NBA Draft Thoughts

Unpredictable draft not full of surprises

by Phil Kasiecki

NEW YORK – The first two picks surprised no one, so the drama was saved for just a little later – and there was no shortage of it.

One thing was certain about this draft: it was full of players with potential. Proven talent was in short supply, but plenty of players in this draft could one day wind up having stellar careers. There were also a number of players whose draft projections were all over the board heading into draft night – players that some felt could go in the lottery and some felt might not be worthy of a first round pick. In other words, it was probably best for an observer to go into the draft with few expectations of how things would turn out.

Everyone knew the top three point guards would all go in the lottery, but how many figured they would all go right in a row with picks three through five? Deron Williams and Chris Paul were hardly surprises at the first two, but the selection of Raymond Felton with the fifth pick probably surprised many. Even so, Felton is a winner and a hometown kid, having not only played his college ball across the state at North Carolina but also being from Latta, South Carolina. Felton said that being close to home won’t bring any more pressure than if he were picked in that spot by someone else.

“It’s no pressure, I’m just going to come out and play basketball the way I know how to play,” Felton told ESPN’s Stuart Scott after being selected.

For good measure, the Bobcats didn’t have to look far for their second lottery selection, as they took Felton’s college teammate, Sean May with the 13th pick. With May’s selection, the Tar Heels joined four other teams to have three players taken in the first 13 picks in the draft; ironically enough, one of those teams was the 1976 Indiana team, where Scott May, Sean’s father, was the second player taken overall. This also makes Sean and Scott the eighth father/son combination to be drafted in the first round.

The next pick after Felton was a bigger surprise, and it continued the trend of local products. The Portland Trailblazers, who earlier in the day made a trade, took the first high school player in the draft, and it wasn’t who anyone thought it would be, as they took Martell Webster from Seattle (WA) Prep. Most figured that Gerald Green, who went to Boston 12 picks later, would be the first high school player taken, but he didn’t even wind up going in the lottery.

But that wasn’t all. Right after Webster, Toronto made a puzzling top ten selection for the second year in a row (recall that they took BYU’s Rafael Araujo with the eighth pick last year) as they picked Charlie Villanueva from Connecticut. Villanueva has plenty of talent, but he’s been very inconsistent since he was a big-time prospect in high school. The Raptors could have a stud or a monumental bust; it remains to be seen, but Villanueva says he’s ready to fulfill the former possibility.

“A lot of people doubt me, but I always believe in myself,” Villanueva said, before giving credit to Husky head coach Jim Calhoun for preparing him for the NBA. “I think when I first got into the college level, I thought I knew it all.”

When the Lakers’ turn came up with the tenth pick, many probably figured they would go for a frontcourt player. Well, they did that, but who they went with was the surprise, as they took high school player Andrew Bynum, who a year ago at this time wasn’t even remotely on the radar as a likely draft pick, let alone in the lottery. Bynum is the youngest player ever drafted, as he won’t turn 18 until October 26, so the Lakers surely were not thinking about immediate help with this pick. Instead, they were going for size – not a big shock since teams have long been more willing to gamble on a big man than any other.

“It’s very unusual that you can get a center in the draft,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told ESPN’s Jim Gray. “We just felt, at the tenth pick, that it was our best chance to get a center in the draft.”

Many picks made later on could turn out to be steals, or at least high quality picks, evidence of the depth of the draft class but not necessarily its talent. In fact, that’s the major reason that much of what we can call “surprises” in this draft aren’t really that – there was some real balance in this draft in large part because most of the players are relatively unproven but have lots of potential right now. Much remains to be seen about this group, and it will be interesting to look back on it in a few years.

