Lopez twins commit to Stanford

In what could be the second coming of the Collins twins, Fresno, Calif., 6-foot-11 twin brothers, Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez, both committed to Coach Trent Johnson's Stanford University basketball program on Monday. The Lopez twins are both rated among the top prospects in the Class of 2006 by Rivals.com.

The Lopez twins, who both measure 6-foot-11, 235 pounds, are now juniors at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. The more highly rated of the two, Brook Lopez, who was born one minute earlier than his brother, is rated No. 10 nationally in the Class of 2006 by Rivals.com. Robin Lopez is currently rated No. 26 by Rivals.com.

Their mother, Deborah Ledford, is a 1971 Stanford graduate. "The boys have wanted to go to Stanford for their entire life," Mrs. Ledford told sportswriter Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News. "In the second grade Brook said to me, 'You know mom, before I play in the NBA, I'm going to play at Stanford.'"

The Lopez brothers are actually very comparable, except in weight, to Jarron and Jason Collins, who played at Stanford from 1998 to 2001. Brook is more like current New Orleans Jazz player, Jarron Collins, in that he has an effective inside/outside game, more perimeter skills, and plays better facing the basket.

Robin Lopez is similar to New Jersey Nets big man, Jason Collins, in that he is a low post operative, and is a strong defender, rebounder, and shot blocker.

In our opinion Brook Lopez, along with future UCLA player, 6-foot-9 power forward James Keefe, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., and 6-foot-11 center Spencer Hawes, Seattle, Wash., Seattle Prep, are the three best juniors in the West.

On Monday the Lopez twins said they have accepted scholarship offers from Stanford head coach Trent Johnson, and will not waiver in their decision.

"It wasn't really a decision," Robin Lopez said.

"It was Stanford all the way," said Brook Lopez.

This is truly a great recruiting happening for Coach Trent Johnson, who was an assistant at Stanford when the Collins twins played for The Cardinal.

Last July Brook Lopez was the MVP of the adidas Super 64 Tournament in Las Vegas, leading his Fresno-based EBO All-Stars team to the championship. This season he is averaging 14.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, and has a 4.1 grade-point average.

Robin Lopez is averaging 9.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots, and has a 3.8 grade-point average.

The twins made unofficial campus visits to UCLA and Southern California, and received recruiting interest from Arizona, Duke, Connecticut, and Wake Forest, to name only a few.

Their older brother, Alex Lopez, was recruited by Stanford before choosing Washington. He later transferred to Santa Clara, where he was a two-year starter, graduating in 1999.

"Stanford has been their dream, so it is a dream come true for all of us," said Deborah Ledford.

The Lopez twins cannot sign a national letter-of-intent with Stanford until the November, 2005 early signing period.