The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley.
Scouting Guru Says: I don’t know if many of you go to cnnsi.com and read Peter King’s column once a week – if you don’t…you should! It is a great column by the best in the business. This week I’ve decided to pattern the notes for the month off of his format. That means you’ll get “10 Things I Think I Think” and more….
This business of recruiting can be a funny business at times. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something just happens that scratches your head. For instance, many in our line of business were really surprised when we got word that Washington State offered Charter Oak RB Brandon Golden. It is something that we continually have to come back too. Schools have to find players that fit their system. For instance, I personally don’t think that Kaiser’s Josh Shirley will make an impact at USC if he goes there. He just never struck me as a USC guy. And despite the fact that he looked OK at the LB position at the USC Rising Stars Camp, I just don’t think that LB is a great position for him in college. If anything, he needs to keep his hand to the ground and play a 7-tech DE. Now, many of my Internet colleagues on Rivals and Scout are convinced that he can play LB. My response to that is….show me that on film. His highlight and game tape fail to show him playing any LB at all last year at Kaiser HS. In our opinion, UCLA has the inside track on getting him. And if the Bruins are smart they play him at DE. Now, in the case of Washington State, if CO’s Golden fits into their mold at RB, then they are getting a great kid. And a true sleeper in every sense of the word, since there was no buzz on the kid this spring. But, would you want to go to Pullman and suffer through four years of misery up there? That is what Golden has to figure out…good luck Brandon…I know it’s not an easy position.
DAMIEN WILL BE GOOD
While we were checking out the talent at the Bonita Passing League Tournament, one thing became very clear in our eyes, Damien will be good this year. Just loved the way that they are playing hard for HC Greg Gano. They don’t have any superstar talent, but they will give teams fits this season. My early season prediction is that they will defeat Bishop Amat this year.
ON THE OTHER HAND
I’ve had a chance to see Bishop Amat plenty through the summer and here’s the deal…their is not a win to be found in the league schedule with the talent that Amat is fielding. SO Notre Dame is just as good this year as they were last year (and we all know BA fans how that went last year). Crespi has one of their best teams in years and Loyola is absolutely stacked this year. And when you fact in that St. Bonaventure could have a team that is better than last year’s squad; the wins become hard to find on the schedule for the talent that BA is fielding this year. We mentioned it back in the winter and it bears repeating; if BA gets four wins this year, Steve Hagerty should get Coach of the Year.
10 THINGS I THINK I THINK
1. After reading Eric Sondheimer’s column in the LA Times naming only Charter Oak and South Hills as the only teams “to watch” this year from the area, I can’t blame anyone for starting their pre-season rankings with those two teams at the top. But both come with questions.
a. Charter Oak — Offensive/Defensive Line, Quarterbacks and Punter
b. South Hills – Quarterback, Safeties and Punter.
2. I think we all want to see South Hills and Charter Oak play in the finals. But something tells me that one of those two teams is not going to make it. The trouble is finding which team it is.
3. I think Damien will win six games this year for Gano and make a run for the playoffs.
4. Here’s hoping that West Covina RB Ricky Johnson plays a full season of football. He needs to be at 100 percent if WC has any thoughts of defeating BA.
5. South Hills will be just fine at the QB position for the next three seasons. It’s a pleasant position to be at.
6. I think that CO sophomore QB Travis Santiago will have a fine HS football career at CO. But his size makes him a can’t miss baseball prospect.
7. I think that you would have to be absolutely foolish to believe that Citrus College will be competitive against Mt. SAC. Mt.SAC has way too much talent! Sorry FJ! Need any evidence?…Just watch the 2008 game tape.
8 I think the best RB is the area this year is not CO’s Muema or SH’s Canada. The best RB this year will be Bryce McBride at Mt. SAC. The kid has added 10 pounds to his frame and looks much faster on the field now than he did at Los Altos. He will be playing big time college football next year.
9. I think their will be a new CIF champion in the Inland Division this year. Centennial will take a stumble somewhere this year.
10. After seeing New Mexico State recruit the way that they do, look for them to win a conference championship in two years. They are really hitting the road hard this year.
BOOK RECOMENDATON
Since many of you are going to be on vacation, I highly recommend the book “Arnie and Jack” by Ian O’Connor. It’s a great book about the rivalry between the two guys. I love this story from the book. “At the $100,000 Thunderbird, Nicklaus received an oversized cardboard replica of his $10,000 runner-up check before John Derr of CBS and some print guys went into the locker room to question him about the tournament. “You don’t want to interview me,” a dour Nicklaus told them. “I didn’t win.” “Yeah,” Derr said. “but you finished second, Jack.” “I didn’t come out here to win checks; I came out here to win tournaments. Here, John, you can have this,’ With that, Nicklaus heaved his cardboard check across the locker room and toward a stunned Derr.” The next week, Jack won the US Open in a playoff over Arnold Palmer at Oakmont.
Oh and if you have not picked up your copy of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, you are missing out. Its the best preview out there!
FINALLY….
And this goes to any coach in the area. Having worked the USC Rising Stars Camp several weeks ago, if you have an opportunity to work a Pete Carroll camp…do it. It will forever change how you coach any sport. It changed me as a man.
See you on the practice fields in August.