Key Notes

• Only three high school players went in the first round this year, ultimately showing that this year’s high school class certainly doesn’t measure up to last year’s. But with six going in the second round, this year’s draft did set a record with nine players drafted overall, and with the new age minimum coming in, it is a record that will likely never be broken – at least in a technical sense. We could see many kids do a year of prep school, then go for the draft, in the years to come.
• ESPN analyst Jay Bilas pleaded for people to give the NBA credit for scouting more than just postseason all-star games like the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Classic. That may be true to some degree, but in recent years several players have seen their draft potential soar based on a big all-star game, which in theory doesn’t seem to make much sense. All-star games are not where you go to see defensive clinics by a long shot, and it is still just one game even if it is top players going up against one another. One scout said that part of the reason players’ stock has soared from these games is that scouts don’t get to see the high school players much during the season, so a game like the McDonald’s or Jordan Classic is their first look at a player.

More Draft Selections

Steal of the Draft: Hakim Warrick (No. 19 to Memphis)
Worst Selection: Charlie Villanueva (No. 7 to Toronto) and Jason Maxiell (No. 26 to Detroit)
Intriguing Selection: Nate Robinson (No. 21 to Phoenix)
Second Round Steal: Ryan Gomes (No. 50 to Boston)
Biggest Winners: Charlotte Bobcats (Raymond Felton, Sean May)
Biggest Losers: Philadelphia 76ers (Louis Williams, no first round pick)

They Left School for This?

Players who should have stayed in school or gone to college

Alex Acker, G, Pepperdine (No. 60 to Detroit)
Deji Akindele, C, Chicago State (undrafted)
Kelenna Azubuike, G-F, Kentucky (undrafted)
Brandon Bass, F, LSU (No. 33 to New Orleans)
Andray Blatche, C, Syracuse (NY) South Kent School (No. 49 to Washington)
Monta Ellis, G, Jackson (MS) Lanier HS (No. 40 to Golden State)
Olu Famutimi, G, Arkansas (undrafted)
John Gilchrist, G, Maryland (undrafted)
Amir Johnson, C, Los Angeles (CA) Westchester HS (No. 56 to Detroit)
Dwayne Jones, C, St. Joseph’s (undrafted)
C.J. Miles, G-F, Dallas (TX) Skyline HS (No. 34 to Utah)*
Randolph Morris, C, Kentucky (undrafted)
Shavlik Randolph, F, Duke (undrafted)
Anthony Roberson, G, Florida (undrafted)
Chris Taft, F, Pittsburgh (No. 42 to Golden State)
Von Wafer, G, Florida State (No. 39 to Los Angeles Lakers)
Matt Walsh, G-F, Florida (undrafted)
Louis Williams, G, Snellville (GA) South Gwinnett HS (No. 45 to Philadelphia)
Kennedy Winston, F, Alabama (undrafted)
Bracey Wright, G, Indiana (No. 47 to Minnesota)

Notable Players Not Drafted

(not including undrafted underclassmen previously noted)

Taylor Coppenrath, F, Vermont
B.J. Elder, G, Georgia Tech
Chuck Hayes, F, Kentucky
Keith Langford, G, Kansas
John Lucas, G, Oklahoma State
Aaron Miles, G, Kansas
Chris Thomas, G, Notre Dame
Jawad Williams, F, North Carolina

* – did not sign with an agent and is likely to go to college, according to ESPN

AND1 HBC Final Rounds

Fourth Time is the Charm for Ohio School

by Phil Kasiecki

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle University was the setting for the fourth annual AND1 High School Basketball Championship (HBC) final rounds this past weekend. Amidst the many travel team tournaments and camps in the spring months, HBC is a nice change of pace as players take time to play with their school team again. The tournament continues to grow, this year having held ten regionals and bringing all ten winners here to determine its champion.

The championship game came down to two teams with a tradition of stars and winning in Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS and Canton (OH) McKinley HS, the latter of whom has been to all four AND1 final rounds. McKinley used its athletic edge in the frontcourt to open the game up later in the first quarter, then broke it open in the second quarter and had answers the rest of the way as they took home their first AND1 championship with a 78-68 win.

The Bulldogs shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and held the Pioneers to just 36 percent, and that set the tone. The Pioneers had a size advantage, but the Bulldogs were too athletic and especially in the frontcourt, where MVP Raymar Morgan (26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) was terrific when he wasn’t battling foul trouble, while Ricky Jackson (16 points) was a constant thorn in the Pioneers’ side as well.

