NOTES: Three Findlay Prep seniors still unsigned
Most of the dust has settled on the current college basketball recruiting cycle.
But plenty of intrigue remains for Findlay Prep’s trio of unsigned seniors.
Findlay Prep power forward Anthony Bennett, combo guard Amedeo Della Valle and center Matt Willms still are trying to make decisions on their futures before the NCAA’s spring signing period closes May 16.
Pilots coach Michael Peck said Wednesday that Bennett still is considering scholarship offers from UNLV, Kentucky, Florida and Oregon and hopes to decide in a couple of weeks. SportsNet New York reported Thursday that Bennett had eliminated Washington from consideration.
The 6-foot-8-inch Bennett widely is considered the top unsigned senior in the nation.
“Probably the reason why it’s taken time is he wants to be sure of it,” Peck said of Bennett’s choice. “He’ll do his due diligence and make the decision that’s best for him.”
Peck said Della Valle is on an official visit to Ohio State and will return Friday. Della Valle, an elite perimeter shooter, also is eyeing Texas A&M and Gonzaga.
Texas-El Paso and Providence are showing the most interest in the 7-foot Willms, according to Peck.
MARTIN TO NORTHERN ARIZONA — Palo Verde senior forward Jordyn Martin committed to play college basketball for Northern Arizona on Saturday and said he hoped to fax his signed national letter of intent to the Lumberjacks by the end of the week.
Northern Arizona’s coaching staff is still taking shape around new head coach Jack Murphy, who was hired to rebuild a program that went 5-24 last season, including a 1-15 record in the Big Sky Conference.
"I got a chance to meet (Murphy) in person. He seems like a really good person (and) has a really good heart," said Martin, whose parents both attended Northern Arizona. "He has a passion for the game. He really wants to get all his players better. He’s really into the game. I think I’ll be able to learn a lot from him."
Northern Arizona was the only school to offer Martin a scholarship, but he also received interest from Drake, Idaho State, Montana State and Dixie State (Utah).
The 6-7, 210-pound Martin averaged 11.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a senior on his way to second-team All-Northwest League honors as Palo Verde (19-6) reached the Sunset Region title game.
RECENT COMMITMENTS — Local seniors who committed to Division I programs include Green Valley girls volleyball libero Alexa Drost (Stetson), Bishop Gorman girls equestrian rider Kayla Hillegass (Kansas State), Gorman boys track middle distance runner Julian Jalani (Montana), Centennial girls lacrosse midfielder Andrea Killebrew (San Diego State), Shadow Ridge boys volleyball outside hitter Tanner Maxwell (Grand Canyon), Desert Oasis girls golfer Darleen Raymond (Alabama State), Palo Verde boys soccer midfielder Alexander Shackley (Manhattan), Spring Valley girls tennis player Tiffany Tavares (Tennessee) and Gorman baseball left-hander Adam Wozniak (Portland).
Non-seniors who committed include Centennial sophomore softball players Heather Bowen (Utah) and Savannah Horvath (Cal State Northridge), Coronado junior girls soccer goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner (Oklahoma), Faith Lutheran junior girls golfer Anne Freman (Santa Clara) and Green Valley junior girls soccer defender Nicole Westover (UNLV).
ALL-USA PICKS — Gorman senior wing and UCLA signee Shabazz Muhammad was named to USA Today’s All-USA High School Boys Basketball First Team on Wednesday.
Findlay Prep senior forwards Bennett and Brandon Ashley took second- and third-team honors, respectively.
FOOTBALL HIRES — A Bonanza spokesperson said the Bengals hired former Legacy assistant Chad Dobar as Bonanza’s football coach.
Dobar replaces Shawn Dupris, who went 7-3 last season before leaving to become coach at Damonte Ranch in Reno.
In other confirmed football hires, Rancho chose former Cheyenne coach Perryn Hale to replace Elvin Dick, who resigned, and Western hired former Chaparral coach Donnie Davis to replace Fernando Carmona, who resigned.
SOCCER ALL-STARS — The 20th Green Valley Rotary Club High School All-Star Soccer Games will be held May 23 at UNLV, with the girls match at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.