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CLASS OF 2011: NICK JOHNSON

Last day of evaluation tournament action in Vegas today

GABE YORK IN ADIDAS SUPER 64 SEMIFINALS


Gabe York

UA coach Sean Miller called Compton Magic Class of 2012 guard Gabe York the first day coaches were allowed to contact juniors on June 15. York projects to be one of the highest rated point guards of his class. Most Pac-10 head coaches were in attendance for York’s early game yesterday at Desert Pines High School.

“I got a lot of calls that day,” York, a 6-3 point guard, told me. “It was ridiculous. My phone was blowing up every five minutes. Coach Miller offered me a scholarship. Arizona is definitely a school I’m looking at that I’d want to attend.”

Although York is three years away from his first season of college basketball, he has a throwback style. Instead of forcing a three-pointer or passively giving up a potential shot, he can take a defender a couple steps inside the three-point line and make a mid-range jumper.

“When my three isn’t falling, I have to do something else,” he said. “First it starts with my defense, getting steals and stuff. And then it comes down to pump faking and jumping and taking one step further.”

York and the Compton Magic play in the semifinals of the adidas Super 64 tournament today at 10:20 a.m. If they win, they play in the title game at 5 p.m.

–Javier Morales

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 6:20 PM and is filed under Class of 2011 recruits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

13 Responses to “CLASS OF 2011: NICK JOHNSON”

  1. Brandon Says:
    July 25th, 2010 at 8:32 PM

    Rivals posted that Jahii Carson has a new leader, ucla. One day after saying Arizona was his leader.

  2. Carlos J. M. Says:
    July 25th, 2010 at 9:43 PM

    Hey George and Luke, I see what you’re saying. Austin’s being talked about as the No. 1 prospect, any and all positions, for ’12. Now if Coach Miller can draw in the No. 1 3 short years after seeing Arizona’s 26 year run in the NCAAs end, why then he’s a much better recruiter than any of us are giving him credit for. If Coach can pull that off, he would deserve 3 million a year.

    Not saying it can’t happen, but what are the chances UA gets Ashley or Austin? The ‘Cats couldn’t even land Famous or Vargas, and have yet to get serious – truly serious (today’s Rivals report on Carson is disconcerting to say the least; thought we had come to know him better than that) – consideration from a major, big-time, ready for prime time 4 or 5 star recruit. But that’s OK because I’d just as soon have the tried and true books-’n-ballin’ young man whose head is screwed on straight and who wants to be in Tucson playing for UA and helping Coach and team while making himself better, of course. That’s how a bonafide program, and NBAer who lasts well beyond his first contract, is built.

    And speaking of Jahii now wanting to play back up to Carlino at PG next season in LA, where misguided, egomaniacal ball players who think they’re the next best thing are a dime a dozen, we must also wonder about Coach Miller’s ability to close the deal. Does this guy from the Keystone state have what it takes to recruit with the big boys? There’s something very much wrong when a day or two after JC is mentioned as a strong UA lean by his AAU coach we now have UCLA and dry toast Ben Howland – yes, Ben Howland – getting the best of Miller and UA, even after Miller & Co. have basically put all their energy into seeing to it that come October ’11 Carson is in a ‘Cat uni. Wow. Buyer’s remorse anyone?

  3. Carlos J. M. Says:
    July 25th, 2010 at 11:35 PM

    Add Carson:

    “I want to close this (recruiting process) out,” he said. “I am definitely signing in the fall because I want to move on and concentrate on my senior year (at Sacramento High School).” Nick Johnson backcourt mate 6’3″ PG Josiah Turner speaking to Javier after the semis of the Las Vegas Championship, eventually won in grand style by their Oakland team

    Don’t think any of the other PGs, or combo-guards, Arizona’s after for ’11 have been this specific, or this quick in wanting to decide, as this youngster Josiah. Would naturally love to have Carson and Johnson, but if this thing with Jahii changing his mind from one day to the next continues to draw out, I say Coach Miller go with the first one who commits. We can live with Turner and Johnson in the backcourt together. Coach cannot, for the health of the program and his reputation, come home empty-handed for ’11. That would spell gloom and doom for some years to come. And I don’t think that’s what Livengood bargained for.

    Earlier I posted that for ’12 a class of the following four young men would be fine and dandy:

    PG-SG Adams (Seattle-to-Tucson, and Jet, revival; can I get an Amen!?!)

    PG-SG-PtF Murphy (versatility – and match-up problems – personified, east coast, Coach Miller gets him and Coach K doesn’t, 2 hour meeting with player and parents in the coach’s Duke office during an on-campus camp – hmmm…NCAA, where are you? – notwithstanding)

    F-C Lucas (hello again – in a BIG way- Oregon trail!)

    C-F Jerrett (Rooks and the Power of O to find and develop raw talent regenerated)

    I still do. These four solid kids give Coach Miller the best chance for early success on the recruiting trail. They can come in with what’s already going to be here (hope for ’11 it’s S. Johnson, N. Johnson, Carson or Turner and, somehow, Kerr and/or Amir Garrett) and win quickly. Winning will breed greater success in recruiting and, well, will mean more winning, eventually. Yes, Arizona should offer *****s. Should even attend their games and visit their homes. Host them on visits to Tucson and UA as well. But please, let’s not put all of our energy into chasing these guys all over God’s Country when we know darn well we’re not what they want. At least not right now.

