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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. |
Jensen Out Until December: Washington senior forward Mike Jensen, one of only two returning starters for the Huskies, had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder and will probably be out until December. Coach Lorenzo Romar said he expects Jensen to be available by the time the Huskies open Pac 10 play Dec. 29 against Arizona State. Jensen averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season. [9/30/05]
Broncos Snag Former Hilltopper: Former Western Kentucky junior center Josh Higgins has transferred to the Santa Clara basketball program. The 7-0 big man came off the bench and averaged 2.6 points and 2 rebounds per contest over the past two seasons for the Hilltoppers. Higgins notched career highs in points and rebounds against Austin Peay his freshman year, tallying 11 points and 14 boards. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Higgins will be eligible beginning in the 2006-07 season. [9/30/05]
Hoya Moves Crosstown: American University head coach Jeff Jones has announced that former Georgetown forward Cornelio Guibunda will transfer to the Eagles program. Guibunda, a 6-9, 227-pound forward, played in four games for the Hoyas last season. He will retain sophomore eligibility when he returns to the court in the 2006-07 season, after sitting out 2005-06 due to NCAA transfer rules. [9/29/05]
No Sioux for You: The North Dakota Fighting Sioux must change their nickname after NCAA officials refused to reconsider its position on the school's nickname. North Dakota appeared on a list of schools that use "hostile" or "abusive" nicknames, as judged by the NCAA. Florida State, Central Michigan and Utah have successfully appealed the decision after they demonstrated support from the relevant tribes. The three Sioux tribes in North Dakota, however, refused to support the Fighting Sioux nickname. [9/29/05]
Shipp's Season Sinking: UCLA sophomore forward Josh Shipp needs three months to rehab his right hip after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Without Shipp, the Bruins return three out of five starters from last season's NCAA Tournament squad. Shipp averaged 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. His loss will create some problems for the Bruins early in the season. But if the team adjusts, Shipp's return could turn a good season into a great season for UCLA. [9/29/05]
Southern Miss Adjusts to Katrina: Southern Mississippi's Green Coliseum sustained some damage during Hurricane Katrina, which ripped off a strip of the dome and poured water onto the court. Because of the water, the floor warped, so the school must replace the hardwoord before the season starts. In addition to those expenses, the school has planned a second phase of renovations, including improvements to the air conditioning system, construction of new offices and locker rooms, and additions of audio and sprinkler systems.
Transfer Already Off Team: New Mexico senior forward Aaron Johnson has been kicked off the team after he was arrested and charged with four counts of battery on a police officer. Johnson apparently attacked police officers who tried to remove him from a nightclub. Lobo coach Ritchie McKay immediately dismissed Johnson and said the former Penn State player doesn't have a chance to return to the team. Johnson averaged 10.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in three seasons at Penn State.
[9/29/05]
49er to Mine for Success Elsewhere: Charlotte forward Mitch Mullis has withdrawn from the school and team. Coach Bobby Lutz did not offer a reason for Mullis' departure. The 6-7 forward had attended Laurinburg Institute and arrived at Charlotte in 2004. [9/29/05]
Lobos Host Jim Thorpe Classic: New Mexico will play host to this season's edition of the Jim Thorpe Basketball Classic Nov. 18-20. Joining the Lobos, South Carolina State, Southern Utah and Mississippi will appear in the three-day event, in which each team will play one another. The highlight of the tournament will be the game between host New Mexico and Mississippi, which gives the Lobos an opportunity to take out an SEC opponent and improve its RPI. [9/29/05]
Price Dodges Court for Now: Connecticut sophomore guard A.J. Price will not appear in court until Oct. 26 after a judge granted him a third continuance. Price faces charges of felony larceny and lying to police in a case in which four laptop computers were found in his dorm room. Price and teammate Marcus Williams were arrested in the case. Williams agreed to avoid trial by accepting a punishment as a first-time offender. He must complete 400 hours of community service in a year and a half, in addition to other court-mandated actions. Both Williams and Price will be out until December, coach Jim Calhoun said. And the school may decide to impose heavier penalties, which would significantly disrupt the Huskies' backcourt.
[9/28/05]
Man Down: Junior forward Carlton Baldwin will miss the start of Navy's season because he broke his right ankle. Team officials expect Baldwin to miss at least two months. He missed the start of last season, too, after he had fractured a toe. The Midshipmen have high hopes for Baldwin, who averaged eight points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.
[9/28/05]
Ram Tough: Sometimes, Rhode Island senior forward Dawan Robinson's toughness gets him into trouble. For example, Robinson came to the defense of a women who had been spat on by another woman at a local bar. That was one fight he should have stayed out of, however, because police arrested Robinson for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and failure to disperse. Robinson is the Rams' star, but he missed most of last season with a foot injury. He tried to come back from the injury - unsuccessfully - several times before shutting it down.
[9/28/05]
Price Wants Another Continuance: Connecticut sophomore point guard A.J. Price will ask court officials to delay his case for a third time. Price has been charged with four counts of third-degree larceny and one count of lying to police in a case of four stolen laptop computers that ended up in Price's dorm room. Teammate and fellow backcourt mate Marcus Williams had also been charged in this case, and he received 18 months probation and 400 hours of community service earlier this month. Price said he was not guilty in late August. [9/27/05]
Williams Could Be Back With Eagles: Despite an indefinite suspension from Boston College, sophomore center Sean Williams could be back with the team by December, coach Al Skinner said. Williams was suspended earlier this year for marijuana possession, and he is now attending classes at Houston and practicing with many of the Cougars' players. Williams would help give the Eagles a solid frontcourt as the team prepares to enter its first season in the ACC.
[9/27/05]
Golden Panthers Land High-Caliber Shooter: Florida International will receive a major boost during the 2006-07 season when Kansas transfer Alex Galindo becomes eligible, after sitting out this season according to NCAA rules for transfers. Galindo was one of Kansas' best shooters last season, and he averaged 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game off the bench. Galindo was earning more minutes last season before a groin injury ended his season in January. He chose the Golden Panthers over other major programs, such as Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Miami.
