Illinois State: Star-Crossed Redbird Will Miss Season With Knee Injury

Illinois State junior forward Bobby Hill tore his left ACL and will miss the entire upcoming season, according to a university release.

This season will mark the second consecutive season that Hill misses because of a knee injury. He tore his right ACL in May 2008, then ruptured the patellar tendon in that knee in February.

Hill came to Illinois State as a transfer from Lincoln Junior College, where he led the team to a 26-7 record and averaged 16.7 points per game. Coach Tim Jankovich said he felt terrible that Hill will miss yet another season.

“In all the years I have coached, this is the toughest news I can remember ever receiving. It is difficult for me to put in words how devastated I am for him.  Bobby is a wonderful young man who deserves much better than this.  Everyone who knows Bobby, loves him and our entire basketball family will be there to support him through these difficult times.”

San Diego State: Aztecs Pick Up Option to Extend Fisher’s Contract

San Diego State has exercised a two-year contract option on coach Steve Fisher to keep him on board until 2012-13, according to a Mountain West Conference release.

The 11-year coach has led the Aztecs to four consecutive 20-win seasons, all of which included postseason play. In 2008-09, San Diego State won a school-record 26 games and made it all the way to the NIT’s semifinals before it succumbed to Baylor.

Fisher has a 173-140 overall record in 10 seasons at San Diego State.

“Steve Fisher’s success in men’s basketball at San Diego State is unprecedented in our history,” SDSU Director of Athletics Jeff Schemmel said. “We are elated to extend his stay as the Aztec head coach, and look forward to even greater days ahead.”

Tennessee: Pearl Decides That KKK Joke Wasn’t in Good Taste

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl caught lots of laughs for a joke that associated the hometown of one of his players to the Ku Klux Klan. According to a CBSsports.com report, he has since apologized, avoiding further drama that could have come out of the harmless-intended remark.

“I’ve got a tough job,” Pearl said, referring to the challenge of coaching a team of players from different backgrounds. “I’ve got to put these guys from different worlds together, right? I’ve got guys from Chicago, Detroit. I’m talking about the ‘hood! And I’ve got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood!”

The joke was caught on WBIR-TV cameras. Pearl then issued an apology in which he explained he “did not intend to offend anybody,” especially no one from Grainger County, a northeast Tennessee County which is home to Volunteers freshman Skylar McBee.

McBee’s father, Doug McBee, said there was “no hard feelings at all” over the incident.

Maryland: Top Recruit Charged With Assault

Maryland freshman forward Jordan Williams will appear in a Connecticut court Oct. 5 after authorities charged him with misdemeanor assault and breach of peace, according to an NBC4 Washington report.

Torrington, Conn., police arrested Williams and four others for an incident that occurred in early August. They did not provide more details about the alleged assault.

Williams is a 6-9 recruit rated in the top 100, according to Rivals.com. He moved up the recruiting charts during the past year and figures to provide some needed beef in the post for the Terrapins. The school has not commented on the charges.

New England Elite 75 Frosh/Soph Player Notes

BOSTON – The second annual New England Elite 75 Frosh/Soph Edition gave us a look at much of the younger talent in the region.  An interesting note is that although guards often dominate an event like this, there were many wings and post players that caught our attention on the day.  The event was split up by class, with freshmen playing the first half of the day and sophomores coming in for the latter half of the day.

Without further adieu, here are notes on some of the players we saw.

Nathaniel Anderson (6’6″ Fr. SF-PF, Roxbury (MA) New Mission HS) A forward with good size, he at first looks like a post player but is athletic enough to play on the wing down the road.  He ran the floor and was active, getting after it at both ends and making himself a factor.  In a setting like this, that’s how the bigger players make an impact since guards tend to dominate the play.

Jahvaney Beckford (6’1″ So. SG, Manchester (CT) Cheney Tech) An athletic guard with a mature body for his age, he showed good potential as he was around the ball often.  While he looks like he’s more of a scorer, he also showed a little mid-range touch off the dribble.  A notable area for improvement is his dribble, especially since he looks like more of a scorer than a shooter.

Kamali Bey (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Springfield (MA) Sabis Charter School) The well-built wing showed once again what he’s shown before: he knows how to score and will put up points.  He looks more athletic and to be in better shape, although he could still improve in both areas, but he has a good frame and knows how to use his body.

