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Date Posted: 09:46:10 09/06/04 Mon
Author: dent
Subject: Possible recruits from Santa Cruz area
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/August/22/sport/stories/01sport.htm
Three stars, one long hoops-filled summer
BY RYAN PHILLIPS
SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT
Austin Swift, Cliff Sammett, and Eric Van Vliet needed a break.
The three soon-to-be Santa Cruz High seniors — and legitimate NCAA Division-I basketball prospects — spent their summer vacation doing little else besides parading in front of college coaches in camps and AAU tournaments, playing pick-up basketball, and hitting the weights.
As soon as the summer’s final prep basketball showcase — the prestigious Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas — ended at the end of July, the three took some time off the hardwood for a break far away from anything basketball.
Swift, Van Vliet, and three other buddies crammed their 6-foot plus frames (Van Vliet is 6-10) into a Suburban and road tripped to Montana for some outdoor adventure, and a little bit of lying around.
"Our friend owns a cabin on a lake," Van Vliet said. "We went rafting and tubing, mostly just hanging out around the lake."
Sammet also headed for a lake, Pinecrest Lake in the Sierra foothills, where he fished.
A quick break was all the trio could spare.
"It was nice to relax for a little while," Sammett said. "But now it’s time to get going again."
Even though it’s nearly football season, basketball season almost never stops for three Santa Cruz standouts. They are among 16 returners from Pete Newell’s team that went undefeated in regular season Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play, yet suffered a disappointing loss to fourth seeded Burlingame in last year’s CCS.
After working on their games all summer, the team’s three stars feel they have grown.
According to Bob Bramlett, their AAU coach for the West Valley Basketball Club, all three have made dramatic improvements since last season.
Forced in to double-duty at both guard spots last season, the 6-foot-4 Swift worked at improving his all-around skills so as to thrive as a combo guard.
Sammett worked at putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the basket. Van Vliet, a true center, has added all kinds of offense. He’s no longer just a defensive stopper.
"Eric was a non-factor on 90 percent of Santa Cruz games last year," Bramlett said. "This year, he wants to be a double-double factor, which I think is a modest goal. The comments I’ve heard from coaches this summer, they say it’s evident he’s really been working on his footwork."
At the end of the last school year, Van Vliet and Swift approached Newell about playing a tougher preseason schedule so as to get better prepared to face top level competition they’re likely to see in the next CCS playoffs.
Their hard work this summer has been aimed not only at the high school basketball season, however, but also at future seasons. That’s when all three hope to be suiting up for D-I schools.
The summer before their senior year is important for high school basketball players. Tournaments and camps are held across the country where collegiate hopefuls can showcase their skills in front of college coaches in hopes of garnishing a scholarship.
The summer hoops odyssey of Swift, Sammett and Van Vliet took them to the huge AAU tournaments Best of Summer in Los Angeles and the Big Time, as part of the West Valley Basketball club. They attended camps such as the Mid-America Basketball Academy All-American Camp in Atchinson, Kan.
A lot of travel, but worth it. Each of the three friends expects to attend school in California.
Van Vliet and Sammett have mutual interest in Santa Clara University, with Sammett (who has a 3.6 GPA) also being recruited by Holy Cross and Yale. Van Vliet is also being tracked by St. Mary’s College and the University of San Diego.
Swift, last year’s Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Most Valuable Player, is the most hotly recruited, with Loyola Marymount, the University of Montana, University of San Diego and St. Mary’s all on his trail. He also has a Pac-10 suitor in Oregon State.
Van Vliet thinks there’s a good chance he and Swift will wind up at the same school.
"He’s definitely one of my best friends," Van Vliet said. "I’m not sure exactly what’s going on with him, but it wouldn’t be bad going to college with one of my best friends."
Before college, though, there is the SCCAL basketball season, and all the pressure that comes from being the team at the top.
"I know a lot of people in the community have high expectations," Swift said. "As a team, we always have high expectations. Even though we lost only two games the whole season, me and Eric and Cliff have been working hard to make sure we don’t lose again."
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it's been a LONG time -- Bronco66, 11:17:31 09/06/04 Mon
both for some new BB news on the board (thanks Dent)
and since SCU has had a strong team of LOCAL talent ... when SCU had a roster of really local talent (think: McNamera,Rambis,Awtrey,Ogdens,Eagleson,O'Brian) they made some noise ...
what with the Cranking up of competition in the WCC this year and the TV games (home and away) the program is about ready for another break out ... Jesse seems to be pressing the local Bay Area schools and players to help in his building ... it would be great to continue the run over USF at a higher level ...
these three sound like good young men ... would be real interesting in seeing a group like that move ahead as a group ... now that would be a real story ... and a good 6-4+ combo guard in two years would be a nice addition to the program ..
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Dateline: 8/24/2004 recruiting updates from The Rocky Mtn Basketball News -- JCard, 18:44:27 09/07/04 Tue
Dateline: 8/24/2004
Coby Leavitt 6'9" power forward has undated list..
Coby Leavitt Power forward, St. George (UT). Snow Canyon, Height: 6-foot-9 Weight: 190 pounds and gaining... Position Ranking: #7 in Utah and rising The Dish: ". “He could play in the PAC-10, but he could be very good in the WAC, like an all league type player. He is just a little bit thin. He is very talented and skilled, although not overly trained at this point. He still has a lot of upside, and he is an athletic shot blocker who can shoot the three.” " -Dave Hammer, Salt Lake Metro AAU coach Schools of Interest: UCLA , Utah , Fresno State, Pepperdine, San Jose St, Santa Clara, Cal Poly, Harvard, and UC Santa Barbara With Utah signing Shaun Green, we think Cody should sign elsewhere...for playing time..ALthough we would like to see him stay in-state, it looks as if he wants out... As always, we will keep you posted,
JCard Note: Insider's list his interest in SCU as High; Rival's lists him as a 3 star player
Dateline: 8/21/2004
Boise, Utah, Eastern Washington Recruits guard..
Nik Raivio, Ht: 6-0 Wt: 150 Projected as: Point Guard Position Rank: #13 Washington Class: 2004 Senior High School: Mountain View HS (Vancouver, WA) Biography: The younger brother of Derek Raivio, the point guard headed to Gonzaga, Nike made a name for himself this spring by performing well in various tournaments with the Portland Legends AAU club. Smart, tough, with a good skill set and great defender, Raivio is a low to possibly mid-major prospect. We like his attitude and spunk. He never gets down and fights a tough crowd...He scores, but sets people up better right now.. Schools of Interest: Boise State Med Interest, CS Northridge Med Interest, Eastern Washington Med Interest, Fresno State Med Interest, Harvard Med Interest, Nevada Med Interest, Portland Med Interest, Santa Barbara Med Interest, Santa Clara Med Interest, Utah Med Interest, and Wyoming Med Interest,
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