Rivals
Scout
ESPN
Price H.S. (Los Angeles, CA)
AAU: Branch West Elite / Compton Magic
Ht: 6-foot-1
Wt: 170 lbs
Rivals rating: 3*; unranked PG
Scout rating: NR SG
ESPN rating: 3*-91 grade; #21 PG
Reported Offers: Colorado, Cal State Northridge, Columbia, Colgate, Long Beach State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, UC Davis, UCLA
Booker had a big summer on the AAU circuit, which has raised his recruiting profile. He plays high school ball for Price, which is one of the real powerhouse programs in California. They won the state championship last year, led by 3 D1 guys. Booker was their 4th double-digit scorer.
Positives on Booker are that he's got NBA range on his jump shot, is very athletic, has a good enough handle to play the point in college, and is a skilled scorer.
Negatives on his game seem to be shot selection and that he doesn't always play within the offense.
Booker definitely fits better in a guard-focused offense that runs the floor (Boyle's system). The issue for Booker in recruiting is that he is more of a shooting guard and he doesn't have the height major programs look for in the position. Also, he was on such a talented HS team as a junior that larger programs want to see what he will do as a senior for Price and how he performs as a team leader.
UCLA wants to see how he performs as a senior. If he does well and the Bruins still have an opening, they have their eye on offering in the spring. That's a longshot and a risk for Booker to wait on that.
He is visiting CU this weekend. If we like what we see and decide to offer, it's a good bet that he will sign during the early period to be a Buff.
Props to Adam on Rivals for breaking this story.
Found some video:
Also on youtube, he is in some highlight videos for thing like the BCA Memorial Invitational but those are terrible edits without the players being identified.
I found a good blog from a Montana State guy who did a thorough write-up on Booker: http://mslacat.wordpress.com/2010/05...-askia-booker/
He dug up a couple evaluations done on fullcourtpress.com based on Booker's great performance in AAU ball this summer:
Askia Booker 6’1” 2011 Price (Los Angeles CA)
Crafty floor general is evolving into a big-time scorer. Link
Askia Booker 6’1’ 2011 Price (Los Angeles CA)
One of the most underrated guards in Southern California, Booker put up big numbers here. Link
I dug up the links and found another one from the fullcourtpress site:
6’1” senior lead guard Askia Booker has seen his recruiting stock soar recently after his impressive performance at the recent Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic. Booker visited UCLA unofficially last week and Colorado has been in this week to check out “Ski” first-hand. UC-Irvine, SMU, UC-Davis and Loyola Marymount are among the other programs staying in touch with the late-blooming Booker. Link
Anyway, the mslacat blog was done prior to Booker's summer AAU performances. Here is what was written about him in May:
Finally, there was a reply to the blog in June from a Trevor Moore who identified himself as a close relation of Booker. Booker sounds like a solid guy.Booker has shown this spring that he is an explosive scorer, who shows a great deal of athleticism as well as having a very physically mature body. The thing recruiters will be looking at this spring and summer is his size and point guard skills. He is a under sized for the a typical mid to high major prospect at the shooting guard spot, and has yet to prove he is a true point guard at that level either. Booker will play D-1 basketball but this summer will determine a lot.
I have known Skii his entire life. I remember him standing in front of my Mom’s house at 2 years old with a basketball in his hands looking larger than him. Telling me he’s gonna play basketball. I was telling his mother,” that lil n***a is too small, what’s he talking about?”. Over the years as I’ve spoken to him over the phone. He’d be like hey uncle I’m doin my 50 pushups a night. This as far back as 8 yrs. Old. Now when I see him play there’s nothing but respect and admiration I have for this young brotha. Skii your grand mother would be so proud of you. GPA 3.8!!! You truly are The Business!!
Rivals write-up on Booker from the end of April following his showing at the Fullcourt Press Easter Classic:
"He's very explosive and as an off-guard he's a complete player in every respect in the sense that he can really shoot the ball, has range, and is also an excellent driver with good finishing shots," said Booker's AAU coach, Bob Gottlieb of Branch West. "He also really gets after it defensively.
"The only concern is that he's a little bit undersized at his position to be considered a high-major. However, we'll have to see. As he continues to progress, he might just force the issue by being so good that the high-major schools can't ignore him.
"He's about 6-1 and he's a combo. He can also play some point and we're going to try to use him more at the point. If he can show he can handle the point then he has a high-major body."
With a nickname like "Ski", what better place for him??
Pac-12 - The Conference That Can Count
http://colorado.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1143593
Sounds like he's going to commit to the Buffs soon unless UCLA does the unexpected and offers."I was excited and thankful that they offered but I still want to let everything soak in," Booker said. "I want to talk it over with the people that I trust most: my coach, my mom and my dad."
Just committed to the Buffs!
Word from Rivals is that he's blowing up and could be in the revised Rivals 150 when it comes out this spring. Good get for Tad and the program.
Great news!! Welcome Mr. Booker.
Yes sir!! Welcome to the Buffaloes man.
Looks like Tad is working his a** off to find and bring in the kind of kids who are going to make this program successfull. This is a seems like a perfect fit, a kid who has his head on straight, is willing to do the work needed to make himself better, and can and is willing to handle the academic load at a school like CU.
He is going to be coming in a perfect time to utilize his scoring skills, Higgins will be graduating and Burks is likely to be going pro due to his family financial situation. This is going to leave a big gap in the scoring situation and with Bookers range and mobility he will have an opportunity to contribute early.
Rivals just bumped Booker to a 3* and switched him to shooting guard.
ESPN reports that a number of other offers had recently come in for Booker (UC-Irvine, Northern Colorado, Montana, and Long Beach State).
The big programs were waiting to see how Booker did playing PG as a senior since his size is more suited to the point than SG. Booker decided not to wait on UCLA and others when CU stepped up. Since Tad runs a 3 guard offense, we can be a great fit for tweeners.
Welcome to the Buff family Mr. Booker!
Welcome to the Buffs!
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