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Golden Recruiting Wire: Barr, Bigelow, Ekpre-Olomu, Lyerla, Moala Visiting Cal In December?

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October 20, 2010 | October 12, 2010 | October 6, 2010

 

Tedford & Company

  • Jalen Jefferson, ATH St Bonaventure (Ventura, CA) verbally committed to Cal [1].

    "I committed to Cal while on my visit," Jefferson said. "I've actually been leaning to Cal for a while now. I still wanted to take my visits and I thought it was a good idea to visit UW and Cal back to back so I could really compare the two schools to each other.

    "Washington was a great visit but Cal was just the best fit for me. Cal is closer to home, has an incredible academic reputation, and I like their attacking style of defense. I also liked the family environment at Cal and I have a great relationship with all the coaches. Like I said, it was just a great fit and I'm very excited to be a Bear [$2]."

  • Marqise Lee, ATH Serra (Gardena, CA) Serra (Gardena, CA) set three more official visits to Oregon (11/6) [3], Florida (11/13), and Miami (12/4) [4]. Jason Gibson, OLB, George Farmer, WR will also visit Oregon, Miami & Florida with Lee. Farmer rescheduled his SAT to December [5].

 

  • Todd Barr Todd Barr will also visit Oregon officially on November 6th [6].
  • Amir Carlisle, RB The King's Academy (San Jose, CA) will visit Stanford officially and maybe Maryland and USC unofficially [7].
  • Avery wallsAvery Walls, S Eagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, GA) gets a call from Chip Kelly & the Oregon coaching staff [$8].
  • Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Chino Hills (Chino Hills, CA) likes Oregon's facilities and Cal's coach staff & academics [9]. Utah, Arizona, Washington trail.

    Cal is also seriously in the running for the 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect and he plans to schedule an official visit soon. The coaching staff in Berkeley is one of the main draws for Ekpre-Olomu, who impressed at the Los Angeles NIKE Camp this spring.

    "I like the coaching staff," he said. "I like how I’m comfortable with the coaches. I like that it’s on the West Coast and has great weather and that it’s a good school.

    "That makes a big difference, too, so if I get a degree there I’ll have a lot of opportunities. They’ve always been a winning team."

  • DeAnthony Arnett, WR Saginaw (Saginaw, MI) visited USC [$10] and should visit Michigan State during its bye week [11].
  • Steve Dillon, DE Palmdale (Palmdale, CA) may have USC over Cal and UCLA [12] after receiving his offer recently.
  • Patrick Flavin, OT Benet Academy (Lisle, IL) visited Cal [13].

    On scout.com, Flavin is listed as having medium interest in seven schools, with Boston College, Notre Dame and Purdue joining the four aforementioned schools. Flavin's brother, Bill, plays for Notre Dame, though the Irish have reportedly not offered him a scholarship.

    "I'm pretty set on the schools that I'm interested in now," Flavin said. "Hopefully, I don't have to take all five visits and drag it out. I'd like to get it over with just to know where I'm going and focus on school and stuff like that. If it comes down to all five, that's just the way it is. I just want to be 100 percent with my decision. I guess it just takes time."

  • Brendon Bigelow, RB Central East (Fresno, CA) officially visited Tennessee [14].
  • Devon BlackmonDevon Blackmon, ATH Summit (Fontana, CA) is back to 100% making plays for the Skyhawks [15]. Blackmon is getting tired of the recruiting process and may make a decision soon [$16]. He has the same top six of Cal, USC, Oregon, UCLA, Florida, and Alabama.
    Blackmon is a jack-of-all-trades, he plays a number of positions, each of them equally well. Moreover, he rarely spends much, if any, time on the sidelines. And perhaps his versatility and ability to excel in most any situation best explains why the 6-foot, 180-pounder is not only one of the nation’s top all-around prospects, but also one of the country’s more sought-after unsigned recruits.

    "We use Devon everywhere out on the field, all of the time, teams we play know this but they still have a tough time stopping him,’’ Summit coach Tony Barile said. "He makes an impact in so many ways, it‘s unbelievable.

    "Every coach I talk to, before and after games, they always seem to bring up Devon. It’s like clockwork, it really is. The main topic of conversation is always about No. 12 and one or two of the plays he made over the course of the game. Bottom line, when the ball is in hands, good things tend to happen for us.’’
  • Aaron Green, RB James Madison (San Antonio, TX) set to announce his commitment decision [17]. Nebraska is most likely after his recent visit [18].
  • Byron Marshall, RB Valley Christian (San Jose, CA) {2012} may take a tornado or a hurricane to stop on the field [19].

