Alexander to SJSU

 (photo courtesy of Manteca Bulletin)

Dylan Alexander, out of Weston Ranch High in Stockton, has committed to Coach Dave Wojcik and San Jose State University. The 6-foot-3 backcourter averaged 18.1 points per game last season. He has accepted a recruited walk-on position.

Here's a January 2013 article on Alexander.

He and another talent earned most valuable players honors from the Manteca Bulletin this year.

A Jack Karapetyan update of sorts

Talked with Etop Udo-Ema today, who coaches the Compton Magic program of which Jack Karapetyan is a member.

Udo-Ema said that Karapetyan is still taking visits, has yet to decide on a college and that a trip to Kansas State was next in line.

Still no word on any faves but this clip came to mind so, of course, it had to be posted if for no other reason than more humor is needed in this world (sorry for the brief commercial):

Does McIntyre go the pigskin or hoops route?

Kyle Ringo reports that former Valley Christian High footballer and basketballer Jay McIntyre -- son of you-know-who -- has a gridiron scholarship at Colorado if he so chooses.

Three Spartan basketballers graduate

San Jose State University athletics lists a trio of former northern California prepsters as graduates:

* Calvin Douglas B.A. – Behavioral Science May 2013

* Justin Graham M.A. – Kinesiology (Sport Management) May 2013

* Aalim Moor B.A. – Communication Studies May 2013

Way ahead SJSU recruiting

A DeAnte' Mitchell tweet: "Plainfield East (IL) SG Aaron Jordan '15 picked up an offer from San Jose State"

The Spartan staff is definitely working Illinois -- First, Jalen James and also Ore Arogundade who is a 2014 prospect.

Here's a January 2013 interview with the 6-foot-3 Jordan.

Below is a December 2012 YouTube interview:

CBS Sports evaluates the SJSU coachign hire

From CBS Sports on the new basketball coach hire at San Jose State University:

San Jose State

The guy: Dave Wojcik comes to San Jose and replaces George Nessman after three years on Leon Rice's staff at Boise. He was also an assistant for his brother, Doug, at Tulsa -- and at Loyola and Xavier under the late Skip Prosser.

The deal: Wojcik can evaluate talent and will bring toughness to the program. He did a tremendous job helping Leon Rice elevate the Boise program over the last few years.

A little more on Isaac Thornton

Talked yesterday with George Gervin Academy Athletic Director Tim Littlefield (referenced in the previous post) about Spartan signee Isaac Hamilton and here's how he summed up the young man coming to Washington Square: "San Jose State is getting a steal. Isaac's 6-foot-3, very strong and athletic and jumps out of the gym. He can guard two positions [both backcourt spots]. He's an outstanding kid who is also good in the classroom. His parents are both educators."

More on Isaac Thornton

Mike Considine is all over Isaac Thornton signing with San Jose State University basketball.

Better living through chemistry

Chemistry is an oh-so-important aspect of any entity built around human relationships. Absent such, dysfunction or worse becomes the norm. Present and the whole has the possibility of exceeding the parts.

Long Beach State Coach Dan Monson has been to the mountaintop, turning his program back into one of note. But then came a heavy number of four-year college transfers and the 49er ambiance went to hell.

Those changing basketball programs do so for a myriad of reasons but first and foremost is not playing the amount of court time self-determined as appropriate as well as accepting a certain role on a team.

Go here for an overall informative feature on what went wrong in 2012-13 for The Beach.

With transfers, especially 'name' ones, there can sometimes go a feeling of slumming, of being better than one's current location. That's another coaching headache because the necessary level of respect towards others -- equals and authority figures -- isn't accorded. Check out this article.

James Ennis and Mike Caffey were the returning 49er leaders. Some teammates obviously didn't accept this but weren't willing to out-work the pair in order to earn a position of power.

So how, if at all, is this related to San Jose State University basketball?

