Report: Jabari Parker's brother hopes to join UW's staff

SI.com's Seth Davis pens an informative story about Jabari Parker, a five-star recruit who is ranked the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2013 class by ESPN.

The 6-foot-8 junior forward from Chicago's Simeon High has long been linked to Washington because his father Sonny and coach Lorenzo Romar were Golden State Warriors teammates for two seasons.

The Huskies may have another tie to Parker. According to Davis, Parker's older brother Chris hopes to enroll at Washington in the fall and join the UW staff as a team manager.

Parker told Coast2CoastHoops.com his top five schools include Duke, Kansas, Washington, Illinois and Michigan State.

In the video highlight clip (above), Parker is No. 11.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON LINKS:

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Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2015662897_report_jabari_p.html?syndication=rss

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Breaking: Mark Few also involved with David Salinas

Source: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2011/7/19/2283713/breaking-mark-few-also-involved-with-david-salinas

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Ben Wallace Pictures On The Internet

If you're looking for pictures of Ben Wallace and the games that he has participated in, then there are many fans sites all over the Internet which specialise in Ben Wallace pictures. In fact, there is certainly no shortage of them and a quick search on Google images will show you that.

Source: http://www.blogbasketball.com/2010/02/05/ben-wallace-pictures-on-the-internet/

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Clemson Lands Small Forward

Clemson has landed Kevin McDaniels (SF, 6’5″, 2011), a player from Birmingham, AL, and who committed to the Tigers just a few days after receiving an offer. It was no secret that McDaniels favored Clemson, after his visit he said as much and said the visit had been the best so far. This is the [...]

Source: http://accbasketballrecruiting.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/clemson-lands-small-forward/

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Video: Zak Irvin and VJ Beachem at Adidas Invitational

Michigan offeree Zak Irvin and his AAU temmate VJ Beachem both had productive performances in front of numerous college coaches at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis last week. UMHoops was on hand to watch their Eric Gordon All-Stars team and here is a compilation of footage of both prospects. Find footage of VJ Beachem after [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UMHoops/~3/XbPotqB_99E/

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Green Bay 7-footer Alec Brown primed for a breakout season

The first time Green Bay coach Brian Wardle noticed a change in sophomore Alec Brown's mindset came during a youth camp two weeks ago.

Having been out-muscled by the bigger, stronger centers at the Amar'e Stoudemire Skills Academy in late June, Brown returned resolute in his desire to pack more weight onto his spindly 7-foot frame this summer. As a result, Brown approached Wardle and asked to take a brief break from running drills for the campers because he hadn't eaten in a few hours and he needed to maintain his six-meal-a-day schedule.

"I looked at him, smiled and said, 'Absolutely. You go get whatever snack you want,'" Wardle said Tuesday by phone. "That's something Alec had never really done before. He's really taking it upon himself to be really responsible in that area. That right there is a sign of why he's put on weight since the Amar'e camp and will continue to from here on out."

The five pounds Brown has gained in the three weeks since the Stoudemire camp is just one of the ways the Minnesota native benefited from the experience. Brown also gained confidence from following up a promising freshman season by holding his own against a handful of future lottery picks.

At a camp that featured 10 other elite college big men including All-American hopefuls Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson and top incoming freshman Anthony Davis, Brown was the lone mid-major player. Nonetheless, he overcame a jittery first day to showcase the soft touch and smooth high post game that helped him average 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds as a freshman and earn a place on the Horizon League's all-newcomer team

"Playing against the best big guys in the nation, it helped me a lot," Brown said by phone. "The biggest thing I got out of it was something I already knew I had to do, which was gain weight and get stronger. This camp helped reinforce it in my mind that it's what I have to do and it's what I have to commit to."

It's remarkable that Brown earned an invitation to such a prestigious camp considering how few major-conference programs had any interest in him the previous year.

A below-the-radar recruit most of his career at Winona High, Brown began drawing interest from a handful of programs after a late growth spurt elevated him from 6-foot-5 entering his junior year to 6-foot-10 by the following summer. Scholarship offers from Green Bay and Loyola-Chicago soon followed, but more established programs strung him along deep into his senior year as they waited for higher profile prospects to select a school.

In mid-April 2010, Wardle ascended from Green Bay's top assistant to head coach and instantly made landing Brown his foremost recruiting priority. He visited Brown and his family at their home, winning them over by pointing out that the raw 7-footer might develop faster by playing immediately at Green Bay rather than redshirting or sitting behind upperclassmen at a larger program.

"I could tell I fit in well here," Brown said. "Some of the bigger schools talked to me, but none of them ever fully offered me. They just said to wait while they got an answer back from somebody else. That's why I went with someone I could trust."

Brown quickly validated Wardle's recruiting pitch by earning a starting job immediately,� scoring the most points of any Green Bay freshman in the past 10 years and shattering the school record for blocked shots with 66. The 7-foot-1 big man weighed just 206 pounds by the end of the season, yet he still managed to score at least 10 points in 10 of Green Bay's final 12 games.

Whereas the focal point of last season's Green Bay team was senior guards Rahmon Fletcher and Bryquis Perine, Wardle says the Phoenix will play through Brown in the post next year. In reality, Green Bay has little choice considering Brown will be one of the few proven players on a roster loaded with freshmen and sophomores.

To prepare for that challenge, Brown will attempt to bulk up to about 224 pounds by October by lifting weights 3 to 4 times per week and eating nutritious meals at least once every three hours starting at 6 a.m.. And in the gym, Wardle has Brown focused on honing his post moves, keeping the ball high and doing everything in his power to exploit his height advantage over smaller opponents.

"Our goal last year was to get him 12 to 15 touches and good things happened for us, so next year hopefully we can get even more touches for him," Wardle said. "He's a very talented young man, he's a great person and his work ethic is really good right now. People are going to really enjoy watching him grow. I think the sky's the limit for him."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Green-Bay-7-footer-Alec-Brown-primed-for-a-break?urn=ncaab-wp3743

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Report Now Indicating That NCAA Will Investigate Salinas Case

Source: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2011/7/19/2284089/ncaa-reportedly-plans-no-investigation-into-salinas-fraud

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Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Akron Great Joe Jakubick

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Akron great Joe Jakubick, who is the school's all-time leading scorer. Jakubick, who also ranks second all-time in steals, is now the girls' basketball coach at St. Vincent's/St. Mary's High School in Akron.

Jon Teitel: Why did you choose to go to Akron?�

Joe Jakubick: When I was in high school they recruited me during my entire senior year. I had also been recruited by other mid-major schools in the area like Bowling Green and Youngstown State.� At the end of my senior season I was named MVP of the state all-star game, and after that I was highly recruited by schools like Ohio State and Wisconsin.� However Akron wanted me really bad, and I got the impression that I would be a significant part of their team.

