HOT RECRUITING INFORMATION  

FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2000

Hot Recruiting Information available for previous months June 1998 July 1998 August 1998 September 1998 October 1998 November 1998 December 1998 January 1999 February 1999 March 1999 April 1999 May 1999 June 1999 July 1999 August 1999 September 1999 October 1999 November 1999 December 1999 January 2000 February 2000 March 2000 April 2000

Sunday, April 30, 2000

In late March 6'8 Zach Randolph from Marion (H.S.) IN had about as good a week as anybody has every had at the high school level.  He scored 28 points while leading his team to the Indiana State High School Championship on Saturday, March 25th.  Then, three days later he proved to be unstoppable in the McDonalds All American Game en route to game MVP honors.   And four days after that he scored 24 points and took home game MVP honors in the NIKE Hoop Summit in Indianapolis, IN.  Well, those were just ordinary performances compared to his performance earlier today - 39 points, 24 rebounds, and four assists - in the NIKE Derby Festival Classic earlier today at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY.   Randolph is virtually unstoppable when he gets the ball in the low post, because he's so big and strong, so skilled, and so quick for somebody his size.  And he always seems to be in the right spot, which adds even more to his efficiency level.   Speaking of efficiency, it's hard to be more efficient than Randolph, who was 18-27 from the field and 3-5 from the free throw line.  Randolph also is a great passer and good ball handler for size, has a great feel for the game, and brings an intensity to the game that many of the top players in the nation lack in this day and age.  Before today there was still some doubt about whether Randolph was the best player in the senior class nationally, but now it's a no-brainer.  How could anybody have anybody else ranked ahead of Randolph?  He's that good and that efficient.  He's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet!  As a matter of fact, anybody who doesn't like Randolph doesn't know him.  Which is why so many people are happy that Randolph has gotten a second chance and is doing so well in the process.  Remember, he missed half of his junior year and spent several months in a juvenile detention center after being arrested for the sale of firearms.  However, now the only questions about Randolph are will he declare hardship for the NBA draft right out of high school and/or will he make it academically.  He doesn't have the necessary score yet, but his SAT score appears to be closer than the voting was for Mr. Basketball in Indiana when Randolph finished second to 6'10 Jared Jeffries from Bloomington (North) IN.   Speaking of Jeffries, he scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but he was not one of the top five players in the game.  He's just not tough enough inside and the outside shot hasn't been falling this spring, which leads us to wonder what really is his best position and how he will interact with Bob Knight next season?   Instead, the top five players in the game in order were Randolph, 6'3 Marcus Taylor from Lansing (Waverly) MI, 6'1 Omar Cook from Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, 6'9 Darius Rice from East St. Louis (H.S.) IL, and 6'6 Luke Whitehead from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA.   Taylor, who will likely battle Randolph for Freshman-of-the-Year honors in the Big 10 next year at Michigan State also contributed to Randolph's success yesterday with a number of great passes, but he also was unstoppable outside as he nailed 4-5 3-pointers, including what proved to be the game winning shot.  He also got the better of Cook again, although Cook does get our vote for MVP for his team.  As a matter of fact, without Cook's three 3-point shots at crunch time, the game wouldn't have been tied with less than a minute to go.  Cook finished with 21 points, but was credited with only   five assists, although he made a number of great passes throughout the game.   Instead, the the MVP for the White Team went to Miles, who finished with 25 points and was 10-14 from the field.  However, Miles wasn't as consistent throughout the game and he didn't make the big shots that Cook made when the game was on the line.   Still nobody covers more ground or is more exciting than Miles, who gets our vote as the most talented player in the class, as well as the #3 ranked player overall.   Whitehead was the second leading scorer in the game with 29 points and was absolutely terrific in transition.  However, Whitehead doesn't get much done out on the perimeter and didn't create much for himself.  As a result, he was the perfect complement to Randolph and Taylor, which also will be his role at the University of Louisville next year, which explains why he was one of the crowd favorites.  Also playing well was 6'8 T.J. Cummings from Flossmoor (Homewood-Flossmoor) IL, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, but after that there was a major dropoff, as 6'9 Rolando Howell from Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC with 16 poinys and six rebounds, 6'1Cliff Hawkins from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA with 12 points and six assists, and only two turnovers, 6'3 Scooter McFadgon from Memphis (Raleigh-Egpyt) TN with 15 points, and 6'8 Glen Worley from Iowa City (West) IA 12 points and eight rebounds were all solid, but not all that memorable.   Ellis Myles, the 6'8 power forward had 14 rebounds, but was a disppointment at the offense end as he only had eight points, was called for walking four times, and obviously needs to get into better shape.   Memphis-bound 6'7 Arthur Barclay from Camden (H.S.) NJ was effective on the boards, but he had trouble finishing against the bigger stronger guys on the Purple Team, as was evident by his 2-11 shooting.  One of the best outside shooters in the game was 5'11 Brody Boyd from Dugger (Union) IN, who hit 3-8 3-point shots, but he did little else.  Indiana-bound 6'2 Andre Owens from Indianapolis (Perry Meridian) IN didn't convince us that he is the answer to the Hoosier's point guard question next year (only one assist and four turnovers), but he did impress with his athleticism and ability to go to the hole, which also was evident when he won the slam dunk contest.  We also liked 6'7 Erik Daniels from Cincinnati (Princeton) OH more than we thought we would, because he is really athletic and explosive transition.  However, his outside shot needs work (0-3 from beyond the arc) and talent-wise he was in over his head in this game.   Which brings us to 6'4 A.J. Moye from Atlanta (Westlake) GA, 6'5 Scott Hundley from Georgetown (Scott County) KY, 6'1 Luke Ridnour from Blaine (H.S.) WA, 6'10 Mike Southall from West Salem (H.S.) WI, and 6'7 Simeon Naydenov from Miami (Berkshire) FL.  Moye needs to shoot well to play well in a game like this (0-2 from beyond the arc), because he's more of a system player.   Hundley and Ridnour tried hard, but they were both in over their head and, as a result, just couldn't compete athletically.  Southall not only proved that he's a project, but finally got exposed (we had never seen him before).  One person in our business said they thought Southall has more potential than Marvin Stone, but that's ridiculous, which is why he drops out of our top 100 nationally.  Naydenov is slow, mechanical, and not very talented, which means he'll be the perfect replacement for Jeff McKinley, who is transferring from Louisville to Northern Kentucky.

Saturday, April 29, 2000

When the University of California signed 6'9 Saulis Kuzmanisks from Lithuania a week ago, everybody correctly automatically assumed that 6'8 Travon Bryant from Long Beach (Jordan) CA was a done deal for Missouri, because Bryant and Kuzmanisks both play the same positions.  However, a lot of people have jumped the gun.  It isn't done yet and it won't be done until Tueday.  That's when the press conference will be held in the school cafeteria.  Speaking of the University of Missouri, the biggest highlight from the first night at the 2000 Show-Me Shootout on Friday night was watching 6'8 Jr David Lee from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO.  He outplayed 6'9 Jr Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor (H.S.) MI and engaged in a memorable dual with 6'8 Jr Dennis Latimore from Halstead (H.S.) KS, who also was sensational.  Everybody assumes the leaders for Lee are Duke and Missouri, but Kentucky, Illinois, Florida, and Stanford are also mentioned for this athletic warrior owns the paint at this level.  Also impressing us were 6'6 Jr Dijon Thompson from Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA, who can is versatile enough to play all three perimeter positions; 6'11 Jr Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL, who is unstoppable in the low post; 6'6 Jr Najeeb Echols from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, who sensational in transition; 6'2 Jr J.S. Nash from Moreno Valley (Rancho Verde) CA, who shot the lights out from beyond arc (he hit seven 3-pointers) and reminds us of current New York Knicks guard Eric Brunson; 6'4 Jr Kelvin Torbert from Flint (Northwestern) MI, who is the model of consistency; 6'2 Frosh Rich McBride from Springfield (Lanphier) IL, who is the best freshman Stephen Wacaser, the Editor and Publisher of Assists, Turnovers, and Loose Balls has ever seen; and 6'8 Soph Justin Johnson from Merrillville (H.S.) IN, who more than lived up his ranking as the #3 sophomore in the state of Indiana by Jim Kasberg.  Johnson is so active, athletic, and skilled that he projects as the best player for the Northwest Region of Indiana since Glenn Robinson and, as a result, we think he has NBA potential with normal development.   Last, but not least, is 6'5 Jr Josh Childress from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, who consistent self.  He also told us that Duke and North Carolina have been added to his list that already includes UCLA, Arizona, Stanford, and Kansas.

Friday, April 28, 2000

It's kind of like the blind the leading the blind.  They think they are doing something positive to correct the problems that currently face college basketball, but all the NCAA Division I board of directors did yesterday when they unanimously approved changes for college basketball, which include eliminating the summer recruiting period in 2002 and limiting the number of scholarships a school can give in one year to five and only eight over a two period, was make the problem even worse.   "The board is eliminating summer basketball environments as we now know it," said Penn State President Graham Spanier," who is chairman of the Division I board of directors.  They think they are eliminating "unsavory influences affecting the lives of young people and the integrity of our programs," but exactly the opposite will happen.  Don't believe that grass routes basketball can survive just fine without the presence of college coaches?  Just look at the proliferation of events between now and the end of June, which is a two month dead period for college coaches.  They let the genie out of the bottle in the late 1980s when they took the power out of the hands of high school coaches and now they want to change things back.  But they can't, because the AAU coaches, shoe companies, and others at the grass routes level now are in control of the process and, like it or not, there is nothing the NCAA can do to make them relinquish that control.  Don't believe it?   The sneaker pimps and agents are exploiting players at a proliferating rate, as more and more players bypass college and go start into the NBA.  The latest example came yesterday when Florida's Donnell Harvey (ready or not) announced that he's going to go hardship into the NBA draft?  But now many of the top player doesn't even get to college.  When Tracey McGrady,  Al Harrington, Jonathan Bender, DerMarr Johnson, et al. went straight from high school to the League, what do you think happened?  Somebody other than the player also made a substantial profit and, as a result, it should come as no surprise that they are going to reinvest part of that money in the next generation of players.  It used to be that the good high school programs had feeder systems going all the way down to elementary school age level.  Now the good AAU programs all have their own feeder systems and they decide where the top middle school players go to high school.    They also decide where those players later go to college, prep school, and junior college, as well as when they go to the League.  As a result, the NCAA already has very little say, but what they are doing now is like a country trying to influence a totalitarian dictator by cutting off economic relations when that country has has nothing that the dictator wants.  The smart AAU coach no longer needs the money that the college coach is willing to give him under the table.  Instead, he can make his money, and a lot more of it, legally via his big NIKE or adidas contract.  And even better yet, if he gets lucky and his star player goes right to the league, he will likely be set for life.  The best example might be Pat Barrett, who has been the mentor, advisor, and even guardian for 7'0 Jr Tyson Chandler from Compton (Dominguez) CA for years.   Whether the NCAA likes it or not, Barrett is going to be a very rich man soon after Chandler goes to the NBA either out of high school in the spring of 2001 or after a year or two of college.  And whether the NCAA likes it or not, Barrett has done a lot more positive things for his kids, than the NCAA ever has.  Remember, the NCAA is one of the most hypocritical organizations on the planet and they are in business to perpetuate themselves.  As a matter of fact, despite all their propaganda, their track record is clear, as the student-athlete, the coach, and the fan are very low on their list.  Instead, their main concerns include their multi-billion dollar basketball television package with CBS, maintaining a positive public image, and strictly enforcing their rules and regulations that are often not even moral and ethical in our society.  That's right!  The NCAA investigator flies in first class, stays at the Hyatt, and rents a Lincoln Town Car, because somebody tipped them off that a potential recruit whose family lives below the poverty line got a free hamburger at McDonalds.  Give me a break!   Getting back to the point at hand, by eliminating the summer recruiting period, the process will be speeded up even more.  Already, if you are going to be a high school senior, the trend is to commit in August or September, instead of waiting until closer to the fall signing date or even the following spring.  Which means players have less and less information about the colleges they are considering and coaches have to decide earlier and earlier to whom they are going to offer scholarships.  As a result, transfers are at an all time high.   So if you have more transfers, naturally you're going to need more scholarships.   So what does the NCAA want to do?  Limit the number of scholarships a school can give to eight over two years.  The reason behind this move it to stop coaches from running off players, but what will happen is that players who are willing to transfer and pay in-state tuition as a walk-on will become more important than ever.   Certainly this may have some cost cutting value for lower level schools, but already we are seeing that this won't work as intended at the big-time level.  The best example is Luke Recker, who transferred in January from Arizona to Iowa.  And don't be surprised if Dane Fife transfers from Indiana to the University of Michigan, where he too would be eligible after a year, if he pays his own way.  Maybe this would help the NCAA practice more what it preaches - amateur athletics, whereby, all the teams look like and play like Ivy League teams.  However, we all know they won't do that, because they'll be in big trouble when it comes to television ratings.  Remember, there is a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar in the Year 2000 and....

