It was a busy weekend of basketball in Massachusetts, and Saturday saw action in two main events a long way from each other.  First, we checked in on the Hall of Fame Spring Classic in Amherst, then headed to the Massachusetts AAU Final Four in Foxboro.

One team that won a pair of games early in Amherst was the BC Eagles, who have a couple of notable wing prospects.  Calvin Crawford (6’8″ Sr. SF, Montgomery (NY) Valley Central HS) appears to have the higher ceiling, and he looked better here than in limited viewing last month as he had transition finishes and stickbacks.  Teammate Travis Cook (6’4″ Jr. SF, Middletown (NY) High) is a baby physically with some length, which he used to poke the ball away a couple of times.  While slight, he’s athletic and is worth keeping an eye on.

 

Click on the tab for your coach and/or age group and you will be able to see the date/time/location of your practice 

Orange-Ulster BOCES - 53 Gibson Rd, Goshen NY 10924

ST. MARY'S CYO ADDRESS - 76 GOSHEN AVE, WASHINGTONVILLE NY                            

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Gym-- 235 Wawayanda Ave, Middletown Ny

 IMPORTANT -- the reg/tryout fee is non-refundable!!! Once selected to a team dues/fees will be collected. Everyone needs to be paid in full prior to the first tournament. After May 15th 2013, no money is refundable what so ever. No exceptions!!! Thank you!

Any questions feel free to email us at bigmox03@hotmail.com - Please send a Heading/Title with the email so we know it is AAU related.

Wichita State Wichita State’s Early drawing plenty of attention

By Paul Suellentrop

Published Saturday, May 11, 2013, at 6:50 p.m.

Updated Sunday, May 12, 2013, at 8:11 a.m.

                

Cleanthony Early’s performances in the NCAA Tournament are earning him a chance to play high-profile summer basketball.

Providence Jam Fest: Saturday’s 25 Top Performers

May 9, 2013

B.C. Eagle players get offers & commitments

 

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

The B.C. Eagles basketball team has been runnin' things in upstate, NY for years. 

• Calvin Crawford, a 6'8" senior wing at Valley Central HS will prep at St. Thomas Moore next year. Rahn says that Crawford has offers from Vermont, Stony brook, LIU, Canisius, Binghamton and Quinnipiac with interest from Bucknell, Delaware, Loyola, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Iowa , Manhattan, Monmouth and Lehigh.
  
  
• Justin Robinson, a senior point guard from Kingston HS has committed to Monmouth and was selected as Times Herald record player of the year. 
  
  
• Stan Buczek, 6'6 senior from Burke Catholic HS who was selected 1st team all state has committed to DII LeMoyne.
  
  
• Putnam Science post grad teammates Jemal Mosley of Spring Valley and Don Bosco Prep as well as 6'6" Jonte Rutty from Newburgh and NFA have committed to Division II schools with Mosley to going to New Haven and Rutty to Georgian Court. 
  
  Coach Rahn added, "We also have 10 kids going d3 and those are all from this 2013 class
  
  
  

 

MONMOUTH ADDS GUARD

May 9, 2013

Jay Gomes
NJHoops.com

Cleanthony Early headlines the 2013-2014 All American Second Team

Second Team

Cleanthony Early, Wichita State: Trying to reframe Wichita State's Final Four run as predictable would be disingenuous. It wasn't. The Shockers lost five starters last summer. They were a No. 9 seed. They finished 5-5 in their final 10 regular-season games, including a couple of truly ugly losses. Predicting them to get past the various heavyweights in their region -- Gonzaga, Ohio State, New Mexico, Wisconsin -- required a quadruple order of onions.

 Having said that, Wichita State was not VCU 2011. The Shockers spent much of the season ranked in the top 25 in both the human polls and the efficiency rankings, and -- and this is the point here -- they always had the kind of physical, athletic talent that made them a high-major wolf in a mid-major sheep's clothing. Case in point: Early. He probably could have played at any number of high-major programs coming out of high school, but he had personal issues to deal with -- he was a "knucklehead" in his high school class, as he put it after the Shockers' Sweet 16 win over La Salle, and the death of his brother played a role in his choice to stay close to his mother at DIII Sullivan County Community College in New York. Now that Early -- one of the most dominant players on the floor in the tournament, an inside-out threat with NBA athleticism and skill -- has put all that behind him, it's fair to expect a big senior season in Wichita.

 

SNY’s Preseason All-America Teams

May 4th, 2013 11:02 am

Now that we know Who’s In and Who’s Out of the NBA Draft, it’s time to look ahead to the 2013-14 college basketball season.

Here’s a look at the SNY Preseason All-America teams as compiled by Adam Zagoria and SNY Big East analyst Tarik Turner.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM

F Doug McDermott, Sr., Creighton

F Andrew Wiggins, Fr., Undecided

C Mitch McGary, So., Michigan

G Russ Smith, Sr., Louisville

G Marcus Smart, So., Oklahoma State

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM

F Cleanthony Early, Sr., Wichita State

F Julius Randle, Fr., Kentucky

F Adreian Payne, Sr., Michigan State

G Gary Harris, So., Michigan State

G Aaron Craft, Sr., Ohio State

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM

F C.J. Fair, Sr., Syracuse

F Chane Behannan, Jr., Louisville

C Willie Cauley-Stein, So., Kentucky

G Andrew Harrison, Fr., Kentucky

G Rodney Hood, So., Duke

Hall of Fame New England Championships - 2013

April 23, 2013

Over 160 teams and 125 college coaches descended on the heart of Connecticut to take part in the 5th annual Hall of Fame New England Championships.  The event has grown into one of the top LIVE period events in the Northeast and this was evident by the fact that every major conference on the eastern seaboard was represented, including the ACC, Big East, A10 and more.

Top Performers in the Tournament - 17u

Calvin Crawford, 6'7, 2013, BC Eagles - Crawford was MVP of the tournament last year in the 16u, and could have been the same this weekend had his team taken the title.  Very crafty and efficient around the rim, Crawford has a knack for making the right play.  Finished with 33 points in the championship loss to CBC. 

Travis Cook, 6'4, 2014, BC Eagles - Cook exploded for some good games early on in the weekend and his play never let up.  Cook is a good athlete that can also step out and shoot the three-ball. 

Stan Buczek, 6'6, 2013, BC Eagles - A strong and burly forward, Buczek finishes pretty well around the rim and can face up.  Could see him finding a home in the NE-10.

This weekend Wesleyan University hosted their annual Basketbull event that saw top teams from all over the northeast region come to Middletown, Connecticut to compete for a championship.  By the end of Sunday, due to NCAA Live Period rules not permitting teams to play more than three games in a day, the 17u bracket saw two champions be crowned, CBC and the New Jersey Pirates.
    
