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Articles and Photos in GoldenStatePreps.com and the Scout.com Network by MySportsCred.com's Herb Lissade - Sports PhotoJournalist and Football/Basketball Scout .. Join GoldenStatePreps.com/Scout.com and stay connected with the latest in Prep Sports !!

 

 

 

    Powe Looking For One Shot

 

Darren Powe-Reed
 
Darren Powe-Reed
Staff/GoldenStatePreps.com
Posted Apr 30, 2008
 

Elk Grove Pleasant Grove running back/linebacker Darron Powe-Reed was a major part of the Pleasant Grove resurgence last fall. Now he's hoping that colleges take notice and give him a shot at continuing his career...

Instinctive. Intuitive. Natural.

Those are words reserved for the most outstanding of players. Those that walk onto the football field and are not just there to play the game, but they become the essence of what the game is all about. This is their office. They’ve studied the play book as though they are preparing for a final exam where failure is not an option. They are an extension of the coach on the field. They execute their moves on the grid iron with such tenacity that the other team is left in awe of their ability.

This is the only way I can describe the talent that is Darron Powe-Reed. A player that has been mostly overlooked by D-I schools, yet was All Delta River League for the 2006 season. Powe was highlighted in many 2007 media publications as one of the players to watch.

Darron played running back, linebacker and fullback at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove during the 2006 season. He was also on special teams and averaged 24 yards per carry on punt returns. This included a 28 yard punt return against power house Jesuit High School of Carmichael.

Reed had 4 Quarterback sacks to his credit, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception that was returned 64 yards for a touch down, 80 tackles, 126 yards rushing with 27 carries equaling 4.67 yards average per carry, and finally he had 4 receptions with 97 yards – averaging 23 yards per reception.

With numbers like those it’s a no brainer that Reed was a core member of the Pleasant Grove High School Football team this past fall. During the 2006 season when Darron was paired with Armond Armstead, commit to USC, they were unstoppable. The situation was no different this past fall. We saw more of this combo last fall, and Darron was a major part of Pleasant Grove High School’s success as a 2nd year Varsity program.

Pleasant Grove High School had a great Varsity football season last year. They had 5 wins and 0 losses in league. They had 10 wins with 2 loses overall. Reed had 54 tackles for the season with an average of 7 tackles per game and 1 interception with a 33 yard return.

Pleasant Grove transformed their strategy last season and many of the players on the team had to adjust. Pleasant Grove kept the ball mostly on the ground with running back Deonte Williams, a commit to Northern Arizona, at the helm. Deonte Williams was simply amazing to watch. This strategy proved very successful until they met up with Napa High School during the playoffs and John Boyett, an Oregon commit. Hopefully this coming season Pleasant Grove will balance their running game with a little bit of air as well.

None the less, Pleasant Grove High School’s emergence as a powerhouse is due to athlete’s like Reed as well, who gave the school their all on the field. Yes, Armond Armstead was a force on the field, but one must always look peripherally on the field to the other cast of characters and that’s where you’ll find the back bone of many a team. Players like Darron Powe-Reed who complemented the skills of the other players in helping Pleasant Grove reach unparallel success as a 2nd year varsity program.

Ask may of his coaches and they will have nothing but great things to say about Reed. He’s fun to watch and brings so much energy to the game.

Head Pleasant Grove Football coach Joe Cattolico had the following to say about Darron’s performance for the 2006 season when I interviewed him “he’s an outstanding football player and was our leading tackler last year. Runs very, very well for a linebacker and does a great job getting to the football .. pretty good player for us offensively to .. a versatile player. He can run with the football, catch the football, block, and return kicks “His expectations this season for Darron are about the same as last year .. Coach Cattolico added “ he’s going to play some fullback ..last year he played fullback and tight end .. I don’t know if he’ll play any tight end this year .. but he’ll play fullback .. and definitely he’ll be a mainstay defensively at a inside linebacker position”

Darron definitely showed his value as a linebacker, but is also a versatile player who’s able to adapt quickly on the field. Give his coach a call and ask for some film of Darron, you will not be disappointed. Ask for the Folsom, Jesuit or Davis game films.