Aaron Calixte (5’10″ Fr. PG, Stoughton (MA) High) A baby physically, he already has excellent physical gifts that should help him make an impact right away.  When he penetrates, he’s tough to deal with, as he can finish with both hands and passed well on the move.  Although he’s small, he didn’t look afraid to work inside as he also went in and got a stickback.

Kahlil Dukes (5’10″ Fr. PG, Hartford (CT) Capital Prep) A point guard with some quickness and the ability to score on drives, he showed promise save for a jumper that didn’t look good.  On the bright side there, he did come alive late from long range.

Stephen Edmonds (5’7″ So. PG, Hartford (CT) Capital Prep) A quick and aggressive guard, he competes every second of the game at both ends of the floor.  He was around the ball and fearlessly drove to the basket to try to make plays.  The big question is if he will grow more, as his size could be a hindrance down the road.

Adam Ek (5’9″ Fr. PG, Saco (ME) Thornton Academy) He flew a little under the radar for a lot of the day, but earned his way into the all-star game and showed he belonged there.  While he won’t bowl you over with physical gifts, he got to the basket and finished capably with both hands.

Matthew Ellis (5’10″ So. PG, Westford (MA) Academy) A plus athlete, he has some physical maturity but his body isn’t there yet.  He impressed with a nice spin move on a drive that led to a layup, and will be worth keeping an eye on.

Jake Fay (6’4″ Fr. SG, Lynn (MA) Brimmer & May School) A baby physically, he showed as he has before that he has a lot of upside and shot the ball well from long range, especially in the all-star game.

Dimitri Floras (6’0″ Fr. SG, Merrimack (NH) High) Early on, he wasn’t playing his best, but he got better as the day went along and got into the all-star game.  The thing he does best is shoot, but he looks more comfortable with the ball in his hands each time out and this day was no exception.

Ramon Gibbons (6’0″ Fr. SG, Charlestown (MA) High) His talent is undeniable, especially offensively, but there are some clear areas for development going forward – areas where he clearly is a freshman.  He scored often, including shooting the ball well out as far as the three-point line, and it looked almost effortless at times.  That’s also the problem, because he didn’t seem to play as hard as he could and seemed to be leaving something on the table.  He could have gone by a defender several times but didn’t, and there were a few times he didn’t get back on defense.  The talent is there, but will the desire for improvement and reaching his potential be there as well?

Egi Gjikondi (6’8″ Fr. PF, Malden (MA) Cushing Academy) It was a given that he can score, as he’s already established that he’ll put up points with a lot of close baskets.  But the big development here was that he showed signs of becoming a presence defensively and on the glass, which are the main areas for improvement.  He mad a few too many jump passes for our liking, but all in all his play on this day represented a step forward.

Braxton Gulley-Mabry (6’3″ Fr. PF, Arlington (MA) High) At first, his body will jump out at you as he has a big body for his size.  But once the game starts, his nose for the ball will be more noticeable, as he was constantly around the ball and made a number of plays.  He showed the ability to score on the post and get stickbacks, and he has some length.  Not all of his weight is good weight, but based on what he showed there’s plenty of potential if he improves his conditioning.

Dana Hines (6’7″ So. PF-C, Concord (MA) Concord-Carlisle HS) Well-built post player will grab attention with his body, although not all of his weight is good.  The lefty also doesn’t have much of a feel for the game and tended to force bad shots, but he ran the floor reasonably well for his size.

Tyrese Hoxter (6’3″ So. SG, Turner (ME) Leavitt Area HS) Lefty guard showed some nice ability to finish near the hoop, as he was able to score in transition and later showed that he can go to and finish with the right hand.  There was a lowlight, when he drove in on a fast break and made a foolish between-the-legs pass that missed a teammate badly instead of taking the easy layup he had.

Kuran Iverson (6’7″ Fr. SF-PF, Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS) Arguably the best player in the gym, he has a world of potential.  He’s long and athletic, with long strides when running and even driving to the basket, and he scored both on drives and shooting from long range.  While he knocked down several three-pointers, he also tended to settle for jumpers and has a high dribble that he’ll need to improve.

Tim Jackson, Jr. (6’4″ So. SG-SF, Danbury (CT) High) Athletic wing is barely past being a baby physically, so there’s some good upside in that respect.  He has some length and finished well when he got to the basket, and the ball skills are good right now but will need some work.  Defensively, he reached in a lot instead of using his physical gifts and fundamentals.

