Southern: Grant Fired Before He Can Quit

Southern Makes Pre-emptive Strike: Southern officials decided to can the school’s coach, Michael Grant, before he could possibly accept another job. They fired Grant after learning that he had interviewed at Youngstown State for the school’s head coaching job. Grant had helped turn around a miserable Tiger program, compiling a 26-31 in two seasons after Southern had posted two consecutive 20-loss seasons. Grant and his lawyer will appeal the decision. [4/29/05]

VMI: Baucom Hires Willis as Keydet Assistant

Baucom Brings Assistant to VMI: New VMI head coach Duggar Baucom has hired one of his former assistants at Tusculum College, Daniel Willis. The VMI job marks the third gig that Baucom and Willis have worked together. Last season, Tusculum went 18-11 and won the school’s first South Atlantic Conference Tournament title. Prior to working at Tusculum, Willis and Baucom worked together as assistants at Western Carolina, a member of the Southern Conference. The Keydets are also members of the Southern Conference, so both are familiar with the opponents. [4/29/05]

Portland State: Husky Assistant Bone to Replace Schroyer

Portland State Taps a Husky: Portland State officials borrowed from the success of the Washington Huskies by hiring on their assistants, Ken Bone, as the Vikings’ next coach. Bone replaces Heath Schroyer, who guided the Vikings to a Big Sky regular-season title and 19-9 overall record last season. Schroyer left Portland State for Fresno State. At Washington, Bone helped the Huskies win the Pac-10 and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. [4/26/05]

Morning Dish

The Morning Dish – Monday, April 25th

Mass Mississippi State Exodus: The third Mississippi State player said this past weekend that he will likely transfer to another school. Freshman Walter Sharpe joins teammates Charles Rhodes and Gary Ervin as Bulldog players who have indicated a desire to transfer. Sharpe averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in about nine minutes per game, but his playing time shrunk toward the end of the season. Coach Rick Stansbury said Sharpe needed “to learn to do the little things.”

Leitao Brings Over One Assistant: New Virginia coach Dave Leitao hired Gene Cross as an assistant coach, one of Leitao’s assistants at DePaul. Cross worked for Leitao during the past three years and also worked as an assistant at Illinois – Chicago for six years. He is president of the assistant coaches’ board for the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Meanwhile at DePaul: DePaul officials have apparently switched the name at the top of their short list for the Blue Demons’ coaching vacancy. Last week, they appeared to have Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins atop the list. Now, Richmond coach Jerry Wainwright seems to be the favorite. Wainwright will interview with school officials Monday, and sources close to the school indicated that DePaul could hire Wainwright by the end of the week. Wainwright grew up near Chicago and was a candidate for the position in 2002 when DePaul officials hired Dave Leitao. Wainwright coached eight years at UNC – Wilmington and compiled a record of 136-103 before moving to Richmond to coach the Spiders for the past three seasons. He has taken his teams to six NCAA Tournaments in 11 seasons.

Army: Charleston Southern Coach Enlists as Assistant

Buc Coach Joins Army: Charleston Southern coach Jim Platt resigned Tuesday to accept an assistant coach position at Army. Platt leaves the Buccaneers after compiling a 55-89 record in five seasons as head coach. He won one Big South Conference coach of the year award while at Charleston Southern. But he decided that joining the staff of Jim Crews, a good friend, was the best career move now. He also has coaching experience at Arkansas-Little Rock, Illinois State, DePaul, Tulsa and Florida State. [4/27/05]

Houston: Penders Gets Raise, Extension

Penders Gets Raise, Extension: After one season at Houston, Tom Penders received a one-year extension and a healthy pay raise. School officials were obviously impressed with Penders’ coaching last season. The Cougars finished 18-12, including a marquis victory against Final Four contestant Louisville. Penders will make $350,000 per season with the potential to earn more. He has been a coach at Tufts, Columbia, Fordham, Rhode Island and Texas. [4/23/05]

Kansas State: Guard Peete Departing Wildcats

Moving On: Kansas State sophomore guard Fred Peete will leave the Wildcats soon to pursue opportunities at another school. His primary reason for leaving Kansas State is to find a school that will allow him to exclusively play point guard. Peete has goals of playing point guard in the NBA and does not want to waste time as a shooting guard. He started all 29 games last year for the Wildcats, averaging 13 points, five rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. [4/22/05]

Florida Atlantic: Doherty Names Rex Walters Assistant

Doherty Building Staff: New Florida Atlantic coach Matt Doherty found a well-known assistant coach by hiring Rex Walters, a former star at Kansas and solid contributor at the NBA level for the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. Walters had been an assistant at Valparaiso for the past two seasons. Doherty coached Walters as a Jayhawk when he was an assistant under former Kansas coach Roy Williams. [4/22/05]

St. Bonaventure: Point Guard Relph Suspended for Drunk Driving

Bad Drinking Decisions by a Bonnie: St. Bonaventure point guard Tyler Relph, potentially the Bonnies’ best player for next season, was suspended indefinitely by school officials Tuesday. The suspension follows an arrest for driving under the influence. Police reports indicate Relph skidded his car’s wheels and ran a stop sign before officials pulled him over and found his blood alcohol content to exceed the legal limit. Relph committed another alcohol-induced offense in October 2004. He also has an arrest for possession of alcohol by a minor, littering and disorderly conduct. Relph is a transfer from West Virginia and figured to be critical to the Bonnies, who are attempting to rebuild following an eligibility scandal that produced strict sanctions two years ago. [4/22/05]

NBA Age Minimum

Age-itated

by Jesse Ullmann

Whether you’re on the coast of the Pacific or Atlantic, a republican or democrat, a Yankee fan or a fan of the defending World Series champions, some things just don’t seem to make a whole lotta sense. In the latest NBA hot stove topic of what will now be chronicled as a long line of really giving it to professional basketball, an age limit has people abuzz.