[9/27/05]
Ball Named To NCAA Committee: Dartmouth sophomore Johnathan Ball has been appointed as a member of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The representative from the Ivy League, Ball will serve a one-season with 30 other D-I conference student-athlete representatives. The SAAC serves as the voice of student-athletes within the NCAA structure, and is charged with reviewing and responding to proposed NCAA legislation, activities, and the administrative process within the NCAA and its member institutions. Ball started 14 games as a freshman last season, averaging 5 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. [9/27/05]
Dons Land Scarlet Knight: San Francisco head coach Jessie Evans has announced that former Rutgers guard Manny Quezada has transferred to the Dons' program. Quezada, a 6-2, 185-pound guard from Washington Heights, NY, played 25 games for Rutgers University as a freshman last season, averaging 2.8 points per contest. Quezada will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Dons starting in 2006-07. [9/27/05]
Bobcat Goes to Jail: Former Montana State guard Frank Brown will serve 90 days in prison for twice raping a 15-year-old girl, including at least once after she passed out from alcohol. A judge deferred Brown's six-year sentence and ordered him to receive psychological treatment and register as a sex offender. The judge issued Brown a stronger penalty than necessary by law after a psychological evaluation revealed that he lied about knowing the girl's age and still did not accept responsibility for the crime. The Bobcats had suspended Brown after the arrest last year, and he left the school. [9/27/05]
Boilermaker Transfer in Trouble: Purdue guard Tarrance Crump, a JuCo transfer who might contribute to the Boilermakers' campaign this year, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and other charges after Crump hit a Purdue student and then drove off. Crump stopped his car about a mile later, but either way, he left the scene of an accident. Witnesses said Crump hit the student in the back, and the student went flying into the air. The student went to the hospital and was discharged recently. [9/27/05]
Temple's Trouble With Big Men: Temple is at a loss for big men to fill up space in the frontcourt. Senior center Keith Butler transferred after last season, and now junior forward Wayne Marshall may not be able to play effectively. Marshall has a mysterious ailment that has limited his ability to run the court. Doctors have run a myriad of tests and found nothing. With inexperienced options on the bench, coach John Chaney joked that he may need to start five guards. [9/26/05]
Rodgers May Miss Wildcats' Maui Trip: Arizona senior guard Chris Rodgers injured his right knee at practice and will miss four to eight weeks, possibly extending into the beginning of the season. Doctors could not find any serious problems in the knee, but team officials want to rehab Rodgers slowly to make sure he doesn't injure the knee further. The Wildcats open the season against Kansas in the EA Sports Maui Invitational. [9/25/05]
Family Affair: Washington State officials announced that whenever coach Dick Bennett retires, his son and assistant coach Tony Bennett will replace him. Bennett said the early announcement will provide stability to the program, which translates to better recruiting. Bennett's slowdown style helped make the Cougars competitive in the Pac 10 for the first time in a long time. The Washington State job will be Tony Bennett's first head coaching position. [9/25/05]
Hunt KO'd at Memphis: Following a fight with a bouncer at a local club, Memphis guard Jeremy Hunt has been suspended indefinitely from the team. Hunt also broke his hand, although reports vary on the cause of the injury. Hunt claims that he hurt the hand while practicing, but others say he could have hurt the hand during the fight. Either way, Hunt's saga adds to the drama for the Tigers, who suspended freshman Andre Allen after he was caught soliciting prostitution. [9/25/05]
Bowling Returns, Moves Down Bench: Former University of North Florida player Josh Bowling has returned to UNF and will serve as a graduate assistant coach on Matt Kilcullenfor Ospreys coaching staff this season. Bowling, a 2004 UNF grad, will be pursuing his MBA this season, after spending the previous seven months with the accounting firm Purvis, Gray & Company in his hometown of Gainesville. Bowling averaged 6.1 points per contest his senior season, and worked fall semester of 2004 as student coach. [9/25/05]
Bruin Forward Wants Second Opinion: UCLA may start the season without sophomore forward Josh Shipp if he undergoes hip surgery to repair torn cartilage. But Shipp wants a second opinion before opting to have the surgery, which would require eight to 12 weeks of recovery time. Shipp averaged 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season for the Bruins, who returned to the NCAA Tournament as a team on the rise. [9/24/05]
Delayed Start for Phillips: Nevada freshman forward Richie Phillips will miss this season because he is not academically eligible, but he is injured. Coach Mark Fox said Phillips is explosive and will eventually become a contributor to the Wolf Pack, just not this season. Before the school learned Phillips was academically ineligible, it new Phillips wouldn't play because he recently had wrist surgery. [9/24/05]
Knight Son Following in Father's Footsteps: After receiving the blessing of Texas Tech's Board of Regents, coach Bob Knight's son, Pat Knight, will become the heir apparent for the Red Raiders. Pat Knight is associate coach under his father, who is entering his 40th season as a coach. He needs 25 wins to match Dean Smith's career mark for wins. If Knight sticks around for two more seasons, he almost certainly will eclipse that mark. Otherwise, the younger Knight era will start soon. [9/24/05]
From Booker to Hooker: Former Booker T. Washington high school phenom Andre Allen had almost achieved his dreams of playing for his hometown favorite - Memphis. Allen missed last season as a freshman because he was academically ineligible. Now, his sophomore season is in doubt because he was arrested and charged for patronizing prostitution. Allen agreed to pay an undercover police officer pretending to be a prostitute $40 for oral sex. The faux prostitute led Allen to a hotel, where he was busted as part of a prostitution sting. According to Memphis officials, the team has suspended Allen indefinitely. [9/24/05]
Harvard Hitting Hardwood: Harvard is nearing completion of a new basketball court surface at Lavietes Pavilion. The Pavilion, which has been the home of Harvard basketball since 1982, has been upgraded with a new Robbins Bio-Channel Classic floor system. The new floor marks the most recent upgrade to the pavilion, which saw new bleachers and sound system installed two years ago. [9/24/05]
Anteaters Unearth Aggie Guard: California - Irvine will be the new home for Texas A&M transfer Marcus McIntosh. The junior guard played 10 games last season at Texas A&M but missed the second semester because he was academically ineligible. McIntosh fills one of two roster openings on the Anteaters created by the departures of guard Alvin Lewis and forward Andrew Buckner. [9/23/05]
Bison Adds Wilhelmi: New Howard head coach Gil Jackson has announced the hiring of James Wilhelmi as an assistant on his Bison coaching staff. Wilhelmi previously was an assistant coach at Salisbury University (Salisbury, MD) last season. He has also served as an assistant at Evansville, Texas Southern, Maryland Eastern Shore, Hampton, Northeastern Illinois, and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. A graduate of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wilhelmi also lettered for three seasons for the Warhawks. [9/23/05]
Tar Heel Center Granted No Luck: North Carolina senior center Damion Grant will not play for the Tar Heels again because of a right ankle injury. The 6-11, 260-pounder has never been healthy for the Tar Heels, having played in only 28 games in three seasons. An assortment of injuries hampered his development, and now the Tar Heels have even less depth in the frontcourt.
