Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service

(Click Here)

NCAA Division I
Full Scholarship Players

 

Maverick Ahanmisi

6'1"
Golden Valley H.S.
Stoneridge Prep

Signs National Letter of Intent at Minnesota (Big Ten)
NCAA Division I
Full Athletic Scholarship

Gophers add depth at point guard by signing Maverick Ahanmisi of California
(May, 2010)

Maverick Ahanmisi, outstanding shooting guard from Golden Valley H.S. two years ago, visited the prestigious Big 10
school Minnesota, last Wednesday and was offered a full basketball scholarship by Head Coach Tubby Smith. 

The recruiting process was not an easy road for Maverick.  Unless you are a super prospect that everybody wants, it never is. 
When quality athletes are on the bubble of being recruited at the mid or hi major levels, usually it involves finding a school that
really needs what you bring to the table. Minnesota needed a hi quality combo gd who could really shoot and score.

Maverick is a  highly talented scoring combo guard.  Probably the best shooter we have had at Branch West in the last 10
years.  Maverick averaged close to 23 ppg as a senior in high school, including a 41 point explosion in the CIF playoffs vs.
Foothill H.S. (OC). He literally shot the lights out for Branch West last summer including 37 vs. Joe Ward's All Stars
from Phoenix. (including ten 3 pointers)  A great many D1 coaches were in attendance at that game, but it was late in the
recruiting process and very few still had scholarships left at that point.
 
However, the Head Coach of Boise State Greg Graham, fell in love with him, had a scholarship left, and flew Maverick
to Idaho in the WAC Conference, and offered him a scholarship.  Maverick was going to accept as he liked
the school and the program, however, they discovered that his paperwork for the NCAA Clearinghouse was not complete.

Though he was over a 3.0 gpa student and solid SAT scores, without Clearinghouse approval, a college may not
extend  an athlete a scholarship. 

The family quickly completed the paperwork, but were informed that the Clearinghouse had a major backlog, mostly due
to football, and that it would likely be a month to two months before they got the approval.

   
Dad would have had to pay $10,000 towards the cost of his schooling until the school received NCAA Clearinghouse
Approval, and only then could he be put on athletic scholarship.  Dad turned it down.  This was in August.

We (meaning his dad primarily-with my advice) decided to put Maverick into prep school and reopen the recruiting process. 
SMU and Weber State tried to sign him in November and he opted to wait until the spring and see what else developed. 

His dad decide to formally retain BG and the Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service last December.  His dad asked me
to put together a new film package for Maverick, which included his 41 pt. explosion in the CIF Playoffs vs. Foothill H.S.
(OC) in Spring 2009, but mostly some of his truly superb games playing for Branch West, mostly from last summer, but
we subsequently added some excellent film from this spring.

Pacific and St. Mary's both showed great interest as did a number of other schools.  Pacific ended up offering another guard
who took it, and St. Mary's was hoping a scholarship would open up. A number of schools such as St. Louis and Loyola of
Chicago also began to show significant interest. 

However at the Final Four, BG ran into Joe Esposito, Administrative Assistant at Minnesota, and formerly the Head Coach
at Angelo State in Texas, where some years ago, he had taken a guard from Alaska who had turned out real well.

As we talked and I asked what they were still looking for, he indicated that they badly needed a quality guard, a combo guard
or a point guard.  They had pursued the best guard in the country, Cory Joseph from Findlay Prep and had lost him to Texas. 
Not only that, but Justin Cobb from Bishop Montgomery here in LA, had shown real promise, but became disenchanted when
he only played 10 minutes/g as a freshman and he had decided to transfer to Cal in the Pac 10.

Every year I attend the NCAA Final.  Have missed once since 1968.  Though it's been a while, I was an NCAA D1 coach
for 15 years (Creighton, Kansas State, Long Beach State and Oregon State as an assistant and 7 years as a Head Coach
at Jacksonville and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee)
 
Most college coaches at all levels throughout the USA, attend the Final Four as the Annual NABC Convention is
always held at the same time in the same town as the Final Four.  It's also a dead week in recruiting.

I have been and still am a member, for 42 years. Most coaches use the convention to assist in looking for a better job. 
The relationships you make there are invaluable professionally to college coaches of every level, and many high school
coaches attend as well.

I, on the other hand use it to primarily promote the many athletes we are formally involved in their recruiting .  I use it to
identify schools that still need players, and which position they are looking for, and to recommend and promote our many
client athletes.

