Basketball recruits receive top ESPN grades
Yannick Atanga
Position: Power Forward
High School: Besant Hill School, Ojai, Calif.
Highlights: Ranked No. 33 power forward in the country by ESPN.
Yannick Atanga, a 6'8" power forward, will be joining the Broncos class of 2014 from Besant Hill School. Atanga is originally a native of Cameroon, and came to the United States to play at Besant Hill, which is a boarding school in Ojai, Calif.
Atanga was named co-player of the year for the CIFSS, and was a leader for the Besant Hill team that finished 28-3 and won the CIFSS championship.
"His best days are certainly ahead of him, he hasn't been exposed to the coaching and the environment coming from Cameroon," said Head Coach Kerry Keating.
Atanga is an athletic player who has a knack for scoring and had an excellent sense for rebounding in high school. He averaged over 14 rebounds per game and 15 points per game.
Attanga's highlight reels are filled with athletic plays, bringing down rebounds over and around players. Atanga makes up for any perceived lack of polish with his outstanding athleticism.
"He is going to need some time to develop his skill level, and he knows that, but...he can really run the floor and change shots," said Keating.
Atanga has received national attention, and is ranked by ESPN as the No. 33 power forward in the nation, landing him a scouting grade of 92.
Atanga's character is what pushed him over the edge for Keating and his fellow staff.
"(He) really loves his teammates and is looking forward to being a part of this program. He wants to be good and wants to be coached," said Keating.
Attanga will be joining second year Santa Clara players Troy Payne and Chris Cunningham at the forward position.
Julian Clarke
Position: Shooting Guard
High School: Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Highlights: Averaged 23 ppg, and 11 rpg in his senior year.
Santa Clara's Basketball program has had a legacy of bringing Canadian players in and having them thrive while with the Broncos. Steve Nash, the programs most notable product, came to Santa Clara from Victoria, British Columbia. Last year, sophomore and Vancouver native Mark Trasolini was the Broncos leading scorer and rebounder.
The program hopes to have found the next chapter in the success story of Canadian imports, as they bring in Julian Clarke, a 6'3" guard from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
"We try to recruit kids who have been exposed to good coaching and have a winning mentality," said Keating.
Clarke certainly fits that build. He averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds his senior year and led Oakwood Collegiate Institute to an Ontario provincial championship.
Clarke stepped his game up when it mattered most last year, hitting 5 three-point field goals in a row down the stretch, and scoring 28 points in the provincial championship game.
"Julian has a great ability to shoot the ball," said Keating. "He will be another guy out there that can stretch the defense and finish plays from behind the line for us."
Clarke has good size for his position, but he is extremely tough to guard because of a range that already goes well beyond the college arc. This is a scary proposition for WCC opponents, since Clarke is just 17 years old, and is likely to continue to develop as a shooter once he arrives at Santa Clara.
ESPN gave Clarke an overall scouting grade of 83 and ranked him No. 149 out of all shooting guards in the country to make up his recruiting report card.
John McArthur
Position: Power Forward
High School: De La Salle High School, Concord, Calif.
Highlights: Ranked No. 37 power forward by ESPN.
John McArthur comes from a distinguished high school athletic program, having played for Concord, California's powerhouse De La Salle High School. Even amongst a great program, McArthur distinguished himself, becoming the all-time leading scorer for the Spartans, and being named first team All-California.
Next year, the 6'8", 230 pound power forward will bring his game to Santa Clara, where he will be an important addition to Keating's squad.
McArthur, the nation's 37th ranked power forward according to ESPN, is a strong player who scored consistently from the post in high school by using a formidable combination of size and quickness. However, Keating sees him as having expanded his game, specifically in the past year.
"He has done a good job of extending his range out to score away from the basket," said the Broncos' head coach of McArthur.
McArthur has no shortage of natural ability, with a powerful frame and an explosive first step for a player of his size, thriving both at power forward and at center for De La Salle. Keating says that what makes McArthur great is not his natural gifts, but how he gets everything out of them.
"John is a guy that plays hard. He is tough and plays at full speed every position. He is able to will his team to a positive outcome, something he showed over the long run and the short run at De La Salle," said Keating.
McArthur was able to do this in leading his team to the NorCal championship game this past year and is accustomed to a level of success that he will hope to carry to Santa Clara.
Lamb Autrey
Position: Point Guard
High School: Collin County Community College
Highlights: Averaged 14 ppg, shooting 57 percent from the field.
The Broncos will be a young group next season, returning just two upperclassman starters. Keating addressed this by signing a talented junior college prospect, Lamb Autrey. Autrey played for Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas, where he led the team with 14 points per game. Autrey will only get two years of eligibility at Santa Clara, having used two already at Collin County, but he is expected to come in and contribute to the Broncos right away.
Keating was attracted to Autrey's winning pedigree and the experience that he can bring to the young Broncos squad. Collin County finished second in their league, and Autrey was named to the all conference team, thanks to a potent jump shot that made him a league-leading 57 percent from the field. Before Collin County, Autrey thrived at Samuel Clemens High School, where he averaged 18.2 points per game his senior year.
Autrey could see lots of playing time right away with sophomore point guard Troy Alexander leaving Santa Clara last month. That leaves Autrey and freshman Rob Smith as the team's two main ballhandlers coming into next season.