JT: You were on the all-freshman team your first year, then was a three-time First Team All-OVC performer. How were you able to come in as a freshman and contribute from the start, and how were you able to continue to dominate throughout the rest of your college career?�

JJ: I was unsure what to expect during my freshman year, but I gained more confidence as I went along and matured a lot.� When I look back at some of my numbers, they are impressive but I was just trying to give my team a chance to win.

JT: In 1983 you scored a school-record 47 points vs. Murray State. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?�

JJ: I shot well from the perimeter in that game (I think I made about seven three-point shots), but I had a few other 40+ point games where I felt I could have scored more if I had not missed so many free throws. �At the time Murray State was the best team in our conference. �I was sort of shocked that I even scored that many points: it was a very intense game.

JT: During the 1983-84 season you made a school-record 37 straight free throws. How were you able to maintain your focus for such a long stretch, and what is your secret for free throw shooting?�

JJ: One of my biggest disappointments is that I do not think I shot free throws as well as I should have.� I made about 80% from the line in college but was close to 90% in HS, where I once made about 47 in a row (including back-to-back game of 19-19 and 20-20!).� The physical nature of the college game takes so much more out of you.� As a coach now, I tell my players how I spent a lot of time in the gym each summer: I shot at least 200 free throws every day.� I remember a game in 5th grade where I missed a couple of free throws that cost us the game, so I wanted to prepare myself so that it would not happen again in the future.

JT: In 1984 you led the nation in scoring with an average of 30.1 points per game. Did you feel like you were one of the best players in the country?�

JJ: We opened up my sophomore year against Kentucky when they were #1 in the country. �I scored a team-high 23 points even though they kept rotating guys in to try and guard me, so that gave me a lot of confidence.� There are many skilled guys who can score a lot of points, but I did not go out and hoist up a lot of shots: I would post up, shoot from the perimeter, etc.� I am proud of my high shooting percentage.

JT: You were a three-time Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time conference Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?�

JJ: I was disappointed that we did not win more games.� Looking back, I had a successful career individually, but I wanted to get into the NCAA Tournament.� During my junior year we made it to the conference tournament final but that was the closest I ever got.� It is a goal of any player who goes to college to play in the tournament.� I feel fortunate that I had a good career and it even helped pave the way for my job.�

JT: You graduated as the leading scorer in OVC history (and held the record for almost two decades until it was broken by Henry Domercant of Eastern Illinois in 2003). Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?�

JJ: Honestly, I did not. I just looked at it as doing what my coach wanted me to do to help our team win.� Maybe it is the immaturity of college kids who are only focused on what they are doing right now.� I run into people even today who tell me that they remember watching me play and how good I was, but sometimes I am a little taken aback when I think about what I did.� I was very driven to win games, which helped drive me individually to be the best I could be.

JT: In the summer of 1984 you were drafted in the 7th round by Cleveland. Were you thrilled to realize your dream of making it to the NBA, disappointed that you did not get selected earlier, or other?�

JJ: I was disappointed, as I had played well against other college seniors like John Paxson, Tony Campbell, etc.� I think a lot of it is timing. I played in a college all-star game during the Final Four, which might have hurt me more than helped me.� I felt that I should have been drafted higher, but it was a great learning experience and I feel fortunate that I got to play ball and get a free education. �As a coach now, I can help kids try to realize their own dreams.

JT: You currently coach the girls' basketball team at St. Vincent-St. Mary's (LeBron James' alma mater), and you also work for a power company. Which job do you like more, and what do you hope to do in the future?�

JJ: I am an account manager at a power company and enjoy it but my true passion has always been basketball. �Whether it goes any further (like coaching in college) is something that I would really enjoy.

JT: When people look back on your career how do you want to be remembered the most?�

JJ: I hope they say that I was an all-around player who worked really hard.� Some people might think that I just shot a lot, but I also rank high on the lists for the school's career records in assists and steals.��

Jakubick is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in MAC history.

Akron: Joe Jakubick (1984) 2583 PTS (#1), 189 STL (#2), 50.9 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Ball State: Bonzi Wells (1998) 2485 PTS (#1), 843 REB (#4), 386 AST (#5), 347 STL (#1), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Bowling Green: Antonio Daniels (1997) 1792 PTS (#4), 563 AST (#2), 162 STL (#5), All-American, conference POY
Buffalo: Turner Battle (2005) 1414 PTS (#5), 458 AST (#3), 170 STL (#5), 126 3PM (#4), All-American, conference POY
Central Michigan: Dan Majerle (1988) 2055 PTS (#2), 834 REB (#5), 171 STL (#3), 95 BLK (#5)
Eastern Michigan: Kennedy McIntosh (1971) 2219 PTS (#1), 1426 REB (#1), All-American
Kent State: Trevor Huffman (2002) 1820 PTS (#1), 520 AST (#3), 80.5 FT% (#4), 210 3PM (#1)
Miami (OH): Ron Harper (1986) 2377 PTS (#1), 1119 REB (#1), 287 STL (#1), 173 BLK (#1), 53.4 FG% (#3), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Northern Illinois: TJ Lux (2000) 1996 PTS (#1), 1110 REB (#1), 130 STL (#5), 156 BLK (#3)
Ohio: Gary Trent (1995) 2108 PTS (#3), 1050 REB (#2), 105 BLK (#5), 57.3 FG% (#3), All-American, 3-time conference POY
Toledo: Ken Epperson (1985) 2016 PTS (#1), 960 REB (#1), 55.5 FG% (#4)
Western Michigan: David Kool (2010) 2122 PTS (#1), 163 STL (#5), 231 3PM (#2), 89 FT% (#2), All-American, conference POY

Source: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/jon-teitels-forgotten-legends-series-akron-great-joe-jakubick-169259

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UNLV fans going extra mile to help land Shabazz Muhammad

It's not often UNLV has a legitimate chance to land the nation's consensus No. 1 prospect, so Rebels fans are going all out to show Las Vegas native Shabazz Muhammad how badly they want him to play for his hometown school.

In addition to a twitter account entitled UNLVluvsShabazz and the usual steady stream of pro-UNLV tweets and facebook messages, Las Vegas-based art director Josh Meeter has created a faux Nike commercial encouraging Muhammad to "become a Rebel."

UNLV remains a dark horse to out-duel the likes of UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona to land Muhammad, but the Rebels do have certain advantages over their peers besides their location.

