Warren making his case

Strength and muscle can be gained in a comprehensive college conditioning program but it's a much iffier proposition trying to turn a low percentage shooter into a solid one and that's an advantage for Oakland Rebel/St. Mary's Panther guard Kevin Warren.

The 6-foot-3, 160-pound Warren averaged over 20 points per game for St. Mary's last season and has been noticed of late for his shooting/scoring prowess in a couple of tournament events in southern California.

"I can put the ball on the ground, I have a good floater and can shoot from three-point range," Warren said, ranked No. 25 in the 2016 NorCalPreps.com prospect rankings. "I've also put a lot of effort into my defense. I'm physically maturing but my biggest area I'm working on is adding weight. That's why I have the nickname Skinny."

However, when he also said he makes it a purpose of "hanging out with people just as hungry as me" he's not talking appetite but the mindset of continuing to work hard.

Being looked at as combination guard, Warren has generated interest but no offers yet from the likes of Cal State Fullerton, San Jose State University, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State East Bay. "I'm open to anything," he said.

Two other elements are notable in Warren's basketball biography. He has played with the Rebels since middle school so loyalty is a fundamental to him plus his family has a college hoops history. "My Dad played at Youngstown State and I have a couple of uncles who played at the DII level."

Speaking to his growth as a player, Warren offered, "from my freshman year to now, I definitely have grown a lot and started playing harder. It didn't matter where I was ranked -- I've kept working at it, In my first year in high school, my jump wasn't consistent but now I feel I can get my shot off against anyone.

The Rebels participated in the Best of the Summer tournament in Anaheim last week and will conclude their schedule July 22-26 in Las Vegas at the Adidas Uprising Summer Championship event.

Regarding his final St. Mary's season, Warren said, "Coach [Craig] Battle is a great coach -- he coaches to player's strengths. We're losing some key players but there will be a target on our backs with the run we had last year." The Panthers nabbed playoff wins against Santa Cruz High, Sacred Heart Prep and Cardinal Newman, all in a row and on the road, before finally falling to Capital Christian on a neutral court.