Artesia made some charges in the second half, getting within nine on three occasions in the fourth and later within eight with 14 seconds left after consecutive three-pointers, but McKinley had answers throughout.

Marcus Parker added 17 points for McKinley in his best effort of the weekend. Artesia was led by 17 points each from James Harden and Derek Glasser, the latter of whom added five assists.

Earlier on Sunday, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach took control in the first quarter and steadily pulled away behind Ryan Anderson’s stellar play to take third place with a 72-46 win over Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS. Anderson filled the stat sheet with a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds to go along with four assists and three steals. Emeka Iweka (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Tremaine Menese (13 points, 14 rebounds) also posted double-doubles for the Vikings, who held a 56-35 edge on the glass. Michael Crabtree led Carter with 14 points.

In Friday night’s opening round, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS knocked off Charlestown (MA), then Laurinburg (NC) Institute held off Fairfax (VA) Paul VI.

Quarterfinals

Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS 98, Chicago (IL) John Marshall HS 62

Freshman Malik Story scored 36 points in just 20 minutes and sparked a big run to start the second quarter to break open a close game as Artesia blew out John Marshall by a score of 98-62.

Story, who did not play in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand, sparked a run of 11 straight points as part of a 15-1 run to start the second quarter. He went 14-20 from the field and was 7-11 on three-pointers, putting on a shooting clinic from mid-range and long range. The Pioneers were never challenged after the early second quarter run, shooting nearly 62 percent from the field.

Derek Glasser had 13 points and seven assists for the Pioneers, while James Harden added 12 points and Shanntell Norman made all five of his field goal attempts en route to 11 points.

John Marshall was led by Patrick Beverly’s sterling effort, as the rising senior had 38 points on 11-12 shooting and was 11-13 at the free throw line.

Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS 68, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s 61

Michael Crabtree’s three-point play with 1:04 left would prove to be the winning basket, as David W. Carter held on for a 68-61 win over St. Benedict’s.

The Cowboys led for most of the game, with the Graybees making several mini-runs at the lead without success. They got within 57-56 on a three-pointer by David Cubillan (22 points), then with 1:50 left took a 60-59 lead on a reverse layup by Chris Smith (10 points). The Cowboys regained the lead before Crabtree’s big play, then they made free throws in the final minute to hang on.

Crabtree led the Cowboys with a game-high 33 points and nine rebounds. Brokeith Pane added 18 points and five assists, and Allen Gardiner had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS 69, Dunwoody (GA) High 58

Ryan Anderson scored 27 points, with none bigger than a clutch three-pointer that started a game-ending 9-0 run as Rainier Beach held on for a 69-58 win over defending champion Dunwoody.

Anderson was 10-18 from the field and made 5-of-9 three-pointers for the Vikings, adding three steals at the defensive end. The Vikings, who never trailed but were challenged all game long, shot nearly 44 percent from three-point range, while the Wildcats missed all three of their shots.

Dunwoody, which made a third quarter run, was led by Kierre Jordan’s 22 points.

Canton (OH) McKinley HS 71, Laurinburg (NC) Institute 50

Raymar Morgan and Todd Brown each posted double-doubles, and McKinley’s defense held Laurinburg below 35 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers as they pulled away in the second half in a 71-50 win.

Morgan (19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals) had early foul trouble, but came alive in the second half, while Brown (14 points, 10 rebounds) was solid throughout in playing a team-high 28 minutes. Ricky Jackson completed the powerful frontcourt trio by adding 14 points.

Despite shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first half, Laurinburg stayed within striking distance as they were down 26-17. In the second half, McKinley shot nearly 47 percent from the field and outscored the Tigers 45-33.

Consolation Games – Brief Recaps

Fairfax (VA) Paul VI 84, Charlestown (MA) High 71

Paul VI turned the game around in the second quarter, then broke a close game open in the third quarter en route to an 84-71 win over Charlestown.

Jean Cajou led Paul VI with 21 points, Danny Sumner added 17 and Marc Bolden had 16 points and nine rebounds. Charlestown was led by Paul Becklens’ 18 points. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field.

Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s 77, Chicago (IL) John Marshall HS 68

St. Benedict’s pulled away in the third quarter, then had to hold on late in the fourth to knock off John Marshall, 77-68.

Chris Smith scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures for the Graybees, who also got 18 points and nine rebounds from David Cubillan and 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks from Samardo Samuels.

Patrick Beverly had 39 points and Davaris Smith added 15 points and eight rebounds for John Marshall.

Dunwoody (GA) High 61, Laurinburg (NC) Institute 42

Dunwoody forced 24 turnovers and held Laurinburg Institute to 34 percent shooting in a 61-42 win. The Wildcats, who shot over 47 percent from the field, got 17 points from Kierre Jordan and 14 each from Delwan Graham and Darius Johnson. Celeste Mayllee was the lone player in double figures for Laurinburg with 15 points.

Semifinals

Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS 65, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS 60

After looking like they would run away with the game in the first half, Artesia had to hold off a furious comeback by Ryan Anderson and Rainier Beach in the final minutes of their 65-60 semifinal win.

The Pioneers outscored the Vikings 17-4 in the second quarter and shot 50 percent from the field to take a 33-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Vikings struggled, shooting below 28 percent from the field and not getting much from Anderson. But they came back slowly in the third quarter, and Anderson got hot in the fourth, eventually making consecutive three-pointers to bring them within 60-58 in the final minute. He finished with a game-high 29 points and added five assists.

Artesia was led by James Harden, who very ably defended Anderson and also scored a team-high 19 points. Derek Glasser added 17 points and six assists, and Ray Hall controlled the paint off the bench to the tune of 13 points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes.

Canton (OH) McKinley HS 74, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS 56

McKinley ran off 14 unanswered points late in the first quarter, then put the game away in the third with the last seven points of the quarter en route to a 74-56 semifinal victory of David W. Carter.

The Bulldogs shot over 49 percent from the field and also held a 44-36 edge on the glass as their terrific frontcourt of Todd Brown (16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists), Ricky Jackson (16 points, nine rebounds) and Raymar Morgan (12 points, eight rebounds) led the charge. Morgan had to battle foul trouble, especially in the first half, but when he was on the floor he made things happen.

Carter back in the second quarter, making it a game at halftime as they outscored the Bulldogs 20-13 in the second frame. The teams were relatively even in the third until McKinley put it away with their late run, and they coasted in the fourth quarter with the lead reaching 22 at one point.

Brokeith Pane led Carter with 27 points and Michael Crabtree added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Tournament Notes

• St. Benedict’s was without three of its top players, as Lance Thomas and Corey Stokes were at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, while Eugene Harvey was invited but did not attend due to injury. Also at the NBPA Top 100 Camp was AnJuan Wilderness, a key figure in Dunwoody’s title run last year.
  This is the tough part about running a tournament like this – there is never a good time in the spring, as there will always be other events for the top players. The past two years, the regionals coincided with the NBPA Camp, but this year it came at a more costly time – the final rounds. It put the respective teams at a big disadvantage and didn’t give us a real sense of how the teams are with their players.
• Before the championship game, a moment of silence was observed for the late John McAdams, who passed away on June. Among other things, McAdams did the public address announcing at the first three AND1 HBC final rounds, and it certainly did not feel the same without his voice behind the microphone.

Player Notes

Ryan Anderson (6’4″ Jr. SG, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS)   Really had a nice weekend, shooting the ball well and being a team leader. He showed good shot selection, at times stepping inside the line for a good mid-range shot and a few good drives to the basket. He’s not overly quick or athletic, but he’s not deficient in either area and is an intelligent player. High-major prospect.

Todd Brown (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS)   You can really see the development in his game, especially from last year when he looked like an undersized power forward. Although he didn’t have a stellar championship game, all weekend long he played well at both ends with his rebounding and scoring, and he continued to show improved ball skills for the small forward position. He is active and plays stronger than he looks, and his two double-doubles speak to both. Mid-major plus prospect.