Darron can definitely play at the next level. Hopefully, one of the many schools that have taken a look at him will make him an offer soon. He’s gotten interest from San Diego State, San Jose State, Boise State, and Sacramento State. He’s also interested in Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and California.

Without a solid offer, and to continue to follow his passion, Reed will have to play ball at a JC this fall. It’s one thing to find a diamond in the rough. But Reed is well polished, sparkling , and just waiting for a setting. So, If you have room in your program for a hard working kid, then take a solid look at Reed. He’s the kind of player that people come to watch. He’s definitely one of those kids that play “ For The Love

 

 

 

 The Man of Steel: Reeves Nelson

 

Reeves Nelson
 
Reeves Nelson
Staff/GoldenStatePreps.com
Posted Apr 29, 2008
 

The Man of Steel is the nickname for Superman. But Modesto Christian forward Reeves Nelson plays like the superhero and GoldenStatePreps.com takes a look at the future UCLA Bruin...

When ever I hear the name Reeves, for some reason I think of the Superman character. If you've watched Reeves Nelson play, like I have, you'd think you were watching the man of steel in action.

I first had the pleasure of watching Nelson play last year. I was at Cal watching a bunch of schools play and there was Nelson doing his thing on the Pac-10 court.

Nelson attends Modesto Christian High School and plays the power forward position. He’s 6-7 and weighs in at 215 pounds. His AAU team is the Pump N Run Elite.



I’m not going to go into stats here, but will only say he’s outstanding. His high school team was undefeated in league, with 15 wins, and for the season had a 29-5 record overall. Check out his player profile on scout.com and it tells you all. Nelson is an elite player.

This kid is as unique of a physical specimen as they come for a high school athlete. When I watched him play at Cal last year, he was 15 years old. He was playing varsity just after his sophomore year in June of 2007, but looked like a man amongst boys. He was intimidating on the floor and you can tell this by how he was able to open up his own lanes on the way to the basket.



Who would dare take a charge against him? - No one! Taking that charge may be the right thing to do, but the possibility of getting run over by the Nelson express is definitely not worth it. It may be your last play of the game. This past season was no different, he was a force on the court. He’s a physical player – no doubt. He could easily step onto a football field and play almost any position. Those that go up against Nelson on the hardwood will wish they were wearing pads – but no such luck. He can drive, rebound, shoot, pass, dunk, play defense, etc.. etc.. It’s been said that you can’t coach size.. well you can’t coach heart either and this kid has both.



Reeves has committed to UCLA and holds offers from Arizona, California, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, LSU, North Carolina, Stanford, Texas, Washington and USC.

What would I have done differently in watching Reeves Play - take more pictures to start. He truly was amazing to watch. Is Reeves faster then a speeding bullet?, if that bullet is a metaphor for the opposing team’s guard, more powerful then a locomotive?, if that represents his competition in the Pac 10, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?, on the way to dunk, it’s a bird, it’s a plane .. Nope it’s just Reeves Nelson doing his thing on the court .. and looking superhuman in doing it.



UCLA fans are in for a treat next year and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hollywood comes calling Reeves Nelson’s way as well. For Nelson’s

 

 

 

 

 

    Avenant A Hometown Hero
Chris Avenant
 
Chris Avenant
GoldenStatePreps.com Staff Writer
Posted Apr 18, 2008
 

Sacramento HS guard Chris Avenant and his Sac High teammates came up just short in the CIF State D-III championship game, but it was a memorable year for Avenant and his team, who captured the heart of the city by playing at Arco Arena for the first time ever...

When I first saw Chris Avenant play I was at the “Hoops for the Homeless Family Classic” basketball tournament in Sacramento.

Chris, a 6-5, 183-pound shooting guard, is a junior that plays basketball for Sacramento High School. He made an impression on me, and it wasn’t just the awesome dunk he made. So when Sacramento High School made it to the State Championships at Arco Arena, I focused on the team and the components that made them successful in achieving that goal. Avenant was definitely a strong component in the supporting cast of characters that lead Sacramento High down the road to Arco. Here’s my interview with him after the game.

I asked him some standard questions .. then some of my own.. I hope you enjoy the interview and take a look at this young man who will most definitely light up the HS basketball scene next season.

