Tim Johnson 6’0”, 190 point guard joined AVC in the Spring semester of 2013 and is one of those “Manna from Heaven” players that every JUCO is looking for.  He turned 21 years old this weekend so he has life experience to go with his basketball skills. 

A 2011 graduate from Fremont High School in Los Angeles, Tim Johnson led his team at the crucial point guard position with;  11.1 PPG, 6.1, Assists and was named First Team All LA City.

Tim was recruited to Santa Monica College and was injured early in the year and sat out on a injury red shirt year. 

Finally completely healthy, Tim is looking to lead a very young AVC team at the point now that PG Mike Scott received a D-1 scholarship.   To get some ideas what kind of player Johnson is, you can ask him whether he would rather have 10 assists per game or 15 points per game and without hesitation he would say, “10 assists.”   He is a magician in the paint where he is looking to feed the “Bigs” for an easy layup or kick out the ball for an open three.  No wonder his teammates love him. 

If there is a weakness? in his game, it is his absolute fearlessness with his body.  A 190 pound block of muscle, he is constantly  at 10,000 rpm and lives on the floor after taking charges, hard fouls or death death defying shots.  There will be a lot of breath-holding this year to see if Tim will get up from his recent crash.  Will his body survive 30+ college games?

His absolute joy for the game and intense energy level turns the whole team up a notch or two.   Tim is experienced and mature enough to know that he will have to battle for a starting position with a group of very talented guards on AVC’s team.  There will be no “walking the ball” up the court this year and there will be times for every player on the floor  will need a blow.  Could this be a 11-12 player rotation year?

Tim brings an attitude of “team first” and point guard skill set to the AVC team that could win them a lot of games. 

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2013/05/dewayne-dedmon-imagine-the-possibilities/

by Jake Fischer / @JakeLFischer

Dewayne Dedmon scored his first two points in an organized basketball game on a two-handed dunk. But, for the 2013 NBA Draft prospect, the flush wasn’t of some middle school legend like Vince Carter or LeBron James. Dedmon’s first points came in 2008, as a clumsy 6-9, 200-pound senior in high school.

“We were playing Eastside High School and we were up by probably 10-plus points,” Dedmon remembers. “There was probably 15 seconds left on the clock. One of my teammates got trapped in the corner and I’m sitting under the basket screaming his name. We were up, so we were supposed to dribble out the clock, but I wanted to score. So, I got the ball, just dunked and ran down the court. I was raising the roof and just gloating. That was definitely my most memorable moment of high school.”

Dedmon’s mother is a practicing Jehovah’s Witness and he says she felt that sports or any extracurricular activities would take away from time going to meetings and observing other religious commitments. Eventually, during his final year at Lancaster (CA) High, she allowed her son to play on the school’s basketball team. Well, at least join the team.

“I got into a handful of games that season, but in those games, I never played more than three minutes,” Dedmon said.

Fast-forward to 2013, Dedmon has technically only played three full seasons of organized basketball, and he’s declared for the NBA Draft.

“It’s definitely crazy, but it’s a dream come true,” Dedmon said. “Everybody, when they’re little, wants to be a professional athlete when they grow up. Just to be able to make that dream become a reality is definitely shocking. It feels great.”

The first year he considers a true season of organized ball came at Antelope Valley College, a comprehensive community college in Lancaster, as a grey-shirt freshman, following his first year on campus. Dedmon grey-shirted his first year at AVC as a part-time student, having to pay his own tuition and not an official member of coach Dieter Horton’s team. But that was more than what Dedmon ever expected out of his college experience.

“At first, my mom’s plan was for me to go to junior college and take up a course in water treatment and get a certificate in that,” Dedmon explained. “She had a couple of friends that were involved in that field. She thought it would be a good job out of high school. But, I figured if I’m gonna be in college, I might as well try basketball one more time.”

That path to the hardwood is pretty fitting considering the school’s motto is, “Antelope Valley College…Imagine the Possibilities.” But, Dedmon’s journey through basketball didn’t get any less complicated once he played his first full year.

