SoCalHoops Recruiting News

J.J. Todd Verbals To UC Santa Barbara--(Nov. 9, 1998)

J.J. Todd (6'-10" Sr. C) from Chaminade in West Hills has committed to sign a National Letter of Intent with UC Santa Barbara later this week when the early signing period begins.  Santa Barbara and Coach Williams were a late entry into the J.J sweepstakes, having gotten involved only the last month.    J.J. was one of the most highly recruited players from the San Fernando Valley this year, and was being pursued by no less than 35 schools at the end of the summer (he actually got mail from 60 schools, but narrowed the field and was getting calls from the full list of 35).  He then culled that list down during the fall to a handful, and was seriously considering Loyola of Chicago, UC Riverside, Lehigh, Cal State Fullerton, and then UC Santa Barbara when they got involved.

We spoke with J.J.'s dad, Mark Todd, and he confirmed that in fact J.J. will sign with the Gauchos later this week.  "J.J. is really excited about the prospect of attending Santa Barbara," he told us. "First, it's a UC education, which was the top priority on his list, and second, everything about the basketball program at Santa Barbara is first rate, and coach Williams is really impressive."

We're sure that this will be breaking the hearts of UC Riverside, but we hear that they've still got one or two other big men up their collective sleeves.  Congratulations to J.J. Todd and his family, and congratulations to Santa Barbara on making an excellent offer.

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