BearTalk

Keith Gallon, who has roots in the Bay Area and is rated as the No. 5 center prospect in the nation by at least two scouting services, has included Cal among his three college finalists, rivals.com reports. This would be a huge recruiting coup for new Bears coach Mike Montgomery, but the deal is far from done.

Gallon, a 6-foot-8, 290-pounder nicknamed “Tiny,” said Oklahoma, Mississippi State and Cal are still in the running for his services. He visited Oklahoma in late September and is scheduled to check out MSU this weekend.

Steve Smith, who coaches Gallon at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., said Cal is hoping to bring Gallon in for a visit over the Christmas holiday.

“Tiny and his mom are saying that he is going to sign in the spring,” Smith told rivals.com. “California is holding out for a later visit based on that, and Tiny is originally from the Bay Area. You know things can change, though. I’m sure he is going to feel some heat this weekend, and I’m sure Oklahoma would like for him to sign early. People are filling spots and you never know what is going to be available in the spring.”

Rated the No. 31 overall prospect in the country by rivals.com and No. 37 according to scout.com, Gallon moved with his family from Vallejo in 2004 to Humble, Texas. He enrolled last year at Oak Hill Academy, where his teammates included Brandon Jennings, the erstwhile Arizona recruit who wound up signing with a professional club in Europe directly out of prep school.

Both Oklahoma and Mississiippi State will provide stiff competition for the Bears. One of Gallon’s current Oak Hill teammates already has committed to the Sooners and he is close to OU freshman Willie Warren. Gallon’s sister, Donnisha Tate, is a senior on the women’s basketball team at Mississippi State.

Stay tuned.