Newly hired UNLV coach Dave Rice's younger brother, Grant Rice, is Muhammad's coach at Bishop Gorman High. Plus, Muhammad regularly plays against some of UNLV's current players and tweeted Sunday that he'll be spending a few days this week in California with Rebels guard Bryce Jones.

Interestingly, UNLV isn't the only non-BCS program with a chance to land a prospect considered to be among the top players in his class. Jabari Parker, Rivals.com's No. 4 player in the Class of 2013, remains very interested in BYU because of his Mormon faith and close relationship with the coaching staff.

"It's pretty serious," Parker told the National Hoops Report. "They keep on recruiting me and I'm showing interest in them too.� I don't have any favorites, but they are in there."

Sounds like it's time for BYU fans to make a faux Nike commercial of their own.

(Thanks, Ryan Greene)

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/UNLV-fans-going-extra-mile-to-help-land-Shabazz-?urn=ncaab-wp3835

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Washington's 2013 recruiting class could be the best ever

Washington has yet to receive a commitment for the 2012 class, but it's difficult not to ignore who the Huskies could land in 2013. Early signs are favorable.

Aaron Gordon, a five-star recruit who is ranked the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2013 class by ESPN, recently told PointGuardU.com the Huskies are at the top of his list.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose said coach Lorenzo Romar is major reason why UW is the early favorite. He also said Arizona is on his list. In a video posted by NextLevelConnect, he said Kansas and New Mexico are also in consideration.

Gordon, an incoming junior, is the younger brother of Drew Gordon, who played at UCLA and New Mexico. His dad played at San Diego State and grew up in Southern California with Romar.

Romar's old relationships may prove to be fruitful in the near future.

Read more...

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2015680458_washingtons_201.html?syndication=rss

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Go Hokies! Add Style with Virginia Tech Personal Checks

Are you a Virginia Tech fan? Do you follow the Governor's Commonwealth Cup faithfully every year? If you love the Hokies, then you might be interested in purchasing Virginia Tech personal checks.

Source: http://www.blogbasketball.com/2010/02/04/go-hokies-add-style-with-virginia-tech-personal-checks/

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Green Bay 7-footer Alec Brown primed for a breakout season

The first time Green Bay coach Brian Wardle noticed a change in sophomore Alec Brown's mindset came during a youth camp two weeks ago.

Having been out-muscled by the bigger, stronger centers at the Amar'e Stoudemire Skills Academy in late June, Brown returned resolute in his desire to pack more weight onto his spindly 7-foot frame this summer. As a result, Brown approached Wardle and asked to take a brief break from running drills for the campers because he hadn't eaten in a few hours and he needed to maintain his six-meal-a-day schedule.

"I looked at him, smiled and said, 'Absolutely. You go get whatever snack you want,'" Wardle said Tuesday by phone. "That's something Alec had never really done before. He's really taking it upon himself to be really responsible in that area. That right there is a sign of why he's put on weight since the Amar'e camp and will continue to from here on out."

The five pounds Brown has gained in the three weeks since the Stoudemire camp is just one of the ways the Minnesota native benefited from the experience. Brown also gained confidence from following up a promising freshman season by holding his own against a handful of future lottery picks.

At a camp that featured 10 other elite college big men including All-American hopefuls Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson and top incoming freshman Anthony Davis, Brown was the lone mid-major player. Nonetheless, he overcame a jittery first day to showcase the soft touch and smooth high post game that helped him average 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds as a freshman and earn a place on the Horizon League's all-newcomer team

"Playing against the best big guys in the nation, it helped me a lot," Brown said by phone. "The biggest thing I got out of it was something I already knew I had to do, which was gain weight and get stronger. This camp helped reinforce it in my mind that it's what I have to do and it's what I have to commit to."

It's remarkable that Brown earned an invitation to such a prestigious camp considering how few major-conference programs had any interest in him the previous year.

A below-the-radar recruit most of his career at Winona High, Brown began drawing interest from a handful of programs after a late growth spurt elevated him from 6-foot-5 entering his junior year to 6-foot-10 by the following summer. Scholarship offers from Green Bay and Loyola-Chicago soon followed, but more established programs strung him along deep into his senior year as they waited for higher profile prospects to select a school.

In mid-April 2010, Wardle ascended from Green Bay's top assistant to head coach and instantly made landing Brown his foremost recruiting priority. He visited Brown and his family at their home, winning them over by pointing out that the raw 7-footer might develop faster by playing immediately at Green Bay rather than redshirting or sitting behind upperclassmen at a larger program.

"I could tell I fit in well here," Brown said. "Some of the bigger schools talked to me, but none of them ever fully offered me. They just said to wait while they got an answer back from somebody else. That's why I went with someone I could trust."

Brown quickly validated Wardle's recruiting pitch by earning a starting job immediately,� scoring the most points of any Green Bay freshman in the past 10 years and shattering the school record for blocked shots with 66. The 7-foot-1 big man weighed just 206 pounds by the end of the season, yet he still managed to score at least 10 points in 10 of Green Bay's final 12 games.

Whereas the focal point of last season's Green Bay team was senior guards Rahmon Fletcher and Bryquis Perine, Wardle says the Phoenix will play through Brown in the post next year. In reality, Green Bay has little choice considering Brown will be one of the few proven players on a roster loaded with freshmen and sophomores.

To prepare for that challenge, Brown will attempt to bulk up to about 224 pounds by October by lifting weights 3 to 4 times per week and eating nutritious meals at least once every three hours starting at 6 a.m.. And in the gym, Wardle has Brown focused on honing his post moves, keeping the ball high and doing everything in his power to exploit his height advantage over smaller opponents.

"Our goal last year was to get him 12 to 15 touches and good things happened for us, so next year hopefully we can get even more touches for him," Wardle said. "He's a very talented young man, he's a great person and his work ethic is really good right now. People are going to really enjoy watching him grow. I think the sky's the limit for him."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Green-Bay-7-footer-Alec-Brown-primed-for-a-break?urn=ncaab-wp3743

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Butler guard Ronald Nored trades his hightops for a clipboard

Whereas most coaches enter the profession only after they're unable to play basketball at a high level anymore, Butler guard Ronald Nored didn't have the patience to wait that long.

The senior-to-be has begun preparing to enter the college coaching ranks after graduation by spending part of the past two offseasons coaching an Indianapolis-based 17-and-under summer basketball team.

It might seem daunting for a Division I college athlete to balance academics, playing a sport and coaching a youth team, but Nored swears he's enjoying himself. He inherited the desire to help people from his pediatrician mother and his pastor father. And he fostered a lifelong passion for basketball playing for renowned Alabama high school coach Tim Shepler and for Butler coach Brad Stevens.