Later this afternoon will be off to the 2000 Show-Me Shootout at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO and we are looking forward to seeing a number of the top players in the nation, including 6'5 Jr Josh Childress from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, 6'11 Jr Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL, 6'8 Jr Dennis Latimore from Halstead (H.S.) KS, 6'9 Jr Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor (H.S.) MI, 6'4 Jr Kelvin Torbert from Flint (Northwestern) MI, 6'0 Jr Terrance Ford from Sugar Land (Willowridge) TX, and 6'3 Jr Daniel Ewing from Sugar Land (Willowridge) TX, 6'1 Soph Anthony Roberson from Saginaw (H.S.) MI, 6'10 Jr Jeff Ferguson from Benton Harbor (H.S.) MI, and 6'8 Jr David Lee from St. Louis (Chaminade) MO, all of whom will be in attendance and all of whom will be will be talking with over the weekend.  Games will tipoff tonight at 6:30 PM with Compton Magic versus Illinois Wildcats, The Hood versus Kansas City Rocktown, and Howard Pulley (MN) versus Kansas City 76'ers.  Then, at 7:45 PM West Coast Academy will meet Illinois Select, Team Carolina will play the St. Louis Eagles I, and Belmont Shore will play the St. Louis Eagles II.  At 9:00 PM it will be Illinois Gold versus Kentucky Select, Team Georgia Elite versus St. Louis Gateway, and the Houston Superstars versus Kansas City Magic.   Finally, at 10:15 PM it will be the Michigan Mustangs versus Arkansas Heat, SYF Players versus Bossier Select (LA), and Missouri Mavericks versus Illinois Warriors.  Pool play will resume tomorrow morning at 8:45 AM and the playoffs will begin tomorrow night at 7:00 PM.  The semi-finals are scheduled for 9:00 AM and 10:15 AM Sunday morning.  The Consolation Final will be a 12:45 PM on Sunday, followed by the Championship Game at 2:00 PM.  However, by that time, we'll be long gone, because at 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoon is also when the NIKE Kentucky Derby Festival All-Star Game tips off in Louisville, KY and we will be there!  And we will have coverage of both events, plus all the recruiting information we can pick up exclusively in the Members Section.

Thursday, April 27, 2000

Despite what is being reported by most of our competitors, 6'8 Travon Bryant from Long Beach (Jordan) CA has not signed a National Letter-of-Intent with Missouri.  However, that does make sense, because right now the Tigers are the only school left on his list.  Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin tells us that Lafayette has gotten a pair of commitments from 6'3 Justin DeBerry from New Hampton (Prep) NH, 6'6 Ben Saxton from Pine Bush (H.S.) NY and 6'8 Sean Munson from Berryville (Clarke County) VA.   Rubin also tells us Richmond has signed 5'9 Michael Stringer from Smyrna (Campbell) GA, but that the commitment made by 6'10 Pape Badiane from Glassboro (Faith Christian) NJ to University of Louisville back in February didn't hold up.  But we didn't expect it to, because our understanding was that Louisville never offered, because they didn't think he was good enough.  Instead, Badiane has signed with Cleveland State, which probably where he belongs, because he will have the time he needs to develop.

G.J. King, Editor & Publisher of the Illinois Prep Basketball Web Site, tells us that 6'11 Jr Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL has passed the ACT and, as a result, should be eligible to play at a four-year Division I school next year.  But right now King offers no clue about who is actually recruiting Curry.  However, our guess is that it won't matter anyway, because with his huge frame, excellent mobility, high degree of skills level, and lack of quality big guys in recent years, he will enter his name into the draft in the spring of 2001 and, as a result, skip college.  But if he does attend college, we hear that Illinois, North Carolina, Memphis, and Kentucky are the early favorites.  King does have a list of schools for a number of the other top underclassmen in the state of Illinois, including 6'7 Jr Najeeb Echols from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 6'0 Jr Jason Straight from Chicago (Dunbar) IL, 6'7 Jr Joshua Williams from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, 6'5 Jr Ron Howard from Chicago (Whitney Young) IL, and 6'4 Jr Pierre Pierce from Westmont (H.S.) IL.  Pierce is expected to pick Iowa over Illinois and it may happen sooner than later.  Howard are the early favorites for Wisconsin and Marquette.  Syracuse, Marquette, and Indiana State are showing the most interest in Williams.  Iowa State, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Illinois, and DePaul are at the tip of Straight's list.  Echols likes Michigan State, California, Kansas, UCLA, and Marquette.

Wednesday, April 26, 2000

The University of Dayton got an early commitment well over a year ago from 6'3 Sammy Smith from Worthington (Christian) OH, but their recruiting efforts appeared to be on hold until the NCAA came down with their recent sanctions.  Since that time our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that the Flyers coaching staff has been busy, as 6'8 Lamar Hill form Tyler (JC) TX, 6'7 Sean Finn from Hayes (JC) KS, 6'7 Jason Osborne from Towson (Catholic) MD, and 6'2 Ramod Marshall from North Bridgton (Bridgton Academy) ME all have signed National Letter-of-Intents.   Johnson also has confirmed that within the last 24 hours the Flyers also have picked up 6'4 Nucleus Smith from Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME.   Johnson also tells us that Oregon State has gotten 6'8 Phillip Ricci from San Joaquin  Delta (JC) CA, who is ranked the #1 Junior College Player in California this year.  Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennslyvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin is confirming that La Salle has signed 6'9 Ramel Allen from Monroe (JC) NY, St. Joseph's has landed 6'7 John Bryant from Woodbridge (H.S.) VA, and Southwest Missouri State has gotten 6'7 Daniel Novak from Weatherford (JC) TX.  Long Beach State has signed 6'6 Vance Lawhorn from Dixie (JC) UT. We're also hearing that 6'8 Matt Siebrandt from Southern Idaho (JC) ID has picked Kansas State, but the University of Louisville is on the verge of getting 6'6 Curtis Washington from Porterville (JC) CA and 6'8 Joseph E'Sima from Riverside (JC) CA.  Getting Washington, who took home tournament MVP honors after leading Porterville to the California Junior College Championship, should also push the Cardinals into the lead for 6'8 Mike McKale from Porterville (JC) CA next year.  Washington is very athletic and he can beat you of the dribble.  McKale, who is a relentless rebounder, was named to the Junior College First Team in California as a freshman, so he should be one of the top JUCO players in the nation next year. 

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that "Illinois-Chicago has hit the jackpot" by getting verbal commitments from 6'3 Cedrick Banks and 5'11 Martell Bailey, both from Chicago (Westinghouse) IL. Apparently Bailey gave the scoop last night to Tribune staff writer Bob Sakamota. "'I'll make the official announcement Thursday,' said Bailey.  'I visited UIC last Thursday and Friday, and it was fun.  I know a lot of people there, and the coaches seem real interested in me.  Cedrick has already made up his mind about signing an NCAA letter of intent with UIC, but I'm the only person he told.  Coach Collins told me I'd be starting at point guard and Ced would be the [shooting] guard.'"  With with tremendous speed and quickness, but a like of size, Bailey is ideally suited for the mid-major level.  However, Banks is an absolute steal for the head coach Jimmy Collins and the Flames.  We're talking about the #2 unsigned player in the senior class nationally, as well as the #16 ranked player in the senior class overall by the HOOP SCOOP.  Banks does need to rank on his outside shot, but he was the big reason why Westinghouse upset then #1 ranked Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA at the KMOX Shoot-out in St. Louis, MO in December and was the guy who led the Westinghouse team to the 17-Under National Championship last summer in Orlando, FL.  He wasn't a McDonald's All-American, but he's got NBA-like athleticism and talent.   The big question now is whether Banks, who will likely not make it academically, will be at Illinois-Chicago next year or in the junior college ranks.  Our guess is that they won't take a chance on stashing him anywhere, because he will eligible to pay in-state tuition and he can live at home his first year.  Sakamota also quotes Bailey saying that he expects 6'7 Cameron Echols from Chicago (Simeon) IL, who ranks #14 in Illinois by the HOOP SCOOP, "to sign with the Flames."

There is one more major all-star game left to be played this spring and it looks like 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS has jerked around the folks running the NIKE Derby Festival Classic just like he's done during his entire recruiting process.  As a matter of fact, he sent a signed contract back to every one of the all-star games that approached him to play this spring.  This is dangerous, because technically he could be sued for lost revenue in tickets sales.  In other words, if he showed up for the Derby Classic, which will be played this Sunday at 2:00 PM at Louisville's Freedom Hall, it would probably be worth an extra 5,000 tickets sold to Kentucky fans.  However, the Derby Classic will still be an excellent all-star game, as the Purple team will feature 6'8 Zach Randolph from Marion (H.S.) IN, who now ranks as the #1 player in the senior class nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.  He will be joined by 6'3 Marcus Taylor from Lansing (Waverly) MI, 6'9 Rolando Howell from Hopkins (Lower Richland) SC, 6'6 Luke Whitehead from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'2 Cliff Hawkins from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, 6'2 Luke Ridnour from Blaine (H.S.) WA, 6'10 Mike Southall from West Salem (H.S.) WI, 6'5 Scott Hundley from Georgetown (Scott County) KY, 6'7 Ellis Myles from Compton (Centennial) CA, 6'7 Erik Daniels from Cincinnati (Princeton) OH, and 6'7 Simeon Naydenov from Miami (Berkshire School) FL.  The White team will feature the most talented senior in the nation in 6'9 Darius Miles from East St. Louis (H.S.) IL, plus 6'10 Jared Jeffries from Bloomington (North) IN, 6'1 Omar Cook from Middle Village (Christ the King) NY, 6'9 Michael Sweetney from Oxon Hill (H.S.) MD, 6'8 Glen Worley from Iowa City (West) IA, 6'8 T.J. Cummings from Flossmoor (Homewood-Flossmoor) IL, 6'4 A.J. Moye from Atlanta (Westlake) GA, 5'10 Brody Boyd from Dugger (Union) IN, 6'3 Scooter McFadgon from Memphis (Raleigh-Egypt) TN, 6'7 Arthur Barclay from Camden (H.S.) NJ, and 6'2 Andre Owens from Indianapolis (Perry Meridian) IN.

