Steele Needs More Surgery: Alabama senior guard Ronald Steele needs more surgery to fully repair his left knee. He had arthroscopic surgery in April to repair cartilage. The injury-ridden point guard is expected to be ready for action by the start of the season. Steele averaged 8.6 points per game last season for the Crimson Tide. [8/23/07]
Smith Will Take a Seat: Illinois junior guard Jamar Smith will miss the upcoming season to take care of legal and personal issues. He will maintain his two remaining years of eligibility by redshirting. Smith pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence in May. In February, he and teammate Brian Carlwell consumed alcohol, and Smith then drove a car home and crashed on the way, leaving Carlwell in the hospital for four days with a severe concussion. Coach Bruce Weber said the time off will be best for Smith, who he hopes will be back with the team the following season. Smith averaged 8.1 points per game last season and was the Illini’s best three-point threat. [8/23/07]
Stokes Departs East Carolina for Good: Former East Carolina coach Ricky Stokes and the university have decided to part ways, initiating a buyout clause that will let Stokes leave for good. He was reassigned within the department three weeks ago, and assistant coach Mack McCarthy became the head coach. However, Stokes and university officials changed their minds, choosing to end the relationship altogether. Stokes had been the Pirates’ coach for two years and failed to elevate East Carolina to prominence in Conference USA. [8/23/07]
Seasoned Programs Host Regional Coaches vs. Cancer Games: The 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefeting Coaches vs. Cancer will have four prominent programs as its regional hosts this season. Connecticut, Kentucky, Memphis and Oklahoma will host the regional action that feeds to the finals in New York’s Madison Square Garden Nov. 15-16. The early season tournament has been one of the most entertaining and significant tournaments in November, featuring recent national champions such as Florida, Syracuse and Maryland. [8/23/07]
McClure Must Wait to Hit the Court: Duke junior forward David McClure will have surgery to fully repair his right knee, which has been causing pain and discomfort. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said McClure will likely need six to eight weeks to heal, which will force him to miss offseason conditioning programs and practices before the team can officially practice in October. He should be ready to go before the season starts in November. McClure averaged 4.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season as a key member of the Blue Devils’ rotation. [8/22/07]
Yellow Jackets to Start the Season Thin Upfront: Georgia Tech senior center Ra’Sean Dickey will miss at least the first month of play because he is academically ineligible. He must get his grades higher before he can rejoin the team, which would not occur until mid-December at the earliest. Dickey was critical to Georgia Tech’s post presence last season, averaging 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. [8/19/07]
Underclassmen Impress Among Top New Englanders
BOSTON – The second annual New England Elite 75 Showcase was held at Boston University on Wednesday. While the game is often dominated by guards at this and the college level, it was an especially good day for several frontcourt players and for underclassmen. Even with the play of underclassmen, for sheer number the class of 2008 led the way.
The class of 2008 was especially well-represented by guards, with a pair of Atlantic 10 commits being the best of the bunch. Recent Saint Joseph’s commit Chris Prescott (6’2″ PG-SG, West Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) scored the ball well with a variety of drives and finished with both hands, while also knocking down several three-pointers. He’s clearly become quite a scorer in the last year, although he’s still very capable of running a team. Rhode Island commit Stevie Mejia (5’9″ PG, Hyde Park (MA) Lawrence Academy) was also among the best of the bunch. He played well here last year, and just continued to show his good progress as he’s still solid shooting off the dribble and more mature physically.
There were more point guards who showed well from this class. Janzy Cruz (5’8″ PG, Winchendon (MA) School) showed off his quickness, as the lefty does well playing at a high speed. Brett Tessler (5’10″ PG, IMG Academy) once again showed that he can really pass the ball well on the drive and dish, while also knocking down a shot from long range to show he can keep defenses honest. The question is if he can get by anyone, but there aren’t any doubts about his ability to run a team and involve his teammates. Raheem Singleton (5’11″ PG, Boston (MA) Notre Dame Prep) made it to the all-star game with his usual hard-nosed play, as he’s not a great scorer or shooter but finds a way and involves teammates. The late-bloomer did knock down a couple of shots from long range late, but that’s not his forte.
The wing was home to a couple of players who shot the ball well. Tim McKinney (6’5″ SG, Dorchester (MA) Boston College HS) got into a groove in the morning drills, while Maine commit Jon McAllian (6’5″ SG, Bangor (ME) High) showed a good stroke from long range and should keep getting better with added strength. UMass commit David Gibbs (6’4″ SG, West Simsbury (CT) Masters Prep) made the all-star team and showed his athleticism and scoring ability. Jerell Gomes (6’3″ SG, Providence (RI) Feinstein HS) shot the ball well and hasn’t fully matured yet, and looked more athletic than a year ago.