[9/23/05]
Eagle Fans Pay for Team to Play in ACC: Boston College ticket prices are on the rise as a byproduct of the team's move to the ACC, which became official this past summer. For example, last season, fans could buy a 16-game package for $231, which is about $15 per game. This season, that package is $480, or $30 per game. The increase matches the cost of basketball game tickets for many of the Eagles' new ACC rivals. In addition to raising ticket prices, the school also plans to move the student section closer to the court in hopes of creating a more effective home-court advantage. The Eagles will host Duke and Wake Forest this season, among other new ACC foes. [9/22/05]
Penn Transfer on the Move Again: Former Pennsylvania Quaker Ryan Pettinella transferred to Cincinnati in hopes of playing under coach Bob Huggins. But after the school forced out Huggins, Pettinella decided not to attend Cincinnati. Instead, he'll attend Monroe Community College (N.Y.) before moving to another Division I program. He might join Tyler Relph, a high school teammate at McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, N.Y., at St. Bonaventure. Wherever Pettinella ends up, he'll have two years of eligibility remaining. [9/22/05]
More Bearcat Defections: The banishment of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins has disrupted the team's immediate plans, as recruit Ivan Johnson is the latest Bearcat recruit to sign with another school. After a successful but often troublesome tenure, Huggins received word from Cincinnati officials that he could resign or be fired. He chose the former, collecting a big payday and leaving the program in flux. Assistant coach Andy Kennedy is the interim coach, but some Cincinnati recruits and players are clearly unhappy with the current state of affairs.
Eagles Wrap Up Skinner for Another Year: Boston College extended the contract of coach Al Skinner by one year. He will remain on the Chestnut Hill sidelines at least through 2011, which will include the team's first five seasons in the ACC after the Eagles bolted the Big East this year. Skinner has guided the Eagles to four NCAA Tournaments in the past five years and a record of 147-100. That's the best five-year stretch in school history. The only obstacle to keeping Skinner at Boston College is potential offers from higher profile programs, which almost certainly will come if he continues to lead the Eagles to success. [9/22/05]
Bearcats Bring in Xavier Center: No, not from that Xavier, Cincinnati's cross-town rival. The Bearcats have added Ronald Allen of Xavier University in New Orleans after Allen was left homeless and teamless following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The New Orleans university made no plans to move its athletics teams elsewhere, and Allen had to find his own housing. Based on that situation, Cincinnati officials plan to appeal to the NCAA to let Allen play this season. Normally, transfers must sit out a season before they are eligible to play for a new school. [9/22/05]
MacKenzie Tabbed for Panthers Staff: Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter has announced the hiring of Chip MacKenzie as video coordinator on his first Panther coaching staff. MacKenzie joins the Panthers after spending the past three seasons as head coach at Pecatonica (Wis.) High School. MacKenzie was an assistant at Madison Edgewood High School for ten seasons. A graduate of Edgewood College (Madison, Wis.), MacKenzie holds the Edgewood record with 46 points in one contest. [9/22/05]
Pilots Identify Hazzard: Portland head coach Michael Holton has announced the hiring of Rasheed Hazzard to his Pilots coaching staff. Hazzard is the son of former UCLA great Walt Hazzard, and played four years at George Washington from 1995-98. Most recently the head coach at Venice High School in Los Angeles, Calif., leading the Gondoliers for the past five seasons. Hazzard also has coached for the Walt Hazzard All-Stars, coached at the "Say No Classic," and coached the Double Pump West All-Stars AAU team. Hazzard takes the place of departed assistant coach Josh Jamieson, who has decided to pursue other career opportunities. [9/21/05]
Vikings Hire Harper from Valley: Former Yakima Valley CC head coach Eric Harper has been named to the final vacancy on Ken Bone's Portland State coaching staff. Harper has spent the past eight seasons at the helm of Yakima Valley CC, and was also the women's head coach for four seasons. A grad of Central Washington University, Harper will also act as the Vikings' recruiting director. [9/20/05]
Ingle Promotes One, Hires Two: Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle has announced that Evan Black and Montez Robinson have been named assistant coaches for this season, and that Gary Dyksterhouse has been promoted to assistant coach. Dyksterhouse had been with Ingle for the past two seasons as Director of Basketball Operations. Black is a former Oral Roberts player, who transferred from Middle Georgia Junior College. Robinson played collegiately at North Georgia. All three of Ingle's assistants from last season accepted coaching positions at other institutions for 2005-06. [9/19/05]
Wounded Bird: Although Louisville is one of the frontrunners to contend for the national championship, the Cardinals will have to overcome some setbacks in the frontcourt early in the season. Sophomore center David Padgett broke a bone and sprained his ankle during a pickup basketball game and will miss six to eight weeks. He will not be available for Louisville to start the season, but he should be ready by mid-December.
More Bearcat Character Issues: When Cincinnati officials forced out coach Bob Huggins, they sought to find someone who would continue Huggins' success without the drama caused by arrests -- of players or coaches -- and academic struggles. A Huggins recruit, Tyree Evans, continued to exemplify the type of situation the school wants to avoid when he was indicted for raping a child and assault and battery of a child. Several of his high school peers were also arrested and indicted in the matter, but they aren't scheduled to play for the Bearcats this fall. And now, Evans won't be playing for the school, either. Cincinnati officials said Evans will not be allowed to enroll at the school until his legal situation is clear.
[9/18/05]
Three New Roadrunners: University of Texas at San Antonio head coach Tim Carter has announced the hiring of two new assistant coaches, Beau Archibald and Lance Madison, and a new administrative assistant, Kyle Kotrla. Archibald comes to UTSA from Jacksonville, where he was an assistant for the past two seasons and was a volunteer assistant under Bobby Knight at Texas Tech for one season. He also was a student assistant at Connecticut, his alma mater. Archibald played on the 1999 UConn national championship team after playing his first two seasons at Washington State. Coaching runs deep in Archibald's family, as his brother is currently an assistant at Iowa State, and his father was a D-I head coach for 30 years, including stretches at Idaho State, Utah, UNLV, Long Beach, Arizona State and BYU. Archibald's brother-in-law is the Denver Nuggets' Mark Pope.
