George Mason Colonials 2011-12 Preview

George Mason Patriots (27-7, 16-2)

Projected starting five:

Sr. G Andre Cornelius (eligible Dec. 21)
So. G Sherrod Wright
Sr. F Ryan Pearson
Sr. F-C Mike Morrison
Fr. F Erik Copes

Important departures:

Head coach Jim Larranaga left to take the head coaching position at Miami, and he took his entire staff with him. Three starters departed: Cam Long (15.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Isaiah Tate (6.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) graduated and Luke Hancock (10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.3 apg) transferred to Louisville.

Returning:

55.5 percent of scoring and 65.7 percent of rebounding

Additions:

New head coach Paul Hewitt has three newcomers on the roster:

Fr. F Erik Copes
Fr. G Corey Edwards
Fr. F Vaughn Gray

Schedule highlights:

The Patriots have some challenges in nonconference play, a slate almost entirely inherited by Hewitt. They open with Rhode Island at home before playing in Virginia Tech’s pod in the NIT Season Tip-Off, with a chance to get to New York for two more. They head on the road to play at Virginia and Sun Belt contender Florida Atlantic, while welcoming Patriot League favorite Bucknell. In CAA play, they get a break during the stretch of four games in eight days in that three of those games are at home.

Projected finish and outlook:

George Mason might have as much talent as any team in the conference at first glance, although they took a pretty good hit when glue guy extraordinaire Luke Hancock transferred to Louisville. They took another big hit for the first month in point guard Andre Cornelius, part of a senior core that has won a lot of games. Cornelius pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of credit card fraud and was suspended for the first 10 games of the season. That makes the all-important point guard spot a major question mark in nonconference play, meaning Vertrail Vaughns, who new head coach Paul Hewitt has said looks good so far, may have to be this team’s quarterback.

Pearson is a Player of the Year candidate and will do a lot of things for this team, while Morrison is the emotional leader and the frontcourt gets a good boost from the addition of Copes, who could start right away although sophomore Jonathan Arledge will be in the mix for minutes up front as well if he improves on the glass.

The perimeter has no shortage of talent, and no one will be more important there than Sherrod Wright, who is working his way back from an injury. Bryon Allen has a chance to emerge, while junior Paris Bennett should also get more of a chance depending on the lineup as he is really more of a combo forward and Johnny Williams is likely to miss the season due to injury. If Cornelius returns seamlessly and the perimeter questions are answered, there’s no reason this team shouldn’t be competing for the top spot in the conference.

Next: Georgia State Panthers

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Georgia State Panthers 2011-12 Preview

Georgia State Panthers (12-19, 6-12)

Projected starting five:

So. G Devonta White
Sr. G James Fields
Sr. G Jihad Ali
Sr. F Eric Buckner
Sr. F Brandon McGee

Important departures:

G Marques Johnson (5.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) is the only starter to depart, while Dante Curry (6.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and Javonte Maynor (5.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg) also graduated.

Returning:

69.6 percent of scoring and 81.7 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Ron Hunter takes over as the head coach, replacing Rod Barnes, who was fired just before the CAA Tournament last season.

Schedule highlights:

The Panthers open with their toughest game, as they play Washington in Seattle in the first of three in the Basketball Travelers Invitational. They also play Portland and Florida Atlantic out there, and later host Rhode Island in what is not the toughest nonconference slate. In CAA play, they take on Drexel, VCU and James Madison twice and have George Mason only on the road.

Projected finish and outlook:

Hunter might be known more for his work off the court as the proprietor of Samaritan’s Feet, but he’s a good coach and is full of energy. He is ready to make this team run, saying that the Panthers will play “a lot faster” this year. They will surely have some growing pains because the Panther guards didn’t take good care of the ball last season, although Hunter is very high on White and will likely hand him the ball to run the team. He feels Ali could be primed for a big year, and likes that he has a veteran team with a lot of seniors, which means this team could finish higher than people expect in a year where not many teams in the conference have as much experience as the Panthers.

There’s good talent with Buckner, McGee and Josh Micheaux, and Hunter also feels Rashaad Richardson could make a big leap this year as well. The Panthers aren’t lacking talent or experience, but as Hunter acknowledged, the experience they have isn’t that of winning, so success won’t come easily. They will need to take better care of the ball first and foremost, and if they do that, they have a chance to surprise some people. Hunter has had a lot of success in his prior stops, and there’s reason to believe he will have more here. The only question is if some of it will come this season.

