SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Big West:  UCSB Signs 2:
Josh Davis & Glenn Turner--(Nov. 15, 2001)

We looked and looked at the official USCB site throughout the day and didn't see any word of the signings which we were expecting to see, i.e. Josh Davis (6'-5" Sr. SG) from Elk Grove in Sacramento and Glenn Turner (6'-9" Sr. F) from Overfelt HS in San Jose, so we went looking in the local media and lo and behold, there was a story in today's online edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press (see below).....and just as we were about to link to it, we checked back over at UCSB, and there it was, an official press release on the signings.  So here are both:  The official press release first, and the story from the SB News Press second.   Congratulations to the Gauchos on getting the two top priority guys they were after from the beginning of the summer.  Santa Barbara shouldl finally be the power in the Big West that it's been threatening to be for the past few years, and Coach Williams and his staff, including Marty Wilson, have done an excellent job with these two signings.

Bob Williams lands two more outstanding prep players for the 2002-03 campaign.
Nov. 14, 2001

Santa Barbara, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara has signed Josh Davis, a 6-foot-5 combo guard out of Sacramento's Elk Grove High School, and Glenn Turner, a 6-foot-9 forward from San Jose's Overfelt High School, to National Letters of Intent, head basketball coach Bob Williams announced today.

"I am elated that Josh and Glenn have decided to become part of the Gaucho basketball program," Williams said. "Combined with the outstanding young players we already have, I believe our future looks extremely bright."

Davis, an off-guard at Elk Grove is expected to make the transition to point guard at UCSB. As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 51.0% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line. He earned MVP honors at three tournaments, including Elk Grove's own Bill Cartwright Tournament. Davis also earned All-CIF, All-Sacramento Area, and all-league. Davis was also recruited by Cal, Oregon, Santa Clara and Texas-El Paso.

"Josh was the top all-around perimeter player we saw play last summer," Williams recalled. "We feel very strongly that he will be one of the best point guards that has ever been in this program. He has a great feel for the game and tremendous court awareness. Quite simply, he has the ability to make his teammates better."

Turner, who has a 7-foot-3 arm span, averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a junior. He was named All-CIF Central Coast Section, All-Bay Area and all-league.

"Glenn was our top-rated post player," Williams said. "He is extremely athletic and skilled. In some ways he reminds me of Adama Ndiaye. As he gets stronger and grows into his body, he will develop into one of the best defensive players in the Big West and on the West Coast."

Overall, Williams was ecstatic with the signing of the duo from Northern California. "For us to sign our top-rated players at two positions is huge," he said. "Not only are Josh and Glenn a perfect fit for us in a basketball sense, but they are outstanding young men who will fit in perfectly as students at UC Santa Barbara and as members of our program."

The Gauchos will graduate just two players (Adama Ndiaye and Mike Vukovich) from this year's team.

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Gauchos sign top two prep hoopsters
11/15/01
By MATT HURST
Santa Barbara NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

With the UCSB men's basketball season beginning on Saturday, the Gauchos already made a move for next season Wednesday.

Santa Barbara signed Josh Davis and Glenn Turner to national letters of intent Wednesday.

Davis, a 6-foot-5 off-guard from Sacramento's Elk Grove High School, averaged 17.5 points per game, eight rebounds per game and shot 51 percent as a junior last season.

He earned MVP honors at three tournaments and also was an All-CIF, All-Sacramento Area and all-league selection. Davis was also being recruited by Cal, Oregon, Santa Clara and UTEP. He is expected to switch from shooting guard to point guard next season.

"Josh was the top all-around perimeter player we saw last summer," said UCSB coach Bob Williams. "We feel very strongly that he will be one of the best point guards that has ever been in this program. He has a great feel for the game and a tremendous court awareness.

"Quite simply, he has the ability to make his teammates better."

Turner is a 6-foot-9 forward from Overfelt High in San Jose. Last season he averaged 20.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg.

Turner -- who has a 7-foot-3 arm span -- was named to the All-CIF Central Coast Section, All-Bay Area and all-league.

"Glenn was our top-rated post player," Williams said. "He is extremely athletic and skilled. In some ways he reminds me of (Gaucho forward) Adama Ndiaye. As he gets stronger and grows into his body, he will develop into one of the best defensive players in the Big West and on the West Coast."

The Gauchos graduate only Ndiaye and Mike Vukovich, both post players, after this season.

Williams was very happy with the signing of the Northern California pair.

"For us to sign our top-rated players at two positions is huge," said the fourth-year coach. "Not only are Josh and Glenn a perfect fit for us in a basketball sense, but they are outstanding young men who will fit in perfectly as students at UC Santa Barbara and as members of our program."

UCSB opens its season Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Thunderdome against Westmont.

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