Hoosiers Raise Prices, Reserve Seats: Indiana trustees are considering a plan to reduce the athletic department's deficit by reserving 500 Assembly Hall seats for donors and raising student ticket prices by $4 per game. However, the plan would eliminate a $30 athletic fee now paid by each student. The trustees will vote on the proposal in November. Switching the student seats to donor seats could generate up to $750,000 per year, and the ticket hike could generate another $530,400 annually. The proposal would also boost by 20 percent the revenue from licensed merchandise going toward athletics. Last year's operating deficit was listed as $822,880. [9/17/05]
Panthers Nab Gamecock Transfer: Former Jacksonville State sophomore forward Brandon Davis has transferred to Birmingham-Southern, and will suit up for the Panthers in 2006-07. Davis, a three-time Ohio Valley freshman of the week selection last season, averaged 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 26 contests, including six starts. Due to NCAA transfer rules, the 6-7 Davis will sit out this season, but will have three seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining. [9/17/05]
ACLU Focused on McKay, Giddens: The New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has been examining New Mexico's recruitment of former Kansas guard J.R. Giddens. New Mexico head coach Ritchie McKay has been charged by the ACLU for inappropriately mixing religion and coaching, charges McKay said were "completely asinine." Quotes by Giddens appeared on ESPN.com and in the Lawrence Journal-World in July when announcing his decision to transfer to the Lobos, and included statements such as "He (McKay) is a Christian coach, felt I could become a better person and build a better relationship with God," and "McKay talked to me about changing as a person, too. He lives by the Lord, and we talked a lot about that."
Orange Tabs Kissel: Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has announced that Stan Kissel is the new director of basketball operations for the Orange coaching staff. This is Kissel's second tour at Syracuse, where he was a grad assistant in academic advising. An Idaho grad, Kissel also spent two seasons at Purdue in academic support services and was a strength and conditioning coach at Arizona State for several seasons. The Ticonderoga, N.Y., native is currently working toward his master's degree in higher education administration at Syracuse. [9/16/05]
An Even Bigger Bracket Buster: ESPN has announced the slate for its fourth "Bracket Buster" Saturday, and this installment will feature 100 schools from 18 conferences. The event, scheduled for Feb. 18, will feature 11 of the games televised nationwide. ESPN will announce the matchups Jan. 29, and the 50 home teams will agree to play a "return" non-conference game against their opponent during the 2006-07 season. Large portions of mid-major conferences are participating, such as the Mid-American (12 teams), Ohio Valley (11), and Missouri Valley and Metro Atlantic (each with 10.) [9/16/05]
Vikings Hire Former Husky: Portland State head coach Ken Bone has named former Washington player Curtis Allen as an assistant coach for the Vikings. Allen, who played for the University of Washington from 2000 to 20004, was an assistant at University Prep in Seattle last season, as well as coach in several Seattle-area camps. Allen, the most accurate free-throw shooter in Washington history (.867) played his final two seasons with Bone as one of his assistant coaches. [9/16/05]
Blue Devils Hire Sirois: Central Connecticut head basketball coach Howie Dickenman announced the hiring of Gary Sirois as an assistant basketball coach on his Blue Devils staff. Sirois most recently was the head coach at St. Joseph's College in West Hartford, Conn., for two seasons and was also an assistant women's coach at Springfield College for two years. He also worked as a high school coach for several seasons. [9/16/05]
Islanders Get Carter, Woods: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Ronnie Arrow has announced the hiring of Sean Woods and Stott Carter as two new assistant coaches on his Islander staff. Woods comes to Corpus Christi from High Point, where he was an assistant for the past two seasons. A Kentucky grad, Woods is best known for hitting a jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining against Duke in the 1992 East Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament. Then Christian Laettner hit his famous shot and the rest was history. Woods played in the NBA for two seasons, and later was an assistant at North Broward Prep in Coconut Creek, Fla. Carter comes to the Islanders from Florida, where he was video coordinator and volunteer assistant coach for Billy Donovan's Gator staff for the past nine seasons. [9/16/05]
Kennen Hired at Campbell: Campbell head coach Robbie Laing has announced the hiring of Bobby Kennen as an assistant coach. Kennen joins the Fighting Camel staff after serving in a similar position the past five years under Hugh Durham at Jacksonville University. He also has experience at Wichita State, and was an assistant at Central Florida Community College. As a player, Kennen was a four-year starter at guard at Palm Beach Atlantic College from 1989-93, and he has a master's degree in educational leadership from Florida. Kennen replaces Myron Guillory, who accepted an assistant post at Colorado State. [9/16/05]
Titans Hire Morton: Cal State Fullerton head coach Rob Burton has named Los Angeles-area high school coach Marlon Morton as the third assistant on his Titans coaching staff. For the past decade, Morton was an assistant at Westchester High School, winning five city championships, three state championships, and the top ranking nationwide in that span. Morton coached current Titan point guard Bobby Brown and incoming recruits Jerard Moret and Jerrel Lake in high school. [9/16/05]
Huber Hired by Raiders: Former Florida Atlantic associate head coach Ken Huber has been named to the Wright State coaching staff. Huber will serve on Paul Biancardi's staff as director of basketball operations. Huber served six seasons as the top assistant for Florida Atlantic, and was also as assistant at North Florida and Southhampton College. Huber is a graduate of Ohio State, and also has experience coaching with the respected Five-Star Camp in New York. [9/15/05]
Hornets Extend Jenkins, Hire Watkins: Sacramento State head coach Jerome Jenkins has signed a one-year contract extension, running through the 2006-07 season. Jenkins took over the Sacramento State program prior to the 2000-01 season, and the team has improved its conference record each season, culminating in an 8-6 Big Sky mark and a fourth-place league finish last season. Jenkins also announced the hiring of Lorenzo Watkins as an assistant on his coaching staff. Watkins has spent the past four seasons as head coach at Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa, Iowa). Jenkins has also served as an assistant coach at San Jose State and at Idaho State (his alma mater). [9/15/05]
MEAC Moves South: The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has announced that the men's and women's championship tournaments will have a new home starting this season, as the conference will move the tournament to Raleigh, North Carolina. As part of a three-year deal, the MEAC could earn up to $700,000 per year in pledges from the City of Raleigh, Wake County, and the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as offering the RBC Center for the event itself. The tournament, scheduled for March 6-11 this season, previously was in Richmond, but had to use two different venues due to conflicts with the Colonial Association's tournament. [9/15/05]
Joyce Won't Play: Wake Forest guard Richard Joyce has decided not to play this season, as he is attempting to graduate in December. His departure further thins the Demon Deacons' backcourt, which now has just three scholarship players (senior Justin Gray and freshmen Harvey Hale and Shamaine Dukes). [9/15/05]
Williams Granted Special Probation: Connecticut guard Marcus Williams was granted a special form of probation that could lead to the charges against him being dropped. Judge Marcia Gleeson ordered him to pay a $150 fine and perform 400 hours of non-basketball related community service while on probation for 18 months, and also banned him from campus dormitories. If he meets the conditions and does not violate any other laws, the charges will be dismissed at the end of the 18-month period. The junior point guard remains suspended indefinitely from the basketball team and could still be suspended or expelled from the university. [9/15/05]