When I told Joe Esposito of Maverick and described him as a player and as a person, he became highly interested and asked
that we send him Maverick's film package as soon as we got back to California.  Duquesne, Tulane, Miami and Florida State were
other schools that we met that also requested Maverick's films.

Once Joe Esposito received the films back home in Minnesota, he watched them himself and fell in love with Maverick and
called BG immediately.  He then turned them over to Ron Jursa, their Recruiting Coordinator and he watched them and was
equally impressed.  They both indicated that Head Coach Tubby Smith was out of town but was due back in the office in a
couple of days and he would look at them himself.

Tubby not only looked at the films, and also fell in love with Maverick, as a player.  He immediately personally called BG.  We
have known each other casually for some 30 years, but got to know each other much better when he was the Head Coach at
Kentucky and was recruiting former Branch West star big man Deon Thompson.

Kentucky came a close 2nd to North Carolina with Deon. I was asked by Deon's mom to sit in on all his home visits and was
exceptionally impressed by Tubby Smith, the man.  He is about as classy as it gets.  Comes from a family of 17 children.
Great role model.

When Tubby called, he told me that he loved what he saw on the films.  However, he wanted to know, what was he really
like as a young man? What was his family background?  What else could he do besides shoot?  Tell me about his
ball handling.  Could he play the point guard as well as the shooting guard.  Tell about his speed, his size,
his mental and physical toughness. 

Maverick is one of the best we have had here at Branch West as an all around outstanding offensive player, and
maybe the best end of the game shooter/scorer that I have ever coached. 

Not only that, he is bright, picks up everything extremely quickly, plays within himself and is a delightful young man to
be around and to coach. We have exceptional mutual respect as far as player/coach relationship, as well as with his
dad Victor Ahanmisi.

Tubby decided to bring Maverick in for an official paid visit last Wednesday.  Usually a Head Coach meets the young man
and they assign an assistant to show him around. 

Tubby Smith himself spent most of the day with Maverick and then brought him into the office, and without ever
seeing him play in person (they did not ask him to work out while on the visit), they offered him a scholarship (highly unusual).
Maverick was so excited he wanted to sign right there and then, but Tubby advised him to return home, sit down and discuss
this with his family, and then if he wanted to come to Minnesota, they would love to have him.

Knowing their team for next year, they are loaded with at least four 7'0" athletes and badly needed a quality guard. 
I expect Maverick to play 15-20 min/g and possibly start before the season is over.

This is what the Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service is all about.  Kids that are talented but under recruited and
for us to be able to make a difference. 

This is similar to the recruiting of Taylor Rochestie 6'1" from Santa Barbara H.S..  With no D1 offers, we were able to get Taylor
recruited to Tulane initially, and later on to Washington State (after Katrina shut down Tulane for an entire year). Taylor was a
4 year college starter. At Tulane, he came in 3rd in the Freshman of the Year balloting for the WAC. At Washington State,
he led the Cougars to two consecutive NCAA Tournaments and was All Pac 10 his senior, scoring 33 pts vs. UCLA in
Pauley Pavilion against Darren Collison, and led Wash. St. to only their 2nd win in 50 years over UCLA in Pauley Pavilion.
Taylor played very well with the Lakers Summer League team in Las Vegas last summer, and now is averaging 17 ppg in
Germany and making excellent money and might be brought back by the Lakers several years down the  road as some of
their older current retire or are let go.

Maverick Ahanmisi is way more advanced than Taylor was at a similar stage in their careers. It remains to be seen if he
can have the same outstanding career in college, that Taylor had.

For parents of quality seniors from the Class of 2010, it's still not too late for us to get your son recruited at any level.  For
further information regarding the Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service,  check out more of our website or call at
714-997-0380,   text at cell 714-719-3080 or E Mail us at brwest2@aol.com.

Maverick's dad may also be reached at cell 661-373-8942 for a reference.  Numerous other references available upon request.
 
BG

 

 

Taylor Rochestie

Taylor Rochestie scores 21 points to lead Washington State in big win over USC

Washington State
Pullman, WA

Click here to view write up of the USC game.
(February, 2008)

Originally from Santa Barbara H.S. in Santa Barbara, CA.  Taylor had no NCAA Division I scholarships out of high school. 
Even though Taylor averaged 25/ppg during his senior year, hometown school UCSB did not offer him a scholarship. 
They liked him a great deal, but wanted Taylor to walk on.  Taylor had trained from the end of his Jr. season in
High School when he averaged 17/ppg as a 6"1 off-guard until the beginning of his Senior season, Taylor trained at the
Branch West Basketball Academy where he improved his all around scoring skills and learned to be a true point guard,
directly under the tutelage of Bob Gottlieb.  When it became obvious he wasn't being recruited at the Division I level,
his highly supportive dad, Howard Rochestie retained the Branch West Recruiting Assistance Services. 
Ultimately Taylor was offered a dozen major college scholarships, and eventually signed at Tulane University.