Jean Cajou (6’3″ Jr. SG, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI)   Scoring guard has a decent frame and went for 21 points in the consolation game. He shot it well and made all his free throws along the way. Mid-major prospect has committed to Mt. St. Mary’s.

Michael Crabtree (6’3″ Jr. SG, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS)   Possessing a good frame, he’s a nice guard with scoring ability and who plays with a lot of confidence. He’s not overly quick, but can use his strength to get to the basket and can make shots from mid-range, although he didn’t shoot well at all after an 11-21 showing in the first game. From the guard spot, he rebounded very well. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Michael Cruddup (6’3″ Fr. SG, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS)   Thin guard showed some promise shooting the ball, making a few mid-range jumpers and going 2-4 from behind the arc in one game. He played relatively limited minutes on an otherwise veteran team.

David Cubillan (6’0″ Jr. SG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s)   If nothing else, this weekend he proved that he isn’t well-suited to the point guard spot despite his size. He’s quick and can score, both driving and shooting, but he also had to run the show and didn’t seem to be at his best. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

Allen Gardiner (6’6″ Jr. SF-PF, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS)   Athletic forward has a thin upper body but can play bigger and stronger than he looks. He has good body control and can finish the break, but his overall skills in the halfcourt need some work. He rebounded well inside and reached double figures twice, and he’s a mid-major prospect.

Derek Glasser (6’1″ Jr. PG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS)   Quietly, he was very effective running the show. He’s a solid ball-handler and passer who made a lot of good decisions, including shot selection, and when he did look to score more in the championship game, he played well. Among other things, he made a tough jumper on the move and got fouled, and made a couple of long range shots, proving he’s not a scoring liability. He could be a steal for the right mid-major.

Delwan Graham (6’5″ Fr. SF, Dunwoody (GA) High)   Lefty athlete has some potential on the wing, as he’s active and made a good percentage of his shots. He also rebounded well, and if he grows, so will his potential, which already looks good.

Ray Hall (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS)   He got better as the weekend went along and really looks like a nice post prospect. Although he doesn’t have much foot speed and won’t finish many fast breaks, he is fundamentally sound at both ends and talks to his teammates on defense. He plays well within himself, and looks like a nice mid-major prospect.

James Harden (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS)   Athletic lefty really got better in each round of play. He has a slight frame, but that didn’t stop him from very ably defending Ryan Anderson in the semifinals and still leading the team in scoring. He looked more like a scorer than a shooter, though he did make 3-of-5 from three-point range in the final. Keep an eye on him later on.

Emeka Iweka (6’6″ So. PF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS)   Big body in the post is actually more athletic than he first looks. He’s strong and moves well inside, but undersized for the power forward spot and it showed against the big bodies Artesia had inside. He went 3-12 from the field in that game, playing better against smaller front lines. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect has committed to Oregon State.

Ricky Jackson (6’6″ Jr. SF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS)   Very active forward was around the ball on the glass often, getting some offensive rebounds and scoring some garbage baskets inside. He showed a few glimpses of a game away from the basket and some ball skills, and was part of his team’s frontcourt attack that gave them a big edge. Mid-major/mid-major plus prospect.

Celeste Mayllee (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute)   Athletic forward has decent size and seemed to do his best against the smaller Dunwoody team, where he also had eight rebounds. Mid-major prospect.

Tremaine Menese (6’6″ Jr. SF, Seattle (WA) Rainier Beach HS)   Looks like an undersized power forward, though he’s more athletic than most at that position. He mainly played inside, where he’s active and will score and rebound, and doesn’t seem athletic enough for small forward at a very high level. Mid-major prospect.

Brandon Monroe (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute)   Active athlete doesn’t appear to have much game offensively, but he will get some rebounds and especially at the offensive end. Mid-major prospect.

Raymar Morgan (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Canton (OH) McKinley HS)   The tournament MVP finishes off a nice spring where he showed he is the real deal after at times looking like a bit of a tease. He has legitimate combo forward skills and athleticism, as he’s a good rebounder and can score in and out along with the ball skills, although at this point he’s probably more effective at power forward. Good high-major prospect.