Holland Transfers to IUPUI: Jeremy Holland, who had signed a National Letter of Intent with Bowling Green, has transferred to IUPUI. The 6'8" forward will have four years of eligibility remaining after sitting out this season. He was named to the Indiana All-Star Team after averaging 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as a senior at Austin High School in Austin, Indiana. [9/15/05]
No Athletic Looting: NCAA President Myles Brand said that football and basketball players from schools closed by Hurricane Katrina will still have to sit out a year if they opt to transfer. He said the decision was made because members of some teams planned to transfer together to another school. [9/14/05]
Small Joins Troy Staff: Troy hired former Western Kentucky assistant William Small, replacing the departed Anthony Sewell. Small's two years at Western Kentucky give him familiarity with the Sun Belt Conference, which Troy joined in July. Small has previous Division I coaching experience at Southeastern Louisiana (2000-03) and Tennessee-Martin (1999-2000). [9/14/05]
Bearcats Lose One Recruit: Junior college transfer Ivan Johnson has asked for and been granted a release from his letter of intent. The 6'8", 240-pound forward from San Antonio is still waiting for a grade from the late summer session to get his junior college degree. Because of the timing of the move, with many schools having already started classes, Johnson does not have many options if he plans to play in the 2005-06 season. [9/14/05]
Patriot Guard to Miss Season: George Mason will be without guard John Vaughn for the 2005-06 season after suffering a torn ACL, forcing him to take a medical redshirt. Vaughn was one of three Patriots named to the Colonial Athletic Association's All-Rookie Team last season, where he started 15 games and averaged 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. [9/13/05]
Baucom Hires Two Keydet Assistants: VMI head coach Duggar Baucom has announced the hiring of Jason Allison and Del Harris as assistant basketball coaches. Allison most recently was an assistant at King College (Bristol, Tenn.), and was an assistant at Gaston Day School in Gastonia, NC, and Lynchburg Christian Academy. As a player, Allison was a four-year letterwinner for Liberty in the mid-90's and was on the 1997 Big South champion team that went 23-9. Harris comes to Lexington from Richmond, where he was administrative assistant to former head coach Jerry Wainwright last season. Harris also has experience as an AAU coach in Richmond for the past four seasons, and is a graduate of Virginia State. [9/13/05]
Titans Hire Mance: Detroit Titans head coach Perry Watson completed his coaching staff with the hiring of one of his former Detroit Southwestern High School players, Garland Mance, as an assistant. Mance previously served as associate head coach at Rutgers, and was also an assistant at Kent State, and was a four-year letterwinner at St. Bonaventure, being twice named Defensive Player of the Year. In high school, Mance played alongside teammates (and current NBA players) Jalen Rose, Howard Eisely and Voshon Leonard. Mance replaces Terrance Porter, who resigned in July. [9/12/05]
Defending Champ Syracuse Heads 2K Sports College Hoops Classic: Florida, defending champion Syracuse, Texas Tech and Wake Forest will host the opening rounds of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. The Regional Rounds will be held at those sites November 8th-11th, with the winner of each competing for the championship at Madison Square Garden on November 17th and 18th. [9/12/05]
Bucs Retain Powell: New Charleston Southern head coach Barclay Radebaugh has finalized his Buccaneer coaching staff by retaining J.D. Powell - one of former head coach Jim Platt's top men. Powell spent his first season at Charleston Southern last season, following two seasons as an assistant at Furman. Powell, a former Clemson walk-on, also spent one season in basketball operations for the Greenville Groove of the NBDL. [9/10/05]
McCurry Comes Back Home Again: Mercer head coach Mark Slonaker has announced the addition of former Bears' guard Tyler McCurry to his staff as an assistant coach. McCurry, who will earn his degree in business this spring, played in all 28 games last season, averaging just over one point in nine minutes per contest as a reserve guard. [9/10/05]
Terps Recruit Academically Ineligible: Maryland has announced that recuit Shane Clark will not play for the Terrapins this season because he failed to meet academic requirements. Clark, a 6-7 forward, spent last season prepping at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., where he averaged almost 19 points and seven rebounds per game. Clark's options are either another year of prep school or possibly junior college, as he is academically ineligible for Division I athletics because of insufficient progress in his high school core courses. [9/10/05]
Boeheim and Calhoun Inducted: Last night in Springfield, Mass., two college coaching legends were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and Connecticut's Jim Calhoun were inducted, along with the posthumous induction of legendary LSU women's coach Sue Gunter, who passed away last month after a bout with lung cancer. Both Boeheim and Calhoun reached 700 victories this past season, and in fact faced each other on March 5 in a battle to see who would notch win 701 first. Boeheim, 60, has spent his entire 29-year coaching career at his alma mater. Calhoun, 63, coached 14 years at Northeastern before taking over at Connecticut in 1986. Boeheim and Calhoun both have 703 career wins and have combined for three national titles, five Final Four appearances, 17 Big East Conference regular-season titles and seven Big East Coach of the Year awards. Also inducted this year were long-time coach and broadcaster Hubie Brown and Brazilian star Hortencia Marcari. [9/10/05]
Ute Out for the Season: Utah head coach Ray Giacoletti has announced that big man Misha Radojevic will miss the entire 2005-06 season due to a knee injury. Radojevic was injured during a pickup game with teammates, rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament Wednesday. Radojevic, a 6-10, 250-pound forward/center from Belgrade, Serbia, had transferred to the Ute program after spending three years at Belgrade Polytechnic Academy. Radojevic averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game while playing in a Serbian amateur league in 2004-05. Giacoletti said the school will start paperwork to appeal for a medical hardship redshirt for the season, as Radojevic has two years of eligibility remaining. [9/10/05]
Bears to Build New Facility: Baylor University's Board of Regents has approved plans for a new $8 million practice facility for the Baylor men's and women's basketball programs. Ground will be broken Oct. 1 for the 43,000 square-foot facility, which will be open next September in time for the 2006-07 season. The facility was needed due to overlap in scheduling the existing practice facility during events at the Ferrell Center. Included in plans for the facility are two full-size practice courts, a 6,600-square foot full-service strength and conditioning center, office suites for the coaching staffs, an entry plaza, a VIP suite and a display corridor. Let's hope they include a memorial to Patrick Dennehy, as well. [9/10/05]
Cavalier to Transfer to UMass: Virginia announced that junior guard Gary Forbes is leaving the Cavalier basketball program after failing to meet academic requirements. Forbes will instead transfer to the UMass program. Forbes, a 6-6 native of Brooklyn, played in all 60 Cavalier games during his first two seasons, averaging 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. Forbes joins other high-profile transfers Luke Bonner (West Virginia) and Etienne Brower (Boston University) and former Syracuse recruit Tiki Mayben in what's shaping up to be quite a team for new head coach Travis Ford's 2006-07 campaign. [9/10/05]
