This past summer will be one that Cameron McCaffrey won't soon forget. The sneaky 6-foot-1, 160-pound point guard from Century High School in Hillsboro not only got a chance to play some elite AAU basketball against some of the top players in the country, he held his own as well. And while the month of July unfortunately didn't go as well for McCaffrey from a team perspective, he did enough to prove to college programs that he'll be worth watching closely his senior season.
"I thought I played pretty solid when I could. I showed the ability to be a true point guard instead of just a combo guard."
Team Jones did play one more tournament after Las Vegas, the Best of Summer Tournament in Los Angeles, but McCaffrey instead went with his high school team to Gonzaga team camp where he helped the Jags finish in second place.
"Recruiting is going pretty good - I've gotten some more guys who have jumped on board," McCaffrey said. "Navy is probably the number one school right now in how interested they are - they kind of came out of nowhere. Also, Pacific in Stockton (California) is coming on stronger now as is American on the East Coast. With Navy I've started talking to them about a visit and with Colgate too."
McCaffrey definitely appreciates the increased interest and is open with all of his options. With the Midshipmen really coming on strong, he's started thinking about the possibility of going the military school route. "I kind of want to be an officer when I'm done playing and they told me that they'd make me one," McCaffrey said. "I would like that, but I just don't want to sit on a boat for four years."
As recruiting starts to heat up, McCaffrey believes that he'll stick to his original plan of signing in the spring as opposed to the fall. "I think I'm going to wait," McCaffrey said. "I don't want to rush into anything."
8.19.2008
8.15.2008
TAYLOR BRAUN
Team Jones suffered some personnel losses and had some injury setbacks this summer, but the positive out of those situations is allowed others to step up. Taylor Braun, the all-around 6-foot-7, 185-pound from Newberg High school rose to the occasion in July. His never-ending motor and increased production caught the eyes of some college coaches and Braun has a positive outlook on the recruiting possibilities for him this season.
"I just got back from L.A. a week ago and I did pretty well out there," Braun said. "I had about eight points a game and probably played 15-to-20 minutes a game. I came in aggressive and helped pick up the intensity and I helped lock people down on defense."
In essense, Braun was able to play his game and put more numbers on the board because of more playing time. College coaches have noticed and now Braun has garnered some recruiting interest. "I've got a couple of schools looking at me right now," Braun said. "I've talked to the University of Denver, Montana, Santa Clara, Portland, Portland State, and Idaho, as well as a couple of D-II schools. They all say that they want to see how I do in high school. They didn't get to see me this summer as a scorer, so they want me to do that in high school."
Braun knows he can score - after all, he averaged a team-high 15.7 points last season for Newberg. Now it's just a matter of doing it enough to earn a scholarship from the right school, of which he currently has two favorites. "I like Santa Clara and Montana right now," Braun said. "I went down to a Santa Clara camp at the end of June and that was pretty fun. I didn't get to play much because I was injured but they have some interest in me. Overall, the atmosphere there is pretty nice."
"Montana - they're going in the right direction toward the top of the conference," Braun continued. "It's kind of an isolated place so you can stay focused there, so I like that."
Until that right offer comes, Braun is keeping open with his options with a couple of key things in mind. "I just want to be in a stable program, one that won't be changing coaches every year," Braun said. "I feel like I've got a pretty good chance at going Division I, so I'll probably wait (until the spring) to decide."
"I just got back from L.A. a week ago and I did pretty well out there," Braun said. "I had about eight points a game and probably played 15-to-20 minutes a game. I came in aggressive and helped pick up the intensity and I helped lock people down on defense."
In essense, Braun was able to play his game and put more numbers on the board because of more playing time. College coaches have noticed and now Braun has garnered some recruiting interest. "I've got a couple of schools looking at me right now," Braun said. "I've talked to the University of Denver, Montana, Santa Clara, Portland, Portland State, and Idaho, as well as a couple of D-II schools. They all say that they want to see how I do in high school. They didn't get to see me this summer as a scorer, so they want me to do that in high school."
Braun knows he can score - after all, he averaged a team-high 15.7 points last season for Newberg. Now it's just a matter of doing it enough to earn a scholarship from the right school, of which he currently has two favorites. "I like Santa Clara and Montana right now," Braun said. "I went down to a Santa Clara camp at the end of June and that was pretty fun. I didn't get to play much because I was injured but they have some interest in me. Overall, the atmosphere there is pretty nice."
"Montana - they're going in the right direction toward the top of the conference," Braun continued. "It's kind of an isolated place so you can stay focused there, so I like that."
Until that right offer comes, Braun is keeping open with his options with a couple of key things in mind. "I just want to be in a stable program, one that won't be changing coaches every year," Braun said. "I feel like I've got a pretty good chance at going Division I, so I'll probably wait (until the spring) to decide."
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