The HOOP SCOOP has confirmed that 6'3 Luis Flores has transferred from Rutgers to Manhattan, which gives the Jaspers a quality transfer with three years of eligibility remaining.  It also gives head coach Bobby Gonzalez his second Big East caliber recruit in a week.  Remember, Gonzalez landed 5'11 Van Damien Green from San Jacinto (JC) TX, who was one of the top point guards in the junior college ranks this past season.  And if you add 6'2 Justin Jackette, who transferred to Manhattan from William & Mary last spring, Gonzalez is getting it done with New York City kids and recruits for the other hotbeds in the East.   Remember, Jackette is originally from New Rochelle (Iona Prep) NY, Flores is from New York (Norman Thomas) NY, Green is from New York (La Salle) NY, 6'5 David Holmes was one of the top players in the DC area before transferring to Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA last fall, and 6'5 Jason Benton from New Haven (Wilbur Cross) CT ranks as the #2 senior in Connecticut.  If that weren't enough, Gonzalez, just like his mentor Boston Celtics head coach Rick Pitino, already appears to be a great person to work for in terms of moving up the coaching ladder quickly.  That's right!  Sources tell us that Manhattan assistant coach Chuckie Martin is on the verge taking a similar position at the University of Massachusetts. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

The HOOP SCOOP has confirmed that 6'7 Erik Daniels from Cincinnati (Princeton) KY will make it official tonight at a 7:00 PM press conference for the University of Kentucky.  Daniels only ranks #5 in Ohio by Chris Johnson, but he should be an excellent role player for the University of Kentucky, because he can play the one, two, or the three spot.  As a matter of fact, he's such a good ball handler and passer that he plays some point guard for his high school team.  However, we suspect that his best position in college will be the wing forward spot, although he needs to get stronger and improve his outside shooting.  We do not expect Daniels commitment to effect whether Kentucky gets 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS.  Both are wing players, but Daniels is being recruited as a backup, while Rice would immediately help solve Kentucky's outside shooting problems.  Rice also would step in provide an immediate replacement for Tayshaun Prince or Keith Bogans, if either decides to leave early for the NBA draft.  However, we do suspect that 6'7 John Grice from Shelby State (JC) TN is holding off making a decision to see what Rice does.  If you will recall, Rice gave the Kentucky coaching staff a verbal commitment last September and several occasions since has reaffirmed that commitment, but has never publicly made it official for the Wildcats.  So if Rice goes to Kentucky, Grice will likely pick Memphis or Mississippi.  If Rice picks Memphis or goes early into the NBA, the Wildcats may become the favorite for Grice, unless Rice drags it on indefinitely.   Then, Grice's hand may be forced.  Stay tuned!

Last Friday we reported that Lamar has gotten "a steal" in 6'6 Ben Jacobsen from Omaha (Central) NE, but we didn't tell you about the rest of the players in the Cardinals recruiting class.   Last fall head coach Mike Deane signed  6'9 Jo Adande from Cisco (JC) TX, 6'4 Jared Lane from Annapolis (South Iron) MO, and 6'5 Greg Manderson from Eastfield (JC) TX and this spring he landed Jacobsen, 6'3 Tyler Hackstadt from Okawville (H.S.) IL, who was first team all-state in Class A in Illinois, and 6'6 Mike Ridgeway from Houston (Stratford) TX, who was the best among three players on his high school team all of whom signed at the Division I level.  While this alone should be enough to ensure that Lamar is one of the best teams in the Southland Conference for years to come, Deane doesn't appear to be done yet just yet.  That's right!  We are expecting Lamar to get 6'11 Brian Rowan from St. Paul (St. Thomas Academy) MN, who impressed us last June when we saw him at the NBA Players Association Camp, and it looks like 6'5 Krunti Hester, who is transferring from Marquette, will follow Deane to Lamar.  Remember, Deane signed Hester out of Indianapolis (Brebeuf) IN a year ago and half ago when he was still the head coach at Marquette. 

It looks like Oklahoma State has moved into the #2 position in recruiting head of Iowa and Cincinnati, because the Cowboys also recerntly 6'5 Melvin Sanders from Seward County (JC) KS.  As a matter of fact, Greg Swaim of Midwest Basketball tells us that head coach Eddie Sutton was forced into taking Sanders this spring, because the word was starting to get out regarding how good Sanders is, especially after he had several 30-plus point games at the end of the season in March.  That's right!  Wichita State, Texas Christian, and Kansas State had all offered this incredible athlete who, if he hadn't decided to pursue basketball, could be an olympic track star.  Apparently, the Oklahoma State coaching staff stashed Sanders in junior college a year ago, despite the fact that he had grades, in order to give him time to improve his outside shot.  Well, he's improved it and, if they didn't take him this spring, they probably would have lost him to somebody who would have signed him immediately.  As a result, Sanders counts in this recruiting class and he has three years of college eligibility remaining.  Swaim also tells us that Oklahoma State also is in line to get another phenomenal athlete, but 6'4 William "Smoosh" Parker from Southern Idaho (JC) ID won't be eligible to transfer from junior college to a four year school until the end of the summer or maybe even at mid-semester next winter.  However, Swaim tells us that he's a lock for Oklahoma State and he'll have either two and half or three years to play.  As a result, any way you slice, it looks like Sutton is on the verge of assembling his best team ever, which is saying a lot, because he took Arkansas in 1978 and Oklahoma State 1995 to the NCAA Final Four. 

Our New England Editor Wayne Simone tells us that new Hartford head coach Larry Harrison, who got the job late last week, wasted no time getting involved with the two top unsigned seniors - 6'7 Ryan Gomes from Waterbury (Wilby) CT and 6'4 Nolan McBride from Hartford (Weaver) CT - in the state of Connecticut.  As a matter of fact, both Gomes and McBride were on campus over the weekend.  Right now the competition for Gomes appears to be Siena, Creighton, and Georgia Tech.  McBride has Rider, Boston University, George Mason, and Northeastern on his list.  We also have learned that Harrison's hiring was not as surprising as we originally thought.  Apparently he'd been in the mix all the time, but was never thought to be a serious candidate until Connecticut assistant coach Karl Hobbs withdrew his name from consideration.  He's also from the area and he was not at a school which is a rival of the University of Connecticut, which apparently is why Massachusetts assistant coach Geoff Arnold and St. John's assistant coach Kevin Clark never really had a shot at the job.  Speaking of assistant coaches, it looks like Harrison will hire Wabash Valley (JC) IL assistant coach Keith LeGree, who was a player at Cincinnati when Harrison was the recruiting coordinator for the Bearcats, and Al Seibert, who currently has a web site that is affiliated with Rival.com, but who was previously the recruiting coordinator at Western Kentucky. 

Normally we regard Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier-Journal as one of the best sportswriters in the country, but today he really missed the boat in his column about 6'2 Jr Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ.  He starts off fine, but about half way through he does an about face.  "The longer I look at the Ice (Milt Wagner) and Baby Ice (Dajuan Wagner) situation, the more my take melts away to another view," says Bozich.  "Let them go.  Let them work their deal.   Let the Eighties go.  Let Memphis chase all the fires that come with Father, Son, and Best Pal (Arthur Barclay, a forward from Wagner's Camden, NJ, High School team has already signed there) arrangements.  As revolting as it will be for Cards fans to watch Dajuan, still a high school junior, appear in Memphis blue, losing the Ice Man's son would not be the knockout blow that many suspect."  I totally disagree!  If you can't get Dajuan Wagner, who has been a Louisville fan all his life, something is really wrong.  Remember, his eyes light up whenever he talks about Louisville and he proudly shows his Dad's 1986 NCAA Championship ring to anybody who he thinks might be interested.  Bozich and the Louisville coaching staff might argue that Milt is going to get a $75,000 a year in an administrative assistant job at Memphis, but that doesn't work as an excuse with me.  As a matter of fact, I think the NCAA should tie scholarships to graduation rates.  That way, it would force a school, like Louisville, to do the right thing and encourage ex-players, like Milt Wagner, to come back and finish up on getting their degree.  Forget about the fact that Wagner's kid is the best high school player in the nation.  He should be back in Louisville getting his degree so he can get into coaching, regardless of whether his son is a great player.  "It is time for the Cards to fix their recruiting woes from every direction - point guard, center and every spot in between - with players who want to be in Louisville and intend to stay four suspension-free season's," says Bozich.   "A quick fix won't work.  A total fix is needed when you study the Cards' current roster, which is short, unimposing and full of frontcourt holes."  Wrong again Mr. Bozich!  Reece Gaines at the one, Marcus Maybin at the two, Luke Whitehead at the three, and several of those great players in the outstanding recruiting class that head coach Denny Crum promised would materialize this spring after Louisville lost to Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament should be more than enough to duplicate what the Cardinals did a year ago.  And even if that is not realistic, their sole signee this spring - 6'7 Ellis Myles from Compton (Centennial) CA and 6'11 Muhammed Lasege, if the NCAA rules ever rules him eligible, are solid enough inside to keep the Cardinals respectable.  The problem is that Louisville didn't figure out the importance of the Wagner-Barclay package in time and, as a result, allowed Memphis head coach John Calipari to walk right in and steal his best buddy 6'7 Arthur Barclay from Camden (H.S.) NJ.   He may not have as much potential as Myles, but he's better right now and he has a lot less baggage.  Remember, Myles was a top 50 junior, according to the HOOP SCOOP, but he dropped last summer, because he was out of shape and he failed to grow.  And Barclay isn't just the only guy who gets you Wagner.  Remember, 6'2 Jr Rashaad Carruth from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA also had interest in being part of the package and, as result, that was one of the reasons why he was interested in Louisville.  "I look for Dajuan to play one college season," says Bozich.  "He might hang around for Year 2."   Wrong again Rick!  The odds are that Wagner will go directly into the NBA draft and he could be the first player ever picked #1 in the draft right out of high school.  Yes, he's that good!  However, if you have his Dad on your staff and his best friend in the program, that might be enough to get him for one year.  At least that's what Calipari is gambling on. "No matter how much everybody loves Milt, a one-year dribble-through by his son would do nothing to build the foundation of solid-players-students-citizens, something this troubled program lacks," says Bozich.   I don't agree with that either.  Again the foundation is there with Gaines, Maybin, and Whitehead.  If you got Wagner, Barclay, Carruth, and a quality big man, like 6'9 Jr Ousmane Cisse from Montgomery (St. Jude) AL, 6'11 Jr DeSagana Diop from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, or 6'10 Jr David Harrison from Brentwood (Academy) TN, all of whom have  Louisville on their early list, then Crum would be in a position to make another run at the NCAA Championship.  However, since they aren't getting Wagner, they will have to settle for Plan B, which is to get 6'2 Jr Carlos Hurt from Alief (Alief-Elsik) TX, who has had such a great spring that he will rank #7 nationally when we get our list of juniors done.  But based on the Wagner rhetoric, Louisville doesn't want Hurt either, because he'll likely only be in college a couple of years and you can't build a program around a guy like that.   Besides, Hurt will end up whevever his AAU coach Josh Pastner is next year and Louisville has already made it clear that they aren't in the business of putting people on staff in order to land great players (they did hire Gaines AAU coach a year ago into an administrative position, but Gaines is only a good player).  The bottom line is not that Louisville lost Wagner to Memphis, but that they didn't have the foresight to get it done before Calipari got into the picture.  Calipari deserves an A+ for his efforts, while Louisville deserves an incomplete, which may be changed to an F, if they don't turn things around in a hurry. 

