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Our New Jersey trip concludes with a day of games at the Joe Brown Memorial Tournament. |
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The past adversity behind them, Duquesne is ready to take more steps forward next season. |
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Summer Classic East gave plenty of prospects a chance to show college coaches what they can do. |
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Zach looks back at the Mount St. Mary's success story in the 2007-08 season. |
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The July live period kicked off with Hoop Mountain having perhaps its best talent haul ever at Super Week II. |
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With July upon us, we take a look at some of the talent observed in New England during the spring. |
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With its win at the Hoop Group Regional Showcase, a New Jersey powerhouse looks like an early favorite for 2009. |
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Among the few team tournaments held in late June was the improved Team Boston Elite Invitational. |
Still the Golden Eagles: Marquette has decided to keep its nickname as the "Golden Eagles" after considering a change back to an old nickname. From 1954 to 1993, they used "Warriors", and in September 2004 the Board of Trustees considered going back to that name. Ultimately, the board decided not to in order to hold itself to its Catholic, Jesuit mission. Marquette officially joins the Big East on July 1. [6/30/05]
Title Rematch in Challenge: The ACC-Big Ten Challenge will feature a national championship rematch next season, as Illinois will travel to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina on November 29. The Tar Heels took home the national championship with a win over the Illini in St. Louis in April, and this game will mark the second time in three years the schools have met in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. North Carolina won in Greensboro in December 2003. [6/30/05]
Douglas Still Restricted: If Toney Douglas wants to transfer to another SEC school, he will have to pay his way next year, a committee at Auburn decided. The committee had no members of the athletic department and decided to enforce a rule that will require the freshman guard to pay his own way if he transfers to another SEC school. Douglas declared for the NBA Draft and was given a scholarship release by head coach Jeff Lebo on June 14. He withdrew from the draft on June 21. [6/30/05]
Flyers Add Assistant, Another Moves On: Brian Gregory announced that Bob Beyer will join Dayton's staff as an assistant coach, while director of basketball operations Jon Borovich has moved on to take an assistant coaching position at Oakland (MI) University. Beyer has coached at both the college and professional levels, most recently at Texas Tech under Bob Knight from 2001 to 2003, and was an NBA advance scout. Borovich, meanwhile, was on the staff the past two seasons and is returning to his home state of Michigan to become an assistant at Oakland. [6/30/05]
Flannery Gets Extension: Bucknell signed head coach Pat Flannery to a four-year contract extension, ensuring that he will continue to lead his alma mater. In 11 seasons at the school, he is 172-146, with the most recent season being a historic one for the school. The Bison won 23 games, including an upset of Kansas in the NCAA Tournament, the first NCAA Tournament win for any Patriot League school. The Bison's Patriot League title was its first as well, and in January the Bison knocked off Pittsburgh, ranked seventh in the nation at the time. [6/30/05]
Top Prospect Will be a Buckeye: Greg Oden, widely regarded as the top prospect in the high school class of 2006, has committed to Ohio State. The 7-foot center, who many believe would have been the top pick in the 2006 NBA Draft prior to the NBA's new age minimum (and in spite of his saying that he would go to college), led Lawrence North in Indianapolis to two straight Class 4A state titles along with fellow future Buckeye Mike Conley. Conley is widely regarded as one of the top point guards in the class. [6/30/05]
New Assistant Looks Familiar: Bryce Drew, a hero in Valparaiso's run to the Sweet 16 in 1998, is returning to his alma mater to work for his father, Homer. Drew will join the staff at his alma mater after playing five seasons in the NBA and one in Italy. He becomes the third member of his family to coach at the school, with older brother Scott now being the head coach at Baylor after nine seasons as an assistant and one season as head coach at Valparaiso. [6/29/05]
Spinelli Promoted: Nebraska has promoted Scott Spinelli to Associate Head Coach after two seasons as Barry Collier's top assistant. Spinelli has been a big key in the recruiting efforts of the Cornhuskers since he joined the staff in 2003, helping them recruit two of last season's top freshmen in Joe McCray and Aleks Maric. His previous college coaching experience includes two years at Loyola (Ill.) and two years at American University, spearheading nationally ranked recruiting classes at each stop. [6/29/05]
Harnum Takes Over Department, For Now: Rider head coach Don Harnum is moving up, but only temporarily, as he will become the full-time interim athletic director on September 1. Curtis Blake retired as the school's athletic director, and the school expects to have a permanent replacement by the end of the 2005-06 academic year. Harnum has been the head coach at Rider for eight seasons, posting a record of 127-104, and is expected to resume those duties once the school has a new athletic director. He has recommended assistant Tommy Dempsey as his replacement to lead the basketball team for next season. [6/28/05]
Gottfried Rolls With the Tide: Alabama coach Mark Gottfried will remain the Crimson Tide’s leader for many more seasons after signing a new six-year contract worth $1 million. Gottfried has led Alabama to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and built the Crimson Tide into a perennial contender in the SEC. The contract makes him the first Alabama basketball coach to hold a $1 million contract. [6/27/05]
Nero Becomes America East’s Caesar: Maine athletics director Patrick Nero will resign his position at the school to become commissioner of the America East Conference. He leaves his Maine post July 23 and will begin commissioner duties Aug. 8. In three years at Maine, Nero has made Maine a complete program for student-athletes. He raised the standards, and the students responded, claiming the school’s first America East Academic Cup. The program also finished second to Boston University in 2004 in the conference’s All-Sports trophy. [6/27/05]
Baylor Nearly Lost Everything: A day after the NCAA placed Baylor on probation for five years, among other penalties, a member of the NCAA’s infractions committee said the association came close to giving the Bears the death penalty for this coming season. In basketball terms, the death penalty means the NCAA could have banned the Bears from playing any games. Instead, the NCAA banned the Bears from playing non-conference games, which the school opted to enact for this coming season.