  4. George Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 7:48 AM

    Carlos, Carlos, Carlos…c’mon now…you know you should take all these reports with a grain of salt. You’re already selling on Jahii? The kid hasn’t signed anything yet. Pump your brakes here. I’ll explain why in a second.

    First, to clarify: Jahii is the one who said Arizona was leading – in an interview by Coast-to-Coast recruiting linked on this site – not his AAU coach. Chad Groth – who gave the interview to Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic where he mentioned that Sean Miller’s #1 priority was Jahii – is not affiliated with Jahii or the Compton Magic/The Magic AAU program. Chad Groth is an AAU tournament organizer out of Phoenix. He puts the Elite 8 in the Desert tournament on ever year. Carson’s AAU coach is Zeke Austin’s dad, Alex. And he hasn’t said a word about Carson’s recruitment.

    Now, back to my original point above. Here’s why:

    - Don’t you find it fishy that Jahii changed his favorite during a non-contact period?? If ucla couldn’t contact Jahii, how could he now consider them his leader?

    - Jahii never mentioned ucla in any of his interviews prior to the one with Rivals when they suddenly became his new leader. Don’t you think he would have at least mentioned them somewhere in his list of top 5-10 schools if he were serious about them?

    - ucla is an adidas school. The Compton Magic/The Magic AAU program is an adidas sponsored program.

    Lots of things to consider here. The least of which is whether or not there is any “buyer’s remorse.” Let it all play out. Just remember: don’t take anything these kids say as 100% fact until there’s a signature on the dotted line. Who knows – you may be pleasantly surprised at the end.

  5. Luke Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 4:35 PM

    Anybody planning on going to the Desert Duel up in Phoenix?

    Are coaches allowed to recruit/evaluate at this event?

    Will there be any notable players even playing? (Or are they all taking it off like Nick Johnson after the Vegas tourny?)

  6. George Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 5:49 PM

    I’ve been in the past. Can’t go this year, unfortunately. Work. Blah. The 2nd evaluation period of July goes from July 22-31, so coaches are allowed to attend. Arizona’s will most definitely be there.

    It’s also open to the public. $10 per day entrance fee. Elite teams are definitely involved, but sometimes the kids are burned out from Vegas. Some elite kids sit it out. It’s definitely worth going, though.

  7. Carlos J. M. Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 5:54 PM

    George, I’ve been at this too long to not say you have a point. And to not agree with you – to a point. But in Coach Miller’s recruiting history as ‘Cat coach, which admittedly isn’t extensive, you have to look at patterns to figure certain things out. Carson saying I’ll visit and then saying yes before saying maybe and then eventually saying I don’t know but I think I like someone else fits the pattern we’ve now have seen far too often for the last several months.

    Coach has a lot to contend with as the Arizona head man, and chief amongst those things occupying his time is the hard, cold fact that there hadn’t been any recruiting done at UA in the last 3-5 years. He has a lot of catching up to do, and much, much more convincing of the ball players he’s after to somehow accomplish that objective. Not totally his fault, but at some point you got to wonder what it’s going to take. All I can say is thank goodness for Book.

  8. Javier M. Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    Luke: Nick Johnson and the Drew Gooden/Oakland Soldiers are still going, finishing the evaluation period in Anaheim. A number of Arizona recruiting targets will be in Phoenix. Here’s a short list:

    Belmont Shore:
    Grant Jerrett
    Amir Garrett
    Cezar Guerrero

    Compton Magic:
    Jahii Carson
    Gabe York

    DC Assault Gold:
    Sidiki Johnson
    Quinn Cook

    NE Playaz:
    Alex Murphy
    Kaleb Tarczewski

    Seattle Rotary:
    Anrio Adams

  9. Luke Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 8:52 AM

    Thanks for the list Javier. I appreciate it.

  10. Javier M. Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 12:09 PM

    No problem Luke. I see that Brad Allis (Twitter: WSRBrad) tweeted something positive about Guerrero. I like this kid. His moxie is comparable or better than that of Cook and Carson. He’s a bit undersized, listed at 6-foot but actually 5-9 or 5-10, but the guy is fearless and he’s a finisher. He’ll help whoever signs him.

    Allis’ tweets can also be seen at wildcatsportsreport.com

  11. George Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 1:29 PM

    Jahii has already back-tracked on the ucla comments. Like I said above, you never know until the kid signs on the dotted line.

  12. Carlos J. M. Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 2:46 PM

    George, it’s amazing how once Miller went after and got first Bejarano and Mayes and now seemingly – S-E-E-M-I-N-G-L-Y – Carson and N. Johnson, all of a sudden teams and programs and coaches that always had w-a-l-l-l-l-k-e-d the ball up court are telling certain players that if they commit they’ll change their lifelong style of play for them and run, run, run. Baloney. But what’s worse, a player believing that garbage or the garbage man himself?

  13. George Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 6:16 PM

    I hear you, Carlos. Rest assured, Jahii’s not going to asu (and that’s not a guess, if you know what I mean). The biggest threats to Arizona are Oregon State (his family loves Craig Robinson) and schools in the Big East/ACC. Anything is possible, but I don’t think ucla is a serious threat and I doubt he leaves the West Coast.