John Rhodes has checked in again and he tells us that U.S. Team defeated Latvia, 102-66, in 2nd game of the Preliminary Round in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament on Sunday night.  The best player in the game was 6'9 Eddie Griffin from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 12 blocked shots and three assists.  Also playing extremely well were 5'9 Andre Barrett from New York (Rice) NY with 16 points, four  rebounds, six assists and one steal and 6'5 Maurice Young from Forestville (Bishop McNamara) MD with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal.  Other double digit scorers were 6'1 Jr Ben Gordon from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals and 6'5 Peter Mulligan from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.  Also, tonight the youngest player to ever play on this team - 6'9 Soph Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC - had six points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots.  "The coaching staff thinks Shavlik is even further along than Tim Duncan, who also competed in the tournament, was at the same stage," says Rhodes. "They're also extremely pleased to see that the players are coming together in such a short period of practice time.  The scoring has been distributed about a evenly as you would want and everybody has contributed in an unselfish manner."  Last night the U.S. Team had, what was expected to be the first of many to come, a very physcial ball game with Russia.  After a brutal 40 minutes the U.S. emerged with a 107-90 victory and once again they were led by  Griffin, who finished with 27points, 16 rebounds, eight blocked shots, one steal and one assist. "Is there anything that this kid can not do?" asks Rhodes.  However, the real story is about the steal of the year in college basketball.  We're talking about Mulligan, who is University of Maryland-Baltimore County-bound.  He had 20 points, five rebounds, and three steals.   "How does this player get overlooked by the major college coaches and especially in his own area?" asks Rhodes.  "The same thing is happening on a lesser scale with Alvin Green."  Rhodes is talking about the 5'9 backup point guard from Mytle Beach (Socastee) SC, who had four points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals against Russia.  Others worth mentioning in the win against Russia are Barrett, who had 19 points, five rebounds, nine assists and one steal, Young, who had 10 points, three rebounds, and one steal, and 6'9 Jr Jordan Collins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, who used his strength in the paint to score 14 points, grab five rebounds and block two shots.   Today the U.S. team will take a much deserved day off and start the 2nd round tomorrow by playing France, which will be without their star Tony Parker, who will be taking SAT exams in order to try and qualify for college next year in the states.  Then the winner of the game will play Yugoslavia on Thursday to complete the 2nd qualifing round and hopefully advance into the semi-finals on Friday.

Monday, April 24, 2000

John Rhodes checks in with his first report from Germany and he tells us that the United States handly defeated Finland, 99-77 in the first round of the 20th Albert Schweitzer Basketball Tournament over the weekend.   The U.S. Team was led by 5'9 Andre Barrett from New York (Rice) NY with 17 points, seven assists, and 3 steals.  Barrett was 5-7 from the 3 point line, which by the way is farther out than the college 3 point line.  Also playing well for the U.S. Team were 6'1 Jr Ben Gordon from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY with 13 points, three assists and three steals, 6'5 Peter Mulligan from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY with 12 points (4-5 from the field), two assists and one steal, and 6'3 Jr Billy Edelin from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD with 11 points, six rebounds and one steal.  The defensive stoppers for the U.S. Team was 6'9 Eddie Griffin from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, who finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight block shots, and 6'11Jared Reiner from Tripp (Tripp-Delmont) SD with six points, eight rebounds, and four block shots.  The U.S. Team next game will be against Latvia in the second round of the tournament.  Other scores from the tournament are as follows:  Turkey defeated Bulgaria, 88-66; France defeated Lithuania, 73-65; Yugoslavia defeated Spain, 88-86; Croatia defeated Slovenia, 71-68; Greece defeated Australia, 85-63; and Russia defeated Latvia, 64-61.

Last week we reported that Syracuse assistant coach Louie Orr was no longer involved with the Siena job, which we thought it was too bad, because he was the perfect candidate for the job, as well as their #1 choice.  Then, late last week we heard that Orr was back in the mix and now it looks like at 1:00 PM this afternoon he will be named as the new head coach at Siena.  So the big question is now is whether Orrr will/must? retain top assistant Robert Burke (another finalist for the job that has the 100%
support of the players).  If Burke doesn't get the job (can't see him staying with Orr regardless), he seems to be left standing when the music stops without a chair, as his old boss Paul Hewitt has already filled his staff.  We also hear that Mike Hopkins, who is the third assistant at Syracuse, will go with Orr as the #1 assistant at Siena.  While Hopkins wasn't great as a player, he is one of our favorite guys in the business and, as a matter of fact, even filled in years ago and helped us keep statistics at the adidas ABCD Camp when the camp was in Irvine, CA.  Also very interesting is the fact that Hartford finally found a replacement for Paul Brazeau, but we're still trying to figure out how DePaul assistant Larry Harrison got the job.  The three names that were always in the mix were Connecticut assistant Karl Hobbs, Massachusetts assistant Geoff Arnold, and St. John's assistant Kevin Clark, but we never heard Harrison's name mentioned until it was announced that he got the job. 

Two weeks ago we saw the Boo Williams' Hampton Roads AAU team advance the finals of the Boo Williams Invitational in Hampton, VA and a week ago we saw the Richmond Squires advance to the final four of Tony Squire's Richmond Shoot-out  in Richmond, VA.  Obviously, these are the two AAU programs in the state of Virginia, as well as two of the best in the nation, so naturally we weren't surprised that the two teams split yesterday when they squared off in the Virginia State AAU Tournament in Richmond, VA.  The Squires won the first game yesterday morning, 85-77, thanks to a 35 point performance by Johnathan Hargett from Durham (Emmanuel) NC.  Apparently Hargett simply picked up where he left off when we saw him the week, as he hit 10-18 field goals, 4-9 3-pointers, and 11-13 free throws.  Also playing extremely well for the Squires was 6'5 Jr Shawn Harris Matoca (H.S.) VA with 17 points, includuing 8-9 field goals.  Harris, who is now attracting a lot of interest from N.C. State, also did a great job on 6'4 Soph J.J. Redick from Roanoke (Cave Spring) VA, who is already a top priority for both Virginia and Duke.   Redick, who is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation, scored 17 points in both games, but the his 4-12 field goals and 2-8 3-pointers in the first game and 7-15 field goals and 3-9 3-pointers in the second game, were well under the norm.   However, that didn't stop the Hampton Roads group from coming back and taking home the championship last night over the Squires, 84-67, in this double elimination tournament.  The big reason why Boo Williams won in the championship was the 20 points and 13 rebounds posted by 6'8 Jr Elton Brown from Newport News (Warwick) VA, but the fact that both 6'6 Jr Tyrone Sally from Durham (Emmanual) NC and 6'4 Jr Darius Hargrove from Albert (Brunswick) VA were injured only played sparingly in the championship game also enters into the equation.   So when if they both meet again in the Bob Gibbons' Tournament in Charlottesville, VA in two weeks, it should another way and it may also decide the bragging rights in the state of North Carolina, because they may not meet again the rest of the year.  Remember, the Squires are sponsored by adidas and will play mainly in adidas events, while Boo Williams sponsored by NIKE and, as a result, will only be seen in NIKE events.  Also playing well for Hampton Roads in the morning game was 6'0 Soph Johnny Gilchrist from Virginia Beach (Salem) VA with 19 points, but he disappeared last night. 

The HOOP SCOOP has confirmed that new University of Memphis head coach John Calipari has struck again.  No, he hasn't signed 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS or gotten an early commitment from 6'2 Jr Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, who ranks as the #1 junior in America.  Instead, the University of Memphis has signed 6'9 Modibo Diarra from Fitchburg (Notre Dame) MA.  Look for an official announcement tonight.   This is huge, because Diarra is ranked #47 nationally, #7 nationally at the center position, and #5 among all unsigned seniors by the HOOP SCOOP.  We also have confirmed that Memphis is among the leaders for 6'9 Liberto Tetimadingar from Worcester (Academy) MA, who was on campus today.  Obviously, Calipari is taking advantage of his previous contacts from when he was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts.  Right now Tetimadingar's top four appear to be Memphis, Fordham, Georgia Tech, and Rutgers.  We also believe that Memphis is the tri-favorite, along with Kentucky and Mississippi, for 6'7 John Grice from Shelby State (JC) TN and the longer it goes, the more it favors the Tigers in the sweepstakes for Rice.   However, we are now hearing a new twist for Rice, which would be if he decided to declare of the NBA.  But we'd surprised if somebody so smart (Rice has a near 4.0 gpa) does something so stupid, even though one agent we spoke to thinks Rice might be among the top 20 picks in the draft in June.  Certainly Rice is an excellent athlete and a great outside shooter, but the big question is can he take the physical punishment that would be rendered night in and night out in the Southeastern Conference, much less the NBA?

Last week we reported that California was on the verge of getting 6'9 Saulis Kuzmanisks from Lithuania and, as a result, Missouri was going to get 6'8 Travon Bryant from Long Beach (Jordan) CA.  Well, it looks like we're already half right, because the Golden Bears have signed Kuzmanisks.   We also have confirmed that Youngstown State has gotten a commitments from 6'1 Brian Woodson from Winchendon (School) MA and 6'10 Jeff Ball from Yavapia (JC) AZ and 6'8 Sean Hampton, who is transferring from Virginia Commonwealth, was on campus over the weekend.   James Madison has gotten an excellent transfer in 6'10 Kenny Whitehead, who is transferring from UNC-Charlotte.  Speaking of the 49ers, UNC-Charlotte has gotten a major commitment from 6'7 Cameron Stephens, who averaged 12 ppg and 11.5 rpg for Vincennes (JC) IN, which was one of the top junior college programs in the nation this past year.  Stephens is exactly what the 49ers need , because he's a great athlete who will slash to the basket and get more than his share of rebounds next year in Conference USA.  He'll also provide the perfect complement to 6'9 Rodney White, who sat out this past year as an academic casualty.  Remember, White is a physical specimen and a killer inside, so he should immediately become one of the best players in the league when he becomes eligible in the fall.  Add 6'7 Torey Reed from Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME and 6'5 Kevin Johnson from Milford (Academy) CT, both of whom signed with UNC-Charlotte last fall, plus Damon Brown, who signed with UNCC a year ago and, like White, has been waiting in the wings, and the 49ers may be one of the most improved teams in college basketball next year. 

Saturday, April 22, 2000, and Sunday, April 23, 2000

Head coach Barry Collier has been on the job at the University of Nebraska less than three weeks, but he has already established that he will be a force to be reckoned with in his backyard for years to come, as Roy Enright from Omaha (Burke) NE has made a very early verbal commitment to the Cornhuskers.  Getting this 6'9, 240 lbs, sophomore power forward is huge for several reasons.  First, Enright, who will be at both the NIKE All-American Camp and Five-Star Pitt IV this summer, is extremely skilled for somebody so big and so young and, as a result, is a legitimate top 50 sophomore in the nation.  Second, Enright is the step-son of long time Five-Star coach Herb Welling, who not only is one of the best people in the business, but also is one of the main people involved with grass routes basketball in the state of Nebraska. Third, Enright could be the link for the Cornhuskers to getting most of the top young players in the state for years to come, including 6'3 Soph Chinedu Onyenku from Omaha (Creighton) NE, who will battle Enright for the #1 ranking in the state in his class for the next two years.  As a matter of fact, Onyenku and Enright played together for Welling on the same AAU team when they were in 8th grade.  They also played on the same high school team before Enright transferred during the middle of the school year to Burke High School, which he helped to a runnerup finished in the state tournament a month ago.  Welling tells us that he knew Collier from Five-Star and when the new head coach at Nebraska saw Enright in a workout a week ago, it was a no-brainer.  Collier offered right away and it didn't take Enright long to make up his mind, because he made the commitment on Friday.

Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson tells us that it was announced at Ohio State's Fan Appreciation Day this weekend that 6'11Ken Johnson has been given another year of eligibility next year in accordance with NCAA guidelines that took effect a year ago regarding players who had to sit out their first year of college as academic casualities.  Johnson also tells us that Ohio State had 6'11, 260 lbs. Chris Garnett, who is transferring from Eastern Kentucky, on campus this weekend.  While Garnett, who is considered to be a project, does have a lot of potential, he's probably getting over recruited, as he will likely also take visits to Georgia Tech, Georgia, and Missouri.  He's also already taken an official visit to Hampton.  Johnson also has confirmed that 5'9 Terry Reynolds from Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME has signed with Toledo and Kansas has gotten an early commitment from 6'8 Jr Wayne Simein from Leavenworth (H.S.) KS.  You remember Reynolds!  He was the undersized two-guard who helped provide Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA with outside shooting during their national championship run a year ago.  Simein is probably already a familar face to many Jayhawks fans, because he was at all their home games last season and even sat in the same seat that was previously reserved for JaRon Rush up until when he had his falling out with head coach Roy Williams. 

Friday, April 21, 2000

The HOOP SCOOP has confirmed that 6'3 Eddie Starks from Miami (Northwest Christian) FL has returned to New York City and will sign a National Letter-of-Intent today with Rutgers at a 2:00 PM press conference at the Gauchos Gym.  Starks, who originally attended high school at Bronx (Gompers) NY before transferring to Northwest Christian two years ago, is the best unsigned guard still available and should provide the perfect complement in the backcourt for the Scarlet Knights along with point guard Todd Billet, because Starks can play either guard spot.  However, that probably won't happen for another year, because Starks will likely have to go to prep school or sit out next year, if he doesn't meet the necessary academic requirements.  It looks like everybody has jumped the gun again on 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS, who many thought was ready to commit to Kentucky any day now.   However, he continues to drag it on and on and, as a result, Wildcats head coach Tubby Smith has called 6'7 John Grice from Shelby State (JC) TN and rescheduled is visit to Lexington, KY this weekend.  So make Grice's list a final three of Memphis, Kentucky, and Mississippi. 

Lamar has gotten a steal in 6'6 Ben Jacobsen from Omaha (Central) NE.  Remember, we saw Jacobsen last fall and called him "a poor man's Travis Watson."  At the big time level Jacobsen, who is a tough hardnosed white kid and a relentless force on the boards, would be a good role player.  But at Lamar's level and with Mike Deane's coaching, he should develop into one of the best players in the league.  Holy Cross head coach Ralph Willard is one of the smartest coaches in the business, so it comes as no surprise that he has added Catholic University assistant coach Steve Howes, who is one of the top up and coming young guys in the business and who should provide a strong pipeline into the Washington, DC area, as his third assistant. 

Last weekend George Mason had 6'0 Rob Sullivan from West Orange (Seton Hall Prep) NJ, 6'5 Richard Tymes from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA and 6'8 George Jenkins from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY all on campus for official visits and it looks like the Patriots are on the verge of pulling off the hat trick in recruiting.  Immediately upon returning home from their visits Sullivan and Tymes both made it official for George Mason and we are expecting to get word any time that Jenkins has also made it official.  While all three players are expected to contribute immediately next year, none of the three is expected to start.  Remember, George Mason will be one of the best mid-major programs in the nation, as nearly everybody returns from a team that just missed going to the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year.  Plus they signed 6'4 Raoul Heinen from the Netherlands and 6'9 Deon Cooper from Columbia (Central) TN last fall.  Heinen, who was very impressive while playing in Europe during the last year, is expected to walk in and start at the point spot.  Cooper, who was one of the top players in Tennessee and one of the biggest sleepers to in the nation to emerge this past season, will battle three returning starters up front.  

Oklahoma State would have been right there, along with St. John's, with the top ranked recruiting class in the nation if they had landed both 6'3 Maurice Baker from Dixie (JC) UT and 6'4 Emmanuel McElroy from Tyler (JC) TX.  Butt the Cowboys only got one of these two highly coveted junior college players.  That's right!  Within the last several days Baker made a commitment to Oklahoma State, while McElroy has opted for the University of Cincinnati.  Both of these commitments are extremely important, because both players rank among the top five junior college players in the nation and both move their respective schools into our top five in recruiting as things stand to date during the spring signing period.  If you will recall, Cincinnati's recruiting class was ranked #11 last fall, but they are no longer taking 6'5 Jerome Harper from Columbia (Keenan) SC, who was arrested for assault several months ago.  Instead, they have gone the junior college route and added McElroy, which will be announced officially today, and 6'9 Jamal Davis from Barton County (JC) KS.  They also added 6'8 Rod Flowers from Huntsville (Butler) AL, who ranks among our top 150 high school seniors nationally, several months ago and signed 6'7 Antwan Jones from Tallahassee (JC) FL and 6'3 Field Williams from Houston (Waltrip) TX.   So, despite the fact that Cincinnati lost four starters from last year's team that was ranked #1 most of the season, it looks like the Bearcats have reloaded, because Jones, Baker, and Davis all rank among the top 10 junior college players in the nation and, as a result, are ready to immediately step in and make an impact.   Oklahoma State's class was tied ranked #8 last fall after signing 6'8 Ivan McFarlan from Sugarland (Willowridge) TX, 6'6 Terrance Crawford from Oklahoma City (Bishop McGinnes) OK, 6'4 Bernard Kidd from Dallas (Madison) TX, 6'10 Jack Marlow from Tulsa (Union) OK, and 6'8 David Anderson from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, but Baker is the guy who puts this class over the hump.  Not only does he should immediately fill the shoes of point guard Doug Gottlieb, who is graduating this spring, but he was the best junior college point guard available.  As a result, Oklahoma State moves into the #4 spot nationally on our preliminary list of top recruiting classes behind #1 ranked St. John's, #2 ranked Iowa, and #3 ranked Cincinnati and ahead of #5 Connecticut, #6 ranked Seton Hall, and #7 ranked North Carolina.

Thursday, April 20, 2000

Yesterday the University of Houston hired Ball State head coach Ray McCallum to succeed Clyde Drexler and we think it was a great move, because McCallum is an outstanding recruiter, excellent bench coach, and first class person.  He's also smart enough not to let 6'2 Jr Carlos Hurt from Alief (Alief-Elsik) TX, who is one of the best players in the junior class, as well as one of the best players to ever come out of Houston, get away.  And the key to getting that done would be to hire Houston Hoops head coach Josh Pastner, who is widely regarded as one of the top five AAU coaches in the nation, as well as one of the bright young guys in the business.  McCallum will likely hire Ball State assistant coaches Jerry Francis and John Fitzpatrick, although Fitzpatrick may also be in line to replace McCallum at Ball State.  And if Fitzpatrick doesn't get Ball State job, another great hire would be Arizona assistant coach Jay John, who spent a number of years at Butler as an assistant to Barry Collier and proved he can beat the big boys for Indiana kids when Jason Garder picked Arizona a year and a half ago.  And if that happened, Pastner would likely move into John's full-time spot at Arizona.  Otherwise, the best move for McCallum would be to leave the on-campus assistant coaching position open until next fall and then hire Pastner.  That way Pastner, would be able to  coach Hurt all spring and summer and legally recruit him for the University of Houston.  But for this to happen, McCallum would have to hire Pastner into one of the two recruiting positions and take whoever he hires this spring off the road in the fall.  And if McCallum doesn't do this, we'd be surprised if Pastner leaves Arizona.  Remember, Pastner and his father have developed the Houston Hoops into one of the premier AAU programs in the nation and they have teams ranging from 17-Under all the way down to the third grade.  Talk about the perfect pipeline for players!  Which is why Pastner doesn't have to be in any hurry to take the first college coaching job that comes along.  

The Ohio Stars beat the Pittsburgh Jots, 91-88, in the championship game of 12th Grade Division of the Solon Cage Classic on Sunday.  The leading scorer in the game was 6'0 Jr Brandon Cheatham from Beaver Falls (Black Hawk) PA, who finished with 30 points and, as always, was very impressive with his playmaking skills.  Cheatham was joined on all tournament team by 6'6 Jr Daren Tielsch from McKees Rock (Montour) PA, 6'7 Jr Duran Goodwin from Wheeling Park (H.S.) PA, 6'2 Kamil Wilson from Bedford (H.S.) OH, 6'6 Julius Johnson from Warrensville Heights (H.S.) OH, 6'10 Matt Marinchick from Hudson (H.S.) OH, and 6'4 Chet "The Jet" Mason from Cleveland (South) OH, who also took home tournament MVP honors.  Currently our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson has Mason ranked #12 in Ohio, but he was so impressed with Mason that he plans to move him into his top seven when he updates his rankings for Ohio in May.  Miami-OH assistants James Whitford and Jermaine Henderson, both of whom were in attendance, deserve a lot of credit for landing Mason, Johnson, and 6'6 Eugene Seals from Saginaw (H.S.) MI, who rebounded to have an outstanding senior year after a so-so summer, last fall.  In the 11th grade Divison the Cleveland Top Prospects, led by a dazzling 25 point first half performance by  6'8 Jr Jawad Williams from Lakewood (St. Edward) OH, by blew out the Ohio Stars, 129-68, in the championship game.   Williams finished with 37 points, the last two coming on a Vince Carter-like dunk, which brought the house down.  Also impressive for the Top Prospects was 6'9 Jr Terrance Dials from Youngstown (Boardman) OH, who reminds Johnson of 6'9 Mario Austin from York (Sumpter County) AL, although Dials doesn't have the passing skills of an Austin.   As a result, Dials will be the top big man prospect in Ohio next year and will be in the HOOP SCOOP's top 75 nationally in the junior class.  The best championship game of the day was in the 10th grade Division when BB to the Real from Detroit beat Dayton Metro, 73-72.  The MVP was 6''9 Frosh Walter Walters from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, who reminds Johnson of a young Felton Spencer with his massive frame and unlimited potential.  Walters was complemented by 6'4 Frosh Brandon Jenkins from Detroit (Southeastern) MI, who not only has great height for a point guard, but also sees the floor well, has excellent handling skills, and is an excellent defender.  Dayton Metro was led by 6'7 Frosh Ivan Harris from Springfield (North) OH and 6'0 Soph Matt Whitt from Tipp City (Bethel) OH.  Harris has a long arms and soft touch inside, although he needs to get bigger and stronger.  Whitt, who is extremely powerful for somebody so young, impressed Johnson so much that he now becomes the #2 sophomore point guard in the state behind 6'0 Soph Chris Quinn from Dublin (Coffman) OH. 