Coach's Party Raises $500K: Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and his wife, Marcy, hosed the fourth annual Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBALL and Gala in Spokane last weekend, and the donations have been tallied. More than $518,000 was raised, bringing the four-year total to $1.37 million. The duffer's tournament featured the Jud Heathcote (Michigan State) coaching tree (along with Few), with Dick and Tony Bennett (Washington State), Don Monson (Minnesota), along with Mike Burns (Eastern Washington) Joe Cravens (Weber State), Ray Giacoletti (Utah) and Jim Boeheim (Syracuse). Commentators included Clark Kellog, Fran Fraschilla, Doug Gottlieb, Craig Ehlo, Bill Raftery, and emcee Roy Firestone. [9/10/05]
Clemson Tiger Comes to DC: George Washington head coach Karl Hobbs has announced that former Clemson University forward Cheyenne Moore has transferred to the Colonials program. A native of Baltimore, Md., Moore started 17 games last season for the Tigers as a freshman, averaging 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest. Moore will have three seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2005-06 season due to NCAA transfer rules. [9/10/05]
Kingsley Joins Yale Staff: Yale head coach James Jones has announced the appointment of Matt Kingsley as a volunteer assistant coach. Kingsley comes to New Haven after serving as associate head coach at Eastern Connecticut the past three seasons. Previously, Kingsley was an assistant at Clarkson and served as coach at Saint Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn., winning the New England Prep School Class A Championship. Kingsley is a 1998 graduate of Wesleyan University, where he graduated as the second all-time leading scorer and the school record holder in three-point field goals. [9/10/05]
Blackbirds Add Two: Long Island head coach Jim Ferry has announced the hiring of two new staff members, Jack Perri and Richard Glesmann. Perri, an assistant, was head coach last season at D-III Rhode Island College and was named Little East Conference coach of the year after leading the Anchormen to a 20-9 record. He also was an assistant at D-II Bentley, his alma mater, for six seasons. Glesmann, who is the new director of operations, worked the past two seasons at Adelphi University and was previously the head women's coach at Wheelock College in Boston. [9/9/05]
Quaker Whitehurst Sidelined: University of Pennsylvania sophomore guard David Whitehurst will likely miss the beginning of the Quakers' season due to an ankle injury. Whitehurst underwent successful surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left ankle last Friday and will likely not be back to full strength until early December. Whitehurst averaged 2.4 points per contest last season as a freshman and started the final five games following an injury to senior Eric Osmundson, including a 16-point effort against Harvard. [9/9/05]
Falcon Big Man Has Another Surgery: Air Force center Nick Welch underwent yet another surgery yesterday, this time on his left ankle. Welch, who underwent surgery on a broken bone in his left foot two months ago, had a tendon repaired in his ailing ankle. Welch started all 30 games last season, finishing second on the team in scoring with 12 points and averaged 3.6 rebounds per contest. It is expected that Welch will be back in January for the start of the Mountain West Conference slate against BYU Jan. 5. [9/9/05]
A-10 Coaches Help Katrina Victims: Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Linda Bruno has announced that Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli and Temple coach John Chaney have agreed to lead the conference's efforts to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Said Chaney, "We can only imagine what these people are going through and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered loss and those who are helping in the relief effort." Martelli added, "This is a difficult time for the people of the Gulf region, and I am sure that with the assistance of all Americans, we can help these people rebuild their lives." The Atlantic 10 will track the contributions of its coaches, administrators, and student-athletes and announce the total at its basketball media day Nov. 3. [9/9/05]
Seminole Recuit Out For Semester: Florida State announced that incoming freshman recruit Ryan Reid will not be eligible to play in the Seminole's first seven games. Reid, a 6-8 power forward from Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., failed to enroll for fall semester. Reid had enrolled at FSU during the summer but did not accompany the Seminoles this past weekend on their trip to Trinidad and Tobago. [9/9/05]
Mastodons Nab Chip: Former Central Michigan shooting guard Kevin Nelson has transferred to IPFW for his final season. Nelson, who was named 2005 All-MAC Honorable Mention, led the Chippewas in scoring at 17.0 points per game last season. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Nelson will sit out this season, and have one year of eligibility for 2006-07. [9/9/05]
Panthers Land Husky Transfer: New Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter has announced that former Northern Illinois forward Paige Paulsen has transferred to the Panthers program. Paulsen, a former Mr. Basketball of South Dakota, averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21 games at Northern Illinois this past season. Paulsen missed the final seven games last season due to lingering effects of a concussion. He will have two years of college eligibility remaining, starting in 2006-07. [9/9/05]
Bison Names Kemp: North Dakota State head coach Tim Miles has named Jason Kemp as graduate manager for the 2005-06 season. Kemp most recently was an assistant at Minnesota State-Moorhead last season. A graduate of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Kemp is currently pursuing a master's degree in sports management at North Dakota State. [9/8/05]
Coaches Consider Other Katrina Fundraising: Southern California coach Tim Floyd and North Carolina coach Roy Williams have discussed the possibility of proposing a third exhibition game for all NCAA schools. The money from those exhibition games would support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The NCAA must approve such a proposal because the current format only allows for two exhibition games per team. [9/8/05]
Calloway Battles Cancer: Virginia Tech senior forward Allen Calloway has a rare form of cancer, known as alveolar soft part sarcoma. Doctors diagnose as few as 15 cases of this cancer annually. Calloway will not need chemotherapy or invasive treatment, so he will be available this season. But health comes first, and coach Seth Greenberg will monitor Calloway's progress throughout his treatment. In three seasons, Calloway, a defensive specialist, has averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. [9/8/05]
Kellogg Goes Home: Embattled former Connecticut point guard Antonio Kellogg has found a new home close to home. Kellogg has transferred to San Francisco, across the bay from Oakland, where Kellogg played high school ball. He was a regular backup for the Huskies last season before coach Jim Calhoun kicked him off the team for violating team rules. Kellogg averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 assists per game for Connecticut. [9/8/05]
Gonzaga Great Dies: Former Gonzaga athletic director and coach Hank Anderson, 84, died earlier this month of an aortic aneurysm. In his first year as Gonzaga's coach in 1951-52, he improved the team's record by 11 wins. He is the winningest head coach in Gonzaga history with a 291-275 record over a 20 year career. Tired of Gonzaga's Independent status, Anderson helped to create the Big Sky Conference in 1963. He left the Bulldogs in 1972 to become coach at Montana State, and he also worked as athletic director at Northern Arizona. Gonzaga left the Big Sky Conference in 1980 to join the West Coast Conference. [9/8/05]
Green Wave Moves to Texas A&M: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane men's basketball players have moved to Texas A&M, where they will enroll in classes and share the Aggies' practices facilities until relief operations make Tulane operable again. Other Tulane sports teams have gone to Southern Methodist, Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech and Rice. Tulane officials moved teams collectively so that they can practice and play together. As relief operations continue, sports offers a necessary diversion to students and communities. The other schools -- and occasional rivals -- deserve credit for extending a helping hand. [9/7/05]
