SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Rockfish: No Camps (For Some);
Stealth Practices At USC Instead--(July 11, 2000)

While a lot of guys will be at the Double Pump West Coast All Star Camp and/or at Rim Rattler All*West Camp, there's at least one group that has decided to encourage it's players to be elsewhere.  While there will be many Rockfish players making the trek to either Domingue Hills or to Lynwood HS, several others, including just about everyone on the LA Rockfish, their #1 team, will be attending day long practices at USC, in preparation for the adidas Las Vegas Big Time.    We've spoken with Dave Benezra and Mark Mayemura on many occasions about their philosophy and why they avoid the camps, and their reasoning is really pretty simple:  They believe that in order to be as competitive as they can be, that their players will be better served by controlled team practices, reduced chances for injuries which often occur at the camp games, and it also allows the players to go a little easier and rest their legs in preparation for what they'll need to have in reserve to make it through the 120 team Open Bracket to the Championship finals next Wednesday in Las Vegas. Whether their philosophy will pay off is anyone's guess, but they may have the talent this year to once again make it to the quarterfinals and beyond, notwithstanding that there are other equally talented teams from all over the country they'll have to again contend with, including the Michigan Mustangs (Kelvin Torbert, Robert Whaley, Anthony Roberson), Illinois Gold (Eddy Curry), Pump & Run (Salim Stoudamire, the Cravens, Charlie Rodriguez, Chris Hernandez), Belmont Shore (Dijon Thompson, Cody Pearson, Evan Burns) and too many others to mention here.

We haven't spoken with Dave Benezra or Mark Mayemura since their trip to ABCD and Nike Camp, but we know that you'll be seeing the following guys (and maybe a couple of additions) on their #1 LA Rockfish Team:

Sensley, O'Neil, Harper and Brown were all at ABCD camp, along with Bryant Markson who may or may not be on the #1 Rockfish, or with Mark Berokoff's #2 Rockfish team in Vegas, but one thing is certain, there's an awful lot of talent on this and the other Rockfish teams.  And if you happen to be up near USC on your way down to either Lynwood or Cal State Dominguez Hills, particularly if you are a college coach, you'll want to stop by (assuming the Rockfish are letting coaches in, and we'd be surprised if they don't) to check them out.  Other Rockfish guys who we've heard will be making the trip to Vegas (although on which Rockfish teams--Orcas, Dolphins, or Barracudas--we're not exactly sure just yet) will likely be some of the following players:

Hopefully we'll be able to make it over to USC at least one day this week in order to get a chance to see what the Rockfishies are up to, and how their preparation for Vegas is going.

 
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