A pair of Connecticut wings played well by being active and making plays. Stanford Dulaire (6’5″ SF, Hartford (CT) Watkinson School) continues to play well, making the all-star game here. He’s athletic, plays bigger and makes a lot of plays, rebounding well from the wing and becoming a better offensive player all the time. Then there’s the versatile Mike Myers-Keitt (6’6″ SF, Fairfield (CT) Marianapolis Prep), who struggled making shots in his first game but seemed to never miss in the second. Through it all, he was the same player we’ve seen a few times before: active and running the floor while finding the ball to make plays and showing an occasional touch out to mid-range on his jumper.
It wasn’t just guards who shined here from the current senior crop. John Hegarty (6’11″ C, Winchendon (MA) School) had a big day at last year’s event, and while he wasn’t as good this time around, he still used his big body well at times to gain an edge inside. On the other hand, undersized power forward Chris Baskerville (6’5″ PF, Hartford (CT) Lee Academy) played like he always does, using his strong body inside to play bigger than his size and make plays. The Central Connecticut State commit is a max-effort player and will be a nice addition to the Blue Devils. An AAU teammate of his, Nick Greenbacker (6’9″ PF, Manchester (CT) East Catholic HS), is a solid role player that doesn’t stand out but does the little things to help a team. James Marcellus (6’8″ PF, Braintree (MA) Bridgton Academy) was at his best when he used his good body inside instead of floating on the perimeter as he has good post scoring ability and also rebounded well. Andrew Van Nest (6’10″ PF, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon) is starting to fill out, which will only help as he already has solid face-up skills at the position.
The class of 2009 is where the real frontcourt riches are, with Tucker Halpern (6’8″ SF, Dedham (MA) Noble & Greenough School) having been arguably the best player at the event. He shot the ball very well from long range and showed solid ball skills while running the floor very well. It’s safe to say he picked up right where he left off when we last saw him shining at the Rumble in the Bronx in June. The best prospect in the group is Connecticut commit Alex Oriakhi (6’8″ PF, Tilton (NH) School), who had his moments and continues to show that he has all the fundamental tools to be a star. He can score inside with ease when he wants to, as he also has the good body and just needs to have the killer instinct on a consistent basis. Tevin Baskin (6’7″ SF-PF, Stamford (CT) Trinity Catholic HS) showed off his athleticism, exploding for a few big dunks along the way. He’ll need to improve his stroke shooting the ball, but there’s certainly good upside. Ben Crenca (6’9″ PF, Exeter (RI) Worcester Academy) is now healthy, and he showed what he can do en route to the all-star game. While he needs to improve his conditioning, the fundamental post moves are certainly there and he rebounded well and followed with a few nice outlet passes. He’s clearly at his best if he gets the ball where he can make a scoring move without putting the ball on the floor, but with some better conditioning he’ll be even more dangerous.
Jamal Coombs, (6’6″ SF, Tilton (NH) School), who like Oriakhi has committed to Connecticut, continued to show that he can do things other than score to help his team. Here, he rebounded well and made a few nice passes. He didn’t shoot it as well as he has before, which has been the case since the start of the spring, but give him credit for not letting it affect other parts of his game.
A couple of frontcourt players who opened some eyes with their play here were Matt Labove (6’9″ PF-C, Shrewsbury (MA) St. John’s HS) and Adrian Satchell (6’6″ SF-PF, Windsor (CT) High). Labove doesn’t stand out, but holds his own inside and at one point made a nice turnaround jumper, while Satchell has a good body and showed a touch from mid-range.
It wasn’t just the bigs who shined from this class, though. Mike Marra (6’5″ SG, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon) was arguably the best shooter here, constantly hitting in the drills and continuing when he got looks from long range in the games. How he wasn’t selected for the all-star game is beyond this writer. Tyrone Gardner (6’0″ PG, Hartford (CT) Weaver HS) had a solid showing, scoring the ball well and also hitting shots from long range. He went for 26 points in one game. Steven Samuels (6’4″ SG, Windsor (CT) High) is one player who emerged, as he played bigger than his size with some stickbacks and going inside at times. His body still has some maturing to do, so he’s only begun to show what he can do. Gerard Coleman (6’3″ SG, West Roxbury (MA) High) showed his good finishing ability and didn’t shy away from contact. Once he matures and develops a good jumper, he’ll be a more dangerous scorer. Austin Carroll (6’2″ SG, Worcester (MA) Academy) shot the ball well from long range. Billy Baron (6’0″ PG-SG, Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken HS) showed no ill effects from a recent ankle injury, shooting the ball well most of the day. The top prospect in Vermont, Candon Rusin (6’3″ SG, Wilmington (VT) Twin Valley HS), shot the ball well from mid-range and long range.
A couple of guards in this class emerged over the course of the day, notably Mike Accaoui (5’10″ PG, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s School) and Chris Evans (6’1″ SG, Stamford (CT) High). Both showed that they’ll be worth keeping an eye on as they enter their junior year.
The class of 2010 might contain the best player of the day, as Nate Lubick (6’8″ SF-PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School) had a terrific showing. He ran the floor very well and showed his high skill level, especially as he shot the ball very well and didn’t miss often. When it’s all said and done, he could be the best player out of New England in this class.
