Two new starters for Fresno State

Daniel Lyght tweeted this: "In Fresno State news, freshmen Bracken Funk and Tyler Johnson will start in place of F Ned Golubovic and PG Steven Shepp 2moro @ Utah State"

Just asking: does anyone know if Coach Steve Cleveland is hot after a recruit by the last name of Wagnalls? Because...

Fret not Fresno fans

Yes, that's my attempt at Shakespeare in the headline and we'll conclude our efforts with that endeavor.

The Tyler Johnson letter-of-intent has been received:

Tyler Johnson signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Fresno State this fall and will add a jolt of energy in the Bulldogs' backcourt.
Cleveland Inks Johnson to NLI
April 21, 2010

FRESNO, Calif. - With his latest addition during the spring signing period, head coach Steve Cleveland has elevated the Bulldogs' backcourt by inking Tyler Johnson to a National Letter of Intent to attend school and play basketball for Fresno State in the upcoming 2010-11 season.

"Tyler is a combo guard that has the ability to attack off the dribble and shoot the midrange jumper," Cleveland said of the San Francisco Bay Area native...

Go here for the remainder.

Tyler Johnson named POY

Fresno State-bound Tyler Johnson receives a Player of the Year award. In February, Johnson was named the West Catholic Athletic league most valuable player:

Lancers' Johnson is Daily News Player of the Year
John Reid
Palo Alto Daily News
3/23/2010

Tyler Johnson blossomed in his days at St. Francis-Mountain View, as a basketball player and as a person. The 2010 Daily News Player of the Year gradually became a cog in the Lancers' attack, even if he rarely started. Johnson, who has started just six games, might be the best high school sixth man in the country.

"It doesn't bother me that I don't start," Johnson said. "All my coach is doing is splitting up scorers in each group. He has scorers in the first group and scorers in the second group. It's cool to start, but it's way better to be there at the end of the game when it really matters."

Entering Friday's CIF state championship game against Lincoln-San Diego at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, the senior Johnson averages 13.5 points, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 5.2 rebounds per game. Those numbers depict a fine all-around player. In fact, the 6-foot-1 Johnson can play the point guard position, the 2-guard slot or any of the forward positions. Johnson missed the first seven games of the year while recovering from knee surgery...

Go here for the remainder.

Additional Sunday notes and links

Jack Nixon -- think about this -- did his 900th radio broadcast of New Mexico State sports action last night. That's a lot of memories and certainly some great, great stories and anecdotes. Hopefully, those will be put in book form at some point. We bet the Pekingese had a special cake ablaze with 90 x 10 candles waiting for him when he returned home.

Jason Groves talks to the voice of the Aggies here and congratulations to Jack for his accomplishment. We're not quite sure if we should wish him 900 more but we will -- if that's his desire.

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Chris Murray blogs about how to get more cheeks in the seats for Nevada.

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Daniel Lyght blogs about the contributions of Jerry Brown last night.

He also has an entry on Bulldog backcourt recruit Tyler Johnson.

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Jeff Portnoy has an article about a basketball poll regarding UH hoops here.

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Basketball Prospectus' Joe Sheehan says here Utah State can afford a stumble (however unlikely) and still get a bid to the Big Dance but he hedges on Louisiana Tech.

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Bill Sproat-mania continues unabated. A Speedo? Uh, we think not for the Aggie point man in the stands. Does anyone know if William will be in Reno for the tourney?

Tyler Johnson's other suitors

Today's Fresno Bee fleshes out the overall recruit of Fresno State commit Tyler Johnson and it's quite interesting as some other WAC school were in the mix.

'Dogs land key hoops prospect
Tyler Johnson gives oral commitment
Daniel Lyght
Fresno Bee
October 3, 2009

With basketball season right around the corner, Fresno State has landed a commitment for 2010.

Tyler Johnson, a senior guard from Saint Francis High-Mountain View, has given his oral commitment to Fresno State.

"I loved the way they were playing," Johnson said Friday. "It felt better than the other places I [visited].

Go here for the remainder.

Fresno State gets a verbal

Bay Area backcourter Tyler Johnson has given a verbal to sign with Coach Steve Cleveland and Fresno State. He is a 6-foot-2 lefty backcourter with a serious case of hops and some three-point shooting ability.

Here is an August 2009 ESPN evaluation of Johnson.

Here is a YouTube video on Johnson.

Mountain View's TJ a darkhorse recruit

Here's a kid from the San Jose, CA area who just may surprise some people. As a friendly reminder, keep in mind that interest has a wide and varied definition a la we have interest in Scarlett Johansson. We would be happy to sit on a beach somewhere and simply listen to her reciting the WAC charter word-by-word.

Tyler Johnson literally came out of nowhere this past season, averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists a game.

Johnson also started gathering a list of potential collegiate suitors who have become intrigued by his ability. Schools that have shown interest include...Fresno State...Boise State..., but Johnson says he is "wide open...

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