Coaches Rally to Help Katrina Victims: Joining thousands of people nationwide who are contributing to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, several NCAA coaches and AllCoachNetwork.com have set up an online auction, whose proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit organization will help build homes for displaced New Orleans families, among others. Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg has been one of the champions of the cause and has encouraged his peers to join. Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight has donated a Big 12 package that includes tickets and transportation and hotel arrangements for the Big 12 tournament in Dallas in March. [9/7/05]
Moving Up in the World: William and Mary coach Tony Shaver hired Chuck Thomas to be an assistant coach. Thomas has been a high school coach in Virginia for a little more than 10 years and will give the Tribe strong recruiting ties to Richmond and southern Virginia. [9/7/05]
Tar Heel Youngster Has Surgery: Already reliant on freshmen, North Carolina can ill afford injuries this coming season. Freshman guard Marcus Ginyard broke his left wrist during a pickup game in late July, but the injury was undetected until he had a recent MRI. To fix the break, Ginyard had surgery, but he should be available to practice starting in October. Ginyard is one of five freshmen -- Tyler Hansbrough, Bobby Frasor, Danny Green and Mike Copeland are the others -- who must make an immediate impact for the Tar Heels, who lost their top seven scorers from last season's championship team.
[9/30/05]
Saints Loses Guard for First Semester: Siena sophomore guard Al Fisher will not play for the Saints during the first semester because he needs to focus on academics. Slotted to be a significant contributor, Fisher averaged 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Saints during his freshman seasons. The team has only six returning players from last season's squad, which finished 6-24.
[9/7/05]
Hendrix Rocked From Roster: Tennessee senior forward Jemere Hendrix is off the team indefinitely, coach Bruce Pearl said. Pearl suspended Hendrix for violating the team's rules, adding that Hendrix's return depends on his desire to change his behavior. Hendrix was arrested last month in Georgia for marijuana possession and driving without a license. Pearl's frontcourt is dangerously thin because Hendrix was one of only two post players who returned from last season's team. [9/7/05]
Richardson Still Has It: After former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson guided Panama to the World Championships for the first time in 19 years, it's just a matter of time until an NCAA program gives Richardson an opportunity to turn around a struggling program. Richardson quickly implemented his vaunted "40 minutes of hell," in which his team applies intense defensive pressure throughout the game to tire the opposition. Panama's team was one of the smallest in the tournament, which features North, South and Central American teams. After losing to the United States, Richardson guided Panama to five wins in the final seven games, earning a spot in the World Championships next year in Japan. Panama officials have already asked Richardson to coach the team for that tournament. Unless an NCAA program snatches Richardson off the market, he will have an opportunity to add a world championship to his list of accolades.
[9/7/05]
Flames Name Jones to Bench: Zack Jones has been named as the final assistant on Randy Dunton's Liberty coaching staff for this season. Jones comes to Liberty after spending the last 11 years as head varsity coach at Horizon Jr. & Sr. High School in San Diego, Calif., where he led the school to two state championships and eleven conference championships, while being named a four-time coach of the year during that span. Jones was concurrently a member of the coaching staff at San Diego City College, and was head coach the past seven seasons. As a collegiate player, Jones started his career San Diego State (1980-82) and finished his educational career at University of Ravenhurst in Holland, The Netherlands, in 1985. Coach Dunton also announced that senior forward Rashad Robinson has left the program for personal reasons. Robinson came to Liberty from San Jacinto Community College in Houston, Texas, last season, and averaged 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. [9/7/05]
Aggie Marches to Penguins: Youngstown State head coach Jerry Slocum has announced that former New Mexico State point guard Byron Davis has transferred to the Youngstown State program. Davis, a Detroit native, Davis averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, playing in every game and starting 19. Per NCAA transfer rules, he will have to sit out the 2005-06 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2006-07. [9/6/05]
Howard Dismissed For Gesture: Alabama State head coach Rob Spivery has announced that reserve forward Earl Howard has been dismissed from the Hornets squad for making an obscene gesture on television. With three minutes remaining in the SWAC Championship game on March 13th against Alabama A&M, Howard was televised on ESPN2 making an obscene gesture into a camera. Spivery and his staff had no knowledge of Howard's action when he was inserted into the game after making the gesture. Alabama State has issued an apology to its alumni and fans, as well as to the SWAC, Alabama A&M, and the national viewing audience. [9/5/05]
Coaches Take Game to Middle East: Several high-profile coaches helped bring some entertainment to U.S. troops stationed in Kuwait. Dubbed Operation Hardwood, coaches like South Carolina's Dave Odom and Michigan State's Tom Izzo led a basketball tournament for U.S. military personnel who continue to fight in Iraq. Izzo and Odom led Camp Arifjan to the championship in the tournament, but Odom said the highlight was observing the high morale and dedication of the U.S. military members. He said he wanted to find a way to share that dedication and energy with his players, who focus on daily concerns like money and playing time, as most college students do. Other college basketball figures who participated in Operation Hardwood include former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, former St. John's coach Mike Jarvis, Alabama coach Mark Gottfried, Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, Charlotte caoch Bobby Lutz and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
[9/4/05]
Ramon Has Surgery: Pittsburgh sophomore guard Ronald Ramon had thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament but should be ready to practice by late October. Ramon averaged 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season as a freshman. [9/3/05]
Kansas Continues to Reload: As the best programs in the country tend to do, Kansas has collected yet another outstanding recruiting class. The most recent addition is Brandon Rush, whom the NCAA Clearinghouse said can play this season. Rush flirted with the NBA Draft this year but opted to go to school and eventually chose the Jayhawks. In addition to Rush, Kansas has Mario Chalmers, Julian Wright and Micah Downs joining the team as freshmen. All are highly regarded and will help keep Kansas among the NCAA's elite. [9/3/05]
Quaker Returns to Join Dunphy's Staff: Former Pennsylvania forward Shawn Trice has returned to the Quakers as an assistant coach under Fran Dunphy. Trice was part of the Quakers' great run in the mid-1990s when the team had three consecutive undefeated Ivy League seasons and upset Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament. This position will be Trice's first coaching experience. [9/3/05]
Highlanders Quicken to Hire Three: Radford head coach Byron Samuels has announced the hiring of three new assistants to his Highlanders' staff: Frankie Allen, Jeff Maher, and Nathan Stewart. Allen comes to Radford with 29 years of D-I coaching experience, most recently as former head coach at Howard for the past five seasons. Allen was also the head coach at Tennessee State for nine seasons, and at Virginia Tech for four seasons, after coaching the Hokies for 11 seasons as an assistant. Allen was national coach of the year in 1993 at Tennessee State after leading the Tigers to an Ohio Valley Conference title and their first NCAA tournament appearance. 