Are you kiddin’ me?

Originally it is hard to tell who had this on their agenda, be it the NBA coaches or the general managers or the commish, but this has got to be one of the most preposterous, laughable, absurdly ridiculous concepts that I can remember. Of course this “problem” just so happens to be regarding the NBA and no other pro sport in America, right? Of course not.

A short while ago back in 1996 a school just outside Philadelphia, Lower Merion High, had this kid named Kobe. Much like a funky outfit by fashion diva J. Lo or pioneering software company Microsoft, Kobe’s prom-to-the-pros decision set a lasting and significant trend.

Since Kobe Bryant made the jump (Kevin Garnett was selected in the 1995 draft before Bryant but at the time was not thought to have Kobe potential), the NBA has seen an influx of players trying to make the same leap of faith. However some have failed miserably thus now apparently it is necessary to make the age limit 20 years old.

Absolutely ridiculous.

If a kid chooses to declare by all means let the kid declare. And it is hypocritical to say the quality of basketball is down because of the high school kid when in fact the one thing keeping the league afloat right now is indeed the high school kid.

From the 1995 draft to the turn of the century only 11 kids made the jump. With emerging prep schools such as Oak Hill, South Kent and Mount Zion (and by the way, is it physically possible to place these schools any further away from reality?), high schoolers are becoming better prepared to handle the situation of being a professional basketball player.

Dick Vitale of ESPN wrote, “I have been on the record as saying these kids would benefit so much from time in college. I think it would help their maturity for later in life.” Fine. The insanely large budgets each NBA team flaunts should allow a franchise to start a mentorship for the youth. Maybe that is asking for too much.

Times have changed and the right decisions need to be made in order to secure the future of the league. This summer when the NBA sits down with the NBAPA to write up a new collective bargaining agreement the age limit should get voted down. That is the sensible thing to do.

Just realize we could be saying goodbye and closing the door on the next generation of Kobe and Garnett and Dwight Howard and T-Mac and even Kwame Brown. Sorry kids. Not yet.

Jermaine O’Neal (selected four spots behind Bryant in the ’96 draft) voiced his personal discernment last week on an age limit and he did bring up a good point. How come a kid can go fight a war and kill people but that same kid can’t go make some money playing hoops?

Some things just don’t seem to make a whole lotta sense.

Morning Dish

The Morning Dish – Thursday, April 21st

Jacksonville Hires Georgia Tech Assistant: Jacksonville officials tabbed Georgia Tech assistant coach Cliff Warren as the Dolphins’ next coach. Warren has been an assistant under Yellow Jacket coach Paul Hewitt for the past eight years, including the past five years at Georgia Tech. Prior to working at Georgia Tech, Warren was an assistant under Hewitt at Siena and also worked for coach Jim Phelan at Mount St. Mary’s. Warren replaces Hugh Durham, who finished his eighth season at Jacksonville with a 106-119 record. For a complete list of this year’s coaching changes, visit Hoopville’s feature about Coaching Changes .

Williams Enters Draft as Best Illini Prospect: Illinois junior point guard Deron Williams will enter the NBA Draft and has hired an agent, ending any chance of a return to the Illini. Williams’ stock caught fire toward the end of the season as Williams proved he was one of the NCAA’s best guards. He can score, find open players and defend opponents’ best backcourt players. Williams hired Bob McClarren as an agent.

Coach Bruce Weber said most scouts predict Williams to be a top ten pick in the draft, which is the best among the Illini’s NBA candidates. The word on junior guard Dee Brown is that he is likely a second-round pick. Ditto for junior forward James Augustine. Senior guard Luther Head is likely a late first-round to early second-round pick, while senior forward Roger Powell needs to impress scouts to earn a spot in the second round.

Another Hawk Flies the Coop: Following in the footsteps of former teammate Delonte West, St. Joseph’s junior center Dwayne Jones will leave the Hawks a year early to enter the NBA Draft. Jones will graduate in May but still has a year of eligibility remaining. He was one of the nation’s most proficient rebounders and shot blockers, averaging 11.6 rebounds and three blocks per game. Jones has not signed with an agent, allowing him to return to school if he does not like his projected draft status. West also left school early last season to test his draft status. He remained in the draft when an NBA team promised to pick him in the first round.

No Turning Back: Wake Forest sophomore point guard Chris Paul ended any speculation about a return to school by hiring an agent. Paul hired Lance Young of Octagon, based near Washington, D.C., to represent him. Paul is likely a top five pick in this year’s NBA Draft, but some Demon Deacon fans had held out hope that Paul would return for his junior year. Young has ties to North Carolina because he represents former Deacon Josh Howard and former Tar Heel Brendan Haywood. Paul will complete this semester at Wake Forest, then work out in the Washington area during the summer.

DePaul Starts Search: Now that former DePaul coach Dave Leitao has officially accepted the Virginia job, Blue Demon officials are starting the search for a new coach. Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins may be at the top of their list because officials have already contacted him, possibly to gauge his interest in the gig. Western Michigan officials granted permission to DePaul to court Hawkins, who has guided the Broncos to a 46-17 record in two seasons. He also has one NCAA Tournament experience under his belt at Western Michigan. Other possible candidates on DePaul’s short list include Bowling Green’s Dan Dakich, Ohio’s Tim O’Shea, Creighton’s Dana Altman and Utah’s Ray Giacoletti.

Horowitz Wants Out of Charleston: College of Charleston center Jeff Horowitz has decided to complete his collegiate career elsewhere. School officials granted Horowitz a release to transfer after Horowitz said he did not like the situation on the Cougars. He said he wanted more playing time, among other issues he had with the team. Horowitz averaged 3.6 points and rebounds per game last season.