Odom Hires Familiar Face: South Carolina coach Dave Odom turned back the clock to replace assistant coach Ricky Stokes, who left the Gamecocks to become head coach at East Carolina. Odom hired Ken Potosnak, who worked with Odom as a graduate assistant at Wake Forest in the early 1990s, to replace Stokes. Potosnak had been an assistant at Furman for the past eight years. He also had been an assistant at the Citadel. At Furman, Potosnak developed several international ties on the recruiting trail, which could be helpful for South Carolina as Odom tries to elevate the program into a perennial contender in the SEC. [6/25/05]
Tigers Hire One, Promote Three: Pacific head coach Bob Thomason announced several changes to his staff, a chain reaction set in motion when assistant coach Calvin Byrd left Pacific to become an assistant at Loyola Marymount. Thomason promoted Ron Verlin to associate coach, Adam Jacobsen to second assistant and Aaron Woliczko to third assistant. Thomason also hired Ben Sanders to be basketball operations coordinator, the position Woliczko has served for three years. Sanders comes to Pacific after working at San Jose State for the past two seasons. [6/25/05]
RedHawks Shift Assistants: Miami, Ohio, coach Charlie Coles shifted the titles and responsibilities of two assistant coaches and hired one. Coles promoted Jermaine Henderson to associate coach, the first person to hold that title in Miami basketball history. Coles also promoted assistant Frankie Smith to the second assistant position and hired Ryan Pedon to be his third assistant. Pedon returns to Miami after working as an administrative assistant for two seasons. He has spent the past three years as an assistant at Kent State. [6/25/05]
Mean Green Steadman: North Texas coach Johnny Jones hired Jai Steadman as an assistant coach, replacing Kobie Baker, who left the Mean Green to pursue other interests. Steadman has coached at various levels for several years. Most recently, he was an assistant at McNeese State. He also has been an assistant at TCU, a junior college program and a CBA team. He also has been a head coach for a European team in Denmark. [6/25/05]
NCAA Slaps Baylor With Stiff Penalties: NCAA officials decided upon a punishment to fit the crimes committed by Baylor during the tenure of former coach Dave Bliss. They placed the Bears under probation for five years and banned the team from playing non-conference games for one season. The school opted to enact the latter penalty this season, meaning the Bears have almost no chance of playing in the post-season because they will have fewer opportunities to build an NCAA Tournament-worthy resume.
Yarbrough Steps into Division I: Southeastern Louisiana officials filled the school’s vacant head coaching position by hiring Jim Yarbrough Jr. Yarbrough has coached Valdosta State for the past four seasons, guiding the team to a 97-42 record during that stretch. Southeastern Louisiana officials selected Yarbrough over former Southern Mississippi coach James Green and Roman Banks, an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana. Yarbrough replaces Billy Kennedy, who left the school to become an assistant to Frank Haith at Miami after Kennedy led the program to consecutive 20-win seasons. [6/24/05]
Cougars Get Bigger: College of Charleston officials announced that center Konimba Diarra has transferred to the Cougars from South Florida. Diarra must sit out next season according to NCAA rules for transfers and will then have two years of eligibility with the Cougars. At 6-10, Diarra offers the size that rarely comes to Southern Conference teams. He has a new start after failing to make a significant contribution at South Florida, averaging 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game last season. [6/24/05]
Pikiell Filling Out His Staff: Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell continued to build his staff for next season by hiring assistant coach Jay Young. Young had been the head coach at the University of New Haven for the past five years. Young guided New Haven to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the first time any one had done that at New Haven in almost 20 years. Young has Division I experience as a graduate assistant and assistant coach at Northeastern. [6/24/05]
Loving the Orange: Syracuse surpassed Kentucky last season as the NCAA’s leader in men’s basketball attendance. An average of 22,978 Orange fans packed the Carrier Dome, edging the average 22,520 Wildcat fans who filled Rupp Arena. North Carolina ranked third with 20, 522. Syracuse reclaimed the title it held for a decade from 1985-1995. Kentucky had been the leader since. Attendance throughout the entire NCAA remains high as more than 30 million fans in sum attended men’s basketball games for the third consecutive season. Virginia Tech saw the biggest increase in Division I, increasing attendance from 6,342 per game to 9,405. The move from the Big East to the ACC seems to have paid off. [6/24/05]
More Husky Legal Trouble?: Connecticut’s off-season is quickly turning turbulent as two more Huskies could face criminal charges. Guards Marcus Williams and A.J. Price are suspects in an investigation of at least four stolen laptop computers, campus police officials said. Several computers were stolen from a campus dorm, including laptops belonging to a couple of incoming women’s basketball players. Williams was outstanding last season, averaging 9.6 points and 7.8 assists per game. Price missed the entire season while recovering from a potentially fatal brain hemorrhage. Former guard Antonio Kellogg, who was a significant reserve last season, left the team and school following charges of marijuana possession and attempted assault on a police officer. [6/23/05]
Davidson to Spend More Time With Tide: Alabama rising junior forward Jermareo Davidson pulled his name out of the NBA Draft pool after he failed to receive a guarantee that he would be chosen in the first round. Davidson posted decent but not outstanding statistics last season, averaging 7.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Davidson’s return gives the Crimson Tide a better chance of challenging for the SEC title next season and also allows Davidson to improve his game for another draft run. [6/23/05]
One and Done: Kentucky rising sophomore center Randolph Morris has decided that he will remain in the NBA Draft. The deadline for early entrants to return to school was June 21 at 5 p.m., and Kentucky officials received no word that Morris would be back next season. In one season with the Wildcats, Morris averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, starting all but one game. Morris’ stock isn’t exactly a blue chip, but he has worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers. [6/22/05]
Good News, Bad News: The good news for Pittsburgh fans is that rising senior point guard Carl Krauser intends to return to school for his senior year. The bad news is that doesn’t mean he’ll be playing basketball this fall. Krauser faxed his withdrawal from the NBA Draft to league officials minutes before the deadline. He had not hired an agent, preserving his collegiate eligibility. But his eligibility may be limited by poor academics. Krauser must attend summer school to guarantee that he’ll be available for games during the fall semester. Krauser led the Panthers last season with 16 points per game. [6/22/05]
GW Gets Its Pops Back: After completing the team’s most successful season in several years, George Washington appeared to be in a crisis when juniors Mike Hall and Pops Mensah-Bonsu declared for the NBA Draft. But Hall returned to the Colonials last week. Now, Mensah-Bonsu has also opted to help George Washington repeat as Atlantic 10 champions. Mensah-Bonsu averaged 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season while leading the team in blocked shots. George Washington returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years. [6/22/05]
Back for More: Notre Dame power forward Torin Francis has decided that returning to the Fighting Irish for his senior year is his best career move. Francis had declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft but did not hire an agent, which meant he could return to school. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Notre Dame. [6/22/05]
St. Peter’s Guard Dies: Rising senior guard George Jefferson, 20, was found dead in his St. Peter’s dorm room by a fellow student. Police officials have not determined a cause of death, but they said Jefferson’s death does not appear to be a homicide. He had been complaining of headaches recently. In three seasons at St. Peter’s, Jefferson averaged 2.7 points per game. [6/22/05]
Injured Brown Returns to Illini: Rising senior guard Dee Brown will return to Illinois rather than remain in the NBA Draft, largely because Brown broke his foot during a pre-draft camp. The injury will prevent Brown from practicing until late August. Brown had been considered a borderline first-round pick in the NBA Draft, and he couldn’t increase his stock after the injury. Brown averaged 13.3 points and 4.5 assists per game last season for the Illini, and he led the team with 70 steals. [6/21/05]
Cardinal Leader Returns: Stanford received good news when rising senior point guard Chris Hernandez opted to return to school rather than remain in the NBA Draft. By not hiring an agent, Hernandez could collect feedback from pro scouts then return to school with information about what he needs to do to improve. He averaged 15.2 points and four assists per game last season for the Cardinal, who finished in third in the Pac-10.