The big man averaged 6.6 points and 7.8 boards during that first season of game action in ‘09-10—at 20 years old. But today, at 23, 7-0 and 255 pounds, Dedmon plays like he’s been a student of the game for years. Battling some of the nation’s toughest competition in the Pac-12 will do that to you.

After receiving interest from Division I programs, Dedmon redshirted in fall 2010 at AVC. That way, he could transfer to USC as a redshirt freshman before the spring semester of 2011 and retain a sophomore season of eligibility as a Trojan. So, if you’re keeping score at home, he grey-shirted his first year at AVC (’08-09), played his second year (’09-10), then redshirted his third year of college (’10-11)—half at AVC and half at USC—and finally became eligible at USC the next fall.

Phew.

“The plan was to do that so I could start playing against Division I competition and get ready for [’11-12],” He said. “I got a chance to play against Nikola Vucevic in practice every day. I definitely learned a lot from playing against him.”

As Vucevic blossomed into one of the top rebounders in the NBA and a promising young center for the Orlando Magic this season, you can only image what Dedmon gained from that experience.

Finally, in winter 2011, Dedmon was able to lace up his sneakers and rock the USC cardinal and gold as a 22-year-old red-shirt sophomore. His long-winding road to a DI court resulted in his averaging of 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in just 23.3 minutes per game. Dedmon produced similar numbers his junior season, averaging 6.7 points 7.0 rebounds while adding 2.1 blocks in just 22.3 minutes of action per night.

While not totally stuffing the stat sheet, Dedmon felt his body of work and progression deemed him worthy of entering his name into the NBA Draft in April. But many scouts and media members doubted his potential due to his limited offensive production during his two years at USC.

“It’s always tough when people start doubting you, but I know what I can do and I’m very confident in how hard I’m working,” Dedmon said. “People don’t know what I’m capable of. I knew that I was ready to come out.”

Dedmon shut up many of those doubters during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago earlier this month. Right after Chad Ford and Jay Williams dismissed Dedmon and several other big men at the workout as poor shooters, the live telecast was forced to go back and replay Dedmon’s impressive shooting during a five-spot drill. Ford commented in amazement at how effortlessly the former Trojan drained 18-footer after 18-footer from each spot around the arc.

“He can really hit that open pick-and-pop jump shot, not many people know that,” said Tony Miller, an a assistant coach at USC who worked closely with Dedmon. ”The NBA has guys who are stars and then selective types of role players. I think he can be a solid role player, a big guy that’s 6-11, 7-0, runs like a deer, plays with a high motor, can rebound and cover space.”

Since USC’s season ended with a loss to Utah in the Pac-12 tournament on March 13, Dedmon has been tirelessly working at facilities in West Hollywood and Los Angeles to improve his jumper and other facets of his game. His effort to become a better shooter spoke for itself just six days after the Chicago combine in East Rutherford, NJ, where Dedmon again poured in long-range jumpers, this time at the Brooklyn Nets’ league-wide workout. He also performed well in the workout’s five-on-five scrimmage where he rebounded at a high rate and even dexterously dished several interior passes to teammate Trevor Mbakwe out of Minnesota. Dedmon made his presence known almost at all times during the scrimmage too, constantly communicating with his teammates.

“I try hard to communicate out there. If you’re out there and don’t really have anybody talking to you and letting you know what’s going on behind you, you’re basically out there by yourself. Basketball’s a team game, so it helps everybody if you communicate and know what’s going on.”

Now, Dedmon has a chance to further prove how far he’s come from his first in-game points. With multiple workouts for individual NBA teams each week, Dedmon has had plenty of opportunities to show exactly what he thinks he’s capable of. But, his biggest challenge might just be convincing a team that a rookie who turns 24 in August will be able to max his potential in the near future.

