SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Jason Kapono: Really, We're
Not Making This Stuff Up--(Nov. 28, 1998)

We don't make this stuff up.  Well, some of it we do, but then we'll tell you if we're just speculating.  Of course, we're not saying someone else isn't making it all up, and there have been some recent Jason Kapono (6'-8" Sr. PG/SG/SF/PF/C) rumors surfacing lately, some of which have been pretty wild and others which are just plain startling. 

We earlier reported what Jason's father Joe told us about Jason's current recruiting status:  That he had already visited Utah, UNLV, Missouri and Rhode Island; that he also intended to visit Syracuse and NC State, one of them on an unofficial visit, because 5 is the maximum of trips which the NCAA allows a recruit to receive--a recruit can make any number of unofficial (i.e., at his own expense) trips as he likes or can afford.

We also reported that Jason won't make a decision until spring.  And that's according to his father.

More recently, Clark Francis at Hoop Scoop floated the story that USC might be working a "package" deal for both Tito Maddox (6'-4" Sr. PG) and Jason, who Clark said are reported to be close friends.  Er, um, ok, we know they know each other from camps and tournaments, but last we checked there are several problems with this "package" concept:  First, USC is out of scholarships for next year.  We believe (i.e., we're speculating) that if one opened up, Tito would consider it, but he's also told us that he's still "wide open" and will consider UConn, Michigan and ASU as well and won't sign until spring.   As for Jason, we seriously doubt that he'll consider USC, especially given the presence of Scalabrine, Jarvis Turner, Jeff Trepagnier, Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal, who is doing a lot of sitting this season so far because of Scalabrine's great play.  And, Jason pretty much eliminated USC back in September following the home visit he had with the Trojans, and he said so publicly.

And, more importantly, we don't know of anyone who is leaving USC next year. While there was lots of speculation about Kevin Augustine in the last few weeks, especially when he wavered in his commitment to the team and missed a week of practice, it might have been a reasonable conclusion that his scholarship might be free next year; but with Bibby's comments after the last game, i.e., that they need and want Kevin to play and step up, the door remains open for him to make his own way.  Maybe he'll stay committed, maybe he won't, but it will be up to Kevin, because no one is running him off. 

But even with the speculation about Kevin, that still doesn't work out to a "package" deal for both Tito and Jason, so we really question that kind of speculation and the wonder what the basis for it, if any, might be.

But as if this weren't wild enough, now we've heard one of the most interesting Jason Kapono rumors ever, and we found it over at Recruiting USA, the site maintained by Dave Benezra and Mark Mayemura.  Read this, and then you'll see why we're pretty amazed:

There is another player in the Jason Kapono recruiting sweepstakes. As we had speculated in a recent issue of Recruiting USA, with Dalron Johnson having committed to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the California Golden Bears have become involved with Kapono, a 6'8 skilled small forward (Artesia HS/Lakewood, CA) who is one of the nation's Top 15 players.  Having come in late, there's no doubt that Cal is a longshot to land Kapono, but you may remember that originally he wanted a school somewhat close to home, and you must also remember that Kapono is an outstanding student, so Cal is a possibility. Kapono is currently being recruited by UNLV, Rhode Island, Missouri, Utah, Syracuse, and North Carolina State.  Kapono has visited all of the schools he's interested in except for Syracuse, a visit which is tentatively set to take place in January. As of this time, there is no visit set with California.

Er, um, allright.  What can we conclude from Recruiting USA's speculation, if anything?  How about:

1.  The Bears have may have   become "involved" with Jason.  What that means is, of course, open to interpretation. It could mean they've expressed an interest, sent him a letter, called him, or any number of other things, including floating their interest other players like Shantay Legans, Brian Wethers, or any other number of channels.

2.  That Cal is "a longshot to land Kapono."   Yes, we'd say the Bears are a longshot. 

3.  That Jason is "a 6'-8" small forward" who is among the nation's top 15 players.  Ok, we'll agree with that.

4.  That Jason "originally wanted a school   close to home."  Last we looked, he rejected all the "close to home" schools, including UCLA, USC, San Diego, and anyone else within a couple hours drive from his home.  His list really doesn't look like a guy who's worried about being close to home for college.  But then again, Berkeley isn't exactly around the corner from Artesia either.

5. That Jason has no visit set with Cal.

So is it speculation, or just an announcement that there's a school with an interest in recruiting Jason?  We think it's the latter, and with Justin Davis having had a change of heart (or one imposed on him by the Bears), and Dalron's signing with UNLV, we'd have to agree that at least it would make Jason's signing with UNLV dicey at best, but then we have no real idea (again we're speculating here).

And if you want speculation, we'll give it to you.   Here's some really idle speculation:   What if Carlos Boozer signs with Duke, something not entirely out of the question considering that Trajan Langdon and the Dukies are up visiting Carlos in Alaska where they could win the Great Alaska Shootout?  And what if Justin Davis doesn't come to UCLA?   And what if Jason really does want to go to a school in the LA area?  Would he then reconsider and think about UCLA under those circumstances?   Frankly we haven't spoken with his family about this at all, but can't think of a reason why he wouldn't.    Watching the Bruins yesterday and reading about their performance in the Puerto Rico Shootout, it looks like the only thing which is really missing is a truly great really big wing player who can score inside or outside and who plays great defense.   Dan Gadzuric is strictly an inside guy;  Jerome Moiso is a similar player to Jason, but is clearly more of a post player even if he likes to shoot outside from the top of the key; Matt Barnes is good, and maybe the best of the unsung Bruin Recruits, but he's not Jason Kapono either.  JaRon Rush is an entirely different kind of player, more of a quick, flashing and slashing guard, whereas Jason is more of a large mobile guy who has a great outside three-point shot.  Todd Ramasar?  A great player, but a walk-on who Lavin would recruit over in a minute.

So if Justin Davis and Boozer go elsewhere, it would make perfect sense for Jason to consider UCLA again.  He'd be close to home, get plenty of time, and be an instant star.

Now that's speculation.

Personally as a Cal grad, we'd be very happy if Jason would choose the Bears, but we just don't see that in the cards.  We realize Mark and Dave are rarely if ever wrong, but then they haven't made a prediction here either, have they.

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