[6/21/05]
Ford Joins Catamounts Staff: New Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter filled out his staff by hiring Dustin Ford, who was a four-year starter for Hunter at Ohio University from 1997 to 2001. Ford spent the past four seasons as head coach at Jackson (Ohio) High School, turning the program around and winning several coaching awards. He joins assistants Bobby Woollum and Anquell McCollum on Hunter's staff. [6/20/05]
Hilltopper Assistant Moves On: William Small resigned from his position as assistant coach at Western Kentucky to pursue opportunities closer to his home in Mississippi. An assistant since May 2003, he was the last remaining member of head coach Darrin Horn's original staff. Horn said that there is no timetable to replace Small, who doesn't have another position currently lined up. [6/20/05]
Cyclones Name New Top Assistant: Iowa State head coach Wayne Morgan promoted Damon Archibald to the position of associate head coach. Archibald has been an assistant at the school for the past two seasons after spending three years as an assistant at USC, helping the Cyclones make postseason appearances each season. [6/20/05]
Injuries End Forward's Career Early: After three injury-plagued seasons, Brigham Young junior forward Garner Meads has decided to quit basketball. Meads said he could not play the level he desired, as the injuries "have resulted in significant pain and frustration." He started 27 games the past two seasons, and plans to pursue medical school after finishing his undergraduate degree in exercise science and minor business. [6/19/05]
Pierce Wants Alleged Victim's Records: For the second time this month, lawyers for former Iowa guard Pierre Pierce have requested access to the medical and counseling records of the plaintiff. Judge Gregory Hulse denied a similar request earlier in the month, but Alfredo Parrish, Pierce's attorney, asked him to reconsider the decision in light of its relevance to the case. [6/18/05]
McKinney's Career Over: UCLA junior Matt McKinney has put an end to his injury-riddled career, declaring for medical retirement. He will remain on scholarship and is on track to graduate in Spring 2006, and by declaring for medical retirement, the scholarship will not count toward the 13 for men's basketball. Also a volleyball player, McKinney missed all of the 2003-04 season with a broken left foot, then dealt with limited stamina and a gastro-intestinal disorder this past season and a right shoulder injury during volleyball season this spring. [6/18/05]
Prowell Departs: Furman forward Quan Prowell will not return to the school next season. A 6'8" native of Columbus, Ga., Prowell missed 14 Southern Conference games this season after being declared academically ineligible on January 5. In 15 games, he averaged 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore. [6/18/05]
Doherty Promotes Walters: Florida Atlantic head coach Matt Doherty has announced that Rex Walters has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Doherty has relied on Walters since taking the helm in April and feels Walters will one day be a head coach. Since April, the school has signed four players to National Letters of Intent. [6/18/05]
Legendary Announcer Passes On: John McAdams, a legendary public address announcer in Philadelphia who most recently was the primary public address announcer for La Salle the past 20 seasons, died in his sleep early Thursday morning at 63 years of age. Just hours before his passing, "Johnny Mac", as he was known, served as the official scorer for the Reading Phillies' game against the New Britain Rock Cats. A beloved figure in the City of Brotherly Love, McAdams was the public address announcer for all Big 5 City Series games, and he also served in that role for the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team, the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship and official scorer for both the Philadelphia and Reading Phillies. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, who often accompanied him to events. [6/17/05]
Wolf Pack Recruit Fails to Qualify: Nevada head coach Mark Fox said that recruit Jeremy Mayfield will not meet academic requirements to play Division I basketball as a freshman next season. A 6'9" forward from Irving (TX) MacArthur High, Mayfield signed in the fall but will attend prep school instead next year, and his AAU coach indicated that he is likely to still go to Nevada. The Wolf Pack signed two junior college players in the spring signing period to help them absorb the loss, 6'9" Demarshay Johnson and 6'7" Denis Ikovlev. [6/17/05]
Not an Investigation - Yet: UL-Lafayette president Ray Authement said that the NCAA is not investigating the men's basketball program at the school, although that could happen later. The NCAA visited the campus in April as part of a fact-finding mission, looking into claims made by former basketball recruit Berry Jordan that the coaching staff violated NCAA rules. Jordan's allegations include head coach Robert Lee paying for him to attend summer school at Florida Community College in Jacksonville, twice receiving payments from the staff and a bus ticket to Jacksonville, and a collegiate transcript listing classes he did not attend. Jordan, who has one year of college eligibility remaining, signed with the school from Kilgore College in Texas but found that he was not listed in the registrar's office last fall and had to leave the campus in October. [6/17/05]
Pierce Wants State Aid: Former Iowa Hawkeye Pierre Pierce has asked the state to pick up some of his legal costs as he defends charges of assaulting his girlfriend last year. The native of Westmont, Ill. filed an affidavit in Dallas County District Court claiming that he is living on $170 a month, but his family has privately retained defense attorney Alfredo Parrish, which poses an obstacle. Assistant Attorney General A. Patricia Houlihan noted this in asking the judge to carefully review the request. Pierce is scheduled to stand trial August 16, and has been preparing for the June 28 NBA Draft. [6/17/05]
Accident Puts Recruit in Coma: Danny Williams, who was slated to make a recruiting visit to Oklahoma State, is in a coma in Loma Linda, California after a terrible car accident. Williams, a 6'3" athletic shooting guard from Fremont High School in California, was driving his girlfriend to Las Vegas to see her father, who underwent surgery. He apparently fell asleep at the wheel, and the SUV he was driving rolled over several times near Barstow. His girlfriend has minor injuries, but Williams reportedly has a fractured skull that is thought to be life-threatening. [6/17/05]