In the first championship game, the New Jersey Pirates defeat a scrappy Newburg Zion Lions team 73-64. The New Jersey Pirates were led by Dwayne Murrill, who was very impressive all weekend long, while the Lions were led by big man Eric McCollum and lead guard Jerry Hall.
    
In the second championship game, which turned out to be the game of the day, CBC beat the BC Eagles 58-56 in a contest that came right down to the last shot. CBC was led by big man Paschal Chukwu, Danny Upchurch, and Ajou Deng. The BC Eagles, who made a very impressive run to the finals, were led by Calvin Crawford and Jack Dwyer who both played well even in defeat.
Here were the top individual performers from the weekend:   

Paschal Chuku – CBC – It was only fitting that Chuku blocked The BC Eagles final shot attempt of the championship game to seal the win for his team. He impressed all weekend with his natural shot blocking ability and rapidly improving offensive post game. Chuku has great defensive instincts that allow him to alter shots consistently, the ability to finish over either shoulder offensively, and has good hands for a man his size. He is a prospect on the rise that has more and more coaches intrigued each weekend he takes the court.  

Danny Upchurch – CBC – Was CBC’s most consistent perimeter scoring threat on the weekend. Upchurch is a scoring lead guard who uses his speed and athleticism to get into the paint at will. Upchurch also showed the ability to hit open jump shots and is a good on-ball defender.

Ajou Deng – CBC – The younger brother of current Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng, Ajou impressed with his ability to hit outside jumpers for a player his size. He ran the floor well, which created easy buckets for himself and his teammates, and made critical plays for CBC multiple times throughout the day Sunday.

Jack Dwyer – BC Eagles – The point guard was fantastic all weekend for the Eagles impressing in each game on their way to the finals. Dwyer changes speed and direction exceptionally well, has great court vision, and has a very tight handle. Whatever Dwyer lacks in physical stature he more than makes up for in heart and skill as he was easily one of the best floor generals in the field this weekend.

 April 6, 2013 at 7:09 pm 

There was a 60-second block of time in the early Final Four game on Saturday that did not go quite as planned as Louisville might have liked. First, an airball, then, nothing but dunk city.

You are supposed to hear such phrases as ‘wide right’ at the Georgia Dome, but that is for football games, not with Russ Smith trying to shoot a three-pointer.

[Related: Louisville's Kevin Ware celebrates on the Cardinals bench]

Yikes. After that and a second Loo-ville turnover, this happened:

Most folks had not heard of Wichita State until the ninth-seeded Shockers’ Cinderella run through the NCAA Tournament.

Well, Cleanthony Early just introduced himself to the nation with this massive dunk.

NCAA West Regional: Cleanthony Early gives Shockers staying power

BY BETH HARRIS

AP SPORTS WRITER

 

2013 Final Four: Wichita State Shockers

April 1, 2013 11:04 am ET

Describing Wichita State merely as a second-place team from the MVC and No. 9 seed in this NCAA tournament really is underselling the story. Because this is crazier than just that, when you consider the Shockers are also a team that lost their top five scorers from last year.

Think about that for a moment.

Kentucky lost its top six scorers and fell to the NIT.

More on Final Four

Related links

Final Four previews: Louisville | Wichita State

Final Four previews: Syracuse | Michigan

Palm: Lots of blowouts this year

Bracket: Follow the updating bracket

Schedule: Saturday's Final Four tip times

Experts: Brackets | Final Four picks

Podcast: Ware's injury, Final Four

Complete NCAA Tournament Coverage

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Wichita State lost its top five scorers and jumped to the Final Four.

So, needless to say, Gregg Marshall -- a man who's made nine NCAA tournaments in 15 years as a head coach despite never working at a power-conference school or traditional power -- is pretty good at what he does. Yes, the South Carolina native acknowledged this weekend that his Shockers are playing with "house money." But he also made it clear that their plan is to play two more games, win two more games and become the lowest-seeded team in history to win the NCAA tournament. So let's not write the final chapter on the Shockers just yet.

Here's everything you need to know about Wichita State:

Coach: Gregg Marshall | NCAA tournament record: 5-8

Marshall's best finish: Final Four in 2013 (current)

Assistants: Chris Jans, Greg Heiar, K.T. Turner

Record: 30-8

Starting lineup:

G: Malcolm Armstead

G: Tekele Cotton

G: Ron Baker

F: Cleanthony Early

F: Carl Hall

Top reserve: G: Fred Van Vleet

Leading scorer: Cleanthony Early (13.7 points per game)

Leading rebounder: Carl Hall (6.9 rebounds per game)

National titles: None | Last Final Four: 1965

How Wichita State got here: The Shockers received an at-large bid to the Field of 68 -- specifically the No. 9 seed in the West region -- after losing to Creighton in the MVC tournament title game. They beat eighth-seeded Pittsburgh in the Round of 64, top-seeded Gonzaga in the Round of 32, 13th-seeded La Salle in the Sweet 16 and second-seeded Ohio State in the Elite Eight to become the first MVC member to make the Final Four since Larry Bird took Indiana State there in 1979.

Why Wichita State might win it all: The Shockers have already topped the team that was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll on Selection Sunday (Gonzaga) and the team that won the conference tournament for the nation's toughest league (Ohio State). And if you can do those two things, you can do anything, right? Beyond that, there's not a single school left (including Louisville) that hasn't lost to somebody worse than Wichita State. So is it a long shot? Yes. But don't let anybody tell you it's impossible.

Why Wichita State might not win it all: Because the Shockers are playing Louisville on Saturday. Duh! Seriously, there's a reason why the Cardinals opened as a 10-point favorite over Wichita State, and it has more to do with the Cardinals than it does Wichita State. In case you didn't know, Rick Pitino's team has won 14 straight games by an average of 17.3 points, including four NCAA tournament games by an average of 21.8 points. So why won't Wichita State win it all? The simple answer is because Louisville probably is going to win it all.

Player to watch: Gregg Marshall called Cleanthony Early an "interesting bird" Saturday after the 6-foot-8 forward collapsed on the court in pain ... only to return a few minutes later against Ohio State. "[He's like the] boy who cried wolf with injuries," Marshall said. "I had seen that many times this season. I thought we'd have to call the ambulance or get out a stretcher or whatnot, and the next thing I know he's back in practice." So, yeah, Early is an interesting bird. But he's also an awesome junior-college transfer. The New York native was a Junior college All-American during both his freshman and sophomore seasons at Sullivan County (N.Y.) Community College. He's averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in his first season at the Division I level.

One guy soaring: Malcolm Armstead began his college career at Chipola Junior College in Florida, then transferred to Oregon for his junior season, then transferred to Wichita State for his senior season, this season. And it didn't get off to a great start. The 6-foot guard scored two-or-fewer points in three of his first four games with the Shockers. But Armstead got 17 in his fifth (a win over DePaul), and he's been a steady contributor for much of the season, especially lately. The Alabama native is averaging 17.5 points in Wichita State's past six games, including 15.5 in this tournament. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the West Regional.