NBA First, School Second: Oklahoma State’s top recruit, Gerald Green, will enter the NBA Draft but will not hire an agent. Green excelled during the McDonald’s All American game in March, scoring 24 points and attracting the attention of NBA scouts. His decision seems to be part of an emerging pattern in which scouts become infatuated with high schoolers based on one or two games. Last season, North Carolina recruit J.R. Smith shined in the McDonald’s all-star game, shooting up the draft to the middle of the first round. If Green doesn’t reach a similar position in this year’s draft, he could still change his mind and go to the Cowboys.

Washington May Restock with Transfer: Washington is in a state of flux as several players could turn to the NBA Draft. Junior guard Nate Robinson has already declared for the draft, and Brandon Roy and recruit Martell Webster could follow him shortly. If they leave, the Huskies could get some refuge down the line from transfer Lorenzo Wade, who is leaving Louisville for personal reasons. Wade’s playing time diminished in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 9.9 minutes per game and had 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as Francisco Garcia’s main backup. As a transfer, Wade would sit out next season according to NCAA regulations.

Mason Seeks Fresh Start: Sophomore guard Dameon Mason plans to leave Marquette to transfer to another school, possibly Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Oklahoma State or Ohio State. Mason was the Golden Eagles’ third leading scorer at 11.9 points per game and second leading rebounder at 5.6 rebounds per game. But Mason also had a propensity to commit turnovers, and coach Tom Crean reduced his playing time toward the end of the season. Mason said he disliked the situation that had developed at Marquette and will look for a new start elsewhere. Crean has not released Mason from his scholarship yet, which means Mason would have to pay his way at a new school for one year.

Former Red Raider Could Face Trouble: Former Texas Tech player John Ofoegbu could be at the center of a trespassing investigation. Ofoegbu was banned from approaching women’s dorms on campus after he was identified in an earlier incident in which he attempted to peak at a woman taking a shower in her dorm. Ofoegbu violated the terms of the ban by appearing near an all-women dorm, and police may issue an arrest warrant today. He could face fines or jail time. Ofoegbu left the team because of personal reasons in early February.

Players Choice Tournament

Players Choice Works for More Than the Players

by Ray Floriani

RAMAPO, N.J. – The opening line of the coaches’ packet is an introduction that can qualify as a statement of purpose: “The Players Choice has a mission to improve the forum in which college coaches evaluate potential recruits.” On the weekend of April 16-17, the Players Choice, a Brooklyn-based group, hosted an outstanding event at Ramapo College. Eighty girls AAU teams from the fourteen to seventeen year old age group ventured to the quaint Northern New Jersey campus for two days of competition and evaluation. Teams were assembled in pools of five. The schedule began at 8:00 a.m. and ran through 8:30 p.m., with action held on four courts during both days. Each club played two games per day, leaving plenty of opportunity for evaluation while not facing a schedule that put players on the brink of exhaustion.

The key here was evaluation. College coaches were on hand to closely scrutinize the action. Even fourteen year-old teams, with rosters primarily of eighth graders, were given a look. What better opportunity to catch some rising young prospect? Wayne Brunck of Players Choice figures over 50 colleges were represented. “And eleven of those were Division I,” he said.

Overall, the games went smoothly. There were few blowouts and a number of the matchups were settled in the final minutes. On both days, this doubled as an officiating duty for yours truly. Three games Saturday and four on Sunday made for plenty of time to get a good handle on the action.

Most of the teams were from the New York – New Jersey area. There were some who came from New England, Washington (D.C.) and Toronto as well.

Games were generally well-coached. A number of the AAU coaches have high school or college experience, which made for a better game.

It was good to see a young coach like Shenee Clark on the sidelines. Clark was a star at Ridgefield Park (NJ) High School. She had some interest from Division I schools but decided on Caldwell College. Today she is an assistant on the girls staff at Creskill (NJ) High School. In her ‘spare’ time she coaches an AAU team, the Gym Ratz, and does a great job of teaching the kids the proper fundamentals of the game.

The girls got out and ran. Many of the teams ran the floor well. But if the break failed they would hold up and revert to a set or motion offense. Even down by five with a minute left, teams wouldn’t hastily shoot a three. Always a few passes and/or screens before settling on a shot. “That’s a big difference with the girls,” Ramapo Assistant AD Paul Lizzo (who coached LIU a number of years) said. “The guys want to take it to the rim and run. The women always have more structure.”

Members of the Ramapo Women’s basketball team worked the scorer’s tables. It certainly makes the game (and official’s life) smoother having knowledgeable people on the table.

A number of team gear and sporting goods’ merchants were on hand and exhibited in the lobby both days. It simply lent to the atmosphere of the event.

Promotion is a positive. The Nassau Nets, a Long Island-based team, had a sixteen-page ‘media guide’ available at the front desk. Each player was given a full page for a color picture and individual bio.

Sometimes officials are also coaches. Bill Neira coaches one of the Gym Ratz teams and also officiates a busy schedule. Both days Neira put in his time running up and down the court. He had a 3:30 Sunday assignment on court two, but there was one problem – his team was scheduled to play on court two at that very time. At the last second, Neira asked someone (guess who) who was finishing up to stay for one more game. Neira had only six players on his team, but with outstanding guard play, they won easily.

Overall the even was well-received. Teams, coaches (college and AAU) and all others went away extremely satisfied. Lizzo and Ramapo Women’s Assistant Mike Ricciardi, who helped coordinate the event, were also pleased, as were the people at Player’s Choice. Working the two days garbed in maroon knit shirts, staff members did everything from collect admission to make sure players and officials had ample water at their disposal.

“We try to make things easier and work with the college coaches,” Brunck said late Sunday afternoon. He and his wife spent two weeks typing and preparing a nearly 100-page booklet that listed the entire roster and personal information of every player on the respective teams, as well as the full schedule with times and a few pages for notes. “We do not charge the college coaches anything for the packets,” Brunck said. “Some events might charge $100 for a packet with half the information. We are not trying to make a buck off the coaches. We want to work with them.” Brunck feels well-run events will simply have teams and coaches asking for more.

