So twice in the past month I received emails from a dad, supposedly, wanting me to work with his children on basketball.

The first one I handed off to Ultimate Fieldhouse, but the second one I paid more attention to. I asked where the dad had found my name, and he said "Online." So I looked myself up to see if anywhere online it said I did individual coaching, and it didn't. So I kept pressing the "dad" to tell me exactly where he got my name. When I wouldn't go any further without the specific website, he disappeared.

I still really can't figure out what was going on, because what was the scam? My wife suggested that maybe it had to do with insurance -- and so maybe the guy shows up with the kids, claims one of them gets hurt, and asks for my insurance. If I don't have any, he could say he'll sue or settle for some amount of money.

Seems a little farfetched to me, but what other motive could there be?

So did anybody else receive any emails like this? And if so, did you follow up?

And along that line, what kind of insurance do coaches/trainers need to have? It got me to thinking about maybe getting back into working with kids individually, but insurance is probably a good idea.

Reminding everyone about the annual SteelMike 3x3 Tourney!

This year's date is August 27th. Menlo School hosts but it does not support our basketball program in any way - I just try to help generate interest for a great event which benefits a great cause!
Last year featured awesome play all around: men, women, boys, girls, college players, high school players, and even some local NBA alums.
There is also family fun including food trucks and kids activities.
While there is room for everyone, I definitely encourage current or recent high school & college players to participate as the competition gets better and better each year.
Registration cost is minimal and it goes to a great cause supporting Adolescent Mental Health.

DETAILS HERE: https://www.chconline.org/steelmike/

--Ben Batory, Menlo Varsity Boys Basketball

My boys and I were headed into Manhattan for a fun night out. We went to a Murry the K show at the Paramount.
Saw Smoky Robinson, the Ronnetts, Clyde McFatter, Jackie Wilson, Albert Collins, and the Righteous brothers.
Drunk off our ass, we headed over to a White Castle. Famous for 5 cent hamburgers.
We run smack dab into a Black Watch Scotchman from Scotland. He had a Black Dagger strapped to his leg. And a kilt
Which we gave him tremendous shit for. He said, instead of killing you all, let's settle this the right way.
Who can eat the most burgers. I ate thirty and quit, after he bested me by one.

What does this have to do with anything? Nothing, just a fun New Years Eve.

Here's wishing you great hoops

Surprised no one has mentioned the Bay Area is landing another “Prolific” recruit.

AJ Dybantsa will be attending Prolific Prep. He is currently ranked No 1 in the 2026 class. He was the MA Gatorade POY last season.

Prolific now have added the WA Gatorade POY in Zoom Diallo, No 2 in 2026 Tyran Stokes returns. They have also added 5 star center Aiden Sherrell as well as one of the leading scorers in EYBL, Oaklands Own Mikey Lewis.

It’s a couple months away but Prolific is looking good heading into next season.

The 14th Annual Sheldon-Franklin Summer Jam tips-off Friday, June 23 throughout Elk Grove.

The tournament has sold-out again for 12th consecutive summer and 60 teams will compete in 170 games over the 3-day tournament held at Sheldon High, Franklin High, and Elk Grove High.

To view the tournament schedule, receive game results, and follow the standings throughout the tournament, click the link below.

Follow Online - Tourney Schedule & Results

Daily Admission Fees – wristbands are valid at all gym locations for the day of purchase

Adults $12

Seniors $10

Children/Students $8 (ages 7-17)

Tournament Locations

Franklin High School - 6400 Whitelock Pkwy, Elk Grove, CA 95757

Sheldon High School - 8333 Kingsbridge Dr, Sacramento, CA 95829

Smedberg Middle School - 8239 Kingsbridge Dr, Sacramento, CA 95829

Elk Grove High School - 9800 Elk Grove Florin Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95624

The following teams are participating:

Any local teams or players participating?

I generally take NorCal Preps’ rankings with a grain of salt, but your staff does its credibility no favors when you omit a player like PG Aleyah Harmon (Christian Brothers), who averaged 10 ppg and was the assist leader on a league co-champion and D2 section finals team. She locked down two players who made your list in blowout victories. Y’all need to get out more.

What high school did they play at before going to OE

What jobs are open? I only know of a couple:
Moreau Catholic
Monte Vista (Watsonville)
St. Joe's

Girls Divisions
3rd,4th,5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, J.V. and Varsity

Boys Divisions
3rd,4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, J.V. and Varsity

• $325.00 with a 3 Game Guarantee
• Multiple team discounts with no REQUESTS
• Quality Sites w/ On-site Administrators
• Certified High School/College Officials
• Online Schedules

Location: City College San Francisco
Serramonte Del Rey -Daly City,
Terra Nova HS - Pacifica

All Divisions are based on 2023 Grade
4-8 team(s) per Division
High School Rules
1st Place Team Awards.

For Information contact:
Alfonso Joo Cell 650-267-3678
Email at alfonsojoo@yahoo.com
Register and Info on www.Dawgsclub.com

All above court are FULL HS/College courts
Admission is accepted through Venmo on day off or before or exact cash

Girls Divisions
3rd,4th,5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, J.V. and Varsity

Boys Divisions
3rd,4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, J.V. and Varsity

• $325.00 with a 3 Game Guarantee
• Multiple team discounts with no REQUESTS
• Quality Sites w/ On-site Administrators
• Certified High School/College Officials
• Online Schedules

Location: City College San Francisco
Serramonte Del Rey -Daly City,
Terra Nova HS - Pacifica

All Divisions are based on 2023 Grade
4-8 team(s) per Division
High School Rules
1st Place Team Awards.

