Eaton likes Pac-10 schools, others
The desperation three-pointer from Team Holla to take the lead had just swished through the net in the final seconds when Ramon Eaton took off down the court. There was one last prayer for Team Odom and it was when Eaton caught the alley-oop and laid it in for the win.
The buzzer sounded and Eaton's bucket carried his team to victory. It was such an unreal sequence of events that even Team Holla's players were smiling and talking about it with Eaton after it went in.
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All game but especially in the last few seconds, Eaton showed why Oregon, UTEP, Loyola Marymount, UCLA, Arizona, Florida, Washington State and others are pursuing him. He's an athletic, wiry, 6-foot-8 small forward that plays smooth on the perimeter and can also finish around the rim.
"I thought it was game and then I saw the opportunity to score so I wasn't trying to lose over that desperation three-point shot," said Eaton, who plays at Sacramento (Calif.) Sheldon.
On the recruiting front, Eaton said Oregon, Arizona and UTEP are three programs that stand out the most to him. Eaton was asked about the Ducks prior to their hiring of former Creighton coach Dana Altman, who takes over for Ernie Kent.
"I'm really interested to know who's going to be the coach and the direction they're going to go and then I'll decide who I'm going to go with," Eaton said. "I really like Oregon a lot."
What stands out most to Eaton, who said he'll probably narrow his list even more this summer, about Arizona is coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats' style of play. Arizona will also be under serious consideration as Eaton, rated as the No. 23 small forward and No. 109 prospect by Rivals.com, looks at his options.
Could UTEP be making a serious run at Eaton and Sacramento Sheldon teammate Darius Nelson? It sure sounds that way since Nelson also said at the Pangos Sweet 16 in Long Beach, Calif., that coach Tim Floyd is a big reason why he likes UTEP so much at this point.
Eaton seems to have similar ideas - and playing together in college with Nelson, also on Team Odom, seems like a real possibility.
"I like UTEP a lot since they got the new coach," Eaton said. "It's coming together. He's a good coach and I like the way he coaches. He lets you play and he likes to run, he likes to play defense and he just lets you go."