Next: Hofstra Pride

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Hofstra Pride 2011-12 Preview

Hofstra Pride (21-12, 14-4)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Stevie Mejia
Sr. G Nat Lester
Sr. G Mike Moore
Jr. F David Imes
Fr. F Moussa Kone

Important departures:

Three starters are gone from last season’s team: Charles Jenkins (22.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.8 apg), Greg Washington (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.2 bpg) and Brad Kelleher (7.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.3 apg).

Returning:

46.3 percent of scoring and 64.7 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Jr. PG Stevie Mejia, a transfer from Rhode Island
Jr. F-C Bryant Crowder, a junior college transfer
Fr. F Moussa Kone
Fr. F Jordan Allen

Schedule highlights:

The Pride has a nonconference schedule that is tougher that it might first look. They open with Northeast contender Long Island at home, then head to Oregon State, return home to play Sun Belt contender Florida Atlantic before heading to Rhode Island for three games, a couple of which will be tough contests. They also play MAAC contender Iona, although they get the Gaels at home. In CAA play, it doesn’t get any easier, as the only team picked ahead of them that they don’t play twice is Old Dominion, and their only contest against the Monarchs is in Norfolk.

Projected finish and outlook:

To say Jenkins was the heart and soul of last season’s team would be a great understatement, although the Pride will also miss Greg Washington more than many think as well. While those are not small losses, the cupboard is not bare for Mo Cassara’s second season at the helm as they get back Nat Lester after he had to redshirt last year and add Stevie Mejia to run the show alongside Moore, the conference’s second-leading returning scorer. That means the perimeter should be in pretty good shape, especially since there appears to be more depth there than last year with Dwan McMillan and Shemiye McLendon being key parts of that.

The frontcourt is where the uncertainty is aside from Imes, who came along well last season. They like Kone thus far, and Crowder will give them more size there. This will be a different team, but this time around the team comes in not off a topsy-turvy off-season, so there’s more stability and still a good veteran presence in the backcourt. And after the top couple of teams, it’s wide open, so it would be no more of a surprise to see the Pride in third than it would to see them in ninth place when it comes time to seed the teams for the conference tournament.

Next: James Madison Dukes

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James Madison Dukes 2011-12 Preview

James Madison Dukes (21-12, 10-8)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Devon Moore
Sr. G Humpty Hitchens
Sr. G-F Julius Wells
Jr. F Andrey Semenov
Sr. F Rayshawn Goins

Important departures:

Starting C Denzel Bowles (17.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and reserve guards Chad Jackson (2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Ben Louis (1.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg) are gone from last season’s team.

Returning:

68.9 percent of scoring and 65.2 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Jr. C Gene Swindle, a Virginia Tech transfer
Sr. G James Millen, a transfer from Cincinnati State
Fr. F Enoch Hood
Fr. G Arman Marks
Fr. F Keynan Pittman

Schedule highlights:

The nonconference slate is a manageable one for this team, with their toughest games likely to be Kent State, Rhode Island in the UCF Holiday Classic (and possible the host school after that), as well as Rider in Philadelphia. When CAA play begins in earnest, the Dukes play three of four at home. They play Drexel and George Mason twice each, and get VCU only on the road.

Projected finish and outlook:

On paper, this team should be a contender. Even with the personnel losses, the Dukes have plenty of talent, but whether or not they’ll put it all together is an open question. Moore is academically ineligible for the first semester, which means Hitchens will have to be the primary ball handler although he’s more of a scorer. That also means Marks will need to give them good minutes right away. If Goins and/or Swindle can become an inside scorer, they won’t miss Bowles as much as his numbers suggest as he wasn’t a great defensive player.

The Dukes need to be a more consistent defensive team, as the core of this team has been part of a good defensive team at times in their careers but also part of a team that looks more like the ones before Matt Brady became the head coach. Brady emphasizes defense and knows that it’s a key to winning, and will continue to try to get consistency out of this team at that end of the floor.

Next: Northeastern Huskies

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Northeastern Huskies 2011-12 Preview

Northeastern Huskies (11-20, 6-12)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Jonathan Lee
Jr. G Joel Smith
So. G-F Alwayne Bigby
So. F Ryan Pierson
Jr. F Kauri Black

Important departures:

G Chaisson Allen (16.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) graduated and G Alex Harris (6.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg) transferred.