Kaleb Joseph (6’1″ Fr. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS) Quick and shifty point guard continued to show a pass-first mentality and the ability to drive and dish to a teammate.  He has enough scoring ability to keep defenses honest right now and should get better since he’s not done growing yet.

Akosa Maduegbunam (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Charlestown (MA) High) Athletic wing is well-built and showed some good skills at the offensive end.  He knocked down jumpers without settling and also got a couple of field goals on drives, and defensively he boxed out well to rebound from the wing, which is always a plus.

Timmance McKinney (6’1″ Fr. SG, Milton (MA) High) A baby physically, he was one of the best guards among the freshmen here.  He’s skilled and athletic and was deadly when he drove to the basket as he scored on a big man and showed the ability to finish with his left (off) hand.

Georges Niang (6’7″ So. PF, Methuen (MA) Tilton School) A post player with a mature body, he didn’t put up big points but had some good moments.  He’ll be counted on for more with his school team this year, so plays like the pick and roll he finished nicely late in the day will be needed on a regular basis.

Elijah Okagbare (So. PF-C, Charlestown (MA) Boston Trinity Academy) His body and game both have a ways to go, but what he did here indicates that he has about as much upside as almost any player in the event.  He’s long and has a good motor, and will occasionally show something on offense like the baseline turnaround jumper in one game, but where he shined was running the floor and getting a number of stickbacks as a result.

Goodluck Okonboh (6’7″ Fr. PF, Boston (MA) Tilton School) The cousin of Connecticut freshman Alex Oriakhi, the comparisons will be inevitable over the next few years for more reasons than the family tie.  He’s long and has some good fundamentals, although he’s quite raw overall, and like Oriakhi there may even be a question as to whether he has a killer instinct.  While he played well more than just in spots, you get the feeling he could have dominated if he wanted to.

John Powell (6’5″ So. SF-PF, Ashland (MA) High) The lefty forward continues to look better every time out.  He earned his way to the all-star game by running the floor and being active.

Kamari Robinson (6’4″ Fr. SF, Springfield (MA) Central HS) Active wing had a nose for the ball and made himself a factor all day.  Athletic and with a good body, he has some length and can score, showing the ability to finish with his left hand along the way.

Wayne Selden (6’3″ Fr. PG-SG, Roxbury (MA) John D. O’Bryant HS) Built like a tank, there’s a lot of potential in this young man but also some questions.  He’s athletic and skilled enough to play any perimeter spot and his body can still get better physically.  He loved the no-look pass as he made a few of those and can handle the ball, but doesn’t always make the right decision and you get the feeling he’s leaving something on the table with how he plays.

Jacquille Taylor (6’8″ Fr. PF-C, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin) Every time out, this long post player looks a little better, especially with his post offense although that figures to be a work in progress for a while.  He ran the floor better and showed a better jump hook along with a nice mid-range shot off the catch on one play, and he’s using his length better on defense.  Offensively, he could make a quick improvement by slowing down when he gets the ball, as he seems to try to make the move and put the shot up all in the same motion and thus looks awkward even though some shots go in.

Kevin Trotman (6’4″ So. SF, Watertown (CT) Taft School) A wing with a good body, he showed some good scoring ability with several options.  His ball skills could use improvement, but he was able to score close to the basket and on one play made a nice drive and reverse layup.

Johnnie Vassar (5’8″ Fr. PG, Marlborough (MA) Hillside School) A baby physically, this lefty guard clearly has some good upside.  He was effective when driving, finishing when he got to the basket and able to go to his right.

Rodell Whittington (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Hyde Park (MA) Boston Trinity Academy) If there was one highlight that stood out, it was probably his fast break dunk that got his entire team up out of their seats late in the day.  But that’s only the beginning; as was the case when we saw him with his team a week earlier, the athletic wing was active, ran the floor and showed a lot of potential if he continues to work on his skills.  He didn’t just score in transition, as he knocked down a three-pointer and scored posting up a defender.