Nored's team won't be landing an invite to any of this week's prestigious AAU tournaments in Las Vegas since it only has one potential Division I player, but he's nonetheless excited about the progress his players have made under his tutelage. He joined me by phone this week to discuss how his team is faring, why he wants to go into coaching and what he's learned from Stevens about the profession.

JE: I know your team struggled in April but has surged lately. How gratifying is it to see their improvement?

RN: I was burnt out in April. We were losing pool games and getting knocked out in the first round of bracket play by 20. That was really hard to swallow. We got a new guy in May who has been really good for us and we started playing better. Earlier this month, we lost the first game in the Hoosier Shootout by seven, then won six in a row by 20 or more to win the Silver Bracket championship. It was the best we've played since I've been coaching. It was really good for me to see because I could see the growth my team has made since when I started.

JE: How did you get started coaching your team last spring?

RN: I contacted [Team Truth founder] Mark Schlafer on Facebook. I'd met him previously, so he had no hesitation in saying, "Let's get this done." We had to check with our compliance office here at Butler and with the NCAA to make sure it was OK. We didn't want to be in that gray area where there was a chance at a violation. They were fine with it as long as I don't promote Butler and I understand that because Butler employs me during the summer for a camp, none of my players could be recruited to Butler. Those were the stipulations to me being able to coach.

JE: Were the families receptive to having a coach who hadn't even graduated from college yet?

RN: The parents were actually really great about it. At the first practice I had last year, I sat the parents down and talked about my beliefs about the game and about how important it was to me to do my best to make their child better, to make their child understand what it was to be a part of a team. My goal was more to make them better for their high school years than to try to win every game over the summer. We don't have a team made up of eight Division I athletes. When I started, a lot of my guys were playing JV and one or two of them were playing varsity.

JE: You're already balancing basketball, school and a social life. Why add another huge responsibility to your plate rather than waiting until after you graduate?

RN: I want to be a college coach, so it was a no-brainer for me. I didn't really care how much time it took or if it was going to pull me away from that social life or from something else. I wanted to do this for myself and for other people. I coached a sixth-grade AAU team when I was in high school, so it was kind of something I'd already done and I wanted to get back into it.

JE: Where do you think your passion for helping people comes from?

RN: From my dad and mom for sure. My parents sacrifice anything at anytime for anyone. I grew up in that environment. My dad was a pastor. My mom works at a pediatric practice. But they were always doing stuff for other people and always finding ways to be positive influences on other people as well as my brother and I. So that's my foundation as well as my Christian background. We believe our gifts are not only our own but used to help other people. When you put that and my love of basketball together, you get coaching. The fact that I grew up with an awesome high school coach and played for an awesome college coach, it's a no-brainer that this is where I see my life going.

JE: What's the most difficult aspect of balancing coaching and everything else you do?

RN: We played during the NCAA tournament last year and this past year. I would play Thursday-Saturday, come home and run practice on Sunday. We were doing all our preparation for the AAU season during the NCAA tournament. But we didn't find the right combination of players during that time and I think I actually overloaded them with things to do. In July, we've simplified everything we're doing and made each players' role more specific. We've made it a lot easier and better for them in July.

JE: Who are your greatest influences as a coach?

RN: Coach Stevens and my high school coach, Tim Shepler. They're both Christians and live their lives the way I try to live mine. Their philosophies of coaching are pretty similar, and they've helped me grow up a lot as a person. I really enjoy the way coach Stevens goes about things. It's been fun to be able to grow up as a young man in this environment with him at the top.

JE: Do you ask coach Stevens and his staff for advice on how to run your team?

RN: They always want to know how we did at a tournament, but I actually really don't talk to them that much. It's pretty much all stuff that I've picked up from them as a player and I've retained.

JE: Specifically what have you learned from playing under coach Stevens that you can incorporate into your coaching?

RN: One thing we focus on here is winning a possession as opposed to winning the game. We focus on what can we do to win this possession. We take it one possession at a time, and that's kind of the mentality I've taken to my team. When you break it down like that, you're setting yourself up to do some good things later on in the game. Another thing I've picked up is his quote, "control what you can control." It sounds really easy, but when you think about it, there's so much stuff that goes on in a game and in life that we spend so much energy and time worrying about. But when you control what you can control, it makes it a lot easier and you worry a lot less.

JE: Did you consider that playing for coach Stevens could benefit your coaching career when you signed with Butler?

RN: I thought that more than anything I'd be able to play for an awesome guy and an awesome staff, and I really didn't think of it that way. I've just been blessed to be able to learn from him as I'm playing. It's been awesome. I think I've learned so much already, and I have at least another year to learn before I have to move on.

JE: How have you improved as a coach since you began your stint with your AAU team?

RN: I think understanding my players' strengths. That's not something I really focused on last year or early this year, but I think I've done a lot better job putting my players in positions where they have a lot better chance to be successful. That's been fun to see too -- how they're attacking offensively or guarding defensively based on the matchups.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Butler-guard-Ronald-Nored-trades-his-hightops-fo?urn=ncaab-wp3912

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A look at Garrett Green?s potential impact at Indiana

Garrett Green is in Bloomington this weekend on his first visit since the announcement earlier this week that he would transfer from LSU and play his final collegiate season elsewhere.The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Green averaged 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game in three seasons at LSU. Green, who will graduate with his [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/insidethehall/~3/7dw3An6-AR4/

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Sidney Nixed from MSU Europe Trip

Posted in Mississippi State

The rocky college career of Renardo Sidney has hit another speed bump. Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury opted not to bring Sidney, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, on a tour of the Netherlands, Belgium and France during the first two weeks of August. Instead, Sidney, who has battled injuries, weight issues and off-the-court concerns, will return [...]

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Source: http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/07/22/sidney-nixed-from-msu-europe-trip/

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Zags Dominating in Northwoods League

Source: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2011/7/22/2289651/zags-dominating-in-northwoods-league

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Sidney Nixed from MSU Europe Trip

Posted in Mississippi State

The rocky college career of Renardo Sidney has hit another speed bump. Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury opted not to bring Sidney, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, on a tour of the Netherlands, Belgium and France during the first two weeks of August. Instead, Sidney, who has battled injuries, weight issues and off-the-court concerns, will return [...]

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Source: http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/07/22/sidney-nixed-from-msu-europe-trip/

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UNLV fans going extra mile to help land Shabazz Muhammad

It's not often UNLV has a legitimate chance to land the nation's consensus No. 1 prospect, so Rebels fans are going all out to show Las Vegas native Shabazz Muhammad how badly they want him to play for his hometown school.

