Early August in the Bay Area which means we're nearing the end of transfer season.
The latest, as we've tweeted and blogged, is Riordan has landed a big one from Down Under.
Robert Colton, a 6-foot-6 forward who has experience playing with the Australia U-17 and U-18 national programs, has transferred to Riordan, Colton confirmed to Prep2Prep. The sharpshooting newcomer will be a senior during the 2014-2015 season.
“I’m very excited to be at Riordan, it’s a great school with a great tradition!” Colton said. “I got in contact with them through a mutual friend as I was looking to study at high school over here and play basketball at the same time.”
Colton at the U18 national championships in Australia averaged 22.4 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, one assist and made 44 percent of his three-pointers.
“I can attribute a lot of my success in that tournament to David (DJ) Jones and his shooting for success program in San Antonio,” Colton said.
The highly touted Eddie Stansberry transferred to Riordan in time for last school year and is ready to play this season. Stansberry was a freshman on varsity at Serra in 2012-2013 who left the school after one year. He had to sit out last season according to CCS rules but will be eligible to play this coming season. He was named MVP of the Skyline summer tourney which Riordan won.
Add Colton and Stansberry to 6-foot-8 Karim Ndiaye who is coming back from injury, perhaps another transfer or two and holdovers like junior Eric Galindo and senior Max Randall and newcomers from JVS Jason Smith and Daniel Norman and Riordan is looking pretty darn tough.
The Crusaders went 19-12 last season and made it to the NorCal Division III finals at American Canyon High where they fell to Drake 54-49.
Of course, that program to the south, Mitty, is still in the league. The Monarchs have won five consecutive section titles and two state titles during that span under veteran coach Tim Kennedy.
Mitty in successive years has added talented transfer sophomores in Ben Kone (last summer) and Sebastian Much in recent months.
Much, one of two transfers into the Mitty program this year, averaged 11.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game last season as a freshman at St. Margaret's-San Juan Capistrano.
ON A MISSION: Thomas Meredith, the big lineman who helped Serra win the CCS Open Division football title last season, is leaving soon for his Mormon mission to Honolulu, Hawaii.
So, a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints attended Serra -- a Roman Catholic school?
"Thomas is a great kid," Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. "We welcome all different types of kids to Serra including those with different religious backgrounds."
Meredith said his mom didn't mind him going to a Catholic school because he'd be able "to see there's a world outside the (LDS) church." Thomas' little brother, Hiliate Meredith, also plays football for the Padres.
Other recent Serra football players from different faith included Jared Braun who is Jewish and Jamal Shouman (Muslim).
Said Meredith of his upcoming mission: "I'm excited, honored and happy. It's kind of crazy to describe."
UP TO CODE: Cameron Schott of NorCalPreps.com had some nice things to say Thursday about some area rising seniors who played in last week's prestigious Area Code Games in Long Beach.
Wrote Schott about Mitty left-hander Kris Bubic: "Bubic showed good command of his fastball and although he doesn't overpower hitters, he threw a changeup and curveball consistently for strikes."
Re De La Salle outfielder Michael McAdoo: "McAdoo was aggressive at the dish and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. He is a good athlete with range in the outfield and provides a nice bat as well."
And Menlo-Atherton pitcher Matt McGarry: "The Vanderbilt commit showed quality stuff in two innings of work. His fastball sits in the low 90s while he also shows flashes with a changeup and curveball."
Finally, College Park first baseman Nick Oar: "Oar had the hardest hit ball of the game with a triple that allowed him to score in the next at-bat. He also had a nice catch at first where he was able to stretch to catch a ball headed towards right field while keeping his foot on the bag."
Schott's entire report may be read HERE
Oh, and all of the guys got some nice swag, as Bubic displayed via social media.
OUTTA HERE: Mike Riley has resigned as the Willow Glen baseball coach, said Blossom Valley Athletic League commissioner Colette Kirk.
Riley led Willow Glen to the 2013 CCS Division II title. The Rams defeated St. Ignatius in dramatic fashion, 4-3 in 11 innings at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Mike's son, John Riley, hit a home run off hard-throwing Matt Krook in the title game and Willow Glen pulled off a triple play to end a Wildcat uprising.
No word out of Willow Glen on a replacement yet.
NEW TEAMS: Fall sports practice in the Central Coast Section begins Friday.
Joining the BVAL in badminton is Valley Christian, said league commissioner Kirk.
Also, Gunderson is starting independent boys' and girls' water polo teams.
"We're always excited to see more kids get an opportunity to compete," Kirk said. "It's a good thing academically because studies have shown that students involved in athletics, band and music excel (more often)."
JAMBOREE SET: The BVAL football jamborees are Aug. 29-30 at various sites.
Del Mar on Aug. 29 will host Leigh and Willow Glen, Lincoln and Westmont, and Del Mar and Prospect.
Gunderson the same night hosts Oak Grove and Santa Teresa, Gunderson and San Jose High, and Yerba Buena and Andrew Hill.
Finally, James Lick hosts Independence and Piedmont Hills, Evergreen Valley and Silver Creek, and James Lick and Overfelt. All three of those Friday events are at 5 p.m.
Then on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m., Leland will entertain Leland and Pioneer, Live Oak and Sobrato and Branham and Mt. Pleasant.
Should be a good dressed rehearsal for the regular season.
NOT IN THE MIX: Bob Greene is the interim athletic director at Riordan following the departure of Jesse West who is headed for a prep school in Virginia.
Greene will not be the long-term answer as A.D. on Phelan Avenue, though.
"I'm not in the mix," said Greene who was brought in originally as a combination sports information director/broadcaster. The former Trinity Prep-Napa A.D. said he has too much going on personally, including pursuing a masters degree. He also said there is no exact timeline for the selection of a permanent A.D.
CHARACTER KIDS: I was in the area anyway on Saturday, so I popped into the Vallemar Station in Pacifica to watch some of Pacifica American vs. Nevada in the West Region Little League title game from San Bernardino. But before I even settled into my seat, a Nevada kid touched home plate after a three-run homer to make it 9-0 in the first inning. Ugh.
A wag in the crowd wondered aloud what's in that Las Vegas water. Another noted the Giants were also losing 5-0. Me? I headed for Rockaway Beach where it was as cold and dismal as the PALL hopes. Glad to see the boys bucked up and played Nevada even the rest of the way in an 11-2 loss. A lesser group would have packed it in. Nice job Pacifica.
Briefly: Las Lomas lineman Noah Myers has committed to Washington State, reports Doug Benton.