A pair of point guards, Nadir Tharpe (5’11″ PG, Worcester (MA) St. Peter Marian HS) and Mike Rivera (5’10″ PG, Thompson (CT) Marianapolis Prep) impressed, with Tharpe constantly getting in the lane to make plays. Meanwhile, a trio of wings, Denzel Brito (6’1″ SG, Groton (MA) Lawrence Academy), Corey Andrews (6’5″ SF, Waterbury (CT) Sacred Heart HS) and Matt Brown (6’2″ SG, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon), all showed that they have a bright future. Brito didn’t shoot it as well as we’ve seen him before, but we don’t have to be sold on his scoring ability. Andrews has some maturing to do physically but is athletic, while Brown wasn’t a big name before he shot the ball well in games to get himself noticed more.
Finishing it off, a couple of young players in the class of 2011 showed some promise that will make them worth watching during the next few years. Well-built wing Dominique Bull (6’3″ SG-SF, Ashburnham (MA) Cushing Academy) and combo guard Joe Sharkey (6’2″ PG-SG, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon) will both start playing at a high level right away in the prep ranks, although Sharkey is a re-classified member of this class.
Rattlers Ax Gillespie Before Stalking Resolution: Florida A&M has fired coach Mike Gillespie because of his involvement in stalking charges. Police issued the charges three months ago after warning him to stay away from a former girlfriend. He was arrested when he drove by her office in May. Gillespie and his lawyer have been working to find an agreeable solution to the charges. But the university acted first by dismissing Gillespie, who led the Rattlers to two NCAA Tournament appearance in six seasons. Gillespie’s lawyer is upset that the university mishandled the situation — some players knew about the firing before Gillespie did. [8/15/07]
Texas Tech Center Gets Unusual Extra Eligibility: Texas Tech fifth-year senior Esmir Rizvic received another half-year of eligibility from the NCAA because he missed the second half of last season with a fractured face. The NCAA usually only grants an entire year of eligibility, not fractions. The association made an exception for Rizvic because of the severity and nature of the injury. Rizvic was injured in a game against Oklahoma in which Longar Longar elbowed Rizvic in the eye socket and was called for an intentional foul. Rizvic can play in either the first or second half of this coming season, and the team will likely choose the latter. [8/14/07]
Looking Ahead to the New England Elite 75 Invitational
The second annual New England Elite 75 Invitational, organized by Adam Finkelstein of New England Recruiting Report and Hoop Scoop and Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com, is right around the corner. On August 15, many of the top high school prospects in New England will gather at Boston University for a day of basketball. Last year’s inaugural event was a big success, with several players having a breakout day that proved to be a springboard for a nice season.
Two notable players who starred last year, Rhode Island commits Stevie Mejia (5’8″ Sr. PG, Hyde Park (MA) Lawrence Academy) and John Hegarty (6’11″ Sr. C, Winchendon (MA) School), will be there again this year. For each, their play at this event was just the beginning of a steady rise, with Mejia going on to play in the Rbk U Camp last month in Philadelphia.
While Mejia and Hegarty are the most notable returnees in the class of 2008, the best prospect may be the one who recently came back home. 6’7″ power forward Troy Gillenwater spent several years in California, most recently at Stoneridge Prep, but will now prep closer to his Boston home. Reportedly, Notre Dame Prep was his destination, but that may be up in the air with the recent departure of Bill Barton for an assistant coaching job at Duquesne.
A pair of Atlantic 10 commits from the state of Connecticut are also among the top rising seniors who will be there. UMass commit David Gibbs (6’4″ SG, West Simsbury (CT) Masters Prep) and AAU teammate Chris Prescott (6’1″ PG, West Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) headline the group. B.J. Monteiro (6’5″ SG-SF Waterbury (CT) Crosby HS), who played well at the Rbk U camp in July, will also represent Connecticut, as will improving wing Stanford Dulaire (6’5″ SF, Hartford (CT) Watkinson School) and big man Greg Mangano (6’10″ PF-C, West Haven (CT) Notre Dame HS), who likes to play facing the basket.
Also among the rising seniors are a few who have played well in recent months. Raheem Singleton (5’11″ PG, Boston (MA) Notre Dame Prep) has opened some eyes with his play in the last couple of months, while Mike Myers-Keitt (6’6″ SF, Fairfield (CT) Marianapolis Prep) played well in the latter part of the spring, and another emerging prospect is Connecticut guard Shane Gibson (6’2″ SG, Danielson (CT) Killingly HS), an AAU teammate of Myers’ who has shot the ball well and scores plenty of points.
Nationally, the class of 2009 looks to have more depth than the class of 2008, and that’s also true in New England. It is highlighted by a pair of Connecticut commits, Alex Oriakhi (6’8″ PF) and Jamal Coombs (6’6″ SF), both of whom will attend Tilton (NH) School this year after attending Winchendon last year. The star potential doesn’t stop there, as Erik Murphy (6’8″ PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School), Tyrone Gardner (6’0″ PG, Hartford (CT) Weaver HS), Tevin Baskin (6’7″ SF-PF, Stamford (CT) Trinity Catholic HS) and Kyle Casey (6’6″ SF, Chestnut Hill (MA) Brimmer & May) are among those who will be present. Gardner led his Connecticut Select team to the 16-under national championship last month, while Baskin competed in the NBA Player’s Association Top 100 Camp in June.