One guy slumping: I'm not sure if Ron Baker is actually "slumping," but he did miss all three field-goal attempts -- including a layup in the final minute -- against Ohio State. Truth be told, it's difficult to find a recent slumping candidate on Wichita State's roster because if a key piece were genuinely struggling the Shockers probably wouldn't be in the Final Four. All in all, the players are mostly performing well.

Notable stat: The Shockers are a tremendous rebounding team -- proof being how they grab 73.7 percent of their opponents' misses and 38.0 percent of their own misses. Both numbers rank among the top 20 nationally. That's what allows Wichita State to stay in games even when its players aren't shooting particularly well.

Final thought: This Wichita State run is blowing conventional wisdom to pieces because the Shockers are neither a supremely talented team from a power conference nor an experienced team from a nonpower conference. They don't really fit into any previously established category. They're all junior college guys or lightly regarded high school prospects, only one of whom (Carl Hall) played a significant role on last season's team. Bottom line, it's remarkable that they're on their way to Atlanta given the makeup of the roster.

So I realize Rick Pitino's quest for a second title is a big story.

And that Syracuse and Michigan are national brands.

But Wichita State deserves its share of the spotlight this week, too.

The Shockers have earned it. Against all odds, they've earned it.

Tags: Carl Hall, Cleanthony Early, Fred Van Vleet, Malcolm Armstead, Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton, Wichita State Shockers, NCAAB

Wichita State upsets Buckeyes to reach Final Four

Associated Press

Shockers Headed To Atlanta

Bruce Pearl breaks down Wichita State's win against Ohio State, which sends the Shockers to the Final Four.

Tags: Wichita State, Bruce Pearl, Final Four

VIDEO PLAYLIST 

Shockers Advance With Toughness

LOS ANGELES -- Cleanthony Early kept stealing glances down at the hat in his hands while he waited for his turn to climb the stepladder, scissors in hand. The Wichita State forward seemed stunned at the words embroidered on his brand new ballcap: "Final Four Atlanta."

"It's crazy. I still can't believe we're here," Early said. "You try to expect it, but you expect a lot of things that don't happen. This really happened."

Believe it.

Wichita State is going to Atlanta, and these Shockers are no longer a surprise after the way the tenacious ninth seed held off mighty Ohio State in the West Regional final.

Malcolm Armstead scored 14 points, Fred Van Vleet bounced in a big basket with 1 minute left, and Wichita State earned its first trip to the Final Four since 1965 with a 70-66 victory over the Buckeyes on Saturday.

Van Vleet scored 12 points as the Shockers (30-8) followed up last week's win over top-ranked Gonzaga with a nail-biting victory over the second-seeded Buckeyes (29-8), whose 11-game winning streak ended one short of their second straight Final Four. Wichita State's 20-point lead in the second half dwindled to three in the final minutes, but several Shockers stepped up with big plays to stop the surge, heeding coach Gregg Marshall's halftime command to "play angry."

All that anger turned into a joyous postgame party at midcourt, even though the Shockers realize they've got more work to do.

Wichita State is just the fifth team seeded ninth or higher to reach the Final Four since seeding began in 1979, but the second in three years following 11th-seeded VCU's improbable run in 2011. The Shockers' celebration was wild, if a bit disbelieving, in front of several thousand roaring fans.

"Last year, we were watching all this on television," said Early, who scored 12 points despite spraining his ankle in the second half. "Now I'm looking at a hat that says 'Final Four Atlanta' with my team on it. ... It feels good, and it feels even better that I could experience it with these guys who had to struggle so hard to get here."

Shockers Join Shocking List

Ninth-seeded Wichita State punched its ticket to the Final Four on Saturday night, upsetting No. 2-seeded Ohio State to continue its Cinderella run. Here's a list of the lowest seeds to reach the Final Four since seeding began in the NCAA tournament in 1979:

YearSeedSchoolResult

201111VCUL, Final Four

200611George MasonL, Final Four

198611LSUL, Final Four

20139Wichita St?

19799PennL, Final Four

-- ESPN Stats & Information

Wichita State roared to a 20-point lead with 11 minutes to play after Ohio State played an awful first half, but LaQuinton Ross scored 15 of his 19 points after halftime, leading a ferocious rally that got the Buckeyes within three points in the final minutes.

Tekele Cotton hit a clutch 3-pointer for Wichita State with 2:20 left and grabbed a key offensive rebound moments later, allowing Van Vleet to score on a shot that bounced all over the rim before dropping. Ron Baker and Cotton hit last-minute free throws to secure the second Final Four trip in Wichita State's history and a school-record 30th win.

"We're happy, but I'm still shocked," said Carl Hall, the glasses-wearing big man who scored eight points and led the Shockers' strong defensive effort. "We've got a team full of fighters. I brought them all together near the end and said, `No matter what happens, I love y'all.' We had to fight so hard. We've got each other's backs, and it's hard to beat a team that's got five guys who work together like us."

Deshaun Thomas scored 21 points after missing nine of his first 12 shots for Ohio State, which made just 24 percent of its first-half shots. Aaron Craft scored nine points on 2-for-12 shooting against Armstead and a host of defenders for the Buckeyes, who dug a hole too deep to escape with their second-half rally.

"The way we shot coming into the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, everything was falling," Thomas said. "Today, it just wasn't our night. Nothing was falling. We had great looks, some of them, but they just weren't falling."

Yet after two weeks of upsets in the wild West bracket, underdog Wichita State seemed an appropriate pick to cut down Staples Center's nets. The Shockers' well-balanced roster managed built that enormous lead with the same consummate team play that they've shown throughout the tournament.

The Shockers are also the kings of Kansas, reaching the national semifinals after the powerful Jayhawks and Kansas State both went down.

Two sections packed with cheering Shockers fans provided all the encouragement necessary for a team that didn't win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and was thought to be a bubble team for an NCAA berth. Now, Wichita State is the MVC's first Final Four team since Larry Bird led Indiana State to the title game in 1979.

Another giant awaits the Shockers in Atlanta next weekend: They'll face the winner of Sunday's Midwest Regional final between Duke and Louisville.

"We're all new to this, but I think we're ready for this," Early said. "We're going to prepare ourselves, and this game was pretty good preparation. We started at the bottom, and we've been working our way up."

Seven seasons after underdog George Mason crashed the Final Four and underlined college basketball's growing parity, the Shockers are the latest smallish school to get on a big roll in the tournament. Butler made the national championship game in 2010 and 2011, and the Bulldogs were joined by that VCU team in the Final Four two years ago.

This year's tournament included stunning wins by Florida Gulf Coast, La Salle and Harvard, but nobody kept it going longer than Wichita State.