Shanntell Norman (6’9″ Jr. PF-C, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS)   He has lots of size, but his overall mobility is a major concern. He doesn’t run the floor all that well and his post moves seem a bit slow at times, as they need some work. With his size, he can be a presence, but looks the part of a role player. Mid-major prospect.

Brokeith Pane (6’2″ So. SG, Dallas (TX) David W. Carter HS)   Scoring guard showed a nice stroke while also making his share of successful drives to the basket. He’s reasonably quick, has a good frame and handles the ball, but he’s not pass-first and that makes him a shooting guard. Nonetheless, he has the size for that position and can develop into a good prospect.

Samardo Samuels (6’9″ Fr. PF, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s)   How high is the ceiling for him? Very high, if this weekend is any indication. At times, he dominated inside with his mature frame and good mobility, though he also looks raw at both ends and has a tendency to lower his shoulder and get called for offensive fouls. He looked good rebounding, and with improvement on his footwork and overall game, he has a bright future.

Chris Smith (6’2″ So. SG, Lakewood (NJ) St. Benedict’s)   Let’s get one thing out of the way: he isn’t his brother. But with that said, he is playing better of late. He’s an athletic scorer who won’t light it up from long range, as he struggled from there, but he can get to the basket and finish the break. He went for 30 points in two games.

Malik Story (6’4″ Fr. SG, Lakewood (CA) Artesia HS)   He wasn’t the same after his stellar effort Saturday morning. He scored just three points in the semifinals, and though he looked good in the early going of the championship game, he had just 11 points on 3-8 shooting. He’s athletic and has a nice stroke, and generally showed good shot selection. More strength will help him get better, and he’s not the quickest guard, but he certainly has good potential and is right now among the better prospects in his class.

Danny Sumner (6’6″ Jr. SF, Fairfax (VA) Paul VI)   Very athletic forward has some length and skills. He ran the floor well and showed skills for both forward spots, though he’ll probably play the small forward spot more. More strength will only make him better, and this mid-major plus prospect has committed to William & Mary.

William Toro (6’6″ Jr. SF, Laurinburg (NC) Institute)   Athletic wing has a good frame and appears to have the tools to be a nice scorer. He handled the ball often, though he’s not a big point guard, shot it well from long range in one game and got some rebounds. Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.

Baylor: Dennehy Tragedy Comes to a Close

Dennehy Tragedy Comes to a Close: The emotionally wrenching story of the murder of former Baylor forward Patrick Dennehy ended when his former teammate, best friend and admitted killer Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Dotson pleaded guilty to killing his teammate in a field near Baylor in 2003. Dotson disappeared for several weeks before calling police after he said he heard voices. He was deemed incompetent to stand trial last fall and spent time in a mental institution. But psychiatrists said his insanity claim was suspect, and he returned to jail in February.

Several members of Dennehy’s family expressed their anger toward Dotson during the sentence, and Dennehy’s mother said she would attend Dotson’s future parole hearings to try to dissuade prison officials from letting him out. Dotson will be eligible for parole about half way through his sentence.

The case led to the revelation of major violations at Baylor, which resulted in the firing of former coach David Bliss. Bliss paid the tuition of several players, including Dennehy, then asked assistants to tell officials that Dennehy earned his tuition by selling drugs. [6/15/05]

Florida: Walsh Likes What He Hears

Walsh Likes What He Hears: Florida guard Matt Walsh will not be back at Florida for his senior season because his father said Walsh has hired an agent, sealing the deal that he will remain in the NBA Draft. Walsh apparently received positive feedback from several NBA teams, possibly securing a guarantee that he’ll be a first-round selection. Last season, Walsh averaged 14.6 points per game and has the potential to be an excellent sharp-shooter in the NBA. [6/15/05]

George Washington: Colonials Reload, in Part

Colonials Reload, in Part: George Washington has a better chance of repeating as Atlantic 10 champions now that rising senior forward Mike Hall has decided to return to school. Hall declared for the NBA to test his value, but he chose to return after receiving feedback from NBA scouts. Hall averaged 10.6 points and eight rebounds per game for the Colonials, who finished 22-8 and lost to Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Hall and fellow teammate Pops Mensah-Bonsu declared for the draft even though neither one generated much first-round buzz. Mensah-Bonsu remains in the draft and has until June 21 to change his mind. [6/15/05]