Like the class ahead of them, the class of 2009 will be represented by several who have played well in recent months. Big men Dartaye Ruffin (6’8″ PF, Worcester (MA) Academy), Jordan Williams (6’7″ PF, Torrington (CT) High) and Ben Crenca (6’9″ PF, Exeter (RI) Worcester Academy) lead the way, while Rhode Island guards Nyheem Sanders (6’2″ PG-SG, Barrington (RI) St. Andrew’s School) and Corey Wright Jr. (5’10″ PG, Pawtucket (RI) St. Raphael’s HS) played good basketball late in the spring and into July as well. The top prospect in Vermont, Candon Rusin (6’3″ SG, Wilmington (VT) Twin Valley HS), will also be present.
For good measure, attendees from this class will include a few players who have flown under the radar even by New England standards, namely Matt Labove (6’9″ PF, Shrewsbury (MA) St. John’s HS), Peter Kaasila (6’8″ PF, Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School) and Evan Smotrycz (6’7″ SF, Reading (MA) Memorial HS).
The class of 2010 has some real potential at the top that will be in action. It is a guard-heavy group, led by Nadir Tharpe (5’11″ PG, Worcester (MA) St. Peter Marian HS), Josh Turner (6’5″ SG, Waterbury (CT) Sacred Heart HS), Rodney Beldo (5’10″ PG, Scituate (MA) High) and Mike Rivera (5’11″ PG, Thompson (CT) Marianapolis Prep). This mirrors the class nationally, as a number of point guards were impressive this spring and the class shapes up as possibly having the next big wave of point guards. The most notable frontcourt player is Nate Lubick (6’8″ SF-PF Southborough (MA) St. Mark’s School), who has shown plenty of potential thus far.
Headlining the class of 2011 is a reclassified freshman, Joe Sharkey (6’2″ PG-SG, Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon). Sharkey showed some promise at the event last year and at times during the spring.
Topping off the day will be a series of games featuring top participants against New England-based players who have moved on to the college ranks and beyond. They include professionals Matt Bonner, Donny Marshall and T.J. Sorrentine, as well as current college players like UConn junior Jeff Adrien, Providence junior Jonathan Kale, Vermont junior Mike Trimboli, and a triumvirate of current Rhode Island players in junior Jimmy Baron (whose younger brother Billy is among the event participants) and sophomores Lamonte Ulmer and Keith Cothran.
Last year’s event was a success, and this year’s looks to be better. We will be covering it at Boston University, telling you about the top prospects in New England.
The 2007 Spring and Summer, Part One: Players and Teams
The spring and summer travel team period has come and gone. While there are still a handful of travel team tournaments in the next couple of months, none are live for college coaches and history tells us that some of them tend to be underclassmen-dominated instead of having top seniors. That’s not a bad thing, but it means that a lot of the evaluation is done for the time being. Our next real viewing will come during the high school and prep season, save for the New England Top 75 Elite Invitational next week.
In this first of two stories looking back at the crucial recruiting period, we look at many highlights of the period. The second one will include a look at some non-basketball aspects of the travel team scene.
General Observations
Who Warmed Up With the Weather?
Delvon Roe (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Cleveland (OH) St. Edward’s HS)
Mike Rosario (6’2″ Sr. SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s)
Kemba Walker (6’0″ Sr. PG-SG, New York (NY) Rice HS)
Elliot Williams (6’4″ Sr. SG, Memphis (TN) St. George’s HS)
Tyler Zeller (7’2″ Sr. C, Washington (IL) High)
Roe continued to show why he’s one of the elite players in the class of 2008, as he came through time and time again for his team in the clutch and kept them in a couple of big games they couldn’t quite pull out. Rosario shot the lights out on several occasions and really came alive around the month of June. Walker consistently played well, especially in big games, emerging as more of a scorer after impressing last year with his ability to run a team. Williams can flat-out score and lets his game do the talking. Zeller was a big part of Indiana Elite’s two big championships in the spring.
Bad Impressions
Chris Braswell (6’9″ Sr. PF, Hyattsville (MD) Dematha Catholic HS)
Junior Cadougan (6’0″ Jr. PG, Toronto (Ont.) Christian Life Academy)
Anthony Crater (6’1″ Sr. PG, Flint (MI) Southwestern Academy)
Matt Simpkins (6’9″ Sr. PF, Sacramento (CA) Capital Christian School)
Braswell is one of the latest post players to look less impressive while trying to play like a small forward, as he didn’t impress while playing away from the basket all too often. Cadougan has put on a good deal of weight and looks much less effective now than he did a year ago. Crater ran the show for a loaded King of the Court team, but didn’t shoot well and was just so-so as a floor leader. As for Simpkins’ place on this list, see: Braswell, Chris.