Although the Shockers have a beautiful home arena and robust support from fans and donors in Kansas' largest city, Marshall acknowledged that Wichita State's athletic budget is a fraction of what a BCS school can spend. He hasn't let it slow the Shockers, who made the NCAA tournament last year only to lose to 12th-seeded VCU in the first round.

After the Shockers easily beat La Salle two days ago to reach their first regional final since 1981, Marshall's pregame speech to the Shockers on Saturday finished with talk of cutting down the nets at Staples Center before getting on that plane back to Kansas, saying Wichita State didn't have to play "a perfect game" to beat mighty Ohio State.

"The Mecca awaits in Atlanta," he said.

Marshall was right, but he couldn't have anticipated just how imperfect Ohio State would be.

The postseason-tested Buckeyes appeared calm and confident during warmups in front of their healthy fan contingent, yet they proceeded to play the first half just like NCAA newbies.

They missed their first seven shots after the opening tip in a string capped by an airballed 3-pointer from Thomas, who missed his first five overall. The junior star was labeled "a bad-shot taker and a bad-shot maker" by Marshall on Friday, but he only lived up to the first part of that billing while going 4 for 13 in the first half.

Early hit two 3-pointers in the opening minutes, and the Shockers stretched their lead to 13 points shortly before halftime.

"You've got to give them credit," Craft said. "They really came out firing and we really didn't regain our footing until it was too late."

Hall went to the locker room after drawing a charge from Thomas early in the second half, holding the back of his head after Thomas' elbow clipped him on the jaw. Hall found his glasses and got back in the game 66 seconds later.

Wichita State gradually stretched its lead early in the second half, with Early's layup putting the Shockers up 53-33 with 12:09 to play.

Ross desperately tried to rally the Buckeyes, scoring eight consecutive points and leading a 23-6 run midway through the second half. Ohio State went into a full-court inbounds defense, and Shannon Scott's free throws with 2:49 left cut the lead to 62-59 -- but Ohio State couldn't get any closer.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012
(See NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.17.2 for Men’s Basketball Calendar Formula)

The dates in this calendar reflect the application of Bylaw 13.17 at the time of publication of this manual but are subject to change per NCAA Constitution 5.2.3.1 or if certain dates change (e.g., National Letter of Intent signing dates) are altered.

May 27-July 5: Quiet period
July 6-July 10: Dead period
July 11-July 15: Evaluation period - LIVE
July 16-July 17: Dead period
July 18-July 22: Evaluation period - LIVE
July 22-July 24: Dead period
July 25-July 29: Evaluation period - LIVE
Nov. 14-Nov. 21: Early signing period
April 17-May 15: Regular signing period

September 14, 2012

Dallas Jackson
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

Being a student-athlete on the FBS level may have taken a strong shift towards the student side of the equation as the NCAA recently made changes to its initial-eligibility requirements.

The rules are in effect for current freshmen in high school -- or the recruiting Class of 2016 -- and include a higher minimum core-course grade-point-average, a sliding scale for GPA versus standardized test score, and 10 required core classes to be completed before the senior year.

The changes were met with positive reviews from Rivals.com national recruiting analyst, Mike Farrell.

"It is great to have academic reform at the high school level," Farrell said. "I think this will increase the pool of success stories on the college level because there will be less kids flunking out since they will have had to take education more seriously for a longer period of time and not just doing crash courses as seniors to get the numbers in their favor."

The new minimum core-course GPA is 2.3 and student-athletes must complete a total of 16 core classes, as well as satisfy graduation requirements.

The core classes are: Four years of English, three years of math at an Algebra I level or higher, two years of natural or physical sciences (one of which must have a lab if it is offered by the high school), two years of social sciences, one additional course year in either English, math, or natural/physical sciences, and four cumulative years combining foreign language, philosophy, or religion.

High school football coaches and the support staffs at the local level will be shouldered with more responsibility as well, but that is a role that has already been embraced by many.

Robert Wiener, head coach at Tampa (Fla.) Plant, said that he and his staff have always tried to be ahead of the curve on academics.

"We have a very advanced academic program here," Wiener said. "We work with the kids to schedule correctly and hit the books hard. We've found that if we push the kids hard as freshmen, they will be more prepared down the line.

"Ultimately, we try to be proactive and not work in recovery mode."

Since Rivals.com began tracking recruiting classes back in 2002, Plant has sent 28 players on to FBS-level football programs and nearly twice that to FCS and Division III football. The school has also had numerous student-athletes in other sports go on to participate in collegiate athletics.

Weiner said that the school has tracked its academic numbers and he is pleased with just how little his team will need to improve its standing in the classroom.

"We only have 17-percent of our kids across all sports that would not have been full-qualifiers by the new rules," he said. "It is just important to have a plan in place and start working it as soon as possible and we tell all of our kids to work hard on that front end."

A change that Wiener felt was a major benefit to student-athletes was the new sliding scale that aligned the 16-course GPA with a minimum ACT or SAT score.

Weiner said that it levels the field for students who learn differently and does not try to force everyone into the same category.

"Everything in education points to the fact that not everyone learns the same and not everyone can be evaluated the same way," Wiener said. "Some kids can work hard in the classroom and make the grade but are poor at test taking. Some kids are the opposite, not active in the classroom but have the aptitude to test well."

The full scales can be found on the NCAA Eligibility Center by clicking here, but one example would be that a 2.5 core-course GPA would also require a student to make a 1000 on his SAT or an 85 on the sum ACT.

The biggest change to the initial eligibility will be the elimination of senior year remedial courses.

Of the 16 core classes required, 10 must be completed before the beginning of the senior year of high school. Of those completed courses, seven will be locked in as ineligible to be changed.

What that means is that every course of every year matters much more than it has in the past when athletes would be able to take multiple online classes or make-up tests to boost grade point averages in an attempt to get qualified last in the senior year.

The impact on recruits, according to Farrell, is going to be largely positive.


Lane Kiffin's USC team has the No.1 ranked recruiting class for 2013.
"You are going to get what you expect out of kids," Farrell said. "Asking them to do more is good for their future. It has been about four or five years since the last major shift in the NCAA eligibility requirements (when they took away supplemental courses) and it made kids focus on academics. This will do the same.

"Schools like Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Boston College will likely not be affected at all in their recruiting, but schools with lower academic standards will have to make sure their recruits are doing what they need to do."

Attempts for comments on the changes from major college football programs were declined, but many shared similar thoughts of that of USC Sports Information Director, Tim Tessalone.

"As a practice, our coaches don't talk about recruiting or any practices/tactics USC uses in recruiting or how issues relate to the way USC recruits," Tessalone said.

USC is currently leading the nation in recruiting and was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the No. 24 overall best college with an acceptance rate of just 23 percent.

Farrell said that the pool of players for FBS-level schools like USC is likely to remain unchanged.

