Southern Illinois: Saluki Arrested and Charged With Battery and Trespassing

Southern Illinois sophomore Ryan Hare was arrested Saturday morning and charged with battery and trespassing, according to a Heartland News report.

Salukis coach Chris Lowery said the team did not more information about the incident and will wait to decide how to punish Hare.

Last season, the guard averaged 7.5 points per game and started 26 games.

St. Mark’s Once Again Draws a Crowd

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s beginning to feel like an annual event, but it’s what happens when there’s talent somewhere.  Every year, St. Mark’s draws a crowd of coaches to its workouts, which isn’t uncommon at schools like it except that the school typically doesn’t allow many such days to happen.  The past couple of years, the school has held just one open gym during the early fall live period and it drew a number of coaches.  This time around, it will hold two, one of which was on Sunday.  More than 20 college coaches were in attendance, including about a half dozen head coaches.

The big senior leader is Georgetown commit Nate Lubick (6’8″ Sr. PF, Southborough (MA)).  Over his high school career, he has gradually transformed his game into that of a very complete player, and now his main identity is as a warrior who does what it takes to win games.  He didn’t quite look like himself on Sunday, but he was tough inside and battled a teammate three inches taller on defense, finished with contact and did a fine job of letting the game come to him.

Joining Lubick among the seniors is Melsahn Basabe (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Glen Cove (NY)), whose recruitment picked up during the off-season.  When he first arrived at the school two years ago, he looked like an intriguing prospect who needed a good deal of work.  Well, he has put the work in, and his ball skills are now much better and he’s solid when he works inside.  Here, he handled the ball a good deal, drove a few times and knocked down a couple of jumpers.  A solid mid-major/mid-major plus prospect, he’s hoping to close out his career with a perfect run of three straight titles.

Alex Murphy (6’8″ So. SF, Wakefield (RI)) has only begun to show what he is capable of, especially since he’s still a baby physically.  At times in the spring and summer, he was terrific, and his recruitment quickly picked up.  On Sunday, his back was bothering him, but he showed signs of what he’s capable of with a couple of drives for scores and some ball-handling.  In particular, he showed that he can face up and did well to find a gap to drive through to get to the basket.

The newcomer to keep an eye on is Kaleb Tarczewski (6’11″ So. C, Claremont (NH)), who has the opposite problem that a lot of young big men have at this age.  Whereas many are finesse players but soft inside, Tarczewski is aggressive and not afraid to battle and deal with contact, but doesn’t yet have much of a feel for how to score.  That was evident by how a few times, Lubick cornered him on the post and he didn’t know what to do with the ball at first.  Once he gains more of a feel for the game, he’ll start touching his potential, and going up against a warrior in Lubick constantly will only help.

The point guard will be another newcomer, Jaymie Spears (5’8″ So. PG, Georgetown (MA)).  A good football player, Spears wasn’t himself on Sunday with a high ankle sprain but gutted it out.  He’s a baby physically with a slight frame, but he’s tough and has a great motor and passed better as the workout went along.

Two role players who will contribute are Eric Green (6’5″ So. SF, Oakland (CA)) and Eli Lubick (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Southborough (MA)).  Green looks unassuming as he’s a baby physically and might not have the most imposing game face, but he’s athletic and should help this team off the bench.  The younger Lubick is fairly mature physically but has improved over the spring and summer and should get more minutes this season.

St. Mark’s might have some growing pains on the perimeter at first with a younger point guard, but there’s enough talent to make up for that and Spears has played with Murphy and Tarczewski on a summer travel team.  In a couple of weeks, more college coaches will come to the school a little west of Boston, and this season a third straight title could be within reach.

Boston Trinity Looks to Keep Up Winning Ways

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Boston Trinity Academy has been on a roll the past two years.  In that time, Rick Linet’s team has posted a 55-6 record playing in Class D of NEPSAC.  This season’s team, which has four players from outside the United States to go with mostly Boston kids, will look to keep that going, and they have the personnel to do it.

Native Serbian Velkjo Lukic (6’6″ Sr. SF) looks to be this team’s vocal leader.  He has good intangibles and a good motor, and he’s not lacking in the skill department.  His body isn’t there yet and he has a slight frame, and his feel for the game can get better.  The biggest area for improvement is shooting, and it’s not his stroke as that looks fine, but so many shots he took at Saturday’s workout, as has been the case before, were ones he settled for, and his percentage suffers for it.  He has some upside, especially if he ever improves his shot selection.

The other senior on the team, Kadeem Wint (6’8″ Sr. C), has shown a nice improvement since the end of last season.  Blessed with a college-ready body, he lacked a motor and didn’t get much done on the court, but that is no longer the case.  At Saturday’s workout, he showed more life and battled more inside, and was much more of a factor than he had been.  His post moves could still use improvement and he’s not the quickest making a move, and he put the ball on the floor unnecessarily a couple of times, but those can come in time.

A newcomer in the frontcourt is Elijah Okagbare (6’7″ So. PF), who was at Charlestown High last season.  Long and blessed with a seven-foot wingspan, he’s very raw with a jump shot that starts with him bringing the ball almost behind his head.  While not the most fluid athlete yet, he is above average athletically and is far from mature physically.  He can score in close, although he doesn’t appear ready to be a double-digit scorer just yet.

Tevin Montgomery (6’5″ Fr. PF) is also on the roster, but did not work out on Saturday due to injury.

The wealth of guards starts with Lutheurson Bonheur (6’0″ Jr. PG), the clear floor leader.  His body isn’t there yet, but he’s tough and will take contact all game long.  Since the spring, he has made nice strides, and while his jumper is still an area for improvement, he did knock down a long two-point shot on Saturday.