“I think about this process as a whole interview process,” Dedmon said. “Like, you’re applying for 30 jobs and hoping to get a reply back from one of them on Draft night. Some people fax out their resumes to a whole lot of different offices, instead I’m flying around to different teams trying to show them what I’m capable of doing. All you gotta do is get one team to like you. I’m doing whatever I can to get at least one team to like me.”

He persuaded his mom to let him even pick up a basketball. Maybe he can make lightning strike twice.

Thomas sat out last year with AVC per NCAA and California Community College transfer rules. Now this is Kendrick’s  final year in the JUCO and he must be ready up-grade his game.  He goal is to receive a D-1 scholarship at the highest level possible. 

K.T. came into summer basketball class in good shape.  He is strong, has a nose for the rebounds, has improved his mid-range shooting, and runs the floor well.  It will take several months to get Thomas back into elite basketball playing shape.  With Kendrick at full strength at one of the forward slots, AVC is going to have a dominating rebounder, solid scorer, and defensive brute that can help dominate the game. 

On the other hand, the Drew game is a one on one activity.  Not much defense, and a whole lot of three jacked up.  Interesting, 3 point shooting percentage looks to be down at the Drew compared to college teams.  Some limited great passing but not much team basketball. 

With that said, its been a great experience for current AVC players.  Their confidence has sky rocketed.  They know that they can compete successfully with D-1 grads and Professional players.

I watched two current and one former AVC players play yesterday.  Zack Hollis, 6’9”, 225 had just returned from a 10 day vacation and played limited time but, in prior games played very well at the power forward position.  Big Reggie Murphy, 6’9”, 265 played well for approximately 20 minutes.  Finally, AVC’s Daviyon Draper, 6’7”, 215 wing, was quietly dominate again.  He started for his team and played the PG, SG, SF and even the PF.  He dropped in 14 points(2 – three pointers), pulled down 6 rebounds, and handed out 6 assists in 30 minutes.  Draper is a stud.  AVC opponents this year better double him this year….but that leaves Lucc open.  Ouch. 

The Drew will be around for at least  for another 40 years…for its entertainment value alone.  Great fun for the fans and players as well.

Vadal Faniel 6’6”, 215 forward grabbed a plane for Texas this weekend for a visit to D-2 Texas A and M International who has been wooing him for some time.  He was very impressed with the campus, coaching staff, and winning attitude in the basketball program. 

“V” a two year starter at Antelope Valley College has battled through the adversity of losing his father last year but he showed his strength and tenacity in finishing his academics and playing every game at AVC.  Texas A and M International just picked up a D-1 quality player that is driven to win. 

Vadal  Faniel joins Mike Scott who already is at D-1 U of Idaho and Dwan “Po” Caldwell who is leaving in three weeks for D-1 Tennessee Tech with full ride scholarships.  Two to go and everyone has a home for their degree.  That’s what Antelope Valley College is all about. 

One thing I noticed was the intensity of the recruiting these athletes at AVC were and had received from D-1, D-2, NAIA, National JUCO’s, Prep Schools, and other Cal JUCO’s.   The D-1 and other universities were basically talking about no guarantee walk-on’s and/or possible red-shirts.  With all or most of their their slots filled, they were using the approach of “this is how its done at this level and its all good.”  National JUCO’s and Prep Schools were offering, hmmm, wasn’t really clear what they were offering other than they were better than AVC.   The SoCal JUCO’s were just trying to “make at steal” of AVC players with you won’t get playing time there or who knows what kind of other promises. 

The most interesting kind of recruiting came from D-1 coaches/assistant coaches who are recruiting for SoCal JUCO’s with the following line, “You need to go to JUCO X instead of AVC as they are my friends there and you will have a better chance of me recruiting you in the future if you go there.”  Add to that the calls from current and former travel team coaches who are recruiting on the side for a school.  There are more participants in the “recruiting” business like high school coaches and other players who are calling at the behest of a specific team.  It goes on and on.  