Richmond: Richmond, Wainwright Resolve Suit

Richmond, Wainwright Resolve Suit: Richmond officials and former Spiders coach Jerry Wainwright likely won’t be catching up over dinner anytime soon. Nor will they be battling in court. Representatives for the two sides reached an agreement in a lawsuit filed by Richmond officials after Wainwright left the school to coach DePaul. He had two years remaining on his contract, and the school asked for $420,000 in the suit. The two sides reached an agreement, though specific terms were not disclosed.

Wainwright and Richmond apparently had differences of opinion about the academic standards for basketball players and recruits. Some say Wainwright felt forced out after last season, in which the Spiders failed to finish above .500 for the first time in Wainwright’s three-year tenure at Richmond. Former Air Force coach Chris Mooney succeeds Wainwright at Richmond.
[6/15/05]

Georgia State: Panthers Prepare for Future with Perry

Panthers Prepare for Future with Perry: Georgia State will move into the Colonial Athletic Association next season with a coach under long-term contract. Head coach Michael Perry replaced legendary coach Lefty Driesell when he retired in January 2003. Perry has led the Panthers to a 44-33 record since then. The school rewarded that success with a four-year contract. With the move from the Atlantic Sun conference to the CAA, Georgia State moves into a more reputable mid-major conference.
[6/15/05]

Central Connecticut State: Curran Finds Next Job a State Away

Curran Finds Next Job a State Away: Former Siena coach Steve Curran will not waste time with other career opportunities. Central Connecticut State hired Curran as an assistant coach to Howie Dickenman. Curran has experience coaching in the Northeast Conference because he was an assistant for three seasons at Robert Morris. [6/15/05]

Mississippi State: Tough Love from Stansbury

Tough Love from Stansbury: Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury wants rising sophomore forward Walter Sharpe to return to Starkville. But he questions Sharpe’s desire after he repeatedly showed up late to games and practices last season. Sharpe announced his intention to transfer in the spring then changed his mind. Now, Sharpe is at a junior college taking summer classes to improve his academic standing. Once those classes end, Sharpe and Stansbury will meet again to re-evaluate Sharpe’s status for a return to Mississippi State. The coach said he likes the kid and hopes the recent troubles will help him mature. Sharpe averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game last season, playing in nearly every game.
[6/15/05]

Villanova: Wright Completes Staff Changes

Wright Completes Staff Changes: Villanova coach Jay Wright hired Jason Donnelly to become basketball operations coordinator, completing a shake up among his assistants this off-season. Assistant coach Brett Gunning replaced Fred Hill, who left Villanova, and Patrick Chambers moved from basketball operations coordinator to Gunning’s spot. Donnelly arrives in the Philadelphia suburbs after working at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va., one of the better high school basketball programs in the country. He also has experience as an assistant at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. [6/14/05]

George Washington: Hobbs Looks North to Fill Staff

Hobbs Looks North to Fill Staff: George Washington coach Karl Hobbs completed his staff by hiring former New Hampshire coach Phil Rowe as an assistant coach. Rowe replaces Steve Pikiell, who left the Colonials to become head coach at Stony Brook. Rowe joins Hobbs for the second time – the two worked together as assistants at Boston University in the early 1990s. He had been New Hampshire’s coach for the past six seasons. [6/14/05]

Auburn: Neither the NBA Nor Auburn

Neither the NBA Nor Auburn: Rising sophomore guard Toney Douglas will not remain eligible for the NBA Draft, withdrawing his name from the list of early entrants who could be drafted later this month. Douglas did not receive positive enough feedback from NBA scouts to forgo the remainder of this collegiate eligibility. But Douglas won’t return to Auburn, either. The Tigers released Douglas from his scholarship on the condition that he transfers to a school outside the SEC. In one season at Auburn, Douglas averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. His dad said coach Jeff Lebo played Douglas out of position, however, because Douglas is better suited to play point guard, especially in the NBA. [6/14/05]

