Not sure about the vertical of Tim Kennedy and Sue Phillips these days, but the Mitty basketball coaches have been spending plenty of time in the air lately.
Kennedy is in New York today for the NBA draft (Thursday 5 p.m. PST), with former Mitty star Aaron Gordon set to be a player taken in the Top 10, according to most draft experts. Phillips is in the Czech Republic with her USA Basketball U17 women's team, which is competing in the FIBA U17 World Championships.
Tuesday evening Kennedy by phone from his home sounded like he had his hands full, as he answered some questions in between chasing his kids around. The topic was Mitty boys hoops.
"Things are looking OK," Kennedy said. "It's early, but we're working on putting the pieces together."
Mitty played in the recent summer tourney at Dougherty Valley High, competing in the second group and losing in the semifinals to a powerful Folsom team -- no disgrace in that. It sounded like the Monarchs did pretty well and Kennedy also confirmed the program has added two transfers, but would not elaborate.
The Monarchs are already in pretty good shape with junior center Ben Kone returning. He was last season's Prep2Prep CCS Sophomore of the Year. Kone recently took an unofficial visit to Cal.
"It was good," Kennedy said. "He enjoyed it. He liked the coaches and the campus."
Regarding Gordon, Kennedy and Monarch fans are gearing up for Thursday's draft -- the latest big event for the former Mitty and University of Arizona star, who was the MVP of the 2012-2013 McDonald's All-American game.
This morning Kennedy tweeted a photo of he and the nattily attired Gordon from New York with the message "Just ran into a familiar face in the lobby. @IamAaronGordon clothes are a step up from his Mitty days."
He can afford it.
FRENCH PASTRY: Meantime, Mitty's Phillips and the U.S.A Basketball U17 team including Miramonte's Sabrina Ionescu has been having a grand old time in Europe, most recently in France which was their last stop before heading Tuesday for the big tournament (June 28-July 6) in the Czech Republic.
Monday coach Phillips and players posted photos and Instagrams of themselves in front of such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, the Opera and Notre Dame.
Tweeted Phillips: "#USABWU17 players and coaches thank Carol Callan and @usabasketball for the opportunity to spend the day seeing Paris. #EiffelTower."
Not bad.
JUST PLAY CATCH: San Mateo High baseball coach Nick Sanzeri has a new responsibility -- coaching the Hillsborough Little League 10-year-old all-stars.
"They are a pretty special group which is why I chose to work with them," Sanzeri said. "I haven't ever seen a team this young hit so consistently one through nine. Every player on the team has enough power to hit a home run, which is rare even for a 12-year-old all-star team."
Hillsborough has a history of Little League success, dating back to 2004 when Sanzeri -- a San Mateo resident -- was a part of the first District 52 title team. The Hillsborough team opens with Belmont at Alpine on Saturday.
"Comparing it to high school, much of the same fundamentals translate," Sanzeri said. "On varsity, the team who plays better catch wins. I've found that the same is true (in) Little League."
HE'S BACK: Sean Cummings is no longer a man without a team. He has accepted the boys basketball job at Branham, said Bruins athletic director Landon Jacobs.
“We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to a successful basketball season where we challenge for the West Valley Division championship,” Jacobs said by e-mail.
Branham went 9-13 last season under Madison Butts. Butts decided to resign following the season to focus on his changing role in the math department. Cummings was let go at Los Gatos after going 14-12 last season.
NATIONAL CHAMPS: The Amador Valley softball team finished first in the final MaxPreps.com poll, earning a mythical national championship. The Dons, led by Prep2Prep CCS Player of Year Johanna Grauer, went 27-0.