Its possible that these recruiters will “steal a player away” but it is getting harder for them.  Most of the AVC recruits are social media junkies who get information from friends, web-sites, and have seen where their friends, former team-mates have been successful in getting D-1 and other university scholarships.  It is shocking to me how much they know about the individual college programs and their past and present players.  They are bright kids and they communicate. 

Most importantly, working out a week at AVC’s basketball class gives the players an insight why AVC is so successful in placing their players.  For some a week is enough and they say, “I don’t want to work that hard and go to class like that.”   They then might follow siren song of the “recruiters”  but most will stay and succeed if they work hard enough.  They especially like it when they talk to former AVC players who are on scholarships at universities and the AVC grads who now are professional players.

It was an interesting week!

This summer Zack was invited to “play with the big boys” at the Drew League.  I watched Zack not only hold his own against the D-1 and pro studs, but do well especially playing the PF position.  His strength, foot speed, and mid-range shooting has improved.  Zack has been doing a lot of mountain trail running and weight room with Coach Bell and the team in the Antelope Valley.  Add to that one-on-one skill training has added to his post versatility. 

Hollis runs the floor well which will be helpful in a year of greyhounds.  Expect a breakout year for Zack.  A double-double year, his great size and academics would make him a hot commodity for D-1 schools.

One of the newcomers who was a first team all-conference player said that he loved the competition as there was not one “push over” in the bunch.  The ice machine was working overtime.  Sore muscles, getting in shape, competition on every play.

Team workout(class) in the a.m..  Add to that a long weight room session.  Afternoon is Coach Bell’s special skill and one on one sessions.  Some of the players then head off to their secret gym hang out for a third session to practice what they have learned.  Remember guys it’s a long season.

It’s a complex time of interaction where the leadership starts showing.  Getting to know each other.  The jokes, the info sharing, testing each other’s skills.  Grimaces and smiles.

They are very young and very talented and in time will coalesce around the sophomore leaders.  Should be a fun year.

Lucciano Gamiz, 6’3″, 185, shooting guard graduated from Antelope Valley’s Quartz Hill High School in 2011. Gamiz is a natural shooting guard but played the point guard position in his senior year in high school as he was the best ball handler on the team.

Gamiz was overlooked basketball-wise by the universities out of high school but impressed Coach Taylor with his natural three point shooting.   But with D-1 shooting guard, JJ Johnson holding down the shooting guard position, it looked like Gamiz would be relegated to the pine in his first year. The AVC coaching staff and Lucciano agreed that he would red shirt his first year at AVC and “get strong” in the weight room and learn the defensive and offensive sets. Gamiz has put on 10-15 pounds of muscle in his two years in AVC’s weight room.

Academics have never been a problem for Lucciano. His grades in high school and college are in the top 10% of all students. During his red-shirt/basketball freshman year he completed the majority of this AA degree taking classes qualifying him for University of California schools with a 3.6 GPA. In fact, he decided to test the waters and applied this year to the top academic schools in California…including his favorite, UCLA…and was accepted by them all.

Lucciano’s first year of college basketball was a success academically and basketball-wise. He played his way into the starting line up. Led the team in 3 point shooting percentage…38%…slashed the middle, played outstanding defense, was the second point guard on the floor when needed.  Gamiz is a point guard’s dream.  He is always at the right place at the right time for that kick out pass.  Believe it or not his team mates have so much confidence on his three ball that they are shocked when it doesn’t drop.

Gamiz is an outstanding academic student who can go to any university in the United States. He also loves to play college basketball. Lucc is now being recruited by mid-major D-1 teams who love his basketball skills and his superb academics. One of the professions that he is considering is Law. Lucciano has already worked out that a good sophomore basketball year at AVC will give him a D-1 scholarship at a university where he could play basketball and excel in academics. He could then enter Law School/Professional Schools at one of top academic schools debt-free. Sounds like a lawyer doesn’t he! 

A coach on the floor, Lucciano Gamiz is taking some of the talented young AVC guards under his wing to help them in their transition from High School to elite JUCO ball.  Expect Lucciano to have a great basketball, academic and scholarship year at Antelope Valley College.