In July there will be another showcase near Albany and at Bishop Ford in Brooklyn as well. Both those sessions will have morning fundamental stations for the participating players which will be are open to the college evaluators.

The name is Player’s Choice. The aim is to make it the coaches’ choice as a recruiting aid as well.

Charlie Weber Capitol Invitational

Capitol Invitational Does Well

by Phil Kasiecki

WASHINGTON – The first weekend of events certified for Division I coaches to attend featured three events. One of them was the Charlie Weber Capitol Invitational, featuring primarily teams from the eastern half of the country. The talent was good in the Open Division and there was some good talent in limited observation of the 16-under as well, and plenty of college coaches turned out to see it.

Among the head coaches we saw in attendance were Jim Baron (Rhode Island), John Beilein (West Virginia), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Fran Dunphy (Pennsylvania), Ron Everhart (Northeastern), Bruiser Flint (Drexel), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Karl Hobbs (George Washington), Joe Jones (Columbia), Jim Larranaga (George Mason), Mike Lonergan (Vermont), Fran McCaffery (Siena), Glen Miller (Brown), Randy Monroe (UMBC), Norm Roberts (St. John’s), Herb Sendek (North Carolina State), Frank Sullivan (Harvard), and John Thompson III (Georgetown).

The Open Division divided up into four categories – American, National, Patriot and Diplomat. The DC Blue Devils took the American final by a score of 52-47 over the Cincinnati Royals, getting 16 points from Kevin Durant (6’8″ Jr. SF, Ft. Washington (MD) Oak Hill Academy) and 14 from Tywon Lawson (5’11″ Jr. PG, Forestville (MD) Oak Hill Academy). New York-based Team Odom took the National with a 61-52 win over Fairfield County (CT), getting 17 points from Brian McKenzie. Cecil Kirk beat Juice by a 67-56 margin to take the Patriot title, and the Squires Richmond scored a 68-59 win over New York Elite in the Diplomat final.

Here is a look at some of the players we saw.

Class of 2006

Jamaal Barney (6’3″ SG, Baltimore (MD) Southwestern HS)   Athletic guard had a good weekend as part of his team’s inside-outside attack. He shot the ball well from long range and reached double figures in three games we saw. Mid-major plus prospect.

Jared Brownlee (6’6″ SF, Portland (ME) High)   He’s an active forward who was around the ball and made plays at both ends. He’s not a great athlete, but has the size and enough athleticism at that position to be a good mid-major prospect.

Casiem Drummond (6’10″ PF-C, Bloomfield (NJ) Tech)   Big post player is just solid inside, scoring in close and occasionally getting out on the break. He went for 22 points in his first game. High-major prospect.

Derreck Echols (6’4″ SF, Brooklyn (NY) Grady HS)   Athletic forward plays bigger and isn’t afraid to battle inside. He’s active and got his share of rebounds this weekend, and though he didn’t score a lot, he had teammates who did and he helped his team in plenty of other ways. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

Chris Gosley (6’7″ SF, Trenton (NJ) High)   Athletic forward has a good frame and looks like he can be a nice defender. He’s definitely a small forward and he’ll get out in transition.

Ricky Harris (6’2″ SG, Towson (MD) Calvert Hall HS)   Good size guard had a good weekend, shooting well and scoring on drives. He went strong to the basket and generally showed good shot selection, going for 19 points against the Chicago Jaguars. Mid-major prospect.

Kenny Hasbrouck (6’3″ PG, Pittsfield (ME) Maine Central Institute)   Good penetrating point guard played well, finding ways to get inside defenses to the basket. He’s not overly quick but has good size for the position and knows how to score, going for 16 points in the first game we saw him in. Mid-major prospect might play for someone in 2005-06.

Jamel Jackson (6’5″ SG-SF, Brookyln (NY) Lincoln HS)   He really had his long range stroke going in the Patriot final, where he scored 19 points. He has a good stroke, though like anyone else can be hurt if he doesn’t take a good shot, and he’s a good athlete at both wing positions. High-major minus/high-major prospect.

Darryl Johnson (6’8″ PF, Atlantic City (NJ) High)   Good size forward can play inside, but also stepped out to show some three-point range and he’s pretty athletic for a power forward. He went for 12 points against the Gauchos in a key support role.

Phil Jones (6’10″ PF-C, Philadelphia (PA) Lutheran Christian)   Good size post player was a consistent low-post scoring threat. He showed good post moves and used his strength score, ran the floor well and got some rebounds. High-major prospect.

Keonta Keith (6’6″ SF, Jefferson (GA) County HS)   Very athletic wing is a solid prospect. He has a good frame, was very active at both ends when we saw him, and shot it well in addition to scoring off the dribble, going for 17 points against Fairfield County. High-major minus/high-major prospect.

Louis Lambert (6’5″ SF-PF, Baltimore (MD) Woodlawn HS)   Very strong undersized post player really held his own against bigger post players, including Jonathan Mitchell of the Metro Hawks. He shined at the defensive end, using his strong frame and athleticism to block shots and contain opposing post players, playing much bigger than his size. He didn’t score a lot on the offensive end, but that can come along. Could be a steal for a mid-major program.

Brian McKenzie (6’3″ SG, Brooklyn (NY) Xaverian HS)   He shot the ball well most of the weekend, leading his team to the National title. He went for 13 against Hunting Park and 17 in the title game.

Eric Meister (6’8″ PF, State College (PA) High)   Lefty post player got limited touches while staying inside. The reviews were a bit mixed, but he looks like a mid-major prospect.