In addition to a twitter account entitled UNLVluvsShabazz and the usual steady stream of pro-UNLV tweets and facebook messages, Las Vegas-based art director Josh Meeter has created a faux Nike commercial encouraging Muhammad to "become a Rebel."

UNLV remains a dark horse to out-duel the likes of UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona to land Muhammad, but the Rebels do have certain advantages over their peers besides their location.

Newly hired UNLV coach Dave Rice's younger brother, Grant Rice, is Muhammad's coach at Bishop Gorman High. Plus, Muhammad regularly plays against some of UNLV's current players and tweeted Sunday that he'll be spending a few days this week in California with Rebels guard Bryce Jones.

Interestingly, UNLV isn't the only non-BCS program with a chance to land a prospect considered to be among the top players in his class. Jabari Parker, Rivals.com's No. 4 player in the Class of 2013, remains very interested in BYU because of his Mormon faith and close relationship with the coaching staff.

"It's pretty serious," Parker told the National Hoops Report. "They keep on recruiting me and I'm showing interest in them too.� I don't have any favorites, but they are in there."

Sounds like it's time for BYU fans to make a faux Nike commercial of their own.

(Thanks, Ryan Greene)

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/UNLV-fans-going-extra-mile-to-help-land-Shabazz-?urn=ncaab-wp3835

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Newest Washington signee is a very familiar name in Seattle

If Shawn Kemp Jr. ever grew tired of the inevitable comparisons to his father during his high school days in Georgia, the 6-foot-10 forward better brace himself for more of the same in college.

The eldest son of Seattle Supersonics legend Shawn Kemp will play his college basketball in the same city where his father enjoyed his greatest NBA success. Washington announced Thursday that Kemp Jr. has signed a financial aid agreement with the Huskies and will be eligible to compete for the team next season.

"He's lived with the comparisons, but he deals with it extremely well," said Roger Kvam, Kemp's former coach at Cherokee High School in Canton, Ga. "He's got a good temperament. He doesn't let things get to him."

Sharing the same name and the same sport as his famous father, who played 14 seasons in the NBA, certainly invites outsiders to make comparisons, but it's Kemp Jr.'s familiar style of play that makes the similarities all the more noteworthy. Although he only began playing in eighth grade and he's still developing post moves and a consistent jump shot, he runs the floor well, possesses explosive leaping ability and has soft enough hands to finish all sorts of alley-oop passes at the rim.

Whether Kemp Jr. can make an immediate impact at Washington is probably unlikely since he's still raw and he's taken a meandering path to the Huskies.

Kemp Jr. initially signed with Alabama in 2008 and later committed to Auburn in 2009, but wasn't academically eligible to enroll at either school. He spent the 2009-10 season at Hargrave Military Academy and the last school year away from basketball in order to shore up his academics so he could enroll at Washington.

"The first thing he's going to have to do is get into condition," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar told the Seattle Times on Thursday. "That's the first thing. Just going that hard every day, that's the second adjustment. He has not played at this level yet. It's good that he's in summer school and he's going now because he's going to need to get the kinks out. He'll be hard worker. I know that he'll do whatever is necessary to regain his form."

The eldest of at least eight different kids Kemp Sr. fathered with at least six mothers, Kemp Jr. grew up without his father in his life for most of his childhood. Mother Genay Doyal relocated from the Seattle area to Georgia when Kemp Jr. was 5 and the former NBA star didn't begin fostering a relationship with his namesake until 2006.

According to Kvam, Kemp Jr. and his father have grown closer since high school. Kvam said both father and son have lived in Seattle during the past year and they frequently work out together, whether it's doing mountain runs or running stadium steps on the Washington campus.

It's foolish to predict that Kemp Jr. will one day be as good as his father, but Kvam is confident the younger Kemp will be an impact player at Washington.

"He's a great kid, very coachable with outstanding ability," Kvam said. "He was just scratching the surface here. I think he's going to get better and better at the next level."

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Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Newest-Washington-signee-is-a-very-familiar-name?urn=ncaab-wp3662

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Bethune-Cookman fires its coach at worst imaginable time

Congratulations to tiny Bethune-Cookman for choosing the worst possible time to get rid of its longtime coach.

Three months after completing its best season in 30 years and four days before the start of the critical July evaluation period, B-CU announced Monday that it has severed ties with 10th-year coach Clifford Reed.

According to the Daytona News-Journal, Reed was fired for insubordination and refusing to cooperate with a university investigation into accusations made by a student in January that she had been assaulted by members of the men's basketball team. Police dropped the case without making any arrests when the student told authorities she no longer wanted to pursue the matter.

Reed would not speak to the News-Journal about the police investigation, but he defended his reputation after being fired.

"My reputation and evaluations speak for themselves," said Reed, a B-CU alum. "People around here will tell you that I'm the most disciplined guy on campus. ... I enjoyed my time at Bethune-Cookman. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to start my coaching career."

Bethune-Cookman is coming off a 21-win season that ended with a MEAC regular season title and a berth in the NIT, yet the program suddenly finds itself on unstable footing. It won't be easy to recruit next month when prospects are uncertain who will be leading the program in the future, nor will it be easy to find a new coach this late in the process when so many potential candidates are already settled elsewhere.

Worse yet, Bethune-Cookman's best player is Clifford Reed's son, who averaged 19.1 points per game as a junior. C.J. Reed told the News-Journal he's unsure what his next move will be .

"No idea about next year or anything," Reed said. "I'm just really confused right now and upset."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Bethune-Cookman-fires-its-coach-at-worst-imagina?urn=ncaab-wp3563

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Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Norfolk State's Charles Christian

Early this year CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Norfolk State head coach Charles Christian to discuss his tenure at the school. Coach Christian won seven conference titles and was named conference Coach of the Year four times. Sadly Coach Christian passed away in early April at the age of 83.

Jon Teitel: How did you get into coaching, and why did you choose Norfolk State?�

Charles Christian: The head coach at that time was a guy I played against in high school (Ralph Smith), and I was his assistant for three years before taking over as head coach in 1973.

