Knox strikes gold

The connection may be a small and distant one but Heritage High graduate Jordan Knox has something in common with actor Bill Murray. That is, at least the lead character in the film "Groundhog Day" where Murray as Phil Connors experiences repeating events. "Groundhog Day" also offers a happy ending as does Knox's recent decision about the college he will be attending.

What are the odds a prep basketball player enters his senior season and, by the following May, has a basketball scholarship to a school he didn't know existed just a few months ago?

That's Knox's situation exactly as he has landed a full ride to study and play basketball at the Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco. Yes, this is a who, what, where challenge to even the most informed in Bay Area basketball circles. But we bad because the AAU team even has a cool nickname -- the Urban Knights.

Okay, lets fill in the backstory and also eradicate the ignorance.

Peter Thibeau, formerly of Skyline High and St. Mary's, initially led the AAU men's basketball program. During the high school season, he noticed Knox, thought of him as a building block to respectability and extended a scholarship offer.

Knox wasn't so sure.

"I didn't know anything about the school or the program" he recounted.

However, a visit and a meeting turned the tide.

"I liked the campus when we took a tour there," Knox said. "Then, I met the players and also liked them."

He was sold.

"It turned out to be a great fit for me, being in San Francisco and close to home so my family could see me play," said Knox, adding "I'll have a role to play with the team and the opportunity to earn playing time but the main reason for my decision is because I want to eventually work in the sports field, as an announcer or a broadcast engineer and the education at the Academy of Art University with a major in Multi Media Communications will make that happen."

All was set. Come April 15, Knox would sign his letter-of-intent.

However, the joy soon turned to uncertainty.

"We got a call and was told that Coach Thibeau was no longer the head coach," Knox remembered. "I was shocked and didn't

know what to think."

Who would be the new coach? Would his scholarship offer be honored?

Enter Jamie Williams.

It's important to note that Williams was the quite successful longtime tight end for the San Francisco 49ers.

Now he is charged with laying the foundation for 13 men's and women's sports programs at the Academy of Art University. AAU boasts a student body over 13,000, offers 30+ areas of academic emphasis and has membership in the Division 2 Pac West Conference along with BYU Hawaii, Chaminade, Dixie State College, Grand Canyon (which just hired Russ Pennell who led Arizona to the Big Dance last season), Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii Pacific and Notre Dame De Namur University.

By the way, Williams has Lindsay Yamasaki, a former Stanford basketballer, and former WNBA player for the New York Liberty in place as the AAU women's team coach and he just hired former Cal Bear Brian Guinn to be the head coach of the Urban Knights baseball team. Guinn signed as a member of the Oakland A's upon graduation from UC Berkeley, and also played for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox Triple-A teams.

Now during the recruiting process, other schools in the mix wooing Knox included Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State and other D-1 and D-2 schools on the east coast.

Faced with the question of what did his future hold, Knox pondered should he cover his proverbial bet and seek out other opportunities?

Then, displaying his serious intent about building a men's basketball program, Williams lured Mark Sembrowich from Johnny Dawkins's staff at Stanford. Sembrowich previously assisted at Yale and Army before coming to The Farm.

And yes, Williams told Knox that he was still wanted.

Knox was set. Again.

"The full ride is a blessing," Knox said. "My family and I had endless conversations [about how to decide] and my dad always told me to go with my gut. My parents also told me not to sweat D-1 versus. D-2, because in four years my college degree will not say D-1 or D-2, it will say BA (Bachelor of Arts). I'm comfortable and happy with my decision. This means a lot to me and my parents."

So let's see. Full ride? Check. Playing time? Check. Opportunity to establish a program from the ground floor? Check. Playing in a very respected and talented PAC West Conference? Check. Cutting edge animation and visual effects, architecture, web design, multimedia plus more majors? Check. Located in a vibrant city? Check. Close to home so family & friends can see him play? Check. Did we miss any?

Oh yes, Hunter Hayden out of James Logan High and Gilroy High's Lorenzo Dobson are already on the roster of the Urban Knights who will utilize Kezar Pavilion as a home court this year -- a new home court is currently under construction. They also have another talented freshman coming in -- 6-foot-9 freshman Aaron Aikman out of Tucson. Aikman had offers from Stanford, Columbia and UC Davis. Also, Sembrowich isn't done recruiting for the upcoming season and plans on landing additional prospects.

Plus, on a side note: 49ers Coach Mike Singletary's daughter, a highly regarded prep volleyball prospect, has transferred to AAU.

Now remember our referencing of "Groundhog Day" in the opening? Knox christened Heritage High when it was a brand new school and obviously did the same with the boys basketball program. He's a season late with Academy of Arts University men's basketball but it's close enough of a repeat. What's next? Landing on a newly minted NBA team, say one in Paris, come 2013?