Cal Basketball: Golden Bears pick up top 100 recruit

June 22, 6:35 PMCal Bears ExaminerRob Calonge

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Mike Montgomery has begun to put a very fine 2010 class together in order to replace players like Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, Jamal Boykin, and Theo Robertson.  Today, he got the type of player he covets when Alex Rossi verbally committed to the Bears.

The 6'5" 200 pounds Rossi can play either wing position and has the ability to play as a point forward if needed.

The Bears were the first to offer Rossi after the end to his junior year.  At the time, Rossi wasn't on many radars due to the type of role he has with his high school team.  Basically, the kid is so good that he's asked to do the job of a point guard and a post player along with being a small forward.

During the spring, while playing with his club team, he jumped on everyone's radar when he was able to show what he could do at his natural position - shoot the ball.  His club coach, Mike Weinstein, told Scott Powers of the Chicago Sun-Times, "Alex is one of the top-5 catch and shoot players in the country."  He went on to say, "He’s an amazing catch-and-shoot player. He can shoot anywhere on the floor. He can get his shot off quickly. He’s a big-time shooter with a very big IQ."

'Big IQ'?  Just the type of player that Montgomery likes.

In high school, I’m asked to do a lot of things, bring the ball up, rebound.  They’re things I’m not comfortable in doing. In the AAU season this spring, I was in my sweet spot. I just do what I do. We have a point guard, we have big guys. I think that’s why I’ve been noticed a lot more this spring.
- Rossi on his recruiting rise in popularity from out of nowhere

It's important to note that Cal offered before the likes of Stanford, Notre Dame, and others noticed his shooting ability while in club play, meaning: Montgomery appreciates a player that will do the job even if he's not comfortable with it.

[* Edited * - Originally, I had Northwestern included in the list above.  Complete lapse on my part while furiously typing.  I've removed them since Northwestern actually offered Rossi back in September of 2007.  Thanks to reader 'JR' for bringing it to my attention.]

Cal now has verbals from a shooting guard and a small forward.  With as much as Montgomery has spoken of needing big men in the post, it's safe to expect that the next couple of players to commit will be guys that are expected to play down low.

POS	PLAYER	SCOUT RATING	SCOUT POS RANK	RIVALS RATING	RIVALS POS RANK	ESPN RATING	ESPN POS RANK
SF	Alex Rossi		15		NR	86	SG #79

Alex Rossi | SF / SG
Hometown:     Winnetka, IL
High School:     New Trier High School
Height:    6'5"
Weight:   200 lbs.

ESPN Scouting:

...a true shooting guard with great size and strength. He is an excellent open three point shooter with range beyond the arc. He sprints the lane in transition for spot ups, spaces to the open area on the side of dribble penetration and comes of screens shot ready. He has a terrific looking stroke with a high release and does a great job of holding his follow through. Rossi also showed the mid range pull up when his catch and shoot game was taken away in addition to driving baseline and finishing with a quick layup before the defense recovered. Rossi has an excellent basketball IQ and feel for the game. He understands how to read defenders and attack accordingly.

Scout.com Scouting:

Big time student, high-major wing. One of the top strokes in his class. Makes them off the catch, from mid and deep range. Sneaky athlete with a tremendous feel and basketball IQ.

Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com:

Does he ever have an impressive shooting stroke at 6-foot-5. Rossi might not take many defenders off the dribble at the next level, but if he gets the slightest window, he is going to make a lot of opponents pay with his jumper.

ESPN.com Recruiting Coordinator Antonio Williams:

Rossi shoots the ball with an incredible amount of accuracy and ease, connecting on jumpers from all over the floor, including 3-point range.  He also does a good job of squaring his shoulders from jumpers when he comes off screens.  He has enough quickness to get to the rim and also will hit mid-range jumpers off the dribble when defenders mistake him for just a spot-up 3-point shooter.  Alex has a very high basketball I.Q. and passes the ball very well, making him a versatile two-guard that can help his team in many areas.

Rising Stars AAU coach Mike Weinstein:

He wanted to go somewhere warm. Cal is one of the top two public academic schools in the country and he loved the diversity of the campus. He loves the program and what they do, how they play. They led the country in three-point shooting and run a spread offense. It's a perfect fit for him.

Rossi on why he committed to Cal:

All of them were great academic schools and good basketball systems.  Cal had an opportunity for me to play right away when I come in. They’re losing all their wings. I’ve always wanted to go out West. The main that separated them was my gut feeling when I went down there. They made me feel comfortable.

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