The NBA lockout officially ended on December 8^th of 2011. It has barely been a week since the end of the lockout and teams seem to be falling all over each other fighting for the top available talent like twin babies over a bottle.  The Los Angeles Lakers, at one point this offseason, set out to be the big dealmakers as it was rumored that they were going after both All-Star players point guard Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets and center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers made a trade offer to the NBA-owned Hornets for Chris Paul that had fans and journalists buzzing over what this trade could do for the Lakers. The Hornets accepted and all that had to happen to bring Paul to Los Angeles was approval by the other owners of the NBA for the NBA currently owns the Hornets. However, Commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade because it would give the Lakers too much power as an NBA elite.

Next, the Lakers were rumored to be going after Dwight Howard. In a surprising move, the Lakers then traded reigning 6^th man of the year forward Lamar Odom. The move was thought to be brought on by Odom demanding to be moved after he had been involved in the Hornets trade.  Others felt the move hinted that the Lakers were freeing up cap space to bring Howard to Los Angeles. The move shocked Odom and the Lakers as players were upset that he was moved to Dallas, the defending world champions and Western Conference nemesis, for almost nothing in return. Also, yesterday the Orlando Magic made it public that they were no longer looking to move Howard out of town. While it seems all hopes for Los Angeles bringing in another superstar to town had slipped away, there was still hope.

The Clippers also play in Los Angeles and look to be improving their roster and taking the next step toward making a playoff appearance. The Clippers signed former Washington Wizard, Caron Butler to a three-year deal. Young center DeAndre Jordan looked as if he was headed upstate to the Golden State Warriors when they attempted to lure him away with a four year/$43 million contract. However, his status as a Restricted Free Agent gave the Clippers three days to match that amount in order to keep him. The Clippers brought Jordan back, which meant they had two talented players at the Center position in Jordan and Chris Kaman. Resigning Jordan hinted that Kaman was expendable as a player to use as trade bait. After claiming veteran guard Chauncey Billups off waivers, the Clippers sent Kaman, point guard Eric Gordon, forward Al-Farouq Aminu, and a first-round draft pick to the Hornets to get… Chris Paul!

The Clippers have beefed up at the point guard position and look to improve in other areas of the court. With forward Blake Griffin, veteran guard Mo Williams, Chauncey Billups, DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler, and Chris Paul the Clippers look to give the Lakers and the rest of the Western Conference a run for their money. Rumor has it that they are still looking to make more moves. Look out Los Angeles, for the Clippers might just catch fire.

Happy Holidays to Los Angeles!

This past year when Illinois freshman Jereme Richmond surprisingly declared for the NBA draft, many people on campus were shocked. Richmond’s departure has become part of a troubling trend in college basketball that allows elite athletes to leave after just one year of education. The one and done rule was created with the intentions of preventing high school entrance to the NBA. The hope of the NCAA and NBA was that the one and done rule would encourage athletes to get a college education. Unfortunately, the one and done system has made a mockery of college education as it relates to top basketball players. The one and done athletes usually take blow off classes, and do the bare minimum so they can focus on improving their game. In the midst of this ignorance, one and done players lose out. If one and done players go to the NBA and it doesn’t work out, then what is there to fall back on? Absolutely nothing.

To make matters even worse, college basketball programs have become known for extremely low graduation rates. In a recent survey by the NCAA, nearly 50 percent of teams who made the tournament had a graduation rate of less than 50 percent. Baseball used to have a similar minimum system requirement much like college basketball, but recently took measures to make sure athletes stay enrolled in college for three years. As a result, graduation rates have climbed for baseball. It is obvious that the one and done rule is broken, so college basketball needs to make a change similar to college baseball. Players should either leave from high school or go to college for at least three years to encourage better graduation rates.

Sport: Basketball Position: Center Height: 6′4″ Class: 2011School: La Costa Canyon High School Carlsbad, CA

Madisen Irwin scored an amazing 42 points in the Mavericks 90-43 win over Torrey Pines this past week. Irwin also scored the game winning free throw in the last 1.7 seconds of the game in her squad’s tough win over Poway. Irwin chipped in for the win with 13 points and13 rebounds. She is committed to the University of San Francisco.

To view Madisen complete SportsForce profile click here – http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/madisen-irwin-basketball-2011

Scouting report courtesy of SportsForce – Home for college Sports Recruiting Videos, Tips, Tools and Premium Services – www.sportsforceonline.com

Sport: Basketball Position: Guard Height: 6’1″ Class: 2011 School: Otay Ranch High School San Diego, CA

Otay Ranch senior Alex Perez kicked off his season right at the Holiday Hoops Tournament at Mt. Carmel High School. Perez scored at least 30 points in each of two wins for his team. Perez scored 30 points in a win over Mission Viejo Trabuco and followed up that performance by scoring 34 points in his team’s win over Mission Hills.