Eustachy Gets Contract: After coaching the 2004-05 season without a contract, Larry Eustachy will now get a four-year contract with a base salary of $130,000. The state College Board approved the contract, which could net him as much as $500,000 per year with incentives. Eustachy became the head coach last March, and the team went 11-17 last season and 2-14 in Conference USA. [6/16/05]
Trouble Ahead for Rattler Athletics: Florida A&M reported that an internal investigation uncovered "well over 200" violations, which means more trouble is ahead for the program. The school is recommending scholarship cuts in every sport as a result, and some sports will have restrictions in recruiting, according to sports information director Alvin Hollins. The NCAA is still investigating the school, with a ruling expected this fall, but the results of the nearly three-year internal investigation mean that major sanctions could be coming. Budget problems also remain, and the results of this investigation mean more budget cuts are likely ahead. [6/16/05]
Spartans Lose Two: San Jose State now has a player and an opponent to replace for next season. The Spartans announced that they have rescinded the scholarship of Lorenzo Keeler, a 19-year old freshman-to-be who is facing rape charges in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Georgetown canceled its scheduled game there next season because no date could be worked out. Athletic director Tom Bowen is hoping to play the game at a later date instead of exercising the buyout clause of $20,000. [6/16/05]
Hornets Tap Familiar Name: Alabama State named Lewis Jackson as its new head coach, bringing him back to where he played his college ball. Jackson graduated in 1984 and has been an assistant at the school since 2001, helping them to become a consistent contender in the SWAC as they have won two tournament championships in that time. He replaces Rob Spivery, who resigned to take the head coaching position at Southern. [6/16/05]
Eagle Makes Plea: Boston College forward Akida McLain pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct and apologized for allegedly trying to pass phony $20 bills in his hometown of Penn Hills, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. As part of the deal, McLain and friend Brandon Ely, a former high school teammate, were fined $300 and ordered to pay restitution for the fake $20 bills. The two were originally arrested May 15 after a gas station clerk noticed the fake bills. [6/16/05]
Dennehy Tragedy Comes to a Close: The emotionally wrenching story of the murder of former Baylor forward Patrick Dennehy ended when his former teammate, best friend and admitted killer Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Dotson pleaded guilty to killing his teammate in a field near Baylor in 2003. Dotson disappeared for several weeks before calling police after he said he heard voices. He was deemed incompetent to stand trial last fall and spent time in a mental institution. But psychiatrists said his insanity claim was suspect, and he returned to jail in February.
Walsh Likes What He Hears: Florida guard Matt Walsh will not be back at Florida for his senior season because his father said Walsh has hired an agent, sealing the deal that he will remain in the NBA Draft. Walsh apparently received positive feedback from several NBA teams, possibly securing a guarantee that he’ll be a first-round selection. Last season, Walsh averaged 14.6 points per game and has the potential to be an excellent sharp-shooter in the NBA. [6/15/05]
Colonials Reload, in Part: George Washington has a better chance of repeating as Atlantic 10 champions now that rising senior forward Mike Hall has decided to return to school. Hall declared for the NBA to test his value, but he chose to return after receiving feedback from NBA scouts. Hall averaged 10.6 points and eight rebounds per game for the Colonials, who finished 22-8 and lost to Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Hall and fellow teammate Pops Mensah-Bonsu declared for the draft even though neither one generated much first-round buzz. Mensah-Bonsu remains in the draft and has until June 21 to change his mind. [6/15/05]
Richmond, Wainwright Resolve Suit: Richmond officials and former Spiders coach Jerry Wainwright likely won’t be catching up over dinner anytime soon. Nor will they be battling in court. Representatives for the two sides reached an agreement in a lawsuit filed by Richmond officials after Wainwright left the school to coach DePaul. He had two years remaining on his contract, and the school asked for $420,000 in the suit. The two sides reached an agreement, though specific terms were not disclosed.
Panthers Prepare for Future with Perry: Georgia State will move into the Colonial Athletic Association next season with a coach under long-term contract. Head coach Michael Perry replaced legendary coach Lefty Driesell when he retired in January 2003. Perry has led the Panthers to a 44-33 record since then. The school rewarded that success with a four-year contract. With the move from the Atlantic Sun conference to the CAA, Georgia State moves into a more reputable mid-major conference.
[6/15/05]
Curran Finds Next Job a State Away: Former Siena coach Steve Curran will not waste time with other career opportunities. Central Connecticut State hired Curran as an assistant coach to Howie Dickenman. Curran has experience coaching in the Northeast Conference because he was an assistant for three seasons at Robert Morris. [6/15/05]
Tough Love from Stansbury: Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury wants rising sophomore forward Walter Sharpe to return to Starkville. But he questions Sharpe’s desire after he repeatedly showed up late to games and practices last season. Sharpe announced his intention to transfer in the spring then changed his mind. Now, Sharpe is at a junior college taking summer classes to improve his academic standing. Once those classes end, Sharpe and Stansbury will meet again to re-evaluate Sharpe’s status for a return to Mississippi State. The coach said he likes the kid and hopes the recent troubles will help him mature. Sharpe averaged 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game last season, playing in nearly every game.
