Pasadena City loaded with prospects

After leading the Los Angeles Southwest program in recent years, Mac Cleveland has made the in-state move to Pasadena City College. The Lancers won just seven games a season ago, but the tough times shouldn't last.

"It's almost like being in a D1 school in a sense, in terms of facility and administrative help," Cleveland said of his new home. "It's really nice for the kids. There are a lot of resources there, a lot more things they have available, a lot nicer area for kids to go to school in."

Cleveland has convinced as many as seven future Division One players to come to Pasadena this season. Five of those players will be sophomores.

Trevone Searcy is a 6-foot-1 point guard who transferred from Trinity Valley.

"Right now his game is similar to Allen Iverson when he was at Georgetown, the young Iverson," Cleveland said of Searcy. "He's very quick with the ball, very fast end to end, a defensive hawk. He's just a one man defensive show, has quick hands, shoots extremely well from midrange out to three. He gets to basket well, and his athleticism is second to none. He's a total athlete, played football in high school, one of those freak athletes that could play any sport."

East Tennessee, St. Mary's, Illinois and Iowa State are the programs showing the most interest in Searcy at this point.

"I think he most definietly would be a player that could step right into a Big 12, PAC10, SEC situation and be an immediate contributor," Cleveland said. "He's one of those impact players."

Another impact player in this class will be 6-foot-8 Nick Stiggers. As a high school junior, Stiggers averaged 30 points and 12 boards and committed to USC. He spent last year at Connors State.

"He is probably the most skilled big man in juco in the country," Cleveland said. "He is very skilled, not very athletic, but very skilled. At 6-8, you won't even have to spend time teaching him to drop step or post up. The big issue for him is weight, keeping it down."

Iowa State, East Tennessee State, San Francisco, Kansas State and Purdue are among the teams heavily recruiting Stiggers.

"I could see Travone and Nick Stiggers going to the same place," said the coach. "A lot of places are looking at Travone at the point and Nick Stiggers."

There are three more potential Division One sophomores on the roster.

"Travis Smith is a transfer from the Citadel," Cleveland said. "He has a Division One body, terrific body. He's strong, very athletic, about a 35 inch vertical, shoots extremely well from three point range off the catch, moves well without the ball. He's more of a 2 than a 1, but he can actually play the one. He's a scorer and he defends really well."

Jamaal Hall could be a D1 player, but might have to drop down to D2. Cleveland said they are working on getting Hall approved for a medical redshirt by the NCAA as he has been out for a couple of years. If that happens, Cleveland feels sure Hall will be heavily recruited.

"His recruiting is kind of, a lot of people haven't got a chance to see him play," Cleveland said. "San Francisco was in the other day and they liked him. Long Beach State, Pepperdine like him."

"L.B. Taylor is a 5-10 point, very solid, under control," Cleveland said. "He can handle extremely well with the right or left hand. There are not a lot of bells and whistles on him, he just knows how to play the game. He is a low major point guard, has a nice knack for being under control and running a team."

Cleveland also mentioned 6-foot-10 freshman Will Perkins and 6-foot-5 freshman Omar Holsey as future Division One prospects.

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