2010-2011 Recruits

[jacksfan]

Let's try to get a couple of these dudes...

Best in the West First Team 2009-10 - Press-Telegram

[jacksfan]

I know there's no way we can land this player, but it's interesting...the parallels between him and Brian Morris...same high school in Portland, versatile post player, etc...

Portland's next big-time player: Terrence Jones - OregonLive.com

[jacksfan]

I don't know if they're looking at Lipski @ CR, but they should be. In fact, I wonder if football would want him as well, although I doubt Matt would play both sports...the coaches probably wouldn't go for that anyway...

Lipski leaves Montana to return to first love - hoops | DailyTidings.com

[EDAllen17]

HSU offered Semple a full ride scholarship. From the parents that I've talked to, it seem'ed Kinder wanted Jordan more than Wood. Interesting to see Jordan go to Chico State. This is from the Chico State Athletics website:

Wildcats Semple-fy things; Arcata product signs NLI

Jordan Semple signed an NLI to attend Chico State Tuesday.
4/20/2010 12:28:00 PM

CHICO ? Chico State basketball fans are prone to bristle at the thought of Arcata, home of rival Humboldt State. Now they have a reason to beam instead. Arcata High School product Jordan Semple, the 2009-10 Eureka Times-Standard and Humboldt-Del Norte Conference Most Valuable Player, has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Chico State University.

Semple, a 6-foot-6 wing, averaged 18.1 points for the Tigers this past season, including 21.3 in the postseason. He broke the 20-point barrier 10 times and scored a season-high 29 in a 66-63 loss to Modesto Christian in the CIF Northern California quarterfinals on March 11.

?We are extremely excited about Jordan becoming a Wildcat,? said Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink. ?His skill set, athleticism and passion for the game are all things that are going to allow him to have a huge impact on our program.?

In describing the reason for choosing Semple as its 2009-10 MVP, Neil Tarpey of the Times-Standard explained: ?His repertoire included nailing 3-pointers from spots all over the court, making unselfish passes to teammates, converting steals into coast-to-coast, high-wire lay-ups, blocking shots and hitting the boards.?

Semple was also named the Times-Standard?s Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.

?Jordan provides good size and versatility at the small forward position and he has the ability to guard multiple positions,? said Clink. ?He?s a good shooter and ball-handler. His offensive skill set is excellent and he has a knack for rebounding the ball. We love the fact that he?s been coached by Eric Vollmers at Arcata High School, who has helped him develop a high basketball IQ. All of that, coupled with the fact that he?s a diligent student academically, make him a perfect fit for what we are trying to accomplish here at Chico State.?

Semple, Bishop O?Dowd?s Jordan Barton, and De La Salle?s Nate Appel compose the Wildcats? crop of 2010 graduates. They become some of the keys to the future of a program that, in just two seasons under Clink, has grown into one of the California Collegiate Athletic Association?s finest. Just two years after a three-win conference campaign, the Wildcats advanced all the way to the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals last season before losing a nail-biter to eventual National Champion Cal Poly Pomona to finish 16-13.

A lot of positive buzz is surrounding the Wildcats right now. This signing certainly (or Semple-y, if you like) adds to it.

[jacksfan]

BASKETBALL: Heads up Humboldt, here comes Hamik
Apr 20, 2010
By Josh Weaver


GILROY - It wasn't really a matter of if Greg Hamik was going to play college basketball, it was more of where the 6-foot-1 senior was going to land.

Hamik, the Tri-County Athletic League's co-Most Outstanding Player for the 2009-10 season, made his choice official last Friday, penning his signature on the dotted line to attend Humboldt State University next fall.

Former GHS basketball coach Jeremy Dirks organized a signing "party" for Hamik, and the 20-25 people who came in support had the Mustangs' leading scorer a bit tongue-tied.

"I was a little shy. I didn't really know what to say," Hamik said about holding center stage. "It was fun. I was glad Dirks set it up for me."

Hamik added that Dirks had an key role in helping him get to the next level, whether it was on the court or contacting college-level coaches on his behalf.

"Ever since my freshman year he has been helping me out," Hamik said. "I owe him a lot."

The Jacks are a Division II program located in Arcata,and Hamik said their style of play fits his skills.

"It was a difficult decision at first," Hamik said. "Once I visited Humboldt and played with the team, it was easy after at."

Another plus: the school is in California, making it much easier for his family to catch some games next season.

[jacksfan]

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Oilers' Torres heading to Humboldt State



MONTEBELLO - It was a new beginning for the Montebello High School boys basketball program and senior guard Andrew Torres. The Whittier native signed his collegiate letter of intent on the Montebello campus among friends, family, teammates and coaches.

Torres signed with Division II Humboldt State of Arcata in Northern California. The Lumberjacks compete in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

"I'm pretty excited because we don't have that many guys go to the next level," Torres said. "It's pretty cool that I get to be one of those guys."

According to Oilers coach Marino Angulo, Torres is the first Montebello boys basketball player to sign in a decade.

"We haven't had this before," Angulo said. "I've been here over 10 years and we've never had anyone sign."

One of the aspects that appealed to Torres about Humboldt, outside of basketball and academia, was the different scenery of Northern California.

"It's really green up there," Torres said. "I've never seen so many trees and it's clean. I like that."

Torres narrowed his selections to Humboldt, Chico State, Cal State Monterey Bay and Chaminade (Hawaii).

"I wanted to stay on the West Coast," he said. "A couple of coaches pushed for Chaminade but that's a little too far for me."