Our Mid-South Editor Jim Rothman tells us that the final two for 6'7 John Grice from Shelby State (JC) TN are Memphis and Mississippi, which leads us to believe that the University of Kentucky will finally get 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS, who on numerous occasions has told the Wildcats coaching staff that he's coming, but has yet to pull the trigger publicly.  Rothman also tells us that Memphis is now high on the list of 6'9 Modibo Diarra from Fitchburg (Notre Dame) MA and Patrick Jira of The Recruiting Beat recently confirmed that the Tigers are a lot stronger than most people realize for 6'11 Jr Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL, who is one of the three great centers in the junior class nationally.  Which means that new Memphis head coach John Calipari continues to recruit like crazy.  Getting back to the University of Kentucky, is looks like the three players the Wildcats will likely sign this spring are Rice, 6'7 Erik Daniels from Cincinnati (Princeton) OH, and 6'3 Gerald Fitch from Macon (Westside) GA.   Rice is the big prize, because he ranks among our top dozen nationally.  Daniels, who is on campus in Lexington, KY today, should provide Kentucky quality depth at the wing forward spot.  Neither Rice nor Daniels has made it official yet, but Fitch, who was named the Class 4-A Player-of-the-Year in Georgia and is one of the biggest sleepers in the nation, did so earlier today when he picked Kentucky over Clemson and Florida State.  Like Rice, Fitch is exactly what the doctored ordered, because he is a great outside shooter.   As a result, we expect Kentucky to play a much more uptempo style next year.   At least that's what University of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith indicated to us two weeks ago at the Boo Williams Tournament in Hampton, VA.   Remember, it's hard to get into your press when you're only shooting 30% from the field. 

Wednesday, April 19, 2000

The race for 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS still appears to be too close to call among Kentucky, Memphis, and Mississippi State, but think 6'8 Trevon Bryant from Long Beach (Jordan) CA is a done deal for Missouri.  Don't believe it?  Well, now that Kansas has stopped recruiting Bryant, it's a two horse race between Missouri and California and we think the Golden Bears are on the verge of signing 6'9 Saulis Kuzmanisks from Lithuania, who made an unofficial to California when he was in the area recently with his coach for the NBA All-Star Game.  As a matter of fact, head coach Ben Braun was in Saarlouis, Germany last weekend specifically to watch Kuzmanisks.  Kuzmanisks doesn't have the body that Bryant has, but he's a combo forward just like Bryant.  However, unlike Bryant, Kuzmanisks can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc.  Right now the bigger question appears to be whether Kuzmanisks, who also is being recruited by Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, will be admitted into school at California.  If that happens, Bryant would be a fool to go to Cal, because the Golden Bears also already have an early commitment from 6'9 Julian Sensley from Oakdale (St. Thomas More) CT, who plans to return to prep school for another year and then follow all his former Los Angeles Rockfish teammates - 6'11 Solomon Hughes, 6'5 Brian Wethers, 6'10 Nick Vander Laan, and 5'10 Shantay Legans - to Berkeley, CA. 

It's now official for 6'7 Johnny Selvie and 6'5 Monte Cummings, both from Southeastern (JC) IA.   Selvie signed today with the University of Connecticut and Cummings picked Florida State over Georgia and Louisville.  Which leaves 6'9 Ronell Mingo from Compton (JC) CA as the lone quality remaining front court player that we know the University of Louisville is actively recruiting.  But we also hear that the University of Wyoming may be tough to beat for Mingo due to family connections.  Which makes us wonder where the Cardinals program is heading?  Just like Indiana University head coach Bob Knight, Crum has held his current job for 29 years.  What is especially fascinating is that the careers of both coaches almost mirror one another.   Remember, Louisville went to the NCAA Final Four in 1972, which was followed by Indiana's Final Four appearance in 1973.  Then, Louisville lost to UCLA in the 1975 National Semi-Finals and Indiana won the National Championship in 1976.  Louisville won the NCAA Championship in 1980, followed by Indiana in 1981.  The same thing happened when Louisville won it 1986 and Indiana won it 1987.  Louisville also appeared in the NCAA Final Four in 1982 and 1983, while Indiana made an appearance in 1992.  However, in recent years both schools have been getting knocked off early in the NCAA Tournament by mid-major programs.  Louisville did advance to the Final Eight three years ago for the first time since 1986, but they haven't won an NCAA game since, as they went 12-20 and, as a result, didn't make the tournament during the 1997-98 season and got knocked off by Creighton and Gonzaga in the first round the last two years.  Indiana has been eliminated in the first or second round each of the last six years.  Obviously, these two Hall of Fame coaches are in the twilight of the careers and both run the risk of getting forced out if some things don't change very quickly.  But there is one major difference.  Nobody will accuse Crum of being a bad guy.  Which brings us to several of the questions we have asked earlier this week in our Question of the Day.   Of the people who responded to our question about how they would rate Knight on a 1-5 scale, with five being the best and one being the worst, as a person and role model, 65% of those responding gave Knight a one or a two.  Even more interesting is that 82% said that there should be no difference in the standard that Knight is held to versus you or me, but 84% felt that Knight would still be the coach at Indiana next year.   So obviously what people think should happen and will happen are in direct contradiction.  And we don't think the trustees at Indiana University have any choice but to get rid of Knight or they themselves become a party to the crime, if Knight does go off the deep end someday and injures somebody in the heat of the moment during a game on national television.  "I thank God I played for coach Knight." said former Indiana University player Kent Benson.   "He made me a champion.  The liberal media have taken coach Knight's negatives, but never listed the positives.  My list outweights their list."  We have never questioned the many positive things that Knight has done, but in this case the so-called "liberal media" appears to be able to figure out what is right and wrong.   I particularly enjoyed Pat Forte's article in the Louisville Courier-Journal today regarding this very subject.  "A month ago they lined up and took their shots at Neil Reed - the liar, the whiner, the cancer," wrote Forte.  "Then they materialized to rip Ricky Calloway.  The screaming match with athletic director Clarence Doninger?  Pull team doctor Brad Bomba out of the bullpen to explain.  Then came the videotape of an abusive coach caught in the act.  It was followed, naturally, by attacks on former assistant Ron Felling, suspected to have leaked the tape.  Finally, we had Butch Carter's allegations, and the inevitable institutional backlash...Raise your voice against Bob Knight, and suddenly the least accessible basketball program in America is available for comment."  We feel that any abuse that Knight dishes out to a player is almost acceptable.  After all, nobody goes to Indiana not knowing that it will be just like the Marines.  Knight will do whatever he can to break you down, before he builds you back up.  And if you survive, you'll be set for life, because Knight will help you get a job and open doors that you never imagined were possible.  Thus, explains the willingness of IU players who have graduated to defend Knight.  However, what is not acceptable is the fact that Knight has used his position to destroy the reputations of past players and has lied about his behavior in the process.  As a matter of fact, one of the current Indiana assistant coaches told a mutual friend that none of the Neil Reed stuff was true about a week before the tape was released.  So I called that person back last week and asked him how it felt to be lied to?  In an unrelated story, our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin told me recently that a coach in the area told him something, but he wasn't sure whether is was accurate or not.  "The coach is a good guy," says Rubin.  "But he lies a lot."  Sorry, by definition, you can't be a good guy and lie a lot.  So if Bob Knight is perfectly willing to lie about and line up others to lie about something as important as this, how do we know he's telling the truth about something little, like a potential recruit's playing time?   The bottom line is that his credibility and all of the positive things that he has obtained over the last 30 years has been destroyed.  And no the media didn't do it nor did any of his former players or any of his enemies.  Bob Knight is the one who has destroyed Bob Knight.  The irony is that he may now resign or get fired and become something that he has always hated - a member of the media.  He'd be a natural in the television booth with his genius for the game and charming personality, which he rarely uses when he's in the public eye.  And hopefully players and coaches that Knight would be dealing with would treat him the way they would want to be treated and not the way Knight has treated them in the past. 

We reported yesterday that Arizona State was on the verge of getting 6'0 Brandon Brooks from Portland (Jefferson) OR.   Well, write it down, because the Sun Devils coaching staff now has a signed National Letter-of-Intent in hand from this athletic uptempo point guard who ranks among our top 30 seniors nationally.  Not only does Brooks fill a valuable need at point guard, but he's also the best player that Rob Evans, who just finished his second year as the head coach of the Sun Devils, has signed while at Arizona State.   He also moves their recruiting class into the #2 spot in the league behind Arizona.   If you will recall, Arizona State signed 6'4 Jonathan Howard from Phoenix (Brophy) AZ and 6'11 Darryl Issac from Phoenix (Peoria) AZ last fall and a year ago established a great nucleaus when they landed 6'8 Donnell Knight from Tempe (Corono Del Sol) AZ, 6'6 Tanner Shell from Mesa (Mountain View) AZ, 6'8 Tommy Smith from Phoenix (North) AZ, 6'8 Chris Osbourne from Los Angeles (Westchester) CA, 6'8 Shawn Redhage from Lincoln (Northeast) NC, 5'11 Kyle Dodd from Brea (Brea-Olinda) CA, and 6'7 Justin Allen from Malta (H.S.) IL and added a good transfer in 6'6 Awvee Story, who was sitting out after transferring from Illinois.  

Another recruiting class that is dramatically on the rise belongs to the University of Pittsburgh, which has added 6'7 Zelimar Stevanovic from Gulf Coast (JC) FL and 6'10 Mark McCarroll from Milford (Academy) CT both this week.  Last fall they also signed 6'3 Julius Page from Pittsburgh (Turner-Carroll) PA, 6'7 Chevy Troutman from Williamsport (H.S.)) PA, and 6'10 Torrey Morris from Oliver Springs (H.S.) TN and during the winter they added 6'4 Yuri Demetris from Pittsburgh (Shaler) PA.  Stevanovic is widely regarded as one of the top junior college wing forwards in the nation.  McCarroll, who signed with Syracuse last spring, but then went to prep school, has size, athleticism, and lots of potential, although he needs to learn to play harder.  Page is one of the best athletes in the class nationally and was terrific when we saw him a week ago in the Capital Classic.   Troutman is an undersized power forward, but he's one of the best rebounders in the country and he's dramatically improved in the last six months and, as a result, is now a borderline top 100 senior nationally.  Demetris is a prolific scorer who averaged right at 30 ppg and Morris has enough size to make him intriguing.  As a result, the Pittsburgh coaching staff has brought in a great nucleus upon which to build.   So now their focus turns toward finding a great point guard in the junior class and the guy right at the top of their list is 6'0 Jr Brandon Cheatham from Beaver Falls (Black Hawk) PA, who is one of the top point guards in his class nationally and comparable to Sean Miller and Arch Miller in many ways, although we feel he's better at the same stage.  What makes this especially interesting is that Cheatham also plays for John Miller, who is the father of Sean and Arch, as well as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Jots.   It's also important, because the previous two regimes couldn't get any of the top players from the Pittsburgh Jots AAU after John Calipari, who is related to the Miller's, took the head coaching job at Massachusetts.   

Tuesday, April 18, 2000

We were glad to see that former University of Virginia and current Rhode Island assistant coach Jeff Jones finally got the American University job yesterday and we think he will be the perfect fit as long as he doesn't stay too long.  Jones, who is an outstanding bench coach, but questionable recruiter, needs to win and move onto a better job in three or four years.  Remember, American University will likely leave the Colonial Athletic Association and join the Patriot League, which would be a major drop in terms of level of the competition.  In the short run that will be good, because American University has better players than most of the rest of the teams in the Patriot League.  However, in the long run, it will hurt their recruiting.  The three leading candidates for the Houston job are Ball State head coach Ray McCallum, Appalachian State head coach Buzz Peterson, and Houston assistant Reid Gettys, although Kent State head coach Gary Waters also appears to still have a shot.  As a matter of fact, it was reported on radio this morning in North Carolina that Peterson had gotten the job, but that is not correct.  And we know that for a fact, because McCallum and his wife were at the University of Houston this afternoon and he won't be on campus if the job was already filled by Peterson.  We also have heard that Louie Orr has turned down the Siena job and, as a result, will remain at Syracuse as an assistant.  But this makes no sense to us, because Siena is a great stepping stone for a young head coach on the rise into the Big East or ACC.  So now it looks like current assistant Bob Burke, who has the support of the players (many of whom he recruited), and Lafayette head coach Fran O'Hanlon are the leading candidates, although we also have heard UNC-Greensboro head coach Fran McCaffery's name now being mentioned for the Siena job.