"We won't really know the full impact for a few years after the requirements are in place, but ultimately, I don't think there will be a major drop in eligible players," Farrell said. "There isn't going to be a major rise in kids going to Junior College or forced into prep schools because they will know what is required of them and they will work harder to get there.

"That is what the kids do who want to compete at the highest level. They will rise to the occasion."

West: Wichita State 76, Gonzaga 70

For Surprise No. 1, It’s Two Games and Out

By GREG BISHOP

season had expired, and against a team from Wichita State that is nicknamed, of all the possible nicknames in college sports, the Shockers.

 

Jemal Mosley from Spring Valley(Don Bosco Prep) spent the last year at Putnam Scince Academy and all his hard work paid off yeserday, March 26th 2013, when he verbally committed to attend New Haven University in the fall. New Haven is in the powerful NE-10 conference and Jemals ability to score and handle the ball should put him right in the mix for playing time as freshmen. Mosley is a 6'1" combo guard who is extrememly versatile and gets after it on the defensive end of the floor as well. He decided to take thoffer from New Haven after picking up offers/interest from East Stroudsburg, Marist, Quinnipiac, Dominican, Wagner, Binghamton, LIU, St. Francis, Maine, New Hampshire, AIC, Assumption, St. Rose, Saint Anselm's, Caldwell, Felician and Sacred Heart. We are proud to call Jemal family and we are so happy that he achieved his goal of recieving a full education to be a student athelte and pursue his academics as well as his basketball career.

Stacey Davis
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

The 67th Annual C.Y.P. Basketball Tournament will begin on March 21st at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester, NY.

Stacey Davis

Over the years, the historic C.Y.P. High School Tournament has hosted a who's who of future NBA talent including Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Malik Sealy and Lamar Odom and back-in-the-day stars such as Ed Pinkney, Pearl Washington and Billy Cunningham.

C.Y.P. marks the start of the 2013 AAU season here in New York participants in the past have included a who's-who of High School basketball:

Tony Taylor, Rashad James, Kyrie Irving, Russ Smith, Jayvaughn Pinkston, Durand Scott, Sean Kilpatrick, Sherrod Wright, Mookie Jones, Kevin Jones, Sylven Landesberg, Omari Lawrence, Kevin Parrom, Chaz Williams, Jordan Henriquez, Ashton Pankey, Mike Taylor, Naquan Pierce, Antione Mason, P.J. Torres, Jabarie Hinds, Kuran Iverson, Peter Aguilar, Donte Houston, Shaquille Stokes, Isaiah whitehead, Jordan Dickerson, Sidiki Johnson, Kendrick Ray(B.C. Eagles), Jonte Rutty(B.C. Eagles), Nate Gause(B.C. Eagles), and Moe Harkless.

This season is no different as the participating teams are chock-filled with nothing less than All-Star Metropolitan talent.

 

PORT CHESTER, NY - The opening night at the 67th annual William R. Gallagher CYP tournament at Our Lady of Mercy Church was well worth the five bucks spent at the door.

S. Davis
Justin Robinson

The BC Eagles played PC Savages followed by Team Frenji against Dream Nation


BC Eagles soar over PC Savages, 102-85

The PC Savages the home team came out to play but the well oiled Eagles came with fire power. In the opening quarter, the score would knot up twice after a long jumper from BC Eagles Justin Robinson (31pts). The Savages would score in the final seconds but Eagles Michael Jurzyrski (8pts) would close the quarter at the line.

With two minutes remaining in half, the Eagles led 40-39 but Khalil Edney (11pts) would jam two in to tie the score at 41.Robinson would answer back scoring back-to-back baskets putting the eagles up by 4 points.

Stanley Buczek (18pts) follow up with two in the final seconds , but it would be Robinson again with a jumper extending the Eagles to a nine point lead

During the third quarter, Eagles Calvin Crawford (24pt) would come alive, scoring on a drive to the basket. The hot scoring hand of Robinson could not be stopped, finishing with seven points in the quarter. Crawford would close out the third quarter on the buzzer beater.

Ahead 71-61, by the end of the fourth the Eagles led 92-81 and were quickly reaching NBA numbers. After a foul is called on Crawford, the Savages scored two at the line and then a time out is called. Edney scores two on the return and he score was 92-85. That would be the final points scored by the Savages as the Eagles continued to dominate the quarter.

Recruiting notes: Eagles players, Calvin Crawford offer from Vermont, Justin Robinson offer from Monmouth and will visit this week. Jack Doyer and Stan Buczek have offers from Mercy with Buczek having additional offers from Georgian Court University, Saint Rose and Dominican. He will start visits next week.


Team Frenji Shakes Dream Nation, 106-38

The loaded Frenji team was comprised of Kavon Stewart, Dayshon Smith Josh James, Lenny Kadisha, Donovan Mitchell, Joe Clarke, Eric Paschall, Jason Boswell, Larry Beckett, Hassan Martin, Reggie Cameron D.J. Foreman and Neville Fincher

The team looked like an all-star team on the floor. The undersized and youthful Dream nation team comprised of a 16U squad looked more like a JV team facing the varsity squad. Although out matched, the Dream Nation gave as much effort as possible in this match up even though they lacked experience.

Team Frenji ended up schooling the youngsters, scoring at will.

NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUND TWO
 
Second-round knockout: Wichita State beats Pittsburgh 73-55
 
By Paul Suellentrop
The Wichita Eagle
Published Thursday, March 21, 2013, at 3:41 p.m.
Updated Monday, March 25, 2013, at 7:24 a.m.