Colin McIntosh (6’7″ SF, Boston (MA) Northfield Mt. Hermon)   He’s still relentless on the glass, as that’s been his forte for a while now, and his offensive game is still coming along. He went for 20 points in the National final and looks to have lost some weight after he was starting to fill out. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

DeAngelo McIntosh (6’4″ SG-SF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS)   Very athletic wing scored mainly in transition and on drives. He took very few jump shots, preferring to drive and get out on the fast break. Mid-major plus prospect.

Rockwell Moody (6’10″ PF-C, Fairfax (VA) Bishop O’Connell HS)   Good size athlete was very active both inside and out. He got his share of rebounds and knocked in some mid-range jumpers, running the floor well. High-major prospect.

Thijin Moses (6’8″ SF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS)   Very long wing really struggled shooting the ball from long range with his relatively unorthodox stroke. He seems to have the quicks to slash to the basket, but not the handle or strength as he lost the ball several times when driving. He reached double figures a couple of times, though his 15 points in one game included ten free throws. High-major prospect.

Jonathan Ogolo (6’3″ SG, Vienna (VA) Madison HS)   Active guard isn’t overly quick, but he has enough for the shooting guard spot and more important, can score the ball. He shot it well from long range and got out in transition a few times. Mid-major plus prospect.

Ryan Shields (6’9″ PF, New Canaan (CT) St. Luke’s HS)   He had himself a nice weekend as an inside role player. He has good size and rebounded well, also going for 14 points in one game. He’ll need to do some work at the next level, but he’s a mid-major prospect with some potential.

DaJuan Summers (6’9″ SF-PF, Baltimore (MD) McDonough HS)   He was one of the best players this weekend, consistently playing well inside for his team. His play wasn’t limited to there, as he did hit some shots from the outside as well and he’s pretty athletic for the power forward spot. We saw him put up 18, 22 and 16 points in three different games. High-major prospect.

Josh Taylor (6’7″ SF, Brentwood (PA) High)   Likes to drive to the basket and can finish, though he may be a step slow for the small forward spot. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Marcus Taylor (6’3″ SG, Baltimore (MD) Dunbar HS)   He shot it well in the one game we saw and parts of a couple of others, going for 15 points with a lot of long two-point shots and a trey. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Mike Trimboli (6’1″ PG, New Canaan (CT) St. Luke’s HS)   Steady floor leader isn’t very quick, but he’s rugged and intelligent and finds ways to score as well as run the team. He went for 21 points twice on the weekend, and had 19 in another game, shooting it well from mid-range and long range. Mid-major prospect could play for someone in 2005-06.

Frank Turner (5’8″ PG, Atlantic City (NJ) High)   Quick, solid floor leader really impressed in leading his team to a win over the loaded Gauchos. Despite his lack of size, he’s not afraid to drive inside against the big guys, and he did that to the tune of 21 points. He didn’t shoot much from outside, but made a solid showing. Mid-major prospect.

Todd Ward (6’5″ SF, New Milford (CT) High)   Very active wing had a solid weekend, as he really gets after it at both ends. He was around the ball often and grabbed a lot of rebounds at both ends of the floor, scored some garbage points inside from offensive rebounds and loose balls, and simply made plays. He’s deceptively athletic and not a great shooter, but his intangibles make him valuable. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

Elijah Whitehead (6’5″ SF, New York (NY) Rice HS)   Athletic wing was one of the few bright spots for the Gauchos in a loss we saw. He can finish drives but didn’t look good shooting it, scoring 13 points in the game. Looks to be more of a small forward than shooting guard based on this and prior observation. Mid-major plus prospect.

Jahmar Young (6’4″ SG, Baltimore (MD) W.E.B. DuBois HS)   Thin wing really shot the ball well over the weekend from long range, as that was his role. He’s athletic, but the biggest threat is with his shooting, as he went for 25 points in one game and had 16 in the Patriot final. High-major minus prospect.

Classes of 2007, 2008

Miles Beatty (6’2″ So. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s HS)   He’s always been a bit of a gunner, but he’s continually getting better and that included what we saw this weekend. He looks quicker and made some plays driving as well as shooting, the latter of which he’s always been able to do.

Roscoe Davis (6’8″ Fr. SF-PF, Washington (DC) St. John’s Rykien HS)   Long forward didn’t score a lot, but it’s clear that he has some good potential. He’s not too thin but certainly needs to keep filling out and improving his overall game.

Kim English (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Towson (MD) Catholic HS)   He’s athletic and a bit thin, but has good size and looks like he could be a nice player as he matures.

John Galvin (6’9″ So. PF, New Canaan (CT) Weston HS)   Post player has a good frame and showed some potential while being overshadowed by teammates. He was a role player on his team, staying inside and occasionally getting a basket or rebound.

Sean Hawkins (6’6″ So. PF, Washington (DC) St. John’s HS)   Thick post player has good mobility and showed some good post moves, notably a turnaround jump hook inside. He’s not very quick but ran the floor well, and he didn’t try to play outside much. On the down side, he also looked a little foul-prone, likely attributable in part to his lack of quickness.

Johnny Higgins (6’1″ So. PG, Randallstown (MD) High)   Solid pass-first floor leader had a good weekend running his team successfully. He penetrated well despite not being very quick and passed it well, and generally played well on the defensive end.

Mac Koshwal (6’9″ So. PF, Chicago (IL) Julian HS)   Athletic post player was one of the better post prospects at the tournament. He has good size and strength, ran the floor well and stayed home on the low post, but perhaps the best thing he did this weekend was rebound, including at the offensive end where he got his share of stickbacks. He’ll be one to keep an eye on.

Rakim Sanders (6’4″ So. SG, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s HS)   Athletic wing has a good frame and shot the ball well from long range when we saw him. He had 20 points in one game and has a good deal of potential.

Chris Smith (6’2″ So. SG, Lakewood (NJ) High)   He’s not his brother athletically, but he’s not bad and looked good this weekend. More of a scorer than a shooter, he slashed his way to 24 points in one game, and generally didn’t look to shoot it much from outside.