    The younger brother of Cameron Marshall, now playing at Arizona State, is the defending Central Coast Section 100-meter sprint champion (10.73 seconds) and a state long-jump competitor. He started on Valley Christian's varsity basketball team as a freshman.

    "If he doesn't go to Cal or Notre Dame, he might just go straight to the 49ers," Walsh [Patrick, Head Coach of Serra] said. "The kid is unbelievable. He's unreal [20][21]."

    Marshall is growing as a runner, but Machado [Mike, Valley Christian Head Coach] says his maturation as a leader has been even more impressive. A penchant for animated celebrations has led to penalty flags in the past, but Marshall has toned it down this season.

    Machado waves his hand in front of his face before every game, a gesture meant to remind his star running back to keep his passion on the inside.

    "Last year, I was a real emotional player," Marshall said. "I still am, that's just how I play "... but it's more controlled right now."

    Machado says the displays of emotion stem from a love for the game that separates Marshall from past Valley Christian stars.

    "You know where Byron is different? Byron is like a kid out there. "... This to Byron is like going out and playing ball with his buddies," Machado said. "He has a passion for doing this and a smile on his face. This is truly a game to him [22]."

  • Miles ShulerFreddie Tagaloa, OT Salesian (Richmond, CA) 6-7/318lbs {2012} scouted by Jim Harbaugh [23].

    "If there is a school in America that has football, (Tagaloa) will get offered or will get into the school," Nightingale said, mentioning Ivy League schools, as well.

    That's a reflection not just on his athletic ability, but Tagaloa's 3.85 grade point average.

    "He's going to be one of the top recruits, not only in the Bay Area, but in the state of California," Nightingale [Chad, Salesian Head Coach] said.

  • Ronnie Stanley, OL Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) {2012} 6-7/285lbs is unofficially visiting USC [24].
  • Zach Banner, OL Lakes (Lakewood, WA) {2012} 6-9/310lbs sat out his second straight game because of a neck stinger [25].
  • Thomas Johnson, ATH Skyline (Dallas, TX){2012} is taking a little bit more time adjusting to WR from QB/DB [26]. Johnson's transition has also been slowed down by his high ankle sprain suffered early in the season.
  • Arik Armstead, DE Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, CA) {2012} attended the Cal-ASU game [27]. He has verbally committed to USC already.
  • Miles ShulerMiles ShulerMiles ShulerShaq Thompson, ATH Grant Union {2012}, Bryce Treggs, WR St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) {2012}, Freddie Tagaloa, OT {2012}, Tee Shepard, CB Central (Fresno, CA) {2012}, Zach Kline, QB (Cal) San Ramon Valley (Danville, CA) named to 247Sports' 2012 Top Football Recruits [28].

 

Monty's Crew

  • Daniel Green, C 6-9/205 Grapevine (Grapevine, TX) offered by Cal [29].

    Shearmire [Darryn, Grapevine Head Coach] described Green as an under-the-radar player who has recently blossomed. He averaged roughly 8 ppg and 9 rpg a year ago, but is stronger and more mature this season, his coach said.

    "He’s a rebounder/shot blocker," Shearmire said. "Since February, his improvement has been exponential. He’s gotten stronger, his footwork is a lot better, he’s handling the ball better. He’s got a nice release on his jumper to 15 feet. He’s still growing. He’ll probably be 6-11 before it’s all said and done." 

  • Shabazz Muhammad, SG 6-5/190 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) {2012} has his Cal offer.
    Maybe the most accurate way to describe Muhammad is relentless. He can score in a variety of ways and his full arsenal was on display at this event. Whether it was posting up his defender and scoring over the top of him or slashing his way to the rim and finishing with an array of spectacular dunks, Muhammad was dominant. He plays with a warrior's mentality and he has a tremendous knack to score. He still needs to continue to improve his shot and handle, but he is definitely a menace to deal with each and every possession [30].
    Muhammad is the premier shooting guard/slasher prospect of the 2012 class according to ESPN [31]. Monty has gone to see Muhammad workout personally at Bishop Gorman. Interviewed [32].

  • Ricardo Gathers, PF 6-6/235 Riverside Academy (Reserve, LA) {2012} will showcase his talents at the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex Hoops Thanksgiving Hoopsfest Nov 26-27 [33].
  • Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, PF 6-8/205 Norcross (Winder, GA) verbally committed to Richmond [34]. Cal eliminated.

 

Previous Golden Recruiting Wires 

September 29 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 2 August 24 | 19 | 12 | 5 July 28 | 22 | 15 | 8

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