Gauchos Hire Nagy, Lose Follmer: Joe Nagy has been named Director of Basketball Operations on Bob Williams' UC-Santa Barbara coaching staff. A successful California high school coach, Nagy has coached several top programs in the past decade, including De Las Salle (Concord, CA), Berean Christian (Walnut Creek, CA), Clayton Valley (Concord, CA) and Hercules (Richmond, CA). Current Gaucho guard Joe See was one of his players for De La Salle when they won the state championship in 2001. Nagy also founded his own sports management company in 2003. Nagy replaces Derrick Allen, who left to become an assistant at San Jose State. Williams also announced that redshirt freshman center Todd Follmer has left the school, and will not be returning to the program. [9/3/05]
McLellan Ineligible, For Now: Arizona sophomore Jawann McLellan has been declared academically ineligible for the fall semester, but is appealing the decision. His father passed away on June 12, and he missed about a week of classes while going home to Houston. If his appeal is denied, the soonest he could play is December 16, the team's eighth game of the season. [9/2/05]
Pirates Gain Late Transfer: Former Baylor guard Carl Marshall has enrolled at Seton Hall and will be eligible for the 2005-06 season. The 5'11", 180-pound native of Chicago spent last season at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where he averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. In 2003-04, he played in 29 games with 22 starts at Baylor. [9/2/05]
Snyder Adds Irvin to Staff: Lance Irvin has rejoined the Big 12 as a member of the Missouri coaching staff. Irvin was most recently an assistant coach under current Missouri associate coach Melvin Watkins at Texas A&M, with single-season stints at Iowa State and Illinois State before that and prior experience as an assistant at DePaul from 1992 to 1997. [9/2/05]
Four Eagles Transfer: Four players from Coppin State have transferred, three of whom are from Philadelphia. Wings Nicholas King and Darron Bradley and guard Raheem Scott, all from Philadelphia, transferred along with hometown native forward Derek Daniels. King was a second-team All-MEAC selection last season, averaging 14.1 points per game, and Scott was a second-team All-MEAC selection for the second season in a row. Bradley sat out last season with an injury, while Daniels averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in 21 games last season. [9/2/05]
Garland Finalizes Staff: Cleveland State promoted recent graduate Justin Sherlock to director of basketball operations to round out its staff for the coming season. Sherlock joined last season as graduate manager after doing his undergraduate work at Rochester (Mich.) College, where he lettered three times. Head coach Mike Garland also named Derek Evans and Amadou Koundoul as graduate managers. [9/2/05]
Braves Legend Monroe Passes: Alcorn State legend Alfredo Monroe passed away following a long battle with cancer. He was 48. Monroe lettered for the Braves from 1975-79, leading the squad to a 96-20 record over that span, including Alcorn State's lone undefeated regular season in 1978-79, eventually losing to Indiana in the second round of the NIT. Monroe's teams claimed two Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships, two NAIA playoff berths and the program's first NIT berth in history. The program moved to D-I in 1977. [9/2/05]
Phoenix Program Loses Two: UW-Green Bay JuCo transfer Ontario McKee has not been able to enroll for fall semester, as he did not complete junior college degree requirements. McKee, who was transferring from Southwest Missouri State-West Plains, was expected to help in the backcourt for the Phoenix this season. A 5-11 guard, he averaged 13.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season. This news came on the heels of the NCAA's decision not to grant forward Benito Flores' appeal for an additional year of eligibility. Flores was the Phoenix leading scorer and rebounder last season, averaging 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and was named second-team All-Horizon League. [9/2/05]
Bad Habits Were Tucker's Undoing: P.J. Tucker said on Tuesday that habits such as showing up late to classes or even skipping them altogether, listening to music during class and just not caring in general are what led to his academic ineligibility last year. He had the bad habits for a long time, and it finally caught up with him - but he will now be back on the court for Texas this season. Tucker, a 6'5" junior from Raleigh, N.C., had to sit the final 14 games of the season, during which time the Longhorns went 6-8. [9/1/05]
Headline Story: Freshman forward Keith Brumbaugh apologized for an incident at a local store, according to a statement released by Oklahoma State's basketball office. Head coach designate Sean Sutton said Brumbaugh, a native of DeLand, Fla., would be disciplined. Brumbaugh was widely considered one of the nation's top 20 high school seniors last season and will be part of a very young Cowboy team this season. [9/1/05]
Black Knights Hire Saunders: Army hired Kendrick Saunders as an assistant coach after he spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Md. Saunders is not new to the state of New York, as prior to that he spent four seasons as the top assistant at Hunter College in New York City. A graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, Fla., Saunders was also an assistant coach for the Gotham City Knights of the National Rookie League in 2000. [9/1/05]
Former Yellow Jacket Named to Dolphin Staff: New Jacksonville head coach Cliff Warren has announced the hiring of former Georgia Tech guard Winston Neal as an assistant coach to complete his coaching staff. Neal, four-year letterwinner at Georgia Tech from 1999-2002, was co-captain in 2002, and was an all-ACC Academic selection. Neal last season was administrative assistant at USC, and previously was graduate assistant at Loyola Marymount, where he earned his MBA in 2004. [9/1/05]