Other players who caught our attention and we will want to see more of:

Riyadh Asad (Fr. PG, West Springfield (MA) High)

Aaron Bartley (Fr. G, Trumbull (CT) Christian Heritage)

Chris Braley (6’3″ So. SG, Newport (ME) Nokomis HS)

Cane Broome (5’8″ Fr. PG, East Hartford (CT) High)

Edson Dascy (6’1″ Fr. SG, Fall River (MA) Bishop Connolly HS)

Da’Quan Grant (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More)

Zach Karalis (6’2″ So. SG, North Andover (MA) High)

Zachary Lewis (6’1″ So. SG, Hartford (CT) Northwest Catholic HS)

Tevin Montgomery (6’5″ Fr. SF-PF, Hyde Park (MA) Boston Trinity Academy)

Colin Richey (6’0″ Fr. PG, Whitinsville (MA) Christian School)

Cornelius Tyson (6’1″ Fr. PG, Springfield (MA) Central HS)

Grambling State: Duckett Resigns As Controversy About Player’s Death Builds

Grambling State coach Rick Duckett announced that he will resign after junior Henry White died Aug. 14 after participating in an off-season conditioning workout, according to the News Star.

Duckett decided to step down as the university and an attorney representing White’s family investigate the player’s death. During that same conditioning program, two other players collapsed.

“We start from a position that it’s very troubling that the university was running these athletes at 2 p.m. in August in Louisiana,” [attorney Larry] English said.

In one season at Grambling State, Duckett had a 6-23 record. The Tigers have had two winning seasons in the past 17 years.

Cincinnati: Bearcats Like Team’s Progress Under Cronin, Extend His Contract

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin received a two-year contract extension Tuesday, according to a WKRC-Cincinnati report. Cronin’s deal will now expire in 2014.

Cronin, who was hired in 2006, led the Bearcats to an 18-14 record in 2008-09. It was the first winning season during a tenure that’s seen an improvement in wins each year.

“Under Coach Cronin’s leadership the past three years, the men’s basketball program has improved on the court and in the classroom,” said Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. “I look forward to the continued development of the program to once again attain national prominence and compete for Big East championships on an annual basis.”

Kentucky: Courts Offer Gillispie Plea Deal in DUI Case

According to an Associated Press report, former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie has been offered a plea bargain regarding a charge for driving under the influence.

Gillispie was stopped in Anderson County, Ky., last month and refused sobriety tests. He later checked into an alcohol rehab program in Texas.

Gillispie’s attorney, William Patrick, attended a pretrial conference Wednesday and said the bargain was reasonable but that he needed to discuss it with Gillespie.

Gillispie, fired this season after two years at Kentucky, is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 5.

Brimmer & May Has a New Look

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – It’s a new year and a new look for the Brimmer & May School.  Last season’s team made it to the semifinals of NEPSAC Class B before bowing out, certainly not a bad run for a team in its first year there and that two years earlier was in Class D.  If this season’s team is to make a similar run, they will have to do it differently.

Gone from last season’s team is Kyle Casey, now a member of the Harvard Crimson.  While he will be missed because of his talent as well as charisma, the biggest reason they miss him might be the fact that they don’t have a player like him even at a lesser talent level.  Greg Kristof’s team is full of guards and wings, and that means more running is in store for this team.

No one will benefit more from that than a newcomer to the team, Chris Sherwood (6’4″ Jr. SF, Sharon (MA)).  A terrific athlete, Sherwood was one of the better players in the state during the spring and summer, and even an injury along the way couldn’t derail that.  He’s a consistent jump shot away from seeing his recruitment go even higher, and on Thursday there were signs of progress in that department as he shot well in drills and made a nice shot going to his left off the dribble.  His body is getting more mature and he’s not losing any athleticism adjusting to it.

It might seem like he’s been on the team forever, but Derek Retos (5’9″ Sr. SG, Attleboro (MA)) has only been there since the eighth grade.  Known for his jump shot all along, he hit several from deep on Thursday, a couple of times with a defender on him, continuing where he left off in the spring and summer as he was once again shooting lights out after a slump during some of the school season.  He also used a nice hesitation to get an opening into which he drove and scored, and made a nice pass on the go another time.

How’s this for a head-scratcher: the senior who is already well over 1,000 career points doesn’t have a single college scholarship offer to this point.  Yes, he’s an under-sized shooting guard. Yes, he’s not very athletic.  Yes, he’s not an all-world defender in part because of his size.  But surely someone even in Division II or III must have a place for a shot-maker like him, especially since you’re not going to find a better kid as well.  He has interest from schools in just about every conference that has a member school in New England, but the offers are elusive.