[6/15/05]
Wright Completes Staff Changes: Villanova coach Jay Wright hired Jason Donnelly to become basketball operations coordinator, completing a shake up among his assistants this off-season. Assistant coach Brett Gunning replaced Fred Hill, who left Villanova, and Patrick Chambers moved from basketball operations coordinator to Gunning’s spot. Donnelly arrives in the Philadelphia suburbs after working at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va., one of the better high school basketball programs in the country. He also has experience as an assistant at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. [6/14/05]
Hobbs Looks North to Fill Staff: George Washington coach Karl Hobbs completed his staff by hiring former New Hampshire coach Phil Rowe as an assistant coach. Rowe replaces Steve Pikiell, who left the Colonials to become head coach at Stony Brook. Rowe joins Hobbs for the second time – the two worked together as assistants at Boston University in the early 1990s. He had been New Hampshire’s coach for the past six seasons. [6/14/05]
Neither the NBA Nor Auburn: Rising sophomore guard Toney Douglas will not remain eligible for the NBA Draft, withdrawing his name from the list of early entrants who could be drafted later this month. Douglas did not receive positive enough feedback from NBA scouts to forgo the remainder of this collegiate eligibility. But Douglas won’t return to Auburn, either. The Tigers released Douglas from his scholarship on the condition that he transfers to a school outside the SEC. In one season at Auburn, Douglas averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. His dad said coach Jeff Lebo played Douglas out of position, however, because Douglas is better suited to play point guard, especially in the NBA. [6/14/05]
Georgetown Roster Returns Two More: Georgetown can rely on two familiar faces next season because rising senior forward Brandon Bowman has chosen not to remain in the NBA Draft and recent graduate Darrel Owens will complete his athletic eligibility while pursuing another degree. Bowman tested his draft prospects after averaging 15.2 points and six rebounds per game last season for the Hoyas. Owens, meanwhile, was a significant role player, averaging 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He also started 15 games last season. [6/14/05]
Fullerton Brings Home Two: Two local players will join Cal State – Fullerton next season. Scott Cutley and Ray Reed played high school ball in Southern California and are transferring to the Titans’ program with two years of eligibility remaining. Cutley was a consistent starter at Kent State last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Reed was a reserve at Georgetown, averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Both players must sit out this coming season according to NCAA rules for transfers. The Titans had their most successful season in years with a 21-11 finish last season. [6/14/05]
Richardson Trying Again: A lawyer acting for former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson filed an appeal to the verdict that rejected that Arkansas wrongfully fired Richardson based on racial grounds and violated his First Amendment rights. Richardson and his law team contend that athletic director Frank Broyles fired the coach after a sequence of events that included Richardson publicly criticizing the university for racially discriminatory practices. Specifically, he said football coach Houston Nutt, who is white, received better treatment, including through his contract with the university. The appeals court will likely need several months to consider the case before reaching a decision. [6/14/05]
Next Chapter of Edelin Saga: It seems like every few months Billy Edelin finds his way into the news columns. The latest status of the former Syracuse point guard is that he is taking classes at Mountain State University, winners of the 2004 NAIA championship and a perennial powerhouse at that level. Edelin averaged four points and 1.7 assists last season for Syracuse in a limited role. But for the second time, he didn’t finish the season in the lineup, sitting out the final seven games and not traveling with the team during the NCAA Tournament. Edelin also started the 2003-04 season with the Orange before quitting for personal issues. The Mountain State coursework may be the first step in comeback No. 2 at Syracuse. [6/14/05]
Williams Eases Wake’s Loss: Wake Forest rising senior center Eric Williams decided not to remain in the NBA Draft because he did not receive a guarantee from NBA scouts that he will be drafted in the first round. Williams’ return lessens the blow to Wake Forest caused by the departure of point guard Chris Paul. Unlike Williams, Paul is unanimously considered a top five pick in the NBA Draft later this month. Williams led Wake Forest last season with 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. [6/13/05]
Luck of the Irish: Notre Dame received good news when rising senior forward Torin Francis opted not to remain in the NBA Draft. With the deadline for early entrants to return to school coming soon, the Fighting Irish are one of the beneficiaries of less interest by NBA scouts in some players. Francis sought a guarantee that he would be drafted in the first round, which he apparently didn’t receive. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season for the Irish. [6/13/05]
Parham Pulls Out: Maryland – Eastern Shore rising senior forward Tim Parham has opted to return to the Fighting Hawks after testing his potential in the NBA Draft. Parham finished last season averaging 11.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, one of the MEAC’s best players. The MEAC does not exactly generate loads of NBA talent – Seattle’s Jerome James in 1998 was the last player from the conference to be drafted. Parham will return to school to improve his game and statistics to improve his draft stock for next season.
