In an outstanding first tournament showing, Branch West Elite won 5 straight games before losing in the Finals to arguably the best AAU team in the USA this year, Dreamvision out of Las Vegas and Southern California, 63-58. (Oakland Soldiers might question that)

Scout.com after the first day of the tournament listed the best prospects in the tournament and Dreamvision had the four top players in the entire event.

Everyone knows 6'6" Shabazz Muhammad from Bishop Gorman H.S. is recognized as the #1 junior in the USA by most services. 6'11" Robert Upshaw from Fresno Edison H.S. is the top junior big man on the West Coast. 6'8" Winston Shepard of National Prep Champion Findlay Prep will also be recruited at the highest levels. All three will play in the NBA and could be one and done types. However when all was said and done, 6'1" Joe Rahon from Torrey Pines H.S. in San Diego was the difference with his outside shooting.

We have good players. Damn good players. Nobody plays a team like that as tough as we did, without some very good players. We actually led the game and basically outplayed them for most of the game, but when all was said and done, a couple of inappropriate shots with the game on the line, and not being back on defense properly, allowing several breakout dunks, were the difference between winning and losing.

When you play at the highest levels, quality team defense will allow you to have a chance night in and night out. They are an inside oriented team with a number of strong inside players. At first we fronted, but found we were much more successful at playing behind, soft of the perimeter and then doubling down on the post when he put the ball on the floor.

It changed everything as we went from down 7-0 to start the game but with the defensive adjustment, we took control of the game and moved out to an 8 pt first half lead. They came back and tied it at the half, 30-30. Shabazz had 6 pts at the half.

Second half we again took control and moved out to an 8 pt lead only to have them fight back. We last led by 1 with about 2 minutes to go, but did not play well enough with the game and tournament title on line, to bring it home.

We won 5 straight games, often trailing at the half, but always seemed to play much better in the second half and ended up winning comfortably. Dreamvision however was not really tested although Branch West Prep played an outstanding forst half and only trailed 35-28 before Dreamvision really got it in gear and won big. They beat everyone by an average of at least 30 pts/g.

Our MVP probably had to go to three kids equally. Dakari Tucker 6'4" sophomore wing guard from Gardena Serra H.S. was without question one. Filling Reese Morgan's shoes (our great shooter from Peninsula H.S. of last summer), will not be easy, but Dakari basically shot the lights out with great consistency throughout the tournament. He probably averaged around 16 ppg. which is deceiving as we played a number of wings significant playing time. He will be a D1 scholarship level player for certain. He is very athletic and an excellent rebounding guard on the defensive boards. Needs to improve his ball handling skills if he wants to play at UCLA, CAL, USC etc. He did a great job of defending Shabazz and kept him off the offensive boards, where he is a monster. Dad and mom are real tall so he may well grow.

Our two point guards, whom we played at the same time, both as starters, also were excellent shooters with quality range and consistency. Together with Dakari, they were our MVPs. They each averaged about 15 ppg.

One was Austin Quick 6'3" senior from Murrieta Valley H.S. and the other junior Jimmy Jackson 6'0 from Cypress H.S. They both played their hearts out at both ends. Both are combo gds learning to be true points. Both are making excellent progress. Both are big time shooters with range and both need to improve their playmaking skills. With continued experience and growth with us, they will be point guards at the next level and likely scholarship players at the NCAA D1 or D2 levels. Columbia and Penn both like Austin a great deal and have encouraged him to go to prep school for a year. It appears he will attend Northfield Mt. Herman, a very well respected prep school program in Northfield, MA. He is a 4.0 gpa student. Jimmy Jackson is likewise an excellent student.

Sean Morgan 6'5" 245 lbs from Walton H.S. in Marietta, GA had a very difficult first 5 games. He appeared not in very good shape and played tired most of the time and was only marginally effective until the Championship game. Probably averaged less than 10 ppg. However, against Dreamvision, it was almost as if he had played himself into condition and he was truly outstanding scoring 24 pts. He was too quick and strong for the Dreamvision bigs.