TNTSALT LAKE CITY — Wichita State matched Pittsburgh’s power and overmatched it with quickness, an asset nobody outside the coaching staff saw coming.
The ninth-seeded Shockers handled Pittsburgh 73-55, routing the Big East’s fourth-place team with surprising ease in the second round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional at EnergySolutions Arena. That win, a mild upset by seeding, will get the Shockers some attention for a lockdown defensive performance.
One more will bring all the basketball-following nation around to WSU. It plays top-seeded Gonzaga on Saturday with the winner advancing to the regional semifinals, better known as the Sweet 16.
WSU coach Gregg Marshall told the Shockers they made him proud. He told them their toughness won the day. Then he challenged them to extend their stay in the tournament with a trip to Los Angeles.
“Are you satisfied?” he said. “Are we done? Are we going to celebrate now like this is the end? Or are you going to continue to push through, and let’s try to head to where ever the next round is.”
The Shockers (27-8) played like a team that won’t be satisfied easily. They bullied the eighth-seeded Panthers and led by 11 or more points the final 6:49. WSU’s effort — and his team’s lack of effort — mystified Pitt coach Jamie Dixon.
“They were far more aggressive than us,” he said. “I can’t explain it.”
An attempt: The Shockers smacked the disinterested Panthers early in the game and refused to let them regroup. By the time the Panthers discovered their urgency, WSU grabbed control and closed out with a parade of dunks and free throws. Pitt missed 16 of 17 three-pointers and shot 35.2 percent for the game.
Guard Malcolm Armstead led WSU with 22 points, 11 in the final seven minutes. Forward Cleanthony Early shook off a disappointing conference tournament to add 21. The Shockers made 11 of 21 shots in the second half, enough to survive shooting 2 of 20 from three-point range.
“Going into the game, Coach made the statement ‘Knock ’em in the face first,’ ” Early said. “That’s what we tried to do.”
WSU out-rebounded the Big East’s top rebounding team 37-32. It grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to produce 14 second-chance points and help outscore Pitt 33-16 at the foul line.
If the power game kept it even, speed allowed WSU to run away. It scored 21 points off 15 turnovers against a normally careful team.
“One of our strengths is low turnovers, and for people who haven’t seen us play, this wasn’t our team,” Dixon said. “We had five or six turnovers early that were not typical of how we play and put us in a hole.”
WSU coaches watched video of Pitt and came away impressed with its size. They also believed the Shockers could bother the Panthers with their quickness. Guard Tekele Cotton jumped passing lanes and harassed dribblers to record five steals. He rounded out that performance by blanketing guard Tray Woodall, who scored two points on 1-of-12 shooting before fouling out 10 points under his team-leading average.
Cotton provided the first of two killer bursts with steals on consecutive possessions midway through the second half. He stole a pass from Trey Zeigler, caught unaware while trying to start a play near the three-point line, and dunked for a 45-35 lead, provoking a leg kick in celebration from Marshall. Another steal led to free throws for Early and a 12-point edge with 10:13 remaining.
“Those are huge baskets,” Marshall said. “In a game like that, low points, if you can steal baskets.… You don’t want to give those freebies.”
Assistant coach Chris Jans had told Marshall that WSU’s quickness could disrupt the Panthers. Again and again, it did that by taking advantage of sloppy passes and weak handles. Pitt surrendered double-digit steals for the third time this season.
“Pressure,” Armstead said. “Tekele did real good setting the tempo. We just built off that and got some easy baskets.”
Armstead finished off the Panthers late. He banked in a shot for a 50-39 lead. After two missed foul shots by Pitt, he slithered into the lane for a lefty layup off the glass, drawing a foul. His three-point play put WSU up 53-49 with 5:43 remaining.
When the Panthers pressed, he sliced through it and found Early for a dunk and a 55-40 lead. The Panthers never got closer than 13 points.
Check Paul Suellentrop’s Shocker blog at blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves. Reach him at 316-269-6760 or psuellentrop@wichitaeagle.com.

 

Former Newburgh Free Academy and BC Eagle standout Jonte Rutty pledged his allegiance to D2 Georgian Court of Seaside, NJ.

Jonte has spent the past season at Putname Scince Academy in Ct with AAU teammate Jemal Mosley. Jonte Rutty was being recruited by numerous schools such as Asumption, Mercy, Dominican, Felician, Caldwell, Nyack, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Colgate, Marist, Siena Wagner and Central Conn.

Rutty loved the coaching staff and the opportunity the school gave him to come in and be a factor and program changer right from the start. While on his visit a few months back he expressed his interest in the school, campus, community and atheltic program. Jonte along with his immdediate family members thought GC was a great fit and awonderful opportunity for him to continue his eduacation and athletic career as he earns his college degree.

 

Burke Catholic teammates Stan Buczek(Senior) and Jack Dwyer(Junior) had just finished playing in the first round of the NYS tournament on Wednesday night. They helped the Eagles pull out a victory over a very good and well coached Poughkeepsie High School team. There performance on the floor not only helped them beat the pioneers in what was terrific game between two very talented teams but it also earned them some schlorship money for college. With many colleges on hand such as, Centnery, Felician, Dominican, Mercy, MSMC, NYU and DeSales. Buczek and Dwyer stepped up and cauht the eye of Mercy Colleg Coach Adam Parmenter who offerd both the boys schlorships that would cover the entire cost of their tuition.

Buczek is a 6'6" senior forward who is recieving interest from St. Rose, Adelphi, Assumption, Dominican, Felician, Mercy, DeSales, Franklin and Marshall, Rochester and Ursinus.

Dwyer just a junior but the talented guard has recieved interest from numerous schools such as ST. Francis-PA, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, William and Mary, Army, Navy, Brown, NYU, Hamilton, Mercy, Dominican and Franklin and Marshall as well as a few others.

Many more offers should start to pile up for these two young men as the continue their run with their teammates in their quest for their second NYS Championship in three years.

Jemal Mosley of Nanuet and formely of Don Bosco Prep has spent the past year with B.C. Eagles teammate Jonte Rutty at Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Ct.

Last week Jonte Rutty gave a verbal commitment to D2 Georgian Court and will accept a full ride.

This week Jemal Mosley picked up two D2 offers, full rides, for the University of New Haven and East Stroudsburg University.

These are just the first of many that will follow as Mosely is being recruited by numerous D1 and D2 schools such as Maine, New Hampshire, Quinnipiac, Wagner, Binghamton, Assumption, UMass-Lowell, FDU, LIU, St. Francis-NY, Felician, Caldwell, Dominican and Georgian Court

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- The numbers just didn't add up for Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall.

Somehow, the numbers still added up to a win.

Carl Hall had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Malcolm Armstead hit two key free throws in the closing seconds and Wichita State held on to beat Doug McDermott and No. 12 Creighton 67-64 on Saturday to forge a tie atop the Missouri Valley Conference.

"I can't really explain it," Marshall said. "I'll take it and move on."

Armstead finished with 15 points, Cleanthony Early added 13 and Demetric Williams had 10 for the Shockers (17-2, 6-1 MVC), who pushed their home-court winning streak to 17 games.

McDermott finished with 25 points for the Bluejays (17-2, 6-1), but he never got the ball with the game on the line. Instead, Ethan Wragge misfired on a potential tying 3 with 6 seconds left, and then had another chance when Hall missed two free throws at the other end.

This time, Wragge's shot from the top of the key clanked off the back of the rim.

"We got two good looks in the last 10 seconds to tie it. We got what we wanted, they just didn't go in," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

"It really came down to the offensive glass," he added.

That's where the Shockers piled up 22 rebounds, helping to atone for their own poor shooting by relentlessly pursuing every loose ball - channeling their inner Marshall, who spent the entire afternoon stomping, and marching and imploring, with boundless enthusiasm.

"We didn't let them separate. That's the thing," said Marshall, whose team would have fallen two games behind in the league race with a loss. "They're a very good team and they have a great chance to be right there at the end."

Naturally, the teams meet again in their regular-season finales.

Grant Gibbs finished with 14 points for the Bluejays, who trailed almost the entire way while having their 11-game winning streak snapped. Creighton hadn't lost since Nov. 28.