[6/13/05]
Rider Fills Coaching Staff: Rider coach Don Harnum completed his staff by hiring assistant coach Dane Fischer. Fischer comes to Rider after spending a season at Williams College, a Division III program. Fischer played at Ithaca College and graduated in 2002. In two years as an assistant at Williams, the team went 46-11 and nearly won the Division III national title. [6/13/05]
Timmy Time Returns at ETSU: East Tennessee State fans will have one more year to witness their version of Mugsey Bogues. Rising senior guard Tim Smith has opted to return to school rather than remain in the NBA Draft. At 5-9, he must prove that he can overcome his height disadvantages. NBA scouts don’t feel he did that last season, so he will have one more season to improve his stock. Last season, Smith averaged 22.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. But he shot only 42 percent from the field and committed nearly five turnovers per game. At his height, Smith would be a point guard in the NBA, even though his game best matches a shooting guard’s skill set. Smith must improve his ball handling and shooting next season to become a legitimate draft candidate. [6/12/05]
Barnes Hires Within Rebel Family: Mississippi coach Rod Barnes has promoted Grant Pate to assistant coach. Pate has worked for the Rebels for the past six years, most recently serving as basketball operations coordinator. Pate replaces Eric Bozeman, who left Mississippi to coach Southern Arkansas, a Division II program. [6/12/05]
Heath Finds Experienced Assistant: Arkansas coach Stan Heath hired Dan Hipsher to become an assistant coach for the Razorbacks. Hipsher replaces Bill Herrion, who held the job for only a month before leaving to accept the head coaching position at New Hampshire. Herrion had replaced Rob Flaska, who had left Arkansas to coach Centenary. Hipsher reverses the trend because he’s a former head coach and now Heath’s assistant. Hipsher led Akron for nine years, compiling a 112-137 record. [6/11/05]
Leading Scorer Becomes Sideline Leader: Austin Peay’s all-time leading scorer, Bubba Wells, has returned to the Governors as an assistant coach. A 1997 graduate, Wells spent time in the NBA, overseas and on the Harlem Globetrotters. During his senior season at Austin Peay, Wells led the entire nation in scoring at 31.7 points per game. Wells replaces Tony Collins, who left Dave Loos’ staff to become head coach at Virginia State. [6/11/05]
Seminoles Move On Without Wafer: Former Florida State guard Von Wafer officially ended any chance of a return to the Seminoles by hiring an agent. His agent has plenty of work to do because few NBA teams are paying attention to Wafer. He was not invited to the pre-draft camp in Chicago. Although Wafer’s future remains in doubt, Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton is positive Florida State will be fine next season without the team’s most recent leading scorer. Hamilton has pulled together another solid recruiting class and has a handful of talented players returning from last season’s 12-19 campaign.
[6/11/05]
Another Miner Seeks Gold Elsewhere: Rising sophomore forward Stanley Branch announced that he will not return to Texas – El Paso because he wants to transfer to another program that will give him more playing time. At UTEP last season, Branch played in 19 games and scored only 30 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. He did not indicate where he would like to transfer to. He played high school ball in Atlantic City, N.J., and Philadelphia. Branch is the second Miner to leave UTEP this off-season, following in the footsteps of rising senior Giovanni St. Amant, who left the team to care for his ailing mother. [6/11/05]
Dotson Says He Did It: Former Baylor player Carlton Dotson pleaded guilty to killing his teammate Patrick Dennehy. Dotson appeared in front of a judge and did not dispute that he killed Dennehy, who was missing for several weeks last year before police found him with two shots to the head. Dotson also was missing, but he turned up in Maryland when he called police saying that he heard voices and needed help. Psychiatrists found Dotson incompetent to stand trial last fall, but a psychiatrist in a state hospital said Dotson appeared to be faking some of his symptoms. The judge could sentence Dotson from five years to life in prison. [6/08/05]
Knee Injury Means Surgery for Anteaters' Defensive Ace: Jeff Gloger, a rising senior at California - Irvine and the school's career leader in steals, tore his ACL May 25 during a workout and must undergo surgery. He will be out indefinitely for rehabilitation. Gloger has 167 steals through three seasons, more than any other Anteater in school history. Last season, Gloger averaged 9.6 points and five rebounds per game. The Anteaters open the season against George Mason in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and could face Wake Forest in the second round. [6/08/05]
Good News from Valpo: Valparaiso sophomore center Kenny Harris could be out of a rehabilitation center soon after collapsing during a workout in early April and remaining unconscious for a month. Harris, who averaged nine points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, still may not play again. His basketball future depends on the completion of rehabilitation. One of the Crusaders' most talented players, Harris was runner-up for Indiana's Mr. Basketball award in 2003. [6/08/05]
Friars Hire Assistant: Providence coach Tim Welsh hired Bill Courtney to replace former assistant Phil Seymore, who became coach of Providence's women's team. Courtney had been associate coach at George Mason for the past three years. He also has experience as an assistant at American and Bowling Green. [6/08/05]
Stony Brook Taps Two: Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell increased the size of his staff by hiring Kelvin Jefferson and Guy Rancourt as assistant coaches. Jefferson comes to the Seawolves after working as an assistant at American for the past four seasons. He also has worked under former Vermont coach Tom Brennan. Rancourt had been Florida State's director of basketball operations for the past two seasons. He has ties to the Northeast because he started his coaching career at the University of New Haven and led John Jay College to unprecedented success in four seasons. [6/08/05]
Kehoe Leaves the Keystone State: Maryland - Baltimore County coach Randy Monroe hired R.C. Kehoe to replace John Schaller as an assistant coach. Kehoe comes to UMBC after working as an assistant at St. Francis, Pa., last season. Until arriving in Baltimore, Kehoe's entire basketball career had been in Pennsylvania, where he played in high school near Philadelphia. The nephew of St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli, Kehoe stayed within driving distance of Philly by attending Clarion and East Stroudsburg universities. Kehoe started his coaching career at Shippensburg, another Pennsylvania school. He moved into Division I last season at St. Francis. [6/08/05]
Flaska Building Staff of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Though he's not Sean Connery working with Captain Nemo or the Invisible Man, Centenary coach Rob Flaska has found another assistant to work on the Gents' staff. Flaska hired Brandon Curran as an assistant coach to replace Sean LeBeauf, who left Centenary to become an assistant at Southern. Curran had been head coach of the Jacksonville College, Texas, program for several years, guiding the Jaguars to success each season. This job will be his first Division I assistant coaching position. [6/07/05]
Re-introducing the Marquette Golden Eagles, Maybe: After suffering from an identity crisis for a couple of months, Marquette is close to finalizing a nickname. Students and recent donors have until June 24 to vote for two finalists - the Golden Eagles or the Hilltoppers. Marquette has used the Golden Eagle moniker since 1994, when the school ditched the Warriors nickname because officials felt it disrespected American Indians. The school had used the Hilltopper nickname from 1917 to 1954 when students successfully pushed to change the name to Warriors.