The best prospect on the team might be Canadian import Rodell Wigginton (6’3″ So. SG-SF).  While in Nova Scotia, Wigginton often played inside, and it’s not hard to tell when you see how active on the glass he can be.  He’s athletic with a good body and competes all day, as he was constantly around the ball at both ends and might have been the leading rebounder on the day.  He also got a nice block on a fast break and got out in transition a few times.  While his jumper looked shaky, that got overshadowed by how much he made happen while on the court.

Another Canadian import, Kayon Mayers (6’1″ Jr. SG), has some physical gifts but his body isn’t there yet.  Like Wigginton, he played a little out of position before, and Linet is hoping to work him over to being more natural at the shooting guard spot.

Keylin Haye (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG) had some good moments on the day, and classmate Kadeem Thompson (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG) is the other Canadian import who will be in the mix.  They also have Ricky Smith (5’11″ So. PG) and a pair of freshmen, Bumi Muhammed (5’10″ Fr. PG) and Zach Petion (5’9″ Fr. PG), on the roster.

Boston Trinity has another strong team, and one that has experience playing with one another.  The holdovers have made strides and a couple of newcomers seem poised to make an impact right away.  Add in the wealth of guards, always important at this level, and they look ready to have another big year.

New Hampton Prep Has a Solid, Unspectacular Group

NEW HAMPTON, N.H. – The Lakes Region of central New Hampshire is one more part of New England with a few prep schools tucked away.  One of the easiest to reach among them is New Hampton Prep, located a short drive off Interstate 93.  Post-grads usually make up a significant portion of the roster, and this season is no different.

Although the Huskies don’t have a number of big bodies, their tallest players will all be key contributors.  Michigan commit Evan Smotrcyz (6’8″ Sr. SF, Reading (MA)) didn’t shoot the ball well at Friday’s workout, but we don’t need to be sold on his ability to do it after an excellent spring and summer.  He made a nice improvement last year after coming to the school and is primed to close out his career on a good note.

Dartaye Ruffin (6’8″ Sr. PF, Stoughton (MA)) remains committed to Drexel and looks more and more like a solid pickup for the Dragons.  His game has developed steadily over the last couple of years, as he’s now solid facing up and looks better all the time with his post moves.  He has a mature body and runs the floor well, finishing a fast break one time where he ran the floor.

Kyle Cain (6’7″ Sr. PF, Chicago (IL)) is a left-handed forward who had a good showing on Friday.  His best play came away from the basket at the offensive end, with plays like an up fake for a driving layup and finishing an alley-oop with contact, and he knocked down a long jumper.  He can run the floor and did so a couple of times.

An active wing who will contribute is Thomas Bropleh (6’5″ Sr. SF, Denver (CO)), one of two players on the team from Colorado.  Athletic and with a solid body, he showed some ball skills and has a better stroke than his misses would indicate, but his best asset is intangible.  There was no questioning his effort, as he was around the ball often at both ends of the floor.  He didn’t show a great feel for the game as a few shots were ill-advised, but that can improve.

Tim McKinney (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Duxbury (MA)) is back from a knee injury that made last season a lost one, and seems rejuvenated now that he can play again.  He sat out Friday’s workout as he was late because of a late class, but he spent a lot of the summer working out with former Boston College star Bill Curley and is eager to get back on the court in game action.

Also figuring into the equation on the wing are Navy commit Jacob Liebert (6’4″ Sr. SF, Monte Vista (CA)), Australian Jesse Hilleary (6’4″ Sr. SG) and Eric Dean (6’3″ Sr. SG, Gilford (NH)).

The backcourt has a couple of solid options to run the show, including Boston College commit Brady Heslip (6’2″ Sr. PG, Burlington (Ontario)).  He won’t wow you with physical gifts, but he has a good frame and good size for the position and shot the ball very well from long range before a minor injury led to him sitting for some final minutes.

Beau Gamble (6’0″ Sr. PG, Boulder (CO)) is the other player from Colorado on the team, and he impressed on Friday as he displayed a great motor.  He has some speed with the ball and always competes, and while he won’t rack up the points his three-point shot must be respected and he can get some transition baskets.

The player to watch in the backcourt is Jordan Laguerre (6’1″ Jr. SG, Manchester (NH)).  After a spring and summer that saw his recruitment jump, he impressed at this workout, indicating he intends to pick up right where he left off.  The strong lefty at times has not always taken shots in the flow of the offense, but he did exactly that on Friday and the results spoke for themselves as he scored on drives, from long range and even by posting up another guard.  He didn’t settle for any jumpers on the day.

Steve Topercer (6’0″ Jr. PG, Phoenix (AZ)), Brady O’Neil (6’2″ Sr. SG-SF, Laconia (NH)) and Carter Trent (5’10″ Sr. PG, Little Rock (AR)) will also be in the mix in the backcourt.

The Huskies have a solid, if unspectacular, group among their best players, and adding Laguerre will only help as he injects a big offensive talent into the backcourt.  The backcourt looks good and the frontcourt might be better than many would think at first glance.  There’s enough talent here for them to win their share of games, including some they probably shouldn’t.

Cushing Is Still Young But May be Ready to Contend

ASHBURNHAM, Mass. – If Cushing Academy seems to have a basketball team that is perpetually young, it’s not an illusion.  For a few years now, it’s been a team whose best players have by and large been underclassmen.  That remains the case this year, although Barry Connors’ team has an X-factor: all four of their best players are teammates in the spring and summer with the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.

Of their top four players, only James Kennedy (6’7″ Jr. PF, Dorchester (MA)) is an upperclassman.  The well-built forward has continued to show gradual progress in improving his skills, and they were certainly evident as he shot the ball well and made a couple of good passes.  He’s a plus athlete and is constantly working to improve, and he’s already made nice strides since he first arrived at the school.  That also translates over to the team, as he’s been talking this team up as a contender NEPSAC Class B for several months.

