gabriel hughes

socalogo.gif (8739 bytes)
SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Gabriel Hughes Reportedly
Commits To Cal For 2000--(April 21, 1999)

The Oakland Tribune is reporting that Gabriel Hughes (6'-11" Sr. C) from Bishop Montgomery, whose older brother Solomon is currently a freshman on the Cal Berkely basketball team this season, has made a verbal commitment to join the Golden Bears in the fall of 2000, following a year at prep school. Hughes' intention to attend a prep school next year before attending college was also confirmed by the USA Recruiting website. Gabriel Hughes said he plans to attend either St. Thomas More Academy in Connecticut or Brighton Academy in Maine next year. "We have an understanding that after a year of prep school, a scholarship will be waiting for me," Hughes told the paper. Gabriel spent last weekend in Berkeley on a recruiting visit (the same weekend that Joe Shipp (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) from Fairfax made his decision to commit to the Bears) and decided to follow the same path to Cal as his older brother. Solomon Hughes spent a year at Fork Union Academy in Virginia before joining the Bears this season. The year allowed Solomon to add weight and strength and Gabriel wants to make the same physical gains, as well as prepare himself academically for college.

"At first I wasn't looking at that," he told the Tribune of the one-year detour. "I was in a rush. Now I want to take my time. I saw what happened to Solomon -- he got much stronger. I'm hoping it can work out the same way for me." Gabriel Hughes averaged 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists for a 26-5 team that reached the finals of the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs. Asked how his game compares with that of his big brother, Gabriel said, "People tell me I'm better than him at the same age. We're different players in the sense that they tell me I'm more rough on the court than he is." Hughes also considered Florida, Duquense and San Jose State before settling on the Bears. His verbal commitment does not become binding, either on him or the school, so when the word "commitment" is used, just remember, that a lot of things can, and sometimes do change, between the time a recruit verbally "commits" and the time a National Letter of Intent or scholarship papers are signed.

We've seen a lot of Gabriel this year, especially at the Rockfish Spring League, and a year of prep school should definitely improve his game and his strength. He's got tremendous upside potential but for now it's largely unrealized, and in order to make the jump to the next level, Gabriel will need to get a lot stronger, tougher and put on some needed muscle and bulk.