Players Who Emerged
Demar DeRozan (6’6″ Sr. SF, Compton (CA) High)
Travis Leslie (6’5″ Sr. SF, Decatur (GA) Columbia HS)
Zach Rosen (6’1″ Sr. PG, Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s Prep)
Eloy Vargas (6’10″ Sr. SF-PF, Plantation (FL) American Heritage HS)
Robert Wilson (6’3″ Sr. SG, Garfield Heights (OH) High)
DeRozan can flat-out score the ball, and his consistency has brought him from being a good high-major prospect to a big-time prospect. Leslie wasn’t the first name one might think of on the stacked Georgia Stars team, but the active rebounding forward played very well in the spring and certainly boosted his stock. Rosen will give Penn, where he committed, a tough and heady floor leader who scores in flow and makes teammates better. Vargas was a non-factor a year ago, but now looks like a legitimate combo forward, although he wasn’t a big factor inside save for a few blocked shots. Wilson is yet another under-the-radar player that Bo Ryan has picked up at Wisconsin, where he committed in the midst of a solid spring.
Players Who Just Kept Playing Well
William Buford (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Toledo (OH) Libby HS)
Ed Davis (6’8″ Sr. PF, Richmond (VA) Benedictine HS)
Devin Ebanks (6’8″ Sr. SF, Brooklyn (NY) St. Thomas More)
Terrence Jennings (6’10″ Sr. PF, Sacramento (CA) Mt. Zion Christian Academy)
While it’s nice to highlight those who stood out, blew up or simply got better, there are also plenty of players who deserve notice for continuing to play well after first establishing themselves as elite prospects.
Buford has been solid all along, and deceptively so in that there were times he didn’t stand out, yet a check of the score sheet showed that he still had 20-25 points. Davis continues to simply find a way to score and lead his team, remaining among the elite players in the class of 2008. Ebanks remains a talented and skilled scorer, at times playing like a man who wouldn’t be denied. Jennings is a basketball nomad, but while his location has changed often his excellent scoring ability inside has not.
Youth Movement, Part 1: Best We Saw From the Class of 2009
Dominic Cheek (6’6″ SG, Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony’s)
Jordan Hamilton (6’7″ SF, Compton (CA) Dominguez HS)
Terrell Vinson (6’7″ SF, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian School)
Jamil Wilson (6’7″ SF-PF, Racine (WI) Horlick HS)
Cheek was terrific all spring and looks to be the next stud out of powerhouse St. Anthony’s. Hamilton can really score the ball and was excellent in a couple of events we saw. Vinson is fun to watch play the game, as he’s not a great athlete but has a terrific feel for the game and is highly skilled. Wilson, a versatile combo forward, is similar to Vinson in that he doesn’t beat you primarily with physical tools.
Youth Movement, Part 2: Best We Saw From the Class of 2010
Taran Buie (6’2″ SG, Albany (NY) Bishop Maginn HS)
Fuquan Edwin (6’5″ SF, Paterson (NJ) Catholic HS)
Brandon Knight (6’3″ SG, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Pine Crest HS)
Dion Waiters (6’2″ SG, Philadelphia (PA) St. John Neumann-Goretti)
Buie started strong with a terrific showing as he led his Albany City Rocks team to an impressive 15-under title at the Boo Williams Invitational, then kept that play up all spring. Edwin looks to be the next big star at Paterson Catholic, an athletic scoring wing who came up big in a couple of championship games for his team. Knight could be the top player in the class right now, as he can flat-out score and doesn’t try to do too much. Waiters can score the ball and has a good body and impressed in a couple of viewings this spring and summer.
Best Team
Unlike last year, when there was a clear choice, this was a tough call, as several teams made a good case. Indiana Elite was the best team in the spring, winning the Kingwood Classic and the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, and winning the title games in each in blowout fashion to boot. But with a strong July that saw them win the Nike Peach Jam and the Main Event, the Gauchos overtake them for the nod here. The Gauchos were strong during the spring, winning the Cactus Classic in May and reaching the semifinals in at least one other tournament we covered, so their big run in July puts them over the top.
Our Favorite Team
This is a rather subjective category, but one worth mentioning. The nod here goes to the Marquis Daniels Showtime Ballers, a 16-under team based in Orlando, Florida. This team is loaded with guards, as they seemingly keep throwing them at you, and they all can play. Most are well-built, can score and handle the ball, and any one of them can have a big game on you while the others play complementary roles. They don’t have much size, but they had plenty of success with their guards and with forwards who play bigger. It’s a good thing we have another year to see them, as they will be a 17-under team next year.
Best Tournament
This one is a tough call between the Houston Kingwood Classic and Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. We’ll give the nod to the Kingwood Classic in a close call, as it had one great game after another both in pool play and in the playoff rounds.
