SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Pt. Loma Nazarene:  Ines, Enloe, Phillips,
Ellerbrook & Anderson Sign--(June 8, 2000)

We don't know how they do it but Coach John Block of Pt. Loma Nazarene University in San Diego sure knows how to get it done. This year's GSAC Coach of the Year, who led Pt Loma to the NAIA National Tournament, ending the season as the 16th ranked team in the National NAIA poll, has done it again, signing five top recruits, including at least two players who were very highly recruited at the D-I level and ranked among the better prospects in the class by many recruiting gurus.  We received a press release on the signings yesterday from Phil Connor, assistant men's coach. Here's the news:

Pt. Loma Nazarene University Signs Five

Head Coach John Block announces the signing and enrollment of an outstanding group of incoming freshmen to the Men's Basketball Team at Point Loma Nazarene University, which finished #16 in the NAIA this past season. "All five of these young men have had tremendous high school basketball careers and are superior students, (averaging 3.75 as a class GPA) and are great athletes," stated Coach Block. "We are very pleased that these players have chosen Point Loma Nazarene University and are excited about their future here."

Jared Ines, 6' 8" 240, from Ceres High School near Modesto, California was first team in the Stanislaus CIF District and first team Central California Conference this year, a 3 year varsity starter, and team MVP his junior and senior years. Jared averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.

Matt Enloe, 6' 6" 210, from Gig Harbor High School, Washington made the All-State Team this year at the 4A level, was All-League 96-2000, earned four varsity letters, and started over 100 high school games. Matt averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. He was a member of the 95-96 BCI National Championship team from Friends of Hoop in Washington.

Derek Ellerbrook, 7'0" 225, from Westside Christian High School, Oregon averaged 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks per game while leading his team to a fourth place finish in the State. He was also selected on the State All-Tournament Team and was selected All-League this year.

Jeremiah Phillips, 6' 5" 210, from Silverado High School, Victorville, California was League Co-MVP and team MVP this year and was second team All-CIF Southern Section IA. Jeremiah averaged 16.4 points and 12 rebounds this season.

John Anderson, 6' 7" 200, from Scottsdale Christian High School, Arizona was player of the year 2000. He made first team All-City and All-Region in Arizona and was Honorable Mention All-State. John played on the State Championship Teams in both 1999 and 2000, making the All-Tournament Team both years. He averaged 13.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 blocks per game.

Phil Connor
Assistant Coach
Point Loma Nazarene University

These signings are indeed impressive, especially for a small school at the NAIA level, and we're pretty impressed by the signings of Ines and Enloe especially who will be immediate impact players.   For those not familiar with Pt. Loma, they've been very successful in the past few years, especially last season, when the team went 28-7, finishing second in the GSAC Conference tournament, only to lose at the National NAIA Tournament.  Looking at their roster from this past season, it looks like they'll only lose one senior, Travis Lindstrom (6'-5" Sr. G/F) from that team, and that probably makes them the favorites to win the conference this season and go deep in the NAIA tournament, especially with the addition of the guys who just signed. Here's last year's roster: 

Willy Briscoe C 6-6  Jr. Portland, OR
Joel Eklund F/C 6-6 Jr. Concord, CA
Frank Estell  G/F 6-5 Jr Riverside,CA / La Sierra HS
Jake Fletcher F 6-6 So D.Moines,Wash/SeattleChrstn
Nik Foley F 6-5 Sr. San Diego, CA
B.J. Foster G 6-4 So San Diego/Point Loma HS
Brian Frey G 5-11 Jr Chandler, Ariz/ Chandler HS
Travis Lindstrom G/F 6-5 Sr NewmanLake,WA/Capital HS
Dan Mathiesen G 6-5 Fr Hughson, CA
Tim Smith F/C 6-8 So San Diego/ Mt. Carmel HS
Ryan Tenpas C 6-7 Jr Placentia, CA
Josh Williams G 5-9  Jr Bakersfield, CA/ North HS
Jess Yoder G 5-9 Jr. Salem, OR

Many people don't know much about the NAIA level of basketball, but for the right student-athletes, the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) isa great place, particularly if a student is interested in attending a church-related Christian college, since all GSAC member schools fit that bill.   According to a statement at the Pt. Loma Nazarene site, each member school is "purposely aligned to be similar in enrollment, academics, athletics, scholarship and student life. The GSAC uniquely links sport sponsorship to enrollment and adjusts athletic scholarships and financial aid to the cost of education at each institution, thereby maintaining a constant ratio for all member schools," so that one school doesn't end up out-recruiting another. Current members of the Conference are Azusa Pacific, Biola, California Baptist, Concordia, Fresno Pacific, Point Loma Nazarene, Vanguard University (formerly Southern California College) and Westmont.

 
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