The top prospect on the team, also in his third year at the school, is Domonique Bull (6’3″ So. SG, Worcester (MA)).  The well-built power guard showed his ability to score off the bounce, and if he ever improves his jumper to become consistent with it, he’ll be that much more dangerous offensively as right now he shoots just well enough that a defender has to show his jumper a little respect.  He’s the most likely player to lead this team in scoring.

A newcomer could challenge Bull for the team scoring lead.  Egi Gjikondi (6’8″ Fr. PF, Malden (MA)) can put the ball in the basket and has some good fundamentals and a good motor inside.  There are plenty of areas to improve, especially defensively as he’s not a major presence on the glass, but he looked good during individuals and had some good moments in pickup game play later on.

The other new addition who have a significant impact is Jared Johnson (6’2″ So. PG, Springfield (MA)).  He didn’t shoot well during game play, but a lot of that can be attributed to lifting right before that started.  A competitor at the point guard spot who has played with the aforementioned players with BABC, he should be their floor leader right away and make sure the team doesn’t miss a beat.

As with a number of teams, the top four will carry this team but the difference will come from the supporting cast.  The leader of that group is Rob Holloman (5’10″ Sr. PG, Philadelphia (PA)), an excellent football prospect who didn’t work out with the team on Thursday.

The Penguins have a solid top four that has played together, and this time around Class B doesn’t have a clear favorite entering the season.  With that going for them, they could contend in Class B this time around and look like more than just a young team.

Notre Dame Prep Doesn’t Stray From What Has Worked

FITCHBURG, Mass. – If you’ve seen Notre Dame Prep over the years, you’re all set in terms of having a description of the team.  The Crusaders are known for having a team loaded with guards and trying to press teams into submission with max-effort players.  This year’s team won’t be any different, and there’s no reason to deviate considering the success the program has had.

Head coach Ryan Hurd has a lot of players he can freely change around.  While some teams can boast about an abundance of size, it’s the other way around on this team, where nine players stand 6’3″ or shorter.  They aren’t diminutive, as only two are shorter than six feet, which means there won’t be much of a size difference when substitutions are made.  With that personnel makeup, one can figure this team will want to push the pace.

The most talented player is Memphis commit Antonio Barton (6’2″ Sr. PG-SG, Baltimore (MD)).  Though not a jet, he is quick and has a body is far from being done maturing, and on this day he got to the basket and finished very well with both hands.  He also has the look of the team’s vocal leader.

Tyler Strange (5’9″ Jr. PG, Leominster (MA)) is the only player on the roster who is not a post-graduate.  He has a mature body and isn’t very quick, but when he’s playing with the pass-first mindset he’s a solid floor leader.  With all the scoring options on this team, he could rack up the assists while he’s on the floor.

The best true scoring guard on the roster is Lamont Samuels (6’3″ Sr. SG, New York (NY)).  Much more of a scorer than a shooter, he has a good body that can still get better and will aggressively drive to the basket often.  When he gets there, he finishes well, and while he knocked down a couple of jumpers that included one from long range, that’s not his forte. If he shoots it more consistently, he’ll be that much tougher to guard.

Jordair Jett (6’1″ Sr. PG-SG, Minneapolis (MN)) has a mature body and a strong upper body, which he used a couple of times to finish.  Antoine Myers (6’3″ Sr. SG, Baltimore (MD)) is a lefty athlete whose body isn’t there yet and whose highlight on the day was a great block on a fast-break layup attempt.  Mike Forrest (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Plantation (FL)) has a very slight frame and is a baby physically, and had his moments at the workout, as did Mike Glenn (6’4″ Sr. SG, Rochester (NY)).  Both are good students, getting interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools.  Sean Armand (6’2″ Sr. SG, Brooklyn (NY)) has a good body and knocked down a couple of shots from long range on the day.  Andre Armstrong (6’3″ Sr. SG, Queens (NY)) was active and knocked down a couple of mid-range shots off the dribble.  He plays stronger than he looks, which never hurts on a team that doesn’t have a great deal of size.  Levi Noel (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Luton (England)) was a little slow to get going, but in the latter part of the workout he knocked down several three-point shots.

Also seeing time on the perimeter will be Hamed Akanni (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Fitchburg (MA)), the only player from Fitchburg on the team, and John Grenier (6’3″ Sr. SG, Pembroke (NH)), who will see time off the ball.

In the frontcourt, Providence commit Ron Giplaye (6’7″ Sr. PF, Wilmington (DE)) is the player Hurd will hang his hat on.  A tough inside player, Giplaye will battle all comers and can score inside, but he showed some difficulty offensively on this day.  His ball skills looked shaky, he traveled a few times when he tried to drive and tended to settle for the jumpers he took instead of taking them in an offensive flow.  Fundamentally sound, he can finish with either hand and generally shows a good feel for the game.

Cleveland Melvin (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Baltimore (MD)) can run all day and is deadly in transition.  Looking like he weights a little more than the 190 pounds he is listed at, he doesn’t have the best ball skills but is best with his in-between game at the offensive end when he’s not getting a transition basket.  He’ll fit in well on this team.

Darrell Ward, Jr. (6’7″ Sr. PF, White Plains (NY)) is a well-built forward who didn’t have the best day at the workout.  He didn’t get much going offensively, but what might be more of an issue is that he didn’t play strong, which the Crusaders will need as he’s one of just three players on the roster who stand 6’7″ or taller.

Hurd gives a lot of tough love to his players during their workout.  He stops play right in the middle to illustrate what they need to do better, and abruptly substitutes players with a message for the player he yanks.  It’s all in an attempt to further toughen the team up, and it stays right with the identity of Crusader teams over the years as one full of hard-nosed competitors.  While this year’s team isn’t loaded with big-time talent, they aren’t lacking in that area and have plenty of personnel options, which means they can’t be underestimated.

