsdale that hit the game-winning jump shot at the buzzer to lift Brea-Olinda over Tustin in a league game 58-57 last month. Ragsdale’s other top efforts this year include 24 points/5 assists versus Kennedy (La Palma CA) and 21 points/5 assists against Servite (Anaheim CA)…………….…6’7” soph power forward Tremayne Johnson (LA Southwest JC/Los Angeles CA) has committed to Arizona. Wildcat assistant Reggie Geary apparently was able to
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garner a verbal out of this athletic slashing scorer in spite of the fact that Arizona’s new head coach won’t be announced for at least another month or so……………..6’7” junior Kevin Mulloy (Oxnard/Oxnard CA) is starting to make noise in the 2010 SoCal class – averaging 14.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Mulloy’s best offensive performance this year was a 32 point/12 board effort versus Venice (Los Angeles CA)…………….With 6’9” teammate and top national soph Kevin Johnson being ruled academically ineligible recently, 6’8” soph Ronnie Stevens (Serra/Gardena CA) has really stepped it up and showed off his emerging array of talents. Stevens is one of the most underrated national sleeper big men in the 2011 class…………Very underrated 5’10” senior point guard Randy Newell (Washington/Los Angeles CA) has committed to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Newell is averaging 12 points/4 assists/4 steals per game for a 16-5 General squad that is tied for first in the Marine League…………..6’8” senior power forward Luke Evans (El Camino/Oceanside CA) has committed to Cal Baptist in Riverside CA. Evans has ample mobility and an impressive skill set. Credit hard-working Cal Baptist assistant Tim Cook for recognizing and snatching some solid size for one of the NAIA’s top programs……………………Two of SoCal’s best unsigned senior combo-forwards play for Reggie Morris Jr. at Leuzinger (Lawndale CA) – 6’7” Jerry Evans and 6’5” William Overton. Morris has a great track-record of churning out big-time late-bloomers with Dorrell Wright (Miami Heat), Russell Westbrook (UCLA/Oklahoma City Thunder) and Donnell Beverly (UConn) being three great examples of this lineage. Evans is a long and athletic slashing scorer cut out of the Stacy Augmon-mold with the tools to be a great defender while Overton is a skilled scorer that has nice ability to face the basket out to the three-point line…………….6’4” senior RJ Farrell (Villa Park/Villa Park CA) is quietly having a stellar senior season – averaging 19 points per game (including three 30-point outbursts). Farrell is a gritty wing with legitimate long-distance range on his smooth jump shot………………..While he does not get the attention of some of his other Findlay Prep (Henderson NV) teammates like Texas-signee Avery Bradley, Illinois-bound DJ Richardson and coveted 6’8” unsigned senior Victor Rudd, 6’9” junior Godwin Okonji has been a steady role player for an undefeated 25-0 program that is ranked as high as #1 in the nation (Rivals.com) while patiently waiting for his hour to shine. Okonji has averaged a solid 6.5 boards per game this season while producing ten 9 or more rebound game efforts. Look for Okonji to become one of the West Coast’s most coveted 2010 post recruits this summer and a focal point for Mike Peck’s squad next season……..…………..6’8” junior Steven Adams (Pasadena/Pasadena CA) had surgery recently to remove a “mass” beyond his right eye. Although Adams will not return to action this season, the seven-hour surgery was successful and Adams is expected to be out 3-4 months. I know everybody wishes Adams well and a speedy recovery.

*** Photos courtesy of Nick Koza (SportsAmp.com)

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