fullove and cook commit to ucsb

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Branduinn Fullove & Casey Cook
Commit To UCSB--(Oct. 13, 1999)

The news of these two commitments makes a clean sweep, 3 for 3, for Bob Williams the 2nd year head coach at UCSB, and he's gotten the top three players UCSB has coveted all summer, Branduinn Fullove, Jacoby Atako, and Casey Cook. We learned at about 10:30 p.m. from David and Dana Pump that Branduinn Fullove (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) Simi Valley, committed to UCSB last night after taking his official visit there this weekend. His Pump N Run Gold teammate, Casey Cook (6'-7" Sr. PF) from Sacramento El Camino, also committed to UCSB just hours before Branduinn informed the coaching staff of his commitment. Both of them took official visits to the campus this past weekend.

Branduinn (left) had been recruited this summer by a lot of schools, but eventually narrowed his list to Santa Barbara, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Wyoming and a couple of others, but decided to stay in the SoCal area and play in Bob Williams' up-tempo system where he can be an immediate impact player. Branduinn's and Casey's commitment was preceded about a week ago by Jacoby Atako's commitment, and all three will sign LOI's in the early signing period. Just in case anyone is counting, this makes 6 players from traveling teams and schools based in California for Williams in the last two years, and it's a three-way tie between Rockfish, Double Pump and 805 Express Basketball: BJ Hart (6'-1" Fr. PG) and Nick Jones (6'-4" Fr. SG) are both enrolled already, but will probably redshirt (805 Basketball); Cook (pictured right, sorry for the goofy picture, but it was the only one we could find) and Fullove (Double Pump Pump N Run), and Atako will join his teammate J.J. Todd (6'-10" Fr. C) (Rockfish) who is also redshirting this season.

Fullove and Cook will be a formidable combination, and with Jones also on the wing, Atako and Ward in the backcourt, next year's team will be a very quick one, capable of doing some serious scoring damage in the Big West, and if JJ Todd develops as everyone hopes, they'll have a true big man in the middle. Fullove is a solid athlete, who is already a year older than his classmates (he was held back a grade in junior high), with a good handle and a deadly accurate three-point shot, good quickness and a very strong, powerful body. Cook is a face-up forward, who can play out to the wings in three-point country or inside pounding away for rebounds; he runs the floor well, gets out ahead, but will usually trail the break, and together the two will provide excellent depth for the Gauchos.