Here's an article that mentions UCI and a recruit. Although UCI is probably recruiting more than twenty players, here's one to look at.........
NorcalPreps.com
The usual suspects played well as expected during the Memorial Day weekend at the Rumble in the Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, a not so well known name who stood out like a diamond in the rough with his play was Josh Ritchart, a 6-foot-8 combo forward from Forest Lake Christian in Auburn.
While not listed in the Norcal Preps class of 2010 rankings, there is no doubt that Ritchart is a top 5 and maybe even higher prospect in the class of 2010, based on his performance at Rumble. Playing for Team Superstar, a newly formed Fresno-based adidas club, Ritchart showed his all-around ability as a dominant forward, scoring inside and out, handling the ball and dunking in transition.
"I don't have anyone I model my game after," said a modest Ritchart. "I just do my own thing.'
While Ritchart was modest in analyzing his game, his actual look and game is eerily similar to former Galena High of Nevada standout Luke Babbitt, who was an all conference player at Nevada Reno University as a freshman. Like Babbitt, Ritchart is a hybrid forward who can play inside or out. He is very athletic and a skilled player who has knock down shooting ability.
Leron Dodson, the founder and director of Team Superstar said Ritchart is an impact player that high major college programs need to take a serious look at.
"Josh has the size, length, athleticism and skill level," said Dodson. "Skill-wise he can step out and shoot the three point shot. He has a feathery touch. In some ways he is similar to Luke Babbitt."
Dodson would know, as he spent several years as an assistant coach with Elite Basketball Organization (EBO), the club that Babbitt played for two years ago. When EBO disbanded after last year's club season, Dodson started Team Superstar. He sees Ritchart as a high quality player who he was used to coaching when he was with EBO.
"I don't think Josh realizes how good he can be," continued Dodson. "His best basketball is in front of him."
While he is a relative new face on the club circuit, various college programs know who Ritchart is. Both St. Mary's and Pacific have offered scholarships while he is also starting to get recruiting interest from Washington State, Stanford, Cal, USF and UC Irvine. Ritchart likes the attention, but he also wants to hear from other schools such as Oregon and Nevada, a program he follows closely.
This past year, Ritchart had an impactful season for Forest Lake Christian averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals a game and he helped lead the Falcons to a 21-7 record and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship game. Forest Lake would lose in that game to Bradshaw Christian, 55-52, but Dave Thomas, the Falcons' head coach called Ritchart's season "memorable."
"Josh is a stat stuffer," said Thomas. "When he steps out on the court, he makes our team better."
Thomas said Ritchart's improvement has been steady dating back to his freshman year when he had to pull him up to varsity.
"At the time, we had a senior-laden team, and I was not going to pull him up, but we did," said Thomas. "And he was solid."
His biggest improvement as a player though came between Ritchart's sophomore and junior year, according to Thomas. This is when he added range to his jumper, became more athletic and aggressive. This past season, Thomas began playing Ritchart facing the basket and he shot over 40 percent from three-point range. Overall, Thomas is confident his star player would be a quality addition to a college program, as he sports a 3.9 grade point average and is "a quality young man."
While the club season continues, Ritchart will continue playing with Team Superstar as they play in various events in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He also plans on attending the Stanford Elite camp and possibly the Full Court Press and Double Pump camps, before making a decision on where he will commit.
"I will probably want to make my decision in September when school starts," continued Ritchart. "I want to sign in the early signing period."
NorcalPreps.com
The usual suspects played well as expected during the Memorial Day weekend at the Rumble in the Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, a not so well known name who stood out like a diamond in the rough with his play was Josh Ritchart, a 6-foot-8 combo forward from Forest Lake Christian in Auburn.
While not listed in the Norcal Preps class of 2010 rankings, there is no doubt that Ritchart is a top 5 and maybe even higher prospect in the class of 2010, based on his performance at Rumble. Playing for Team Superstar, a newly formed Fresno-based adidas club, Ritchart showed his all-around ability as a dominant forward, scoring inside and out, handling the ball and dunking in transition.
"I don't have anyone I model my game after," said a modest Ritchart. "I just do my own thing.'
While Ritchart was modest in analyzing his game, his actual look and game is eerily similar to former Galena High of Nevada standout Luke Babbitt, who was an all conference player at Nevada Reno University as a freshman. Like Babbitt, Ritchart is a hybrid forward who can play inside or out. He is very athletic and a skilled player who has knock down shooting ability.
Leron Dodson, the founder and director of Team Superstar said Ritchart is an impact player that high major college programs need to take a serious look at.
"Josh has the size, length, athleticism and skill level," said Dodson. "Skill-wise he can step out and shoot the three point shot. He has a feathery touch. In some ways he is similar to Luke Babbitt."
Dodson would know, as he spent several years as an assistant coach with Elite Basketball Organization (EBO), the club that Babbitt played for two years ago. When EBO disbanded after last year's club season, Dodson started Team Superstar. He sees Ritchart as a high quality player who he was used to coaching when he was with EBO.
"I don't think Josh realizes how good he can be," continued Dodson. "His best basketball is in front of him."
While he is a relative new face on the club circuit, various college programs know who Ritchart is. Both St. Mary's and Pacific have offered scholarships while he is also starting to get recruiting interest from Washington State, Stanford, Cal, USF and UC Irvine. Ritchart likes the attention, but he also wants to hear from other schools such as Oregon and Nevada, a program he follows closely.
This past year, Ritchart had an impactful season for Forest Lake Christian averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals a game and he helped lead the Falcons to a 21-7 record and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship game. Forest Lake would lose in that game to Bradshaw Christian, 55-52, but Dave Thomas, the Falcons' head coach called Ritchart's season "memorable."
"Josh is a stat stuffer," said Thomas. "When he steps out on the court, he makes our team better."
Thomas said Ritchart's improvement has been steady dating back to his freshman year when he had to pull him up to varsity.
"At the time, we had a senior-laden team, and I was not going to pull him up, but we did," said Thomas. "And he was solid."
His biggest improvement as a player though came between Ritchart's sophomore and junior year, according to Thomas. This is when he added range to his jumper, became more athletic and aggressive. This past season, Thomas began playing Ritchart facing the basket and he shot over 40 percent from three-point range. Overall, Thomas is confident his star player would be a quality addition to a college program, as he sports a 3.9 grade point average and is "a quality young man."
While the club season continues, Ritchart will continue playing with Team Superstar as they play in various events in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He also plans on attending the Stanford Elite camp and possibly the Full Court Press and Double Pump camps, before making a decision on where he will commit.
"I will probably want to make my decision in September when school starts," continued Ritchart. "I want to sign in the early signing period."