Georgetown: Georgetown Roster Returns Two More

Georgetown Roster Returns Two More: Georgetown can rely on two familiar faces next season because rising senior forward Brandon Bowman has chosen not to remain in the NBA Draft and recent graduate Darrel Owens will complete his athletic eligibility while pursuing another degree. Bowman tested his draft prospects after averaging 15.2 points and six rebounds per game last season for the Hoyas. Owens, meanwhile, was a significant role player, averaging 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He also started 15 games last season. [6/14/05]

Fullerton: Fullerton Brings Home Two [6/25/05]

Fullerton Brings Home Two: Two local players will join Cal State – Fullerton next season. Scott Cutley and Ray Reed played high school ball in Southern California and are transferring to the Titans’ program with two years of eligibility remaining. Cutley was a consistent starter at Kent State last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Reed was a reserve at Georgetown, averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Both players must sit out this coming season according to NCAA rules for transfers. The Titans had their most successful season in years with a 21-11 finish last season. [6/14/05]

Arkansas: Richardson Trying Again

Richardson Trying Again: A lawyer acting for former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson filed an appeal to the verdict that rejected that Arkansas wrongfully fired Richardson based on racial grounds and violated his First Amendment rights. Richardson and his law team contend that athletic director Frank Broyles fired the coach after a sequence of events that included Richardson publicly criticizing the university for racially discriminatory practices. Specifically, he said football coach Houston Nutt, who is white, received better treatment, including through his contract with the university. The appeals court will likely need several months to consider the case before reaching a decision. [6/14/05]

Syracuse: Next Chapter of Edelin Saga

Next Chapter of Edelin Saga: It seems like every few months Billy Edelin finds his way into the news columns. The latest status of the former Syracuse point guard is that he is taking classes at Mountain State University, winners of the 2004 NAIA championship and a perennial powerhouse at that level. Edelin averaged four points and 1.7 assists last season for Syracuse in a limited role. But for the second time, he didn’t finish the season in the lineup, sitting out the final seven games and not traveling with the team during the NCAA Tournament. Edelin also started the 2003-04 season with the Orange before quitting for personal issues. The Mountain State coursework may be the first step in comeback No. 2 at Syracuse. [6/14/05]

Wake Forest: Williams Eases Wake’s Loss

Williams Eases Wake’s Loss: Wake Forest rising senior center Eric Williams decided not to remain in the NBA Draft because he did not receive a guarantee from NBA scouts that he will be drafted in the first round. Williams’ return lessens the blow to Wake Forest caused by the departure of point guard Chris Paul. Unlike Williams, Paul is unanimously considered a top five pick in the NBA Draft later this month. Williams led Wake Forest last season with 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. [6/13/05]

Notre Dame: Luck of the Irish

Luck of the Irish: Notre Dame received good news when rising senior forward Torin Francis opted not to remain in the NBA Draft. With the deadline for early entrants to return to school coming soon, the Fighting Irish are one of the beneficiaries of less interest by NBA scouts in some players. Francis sought a guarantee that he would be drafted in the first round, which he apparently didn’t receive. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season for the Irish. [6/13/05]

Eastern Shore: Parham Pulls Out [6/25/05]

Parham Pulls Out: Maryland – Eastern Shore rising senior forward Tim Parham has opted to return to the Fighting Hawks after testing his potential in the NBA Draft. Parham finished last season averaging 11.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, one of the MEAC’s best players. The MEAC does not exactly generate loads of NBA talent – Seattle’s Jerome James in 1998 was the last player from the conference to be drafted. Parham will return to school to improve his game and statistics to improve his draft stock for next season.
[6/13/05]

Rider: Rider Fills Coaching Staff

Rider Fills Coaching Staff: Rider coach Don Harnum completed his staff by hiring assistant coach Dane Fischer. Fischer comes to Rider after spending a season at Williams College, a Division III program. Fischer played at Ithaca College and graduated in 2002. In two years as an assistant at Williams, the team went 46-11 and nearly won the Division III national title. [6/13/05]