Best Game
The call here is for a semifinal at the King James Shooting Stars Classic between the Georgia Stars and King of the Court. This was every bit the dandy everyone expected it to be, and it came right down to the wire as two of the top players in the class in Delvon Roe and Al-Farouq Aminu led two stacked teams. Adding to the atmosphere was the crowd, which featured numerous college coaches as well as spectators. It was a back-and-forth game, and King of the Court looked to have it when Anthony Crater hit a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds. But the Stars came right back up the floor, got off a shot that didn’t go, but Travis Leslie was right there to dunk it home as time expired, giving the Stars that victory and a berth in the title game, which they won.
Stay tuned for part 2 of our spring and summer recap in about another week.
Mountain Hawks Find Coach in Their Nest: Lehigh has promoted associate coach Brett Reed to succeed coach Billy Taylor, who left the Mountain Hawks to take the Ball State job. Reed has been with Lehigh for five years after working at High Point for two seasons. Taylor established a winning culture at Lehigh that Reed will strive to continue. Taylor was 81-69 in five seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2004. [8/11/07]
Visitors Find Out How Good the Friars Are
by Ray Floriani
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The name “St. Anthony’s” is nationally synonymous with high school basketball excellence. Now that reputation is going across the pond. St. Anthony’s defeated Bolwek Eiffel Towers Den Bosch 108-64 at Golden Door Charter School. The opposition on this first Friday evening in August was a high school club from Holland.
Eiffel Towers had an advantage in height. St. Anthony’s, missing Dominic Cheek due to injury, went with a four-guard alignment and 6’7″ A.J. Rogers in the middle. Even with the height advantage, the visitors did not use a true post-up offense. Rather, they initiated their sets with dribble penetration. Once the lane was closed the ball would be passed to the perimeter for a shot. “They ran their sets very similar to CBA (Christian Brothers Academy),” St. Anthony’s assistant Ben Gamble said. “They run the cuts and use the back-screens. They are very similar to CBA except they execute just a little faster.” Gamble ran the club while head coach Bob Hurley surveyed the action from a chair on the baseline just near the Friar bench.
After a relatively close first quarter, St. Anthony’s went on a tear. The Friars got in the passing lanes, forced deflections, got steals and fueled their fast break. Senior guard Mike Rosario was not only dangerous on the break but deadly from beyond the arc in a halfcourt set. “We extended the defense to guard against the skips (passes),” Gamble said. “We mixed up our defenses all game and after awhile fatigue set in.”
At the half, when Eiffel could catch a breather, it was 67-37 St. Anthony’s. The opening minutes of the third quarter saw the Friars, led by Rosario and running mate Tyshawn Taylor, go on a tear and wipe out any remote hope of Eiffel trimming the deficit. After three quarters, St. Anthony’s led 89-44.
The Friars used JV and varsity hopefuls the entire fourth quarter. Showing their depth, this rotation played Eiffel even. Overall the St. Anthony’s staff is pleased where they are.
“This is a very experienced team,” Gamble said. “They played together through the summer and have been together three years. They are getting prepared for the season and the states.”
That latter reference is no secret. St. Anthony’s plays for today but is motivated for March.
Notes
Kruger Has Bypass Surgery to Clear Blockages: UNLV coach Lon Kruger had open-heart surgery Aug. 3 to remove blockages from his heart. The four-hour procedure was successful, and the hospital released Kruger Aug. 6. Kruger, 54, has been the Rebels’ coach for three seasons and has a five-year deal through 2012. The coach will rest for several days and hopes to get back on the job in the next four weeks. [8/06/07]
Basketball Is Life – Is That a Good Thing?
Last Thursday evening, I arrived back in the office fresh from a good four-mile run on a hot and humid day to be greeted by shocking news. Not long after he went for a run of his own, Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser passed away earlier in the day. I was simply speechless. There were no words to describe what I was thinking other than pure shock.
I never knew Skip Prosser, and only once covered a game that a team of his played. It was one of the Demon Deacons’ final games in their disappointing 2005-06 season, when they finished last in the ACC. So there’s not much for me to remember personally about the man, certainly not the way a few other national writers have. Reading the stories I have in the last week by writers I respect a great deal, it’s clear that luck was not with me in that respect. So many in the coaching profession and the media spoke glowingly of the man, and it seems for good reason.
The cause of death is not known, but as is often the case, something like this leads to a perspective check. The timing of it makes that the case even more so than it would all by itself.
Prosser’s death came during the month of July, the craziest month of the year for college coaches. Most spend all but a few days of the month living out of a suitcase, going from one event to another as the nation’s top high school prospects constantly battle it out. Prosser was back on campus after first being in Las Vegas, then taking a red-eye to Orlando for a day. This comes on the heels of ESPN.com’s Andy Katz reporting that Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins had an important contributor to the seizure he had recently: he constantly burns the midnight oil.