Taylor Rochestie had an outstanding freshman year at Tulane, during which Taylor started every game of the season. 
He averaged 13/ppg and had some spectacular games, like the 26pts versus Alabama State, 19pts versus St. Louis, and 17pts
versus Marquette.  Taylor came in 3rd in the voting for most outstanding freshman in the Conference USA as voted on by the coaches. 
At the end of the season, the entire coaching staff at Tulane was fired, and Taylor was especially close with all of his coaches. 
In addition, in September, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Tulane University was closed down for the entire year. 
Taylor and his father contacted Bob Gottlieb in December, and decided they like to pursue opportunities a little closer to home. 
Branch West recruitng assistance service was obtained by Taylor's dad Howard Rochestie, a incredibly supportive Dad. 
This all had to be done in a 2-3 week window in order to get Taylor enrolled for second semester.  A number of calls
were made by Bob Gottlieb throughout the Pac-10, Mountain West, Big West, and West Coast Athletic conference.  Washington
State, Arizona State, and St. Mary's were all highly interested.  Tony Bennett, assistant coach at WSU researched Taylor's
background thoroughly and decided to recruit him to Washington State, and the Rochesties were thrilled to death. 
Taylor committed immedately.

This coming season Taylor will be starting his 3rd year as the starting point guard on a Washington State team picked to
be in the top 10 preseason in the USA.  Taylor is a strong candidate for all Pac-10 honors, and is considered one of the best
point guards in the Pac-10.  Last year he averaged 12 pts/gm and 6 asst/g.  Leading WSU deep into the NCAA tournament. 
Taylor is not only an outstanding player, but one of the finest young men we have had a chance to work with.

Taylor Rochestie Scores 33 Against UCLA in Major Upset
(February, 2009)

Rochestie Long Ball Sinks the Sun Devils
(February, 2009)

Rochestie Named Pac-10 Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
(March, 2009)

 

 

Keith Wilkinson

University of Southern California
NCAA Division I

6'9 Sr.
Capistrano Valley H.S.
Orange County, CA

Now a senior, Keith served as an invaluable performer off the bench the past 3 years; averaging approximately 20 min/g as a Junior.
Keith had no scholarship offers when his Dad retained Branch West Recruiting Services.

USC's Wilkinson familiar with underdog role

 

 

 

 

Cody Anderson

Signs at Montana State
NCAA Division I
Full Athletic Scholarship

6'10 Post
Canyon County H.S.

Cody is a 4.0 GPA student and plans to major in Engineering.

Cody Anderson starting to make a solid contribution at Montana State

 

 

 

 

Bernell Murray

5'9"
Junior
2 yr starting point guard

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck, NJ

Originally from Stillwater H.S.
Stillwater, OK

Averaged 12 ppg and 7 apg in high school. Had no family. Bernell was a ward of the courts in Oklahoma. He lived in a rooming
house with other kids of similar background while attending high school. His only offer was a partial scholarship to a junior
college in Oklahoma. A local business man (Toby Angell) heard Bob Gottlieb on the Greg Swaim Radio Show in Oklahoma talking
about the Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service. He had attended a number of Stillwater H.S.'s games and really came to
admire the young man and when he learned of his family and living situation, he decided to try and help and retained BG to assist
in Bernell's recruitment to college. Not only was Bernell an excellent player at Fairleigh Dickiinson, but he is a superb young man.
This past Spring he graduated with his class on time, and has had a wonderful career and experience at a major university
thanks to Branch West Recruiting Services.

 

 

Alex Tucker

5'9" 160lbs 
Guard
Redondo Union H.S.
Redondo Beach, CA

18 ppg

Summit College Prep
Simi Valley, CA

Signed at Florida Atlantic University
Full Scholarship

Alex Tucker lights it up against Arkansas State

 

 

 

Cosmo Morabbi

6'3"
Off Guard
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills, CA

Averaged 28 ppg as a Senior

Signed at The Citadel
NCAA Division I
Full Scholarship

Recruited to Summit College Prep through the efforts of Branch West. Retained again by parents and recruited to The Citadel.
Saved parents $200,0000.