His Dad is 6'6" and his Granddad is 7'0" so he has a real chance to be special, but has a long ways to go. He was a superb young man in every respect. Intelligent, articulate from a wonderful home and we were glad to have him.

Twins Jordan and Justin Young were terrific. Both almost 6'5" and highly athletic kids that I love coaching. Though they were not necessarily big scorers, their all around value was exceptional. Both wer top flight defenders, excellent rebounders, strong, tough, smart, unselfish. They averaged 15 ppg and led Mark Keppel H.S. to an outstanding season. Both are 4.0 gpa students or close to it.

Nairu Henderson 6'5" from Bakersfield started the last few games and played well in the 2nd half vs Dreamvision. He has ability but was somewhat inexperienced as he was unable to play this entire past HS season. 6'7" Aaron Alston from Hesperia H.S., Aaron Cheatum 6'5" from Rancho Verde H.S. gave us good depth.

Dusty Baker 6'3 guard from Tesoro H.S. who averaged 24 ppg this past year. He did not seem to be himself until our third game. It appeared to be just a confidence issue, being with a new team etc. Unfortunately he could not play on Sunday and missed the last 3 games as he is Mormon and he does not play on Sunday. He will start his mission next winter.

It was a very good tournament with a number of upsets.

Belmont Shores with 5'11" Grant Jerratt and 6'2" Eric Cooper Jr., both early commits to Arizona, was upset in the Quarter Finals by a team from Texas whom we subsequently beat by 12 in the semi-finals.

Always well regarded Compton Magic was 1-3 for the tournament and they stll have Gabe York, a Top 25 type recruit from Orange Lutheran and a 7'0" JR considered one of the better big kids in the West. Lot of good teams from Las Vegas and Arizona.

Next tournaments coming up are the Double Pump Hoopfest April 21-23 at the Americam Sports Center. Following that we will play in the Double Pump Spring Classic April 29-31 at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.

Athletes interested in playing should have their parents call BG at 714-997-0380 or E Mail us at brwest2@aol.com We have four teams. We were full this past weekend but do have a number of slots available for the upcoming trnys.

Branch West Recruiting Assistance Service is still available and highly doable for Class of 2011 seniors who are quality players and being overlooked. Call or E Mail us.

Branch West Prep and Branch West Red were highly competitive teams. The competition was fierce.

BW Prep played really well vs Dreamvision in pool play. Won their next game by 20 and finished overall. Emmanuel Anumba 6'2" from Santa Clarita is impressively athletic and Mitch Sagely 6'5" from Moorpark H.S. is a strong candidate for Branch West Elite. He is a highly athletic wing. They were coached by Brandon Garrett, Head Coach at Hueneme H.S.

Branch West Red was made up of mostly freshman and sophomores and a couple of juniors. We chose to play them up in the 17's rather than in the 16's. The one game that I saw, they led by 3 with 5 seconds to go and they hit a 3 to tie and ultimately they lost in overtime. Branch West Red is loaded with potential Branch West Elite prospects, some of whom may be added in the not too distant future. They finished 1-3 but lost to the Compton Magic by 4, the Las Vegas Blue in OT, and the Danny Granger Hurricanes by 6. Coach Donnell Meekins, head coach of Morningside H.S. in Inglewood, did a great job with them as usual.

Branch West Orange had a very tough bracket and though most everyone was a high school starter this past year, they struggled. They do have some very good players I like a lot and were ably coached by Mike Keddington, HC at Channel Island H.S.

Sean Morgan

6'5" Post
Walton High School
Marietta, GA
Class of 2013

A greet addition to Branch West all spring
a strong, physical power forward with terrific upside

Dakari Tucker

6'5" Wing Guard
Serra High School
Gardena, CA
Class of 2013

Major league shooter with exceptional range
athletic, good grades, a super young man