Pittsburgh: Dixon Breaks Right Foot Again

Unless you’re talking about bones, Pittsburgh senior Jermaine Dixon can’t catch a break.

According to ESPN.com’s Andy Katz, Dixon broke his right foot for the second time this year and will need at least eight weeks of rehab. Dixon broke his foot when he stepped on someone during a pickup game.

The senior guard averaged 8.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season, and he’s the only member of the starting lineup to return. Pittsburgh reached the Elite Eight before losing to Villanova on a last-second layup.

Bucknell: Paulsen Named to New England Hall of Fame

The New England Basketball Hall of Fame will induct Bucknell coach Dave Paulsen Oct. 9 for his success at Williams College, according to a Patriot League release. 

Paulsen led the Division III program to the 2003 national title and compiled a 170-53 record in eight seasons. He is entering his second season with the Bison.

In 2003, when Paulsen’s Williams team won the D-III title, the team finished with a school-record 31-1 mark. In addition to making Williams a perennial contender, Paulsen coached St. Lawrence and Le Moyne.

Talent, Options Abound for Northfield Mount Hermon

NORTHFIELD, Mass. – Northfield Mount Hermon has a combination of academics and basketball that might be the best in the country.  An excellent school that has sent a number of players to Division I, including some elite academic schools, the team will once again draw plenty of Ivy and Patriot League coaches through the course of the season, while eight alumni will be on Ivy League rosters this college season.

While this year’s team looks no different from last year, there is more talent this time around, and the personnel looks like a better mix than last year.  There is good depth at all positions and a lot of interchangeable parts, which means the starting lineup could look different from one night to the next based on the matchup.

The big name will be newcomer Aaron Cosby (6’2″ Jr. PG-SG, Louisville (KY)).  Quick but not a jet, there’s no doubting his ability to score.  He showed on Wednesday that he can find any gap in the defense and get through it to score, while also showing the ability to hit from long range.  He’s clearly not a point guard right now, although he’s trying to make the switch, and it’s not hard to figure that he was “the man” on his previous high school team and now has to adjust to new surroundings on the court.

Recent Harvard commit Matt Brown (6’2″ Sr. SG, Barrington (RI)) didn’t work out on Wednesday as he was taking a breather after football practice.  A running back on the football team, Brown really found himself this spring and summer as he had several good months playing off the ball after spending most of last season at the point.

Another player who seems to have figured out his identity as a player is Joe Sharkey (6’3″ Jr. PG, Needham (MA)).  For a while, it wasn’t clear what he is, but now he’s embraced being a point guard who can operate a little in an up-tempo setting but seems more at home when the game is slowed down.  On a couple of occasions, he dove for loose balls going out of bounds, even while playing with a face mask as a precautionary measure after breaking his nose twice.  He spent a lot of the summer working out with Chris Herren.  Josh Elbaum (6’4″ Sr. PG-SG, Long Island (NY)) isn’t a great athlete but can finish when he gets near the basket, and looks to have come along more since July.  He will figure into the mix at both guard spots.

There are plenty of options on the wing, with a couple of them also able to play another position.  Hector Harold (6’7″ Sr. SF, Pasadena (CA)) was playing with a bad shoulder, and while he got abused inside at times his jumper started falling later in the workout.  He’s not a great athlete and not the toughest player, but his ability to shoot at his size has earned him some looks around the high-major level.  Laurent Rivard (6’5″ Sr. SG-SF, Montreal (Quebec)) figures to see an expanded role this season.  He shot the ball well on Wednesday and is deceptively athletic, and his body looks more mature as well.  Tommy Carpenter (6’7″ So. SF, Greensboro (NC)) was one of the best players on the floor on Wednesday, showing a nice feel for the game and three-point range on his jumper.  He showed a nice up-and-under move and used fakes well to get shots, and his body isn’t there yet.  Chris Fitzgerald (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF, Swansea (MA)) has a mature body and a good touch from long range, and while he won’t stand out, he finds ways to contribute.

Majok Majok (6’8″ Sr. PF, Sydney (Australia)) is the best post player on the team.  A very capable scorer inside with a good body, he has a good motor and is very mobile, will run the floor and finish and can’t be ignored when he steps away from the basket.  Where he has room for improvement is that he too often settles for the jumpers he takes, occasionally travels on a post move, and as has been the case before, he showed on Wednesday a tendency to dribble too much and ultimately turn the ball over on the low block.  Clancy Rugg (6’7″ Sr. SF-PF, Burlington (VT)) is doing a post-graduate year at the school and will get some minutes.  He has a slight frame and can easily get lost amidst the other talent on this team, but he’s a solid blender and will contribute offensively and on the glass when he’s on the floor.  Though he is better at the power forward spot, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he saw spot duty on the wing.

A pair of brothers from Dorset, England, Vince Van Nes (6’11″ Jr. C) and Lucas Van Nes (6’9″ So. PF), give this team more size.  Neither was a big factor on this day, although both had their moments and the left-handed Vince did knock down a nice long two-point shot along the way.  Matt Goode (7’0″ Sr. C, Los Angeles (CA)) didn’t make Wednesday’s workout as he was tending to school work, but is a holdover from last season’s team.  Evan Cummins (6’8″ So. SF-PF, Westborough (MA)) sat out this workout with a minor injury, but head coach John Carroll said he has shown a marked improvement from the summer, when he showed some promise.

Northfield Mount Hermon got off to a fast start last season, winning their first six games and 13 of their first 14.  Along the way, they went to Blair Academy and swept two games there, including a convincing win over the host school, and won a number of the games by double figures.  But the season didn’t end well, as they lost their last four games, including a quarterfinal NEPSAC Tournament game that was a microcosm of the season.  With no glaring weakness like last season’s team had, the ending might be a little different this time around.