1.) Which school’s are calling you and/or visited your high school?
Because Sac High has such a strong basketball program and top recruits like Chase Tapley we are lucky to get visits from many colleges like UC Davis, San Diego State, and Cal Berkeley. I have received some initial interest letters from a few colleges like Yale, Penn, Lutheran, and Riverside. With this being my 1st season of Varsity basketball and AAU I have some ground to make up.

2.) Any Scholarship offers?
Not yet

3.) Any visits scheduled (official or unofficial) to colleges?
We are in the process of planning

4.) Which Schools are your favorites? Why? Have you narrowed your choices?
I am most interested in schools with strong business programs. UPenn would be great but I am also looking at other schools like Colorado, U Mass, and any other schools with a good business program.

5.) Do you prefer being close to home?
Proximity to home is not the key decision factor. I have been fortunate to live on multiple continents (Africa, Europe, America) and travel to many countries. So, I have learned to enjoy new experiences, and meet new people.

6.) GPA and SAT scores
my current GPA is 3.6 and my 1st SAT score was 1550 (with a Math score of 610)

7.) What are you looking for in a college?
I would like college with strong academic program and a diverse student population, and a basketball program, which I will enjoy being apart of.

8.) I understand you grew up overseas – South Africa ? Did you learn to play basketball here ? and how is basketball perceived overseas? –
CA> I was born in Pretoria, South Africa, from there we lived in Germany and Colorado. I did not play basketball (in any form) until 3.5 years ago (middle of 8th grade). I knew nothing about the game when I started playing. I was still playing competitive soccer for a club team. I started playing basketball only because a teacher suggested I give it a try. In my Freshmen year I made the Freshmen team at Del Oro High as a starter and then in my Sophomore year I started to make basketball my main focus. I was captain of the Del Oro JV team, top scorer (15+ PPG) for the season and team MVP (Golden Eagle Award). This year we moved to Sacramento and I got the opportunity to play with Sac High - it was great. Although basketball is played overseas it is not nearly as big as it is in the US

9.) It’s become an international sport – obviously you know how to play basketball .. is it your favorite sport ? if not what is .. ? If so why?
CA> It is absolutely my favorite sport. It is fast, exciting and athletic. Although I watch college basketball and the NBA playoffs from time to time, I prefer to play rather than watch. Sac High has a tough program and you have to work VERY hard, but even so, in my spare time I still like to practice on my own, play in pick-up games etc.

10.) What does “ For the Love of the Game “ mean to you ? ( many athlete’s say they play for the love of the game and then they explain why they love it – i.e. hang out with their friends .. the competition .. etc .. etc ..)
CA> I love being on the court whether we are up by 20 or down by 20 - I just want the chance to play (of course I like it a lot more when we are winning). But most of all I like it when there is a lot at stake and there is some pressure (like in close games or the play-offs). When the crowd is big and engaged I get energized and even more focused. We have a great team at Sac High and there is great chemistry between the players.

11.) Did you enjoy playing at Arco Arena ?
CA> Absolutely. It was like a dream come true. I would have never believed before this year that I would play at Arco 3 times in one month before the end of my Junior year. It was very special when we won the NorCal finals (first time in Sac High's 150 year history). We were all so happy and excited. It was great when we all ran into the stands to hug our family and friends after the game. It meant a lot for us, the school and the community. We are of course disappointed that we did not win the State Championship, but now we are even more committed to winning it next year.

12.) What did you think about Coach Swafford’s interview after the game? ( it was very emotional)
CA> It made the whole team emotional. He is so passionate about the game and cares so much for the players (on and off the court). He was very proud of us. We are very lucky to have him and Coach Earl Allen and Coach Dwight Pruitt. They demand a lot from us and make us work extremely hard, but we know they care about us and want the best for us (not just in basketball).

13.) Do you enjoy playing defense or offense ?
CA> I like both because they BOTH MATTER EQUALLY. We have so many offensive weapons (like Chase Tapley) that in some games I could make a much bigger contribution by focusing more on defense and rebounding. But there is nothing as exciting as a big dunk or tough jumper to help contribute to the team’s victory. It gets the crowd into the game and gets your teammates fired up. But there were also be times when Sac High with it’s smothering defense had the same effect. In the show case camps I am sometimes frustrated that everyone just wants go to the basket and score because I enjoy team play much more. I would rather have a bad game where my team wins, rather than have a great game and end up losing.