We already know that athletics is a fiercely competitive field; that doesn’t have to be established. Many of the best at what they do are constantly trying to out-work the competition in some way. That’s also true for those of us in the media. We’re all trying to out-work the competition, whether for recruits, a victory, or to break a big story. When it comes to recruiting, coaches have been made to feel like they can’t afford to miss something, especially when players commit to a school and cite how that school’s coach recruited him “harder and longer” than anyone else did. Even now, many coaches talk about having to “babysit” players who have committed to them – they can’t stop watching the player’s games just because he committed, as he could de-commit and go for someone who recruited him “more” or “harder”. And when stories like those of Skip Prosser and Steve Hawkins come to light, it’s easy to wonder if sometimes the hot pursuit is worth it all in the grand scheme of things. After all, a person can get another job, but not another life.
That’s not to say none of us should work hard. Besides, in theory at least, coaches love what they do and we in the media love what we do, so that’s not a concern. For many of us in the business, this is a job in name only, because it doesn’t feel like “work” to us, but it’s also one like many in America today in that we work more hours than ever and almost seem like we’re married to our jobs. Oftentimes, we’re at times made to feel like that is the only way to go. At many AAU tournaments, a typical day starts around 8 or 9 in the morning and runs until about midnight. Since coaches and media don’t often get much chance to leave the gym, eating is sometimes done at odd hours of the day save for concessions or in a hospitality suite.
Coaches have numerous responsibilities, going well beyond teaching the game and working the X’s and O’s in the locker room. There is recruiting, scheduling, camps (which Prosser was back on the Wake Forest campus for), helping players with off-court matters, alumni, and more. During the season, it’s a very consuming job, but it doesn’t end there. With the business being even more cut-throat now, along with many jobs changing hands every year, it’s not enough to call it a “demanding” job. “All-encompassing” is more like it.
As shared recently, I covered over 100 college games this past season. That wasn’t all, as I probably covered over 30 high school games, and then from the Final Four weekend through the middle of July, it was non-stop action with high school travel teams. Indeed, the downtime was limited, and off-days such as the only one I had during an 11-day stretch covering conference tournaments in March were precious (and yet that day still saw me fly from Tulsa to Chicago, so it wasn’t a completely free day). I have no intention of slowing down next college season as well, although a few coaches tell me to take a break every now and then. They say it with a smile, knowing that doing so isn’t in my nature, but as they know the demands of coaching, it’s clear that they say it with genuine concern. Although covering the game isn’t the same as coaching it, it’s still very demanding work nonetheless. At a time like this, though, the natural question arises: just how important is this in the grand scheme of things?
That’s also one reason I am content with the fact that I take it easy, relatively speaking, in July. After the first two weekends, I am done for the month. It surprises colleagues and coaches who see me around constantly, but there is a need for a few sane months out of the year. This is that time. It’s also a large part of why I gave up playing competitive baseball two years ago. I love the game and had a good season in what would prove to be my final one, but when I found myself burning the midnight oil 11 months out of the year, something had to give.
This perspective also comes in because those who have written about Prosser remember the non-basketball things about the man. They’re quick to mention that he was a teacher, first and foremost, and really believed that. They share stories of how well-read he was. They share stories of how he was a regular guy with everyone he knew. In short, they share stories of how he was a wonderful human being.
One thing that happened this past month that is definitely a plus is that the NCAA, which sanctions all July events at which coaches can be present, made restrictions on scheduling. Specifically, no games can start before 8 A.M., and none can start after 10 P.M. local time. That meant the schedules were more sane for this month, and it was a welcome change. One can only hope that it’s the start of a trend, which is possible considering there has been talk of changing the recruiting landscape in terms of “live” and “dead” periods.
It’s been over a week since I first came across the shocking news, and the shock still hasn’t worn off. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Skip Prosser.
Aggies Dismiss Nelson: New Mexico State senior forward Tyrone Nelson is off the team after he pleaded out of robbery and bribery charges. Nelson avoided trial by pleading no contest, which qualifies as an admission of guilt. The university’s rules call for the dismissal of any player who pleads or is found guilty of a felony. After missing the first eight games last season because of an injury, Nelson played well, averaging 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. [8/01/07]
New Crimson Coach Hires Another Assistant: Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker has completed his coaching staff with the hire of Brian DeStefano as an assistant coach. DeStefano was most recently a graduate assistant and the head team manager at Duke, where he graduated in 2005 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and completed his masters in that field in June. [8/01/07]
Although it wasn’t quite as bad as last season, this was hardly one for the books for Wake Forest. After an 82-60 blowout loss against Maryland on Thursday, the Demon Deacons finished 13-18 overall. That doesn’t seem so bad, and a few teams had worse records, but look deeper and you see a team that, quite simply, was not good.
Ron Hunter is a terrific addition to the Colonial Athletic Association coaching ranks. That could have been said before the season given his track record and the impression he made on Media Day in October, but after the CAA Tournament it bears repeating because it was so obvious.
In theory, the next six days should be quite stressful for Drexel and head coach Bruiser Flint. As the regular season champions of the CAA, they are guaranteed a bid to the NIT, but naturally hope the NCAA Tournament comes calling. Flint doesn’t seem stressed at all about it, however, and his experience is a key factor in that.