For Information contact:
Alfonso Joo Cell 650-267-3678
Email at alfonsojoo@yahoo.com
Register and Info on www.Dawgsclub.com

All above court are FULL HS/College courts
Admission is accepted through Venmo on day off or before or exact cash

Dan was one of the giants of high school football coaching in this area. Praying for his family with this news.

Baller TV live stream link for Nor Cal Summer Preview (July 1-2)

https://www.ballertv.com/events/nor-cal-summer-preview-live-2023?utm_source=hoop-review&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=nor-cal-summer-preview-live-2023

Windsor goes 4-0 to win the 7 on 7 tournament. Defeated Monterey Trail, Central Catholic, Aptos and Clayton Valley. Don't sleep on this team!

Interesting topic for the offseason. What coach maxs out their program the most as opposed to programs that have shown more success with multipe coaches?

For example, Mike Leech at Texas Tech vs. a school like Ohio State that has been one of the nation's best with multiple coaches.

47th Annual Lions All Star Fooball game will be played at Tracy High School on June 24th at 7pm come support the game

The U16 Americas tournament just finished last night, with Team USA taking the Gold! They beat Canada in the gold medal game 79-59. That was the only game for USA that was even moderately competitive as they won their six games with a +401 point differential, including the 20-win over Canada.

McKenna Woliczko of Mitty was one of the top players on the team, 11.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, probably 2nd-best to Jerzy Robinson of Desert Vista HS in the Phoenix area.

Here is the schedule for this weekend's tournament starting on Friday June 23rd

Click to expand...

For dynamic schedules and scores, you can download the HOOP121 app on Android and IOS

or at


Hope to see everyone come out and have a good time watching hoops.

The NorCal playoffs have become a fun extra week to the end of the high school baseball season. Now that we have had two years of competition, what has stood out?

1. De La Salle remains the top team in Northern California with a second NorCal Division I title. The Spartans have now won 30 straight playoff games combining NCS and NorCal action. That streak is even more impressive considering it has come in Division I fields and the lack of predictability.

2. Those two NorCal wins weren’t without drama for the Spartans. Last year, De La Salle scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat St. Francis 7-6. This year playing at Valley Christian, De La Salle scored six runs in the top of the seventh to win 11-8.

3. For the second straight year, a CCS team won the NorCal Division II title. Mitty won the CCS and NorCal Division II titles in 2022. In 2023, St. Ignatius allowed three runs in three NorCal games after losing in the CCS Division I semifinals.

4. This year’s Division III matchup was the first intersectional game as Central Catholic beat Oakmont 5-2.

5. NorCal Division IV champion Sutter was the only No. 1 seed to win a title this year. Valley Christian was the only other No. 1 seed to reach a regional final.

6. Eight of the 10 NorCal champions the past two years have been private schools.

7. The NCS, CCS and SJS are tied with three champions and De La Salle is the only two time champion.

2023

Division I: De La Salle over Valley Christian (3 NCS teams, 2 CCS teams, 2 SJS teams, 1 Central team)

Division II: St. Ignatius over Casa Grande (1 NCS team, 3 CCS teams, 2 SJS teams, 1 NS team, 1 Central team)

Division III: Central Catholic over Oakmont (1 NCS team, 1 CCS team, 3 SJS teams, 2 NS teams, 1 Central team)

Division IV: Sutter over Gridley (2 NCS teams, 3 CCS teams, 2 SJS teams, 1 NS team)

Division V: Lowell over University (2 NCS teams, 0 CCS teams, 1 SJS team, 2 NS teams, 1 Central team, 1 San Francisco team, 1 Oakland team)

2022

Division I: De La Salle over St. Francis (3 NCS teams, 3 CCS teams, 2 SJS teams)

Division II: Mitty over Granite Bay (1 NCS team, 2 CCS teams, 3 SJS teams, 1 NS team, 1 Central team)

Division III: St. Bernard’s ove Alpha Charter (2 NCS teams, 1 CCS team, 2 SJS teams, 2 NS teams, 1 Central team)

Division IV: Bradshaw Christian over Colusa (2 NCS teams, 2 CCS teams, 2 SJS teams, 1 NS team, 1 Central team)

Division V: Monte Vista Christian over Berean Christian (1 NCS team, 1 CCS team, 1 SJS team, 2 NS teams, 1 Central team, 1 San Francisco team, 1 Oakland team)

Dec. 28-30 in the usual locations

Novato High School Boy's Varsity Tourney has one spot open. Tournament dates are Thursday, November 30-Saturday, December 2, 2023. Three day tourney with one game per day in a traditional eight team bracket. Other teams scheduled to participate: Albany, Novato, Philip & Sala Burton, Piner, San Rafael, Sonoma Valley, and St. Patricks/St. Vincents. Team fee is $350. For more information please reach out to Ronele Schaefer, roneles@yahoo.com.

Thank you,

Ms. Ronele Schaefer
Boys Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach
Novato High School
roneles@yahoo.com

The Schedule has been posted for the Girls California Live Event set for June 15-17 in Roseville