Others in the class of 2007 that caught our interest in limited observation:

Michael Erick (6’8″ PF, Camden (DE) Caesar Rodney HS)
Corey Morris (6’9″ PF-C, Bridgehampton (NY) High)
Patrick Patterson (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Huntington (WV) High)
Brandon Walter (6’8″ PF, Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln HS)
Desmond Wynn (6’7″ SF-PF, Wilmington (DE) St. Mark’s HS)

Jacksonville: Georgia Tech Assistant Warren Named Top Dolphin

Jacksonville Hires Georgia Tech Assistant: Jacksonville officials tabbed Georgia Tech assistant coach Cliff Warren as the Dolphins’ next coach. Warren has been an assistant under Yellow Jacket coach Paul Hewitt for the past eight years, including the past five years at Georgia Tech. Prior to working at Georgia Tech, Warren was an assistant under Hewitt at Siena and also worked for coach Jim Phelan at Mount St. Mary’s. Warren replaces Hugh Durham, who finished his eighth season at Jacksonville with a 106-119 record. [4/21/05]

College of Charleston: Center Horowitz To Leave Program

Horowitz Wants Out of Charleston: College of Charleston center Jeff Horowitz has decided to complete his collegiate career elsewhere. School officials granted Horowitz a release to transfer after Horowitz said he did not like the situation on the Cougars. He said he wanted more playing time, among other issues he had with the team. Horowitz averaged 3.6 points and rebounds per game last season. [4/21/05]

St. Bonaventure: Bonnies and van Breda Kolff Kiss And Make Up

Bonnies and Ex-Coach Kiss and Make Up: Two years after St. Bonaventure fired Jan van Breda Kolff following an embarrassing eligibility scandal, the former coach and Bonnie officials have reached a settlement in a court case against the school. Van Breda Kolff had sued St. Bonaventure for breach of contract, libel and other charges in a $21.5 million lawsuit. Neither side disclosed details of the settlement.

The controversy started when junior forward Jamil Terrell was ruled ineligible, and NCAA officials stripped the Bonnies of six Atlantic 10 victories and banned the team from post-season play. In response, players voted to boycott the final two regular season games, costing the school $120,000 in fines. School officials decided van Breda Kolff was innocent of foul play but indicated that the coach should have been more inquisitive about Terrell’s suspect junior college status. [4/20/05]

Jordan Classic National Game

Jordan Classic: National Game

by Keith Irizarry

NEW YORK – The 2005 Jordan Classic at Madison Square Garden did not disappoint. After the Regional game, which was just an appetizer, came the National game. The game was an up and down battle, showcasing some amazing talent; speed, athleticism, vision, shooting, and much more. In the end, the Gray team pulled out the victory 127-126 after Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben missed 2 free throws with 3.8 seconds left in the game.

In today’s basketball world, this “All-Star Game” has become more than just signs of what is to come in college basketball, but it’s become another audition for the NBA. As for the leap to the pros, 3 players helped their cases, a few did nothing to hurt their status, and some proved that college will be a necessity.

Andray Blatche, of South Kent Prep School, made it official: he will be entering the 2005 NBA Draft. The Jordan Classic was his third high school postseason game (which makes him ineligible to attend college) and he announced that he has signed with an agent. There are question marks about his game, but the upside this kid has is outstanding. Dray is 6-11, 230 and extremely athletic. For a “big”, he has decent range, a surprising handle, and runs the floor like a guard. He is still raw when it comes to offensive skills, but he would fit in great with an established NBA playoff team towards the end of the first round. When asked who he compares himself to, Blatche quickly said: Kevin Garnett. I asked him if an NBA executive was standing in front of him, how would Dray pitch himself. Blatche shyly said, “I have a lot to bring to the table. I’m a good kid, on and off the court.” The future looks bright for Andray. I envision him being a “wait and see kid,” like Jermaine O’Neal or Zach Randolph.

6-7, 235 pound small forward, Martell Webster is a beast. I think he had the most complete and versatile game of all the participants. He has an NBA-ready body, is fundamentally sound, and says all the right things. He told me that he was not happy with his performance (22 points on 7-13 from the field are hardly numbers to scoff at). When it comes to his college/NBA decision (he has committed to the University of Washington), Martell said he will “go with his gut feeling.” Webster is the kind of kid that can help a team next year. With his strength and ability to work off the ball, he could have a Josh Howard-type of rookie year, but with a much better ceiling.

7-foot center Andrew Bynum signed with UConn and has not mentioned attempting the jump to the pros, but he may want to reconsider after the Jordan Classic. The kid is huge! He is a legitimate center, yet he shocked many people with some three-point touch. More positives Andrew brings forth include great footwork, good speed for his size, and some solid post moves. Bynum could definitely stand to spend a year or two in college, but if I was an NBA team with a mid- to late first round pick and this behemoth was on the board; I would snatch him up quickly!

Louis Williams was a player who did not help, nor hinder his draft status (20 points, 4 assists). Currently planning on attending Georgia, I don’t think Baby Iverson will ever be a Bulldog. The best way to describe his game is: size of Iverson, speed of Marbury, hops like Vince (a 40-inch vertical), and a jump shot like Nash. His stock may never be higher. The issue has always been, is he an NBA 1 or 2. I think he’s a 1.5; a scoring guard. Could he use some more development on the college level? Sure. Will someone draft him in the first round? Most definitely.

Shawne Williams of Laurinburg Prep is another kid who had a good Jordan Classic, but did not necessarily stand out (15 points, 6 rebounds). He can go inside and outside, has some good size (6-9, 235), and has some serious spring in his step. Williams is signed with Memphis and it would not surprise me if he enters the draft. He gets my DNC rating (do not consider drafting).