College Coaches Come to Lawrence

GROTON, Mass. – Lawrence Academy’s gym had about a dozen college coaches in attendance for its workout on Tuesday night.  Because of the school’s academic schedule, along with regulations requiring boarding students to be in their rooms early in the evening, Tuesday night is the only open gym of the week.

The player many of the coaches were undoubtedly there to see is Shabazz Napier (6’0″ Jr. PG, Charlestown (MA)).  After his play in July, starting with the Reebok All-American Camp, his recruitment went to another level with interest from schools all over the country.  On this evening, he showed the difference in his play since mid-May, as he was in attack mode and not settling for jumpers.  In fact, his jumper wasn’t going as much as usual, but he was being vocal and leading his teammates, while also showing that he knows the game better than one might first realize.

While Napier was the main attraction, Denzel Brito (6’2″ Sr. SG, Onset (MA)) has been on the radar for a while and had the eye of a few coaches.  Athletic and with a good body, he made several good lead passes early on while his jumper wasn’t falling.  Once he started hitting, he seemingly never missed, as he was almost perfect during the latter half of the workout.  It didn’t matter if he was shooting off the catch or dribble, or from mid-range or long range, he wasn’t missing.  His recruitment has been all over the map, aided in part by being a good student since that has caught the attention of some schools that have to be a little more picky from an academic standpoint.

Napier and Brito are also major targets on the football team for Marcus Grant (6’2″ Jr. SG, Carver (MA)), a quarterback who attended the first-ever Football U camp in July.  On the hardwood, he’s a solid teammate who doesn’t try to do too much and is very comfortable driving and finishing with his right (off) hand.  On this evening, he had an off-night shooting the ball, an area of good improvement in the spring as he started to emerge as perhaps more than just a complementary player.  In another year, he will likely be in the same place as former LA standout Darryl Bishop: deciding whether to play football or basketball in college, as it’s just about impossible to really play both.

Sarkie Ampim (6’6″ Jr. PF, Manhattan (NY)), whose brother is a junior at Columbia, had a nice workout and continues to show progress in his play.  He showed better post moves and looks more fluid, highlighted by a nice baseline drive that culminated with a reverse layup.  Away from the basket, the ball skills aren’t there to play the wing, but he knocked down a couple of three-pointers and a mid-range shot to keep the defense honest.

Lawrence has a host of role players behind the top four players who will carry them.  Last season didn’t end the way they wanted it to, as they were upset by Holderness in the first round of the NEPSAC Class C Tournament.  With all of their top four players showing good improvement in the last six months, they figure to be a mainstay in Class C once again.

Kentucky: Gillispie Wants Federal Court to Decide Kentucky Case

Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie filed a request to move Kentucky’s lawsuit against him from state court to federal court, according to an Associated Press report.

After Gillispie sued Kentucky for breach of contract relating to his termination in March, the university countersued. Gillispie filed his suit in Texas, while the university sent its case to a Kentucky state court. 

As the two sides wrangle through the legal process, the debate of jurisdiction will be only the first step toward resolving an ugly divorce.

Winchendon Has Much Going For It

WINCHENDON, Mass. – Nestled away right by a nice golf course, seemingly in the middle of nowhere – north central Massachusetts, to be a little more descriptive – is the school whose team might be the favorite in NEPSAC Class A this year.  The Winchendon School is loaded, with as much depth as talent and some interchangeable parts for head coach Mike Byrnes to work with.

The team was impressive on this day despite not having Villanova commit Markus Kennedy (6’9″ Sr. PF, Philadelphia (PA)).  A solid post player whose main need for improvement is better conditioning, Kennedy turned his left ankle before the workout began.  Kennedy has bounced around over his high school career, and once he’s healthy again figures to be a key inside.

On this day, the post player who shined was the youngest on the team, Khem Birch (6’9″ So. PF, Pierrefonds (Quebec)).  Long and athletic, he’s capable of being a game-changer with his shot-blocking, and he looks like he has added strength since arriving on campus in July.  He ran the floor and finished several breaks, was aggressive on offense, and made a couple of nice passes.  All this, and he’s barely scratched the surface of what he can be as he’s still raw, barely boxes out and his skills are far from complete.  On a team full of seniors and post-grads, he will get his share of minutes because he’ll be too good to sit on the bench.

Also up front, Allen West, Jr. (6’8″ Sr. PF, Brooklyn (NY)) will get his share of minutes.  He has a good body that can get better and scored inside with contact on several occasions.  Adam Kemp (6’9″ Sr. C, Vernon (NY)) is the other post player on the roster, although Angel Nunez (6’7″ Jr. SF-PF, Bronx (NY)) may see minutes there as well.  Nunez has some length and is athletic, but he lacks strength and it was clear on a few occasions.  When he got away from the basket, he buried a three-pointer one time, though overall he wasn’t a major factor on this day.

The small forward spot has several possibilities, led by Georgia Southern commit Eric Ferguson (6’8″ Sr. SF, Statesboro (GA)).  A great get for new head coach Charlton Young, he’s barely more than a baby physically and very athletic.  Although he’s played better than he showed at this workout, he got better as the day went along, including shooting better in the latter part of the day.

Hofstra commit Marvin Dominique (6’7″ Sr. SF, Miramar (FL)) had some good moments on the day.  Athletic and with some length, his body isn’t there yet physically, and he looks like he could play a little of both forward spots although more of a wing.  He had a nice assist facing the basket on one play, and while he showed some ball skills he traveled a couple of times after a shot or ball fake.

If Byrnes wants to go small, he could put James Stukes (6’5″ Sr. SF-PF, New York (NY)) at the power forward spot, although he’ll see plenty of time at the wing.  The Albany commit is solidly built and a plus athlete, and though he’s capable of scoring he may not need to do that much on this team with all the options they have.  Joey Bozzuto (6’4″ Sr. SG-SF, Wolcott (CT)) is also a candidate for time on the wing.