Coach Dave Wojcik is laying a foundation with freshmen. He needs point Jalen James (especially) and Rashad Muhammad to become the on-court leaders. Were he to bring in a four-year transfer or even a community college talent who expected to be deigned the program focal point due to seniority status alone, well, that could turn into Long Beach State of this past season redux.

Now this is not to say Wojcik won't pursue transfers of any sort -- who is to say he hasn't already. It's just that the individual(s) will need to be prospects with the appropriate mindset so as not to impair the symmetry being sought.

Reise has Spartan interest

GPA Scout tweeted: "2014, 6'6, SG, Dillon Reise is a smooth lefty with great feel for the game. Nice stroke an is athletic to go with it"

It's obviously down-the-road but SJSU is listed as showing interest. Reise is a get-able prospect out of Ocean View High in southern California. His size is a nice plus and he's probably not finished topping out yet.

Correcting perception (SJSU applicable)

Here's Northern Arizona Basketball Coach Jack Murphy at a recent fan meet-n-greet:

“The biggest hurdle to overcome in recruiting to NAU is perception,” Murphy said. “Once kids come to campus, once they get to Flagstaff, they’re blown away by our facilities, by the environment, the scenery, the school. I think before that, they have this image in their mind that NAU is a second-rate institution with second-rate facilities. And that’s not reality.”

Murphy is entering his second season at the Big Sky Conference member.

Being new allows the selling of a vision -- after three or four years that is no longer an option. Kids will take a chance on newness and the possibility of becoming one who helped turn around and establish a program.

Getting prospects to visit is the largest hurdle for the 99%-ers as no visit equals no chance. Opposing coaches gladly reinforce any negative image of a school and friends/family are likely to ask 'why are you checking out that place?' when a heretofore cellar dweller is the subject of the conversation. The further away a kid lives from the perception problem institution, the sell is easier, though not easy.

But once on campus, 'reality' can be orchestrated (if need be) and the red carpet sales pitch unrolled. The VIP treatment can also include meeting with the athletic director or even the president of the school.

Most programs do a little squeezing for a commitment before the player gets back on his plane. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. Without getting a 'yes' within a few days post-trip, the odds of landing someone get lesser.

A final thought: having Mountain West Conference membership isn't a cure-all but it sure beats trying to sell the Big Sky Conference.

The latest on the mysterious Mr. Karapetyan

We are currently involved in getting James Karapetyan's photo added to the backs of milk cartons everywhere, along with the imperative Have You Seen Him?

We have it on good authority

Breaking!!! Another White House scandal has emerged!!! FAUX News is reporting that President Obama's security staff has 'sent' James Karapetyan 'on a long vacation' so that he cannot sign with San Jose State University.

Tommy Flanagan, formerly of Weekend Update and now a FAUX Oval Office correspondent, is quoted as offering, "Yeah! That's the ticket!"

fansjsu has more to offer about this conspiracy with his comment below.

Martin to San Jose State University

6-foot-10 Miles Martin, formerly of Homestead High in Santa Clara and now at Westwind Prep in Phoenix, has aligned himself with San Jose State University. He attended Homestead through his junior season and then transferred to Westwind to face much better competition and play under Coach Jeff De Laveaga.

Hope to speak with Coach De Laveaga soon.

(Man, am I flunking geography as the comment explains Homestead High is in Cupertino, not Santa Clara)

Foster goes with Waco (make that Lubbock)

In the end, the lure of the coach he signed with earlier proved too much for Alex Foster and he re-cast his lot with Tubby Smith and Texas Tech -- Michael O'Brien reports.

The 6-foot-8 Chicago prepster tripped to San Jose State University and would have offered a skills set unlike any other power forward on the Spartan roster but the comfort level he had already established proved to be too much to overcome.

In retrospect, it seems a bit odd that Foster didn't immediately re-up with Smith in Waco upon the lack of interest from Minnesota's new head coach but maybe he wanted to check out further options to make sure.

*** thanks for the correction on the geographical inaccuracy)