Eric Alleyne (6’0″ Sr. PG, Newton (MA)) was under the weather on Thursday, which helps explain why he had his moments but overall didn’t have his best day.  His best asset is that he loves contact and will constantly initiate it when he drives to the basket, as the lefty will draw his fair share of fouls and can finish with contact.  He had some good moments shooting the ball in drills, then was just okay once game action began, but once he’s healthy he will be better.  He could potentially play at the lowest level of Division I and should get plenty of Division II interest.

The X-factor for this team is likely Troy Robinson (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, Boston (MA)), who returns for his second year.  Well-built with a mature body, Robinson is lacking consistency and not talent.  He has tools like being able to handle the ball, making shots and getting to the basket, the last of which he showed nicely on one play where he used a good ball fake to lead to a driving layup.  On the other hand, his dribble is shaky, he tends to settle for some shots, and can play careless basketball at times, illustrated once on Thursday where he made a careless pass that was stolen and led to a breakaway layup.  Perhaps the best summary is that he doesn’t have an identity as a player; there isn’t one thing he can hang his hat on as he does several things a little better than average but nothing much better than that.  That might change now that more will be needed from him this year.

Another newcomer who will get minutes right away is Jared Fay (6’3″ Jr. SG, Lynn (MA)).  Fay comes over from Lynn Classical High School and will repeat his junior year.  On Thursday showed his ability to catch and shoot, along with deceptive athleticism.  He figures to at first be a glue guy on this team.

His younger brother, Jake Fay (6’2″ Fr. SG, Lynn (MA)) has good upside and will work his way into the lineup this year, although bigger minutes will come later.  He has some length and can shoot just like his brother, and his baby face shows that he’s far from being done growing physically.

Another X-factor for this team could be Oliver Nazon (6’4″ Jr. SG-SF).  Long and a baby physically, he’s perhaps the best example of an upside player on this team.  He showed some ball skills on a few plays and finished a nice give and go one time, but it’s clear he’s not going to be one of the top two or three contributors.  With the relative lack of size, he may even play a little out of position.

This year’s team has a different look, but they can’t be counted in Class B, where there isn’t a clear favorite.  The three seniors are all playing with their college future on the line, which will be one more motivator, although that can also work the other way as players in those circumstances can become selfish.  The bet here is that it will be a positive motivator, especially since all three seniors have experienced winning in their career at the school and none of them are selfish by nature.  If the newcomers inject the talent they appear ready to, they might surprise a few people along the way.

NCAA: Ish Will Lead NCAA as Interim President

According to an Associated Press report, the NCAA has chosen James Ish, vice president for administration and chief financial office, to be the interim replacement of former NCAA president Myles Brand, who died of pancreatic cancer last week. Brand was 67.

According to NCAA Executive Committee Chairman Michael Adams, there is no timetable for naming a new full-time president, although Ish is a contender for the job.

Ish was one of four members in the president’s Cabinet who helped oversee day-to-day tasks as Brand was treated for cancer during the past nine months. Ish said his top priority as the interim president is to follow Brand’s vision with a personal touch.

The executive committee won’t meet again until Oct. 29. The election of a president will most likely be the main topic of discussion. Besides Adams, Cabinet member Bernard Franklin and University of Hartford president Walter Harrison are believed to be top candidates for the position.

Maryland: Williams Gets Mild Support With One-Year Extension

Maryland has added one more year to the contract of coach Gary Williams, according to an Associated Press report. The new extension will keep the 21-year Terrapin coach in the job until at least 2013.

The winningest coach in Maryland history (418 wins) received a contract that includes automatic extensions for accomplishing athletic and academic benchmark standards. William has a record of 625-357 in 31 seasons of coaching.

BYU: Rose Declares Victory in His Bout With Cancer

BYU coach Dave Rose has won his battle with cancer, according to a SportingNews.com report.

The coach told reporters scans “came back normal” and that there are no signs of the cancerous tumor that was removed from his pancreas and spleen in June at a Las Vegas hospital. Rose didn’t need to undergo chemotherapy. He has another scan scheduled in another six months.

Rose will enter his fifth season when practices begin midway through October. Rose said he feels great.

BYU will likely be the preseason pick to win the Mountain West Conference.

West Virginia: Huggins Reinstates Key Member of Backcourt

West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant, who had 28 starts and averaged 9.8 points per game last season, has been reinstated by coach Bob Huggins, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.

