Findlay Prep guard Gutierrez signs with California

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | 5:24 p.m.

Findlay College Prep guard Jorge Gutierrez signed with California and new coach Mike Montgomery on Wednesday.

“He’s just elated, relieved and excited,” said Findlay coach Mike Peck. “He’ll bring his toughness and his versatility to Cal. He’s just a winner.”

Gutierrez, 19, hails from Chihuahua, Mexico. He helped the Pilots go 32-1 this past season and reach the final of the National Prep Championship tournament in New York, where he won Most Outstanding Player honors.

A high-energy, 6-foot-3, 200-pound player, he recently made an official visit to New Mexico State. He visited Berkeley, Calif., on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Montgomery had heard the same thing about Gutierrez’s drive, skills and tenacity from various sources, but he saw them for himself when he watched Gutierrez play some pick-up games in Henderson last week.

“He saw enough to know Jorge has a good feel for the game and that he’s his type of player, like Chris Hernandez was for him at Stanford,” Peck said. “Not only is he a tough kid, he has a good skill set.”

Gutierrez averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.6 steals for Findlay, shooting 59.6 percent from the field and 78.4 percent at the line. He is the seventh player from the 2007-08 Findlay team to commit to a Division I program.

Jacques Streeter (Cal State Fullerton), DeAndre Liggins (Kentucky), Curtis Dennis (New Mexico) and Deividas Dulkys (Florida State) are other guards who will be playing in college next fall.

Swedish center Brice Massamba will play at UNLV. Forward Carlos Lopez gave an oral commitment to play for Rebels coach Lon Kruger in 2009.

“We’re excited, too,” Peck said. “We try to steer kids to the right fit. We felt Jorge would get some good opportunities, because of coaching changes. Those create openings.

“Coaches want the best available players. Jorge happens to be a special case, where he’s an extremely good ‘available.’ ”