Our Philadelphia Area Editor Allen Rubin tells us that 6'4 Percell Coles from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA has sigend with Cleveland State and 6'1 Shawn McKie from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA is on the verge of making it official for Morgan State.   Rubin also told us four or five days ago that 6'5 Johnny Story from Hampton (H.S.) VA had signed with Virginia Commonwealth, but it got lost in the shuffle while we were traveling.  Speaking of Virginia Commonwealth, Rubin has confirmed that 6'8 Shawn Hampton is transferring.  The first school that comes to mind is Youngstown State, which is where Hampton's former high school coach Eric Skeeters is now an assistant.  However, it looks like Hampton is looking in the other direction.  That's right!  He thinks he's an ACC or Big East caliber player.   And as long as we're talking about transfers, 6'5 Kyle Williams, who is originally from Burlington (City) NJ, is leaving the University of  Colorado and finding a school where he can play point guard will be a major factor in his decision, according to Rubin.  We also hear that 6'2 Luis Flores wants out at Rutgers and 6'5 Marshall Williams is thinking about returning home and, if that happens, it would be just one more feather in the cap of Marquette head coach Tom Crean, who is now on the verge of returning the Golden Eagles to national prominence. 

The Houston Hoops, which were the HOOP SCOOP's Team-of-the-Summer last summer, have just picked up where they left off last July, as they finished second in the Boo Williams Invitational a week and a half ago and this past weekend beat Team Texas Red, 82-74, to win Mike Kunstadt's Tops in Texas Tournament in Austin, TX.  It's no surprise that 6'2 Carlos Hurt from Alief (Alief-Elsik) TX, who had 35 points in the championship game, was named the tournament MVP.  He also appears to have taken his game to another level, as he either scores or draw a foul any time he wants.  Excluding 6'2 Jr Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, it is beginning to look like Hurt is the best point guard in the class.   Making the Houston Hoops win even more impressive is the fact that they did it without 6'8 Jr Emmeca Okafor from Houston (Bellaire) TX, who was out with a knee injury.  However, 6'4 Marcus Spears from Baton Rouge (Southern Lab) LA stepped up with 23 points and 6'7 Christopher Rhodes from Houston (Westbury Christian) TX picked up the slack inside.  The big gun for Team Texas Red was 6'4 Soph Bracy Wright from The Colony (H.S.) TX, who had five 3-pointers, 15 points, and is now being recognized as the #1 sophomore in Texas.   He's also one of the best shooters in the nation regardless of class.  The best inside player in the championship game was 6'8 Jr Jason Maxiell from Carrollton (Neumann Smith) TX, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and five blocks.   However, by the championship game 6'4 Jr Keith Langford from Fort Worth (North Crowley) TX was too worn out to be much of a factor, as he finished with only five points.  However, he had a good reason for running out of gas.  The night before Maxiell and Wright both drove from Austin to Dallas to attend their junior proms.   Then, they returned to Austin, TX, arriving at 6:30 AM, slept for an hour, ate breakfast, and then played in the semis and the finals.  Thus, explains how Team Texas Red blew an 11 points lead in the second half.  

The West All-Stars led most of the way, but 6'8 T.J. Cummings from Flossmoor (Homewood-Flossmoor) IL, 6'9 Arthur Johnson from Detroit (Pershing) MI, 5'8 Avery Queen from Troy (Redemption) NY, and 6'0 Brandon Brooks from Portland (Jefferson) OR sparked the comeback, as the United States took home a 132-128 victory in the Dada All-Star Classic, which was presented by Nabisco, at Long Beach State Saturday afternoon.   Cummings and Johnson proved to be unstoppable inside, as they hit 16-25 field goals and combined for 36 points, while Brooks dished out eight assists and Avery wooed the crowed with his shake and bake moves and no look passes.  Speaking of Brooks, who we think is still one of the most underrated players in the senior class nationally, it looks like Arizona State is very close to getting a commitment.  As a matter of fact, he told a source at the game that he plans to sign with the Sun Devils.  The second leading scorer in the game with 21 points was 6'10 Reo Logan from Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) IL, but he was not considered for game MVP honors.   Instead, MVP honors went to Cummings, who finished with a game high 22 points, and 6'7 Ellis Myles from Compton (Centennial) CA, who also finished with 21 points.  Myles also hit 8-10 field goals, but only had one rebound.  Instead, the top rebounders for the West All-Stars were 6'9 Patrick Dennehy from Mountain View (St. Francis) CA and 6'9 Andrew Zahn from Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) CA, both of whom finished with seven boards apiece.  Also deserving a mention are 6'3 Tommy Johnson from Los Angeles (Crenshaw) CA, who knocked down 4-5 3-pointers and 5'9 Wesley Stokes from Long Beach (Jordan) CA, who didn't shot very well (6-16 field goals and only 1-7 3-pointers), but did have six assists and six rebounds, which is very impressive for a small point guard. 

Monday, April 17, 2000

The United States team left for Germany on Saturday, April 15th, and they will get a full week of practice in before the 2000 Albert Schweitzer Games officially begin on Saturday, April 22nd and end on Saturday, April 29th.  The team includes 6'9 Eddie Griffin from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, 5'9 Andre Barrett from New York (Rice) NY, 6'1 Jr Ben Gordon from Mt. Vernon (H.S.) NY, 6'11 Jared Reiner from Tripp (Tripp-Delmont) SD, 6'5 Maurice Young from Forestville (Bishop McNamara) MD, 6'3 Jr Billy Edelin from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 6'9 Jr Jordan Collins from Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD, 5'9 Alvin Green from Myrtle Beach (Socastee) SC, 6'5 Peter Milligan from Bronx (St. Raymond's) NY, and 6'9 Soph Shavlik Randolph from Raleigh (Broughton) NC, who is the first sophomore ever to play on the U.S. team in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, which is the largest junior tournament in the world.  The tournament is divided into four pools.  Turkey, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Germany are in Pool A.   Spain France, Yugoslavia, Lituania are in Pool B.   Australia Croatia, Greece, and Slovenia are in Pool C.  The United State, Finland, Latvia, and Russia are in Pool D.  If the United States finishes in the top two in its pool, it would cross over and play one of the top two teams from Pool B in the quarterfinals.  Then, the top two teams from Pool B and Pool D will cross over into the semi-finals and play the top two teams from Pool A and Pool C.  John Rhodes, who is in charge of the United States team, has promised to provide us with immediate scores and highlights from the tournament via email, all of which can be found in the Members Section of the HOOP SCOOP beginning early next week. 

Murray State has gotten two huge commitments from 7'1 Andy Hornig from Germany and 6'5 Cuthbert Victor from the Virgin Islands.  Both have played for there national teams and both would be ranked among the top 100 seniors nationally, if they played in the United States.   Hornig, at 260 lbs., is a tough hardnosed shot blocking physical specimen who has the talent and potential to become a dominant force inside at the collegiate level.   Victor, who is versatile wing forward, can run, jump, and shoot the three.   Hornig and Victor join the three recruits - 6'8 Jamar Avant from Murphysboro (H.S.) IL, 6'8 Roderick Thomas from Southern Utah State (JC) UT, and 6'3 Maumbo Rivera from St. Croix, Virgin Islands - Murray State signed last fall in a recruiting class that was ranked #37 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP.  However, 6'9 Ronnie Griffin from Tallahassee (JC) FL has since reneged on his commitment and, as a result, no longer counts with the class.   However, we still expect the Racers class to move into the top 25  nationally this spring, because Hornig and Victor are so good, Avant is a lot better than we originally thought, and Murray State is expected to sign another player from the deep south within the next week.  If that weren't enough, Murray State also has four excellent players, who sat out this year, waiting in the wings in 5'11 Kevin Paschel from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY, 6'5 Antoine Whelchel from Gainesville (H.S.) GA, 6'8 Chiwale Bedeau from Port of Trinidad, Spain, and 7'0 Lennart Christensen from Copenhagan, Denmark.  Which means the Racers will have plenty of strength and size up front.  As a matter of fact, how many teams at the mid-major level will go to war with two 7-footers next year?