“Darryl has done everything that has been asked of him on all fronts,” head coach Bob Huggins said. “I believe he has earned the opportunity to be reinstated to our team.”

Southern Illinois: Salukis Banish Hare Indefinitely

According to an Associated Press report, Southern Illinois guard Ryan Hare, charged with aggravated battery and criminal trespassing in connection with a weekend disturbance, has been suspended indefinitely by the university.

Hare’s arrest took place Saturday and involved one of the player’s acquaintances, who was treated at a hospital.

Hare, who started all but five games for the Salukis last season, won’t be able to participate in team activities.

Maryland: Where Are They Now?

Maryland coach Gary Williams has received lots of questions about where his former players have landed. Although the Terrapins haven’t had many players reach the NBA in recent years, they do have enough players on foreign teams to fill an entire roster or two. 

Here’s the rundown by country, as provided by Williams via Twitter.

View Terrapins Around the World in a larger map

Army: Black Knights Fire Jim Crews

Less than a month before practice starts for the 2009-10 season, Army has fired coach Jim Crews, according to the Times Herald-Record of Middletown, N.Y.

Crews compiled a meager 60-139 record in seven seasons, and the Black Knights never had a winning season during his tenure.

As the Times Herald-Record notes, the decision is strange because the new season will start in less than two months, and the school does not have much time to find a replacement.

The circumstances surrounding Crews’ firing are unclear. However, the timing of his ousting seems odd. Army, which hasn’t had a winning season in 24 years, opens practice on Oct. 15.

One rumor already making the rounds at West Point is that Army women’s basketball coach Dave Magarity, who coached the Marist men’s team from 1986-2004, will be named Crews’ successor.

Crews came to West Point in March of 2002 after 17 seasons at Evansville University. His Evansville teams posted 11 winning seasons. The Purple Aces reached the NCAA tournament four times (twice as an at-large entry) and made two trips to the National Invitation Tournament.

NCAA Announces Cites for 2011-13 Tournaments

The NCAA has announced the locations for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 NCAA Tournaments. Fans across the country can start booking their March and April vacations.

Here’s the rundown for your itinerary.

2011 first and second rounds:

Charlotte

Chicago

Cleveland

Denver

Tampa

Tulsa, Okla.

Tuscon, Ariz.

Washington, DC

2011 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight:

Anaheim

Newark, N.J.

New Orleans

San Antonio

2011 Final Four:

Houston

2012 first and second rounds:

Albuquerque, N.M.

Columbus, Ohio

Greensboro, N.C.

Louisville

Nashville

Omaha, Neb.

Pittsburgh

Portland, Ore.

2012 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight:

Atlanta

Boston

Phoenix

St. Louis

2012 Final Four:

New Orleans

2013 first and second rounds:

Auburn Hills, Mich.

Austin, Texas

Dayton, Ohio

Kansas City, Mo.

Lexington, Ky.

Philadelphia

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Jose, Calif.

2013 Sweet 16 and Elite Eight:

Dallas

Indianapolis

Los Angeles

To be determined

2013 Final Four:

Atlanta

Brewster Should Contend Once Again

WOLFEBORO, N.H. – As has been the case the last few years, Brewster Academy boasts a team that on paper should contend in Class A of NEPSAC.  Two years ago, they broke through and won the Class A title, and they once again have a team with plenty of talent and some depth, which an open gym on Monday confirmed.

The player who shined the most is Naadir Tharpe (6’0″ Jr. PG, Worcester (MA)), who will be the team’s floor leader.  Fresh off a good spring and an even better latter half of July once he got over a bum ankle, Tharpe has always been able to run a team and distribute.  But what will make him much tougher to guard is being able to score, and on Monday he shot the lights out – a fitting cliché since there was a power outage in the gym that wasn’t fixed until about halfway through the workout.  He hit shots off the dribble, and looked to shoot about as much as he looked to pass.  It looks like the time he spent in the gym after July was over is about to pay off, at least if he keeps hitting when the games begin.

The jewel of the team from a talent standpoint is Will Barton (6’6″ Sr. SG-SF, Baltimore (MD)), a confident and engaging young man whom coach Jason Smith says has been the “real deal” since arriving on campus.  The Memphis commit is long, very thin and athletic, and has terrific body control, which he showed on a few occasions.  He goes fearlessly to the hoop, using long strides that belie the quickness he has, and while he can shoot, he does have a slight fade on his jumper.