Felton Is In the Game: Following in the recent footsteps of Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony and Connecticut's Emeka Okafor, North Carolina's Raymond Felton - destined for the NBA Draft lottery - will grace the cover of the next release of EA Sports' March Madness franchise. Felton helped guide the Tar Heels to a national championship this past season by averaging about 13 points per game and leading the most potent offense in college basketball. [6/07/05]
Pac-10 Tournament to Include All: During their summer meetings in Portland, Ore., representatives from all Pac-10 schools voted to expand the conference tournament from eight teams to all 10. Previously, the two teams that finished at the bottom of the conference failed to qualify for the tournament. Starting this coming season, two more Cinderella teams will have a chance to steal the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This past season, California and USC missed the tournament because they finished ninth and 10th, respectively. [6/07/05]
Notre Dame Hall of Famer Dies: Leo Klier, 82, a former Notre Dame player and member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, died Saturday. Klier helped Notre Dame start 13-0 during the 1945-46 season, the Fighting Irish's best start in school history. Klier averaged 15.4 points per game in 1944 and 17.9 points in 1946. Both those averages were school records at the time. He had taken a year off to serve in the Navy during World War II. [6/07/05]
Ross Leaving Fresno State: Fresno State guard Carl Ross has announced that he intends to transfer, after his scholarship was not renewed. Ross walked on as a freshman last season, and was awarded a scholarship mid-way through the season. However, new head coach Steve Cleveland has two scholarships ear-marked for incoming transfers, and two other scholarships were lost to NCAA sanctions from past seasons. Ross joins point guard Dominique White and forward Chris Berry as Bulldogs who will not be returning next season. [6/06/05]
Southland Looks to Expand: Following the Southland Conference Board of Directors meeting, the conference has announced that it will continue expansion talks with Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas. Three other schools - Texas-Pan American, Centenary and Tarleton State - had made 45 minute presentations in May, but did not make the cut. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is a D-I Independent, and has been in D-I since 2002. Central Arkansas is currently in Division II but will begin the D-I exploratory stage for the 2005-06 athletic season. Current member Louisiana-Monroe is departing for the Sun Belt Conference for the 2006-07 season. [6/06/05]
TCU Hires Crutchfield: TCU head men's basketball coach Neil Dougherty has announced that Chris Crutchfield has been hired as the program's director of operations. Crutchfield spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico State, and also was an assistant at Tyler (Texas) Junior College and UT-San Antonio. He is a graduate of Nebraska-Omaha. [6/06/05]
Howard Names New Top Bison: Howard University has hired Penn assistant Gil Jackson as its next men's basketball coach. Jackson has been an assistant at Penn under Fran Dunphy for the past 16 seasons, and was also the head coach at Sanford School in Delaware for eight seasons. Howard finished 5-23 last season (2-16 in the MEAC), leading to the dismissal of head coach Frankie Allen on March 9th. [6/06/05]
Mooney Hires Three at Richmond: New Richmond head coach Chris Mooney has completed filling out his coaching staff. Mooney has named Mike McKee his associate head coach, and named Kevin McGeehan as an assistant coach. Both served under him at Air Force last season. Carlin Hartman, who comes to Richmond from Louisiana-Lafayette where he was an assistant last season, was named as the third assistant. [6/05/05]
Bulldog Transfers to Razorbacks: Former Mississippi State point guard Gary Ervin has enrolled at Arkansas, and has joined the Razorback basketball program, according to Arkansas head coach Stan Heath. Ervin, who averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as a starter last season for the Bulldogs, will sit out the 2005-06 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Ervin, a Brooklyn, New York native, will have one season of eligibility remaining. [6/05/05]
Niang's Back Calls It a Career: The playing career of Kansas senior forward Moulaye Niang has come to an end. Kansas head coach Bill Self announced that Niang's chronic back problems had not improved over the course of the season, and further basketball activities would cause additional damage. Niang played in 16 games in 2004-05, averaging .6 points and one rebound per contest. Niang had originally considered a medical redshirt, but now will be classified as "medical hardship", allowing him to stay on scholarship for academic purposes, but will not count against the Jayhawks' tally. [6/05/05]
McCarthy Promoted at Yale: Yale head coach James Jones has announced the promotion of Jim McCarthy to assistant coach on the Bulldog staff. McCarthy, a graduate of Hamilton College, has served as a volunteer assistant coach the past two seasons for the Bulldogs. McCarthy replaces Ted Hotaling, who is now the top assistant at Eastern Kentucky. [6/04/05]
New Mexico Breaks Ground: Ground was broken yesterday on the Lobo's new practice facility adjacent to The Pit. The new facility, estimated at $4.2 million, will include three practice courts, a media theater for film sessions, full kitchen and hospitality room, coaching offices, and study areas for student-athletes. Down the road, Athletic Director Rudy Davalos is eyeing a $16 million overhaul of the Pit that will enable the school to host future NCAA tournament events. The practice facility is scheduled to be completed in mid-November. [6/04/05]
George Mason Names Two: George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga has announced the hiring of Penn State assistant James Johnson as an assistant on the Patriots' staff, and the promotion of video coordinator Chris Caputo to assistant coach. Johnson, who was at Penn State for the past two seasons, has experience at the College of Charleston, Elon and Old Dominion. Caputo is rewarded after four seasons of administrative and video work for the Patriots. [6/04/05]
Former Cardinals Player Sentenced: Former Louisville guard Erik Brown was sentenced to five years of probation yesterday. Brown had been charged with marijuana possession and robbery of two gas stations last August, but pled guilty to lowered charges. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Brown played for two seasons for Denny Crum from 2000 to 2002. [6/04/05]