Returning:

64.3 percent of scoring and 69.2 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Sr. G/F Kashief Edwards, a transfer from Niagara
Fr. G Marco Banegas-Flores
Fr. F Quincy Ford
Fr. G Demetrius Pollard
Fr. F Reggie Spencer

Schedule highlights:

The Huskies open at cross-town rival Boston University and have just three home games in nonconference plus a BracketBusters game. The most notable home games are against Southern Illinois and Ivy League contender Princeton, while they’ll travel far and wide: St. John’s, La Salle, Bradley, Louisiana Tech, North Carolina State and Vermont. As if that’s not enough, when CAA play begins in earnest in January, three of the first four are on the road and they have three straight on the road in February.

Projected finish and outlook:

The Huskies are a tough team to project, as they lost their leader and perhaps their most talented player with Harris’ transfer. But Harris also had a very up-and-down season, and with four starters back and the return of Alwayne Bigby after having to redshirt, this team won’t be lacking in experience as was the case last season. Add in Edwards, who will certainly contribute and might start on the wing, and the Huskies could be a sleeper even though they appear to be a year away from contending.

Lee and Smith, the former of whom is a solid defender, made nice strides last year but must be leaders this year in addition to repeating that improvement. Black has potential and has had his moments but has often seemed to need a push, and he’ll get that from the talented newcomers up front. Pierson showed he can be a steady glue guy, and Bigby is a competitor who will lead the defense. The Huskies struggled at the defensive end and on the glass last year, so that’s the main area that needs strengthening if they are to jump in the standings.

Next: Old Dominion Monarchs

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Old Dominion Monarchs 2011-12 Preview

Old Dominion Monarchs (27-7, 14-4)

Projected starting five:

Fr. G Dimitri Batten
Sr. G Kent Bazemore (out at least the first month due to injury)
Sr. G Trian Iliadis
Sr. F Chris Cooper
Jr. F Nick Wright

Important departures:

Three starters — F Frank Hassell (15.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg), F Ben Finney (9.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg), G Darius James (7.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg) — are gone from last season’s team, as is key reserve Keyon Carter (7.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg).

Returning:

41.1 percent of scoring and 44.9 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Jr. F Nayquann Mitchell, a junior college transfer
So. G Donte Hill, a Clemson transfer eligible in the second semester
Fr. G Dimitri Batten
Fr. G Breon Key
Fr. F Jason Pimentel
Fr. F Richard Ross (eligible second semester)

Schedule highlights:

As is usually the case, the Monarchs will play a very tough nonconference schedule. They are in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, where they open with South Florida and could play Kentucky, head to Richmond, Fairfield and UCF and welcome Missouri, Northern Iowa and Long Island. While they don’t have to go to Drexel, they get no other breaks as they play George Mason, VCU and James Madison twice each.

Projected finish and outlook:

The Monarchs are right there with archrival VCU when it comes to the question of who lost the most from last season’s team. This team lost a great deal of talent, size and winning experience, as that group won a lot of games and tournaments in their careers. They are left with a collection of largely talented but unproven players, save for Bazemore, who will miss at least the first month after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot. As if that’s not enough, Hill and Ross, both of whom figure to give this team a boost among the newcomers, will not be eligible until the second semester, with Ross in that situation due to academics.

That means players like Iliadis, Cooper and Wright need to make big leaps to become major contributors, while newcomers like Mitchell have to help right away, especially with the tough nonconference schedule that is in front of this team. The Monarchs are also likely to play a little differently since they don’t have the length that helped them succeed with their zone defense and was a big reason they owned the boards.

In all, it’s fair to say that there is a lot of newness to this team, and while they aren’t lacking talent, the Monarchs also aren’t lacking question marks entering this season. That said, the last time they weren’t clear-cut contenders, they did well, so Blaine Taylor has done well before with a team that lost a lot from the prior season.

Next: Towson Tigers

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Towson Tigers 2011-12 Preview

Towson Tigers (4-26, 0-18)

Projected starting five:

Fr. G Kris Walden
Sr. G RaShawn Polk
Fr. F Jervon Pressley
Sr. C Robert Nwankwo
So. F Erique Gumbs

Returning:

21.6 percent of scoring and 18.7 percent of rebounding

Additions:

So. Marcus Damas, a junior college transfer
Fr. G Will Adams
Fr. C Jamel Flash
Fr. F Alex Giergen
Fr. F Deon Jones
Fr. F Jervon Pressley
Fr. G Kris Walden

Schedule highlights:

The Tigers open up with a bang after taking on Virginia State in their season opener, as they head to Kansas and Michigan before playing Belmont at a neutral site in Tennessee as part of the Maui Invitational. They also have to travel to Virginia and UMass while getting a home date with Oregon State just after Thanksgiving. They won’t have it easy in CAA play, either, as they play all of the top five teams twice.