Averaging 20 minutes per game as 6th man, an integral part of Citadel's surprisingly successful season

 

 

NCAA Division II
Partial Basketball Scholarships

 

Shane Poppen

University of California at San Diego
NCAA Division II

6'4 190lbs
Thousand Oaks H.S.
Thousand Oaks, CA

Shane will be a 4 year starter as a Senior this season, and is having an outstanding career.   UCSD is one of the top schools
academically in California.  Shane had 4.3 GPA in H.S.

 

 

 

 

 

Savoy Fraine

6'8" 210lbs
JFK H.S.
Grenada Hills, CA

Signed at Samford University
Birmingham, AL
NCAA DI
Full Scholarship
Directly thru the efforts of Branch West Recruiting Assistance Services

Redshirted as a Freshman. Averaged 10 min/g for 2 years at Samford off the bench.  Decided to
transfer to a NCAA II school.

Signed at Assumption University
Worcester, MA

NCAA DII
Full Scholarship
Retained again by parents; successfully recruited

 

 

 

NCAA Division III
All Financial Aid is based on Academics
Need based aid, and diversity aid
Can be very substantial

 

Shane Foster

Co-Rookie of the Year for the entire conference
click here to read article

Foster, a 6-2 shooting guard, averaged 7.4 points, 1.7 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game,
while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line and 41.5 percent from 3-point range. Foster played in all 25 games
and scored in double figures eight times. He recorded a career-high 17 points in a win over Stevens on Jan. 4 and
averaged 8.3 points per game in 16 conference contests.

Cost of school is approximately $40,000 per/yr.  The Foster's are only paying approximately $5,000 per/yr.

 

 

Austen Soldner

6'3" 205 lbs
Combo Guard
Southlake Carroll High School
Southlake, TX

Claremont McKenna

Four year starter, averaging 10ppg, 50% from the floor, 37% from the 3 point range,5 rebounds and 2 assists per game
Tough hard-nosed competitor
Dad, Steve Soldner was a starter at Kansas State
Incredibly special young man

 

 

Marcus Lowe

5'8" 160 lbs
Guard
Service High School
Anchorage, AK

Rochester Institute of Technology

Averaged 15 ppg, 8 assists
Played on Branch West Team Alaska

Marcus Lowe earns rookie of the week

 

 

 

Ira Rosenberg with Son Kris and lovely wife Alice

Ira has been a major benefactor and sponsor of under privileged athletes in Branch West.
Son Kris was in the Branch West development program for two years and will be playing at
Brandeis University in Boston as one of their quality recruited freshmen this coming season. 

 

 

 

 

 

Branch West Traveling Teams
(Click Here)

Branch West will compete in the
Pangos Fall Classic
September 15-16, 2012
at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, CA

Branch West wins Pangos Sweet 16

April, 2012
Cabrillo High School in Long Beach

Championship Game

Branch West Elite	64
Play Hard Play Smart (Sacramento)	58

Branch West Elite Overall 2012 Record: 21-9

Includes a 20 point win over well-regarded Belmont Shore

Former outstanding Branch West players

Monte Ellis

6'3" 185lbs
Lanier H.S.
Jackson, MS
 
Golden State Warriors
NBA 1st round draft choice
Went directly out of high school to the NBA
Avg. 23 ppg and 6 apg 2009-2010

Played for Branch West in the
Las Vegas Easter Classic in April 2005

 

 

 

James Harden

6'5"
Wing Guard
Artesia H.S.
Los Angeles, CA

Arizona State
NCAA 1st Team All American 2009
NBA 1st Round Draft Pick

Oklahoma City Thunder

Played for Branch West in the prestigious Bob Gibbons Tournament in Chapel Hill, NC
Memorial Day Weekend, May 2006

Harden's return elevates ASU hopes

 

 

Deon Thompson

6'9"
Forward
Torrance H.S.
Torrance, CA

North Carolina
NCAA National Champions 2009

Former Branch West star center Deon Thompson, a three-year starter on
the Tarheel's National Championship team and now an NBA hopeful. Averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg.

Paul Pierce

Played for Bob Gottlieb along with son Doug
at ABCD camp in the summer of 1994.
Paul is the best small forward that I have ever coached
Was not only a great player, but an even better person to coach and work with.

Mario Chalmers

University of Kansas
Miami Heat
Played for Branch West at the Las Vegas Easter Classic

 

Tony Gonzalez

6 time NFL Pro Bowl
Coached by Bob Gottlieb, Tony lead Branch West
to the Spring Slam n Jam Championship in 1993
playing along side Doug Gottlieb
(Lead the NCAA D1 in assists at Oklahoma State)
and Miles Simon (College Basketball player of the Year at Arizona)