More quotes re: Lex James--
...
Coach Labagh's decision to start freshman Lex James was huge. James provided the spark the coach was looking for in the first half. After James scored the Rams first eight points of the second half, the rout was on.
James led the Rams with 18 points on an array of thunderous dunks coming off the offensive glass.
...
Report from Preseason JUCO Shootout
The 1st Annual Preseason Shootout at Cal State Hayward hosted by Gerry Freitas (Junior College Hoop Review) was an early look at most of the top JUCO players in Northern California. Here are the top players at the event according to potential at the next level.
1. Demarshay Johnson 6'9" SO Diablo Valley Athletic wing forward ...
2. Ryan McBride 6'7" SO Monterrey Combo guard ...
3. Ike Counts 6'3" SO San Francisco City ...
4. Marcus Dorsey 6'8" FR ...
5 Lex James 6'9" SO San Francisco City New York native has a nice body and real crafty moves around the basket. Will get big looks also with 2 other legitimate division 1 prospects on his team.
...
"The guys who've been really consistent have been Lex James, Brown and Kamara," Labagh said.
...
Several players from City College of San Francisco shined in the A consolation final, including former Marin Catholic standout Alec Von Tellrop. He led all scorers with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, for Gold Rush, who fell 72-64 to Olympic Club. Olympic Club was led by Lex James (17 points) and Terrell Anderson (18 points).
...
James will make major leap
by Gabe DeArmond
Most Division One basketball players have risen through the ranks, from youth ball to junior high to high school. Not Lex James. The City College of San Francisco took a different route, but starting next season, he'll still be under the bright lights of D1 basketball. JucoJunction.com has the story on James and a couple of his teammates you'll want to watch for.
www.jucojunction.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=349461...
scout.scout.com/a.z?s=173&p=8&c=1&nid=1569264...
Men's basketball: Power forward on West Coast commits to URI
01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, October 28, 2004
BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Lex James, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward for the City College of San Francisco, has decided he wants to play basketball for the University of Rhode Island next year.
"He has committed to Rhode Island," Justin Labagh, the CCSF coach, confirmed yesterday. "He's a 4-man. He plays above the rim, blocks shots, defends, runs the floor really well. He's a really good complementary player. . . . He's almost like a super-duper role player."
James started last year and helped CCSF compile a 23-5 record. He averaged about nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks and one steal. James, who is from Brooklyn, is an unusual case in that he never played high school basketball.
"We call him our McDonald's All-American," Labagh said. "We discovered him working in the McDonald's at Times Square."
Because he did not have a high school diploma, attending junior college in California, where admission standards are different, was one of his few options.
"He had gone to work," Labagh said. "The big thing with him, I think, is that he has a brother, Shawn, who is doing well. (Shawn) had gone to prep school and is going to Northeastern this year. (Lex) saw his brother having some success, so he said, 'Hey, why not me?' He's good. He's one of those kids who just needed a chance." James, now 21, has adjusted well to both school and organized basketball, Labagh said.
"He's doing fine in school, really good," the coach said. Because of his academic background, his situation apparently is a bit up in the air. According to one source, he has not yet been accepted at URI, pending further study of his academics. Some of his records are still needed by the admissions department.
On the court, his size and athleticism had made him a hot commodity. Among the numerous schools recruiting James were Kansas State, Cincinnati, Arizona State and Baylor.
"They were all over him. We had a lot of schools here looking at him," Labagh said. "The big thing with him was that he wanted to go back home. He wants to play on the East Coast."
...
Stevanovic is one of three players the Rams could sign this week. The others are Kahiem Seawright, a 6-7 forward from Uniondale, N.Y.; and Jimmy Baron, a 6-2 shooter who is the son of the Rams' head coach. Another verbal came from Lex James, a 6-9 forward who plays at San Francisco City College, but he may not be signing a letter with Rhody.