Bulldog Scholarships Restored: Georgia received a break from the NCAA when three scholarships stripped following the Jim Harrick scandal were restored. The Division I Infractions Appeals Committee ruled in favor of the school after its appeal of the penalties. Ranked in the Top 25, the school placed itself on four year's probation and pulled itself from the SEC and NCAA tournaments in February of 2003 when allegations of academic fraud were first levied by former player Tony Cole. Last season, Georgia had its worst season in thirty years with an 8-20 record and only seven scholarship players. [6/03/05]
New Green Wave: New Tulane head coach Dave Dickerson has announced the final piece of his Green Wave coaching puzzle. Andrew Novick, former graduate assistant at Maryland, has been named as an assistant on Dickerson's staff in New Orleans. Novick, who worked with Dickerson for the Terrapins, was an assistant high school coach in Portland, Maine. [6/03/05]
Moving North: Wisconsin-Green Bay head coach To Kowalczyk has announced the hiring of Brian Wardle as an assistant coach on the Phoenix staff. Wardle, who last season was Marquette's director of basketball operations, leaves the Golden Eagles after two seasons. Prior to coaching, Wardle was Marquette's fourth all-time leading scorer as a player, and was coached by Kowalczyk as Tom Crean's assistant at Marquette. Wardle has also worked in the NDVL and CBA. [6/03/05]
Lute Brings Back Geary: Arizona head coach Lute Olson has announced the hiring of Reggie Geary as an assistant coach. Geary, a former Wildcat standout who was named All-Pac-10 his senior season, comes to the Wildcats after spending last season as an assistant at Tucson’s Flowing Wells High School. Prior to coaching the Caballeros, Geary played professionally in the CBA, Israel, Portugal, the Ukraine and in France. Geary was a second-round selection of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played for two seasons. He replaces former assistant Rodney Tention, who was named head coach at Loyola Marymount in April. [6/02/05]
Western Carolina Hires Two: New Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter has named two assistant coaches to his Catamount staff. Hunter retained Anquell McCollum as an assistant, after joining the Catamounts last season. The four-year letter winner at Western Carolina was the SoCon Player of the Year in 1996. Also hired was Bobby Woollum, who has experience as an assistant at William & Mary, George Mason, and Bucknell, his alma mater. Woollum's positions at Bucknell and William & Mary were under his father, Charlie Woollum. [6/02/05]
Coaching Moves at Samford: Samford head coach Jimmy Tillette announced the hiring of an assistant coach, and the promotion of another. Long-time assistant Paul Kelly was promoted to the associate head coaching position, following eight seasons at Samford and four seasons as an assistant at McNeese State. Former Samford player Derrick Jones was hired as an assistant coach. Jones, a member of Samford's 2000 NCAA Tournament team, also played at Mississippi State for two seasons before transferring to Samford. He most recently has been an assistant coach at John Ehret High School in Marrero, La. [6/02/05]
Mathis Leaves, Whitford Joins Xavier: Xavier head coach Sean Miller announced today that he has accepted the resignation of assistant coach Monte Mathis. Mathis, who spent one season on the Xavier staff, also has worked as an assistant at Ohio State, Toledo, South Alabama and McNeese State. Miami (Ohio) assistant James Whitford will replace Mathis. Whitford, who has been the top assistant at Miami for the past seven seasons, met Miller when Whitford was student manager and Miller was an assistant at Wisconsin. Whitford recently married Xavier women's basketball assistant coach Amber Stocks-Whitford. [6/02/05]
Beavers' Jeffers Arrested: Oregon State sophomore center Kyle Jeffers was arrested for public consumption and possession of alcohol and resisting arrest Sunday night. Jeffers was held in jail for an hour before he was released. A June 20th hearing was scheduled for the misdemeanor charge, and Jeffers could face a one-game suspension and counseling under a proposed school code of conduct for student athletes. Jeffers started 17 games last season and averaged three points and three rebounds per contest. [6/02/05]
Legend Mikan Passes On: NBA legend and Hall of Famer George Mikan passed away at the age of 80 due to complications from diabetes. Mikan, a 1946 graduate of DePaul, was the fledgling league's first true big man superstar and was league scoring champion in each of his first six pro seasons. A four-time All-Star, Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA titles. A three-time All-American at DePaul, Mikan led the Blue Demons to an 87-11 record, and was the target of a new college rule: goaltending. Mikan and a young Ray Meyer led DePaul to the NIT Championship in 1945, where Mikan set a school record 53 points in the semifinals against Rhode Island. A charter member of the NBA Hall of Fame in 1959, he was honored as one of the top 50 players in NBA history in 1996. [6/02/05] Update: George Mikan's family has accepted the Miami Heat's Shaquille O'Neal's offer to pay for all funeral expenses. O'Neal expressed gratitude at getting to know and speak with Mikan several times over the past few seasons. [6/03/05]
Bo Knows Nepotism: Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan has announced the promotion of Will Ryan to director of basketball operations for the Badgers. Will, the coach's 26-year-old son, has served as the team's video coordinator the past two seasons. The younger Ryan replaces Duffy Conroy, who took an assistant coaching position at Wisconsin-Milwaukee under new head coach and former Bo Ryan assistant Rob Jeter. [6/02/05]
Hahn Joins Catamounts: New Vermont head coach Mike Lonergan has named Matt Hahn as an assistant on his Catamounts staff. Hahn comes to Burlington from LaSalle, where he was an assistant for three seasons. Prior to LaSalle, Hahn was a reserve guard for Maryland on Gary Williams' late-90's squads, and was team captain and a member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll his senior season. [6/01/05]
Cowboy Recruit Closes Door on College: Oklahoma State's recruiting class will be one short this fall because high school superstar Gerald Green will remain in the NBA Draft. Green signed with agent Andrew Vye of Kauffman Sports Management, ending Green's collegiate eligibility. Green's stock skyrocketed in recent months after a sensational senior season. Green has the tools to be a star in the pros, too, because he possesses the combination of athleticism and long-range skills that make a great point forward. [6/01/05]
Holst Heads to Aggies: New UNC-Greensboro head coach Mike Dement hired Rod Jensen as an assistant coach on his Spartan coaching staff. Jensen, who was out of college basketball last season, was previously as assistant at Virginia from 2001-2004, and was an assistant and later a head coach at Boise State, and an assistant at Penn State. At Boise State, Jensen compiled a 109-93 record, including a 21-8 mark in 1998-99. [6/01/05]