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 Division II Tournament (Norfolk State beat Winston Salem State before a two-point loss to Virginia Union and future NABC POY Charles Oakley)?�

CC: We always had an intense rivalry against Winston Salem, as we met them in the CIAA conference finals several times.�

JT: What are your memories of the 1987 D-II Tournament (Norfolk State won two games before a six-point loss to eventual champion Kentucky Wesleyan)?�

CC: Our leading scorer Ralph Tally did not have a great game, and Barry Mitchell was sick at the time, so those were two big factors in the loss to Kentucky Wesleyan.�

JT: Your team led all of D-II in FG% defense twice in a three-year span in the mid-1980s. How much emphasis did you place on defense, and what is your secret to playing good defense?�

CC: Defense is a side of the game that very few people put an emphasis on, but we did.� They did not have all the regulations about practice time back then that they do now, so we had long practices that focused on defense.� You have to work hard�on it because everyone is usually focused on scoring.� Before I started as coach at NSU, the team averaged 90+ ppg in a run-and-gun style that the fans enjoyed.� After I came in we only scored about 70 ppg, but as we won more and more games the�fans eventually came around.� Our goal was to hold teams to 70 ppg, as we figured that we could score over 70 points ourselves.

JT: Tally remains the only Norfolk State player to ever be named D-II POY: was he the best player you ever coached, and what made him such a great player?�

CC: Ralph's stats were great, but one of the best players I ever coached was Eugene Cunningham (who was drafted by Golden State in 1976).� He was a heck of a competitor and a student of the game.� He was only 6'6" and not an exceptional leaper,�but he had the timing/position to get any rebound he wanted.�

JT: You spent several years as the president of the Suffolk NAACP chapter. Why did you choose to get involved with the NAACP, and what were you able to accomplish?�

CC: I was involved in many civic affairs during my entire time at Suffolk, serving on the library board, school board, etc.� After I quit coaching I was approached about running for NAACP president.� I was hoping to enjoy my retirement by resting so�I only planned on staying for one term, but I ended up serving two terms.� The members are the ones who really do the work. It is important to have a good drum major, but it is everyone in the band who plays the music!� It is very similar to�basketball: coaches are important, but it is the players who must produce (both as athletes and students).�

JT: In 2003 you were inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. What did it mean to you to be inducted, and where does that rank among your career highlights?�

CC: I was humbled to receive such an award: I was inducted into a couple of other Halls of Fame as well, and each of them was a great honor.�

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?�

CC: I would like to be remembered as a guy who produced student-athletes who were also good citizens.� I think that working with the young men on the basketball court contributed a lot to them being good adults and family men.� For example, if�you run a play but do not score you do not just quit and walk off the court: you get back out there and try to do it again.�
�
Coach Christian is also on Jon's list of best coaches in MEAC history.

Bethune-Cookman: Jack "Cy" McClairen (1961-1993) 397-427, 1-time conference COY
Coppin State: Ron "Fang" Mitchell (1986-present) 395-357, 4 NCAA tourneys, 10 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
Delaware State: Greg Jackson (2000-present) 166-169, 1 NCAA tourney, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Florida A&M: Mike Gillespie (2001-2007) 90-94, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2-time conference COY
Hampton: Steve Merfeld (1997-2002) 90-57, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Howard: Frankie Allen (2000-2005) 52-93
Maryland Eastern Shore: Kirkland Hall (1976-1984) 79-131
Morgan State: Chris Fuller (1995-2001) 53-115
Norfolk State: Charles Christian (1973-1978, 1981-1990) 319-95, 7 conference titles, 4-time conference COY
North Carolina A&T: Don Corbett (1979-1993) 254-145, 7 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
South Carolina State: Cy Alexander (1987-2003) 276-200, 5 NCAA tourneys, 6 conference titles, 3-time conference COY

Source: http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/jon-teitels-coaching-greats-series-norfolk-states-charles-christian-169282

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Stanford coach?s two-year extension is mostly a recruiting tactic

It's no coincidence Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby chose the first day of the July evaluation period on Wednesday to announce coach Johnny Dawkins' two-year contract extension through the 2015-16 season.

This new contract wasn't so much about Bowlsby reaffirming his faith in Dawkins. It was about combating the perception in the minds of high school juniors and seniors that Dawkins' job may be in jeopardy if he doesn't engineer a turnaround in the next two years.

Stanford is a program accustomed to annual upper-division Pac-10 finishes under Mike Montgomery and to a lesser extent Trent Johnson, but Dawkins has gone a mere 49-48 in three seasons on the Farm and has yet to make an NCAA tournament.

Some of that mediocrity is a result of the lack of young talent Johnson left Dawkins when he bolted for LSU, a problem exacerbated when Dawkins appeared to spend more of his first summer helping Mike Krzyzewski run the U.S. Olympic team than recruiting. The Cardinal relied on a nearly all-walk-on frontcourt two years ago and had no seniors on its roster last season.

There are signs Dawkins is on the verge of a turnaround in spite of leading scorer Jeremy Green's surprise decision to turn pro with a year of eligibility remaining. Not only did forward Dwight Powell and guards Anthony Brown and Aaron Bright each show promise as freshmen last season, incoming freshman Chasson Randle was the Illinois state player of the year last year and signed with Stanford over Illinois and Purdue.

The bottom line with Dawkins' future on the Farm is this.

If that crop of young talent can lead Stanford back to the NCAA tournament in the next two years, Dawkins will have the opportunity to remain with the Cardinal or perhaps parlay that success into another job. If Stanford continues to flounder in a mediocre Pac-12, don't expect Dawkins to coach the Cardinal through the end of his new contract.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Stanford-coach-8217-s-two-year-extension-is-mos?urn=ncaab-wp3653

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Which programs sign the most McDonald?s All-Americans?

It should come as no surprise which programs sit atop StatSheet.com's list of schools who have signed the most McDonald's All-Americans since 1990.

The top two are North Carolina (39) and Duke (37), easily out-distancing fellow blue bloods Kansas (24), Kentucky (17) and UCLA (16).

Tobacco Road fans will argue this list shows that the Tar Heels and Blue Devils rarely lose a top recruit they target except to each-other. Cynics will counter that this list suggests the ranking of players who sign with North Carolina and Duke are often inflated because of the reputation of the schools they've chosen.

The truth is both arguments are probably true. Guys like Eric Boateng or Bobby Frasor probably wouldn't have made the McDonald's roster had they signed with lesser programs, but the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have consistently won more battles for the nation's most coveted recruits than any other programs.

Some more observations:

? The school that has signed the most elite prospects yet accomplished the least in the past two decades is probably Texas, which has signed 12 McDonald's All-Americans since 1990 yet made just three Elite Eights and one Final Four.

The six programs who have also signed 12 or more All-Americans during that same span have combined for 13 national championships. Seven of the next 10 programs on the list have at least been to multiple Final Fours since 1990.

Other notable underachievers: Georgia Tech (11), LSU (9) and Florida State (7). It's very difficult in particular to believe that LSU has signed more All-Americans in the past two decades than Syracuse, Maryland or Georgetown.

? The best program never to sign a McDonald's All-American is probably a powerhouse from a non-BCS conference.