The best player on the floor at this workout was Delaware commit Devon Saddler (6’2″ Sr. SG, Aberdeen (MD)).  It seemed like every time we looked, he was beating everyone down the floor for a transition basket, whether he got a pass after a rebound or got the rebound himself and went right up the floor.  He wasn’t leaking out, just playing with high energy and beating everyone else to the basket.  He scored with contact, looked smooth on a few plays, made several nice passes in transition as well and showed some range on his jumper, all with Monte Ross, his future college head coach, there to see it.

Four players could see time at the point guard spot, with Anthony Ireland (5’10″ Sr. PG, Waterbury (CT)) being the likely incumbent.  Solidly built and a tough floor leader, he’s continued to improve his scoring ability to go along with his intangibles.  Akeem Williams (5’10″ Sr. PG, Brockton (MA)) didn’t shoot the ball as well as he’s capable of at this workout, although his shots were better later on.  He made some significant strides last year and continued to play well in the spring and summer.

Mike Accaoui (5’10″ Sr. PG-SG, Lincoln (RI)) is doing a post-grad year after four years at St. Andrew’s in Rhode Island and looks more mature physically.  He gives the team a solid role player who will compete at both ends, and that was visible today as besides his trademark of shooting the ball well, he snuck in for a couple of rebounds and started a fast break with one of them and made a nice runner on the break later.  Michael Holton (6’0″ Sr. PG, Portland (OR)) has a good body and is a plus athlete, and he will figure into the mix as well.  Although he wasn’t a huge factor, he didn’t hurt his team and showed range out to the three-point line.

Byrnes thinks this might be the most talent he has had, which is saying something considering what he has had over the years.  At first glance, it might not look as talented as the team he had three years ago, but that team underachieved.  This team looks like it has more than just talent going for it, especially with the wealth of lineup possibilities, and that can go a long way toward winning the games needed in March for a championship.

Duke: Cameron Indoor Stadium Gets a Little Crazier for Opponents

Duke is making changes to its arena seating to give the Blue Devils an even greater home court advantage, according to a SportingNews.com report.

The 9,314-seat Cameron Indoor Stadium will now have Duke graduate students in the north and south ends of the court, placing some of the Blue Devils’ most raucous fans in the shooting background of visiting teams. Undergraduate students will keep their courtside seats behind the media.

Duke also painted the 5,649 seats in the upper part of the arena blue.

St. Andrew’s Hopes to Bounce Back This Season

BARRINGTON, R.I. – Last season wasn’t the kind of season normally seen at St. Andrew’s.  A team with a lot of youth, especially among its top talent, the Saints went 10-18 and didn’t look like they were much better at the end than the beginning of the season.  On this year’s team, the best players are again underclassmen, but Mike Hart is a little more optimistic about what lies ahead.

“I’m excited about this year,” said the veteran head coach.  “Guys are focused, there’s a hunger with this team that I wasn’t sure we had all the time last year.”

It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s gained a prospect who figures to get recruited at the highest level.  At the open gym on Monday, Ricardo Ledo (6’5″ So. SG-SF, Providence (RI)) continued to show why numerous schools are beating down the doors to recruit him.  He has so many tools in the arsenal, and on this day he especially showed how he can impact a game without scoring, as he handled the ball much of the day and was so unselfish you would never think he could score over 20 in a game.  In fact, a couple of times he was a little too unselfish as he passed up a shot to give a teammate a tougher play, but he overshadowed those plays by the many good ones he made.  Add that to his ability to score in so many ways, including a jumper that looks better and was falling on this day, and you only begin to appreciate his vast potential.

Ledo’s main running mate will be Michael Carter-Williams (6’5″ Jr. SG, Hamilton (MA)), who has grown since the end of last season.  An injury early in the spring set him back, but he caught up and then some once he was healthy.  He struggled with his jumper at this workout, but he’s shown plenty of times how capable he is from long range.  Where he has improved the most is off the dribble, as he was much more aggressive and even had a nice left-handed finish on a drive.

The other key player on the wing is Michael Laplante (6’5″ Jr. SF, Woonsocket (RI)), who missed much of the spring and summer taking care of academics.  After last summer, he appeared to have a lot of upside before not looking like the same player during the school season.  Here, he looked more like the Michael Laplante of old, as he scored often in transition and was more of a factor than he ever was last season.  His jumper looked a little shaky, but that’s long been an area for improvement and at times he has been able to knock it down.  The overall signs are encouraging.

Myles Brilhante (5’10″ Sr. PG, Fall River (MA)) will be the primary point guard.  While he won’t bowl you over with physical gifts or world-class skills, he doesn’t turn the ball over and will make the open three-pointer if you fall asleep focusing on the wing stars.  That’s what he’s done before, and he did it on Monday.

Youri Dascy (6’6″ Sr. PF, Fall River (MA)) has only been playing the game for about three years, which explains why last year he was a little difficult to figure out.  One minute, he would look like a nice post scorer, the next he would look like a very mechanical and immobile post player with a lot of limits.  He showed well at Monday’s workout, starting off the first time he got the ball when he made a nice drop step move to score that would have surprised people a year ago.  He battled more inside and was a more assertive scorer, and he also got a few stickbacks, another thing that would not have happened last year.

While those five will lead the way, it’s the glue guys that are a big reason Hart thinks the team will be better.  Eric Sherman (6’4″ Sr. SF-PF, Providence (RI)), Matt Newell (6’4″ Sr. SF-PF, Cranston (RI)) and Dave Curtis (6’3″ Sr. SF-PF) are all undersized forwards but give the team a measure of toughness the team needs.  Sherman was an all-star at the last session of Hoop Group Elite in July and has a chance to play college ball below the Division I level.

