This could just as well be a part of the 2009 thread, but since Matt Derenbrecker stole the show last night in the Top 28 game for Country Day vs. Arcadia, I thought I'd add this to the 2010 thread. http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/41247652.html For those that say Matt D isn't that good of a player, 31 points and 5 threes, in a 20 point win would beg to differ. This kid can play and he would be a great player in CTJ's system where guys are encouraged to set screens, move freely and hit outside jumpers. Not to be forgotten, Eddie Ludwig also scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. In contrast, Kourtney Roberson scored 13 and had 8 boards in the loss for Arcadia.
More Matt D news... Rivals now has a nice "in-depth" interview with Mr. Derenbrecker, fresh off his 1A state championship. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=927351 What's scary is the kid is getting more national attention. Still only sporting two SEC offers of LSU and Ole Miss, Matt D is now saying he wants to visit NC (hoops country) to see UNC, Duke, NC State and Wake :shock:. While I understand that kids from the Bayou want to see what ACC ball is truly all about (and, again, hate to harp on this but until LSU sports fan care immensely about hoops again, the ACC and Big East will always be there... ), I don't like it from a 2010 recruiting standpoint. Matt D is a kid I would like to see as an early commit guy. That said, I think him and/or Brian Williams would make me happy as an early summer commitment. Here's what Matt had to say though, and he seems to still favor the Tigers: "He (Guerinoni) talks a lot about Coach Johnson's winning past," Derenbecker said. "If you look at all the schools he has been at and what he is now doing at LSU, you definitely know that is the truth. He is transforming LSU into the same type of successful programs he has had at other schools. "They also talk to me a lot about how me and Eddie are exactly the type of players that they are looking for. Smart players that know how to play the game and just loving playing the game of basketball. That is the kind of players that they are looking for." "Eddie and I have a lot in common," Derenbecker said. "We are similar in a whole lot of ways and if he has a good experience at LSU it is definitely going to be a big factor in choosing if I want to go to LSU as well. If he reports back to me that he loves LSU and they are using him in a good way that is definitely going to effect my decision. "You can still say that LSU is my favorite of the schools that have offered me." :geauxtige:geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A PART OF THE TRENT JOHNSON ERA.
Case in point. Matt D was just named Louisiana's Gatorade Player of the Year... http://highschoolsports.nola.com/ne...louisiana-boys-basketball-player-of-the-year/ “Matt Derenbecker is a 6-7 kid that can play multiple positions on the court,” said Mike Theus, Director of the Louisiana Select Nike travel team, for which Derenbecker plays in the off-season. “He can play the point, the two, the three and he can guard the four. He’s not lightning quick, but he knows how to score. He definitely knows how to use his body and his feet to get open and get shots. He can play a little bit of both the inside and outside game, which is extremely advanced.”
Rivals has an article about 2010 PF/C recruit, Tobi Oyedeji, out of Houston. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=932653 Seems like he's still interested in LSU, plans to take an unofficial to the campus in June, but clearly has a lot of suitors. Will be interesting to see what a guy like Brandon West does for LSU's prospects. Also, and unfortunately, Tobi says with all of the recent interest (including UCLA), he's likely not to commit early and won't sign until April of 2010. That's like an eternity. :dis:
It looks like slowly some more LA 2010 prospects are getting more love from the LSU staff. The name that's been thrown out there a little bit more recently, is Alexandria's Markel Brown, a 6-2 SG. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=926577 No offer yet from LSU supposedly but folks are watching him. It's still a wait and see game from LA prospects, Langston Galloway, Brian Williams and Matt D, who all have offers. Usually, you see folks who are juniors consider committing before Spring/Summer AAU ball, during or after. Right now, it's hard to tell how strongly these kids are lovin' LSU. You hear that they're all seriously considering LSU, but you'd like to see those commitments. Butch Pierre and Ok St are after Brian Williams. Langston has always sort of been "rumored" to not want to play at LSU, but is certainly considering them more now that CTJ is there. Matt D would be a likely early commit, but is now also saying that he's going to wait a little bit. Then, you have a kid like Jalen Courtney, who had offers from a good number of schools, commit. I know sometimes these things are a personal and a comfort thing, but what gives with the LA prospects? :yelwink2: The new practice facility is going up and shots of it are online on lsusports.net. With all of the things going on with LSU hoops, despite a "rebuilding" year perhaps next year (and honestly, that may offer the best opportunity for these guys), you'd like to see the folks step up and validate what's going on. :grin: The other thing for hoops recruiting mavens to start focusing in on is the AAU schedule. In Louisiana and bordering states, there a few AAU teams to watch--the biggie is Louisiana Select which has yet to post it's 2009 players, although its practices have already started... http://www.louisianaselect.org/ (others to watch include Brandon Bass's Elite team). The first big tourney is this weekend in VA (Boo Williams)--expect more news after that on our prospects. :geauxtige:geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A PART OF THE TRENT JOHNSON ERA.
Exactly. That's perhaps why it's just that much harder for CTJ, Brady, etc. When you look at UNC's national championship, you could make the case that bottomline, recruiting makes all the difference. And, when you are the UNC of basketball, that's in SEC football terms, the LSU or Florida of college football. So, Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, really kind of do have it "easy", compared to their hoops counter parts. But, give it time, eh? Now with Calipari, Grant, and some new coaches like CTJ, and ESPN putting a ton of SEC basketball games on, I think the SEC hoops landscape will be considerably better in a year or two. But, back to recruiting. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more coverage of the LA team at the Boo Williams Invitational this past weekend. I believe the LA Select team was out there, but Jalen Courtney was the only LSU recruit who got any pub... http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=934476 Seems like CTJ's 2010 commit is going to be a workhorse defensively.
2010 PG Andre Stringer is another to keep an eye on. Miss Mr. Basketball out of Jackson, MS. Looks like a LSU/Bama battle as of now.
I'd be thrilled if Coach Trent can build a pipeline in the Jackson Tigers AAU team. One of my favorite 2010 prospects, Rashad Perkins, is on their team.