Northeastern fought turnovers often this season, and had relatively mixed results with some streaks along the way. The Huskies should be better next season, but there is clear room for improvement and that was evident on Saturday night in the season-ending loss.
With UNCW’s season over, there’s a look toward a brighter future that was helped by this weekend in Richmond. The young Seahawks had some bright spots during the season in trying to rebuild, and capped it off with something else they can take with them.
James Madison came into the season as an interesting team to project. There was not a lack of talent, and it wasn’t a young team, but there were intangibles questions. In the end, injuries were the biggest problem, but the Dukes kept fighting right to the end no matter how demoralizing the injuries were.
Notes on the first round of the CAA Tournament, where the seeds held to form, the first 20-20 game in tournament history occurred and a team that went bowling to help get ready for the opening game of the day came out on top.
We check in with some quick hitters on a couple of America East teams, a contrast of freshmen from an earlier game, Georgia Tech’s defense against Boston College and the Missouri Valley.
The last decisive play in Harvard’s 55-54 loss to Penn on Saturday night will stay in many people’s minds. For the Crimson player who was involved in it, one hopes the college basketball gods have a better ending in store later on.
The stage is set. Saturday night at Lavietes Pavilion will be a potentially epic battle with first place on the line after Friday night’s results. Old rivals Yale and Harvard will battle for the top, with Harvard hoping for a repeat of the result the last time these two teams met.
Last Thursday, Idaho State finally made it’s choice, hiring Montana assistant Bill Evans as it’s head coach. So far, reaction has been mixed by at least one of the couple of forum posts dedicated to the decision as well as the local scribe’s feelings. Here’s the traditional “welcome to town” …
This is what the head honchos wrote on Monday: Big Sky (March 3) Top seed: Montana. The Big Sky regular-season championship came down to the final game, in which the Grizzlies avenged their only loss in Big Sky play by beating Weber State in Missoula. Tournament stakes: Although Weber State …
We take a look at the award winners, from the two-time conference Player of the Year to the Newcomer of the Year, as well as a couple of early tournament games.
Why did the Cleveland State Vikings recently have a five game losing streak? It’s simple–whenever a team loses their most valuable player, they’re going to suffer. The Cleveland State Vikings have had their fair share of above-average talent on the roster over the past few years. Cedric Jackson played briefly …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Detroit Titans squared off on Thursday evening at the Wolstein Center in a matchup with major ramifications for seeding in the Horizon League Tournament. Both the Vikings and the Titans headed into Thursday’s matchup riding drastically different five-game streaks. Picked by many preseason analysts to …
The last week of conference play has arrived in the Horizon League. Over the past few years, the battle for the top seeds in the Horizon League has not been decided until the final game of conference play. This year is no exception, with multiple teams having a legitimate chance …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Drexel Dragons squared off on Saturday morning at the Wolstein Center as part of ESPN’s BracketBusters series. Saturday’s contest marks the second straight year in which the Vikings have participated in the BracketBusters series. Last season, the Vikings dropped a hard-fought contest to Old Dominion …
Although the rivalry between the Cleveland State Vikings and Butler Bulldogs may not be as nationally known as the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina, the intensity that is in the air whenever these two Horizon League rivals square off is just as strong. In fact, the animosity between these …
The Cleveland State Vikings and Valparaiso Crusaders squared off on Thursday night at the Wolstein Center in one of the most important games of the season for both teams. While the Vikings’ season-opening victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores may have been extremely important with regards to quality wins that are …
JUST IN TIME FOR TONIGHT’S GAMES… All the news you ever wanted to know about the Big Sky, the weekly edition. YOUR WEEKLY DAMIAN LILLARD IS A STUD LINK-FEST: A Salt Lake Tribune story on his success. USA Today also jumped in sometime in the last week to talk about …
In a game with major implications for the regular season Horizon League championship and seeding for the Horizon League Tournament, the Cleveland State Vikings dominated the Milwaukee Panthers by a score of 83-57 in a game in which the Panthers never led. The Vikings and Panthers began the day in …
One team stands alone atop the standings for now, with another a little behind them and a logjam near the middle of the pack.
The Cleveland State Vikings started 2012 off on a winning note with a 69-48 victory at home on Saturday afternoon over the visiting Loyola Ramblers. In his pregame radio comments, Vikings coach Gary Waters stated that the Ramblers’ 5-10 record heading into Saturday’s matchup was deceiving and that the Ramblers were …
Opening weekend in the Big Sky Eastern Washington Record: 7-7, 1-1 Weekend: 1-1 Major superlatives: Won by 16, lost by 8; 76.5 ppg for, 72.5 against; plus-4 scoring margin; 52-112 FG; 20-53 3pt; 29-43 FT. Summary: One night, the lead stuck. The other, it didn’t. The Eagles made an early …
The Big Sky is about to dive in to conference play, and so far, the season has unfolded pretty much as expected, with Sacramento State looking like the one surprise.
Recent Comments