Other players who are on my DNC list include Keith Brumbaugh and Richard Hendrix. Brumbaugh is teetering between USC and Florida or making the leap. His lefty stroke is adequate and he definitely is a superior athlete, but he unquestionably needs a few years in college to hone his skills. Hendrix, at 6-9, 225 has a very strong body and some good post moves. The knock on Hendrix is that he just didn’t stand out. Richard would be smart to attend Alabama next season.

Stat stuffers and other notes

• Mike Mercer (Georgia) broke a Jordan Classic record with 9 assists. He also had 19 points.
• Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) was credited with the game winning field goal. Tyler also had 8 offensive rebounds to go along with Co-MVP honors.
• Andray Blatche notched 26 points, 16 rebounds, and Co-MVP honors.
• CJ Miles (Texas) had 16 points, but missed all 6 of his 3-point attempts.
• Eric Boateng (Duke) had the loudest fans; a complete section of St. Andrew’s School students.
• Monta Ellis (Mississippi State) did not attend practices and did not play in the game. He averaged a ridiculous 40 points his senior year at Lanier High in Mississippi.
• Local NYC product Levance Fields poured in 18 points.
• Every player scored and played at least 13 minutes.

Jordan Classic Regional Game

Jordan Suburban 104, Jordan City 89

by Matthew Moll

NEW YORK – The regional game of the Jordan Classic featured some of the best high school basketball players of the New York metropolitan area. The invitational pitted standouts from the five Burroughs against suburbanites who were also successful this past season. Jordan Suburban held off a late second half push by Jordan City to prevail 104-89.

Six Suburban players scored in double figures, including 23 from Craig Austrie and 17 from Alvin Mofunanya, who were named co-MVP’s of the invite. Austrie recently reconsidered his commitment to UMass after the Steve Lappas firing and is now headed to play for Jim Calhoun and the Connecticut Huskies while Mofunanya is heading to the A-10 via St. Joseph’s.

The City team overcame a four-point first half deficit to tie the game at 49 with over 17 minutes remaining. But the Suburban team would not relinquish the game they had owned for the majority of the night. Jordan Suburban used a late 13-7 run to pull away for good, and their final lead of 15 was their second-largest through out the contest.

Pittsburgh-bound Mike Davis pulled down 13 boards for the City team to lead all players. Coach Oliver Antigua of St. Raymond High School in the Bronx was the victorious coach. Antigua was joined in the game by two of his players, Ricky Torres and Chris Bethel.

Sites and sounds

• Austrie and Mofunanya may have taken home the hardware, but several other players captivated the crowd with improv passing, delicious dishes, and head-turning dunks.
• Terrence Grier was this game’s Mr. Excitement, keeping opponents’ heads on a swivel. The 6’0″ turbo-charged guard from Cranford, NJ had five assists in the game, three of which were alley-oops that awed players and fans alike. Grier also had dunks of his own, completing an alley-oop from Monmouth bound Tyson Johnson, and a thunderous dunk with under 1:21 that brought those in attendance to their feet for the rest of the contest. Grier also made his case for the And1 Mixed Tape Tour with his fake pass into a dribble between his legs that dropped his only defender and freed the lane during a fast break in the first half.
• Ricky Torres began the on-court theatrics with a pass to himself, which ended with an exclamation point of a dunk early in the first half. Torres’ used his passing to wow the Garden, once saving a loose ball between his legs to a wide-open teammate and late tossing a perfectly timed ball off the backboard for an Akeem Gooding finish.
• Herbie Allen, the newest guard for Tim O’Toole’s Fairfield squad, went for 19 points, including hitting 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. But Allen’s most memorable plays will not show in the box scores. Twice Allen’s cross over broke the ankles of his opponents and awoke the oft-obstinate NYC audience.
• Tyson Johnson’s inside-outside game will be well utilized at Monmouth next season. Johnson also was able to use his 6’5″ frame to cause an eruption in the crowd after taking lob pass from Grier, but also showed his range with an effortless jumper.
• Qa’rraan Calhoun was the recipient of a Grier lob pass, which received complementary acknowledgement early in the first half, but his high-wire act began with a breakaway reverse slam after a Suburban steal in the first.

Deserve a second look

• Thirteen of the 18 participants in the Jordan Classic Regional game are slated to compete at the NCAA level while others took the opportunity to increase their stock for next season or give schools something to think about as they choose to go the Junior College or prep school route.
• Grier’s flash frenzied the fickle fans, but his ability to score and create will get him some attention for the next level. He is listed at 6’0″, which is tall enough to play point at many schools, but his quickness is good enough for any.
• Calhoun impressed early with his hops, but showed he could do it all in the second half dropping three dimes and caroling five caroms. The 6’7″ small forward shot 60 percent from the field largely because of his ability to find openings on the floor for easy lay ups, the New Jersey native was also a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. Athletic and quick, a year getting stronger could put him at a high level in 2006.

Ready to contribute now

• With the loss of Brooklyn’s Chris Taft, Pitt will need to add depth in the middle to fill the 6’10″ void. Mike Davis looks as if he can provide such depth grabbing 13 rebounds in 20 minutes. The 6’9″ Davis only weighs in at 215 which is not enough for the bigs of the Big East, but his knack for finding the ball should score Davis minutes.
• Phil Martelli is getting a versatile forward in Alvin Mofunanya who showed he can block shots (4) and find the ball (eight boards) in a game which less than encouraged defense. Mofunanya showed offensive range as well going 5-for-9 from the field including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.

Boo Williams Invitational

Host Team Takes Boo Williams Title

by Phil Kasiecki

HAMPTON, Va. – One of the top early spring events is always the Boo Williams Invitational, held in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. A good number of the top Nike-sponsored teams travel there for a good weekend of basketball. This weekend didn’t buck that tradition, with great games even before the finals.