Tharpe’s travel teammate, Austin Carroll (6’3″ Sr. SG, Bedford (MA)), didn’t play his best ball on Monday but will certainly figure into the team’s plans.  He’s known for his jump shot, but he can simply play the game and will occasionally do something you don’t expect him to do based on his physical talents.  A good example was late in the workout, when he used a good pump fake to open a driving lane for a basket.

Ashton Khan (6’1″ Sr. PG, Scarborough (Ontario)) will likely be the main backup point guard.  One of four Canadian imports on the team, he has a mature body and shot the ball well in the flow of the offense from long range.  Late in the workout, he made a nice play dribbling into the paint and floating a left-handed shot from a few feet away that went in.  Also in the mix will be Adam Perry (6’1″ Sr. PG, Apex (NC)), whose highlight was a nice baseline runner over a big man, and Isiah Pringle (5’9″ Sr. PG, Laurelton (NY)), who has a nice resume off the court as he holds a few leadership positions on campus.

The frontcourt is where a lot of the riches are, starting with recent Iowa State commit Melvin Ejim (6’6″ Sr. SF, Brampton (Ontario)).  A very athletic wing with a good body, he made a number of good alley-oop finishes even when he wasn’t at the best spot to do so, and was constantly in attack mode.  Early on, he shot the ball well from long range, but went cold later on.  He’s in his second year at the school and seems poised to close out his high school career with a big season.

Syracuse commit C.J. Fair (6’8″ Sr. SF, Baltimore (MD)) didn’t play his best ball on Monday, but he’s a very capable player and did get going late in the workout.  The lefty has a slight frame but a fairly mature body, is athletic and can shoot from long range, which he did very well in the final pickup game of the day.

Kyle Tazoli (6’6″ Sr. SF, Winter Park (FL)) is another who got off to a fast start before fading later in the workout.  Smith says he has been better than expected, and he certainly has some potential as he has a good body and is a plus athlete with a nice feel for the game.  He also showed some defensive ability on the ball.

The sleeper contributor may be Jared Fahmy (6’7″ So. SF, Bedford (NH)), who had a nice day shooting the ball from long range.  His upper body isn’t there yet, but he has a good frame and shot well when he got a good look.  On a team loaded with good talent, he can find a spot contributing as a complementary player.

The team’s two main post players are both from north of the border, and both are good ones.  Maurice Walker (6’10″ Sr. PF-C, Toronto (Ontario)) has a big body but moves very well and had an excellent workout.  He can be a load to handle inside, as he has good post scoring ability and got his share of stickbacks and used his left (off) hand a few times on post moves.  He also showed a mid-range touch on a couple of jumpers, and if he improves his conditioning his ceiling only goes up.

Richard Peters (6’10″ So. PF-C, Pickering (Ontario)) is the big “potential” player on the team.  Already committed to Oklahoma, Peters played in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game in April and was one of the best players in it.  The lefty is a plus athlete with deceptive length and a body that’s not fully mature yet.  While he can take a defender off the dribble, it’s not his forte and he was much better scoring near the basket on Monday, as he couldn’t buy a basket when shooting from outside.  He will certainly contribute to this season’s team, but his best basketball will be played later on.

Brewster will be tested this year as usual, especially within Class A.  They play several teams only on the road and no one only at home as of now as the schedule is being finalized.  But this is a confident group with talent that includes an improving floor leader and lots of options at the wing positions to go with their post players.  As has been the case in recent years, this team should be right in the thick of the Class A race come the month of March.

UCLA: Howland Will Be Fine After Emergency Surgery

UCLA coach Ben Howland had an appendectomy last week and said he expected to be back at work soon, according to an Associated Press report.

Howland has a 152-54 record (.738) in six seasons at UCLA, including three straight Final Four appearances from 2006-08.

Marquette: Golden Eagles Lose Cadougan to Achilles’ Tendon Injury

Marquette will likely miss freshman guard Junior Cadougan for the entire season after he injured his Achilles’ tendon while working out, according to an Associated Press report.

Cadougan is one of the Golden Eagles’ top recruits and figured to compete for immediate playing time at point guard. He was a prolific high school player, averaging 22 points and eight assists per game.

Cadougan will have surgery to repair the tendon and will need at least four months of rehab.