staniland signing

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Azusa Pacific Signs Ventura High's
Standout Jeff Staniland--(June 17, 1999)

Here's the press release on Jeff's signing that we received today from Brandon Huffman, formerly a beat writer who covered Azusa Pacific, and who now works for the school in the athletic department offices. Rather than paraphrase it, we'll just post it up verbatim:

AZUSA, CALIF. – Jeff Staniland, who was the leading scorer in Ventura County and the second leading scorer in the region, signed a letter of intent to play at NAIA Division I Azusa Pacific, head coach Bill Odell announced. The 6-3 point guard is the first prep signee for the Cougars for the 1999-2000 season.

Staniland averaged 25.6 points a game for Ventura High, leading them to the CIF-SS Division I-A Quarterfinals. He was named Channel League Co-Player of the Year, and was an All-Ventura County pick by the Los Angeles Times and the Coaches Team. He was a Second Team All-CIF pick.

During his 3-year varsity career, Staniland scored 1,499 points (18.7 avg.) to set the Ventura High career record. His 745 points (25.6 avg.) during his senior season also set a Ventura High single-season record. Staniland tied the Cougar single game record with a 46-point outburst against Antelope Valley HS. He scored 30 or more points in a game 8 times.

Staniland appeared in both the Ventura County All-Star Game and the Vacation Classic, which featured the Santa Barbara and Ventura County All-Star teams.

Azusa Pacific finished with a 29-6 record (12-2 in GSAC), and advanced to the NAIA Final Four for the second straight season, falling to eventual national champions Life University (Ga.) 77-71. The Cougars also have won the last seven straight Golden State Athletic Conference titles and have been ranked in the NAIA Top 10 for 21 of the last 22 polls. Azusa Pacific returns 3 starters and 3 reserves from last season, including NAIA All-Americans Kevin Daley (Artesia HS/UCLA) and Jerome Joseph (Chatsworth HS/The Master’s).