The 17-under Gold Division final looked like it would be quite a matchup early on, as the Houston Hoops stayed right with the loaded Boo Williams Summer League team. The first half was tight throughout, with Boo Williams holding a 36-33 lead at the break. But in the second half, after rallying once, the Hoops started to run out of gas and Boo Williams pulled away for an 81-65 win, with their largest lead being the final margin of victory. Stud rising senior Vernon Macklin led the winners with 23 points, while Stefan Welsh added 20 and Scotty Reynolds had 16. Recent Oklahoma commitment Damion James led the Hoops with 23 points.

The 16-under championship needed overtime to decide, with Baltimore-based Mt. Royal defeating the host Boo Williams team by a 47-45 score.

The All-Tournament team was named after the 17-under final:

Nic Wise, Houston Hoops
Spencer Hawes, Friends of Hoop Seattle
Darrell Arthur, Team Texas
Tywon Lawson, D.C. Blue Devils
Scotty Reynolds, Boo Williams Summer League
Kevin Durant, D.C. Blue Devils (MVP)

Here is a look at some of the top players we saw at the tournament.

Darrell Arthur (6’9″ Jr. PF, Dallas (TX) South Oak Cliff HS)  This long athlete has a world of potential. He played well inside for the weekend and ran the floor well, with the potential to be a combo forward down the line. He went for 16 points against Nike Team Florida, and reportedly had a terrific game in the quarterfinals. Big-time prospect.

Brandon Brown (5’9″ Jr. PG, Houston (TX) Aldine HS)  Quick little point guard is slight, but played some pesky defense. He seemed to do a good job of playing with what he has. Mid-major prospect.

Sherron Collins (6’0″ Jr. PG, Chicago (IL) Crane HS)  This well-built floor leader had a big weekend and should be climbing the ranks of point guards in the class of 2006. He’s quick and did everything you want from a point guard this weekend – scored the ball while still distributing, and he scored by finishing drives and shooting it. High-major prospect.

Kevin Durant (6’8″ Jr. SF, Ft. Washington (MD) Oak Hill Academy)  His selection as MVP was a little controversial because his team was eliminated in the semifinals, but he had a huge weekend. He still has a good ways to go physically, but the basketball talent is there. He had 28 points Friday night, and later had 15 points in their semifinal loss to Boo Williams. Big-time prospect.

Damion James (6’8″ Jr. SF, Houston (TX) Nacogdoches HS)  Had a solid weekend and seemed to get better as it went along. He’s athletic and scored mainly driving to the basket, and he’s a threat to grab a rebound and take the ball the length of the floor for a basket. He also has a good frame that’s quite mature. High-major prospect recently committed to Oklahoma.

Gary Johnson (6’7″ So. PF, Houston (TX) Aldine HS)  Keep an eye on him, as he had a solid tournament and looks poised to break out. He uses his strength and post moves inside to attack the hoop and was very active. He went for 14 against BABC and 15 against the Metro Hawks, and looks like he’s only getting better.

Curtis Kelly (6’9″ Jr. PF, New York (NY) Rice HS)  He’s starting to fill out more and his game is rounding into form. He ran the floor, made some plays at both ends inside and is just taking care of business. He scored 20 points against the Metro Hawks. Big-time prospect.

Tywon Lawson (5’11″ Jr. PG, Forestville (MD) Oak Hill Academy)  Very quick point guard called his own number often, but when you can penetrate at will like he can that’s not always a bad idea. He made some strong drives and played well overall this weekend, and he’s one of the top point guards in the class of 2006. Big-time prospect.

Vernon Macklin (6’10″ Jr. C, Portsmouth (VA) I.C. Norcom HS)  The “Big Ticket” had himself a good weekend helping his team to the championship. He’s a big presence inside and runs the floor very well – he finished a few fast breaks this weekend, among other things. Big-time prospect.

Jonathan Mitchell (6’7″ Jr. PF, Mt. Vernon (NY) High)  He’s added a good deal of muscle in recent months, and that will only help him as he’s already a solid post scorer. He’s still very left-handed, but showed better ball skills, and he went for 17 against the Gauchos and 20 against Houston Hoops. High-major prospect.

Scotty Reynolds (6’0″ Jr. PG, Herndon (VA) High)  Not the quickest guard, he can light it up from long range and could be a combo guard in college. His shot selection looks better and he didn’t look as shoot-first this weekend, which will only help him. High-major prospect committed to Oklahoma after the tournament.

Jeremiah Rivers (6’4″ Jr. SG, Winter Park (FL) High)  We only saw him in one game, but he struggled mightily in it. He scored just five points against Team Texas, struggling to shoot the ball while playing the point. He’s a capable floor leader if needed, and we know he’s capable of better than what he showed here. High-major prospect.

Jeff Ryan (6’6″ Jr. SF, Glenbrook (IL) South HS)  A solid role player from the small forward spot, he runs the floor well and showed the ability to handle and pass the ball. He’ll get out in transition and looks like he scores in flow. Mid-major plus prospect.

Stefan Welsh (6’2″ Jr. SG, Newport News (VA) Woodside HS)  Quick scoring guard can flat-out score, and he certainly did that this weekend. He’s a good leaper and his frame is filling out, so when you put that with his ability to score on drives and shooting the ball, you have a good high-major prospect.

Eastern Kentucky: Ford Still Owes $225K for Buyout

Ford Still Owes: According to an Eastern Kentucky administrator, former men’s basketball coach Travis Ford owes the school more than $225,000 for his contract buyout. The sum represents the money remaining on his deal at the school, which was extended to April 30, 2007. Ford’s new contract at Massachusetts is a five-year deal worth $200,000 annually that could double with incentives. Ford guided the Colonels to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 26 years and a school-record 22 wins, with the season ending in a 72-64 loss to Kentucky in Indianapolis. Former West Virginia assistant Jeff Neubauer was hired this past Monday to succeed Ford. [4/17/05]