Hart thinks this group will show that last season was an aberration.  There’s enough talent to put forth a better showing, but as often happens, it’s not the stars that will dictate a team’s success, but the role players.

Kentucky: Wildcats Report Minor Violation for Assistant’s Missteps

According to a SportingNews.com report, Kentucky has reported a secondary rules violation to the NCAA involving former assistant Bilal Batley.

The report states Batley visited a Kentucky practice in early July to talk to a player about academics and that he was seen gathering rebounds for one of the players. Kentucky then concluded the action should be reported as a secondary violation.

Michigan State: Izzo Receives Extension Through 2016

According to Rivals.com, Michigan State has given contract extensions to men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and football coach Mark Dantonio. Both will remain Spartans through 2016.

Trustees also approved contract extensions for hockey coach Rick Comley (through 2013) and women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant (through 2014).

This Worcester Academy Team Isn’t Too Different

WORCESTER, Mass. – The pattern at Worcester Academy of late has been simple: high-quality kids who won’t bowl you over with talent, will probably win a game or two they shouldn’t but also lose a game or two they shouldn’t.  You can add in that effort won’t be a question and usually the players have a solid basketball I.Q.

The 2009-10 edition doesn’t appear to deviate much from it, although it is a younger group.  While there are five post-graduates on the team, there is not a true senior, four juniors and a sophomore.  Another similarity is the concentration of players from nearby: five from Massachusetts, one from Rhode Island and one from Connecticut.

At Sunday’s open gym, the seating area had plenty of college coaches, several of whom were paying close attention to Tyler Olander (6’9″ Jr. SF-PF, Mansfield (CT)), who also had several family members present.  A big summer saw his recruitment go up a notch, and the move to Worcester doesn’t hurt since he will repeat his junior year.  It’s clear he has worked on going to his right (off) hand, as on several occasions he drove to the basket and finished with the right hand.  There’s still room for improvement on his dribble, as well as shot selection, the latter of which was a prime reason he didn’t make a lot of his three-point shots.  He’s continuing to be aggressive, and once he learns not to settle for some of the jumpers he takes, he’ll make a higher percentage from long range.

Another impressive frontcourt player is London native Robert Gilchrist (6’8″ Sr. SF-PF).  Possessing a good body that can still get better, he’s athletic and shot the ball very well early on, seemingly never missing from long range until later in the day.  Active and around the ball often, he’s athletic and has a lot of tools at his disposal at the offensive end as he can also post up.  He will take contact and continue playing, and right now his in-between game leaves something to be desired, but he’s an intriguing talent.

Another frontcourt player who returns this season is Pat Ackerman (6’11″ Jr. C, Rutland (MA)).  After playing limited minutes on a senior-laden team last year, he should get more minutes, and not just because he’s a year older and the team is younger.  During the spring and summer, he showed more signs of coming along as a player, and although Sunday wasn’t his finest outing, he had some good moments and was better when he stayed inside at the offensive end.

Russell Deremer (6’6″ Sr. SF, Wrentham (MA)) comes to the school for a post-grad year after playing at St. Andrew’s in Rhode Island.  The lefty had a tough go of it on Sunday as he struggled shooting the ball at the offensive end.  He has a mature body and is getting some Division I interest.

The backcourt will be led by Billy Baron (6’2″ Sr. PG-SG, Warwick (RI)), although they will be without him for a while as he’s sidelined with a broken hand.  While that’s never a development to wish on anyone, it’s especially tough because Baron was really on a roll in the spring and summer.  When he comes back, he should be the team leader as he appears ready to have a big year, much like his brother had at the school several years ago.

The guard who caught the attention of many on Sunday is Christophe Varidel (6’2″ Sr. SG, Geneva (Switzerland)), who put on a show from long range.  On a couple of occasions, he made a four-point play as he was fouled on a three-pointer, and he also knocked down a mid-range shot off the dribble.  He isn’t 100 percent, as a hamstring injury from a couple of months ago is still bothering him, but he’s a lot closer and certainly looked it; he admitted it was frustrating that he had difficulty running well at times.  He has a good body that can still mature more, and as the injury heals more fully he’ll be able to run better.

The other import on this team is Olivier Paul Betu (6’1″ Jr. PG, Montreal (Quebec)).  A quick point guard with a small body, he had a tough day as he couldn’t finish a few times when he got to the basket.  Late in the workout, however, he opened a few eyes when he came in alone and dunked, and at times he was a pest at the defensive end.  There’s no question the physical gifts are there, and he got out in transition a good deal as well.

One key player isn’t going far from home to attend the school, and he’s a big-time competitor.  Canaan Severin (6’3″ So. SF, Marlborough (MA)) thought long and hard about whether to come this year or do one more year at Marlborough before making the jump, ultimately deciding to go this year.  It’s appropriate to say he’s built like a football player, as he’s also a wide receiver and cornerback on the football team.  While he did what he normally does in keeping his motor running the entire time, he also got out in transition often and finished several times, including one time where he went coast to coast for a layup.

Adam Smith-Butts (6’3″ Sr. SG-SF, Woodbridge (VA)) is similar to Severin although not as good a basketball player.  He’s a well-built athlete and competes hard all the time, as he rebounded well on the day and generally plays bigger.  Offensively, he had a tough go of it on the day, although he did knock down a three-pointer among the limited shots he took.

Two hometown kids, Josh Peter (5’10″ Jr. PG, Worcester (MA)) and Sean Collins-Sullivan (5’10″ Sr. PG, Worcester (MA)), are also available in the backcourt mix.

With the youth on the team, this year’s Hilltoppers will look more like the team of two years ago than last season.  Since that team managed to make the NEPSAC Class A Tournament, this year’s team should be viewed as one that can sneak up on teams.