Is it Xavier, which has won five straight Atlantic 10 titles and made 10 NCAA tournament appearances in 11 seasons? Or is it Gonzaga, which has won 10 straight WCC crowns and participated in March Madness every year since 1999? Or maybe Butler, which has four Sweet 16s and a pair of runner-up finishes since 2003?

Xavier gets the slight nod here, though you can make a case for any of them. Of the BCS conference programs, it's noteworthy that Vanderbilt has been competitive in the SEC for years without having a McDonald's All-American since Bill McCaffrey in 1989.

? Several schools that you may not suspect have signed All-Americans since 1990:

San Diego State's lone McDonald's signee was Los Angeles product Evan Burns, who failed to qualify academically at UCLA and then selected the Aztecs in 2002. Burns lasted just one season with the Aztecs before injuries and poor grades ended his college career.

The decline of Tulane basketball in recent years makes it easy to forget that the Green Wave was competitive in Conference USA during the 90s. Lone McDonald's All-American Jerald Honeycutt averaged 19.9 points and 6.5 rebounds as a senior in 1997 and led the Green Wave to three straight 20-win seasons.

Would you believe that Colgate has signed a McDonald's All-American? That lone elite recruit was Adonal Foyle, who became the school's all-time leading rebounder despite playing only three seasons. Foyle had a lengthy NBA career as a journeyman backup center.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Which-programs-sign-the-most-McDonald-s-All-Amer?urn=ncaab-wp3728

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Show Your Team Pride with Virginia Tech Personal Checks

Are you a fan of Virginia Tech and the Hokies? Do you follow the Governor's Cup religiously every year? If so, then you might be interested in the Virginia Tech personal checks.

Source: http://www.blogbasketball.com/2010/02/04/show-your-team-pride-with-virginia-tech-personal-checks/

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Alabama recruit spearheads tornado relief efforts in Tuscaloosa

Unlike most high school prospects who visit their chosen colleges to tour campus or get to know their future coaches and teammates, Alabama-bound guard Jaren Sina had a less traditional purpose for his trip to Tuscaloosa last week.

Sina and a group of close to 30 others from his high school in New Jersey spent five days in the tornado-ravaged city assisting with relief efforts.

They folded and sorted clothes by size so the garments could be distributed to the needy. They cleared the debris-ridden plot of land where a Brookwood man's house once stood. And they helped a displaced Tuscaloosa family move recently donated furniture and appliances into its new apartment.

"Once you're there, it's completely different than what you see on TV," said Sina, one of the top point guards in the Class of 2013. "There's so much destroyed and so much work left to be done, so we as a group tried to do what could just to make this place a little better."

Participating in tornado relief efforts only solidified Sina's fondness for the Alabama program and the Tuscaloosa community. Whereas other prospects who select a college three years before they can enroll often renege on that commitment if a more appealing offer comes along or their relationship with the coach sours, Sina cannot envision playing anywhere else besides Alabama.

"The trip strengthened the tie between him and the school," said his father, Mergen Sina. "A lot of people question early commitments and whether Jaren might change his mind, but now Jaren has an even stronger personal connection with the school. He can't wait to get down there."

The idea for the community service trip popped into the minds of Mergen and Jaren when St. Bernard's School received an invitation to attend Alabama's team camp in mid-June. They had watched on TV in disbelief the afternoon of April 27 as a deadly mile-wide tornado ripped through the community Jaren hoped to one day call home, so they decided to arrive in Tuscaloosa a few days early to help in any way they could.

Only Sina and his teammates on the St. Bernard's basketball team may have made the trip were it not for the school's community outreach coordinator Peter Schmidt suggesting they invite other students to participate. The students raised more than $12,000 to finance the trip via a "Baskets for 'Bama" shoot-a-thon fundraiser in which each of the kids sought out sponsors willing to shell out a few dollars for every 3-point shot they could make one Sunday afternoon.

If any students were previously unaware of the extent of the damage in Tuscaloosa County, it hit them as they stared out the window at debris-strewn residential blocks and shops reduced to rubble during a bus tour of some of the most devastated regions. Later, the group had the chance to meet some of the families who lost property or loved ones while working on projects given to them by several of the Tuscaloosa-based tornado relief organizations.

"It meant an awful lot to the kids to see how gracious the people were," Schmidt said. "Everywhere we went in Tuscaloosa, shopkeepers would come up to them and thank them for what they were doing. I think it made a tremendous impact on all of the kids that they left with a feeling of camaraderie with people who live 1,000 miles away from where they do."

No student felt more of a bond with the Tuscaloosa community than Sina, who two years from now intends to be taking his first summer session classes at Alabama.

Last January, Sina selected the Crimson Tide over Big East programs Seton Hall, Rutgers and St. John's because he believed his affinity for the campus and the coaching staff outweighed Tuscaloosa's distance from his New Jersey home. Now that he's spent another week helping the community rebuild after the tornado, he's all the more certain of his choice.

"I was 100 percent on going to Alabama before but this puts me over the top," he said. "Not even in terms of basketball but in terms of the people I've met down there in the city alone. I know it's the right place for me."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Alabama-recruit-spearheads-tornado-relief-effort?urn=ncaab-wp3567

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West Michigan grudge match today, Thursday, at DeVos Place

Source: http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/2011/07/west_michigan_grudge_match_tod.html

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Gonzaga coaches out in full force for July evaluation period

Source: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2011/7/8/2265530/gonzaga-coaches-out-in-full-force-for-july-evaluation-period

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Former St. Anthony guard Eli Carter commits to Rutgers for next season

Source: http://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/index.ssf/2011/04/former_st_anthony_guard_eli_ca.html

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Brawl for the Ball concludes today, Friday

Source: http://blog.mlive.com/highschoolbasketball/2011/07/brawl_for_the_ball_concludes_t.html

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Woman whose dad did OHIO cheer from his casket tells the story

Ten days after arranging for her dad to become maybe the first Ohio State fan ever to participate in an O-H-I-O cheer at his own funeral, Juli Miracle remains convinced he would have loved it.

It doesn't matter to her that her mom chose not to pose for the photo. It doesn't matter to her that her brother begged her not to do the cheer. And it doesn't matter to her that a smattering of humorless Internet commenters have called her family "classless" and "creepy" after word of the stunt spread this week.

To Miracle, using the open casket as the "I" in the O-H-I-O cheer was a fitting tribute to her father. Not only was 80-year-old Roy Miracle an ardent Buckeyes fan who rarely missed a football game on Saturdays in the fall, he also was a prankster with a notoriously mischievous sense of humor.