To view Alex’s complete SportsForce profile click here - http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/alex-perez-basketball-2011

Scouting report courtesy of SportsForce – Home for college Sports Recruiting Videos, Tips, Tools and Premium Services – www.sportsforceonline.com

Sport: Basketball Position: Guard Height: 5’10″ Class: 2011 School: Rancho Buena Vista High School San Diego, CA

Rancho Buena Vista guard Johnny Dee scored a game high 45 points in his team’s win over Bonita Vista in the Grossmont Tournament. Dee scored 45 of his team’s 88 points with 22 of those points coming in the third quarter and 18 coming in the form of three pointers. The Longhorns easily beat Bonita Vista 88-67.
To view Johnny’s complete SportsForce profile click here – http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/johnny-dee-basketball-2011

Scouting report courtesy of SportsForce – Home for college Sports Recruiting Videos, Tips, Tools and Premium Services – www.sportsforceonline.com

Check out more action from last year’s SoCal Hoop Review. The 7th Annual SoCal Hoop Review was held April 10th and 11th at Cal State University Dominguez Hills and Lynwood High School in Lynwood, CA. The tournament was open to all high school grades including seniors. Both AAU teams and High School teams took the chance to compete.

The tournament showcased top talent from across the country and gave players a chance to show off their skills in highly competitive games in front of top college coaches, scouts, as well as media. Check out the highlight video below from the action at Lynwood High School.

This post is courtesy MVPToday.com

The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, announced on Friday that Corey Hawkins of Estrella Foothills High School is its 2009-10 Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Hawkins as Arizona’s best high school boys basketball player.

Hawkins is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior guard led the Wolves (31-1) to their third straight Class 3A state title this past season, averaging 36 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.7 assists per game.

The returning Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year finished his career as the state’s all-time career scoring leader with 3,154 points and also set the single-season scoring record with 1,152 points this winter.

The 2010 Arizona Republic Small Schools Player of the Year, Hawkins scored a season-high 65 points in a win over Chino Valley High on Feb. 2.

Hawkins has maintained a 3.14 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a youth basketball camp counselor and participated in a humanitarian effort to collect and send shoes to earthquake victims in Haiti.

“Corey Hawkins has a work ethic unlike any player I’ve ever coached and he’s made himself one of the most complete basketball players in the state,” said Estrella Foothills High Head Coach Ty Amundsen. “He has made such an enormous impact on our team and on our program as a whole.”

Hawkins joins recent Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Players of the Year Taylor Rohde (2007-08, Pinnacle) and Jerryd Bayless (2006-07, St. Mary’s) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Hawkins has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Arizona State University this fall.

Div. II Boys: Lincoln (San Diego) 74, St. Francis (Mountain View) 59

Typically the Lincoln Hornets are known for their second half play, but on Friday night they came out of the gate ready to play and built a 9-0 lead before St. Francis was able to score. By the end of the first eight minutes of play, both Victor Dean and Norman Powell had 9 points each.

The Lancers struggled to keep the deficit below double digits while the Lincoln Hornets continued their streak of explosive third quarter play rode a 22-9 run to their 24^th straight win and a state title. Even with a commitment to shoot lights out from beyond the arc the St. Francis Lancers could not overcome a 23 point fourth quarter deficit that was largely credited to the combination of Dean and Powell. Dean and Powell scored 24 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds.

Overcome with emotion Coach Jason Bryant expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance. “This is special, for San Diego and for Lincoln High,” said the third-year coach. “I knew at the beginning of the year the pieces of the puzzle were there.”

After 30 years a team from the CIF San Diego Section finally won a boys state title in Division I or Division II. It was only appropriate that the team that won the trophy was one of San Diego areas most historically significant programs. Victor Dean is heading to Fresno State as a football recruit and costar Norman Powell looks to be a legitimate future D-I prospect.

Sport: Basketball Position: Forward Height: 6′7″ Class: 2010 School: Lincoln High School San Diego, CA

The Lincoln Hornets started out the season with the goal of taking the Division II state title and they are just steps away from it. A balanced team, with strong performances coming from many members, this week senior forward Victor Dean took the chance to step up against Compton. A captain for Lincoln, Dean scored a game high 19 points, the majority of which came after the half as Lincoln picked up momentum to take the lead after being down in the first half. Lincoln defeated Compton 60-52 and secured the Southern California Section D-II Title. Dean was also named to the first team for the All San Diego Section Basketball Team. Dean and the Lincoln Hornets will face off against Mountainview St. Francis in Bakersfield this weekend in search of the state title.

To view Victor’s complete SportsForce profile click here – http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/vdean

Highlight Video and Scouting report courtesy of SportsForce – Home for college Sports Recruiting Videos, Tips, Tools and Premium Services – www.sportsforceonline.com

Brandon Johnson came back from a major achilles injury to play a 5th year with the Toreros.  In the process he has become USD’s all-time leading scorer, but a 9-18 season has put a sour edge to what should be a season of celebration.  Brandon joined 619 Sports after USD practice at Jenny Craig Pavilion to reflect on his career and the challenges he has faced:

–Story and video courtesy 619Sports.net