Torres received initial interest from Monterey Bay and hinted he was planning on signing with the Otters until their interest peaked.

"The guy who was recruiting me left and then they didn't call as much," Torres said. "I was going to go with them but they just didn't seem as interested."

The 6-foot-3 Torres played guard and small forward for an Oilers squad that won an Almont League title and finished 28-2 while advancing to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs.

Torres was named the Daily News basketball Player of the Year as well as Almont League MVP, a CIF-SS Divisional first-teamer and the Sargent's All-Star Game co-MVP. For the season, Torres averaged 15 points and seven rebounds a game.

Angulo is hoping Torres' signing will usher in a new trend for the basketball team.

"This is new to many of us," Angulo said. "When you see him actually signing the letter of intent, you realize that he's made it out of here and he's going on to college.
"But this is a bigger deal than just going to college. We have some kids that go on to a junior college and play at the next level, but no one goes straight. He's a role model for everyone on the team."

[CuzinJack]

Here's an article on one of the freshman recruits that seems to be slipping through the cracks - Hamik was selected as TCAL Co-Most Outstanding Player and was named to the SJ Mercury News All CCS Team - One of only two public school players honored.

MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: Delgado, Hamik, Malick and Holler
Jun 15, 2010
By Josh Weaver
Gilroy Dispatch


Editor's Note It's the guy's turn. Four athletes picked out of a wealth of talented seniors at Gilroy High School. Each has the right amount of confidence and humility, which blended together, creates the ideal student-athlete.

Jesse Delgado, Greg Hamik, Eddie Malick and Jordan Holler have each impacted GHS in his own way and all will be remembered for their achievements and jaw-dropping, memorable performances.

The Dispatch honors these four individuals as the Male Senior Athletes of the Year. Congratulations and the best of luck.

Hamik: A leader on and off the court

Lethal from 3-point range and quick to the hoop, Greg Hamik was the go-to guy on the hardwood for the GHS basketball team this winter.

Hamik wore his emotions on the court but never let them get the best of him. He was the Mustangs' leader and took pride in that responsibility.

"I've always been competitive growing up. I just really like to win," Hamik said. "Every day in practice I wanted to push my teammates, I wanted to help them out in any way I can. Anything to help my team win.

"I took advantage of everything my coaches taught me. You have to take criticism positively and go work on the stuff that you don't do so well."

Hamik improved each season and led the Mustangs in scoring this past season with 16.4 points per game, knocking down 54 3-pointers in the process. His scoring prowess led to his recognition by the Tri-County Athletic League as the co-Most Outstanding Player of the Year.

"Ever since I was younger I have always had a really good work ethic," he said. "I feel like I have always worked harder than everybody else. Going into college I feel like that will give me an edge."

His work ethic transferred into the classroom as well, paying his mom her dues for instilling in him the importance of achieving good grades way back in elementary school.

"I knew that I had to get grades, it was like second nature," he said.

Hamik leaves GHS with a 4.0 grade point average.

Earlier in the spring Hamik signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Humboldt State University, where he will play point guard for the Jacks' program.

Moving from a setting where he was known as the star basketball player, to being the low man on the totem pole, is a process and scenario Hamik is prepared to approach with the utmost humility.

"You have to be a lot more humble, especially since there are a lot of guys that have been there longer than you," he said. "I want to make a good first impression."

Sticking with the sports theme, Hamik will study kinesiology at Humboldt.

"Humboldt just got a new kinesiology center. I want to take advantage of that opportunity," he said. 'I'm thinking maybe sports medicine or anything with muscle development."

One of Hamik's lasting impressions of his time as a Mustang came this past season in a game against none other than San Benito.

In front of a packed house inside Bob Hagen Memorial Gym - and a Salinas TV camera - Hamik scored 15 points in a Mustangs' 64-53 win.

"The atmosphere, the reporters, the TV and our fans - everyone came out - it was a fun experience to get out there and get a win," Hamik said.

Another piece of GHS basketball life that Hamik will cherish is the bond he had with his teammates, especially with his best friends, Michael Aldridge, Michael Hartman and Max Fishler.

"That's probably the best memory I will take away," he said.

[jacksfan]

How's he slipping through the cracks? He wouldn't have been signed if they didn't think he could contribute. If you're wondering why I didn't include him in those profiles of the ten signees, I had a thread about him and Brown ready to go, but I hit the preview button instead of submit, and I've been so busy that I haven't gotten around to redoing it.

Greg sounds just like the kind of player HSU has built around for years...smart, skilled, strong, and overlooked by other programs. The fact that he's interested in muscle development bodes well for him as well, since Drew Peterson is an incredible strength and conditioning coach. Just watch what he does w/ Greg over the next 4+ years.

[CuzinJack]

Jacksfan no offense intended - Just a lil bad luck - The signing article got clipped before it got to the basketball stuff and he got dropped from the 10 recruit list. So that's all I meant by "the cracks". Looks like the young guys may have to wait for their turn though. Gonna be tough for either to break in to that line up as freshman.

[jacksfan]

I agree about them having difficulty cracking the rotation this coming year. Humboldt has traditionally recruited freshmen and developed them, but they've got a shot at something special this coming season considering their returning players, and they need proven college players to make it happen, hence this different recruiting class. I hope the freshmen can be patient and wait their turn...it'll come. This coming season is going to be very interesting...that is if everyone shows up in shape, ready to play and stays healthy.