While Sacramento is the state's capital city, the area may soon become the capital of NorCal prep basketball. This year, there are several Division I college prospects who have made names for themselves, not only in the region but also across the country.

In the class of 2006, Sacramento High's Kevin Galloway (USC), Franklin's CJ Morgan (Pacific), Zach Graves of Kennedy (Montana), and Oak Ridge's Ryan Anderson (California) have all signed national letters of intent with Div. I schools while Oak Ridge's Andrew Browning signed with Division II upstart, UC San Diego.

"In the last five years, the basketball is really beginning to evolve. We are starting to produce some legitimate players out here now," said Kevin Johnson, founder of the Sacramento Classics club team. "This area was overlooked in the past, but we have represented well. Not only my team, but teams such as the Nor Cal Pharaohs and Play Hard Play Smart, which have played very well on the basketball circuit."

Other prospects who are receiving interest from Division 1 schools and who could eventually sign during the late period in the spring include Capital Christian's 6-foot-6 wing Royal Edwards who, according to Johnson, is hearing from Marquette, UNLV and Portland State. Center's 6-foot-8 forward, Ryan Parker, is apparently hearing from San Diego State, Santa Barbara, and Portland.

Other potential Division I prospects of note in the class of 2006 include 6-foot-10 Terrence Jennings from Elk Grove and Foothill's 5-foot-9 guard Jamelle Barrett.

"The basketball talent in this area has gotten better from when I first started coaching 18 years ago," said Derek Swafford, head coach of Sacramento High, one of the top teams in the state. "The area is starting to get more coaches that are more demanding of players on and off the court, which has helped in their basketball development."

"Sacramento basketball has always been known by a lot of colleges to be an under recruited area," said Jason Jennings, founder of the Norcal Pharaohs. "This place was known as an area where you can get some sleepers. Now the area is losing that label, as there are a lot more basketball opportunities and the various teams have helped the rise of basketball in this area."

There are several reasons for the emergence of Sacramento basketball. Kids in the area are beginning to realize they can play on the same level as players from other areas of the country.

"In order to really compete and get better, you have to start going to some of these high profile events," continued Johnson. "Most of the AAU teams in the area always talked about going to the Nationals. Nobody talked about going to play in Las Vegas. But once we did and a few other teams started going, a lot of Sacramento teams have embraced this."

Playing against better competition as well as watching others ahead of them, has helped players get better.

"If you look back at the history in this area, there were only a few guys going to Division I schools every year," said Gus Armstead a basketball trainer with 2 the Hoop Basketball Services. "But a lot of the younger guys saw the success of some of these guys. They then began to realize there is an opportunity to take their games to another level."

The wide number of youth AAU teams and tournaments in the area also helped. This allowed Sacramento players a chance to interact and play against teams from other areas.

"In Sacramento, there is an AAU tournament every weekend," said Gary Porter, head coach of Modesto Christian High School. "With some of the younger groups, we used to always go up there and play."

The growing expansion of the area, with an increase in population, also has helped. Families from Oakland, San Francisco, Richmond and other parts of the San Francisco Bay area have descended upon Sacramento in droves, taking advantage of lower home prices and newer schools in the area.

"If you look at the Elk Grove area, 20 years ago there was only one high school in the area," continued Armstead. "Now, there are eight high schools in the area."

"With more people moving to the area, this helped basketball grow as a whole," said Brian Hamilton, founder of the Play Hard Play Smart club team.

While the class of 2006 is solid in the area, the younger classes of 2007 and 2008 are equally strong. Oakland transplant Matt Simpkins, a 6-foot-9 forward at Capital Christian High School, is one of the top players in the class of 2007 in Northern California.

Zach Nelson is a 6-foot-6 forward from Natomas High School who is hearing from Oregon, Portland State and Sac State, while Fred Ellis, a 6-foot-7 forward at Sacramento High is getting looks from San Francisco, Colorado State, and Santa Clara. Other players to watch in this class include Sacramento High's Shaun Thomas a 6-foot-4 guard, 6-foot-8 forward Kurt Bennett and 6-foot-4 wing Dalin Rogers of Union Mine, and Folsom High's Kyle Thomas.

In the class of 2008, Capital Christian's 6-foot guard, Nate Garth, has made a name for himself, as well as Roseville's Elston Turner Jr., a 6-foot-4 guard.

"The youngsters coming up in 2007 through 2009 are very solid," continued Hamilton. "They have been on the road playing and this exposure has helped them."

Many of these players competed in Hamilton's recent Play Hard Play Smart Fall league, which in its first year was a huge success. "The fall league helped the kids get to know each other in the area," said Hamilton. "It was a good run and it helped to showcase the kids."

With the increase in talent in the Sacramento area, the state capital will not only be a place that politicians flock to, but college coaches as well.