Projected finish and outlook:

Simply put, the Tigers are starting over. New head coach Pat Skerry summed up the team quite well in talking about how there is a lot that’s new — a new coach, new team and new way of practicing and playing. The Tigers don’t have a great deal of talent or experience, but Skerry and the staff will work on that for the future and try to get as much as they can out of this team.

Polk gives them a proven scorer on the perimeter, while Nwankwo returns and should anchor the team inside while Gumbs tries to grow. They are the only holdovers, so it’s all newcomers after that, and Skerry thus far seems highest on Pressley. Flash gives them some size at 6’11″, and Walden and Adams will each get a chance to run the show. The Tigers enter this season with no external expectations, as well as the reality that after last season, about the only way to go is up.

Next: UNC Wilmington Seahawks

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UNC Wilmington Seahawks 2011-12 Preview

UNC Wilmington Seahawks (13-18, 7-11)

Projected starting five:

So. G Tanner Milson
Sr. G Trevor Deloach
So. F Donte Morales
Jr. F Keith Rendelman
Jr. C Matt Wilson

Important departures:

G Chad Tomko (17.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg), G Ahmad Grant (7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and G Darryl Felder (2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) graduated.

Returning:

55.5 percent of scoring and 70 percent of rebounding

Additions:

The Seahawks have eight freshmen, all of whom should get opportunities to play right away.

Fr. F Nate Anderson
Fr. F Dylan Sherwood
Fr. F Cedric Williams
Fr. F Luke Hager
Fr. G Freddie Jackson
Fr. G Craig Ponder
Fr. G K.K. Simmons
Fr. G Adam Smith.

Schedule highlights:

The Seahawks will spend a lot of time away from home in nonconference play, with trips to Maryland and Dayton highlighting the road slate. One home game is a very good one, as Conference USA sleeper Marshall comes to town in November. In CAA play, they play three of four on the road in the annual stretch with four games between Saturday and the following Saturday. After that, however, they play three of four at home.

Projected finish and outlook:

Seahawk fans will need to get a program with eight freshmen on the roster this season. There’s some talent, but the lack of experience and the usual inconsistency of freshmen means there will be more ups and downs than usual. Fortunately, they went overseas in the summer, which allowed the staff to get an early look at the freshmen.

The holdovers are not to be forgotten, starting with Rendleman, who has been very business-like and gives them an active forward who competes at both ends. Trevor Deloach and Tanner Milson have talent in the backcourt, and Donte Morales, who has been more vocal this year, looks poised to make a jump up front alongside Rendleman. Matt Wilson had his moments last year and will get opportunities as well, so there are some existing pieces to help the freshmen along.

A nice addition for this team will be size, as three of the newcomers are 6’9″ or 6’10″, and that will help Rendleman be even more effective. Peterson has preached patience from the outset, and that will be necessary this year. But with the pleasant surprise of last season’s performance and a reasonably good group of holdovers, this team might be a little better than some might expect.

Next: VCU Rams

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VCU Rams 2011-12 Preview

VCU Rams (28-12,12-6)

Projected starting five:

Jr. G Darius Theus
So. G Rob Brandenburg
Sr. G-F Bradford Burgess
So. F Juvonte Reddic
So. C D.J. Haley

Important departures:

Four starters that keyed last season’s epic Final Four run have departed: G Joey Rodriguez (10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), G Brandon Rozzell (11.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg), G Ed Nixon (7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg), F Jamie Skeen (15.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Returning:

39.1 percent of scoring and 49.1 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Fr. G Treveon Graham
Fr. F Jarred Guest
Fr. F Heath Houston
Fr. G-F Reco McCarter
Fr. G Teddy Okereafor
Fr. G Briante Weber

Schedule highlights:

The nonconference slate is a little like the one the Rams had last year: good, but not full of opportunities for wins that will make the NCAA Tournament selection committee take notice. They play in the Charleston Classic, opening with Seton Hall and then facing either Georgia Tech or Saint Joseph’s. They later head to Alabama, play George Washington at the Verizon Center in the BB&T Classic, and host Richmond and UAB. In CAA play, they have a stretch of three straight at home followed by three straight on the road, and play their two games against George Mason within the final two weeks of the regular season.