Hall gave the Shockers a 65-63 lead when he made the second of two free throws with 48.3 seconds left, but Gibbs - a 67 percent foul shooter - only made one of two with 25.3 seconds to go, allowing the Shockers to cling to a lead and forcing Creighton to foul.

Wichita State got the ball to Anthony on the inbounds, and after getting fouled, he calmly made both free throws for a 67-64 lead with 15.3 seconds left.

That set up Wragge's two misfires, the second as the final horn sounded.

"The basketball gods were good for us today," Hall said with a smile, "because usually they don't miss free throws like that."

It was little surprise that a game between last season's regular-season champion, Wichita State, and tournament champion Creighton would come down to the wire. They have played 29 games decided by 12 or fewer points since 1994-95.

The Shockers were thankful to have Hall back in the lineup.

The senior forward had energy to burn after missing seven games with a thumb injury, at one point scoring six straight points for the Shockers underneath. Later in the half, he missed two layups and got two offensive boards before finally scoring for a 25-19 lead.

Hall was also doing his duty on defense, one of several defenders that Marshall attached to McDermott throughout the game.

After scoring 39 points against Missouri State and 31 in a win over Northern Iowa, the son of Creighton coach Greg McDermott struggled just to find enough space to put up a shot. McDermott was just 3 of 8 from the field before Gibbs found him at the top of the key for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, pulling the Bluejays within 36-33 at halftime.

Wichita State extended its lead to 49-42 with 15:15 left before Creighton went on a run.

McDermott's basket and an open 3-pointer by Gibbs helped to trigger a 10-2 charge, and a jumper by Austin Chatman gave the Bluejays their first lead at 52-51 with 11:28 left.

Buoyed by a capacity crowd of 10,506, the Shockers refused to give in, and a flagrant foul on Gibbs sent Tekele Cotton to the foul line and helped Wichita State pull back ahead.

The Bluejays got within 64-63 when they took advantage of a 5-on-4 situation with Early, who had landed hard and hit his head, still rolling around under the other basket. McDermott scored with a baseline jumper with 2:17 left in the game.

It was the last basket he would make in the game, though, and the Shockers managed to coax the final seconds off the clock as the capacity crowd erupted.

"This is as good as it gets for a college basketball atmosphere," Doug McDermott said. "It's tough to come here to win. I've lost two times in three years here. It's always been one of my favorite places to play. It's as good as it gets in college basketball."

1/16/13

Westchester guard talks recruiting

Mike Libert
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

It was tough Saturday afternoon for Aaron Ray. 

M. Wingate
Aaron Ray

The 6'3" sophomore swingman was out of action after injuring his thumb cutting ankle tape, and his Middletown team fell at the hands of New Rochelle, but after the game we were able to talk to Ray about his recruitment and when he hopes to be back on the court.

The injury, which happened on Thursday and caused him to miss the New Rochelle game, is not expected to be serious, and according to Ray, he should be back on the court and in action soon.

"My trainer said I should be ok to practice Monday so long as nothing happens to make it worse and I should be back on Tuesday when we play Burke Catholic." Ray said.

Though he missed the game Saturday, his recruitment continues to impress, and according to Ray, a few schools stand out above the rest.

"Iowa State was supposed to come see me against Newburgh last month but I was out that game so they didn't come but they said they will be back. I also have offers from Kansas, Notre Dame, and Dayton." Ray admitted.

Once he is back on the court, Ray says he wants to bring more intensity and be more physical, which he hopes will lead to something special for Middletown.

"We have a goal and that's to win a championship" Ray said.

Even with the injury that kept him out Saturday, with a goal like that and a recruitment that seems to just be beginning to take off, things sure look good for the future for this young star.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

By Justin Rodriguez

After a reel of McDaniel dunks and other big plays at Wichita State circa the mid-1980s, the screen fades to black, before the words "The Sequel" appear on it. What follows is some of Anthony's highlights at SUNY Sullivan the last two years.

There were plenty more flashy clips for Early on Wednesday night.

Early took Wichita State fans back to the X-Man days, scoring a career-high 39 points in the Shockers' 82-76 Missouri Valley Conference win over Southern Illinois.

Early's 39 points are the most by a Wichita State player since McDaniel, who played for five NBA teams, including the Knicks, put up 43 against Bradley Jan. 10, 1985. The 39 points are the fifth-most in the NCAA this season.

"It's kind of funny, it's ironic after seeing that video," said Early, who starred at Pine Bush and transferred to Wichita State from SUNY Sullivan this year. "It's cool. When I committed, a lot of people talked to me about the X-Man.

"It feels good, but I'm not content. I was just trying to win and I have to keep doing what I have to do."

Of course, Early, a 6-foot-8 forward, has a knack for big scoring games. He put up 48 points for Pine Bush in January of 2009 in a loss to Newburgh, which went on to win the Class AA state title. With Division I coaches monitoring him, Early filled up the scorebook at Sullivan.

On his biggest night, against Southern Illinois, Early shot 13-of-19 from the field. He was 5-of-9 from 3-point range and scored seven of Wichita State's first 10 points to start the game.

Early on, his teammates started telling him he could make a run at 40 points. His performance helped Wichita State (15-1), ranked No. 23 in the nation, come back from a nine-point halftime deficit.

Early has already become a star in Wichita, Kan., with his game, name and personality getting him attention. He has been named Missouri Valley Conference newcomer of the week four times, and, after the X-Man redux, he might land the award for a fifth time.

"I expected this from Cleanthony," said Sullivan coach Kevin DeVantier. "I knew he would shock a lot of people at this level. I knew how good he was and so did Wichita State. The key — he went in there hungry."

As Early adjusts to Division I ball, DeVantier expects him to only get better. Early agrees and has even bigger plans for himself and his Wichita State teammates. This so-called sequel could only be beginning.

"I'm enjoying this experience," Early said. "I love it. The goal for myself and the team kind of coexists. I want to get into the NCAA tournament, play at the highest level, and go as deep as we can into it.

"There is so much more work to do."

jrodriguez@th-record.com

 

January 24th, 2013

DeAnte' Mitchell
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Back in the spring, Stanley Buczek had a lot of schools tracking his play. Fast forward five months and the same Ivy League, low D-1 and D-2 schools are still snooping around.

Entering his senior season, it's critical for Buczek to continue to make an impression on college coaches, which is why he's started to focus on two things outside of recruiting. "Right now, I'm focused on basketball and keeping my grades up," Buczek said. "I take school first. If I get hurt, I have something to fall back on. I'll probably set visits up in February."

With that in mind, Buczek expects to let his game do the attracting.

The 6-6 Burke Catholic (NY) senior has improved his game and expects his game to be more attractive to coaches. "Last year, I focused on trying to put weight on and get stronger. This year, I'm focusing on more of the technical stuff," Buczek said. "I've gotten more athletic. I'm jumping higher, running faster, I'm shooting the ball better and handling the ball better."

