SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Joe Travis Signs LOI With
Cal State Fullerton--(May 4, 2000)

The unofficial Cal State Fullerton Rivals.com website, TitanCentral.com reported two days ago that Donny Daniels' next recruiting target would be Long Beach Poly's Joe Travis (6'-8" Sr. PF).  And it looks like the signing in fact occurred yesterday (maybe one of these days, the Fullerton folks will get around to updating their own website and including press releases online. . . ).  And while confirmation hasn't yet come in the form of an official press release from the University, this morning's Orange County Register did provide affirmation.  Today  Frank Burlison writes that Travis is the third high school player to sign with Fullerton for Daniels.

"Travis was a two-year starter for the Jackrabbits and was an All-CIF selection this past season as Coach Ron Palmer's team captured the Southern Section's Division I-AA title. He signed a national letter of intent and mailed it to Fullerton on Tuesday evening.

"Signing earlier with Daniels were guards Chris Smith of San Bernardino and Ryan Dillon of Victorville. Six-four guard Bryan Defares of California Division IV state champion Tamalpais High in Mill Valley is scheduled to visit Fullerton this weekend [Note: Defares will also take an official visit to UCLA this week].

Travis visited Fullerton last Friday and was obviously impressed enough by Daniels to sign this week after being recruited by Portland and Ryder.   He chose to stay local on the recommendation of his high school coach, Ron Palmer, a former college coach himself at Long Beach State. 

According to Titan Central, who spoke to Palmer this past Monday,  Palmer recommended Fullerton over the other two schools recruiting Travis because of Daniels. "Daniels was one of the top assistants in college and has an excellent reputation," Palmer told Titan Central.  He also noted that "Travis is unique because he is a big kid who can handle the ball and can also shoot from twenty feet out."

According to Franks Burlison's story this morning in the Register, Daniels told him yesterday that he hopes to have three assistants hired "within two weeks.'' Among the candidates are Rich Wold (formerly at Oregon State), Rob Orellana (Fairleigh-Dickinson; formerly at UC Irvine), Johnny Brown (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) and Jason Levy (Portland; he also coached at UCI and Long Beach State)."

Fullerton is currently on NCAA probation as a result of recruiting and player violations which occurred during Brad Holland's coaching tenure, but which restricted Fullerton during the period of Bob Hawking's tenure, and now during Daniels.  The school cannot recruit JUCO players until after the 2002 season, so look for a lot more high school signings from Daniels & Co.

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