Projected finish and outlook:

The Rams still have plenty of talent, but this team lost a lot of experience and, more importantly, intangible value with their departed players. That means Burgess has to be the leader he’s capable of being, as the only senior, and many other players have to adapt to new roles. Brandenburg, Reddic and Haley all showed potential last year in more limited roles, and now they’ll have to show that they can do the same thing with more minutes and bigger roles. It would also help if Theus can settle the point guard spot, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if Okereafor (a late signee who was originally in the high school class of 2012) eventually starts there, and Weber figures to get a lot of minutes as well.

The Rams should be able to make up for the production they lost, but the real question is if they can reach the same place as far as intangibles are concerned. If that happens, the Rams should at least wait until Saturday of the conference tournament before playing their first game and another postseason trip should be in the offing. Shaka Smart is 10-1 as a head coach in postseason play in his young career.

Next: William & Mary Tribe

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William & Mary Tribe 2011-12 Preview

William & Mary Tribe (10-22, 4-14)

Projected starting five:

So. G Brandon Britt
So. G Julian Boatner
Sr. G Kendrix Brown
Sr. F Quinn McDowell
So. F-C Tim Rusthoven

Important departures:

F Marcus Kitts (9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) is the only starter gone from last season’s team.

Returning:

85.6 percent of scoring and 83.6 percent of rebounding

Additions:

Fr. F Tom Schalk
Fr. G Marcus Thornton

Schedule highlights:

The nonconference slate isn’t loaded with landmines by a long shot, although they open at rebuilding St. John’s and later host Richmond and travel to Missouri. They will play Liberty both at home and in Lynchburg, with the latter being the last of three games there as part of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. In CAA play, they will close out January with a brutal stretch of five games in ten days: at VCU, UNC Wilmington, Drexel, at James Madison and at Old Dominion.

Projected finish and outlook:

Last season, the Tribe was not far away from being a significantly better team in wins and losses after losing a number of close games. Now the young guards have had a chance to grow up, and the team seemed to go as they went once the calendar turned to 2011. The Tribe will need them, especially early as injuries have ravaged the frontcourt in the preseason. McDowell, Rusthoven and Kyle Gaillard all missed significant preseason practice time, and the frontcourt was where the questions would be on a fully healthy team aside from McDowell, one of the top players in the conference.

This means the Tribe will need senior JohnMark Ludwick and sophomore Fred Heldring to make big leaps, and likely means they will play smaller for a while as well. Head coach Tony Shaver said this team is likely to go with a true three-guard lineup more often this season, especially since Thornton will be too good to limit his minutes, Brown has gamely battled injuries to be a valuable player and Matt Rum has good experience but can shoot better than he did last season. If the Tribe can get healthy and stay that way, they could be a sleeper team; but injuries have a way of derailing seasons for even the best teams, and the Tribe don’t enter this season with a great deal of room for error in the first place.

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Providence Has New Coach But Same Old Players

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – As Providence College enters the 2011-12 season, there’s a tale of the new and the old. The new is reason for optimism, the old is reason for patience if you’re a Friar fan, and there was a little more of the old on Saturday as the Friars narrowly escaped their second exhibition game with a 76-75 win over a UMass-Lowell team that projects to be one of the best in Division II.

Last season was a forgettable one in Friartown, at least once Big East play began. The Friars looked improved in non-conference play, especially defensively, but they did that against a weak schedule. That became apparent once they started losing games in Big East play en route to a 4-14 mark, which led to the end of the Keno Davis era and the hiring of Providence native Ed Cooley to take his place. Cooley’s hire brings excitement because of his track record and being a hometown hero, but the story doesn’t end there.

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New-Look Eagles Have a Long Way to Grow

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Get a program, Eagle fans. You’re going to need it. While you’re at it, you might also want to get some patience, if that’s possible.

The most salient thing about this year’s Boston College team is what’s new about it. 11 players are new, including seven scholarship freshmen on what might be the youngest college basketball team in some time. Among the holdovers, only three have even appreciable experience playing games in the program (senior John Cahill and sophomores Gabe Moton and Danny Rubin), and only one other has significant Division I experience (junior Matt Humphrey, a transfer from Oregon). Also noteworthy is that there is no one who played during the Al Skinner era save for senior walk-on Peter Rehnquist.

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Reaching the Postseason Again Will be a Tall Order for URI

SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island has been a consistent postseason team in recent years and a fairly solid upper-half team in the Atlantic 10 during that stretch. If they are to continue that this season, a lot of unknowns need to become known, and in a positive manner.