14.) I’ve watched you dunk the ball .. do you enjoy doing this .. is it the most efficient way of getting the ball into the hoop at that point in time .. or a little bit of both ?
CA> it might not be the most efficient way but it gets everyone’s adrenaline pumping, gets my team mates pumped up and the crowd going which adds a great boost to your teams morale. It can help change the momentum in the game. I have never missed a dunk in a game in my career because I only attempt to dunk when I know I’m going to make it.

Having played for only 3.5 years I still have a lot to learn and I know I can still improve a lot. I work really hard on and off the court because I want to get better and want to realize my dream of playing college basketball at a good school. No one can ever say that I didn’t work hard. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream to play this game a little longer (playing college hoops). And it no longer becomes a dream, it becomes a goal. But even if things don't work out the way I hope, I will be able to say that I loved every minute of it.

 

 

21 story(s) found in the Full Story Archive.

 
Apr 18, 2008 Avenant A Hometown Hero - Sacramento HS guard helped lead school to the state championship game at Arco Arena...
Mar 27, 2008 CIF State Girls Hoops Championship WrapUp - A look back at the five CIF state title games, which had four NorCal wins and one for SoCal...
Mar 25, 2008 CIF State Boys Basketball Championship WrapUp - A look back at the five CIF state title games, which had two NorCal wins and three for SoCal...
Mar 21, 2008 GSP Player Profile: David Cundiff - The Sacramento McClatchy offensive lineman is one to watch in the class of 2009...
Mar 12, 2008 The Year of the Dragon - A look at Sacramento HS, as they prepare for the CIF State Division III title game on Saturday...
Mar 10, 2008 CIF State Basketball Championship Field Set - Ten teams will ascend on Sacramento's Arco Arena this weekend for the CIF state title games...
Feb 20, 2008 2008 CIF-SacJoaquin Section Playoff Preview - Herb Lissade looks at the CIF-SacJoaquin Section Playoffs, which begin on Wednesday night...
Feb 19, 2008 Boyett Is Napa's Finest Premium Story - An inside look at the GoldenStatePreps.com Northern California Player of the Year...
Feb 4, 2008 PHOTO GALLERY #2: Hoops for the Homeless - More images from the basketball tournament which featured some of the top teams in Sacramento...
Jan 31, 2008 PHOTO GALLERY #1: Hoops for the Homeless - Images from the basketball tournament which featured some of the top teams in Sacramento...
Jan 30, 2008 Big Day for HS Hoops In Sacramento - The Hoops for the Homeless Families Classic is a hit in Sacramento...
Jan 23, 2008 Player Profile: Luke Babbitt - The Reno star has done plenty of damage inside the Golden State during his career...
Dec 6, 2007 Welch's Stock Is Rising - Elk Grove Franklin guard is aiming for a big senior season...
Nov 9, 2007 Nelson Shining At New School - Former Lincoln HS stud now standing out at new high school, Chavez in Stockton...
Nov 8, 2007 Deonte Williams: The E-Ticket - A profile of the Elk Grove Pleasant Grove running back....
Nov 1, 2007 Hope Comes Alive At Pleasant Grove HS - Fledgling high school is fast making a name for itself in Northern California...
Oct 17, 2007 Hiram Johnson HS Overcoming The Odds - A look at Sacramento (Calif.) Hiram Johnson HS...
Oct 4, 2007 GSP Player Profile: Pablo Ryan - Fairfield (Calif.) Vanden lineman is a junior to watch...
Sep 12, 2007 USC/Nebraska Headquarters - Did you know that SCPlayBook had 15 Features relating to USC and Nebraska on Tuesday? Check it out.
Sep 10, 2007 GSP Player Profile: Armond Armstead Premium Story - Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove defensive tackle is one of Sacramento's elite prospects...
Sep 7, 2007 GSP Player Profile: Taylor Herbert Premium Story - Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove two-sport star is one to watch...

 

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