Young Players Lead the Way in Top 100

BOSTON – Among the events every September brings to the area is a Hoop Group Top 100 event.  Held at Boston University, the event brings about 100 high school players together for two days of drills to help teach the game and games to put the teaching to work.  Later in the day, players in grades six through nine competed in a similar event held at the same site.

There was certainly an emphasis on younger players, as many of the best prospects in attendance were underclassmen.  While not loaded with Division I prospects, some of the younger players certainly have a chance if they put the work in.

Daniel Brooks (6’3″ Sr. SG, Dorchester (MA) Catholic Memorial HS) wasn’t really different from prior observation. He’s athletic enough and makes just enough shots to keep you interested, but you also get the feeling he can be better.  Fundamentally, he has an almost natural fade on his jump shot and sometimes stops and goes up off the dribble in relatively slow motion.  In an up-tempo game, these can be hidden somewhat, but not in a half-court setting.

Andrew Chrabascz (6’4″ So. SF-PF, Portsmouth (RI) High) has good fundamentals and showed a touch from long range, but at times struggled off the dribble.  Despite that, he kept competing and made plays as a result.

Tevin Falzon (6’6″ Jr. SF, Auburndale (MA) Newton North HS) looks to be in better shape, although he still isn’t the most fluid player.  As has been the case before, however, he makes enough shots to keep you interested, showing a good mid-range touch and generally good shot selection.

Dimitri Floras (6’0″ Fr. PG-SG, Merrimack (NH) High) showed his ability to shoot the ball, with range out to about the three-point line.  He shot it off the dribble and the catch, and one time made a nice pass to a wide-open post teammate for a basket inside.

Kaleb Joseph (6’0″ Fr. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS) showed some of his potential, and he’s still got a ways to go physically.  He’s quick and surely made some friends on his team as he was pass-first all day, and he kept competing at both ends of the floor.

Andre King (5’10″ Sr. PG, Springfield (MA) Sabis Charter School) doesn’t have the best body but can certainly play.  He’s well-built, although not all of his weight is muscle, and was able to get by defenders in part from good fakes and is quicker than he looks.  His shooting range goes out to the three-point line, and if he improves his conditioning he should be better at getting by a defender.

Akosa Maduegbunam (6’3″ So. SG-SF, Charlestown (MA) High) is an intriguing prospect who looks to be getting better all the time.  He’s athletic and has a good body that can get better, and his skills, while having clear room for improvement, aren’t bad right now.

Dudy Maduegbunam (6’0″ Fr. PG-SG, Boston (MA) Match Charter School) is athletic and plays stronger than he looks, as he’s a baby physically.  He showed that he will be worth keeping an eye on.

John Powell (6’5″ So. SF-PF, Ashland (MA) High) has a good body and showed a good motor, and effort isn’t an issue.  He was around the ball and has hints of good ball skills, but clearly has to learn the game more as he is prone to forcing something that isn’t there and either turning it over or taking a bad shot.

Kyle Reardon (6’4″ So. SF, Salem (MA) Rivers School) had a nice day, especially shooting the ball as he got hot from long range in one game.  He was active and found the ball often, as he usually does, and effort is never a concern when he’s on the floor.

Latif Rivers (6’0″ Sr. PG, Avon (CT) Old Farms HS) got better as the day went along.  Although he won’t blow you away with quickness, he has a good body and knocked down several three-point shots as his confidence clearly grew.  He didn’t play especially fast, but you can’t argue with the results.

Wayne Selden (6’1″ Fr. SG-SF, Roxbury (MA) John D. O’Bryant HS) is a well-built wing with good athleticism.  He’s small for his position right now, but with more growth and development has some potential down the line.

Harrison Taggart (6’4″ Jr. SF, Cuttingsville (VT) Mill River HS) opened up some eyes with his play.  While he’s not very athletic, he’s skilled, unselfish and gets things done on the court.  He was around the ball often, and while he was a threat to find an open teammate or get a garbage basket, his jumper had to be respected as well.

Jacquille Taylor (6’7″ Fr. PF-C, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin School) looked appreciably better than a few weeks ago.  The lefty post player showed some improved mobility and even a nice post move for a jump hook, both good signs.  He’s not the most fluid athlete and doesn’t box out, but those can be improved and he’s already shown progress over time.

Mo Taylor (6’5″ So. SF, Cambridge (MA) Rindge & Latin School) is clearly more advanced than his brother, even more than just being a year older would indicate.  He showed good ball skills and is well on his way to being a good wing aside from having the athleticism for the position.

Stanley Winn (5’9″ So. PG, East Boston (MA) High) is a point guard worth watching.  A baby physically, he acquitted himself well, driving through the defense well on a few occasions and making a few good passes.

Ryan Woumn (6’2″ Sr. PG, Lynn (MA) English HS) had himself a good day on Saturday, controlling the game for his team and taking over during one stretch.  He’s still not there yet physically and on a couple of occasions it showed, but that also means he still has a physical boost coming.

Memphis: Tigers Down to Eight Scholarship Players After Garcia Tears ACL

According to an Associated Press report, Memphis sophomore Angel Garcia tore his right ACL in a noncontact drill on Thursday and will miss the entire 2009-10 season.

Garcia’s injury leaves the Tigers with only eight players under scholarships.

The 6-11 forward will have surgery within the next two weeks. His rehabilitation time could be as long as eight months.

Memphis had already lost a player for the season to a knee injury before Garcia: Martin Ngoloro, who tore ligaments in August.  

Memphis opens the season Nov. 13 against Jackson State.

Oklahoma State: Cowboys Corral Ford for 10 Years With Extension

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford has received a four-year contract extension that will keep him around the Cowboys’ locker room until 2019, according to an ESPN.com report.

Ford’s new salary will pay him $1.8 million next season. He will get incremental raises that will make his salary to $2.8 million for the last four years of the contract.

Oklahoma State went 23-12 and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09, Ford’s first season with the Cowboys.