You could tell listening to head coach Jim Baron that this team enters the season a little different from the last few. Whereas each of those teams had some significant contributors returning, and thus had some known quantities, this one really lacks that. Gradually, this team has lost some very good players little by little, and it’s debatable whether they’ve replaced them with comparable combinations of talent and experience. That leaves him with his current team, which he described after their first exhibition game on Friday night.

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Lots of Learning Ahead in the CAA

We’re going to learn a lot about the Colonial Athletic Association this season. That might seem obvious considering many will be interested to see how the teams in the conference respond after the great success of last season, but there’s a different angle in mind with that: it’s a conference in some transition from a personnel standpoint. It’s not exactly the “get a program” type of transition, but suffice it to say that as we enter the season, a lot of teams have more questions than answers in that area.

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CAA Hopes Postseason Success Helps Continue Its Rise

The postseason success of last season for Colonial Athletic Association schools is both fresh in our minds and a distant memory at the same time. George Mason won a game in the NCAA Tournament, Old Dominion nearly knocked off national runner-up Butler in the first round, and no one will forget VCU’s magical run to the Final Four. Getting three teams in the NCAA Tournament made it a historical year for the conference; having the added postseason success, especially with a second team making it to the Final Four in six years, was more than just the icing on the proverbial cake.

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Wilbraham & Monson Tries to Contend With a Plethora of Guards

WILBRAHAM, Mass. – Back in July, Wilbraham & Monson Academy looked like its quick rise since Chris Sparks took over the program was poised to reach a high point. Two big-time prospects, both good friends and travel teammates, had committed to come to the school. In the end, one went back to the public school he attended his first three years and the other opted to go to college instead of a post-graduate year. While the projections for this team won’t be the same as they were in July, the Titans will still put a good team on the floor, albeit one with a little less size.

Leading the way will be three main point guards, starting with Jaylen Brantley (5’9″ Jr. PG, Springfield (MA)), who returns for his second season at the school. A consistently good point guard for the BABC program the last couple of years, he’s always calm and can just as easily burn a defense with several three-pointers as he can by finding teammates. On Sunday, his mid-range game was on display.

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2011 Season of Beantown Slam League is Underway

DORCHESTER, Mass. – The 2011 Beantown Slam Basketball League is in full swing, and as has always been the case the action is competitive. The renovated Dorchester House is still home to all the action, with many games having a packed house for an audience.

While the league once again boasts most of the schools from the Boston City League, there is good company for them from outside the city. Plenty of good schools from outside the city like Boston College High School, Catholic Memorial, Lynn English and Newton North are competing and at least giving the city schools all they can handle. A couple of them came up just short on Saturday in mid-afternoon games, and with that, we take a look at some notes from the league up to this point.

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New Feeling as Tabor Tries to Contend Once Again

MARION, Mass. – There’s a feeling of newness at Tabor Academy, a school that once upon a time was among the best in New England. It was only a decade ago that they were winning NEPSAC championships back in the days of Jermaine Watson and Torin Francis, along with a host of good supporting players. The landscape is very different, with Tabor now being in the new Class A, but thoughts of contending for a championship are very much there for Chris Millette’s team.

Part of the newness is obvious once you step onto the court. The floor is new, and there is new lighting in the building. It was done this past off-season in addition to work done on the athletic fields right behind the facility, so there is something of a new lease on life at the school right by the water near Cape Cod.

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2011 Hoop Group Fall Top 100 Recap

BOSTON – The Hoop Group Top 100 moved to a new location this time around, as Basketball City right near the Boston Garden was the site for this one. The event brought a decent amount of talent into the gym, although it had to compete with the SAT for upperclassmen and a team tournament elsewhere in the area.

Here, we take a look at some of the talent that competed on Saturday.

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New Hampton Gets an Injection of Young Talent to a Good Base

NEW HAMPTON, N.H. – Last season, few expected the NEPSAC Class AAA final matchup of New Hampton vs. Maine Central Institute. Although the two were seeded third and fourth among the eight schools, they showed what can happen when it comes down to one game in single elimination. This year, few will be surprised if New Hampton gets that far, as Pete Hutchins has a team with more talent, albeit a little more youth as well.

Although there are talented underclassmen here, the best player on the floor on Wednesday was Olivier Hanlan (6’2″ Sr. PG, Hull (Que.)). A plus athlete with some leadership abilities, he shot the lights out from all over the floor, mostly off the dribble and several times going behind a screener with the defender going behind the ball screen. It seemed like he didn’t miss all night.

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