"I've seen comments online that make me out to be the grieving daughter who's laughing at a funeral, but this was a celebration of his life," Miracle said by phone Wednesday night. "He loved Ohio State and his sense of humor was huge. That had to be represented."

At a time when Ohio State fans routinely show off their school pride by posing for O-H-I-O pictures from lavish weddings, tropical beaches or foreign landmarks, the photo from Roy Miracle's funeral has still caused a stir. Since Juli sent it to Ohio State earlier this week under the headline, "Now dad is the permanent 'I,'" the photo has been picked up by local newspapers, national websites and even Deadspin.

The idea for the O-H-I-O cheer struck Juli soon after her father's July 1 death as she reminisced about how much he enjoyed watching Buckeye games at her house during the final 20 years of his life. She went forward with her plan even without her brother Steven's support, dressing Roy in his trademark red Ohio State turtleneck and recruiting a cousin and a friend to be in the photo with her.

"People have been texting me and calling me, 'Your photo's on this and your photo's on that,'" Juli said. "I even talked to the funeral director today, and she said she told her daughter to DVR the two late-night shows, Letterman and Leno. She said, 'You know you're going to be on there.'"

Although Juli is dreading the start of football season in the fall because she can't imagine watching the Buckeyes without her father, she takes solace in the fact that he'd have enjoyed her tribute to him very much.

"I know he'd have a grin on his face and he'd be laughing," Juli said. "It could not have been more perfect."

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Woman-whose-dad-did-OHIO-cheer-from-his-casket-t?urn=ncaab-wp3771

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Thoughts on Rush the Court?s Big Four State Tourney

It’s September. That means there isn’t much groundbreaking news in the college basketball world. While we all eagerly await the start of the season, Rush the Court is filling our time with a cool idea: The Big Four State Tourney, … Continue reading →

Source: http://basketballdaily.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/thoughts-on-rush-the-courts-big-four-state-tourney/

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Brayden Carr, young son of Rutgers assistant Jim Carr, dies from complications due to medical condition

Source: http://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/index.ssf/2011/05/brayden_carr_young_son_of_rutg.html

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Transcript of live chat with Donald and Slick Watts

Photo credit: Seattle Times - Betty Udesen

Donald "Slick" Watts (right), the iconic Sonics guard and his son Donald (left), who starred at Washington, will join us at noon for a live chat.

Slick Watts played four seasons (1974-78) with the Sonics and two additional seasons before finishing his six-year with Houston.

In 1975-76, he led the league in assists and steals and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Donald Watts was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter at UW and helped the Huskies to a NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 1998. When he finished his career, he ranked 18th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,558 points.

He played professionally in Europe, South America and the U.S. Currently, he serves as boys basketball coach at West Seattle High School.

Slick Watts is being honored Saturday during the H206 Charity Basketball Classic. Pre-game celebrations begin 2:30 p.m. at KeyArena and the exhibition between Seattle-area basketball stars and NBA players is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2015684683_live_chat_with_9.html?syndication=rss

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Washington's 2013 recruiting class could be the best ever

Washington has yet to receive a commitment for the 2012 class, but it's difficult not to ignore who the Huskies could land in 2013. Early signs are favorable.

Aaron Gordon, a five-star recruit who is ranked the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2013 class by ESPN, recently told PointGuardU.com the Huskies are at the top of his list.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose said coach Lorenzo Romar is major reason why UW is the early favorite. He also said Arizona is on his list. In a video posted by NextLevelConnect, he said Kansas and New Mexico are also in consideration.

Gordon, an incoming junior, is the younger brother of Drew Gordon, who played at UCLA and New Mexico. His dad played at San Diego State and grew up in Southern California with Romar.

Romar's old relationships may prove to be fruitful in the near future.

Read more...

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2015680458_washingtons_201.html?syndication=rss

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Which programs sign the most McDonald?s All-Americans?

It should come as no surprise which programs sit atop StatSheet.com's list of schools who have signed the most McDonald's All-Americans since 1990.

The top two are North Carolina (39) and Duke (37), easily out-distancing fellow blue bloods Kansas (24), Kentucky (17) and UCLA (16).

Tobacco Road fans will argue this list shows that the Tar Heels and Blue Devils rarely lose a top recruit they target except to each-other. Cynics will counter that this list suggests the ranking of players who sign with North Carolina and Duke are often inflated because of the reputation of the schools they've chosen.

The truth is both arguments are probably true. Guys like Eric Boateng or Bobby Frasor probably wouldn't have made the McDonald's roster had they signed with lesser programs, but the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have consistently won more battles for the nation's most coveted recruits than any other programs.

Some more observations:

? The school that has signed the most elite prospects yet accomplished the least in the past two decades is probably Texas, which has signed 12 McDonald's All-Americans since 1990 yet made just three Elite Eights and one Final Four.

The six programs who have also signed 12 or more All-Americans during that same span have combined for 13 national championships. Seven of the next 10 programs on the list have at least been to multiple Final Fours since 1990.

Other notable underachievers: Georgia Tech (11), LSU (9) and Florida State (7). It's very difficult in particular to believe that LSU has signed more All-Americans in the past two decades than Syracuse, Maryland or Georgetown.

? The best program never to sign a McDonald's All-American is probably a powerhouse from a non-BCS conference.

Is it Xavier, which has won five straight Atlantic 10 titles and made 10 NCAA tournament appearances in 11 seasons? Or is it Gonzaga, which has won 10 straight WCC crowns and participated in March Madness every year since 1999? Or maybe Butler, which has four Sweet 16s and a pair of runner-up finishes since 2003?

Xavier gets the slight nod here, though you can make a case for any of them. Of the BCS conference programs, it's noteworthy that Vanderbilt has been competitive in the SEC for years without having a McDonald's All-American since Bill McCaffrey in 1989.

? Several schools that you may not suspect have signed All-Americans since 1990:

San Diego State's lone McDonald's signee was Los Angeles product Evan Burns, who failed to qualify academically at UCLA and then selected the Aztecs in 2002. Burns lasted just one season with the Aztecs before injuries and poor grades ended his college career.

The decline of Tulane basketball in recent years makes it easy to forget that the Green Wave was competitive in Conference USA during the 90s. Lone McDonald's All-American Jerald Honeycutt averaged 19.9 points and 6.5 rebounds as a senior in 1997 and led the Green Wave to three straight 20-win seasons.

Would you believe that Colgate has signed a McDonald's All-American? That lone elite recruit was Adonal Foyle, who became the school's all-time leading rebounder despite playing only three seasons. Foyle had a lengthy NBA career as a journeyman backup center.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Which-programs-sign-the-most-McDonald-s-All-Amer?urn=ncaab-wp3728

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