The Wednesday WAC express

Man, it is loaded today.

Jason Groves begins his Top 10 WAC player countdown today. Go here to see who begins the list -- hint: it's a shared honor.

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The Sports Hawaii Basketball Forum is full of new items such as a Los Angeles area prep backcourter giving a verbal to Gib Arnold. The young man is listed at various sites as 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 so take your best guess. Here is Gerry Blakes' Twitter account which seems to defeat the purpose.

Here is a July evaluation of the youngster by Antonio Curro of NY2LASPORTS:

"Currently a 2011 prospect, Blakes will re-classify as he is extremely young for his age according to I Can All-Stars program director. With another year under his belt you can expect Blakes to really soar nationally as he’s equipped with length, athleticism, and ability to score off the bounce and a stroke that can extend beyond the arc. Really like his athleticism and upside and look for him to take off in a major way over the next 12 months."

Here is a May 2009 Rivals description:

"Athletic two guard who is effective in transition, and ok shooter with three-point range and drives fairly well."

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At the same Sports Hawaii Basketball Forum, a post says Gib Arnold has offered a junior college 7-footer.

Noted as a strong defender (61 blocked shots in 24 games), 215-pound John Florveus has visited UTEP, Washington State and Marshall-- all in mid-to-late September -- and has a plan to trip to Georgia.

In a September 30 article at the Marshall site (a Rivals sub is required), he is quoted in an interview as having offers from "UTEP, Washington State, Marshall, Dusquene, Hawaii, Georgia, Iowa State."

Florveus is unsure if he will take a fifth trip.

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Chris Murray has some notes on how Armon Johnson and Luke Babbitt fared in their respective pre-season debuts.

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Per the Idaho Statesman, here is the WAC ESPN basketball schedule.

One more item

Collin Woods, who we thought was headed to Arizona State but that was prior to the commitment of high level point Jahii Carson, is apparently wide open right now and considering mid-major destinations. The Arizona prepster was also considering Colorado but that relationship looks to be either in a holding pattern or heading south. 

We mention Woods because Fresno State has extended an offer. The young man is 6-foot-2, 165 pounds and plays the point.

All this is according to Adam Munsterteiger at the Buff Stampede.com site. (a Rivals sub is required)

Here is Woods' personal site, which we have featured before. Anybody who lists pre calculus as his favorite class impresses us

Tuesday's WAC news and notes

 photo courtesy of Texas Basketball Inc/Max Ivany

Eric Bossi of Rivals has an article up today that includes this: "...2012 combo guard Sydie London of New Orleans Elite/D1 Ambassadors listed Ole Miss, New Mexico State, Tulane, Louisiana Lafayette and Louisiana Tech as schools he's heard from..." Go here and a Rivals sub is required.

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Richard Obert at AZCentral is reporting that star 2011 point Collin Woods of Horizon High is down to Arizona State and Colorado. Fresno State is listed as having offered. Utah State was associated with Woods at one point.

By the way, here is Woods' own site -- it sure makes it easier to reach him and those around him if a reporter/blogger wishes to do an article.

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Nick Jezierny has an article up today on changes in the WAC basketball tournaments -- go here. Wasn't this announced some time ago or was that unofficial?

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Switching sports momentarily, there is certainly no herd mentality with Jack Nixon, the New Mexico State broadcaster. He's going with Nevada instead of Boise to finish atop the WAC in football. Go here. Plus, we have a two-fer for you: a video of Jack with Sam Wasson (BleedCrimson.net) discussing the Aggies basketball matchup with Michigan State.

Mostly WAC recruiting news

Shawn Harrison checks in here about Anthony DiLoreto

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Jay Drew and Lya Wodraska are reporting a Utah senior-to-be backcourter has an offer from Kerry Rupp.

Jonathan Ford at BleedTechBlue.com has the news of another LA TECH signing.Go here (a Rivals sub is required). Here is an older report of Kenyon McNeaill's earlier commitment to Nebraska. Here is the young man's Facebook page.

Jamison Sterns, a previous signee with UTEP, has also become a Bulldog. Small but wide, here he is dunking against a big. What's odd is that here is Tim Floyd quoted as saying Sterns is more interested in playing college football. As a freshman, Sterns verbally committed to Baylor.

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Collin Woods, a 6-foot-3 2011 guard out of Horizon High (Arizona), now has an offer from Fresno State. All indications point to him eventually going with Arizona State. Utah State also received previous mention.

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2011 Arizona backcourter Luke Roh -- 6-foot-3, 180 -- is received attention from many, including Boise State. Rival's Adam Gorney has a feature here (a sub is required).

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Nick Jezierny fleshes out the proposal from the WAC coaches that rearranges the tournament matchups.

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Your Tuesday WAC casserole

Jared Eborn has a conversation with Aggie recruiting target Stephen Rogers, plus also northern California 'big' Zach Nelson.

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Jason Groves talks briefly with Marvin Menzies and also provides important recruiting timeframes here.

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With a tip o' the hat to fulingyu at the SportsHawaii.com message board, Coach Gib Arnold and Hawaii have received a verbal from a California prepster:

GV star off to Hawaii
Wiseman is third SCV boys player to go straight to Div. I
Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor
March 29, 2010

Even the greats are taunted — as Trevor Wiseman learned during a Foothill League basketball game at Valencia High this season.

The crowd chided the Golden Valley point guard, chanting “Where’s your offer?” as their own player, junior Lonnie Jackson, has received a lot of interest from NCAA Division I schools.

Wiseman now has a response — “I have one. Mahalo.”

The Foothill League co-Player of the Year verbally committed late last week to play basketball for the University of Hawaii...

Go here for the remainder.

We've followed Wiseman for some time. He appears to be a talent but one who is working on keeping his emotions under control. Here's a link to a Eric Sondheimer-penned Los Angeles Times article on Wiseman. Also, Wiseman took the SAT this mid March.

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It's a year away since he's a 2011 recruit but Collins Woods, an Arizona high schooler, has received a Utah State recruiting mention. Adam Gorney has a feature up on the backcourter here (a Rivals sub is required). Here is Woods' own web site (more players should do this).