BOYS BASKETBALL: Stover at the center of it all

By Scott Galetti, Staff WriterLA CANADA - Just one year ago, Renaissance Academy center Anthony Stover immediately was noticed by fans and onlookers alike because of his 6-foot-7 frame.
Three inches taller and a lot more mobile and polished, Stover has become the center of attention for reasons other than his height.
He has become a human flyswatter who makes it almost impossible for opponents to penetrate the lane against the Wildcats.
The junior is hoping to make things miserable for two-time defending CIF State Division V champion Branson when the schools square off in Saturday's Division V title game at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
Stover's abilities are beginning to get more notice on the collegiate ranks, with many schools anticipating the prospect of reeling in the talented junior.
Stover, according to Scout.com, is getting looks from the University of Washington, among other schools, and has visited seven schools including Arizona State, Cal and Stanford.
His scouting report rates him as a raw player with a lot of upside.
If Stover continues to improve like he has over the course of this season, that upside could reach lofty proportions.
He has an opportunity to make a big impression in the next couple of weeks.
"It's very fun to get to know a lot of the coaches from around the country," Stover said.
Stover will embark Monday for Germany, where he'll take part in a five-city tour with the USA junior national 17-under team coached by former Clippers and New Jersey Nets coach Don Casey.
"I was at the bus stop with the team getting ready to go to lunch, and my AAU coach called me and was like, `How would you like to play in Germany,' " Stover said. "I'm hoping to get more experience, make myself a better basketball player and make some overseas relationships."
Cooke believes Stover will come back from overseas a well-rounded player.
"I played a year, so I know what it's like," Cooke said. "It's very physical and something he's going to have to get used to, but he's playing against a lot of mature kids so that'll probably help him."
Stover is second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding (6.8 rebounds per game).
Where the center may be most noticed, however, is in the blocked-shot category, in which he has 156 blocks on the year, an impressive 7.4 a game.
"It gets us off and running," Cooke said.
Added Stover: "A block means stopping the other team from scoring the best that I can."
Stover showed some early signs of his potential by grabbing rebounds and collecting his share of blocks as a sophomore.
"I wouldn't say that he was a project because he still rebounded and blocked shots," Cooke said. "I would say he was more of a developing player."
Cooke has seen a major improvement in Stover's court awareness and coordination.
"He's growing so fast, we knew it was going to take him a while," Cooke said. "A lot of it has to do with the work he's been doing. He's been working really hard and is doing the extra work.
"And he's still growing. He's supposed to grow another two to three inches, so if he puts on another 20 pounds, he'll be a lot better."
Stover's growth of more than three inches in the past year has been, in some ways, almost more of a hindrance than a help as he continues to experience extreme growing pains.
"It's a lot of growing, and a lot of pain on my knees and feet, running up and down the court," Stover said. "But then it helps a lot because now I have the extra inches just in case I go up against other 6-foot-10 players."
Stover continues to improve on an everyday basis, but Cooke feels he will be best served to hone his skills on the offensive end.
"I would say he needs to work on one or two go-to shots," Cooke said.
One of those is one in which Stover drop-steps, fakes a defender and shoots a leaning jumper or layup. The move has increased Stover's offensive production.
"He developed (the drop-step) midway this season," Cooke said. "He always used to turn baseline, and now he's starting to look in the middle and using his options better."
Stover's No. 1 focus, meanwhile, is to use his height advantage to bring the Wildcats a state championship.