Saturday, April 15, 2000, and Sunday, April 16, 2000

DC Assault beat Baltimore Select, 55-48, in the Championship of the 17-Under Division in Tony Squire's Richmond Shoot-out at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center in Richmond, VA, but that wasn't the big story of the tournament.  The tournament was absolutely loaded with good young players.  Let's start with the Squires 15 Brooks team, which featured 5'11 Frosh Vernon Hamilton from Chester (Thomas Dale) VA, 6'6 Frosh Marcus Sikes from Petersburg (H.S.) VA, 6'5 Soph Jelani Lawrence from Richmond (Hermitage) VA, and 6'7 Frosh Brad Byerson from Chester (Thomas Dale) VA.  Hamilton already has the skills necessary to make it as a big time point guard.  He has great ball handling skills and will beat you with either hand.   He's also a great passer, is quick off the dribble, and plays with a lot of savvy.   Sikes is an excellent athlete and a good rebounder for his size, although he needs to get bigger stronger.  Lawrence is a slasher with quick hands and lots of athleticism, but he too needs to develop his skills.  Byerson, who is an excellent shot blocker, rebounder, and passer, will likley continue to grow, as is evident by his size 16 shoe.  However, the Squires 15 Brooks team didn't beat the DC Assault 16 Team, which included most of the top young players in the Washington, DC area, including 6'8 Frosh Omari Isreal from Wheaton (Good Counsel) MD, 6'0 Frosh Tre Kelly from Washington (Dunbar) DC, 6'5 Soph Keith Blanks from Largo (H.S.) MD, 6'5 Soph Reggie Mason from Washington (Eastern) DC, and 6'0 Frosh Alfred Walton from Washington (Archbishop Carroll) DC.   Isreal is similar to 6'7 James White from Kensington (Newport School) MD.  That's right!  Isreal can handle, pass, and shoot out on the perimeter at 6'8, but at this level he also rules inside.  He's not as athletic as White, but he is a big time athlete and his potential is just as unlimited.  Kelly has great hands, excellent handling skills, and is extremely quick off the dribble.   Blanks can beat you offensively from mid-range and slashing to the basket, but his forte is locking up his man defensively.  Mason is an excellent rebounder, but he's at that tweener size, so he needs to grow.  Walsh is a prolific scorer and great outside shooter.  Team Carolina 16 featured 6'4 Soph Cameron Benngerman from Greensboro (Day) NC, 6'2 Soph Tarrance Dendy from Greenville (Berea) SC, 6'5 Soph Thurman Zimmerman from Columbia (Keenan) SC, and 6'5 Soph Derrick McMichaels from Columbia (Spring Valley) SC.  Benngerman is a big time talent who is quick off the dribble and excellent at pulling up and getting his shot.   Dendy might have been the best 3-point shooter in the entire tournament.   Zimmerman has great body control and is terrific on the boards, but also has the ball handling and passing skills to bring the ball up the court.  But right now he doesn't have a true position, because he is not a threat from beyond 12' from the basket.   McMichaels is another tweener, but he's tough inside, as he rebounds and dunks in your face.  Baltimore Select 16 featured 6'1 Jr Doug Underwood from Ft. Meade (Meade) MD, 6'4 Gary Neal from Aberdeen (H.S.) MD, and 6'6 Soph Jaz Cowan.  Underwood runs the show with his ball handling and passing, but he doesn't have the great understanding of the game that a top notch point guard needs at the next level.  Still he has a chance, because he's so athletic and well built.  Neal combines athleticism with outside shooting and Cowan is active inside, although he needs to get bigger and stronger.  Three freshmen for Baltimore Select who also have to be mentioned are 6'6 Frosh Matt Stevenson from Towson (Catholic) MD, 6'3 Jr Frosh Gerald Brown from Baltimore (Dunbar) MD, and 6'1 Frosh James Taylor from Baltimore (Dunbar) MD.  The key with Stevenson will be how much more he grows, but he looks really young and works hard inside.  Brown is a terrific athlete who can play either the one or the two.  Taylor is an excellent 3-point shooter who isn't afraid to pull the trigger.  The Squires 16 Watkins team featured 6'4 Soph Markus Sailes from Richmond (Varina) VA, 6'7 Jr Derek Reid from Richmond (Meadowbrook) VA, 6'4 Soph Dana Burns from Richmond (Monacan) VA, and 6'3 Soph Brandon Myles from Goochland (H.S.) VA.  Sailes has excellent size for a point guard, but he's also extremely versatile, which is evident by his ability to rebound and his knack for always being in the right spot to make plays.  His ball handling and passing skills are excellent, but there is no telling what position he'll eventually play, because his father is 6'9 and the younger Sailes just continues to grow.  Reid is a junior, but he's young for his class, so you have to like his potential.  He has long arms, excellent athleticism, and a nice mid-range jumper.  Burns is an excellent 3-point shooter, but he'll also beat you going to the hole.  Myles is an extremely versatile athlete who does everything well, but nothing great.  Sam Rines 16 team featured 5'9 Frosh Ben Luber from Newton (Council Rock) PA, 6'5 Jr Kyle Allen from Mooresville (H.S.) PA, and 6'5 Frosh Rob Kurz from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA.  Luber is small, but he was one of the best players we saw in the entire tournament.  As a matter of fact, his defense, toughness, and quickness remind us of a young Bobby Hurley, although Luber is a much better shooter at this stage.  As a matter of fact, that's one of the things Luber does best - get to the spot and pull up on his jumper.  Allen has good moves and is very active, which makes him especially effective inside.  Kurz is a pure shooter who can beat you both inside and outside.  Getting back to the 17-Under age group, Baltimore Select upset the Squires Richmond Mack and DC Assault knocked off the Long Island Panthers in the two semi-finals games, but there were very few great performances in this age group.  But 6'1 Jr Johnathan Hargett from Durham (Emmanuel Academy) NC and 6'7 Jr Thomas Harvey from Durham (Emmanuel Academy) NC were two of the exceptions.  As a matter of fact, Hargett was probably the best player in the tournament.  However, tournament MVP honors went to 6'7 Jr James White from Kensington (Newport Prep) MD, who scored eight points in the championship game, primarily because he was the best player on the winning team.  White's teammate 6'2 Jr Tony Bethel from Forestville (Bishop McNamara) MD also was named to the all-tournament team along with Hargett, Harvey, 6'7 Omari Westley from East Cleveland (Shaw) OH, and 5'10 Jr Todd Galloway from Baltimore (City College) MD.  Galloway did a great job slowing down Hargett in the semi-finals, but it was his speed and quickness, playmaking skills and ability to penetrate and dish that impressed us the most.  He still needs to learn to shoot, but he definitely has a mid-major future.  However, with Galloway running the show, 6'2 Keith Jenifer from Towson (Catholic) MD was not nearly as effective, which leads us to believe that Jenifer has to be a one, because he's so much better with the ball in his hands.  Others who were considered for the all-tournament team were 6'1 Jr Khaleaf Watson from Dyke (Blue Ridge School) VA, 6'3 Calvin Dotson from Baltimore (Dunbar) MD, 6'9 Jr Robert Little from Fairfax (Paul VI) VA, 6'7 Jr Tyree Spinner from Fairfax (Paul VI) VA, 6'9 Taurance Johnson from Glassboro (Faith Christian) NJ, 6'4 Jr Shawn Harris from Ettrick (Matoca) VA, 6'3 Darius Hargrove from Lawrenceville (Brunswick) VA, and 6'7 Eric King from Brooklyn (Lincoln) NY.   Speaking of players from Brooklyn Lincoln, 5'9 Sebastian Telfair, who is the #1 ranked 8th grader in the nation by the HOOP SCOOP, played some for Long Island Panthers and impressed us with his poise and passing.  He also told us that he plans to go to Lincoln High School next year, where he will continue to follow in the footsteps of Stephon Marbury. 

Friday, April 14, 2000

Patrick Jira of The Recruiting Beat tells us that Connecticut is now the leader over South Florida for 6'7 Johnny Selvie from Southeastern (JC) IA.  Jira also tells us that Selvie has also cancelled his visit to Michigan and Louisville is out.  Arkansas has gotten a verbal commitment from 6'1 Jannero Pargo from Neosho County (JC) KS.  Rick Jones was dismissed from the team by Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings yesterday for a "violation of team rules," and, as a result, will transfer.  Kentucky now appears to be a lock for 6'2 Gerald Fitch from Macon (Westside) GA, because he has cancelled his visit to Florida State.   However, the Wildcats will have to wait until, Wednesday, April 20th, because that's when the press conference is scheduled.  San Jose State is now out of the hunt for 6'9 Andreaus Bloch from Germany via Fresno (Central) CA and, as a result, he will likely pick Fresno State, Pepperdine, or Northwestern, which has made a late push.  USC lost out on 6'6 Travis Hanour from Laguna Beach (H.S.) CA, who signed with Arizona, and 6'9 Chris Manker from Laguna Beach (H.S.) CA, who signed with Oregon State, and, as a result, still has three scholarships to offer this spring.  So if you know of a player who is interested in one of these scholarships, tell him to send 500 letters on the same day in care of the University of Southern California Men's Basketball Office, University Park, Los Angeles, CA  90089.  That way they'll be sure to know that the player is interested.  

It looks like Virginia is among the early favorite for 6'11 Jr DeSagana Diop from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and 6'11 Jr Jamal Sampson from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA, both of whom rank among the top big men in the loaded junior class.  Virginia leads a list that includes Wake Forest, North Carolina, Duke, Auburn, Miami-FL, and Louisville for Diop.  Sampson, who is the nephew of Ralph Sampson, has Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Kansas, and UCLA high on his list and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Cavaliers try and get involved with 6'5 Jr Cedric Bozeman from Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA and 6'5 Jr Josh Childress from Lakewood (Mayfair) CA, who have already been mentioned in a possible package, along with Sampson, for UCLA, Kansas, and Arizona.   However, we think Virginia is more likely to pull off a package that includes a number of the Boo Williams' players, including 6'8 Jr Elton Brown from Newport News (Warwick) VA, 6'8 Jr Jason Clark from Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA, and 6'4 Soph J.J. Redick from Roanoke (Cave Spring) VA. 

It's not official yet, but we would be surprised if 6'6 JaRon Rush and 6'11 Jerome Moiso are back at UCLA next year.  However, like so many others, if they do go hardship into the NBA draft, we'd be surprised if they get drafted as high as they anticipate.    As a matter of fact, we wouldn't take either Rush or Moiso over Iowa State's Marcus Fizer, Cincinnati's DerMarr Johnson, Indiana Hills Junior College's Ernest Brown, Minnesota's Joel Pryzbilla, St. John's Erick Barkley, Connecticut's Khalid El-Amin, Indiana Hills Junior College's Cory Hightower, and DePaul's Paul McPherson, who are the nine underclassmen who have already announced that they will declare for the draft.  Nor would we take either of them over LSU's Stromile Swift, Texas' Chris Mihm, Florida's Mike Miller, Alabama's Schea Cotton, DePaul's Quentin Richardson, or Tennessee's Tony Harris, all of whom also will likely put their names into the draft before the May 14th deadline.  However, we would take both Rush and Moiso over any of the high school players - 6'9 Darius Miles from East St. Louis (H.S.) IL, 6'7 Gerald Wallace from Childersburg (H.S.) AL, or 6'5 DeShawn Stevenson from Fresno (Washington) CA - who are expected to bypass college and go directly into the league.  Getting back to Swift for a minute, right now he's saying that he plans to be back next year, but if he comes out this year, he might be the #1 or #2.  However, if he waits until next year, his draft standing could drop as far down as #5 or #6.  Don't believe it?  Who would you rather have down the road if you were an NBA General Manager?  Swift, 6'2 Jr Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 7'0 Jr Tyson Chandler from Compton (Dominguez) CA, 6'11 Jr Kwame Brown from Brunswick (Glynn Academy) GA, or 6'11 Eddy Curry from South Holland (Thornwood) IL.  That's right!   If those four current juniors in high school all decide to skip college and enter the NBA draft in the spring of 2001, they just might be picked in 1-2-3-4 order.  That's how good the junior class is and that's our Question of the Day.   Who would you pick first?  Swift, Wagner, Chandler, Curry, or Brown.

There are a number of excellent events going on around the nation this weekend, like Wayne Simone's Connecticut Select Hoop Challenge at Connecticut College in New Haven, CT, which includes over a 120 teams in the 17-Under, 16-Under, 15-Under, 14-Under, and 13-Under age groups.  Simone's tournament will feature most of the top teams in the Northeast, but we'll be at Tony Squire's Richmond Shoot-out at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, which also should be loaded.  As a matter of fact, this promises to be our first look at Squire's 15-Under Team, which many feel is the best AAU team in the nation for that age group.  Our International Editor Chris Johnson tells us that numerous college coaches are also in Saint Quentin, France for the European Championship for Junior Men Challenge Round 2000, which is being held April 12th-16th and includes teams from France, Russia, Slovenia, Georgia, Turkey, and Poland.  The big attraction for American college coaches is 6'1 Tony Parker from France, who is currently trying to decide whether he will sign a pro contract in France this spring or enroll in a college in the United States next fall.   Yes, Parker is that good!  The tournament is also important, because the top four teams will join Spain, Greece, and Croatia, which have already qualified, in the Europeans Championship from Junior Men in Zadar, Croatia from July 14th-23rd.  Also sending teams will be the two other qualifying tournaments in Germany and Bulgaria.   Johnson tells us that the Yugoslavian team is the heavy favorite to win the Bulgarian Tournament, but the tournament in Germany is wide open, as Germany, Lithonia, Iceland, and Italy all have a legitimate shot at winning the tournament.

Thursday, April 13, 2000

It looks like former Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Cremins has turned down the University of Houston job.  Apparently he just wants to take a year off, before weighing his options, but the deciding factor was really Cremins' wife, who was dead set against her husband taking the job.  Speaking of Georgia Tech, it looks like new head coach Paul Hewitt will retain assistant coach Willie Reese, but the word is that he will be getting the third spot and, as a result, will no longer be on the road recruiting. The other two spots will go to James Madison assistant coach Dean Keener, who was on the same staff with Hewitt under George Raveling at USC, and Cliff Warren, who was with Hewitt at Siena.  This is particularly interesting, because it means that Siena assistant Robert Burke will be looking for a job, if he doesn't land the Siena job.  And that's entirely possible, because we think Syracuse assistant coach Louie Orr is going to get Siena soon. It al