The 6-6 swingman, who says he's most comfortable at three, improved his game for another reason as well. Last season, Burke Catholic wasn't able to defend its crown as state champions. Similar to last season, Buczek has one goal for this season and its the only thing that really matters to him. "I'd like to win a state championship and get to federations and win that," he said. "[It will take] a lot of hard work. We just have to keep pushing each other and having a will to get better." He also mentioned the feeling of losing as defending champs and said he plans to do everything to prevent that from happening a second time around.

He has a lot of confidence in his team and expects them to go far. "We're working hard," he said. "Today was our second practice and the team looks really good."

Every player eligible for Friday evening's NBA D-League Draft is hoping they have an unique enough skill set to set them apart from the competition. For Franklin & Marshall's Georgio Milligan, his swarming defensive prowess is sure to turn heads.

As the NBA D-League Draft inches closer and closer. it's obvious to see from the slew of young point guards available just how many floor generals are pining for a chance to strut their stuff.

Many of these guards have different individual specialties. Some pride themselves in being flashy passers. Another here or there may be especially skilled at using their strength to drive to the basket. Others may even may be athletic enough to use such ability to their advantage their opponents.

Any which way a floor general chooses to run the show, the ability to take charge of an offense is essential. With that skill set so necessary, there's a good chance most (if not all) available point guards indeed have such a foundation of abilities.

So what sets each one apart from the rest of the bunch? For Franklin & Marshall's Georgio Milligan, it's, without a question, his defensive prowess.

Now, make no mistake: Milligan can score the basketball too. During his senior campaign at F&M, the guard averaged an efficient 18.9 points on 49% shooting from the field, including 45% from deep. These numbers are impressive, but with so many scorers already gracing the NBA and D-League stages, Milligan's aggression on the other side of the ball is sure to still help him turn heads.

Milligan's defensive strategy is clear after watching him play: swarm the defender at all times. The young guard's overwhelming pressure is that of a glove as opposing offensive players are thrown off constantly. It's clear he puts in the work as he aims to take the ball away from his opponent.

What's more, while some players may use their athleticism to leap their way towards the hoop for an electrifying slam dunk, Milligan finds other ways to use his athletic strengths to wow the crowd.

At just 6'2" and 188 points, the F&M alum can still jump high enough to swat away an opponent's shot. For a point guard, Milligan has an uncanny ability to block shots away. During his collegiate years, his defensive specialities were certainly on display, as Milligan finished 2nd all time in steals, and perhaps an even more unique 3rd all time in blocks as well.

With the NBA D-League Draft set to go on this Friday night, each and every eligible player hopes to have done enough to prove their worth to NBADL come selection time. It's a certainty Milligan hopes his swarming and commanding defensive skills are enough to peak a D-League team's interest in the later rounds of the draft.

From there, who knows what kinds of NBA and/or international opportunities will come his way.

By PAULA WOLF
Sports Writer

Former Franklin & Marshall College standout Georgio Milligan has signed a one-year deal to play basketball in Europe.

Milligan, a four-year starter at point guard who achieved All-America honors in Division III, will participate in the German Pro B League as a member of Ratiopharm Ulm.

A 2012 F&M graduate, he leaves this week to begin practicing with the team.

"I'm excited" about the opportunity, Milligan said.

Ratiopharm, which plays in the city of Ulm in southern Germany, also has a Pro A League club, and he said he hopes to perform well enough to get promoted.

"I'd like to play a couple of years in Europe," said Milligan, a resident of Spring Valley, N.Y., which is north of Manhattan. Before coming to F&M, he starred at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J.

Former Franklin & Marshall player Chris Finch, who played internationally and is now the coach of the Great Britain Olympic basketball team, helped Milligan achieve his goal of playing in Europe.

In addition to his salary, Milligan is supplied with an apartment and a car. Milligan also gets one free round-trip airfare that he said he'll probably use to return home for the holidays.

Milligan said the Ratiopharm team includes mostly German players with a few Americans. Asked about the differences between German and U.S. college basketball, he said the paint area is more of a trapezoid shape. Also, if the ball is on the rim, "you can goaltend it," he said.

The 6-2 Milligan received numerous postseason accolades after leading F&M to its third straight Centennial Conference title in 2011-12 and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.

He was named DIII News National Player of the Year, Centennial Conference Player of the Year and Regional Player of the Year by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and D3Hoops.com. He was also a first-team All-Region selection by NABC and D3Hoops.com.

Milligan was a unanimous first-team All-Centennial Conference selection and became the first player to earn first-team All-CC honors four times. He was the fifth player in CC history to earn back-to-back Player of the Year awards.

Over his four years at F&M, Milligan started 124 games — a school record — and led the team to 103 victories. He helped F&M reach the NCAA tournament four times, including a Final Four appearance in 2009.

Milligan finished his career at F&M first in scoring (1,932) and free throws made (535), second in steals (282) and assists (628), and third in blocked shots (140).

pwolf@lnpnews.com

Generals ranked No. 4 in nation to start season

Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 11/06/12

LOCH SHELDRAKE — The Cleanthony Early era is over at SUNY Sullivan, and now the Generals will transition to a more balanced team, according to coach Kevin DeVantier.

Early, the two-time Division III junior college national player of the year from Middletown, has moved on to Wichita State. Monroe's Marvin Jean has moved on to Utah State and Frankie Drayton is now at Division II Newman University.

"Offensively, we have changed,'' DeVantier said. "Five or six guys can really score it. There's no one of (Early's) caliber, that's for sure. We're going to be an even more balanced scoring attack rather than jumping on one guy's shoulders.''

The Generals have only two returnees — Marcus Henderson of Newburgh and Willie Williams — but DeVantier has added three sophomore transfers, a former Sullivan standout and brought in eight freshmen for a team he believes can contend for the Region XV title, but will surely take its lumps with a difficult schedule.

Sullivan has earned the No. 4 preseason ranking in NJCAA Division III. The Generals manhandled No. 2 SUNY Delhi in a recent scrimmage, but DeVantier cautioned not to read too much into it.

"I think we're going to be good down the road,'' DeVantier said. "I like what we have. They work really hard. They want to be good. I think we're talented enough to challenge for the region.''

These Generals may not be as explosive offensively as recent teams, but they play tougher and will be better defensively.

"It's a different feel team, for sure,'' DeVantier said.

The season opener is Tuesday night as SUNY Ulster visits Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.

Henderson, a former standout at Newburgh Free Academy, has the point guard job to his own, now that Drayton has moved on. DeVantier said Henderson improved a lot over the summer and he expects a lot from him this season. Williams has been a dominant rebounder and DeVantier expects him to be a go-to player for offense.

Transfer Antoine Gattling is a shooting guard who is strong, versatile and can score in a variety of ways. Former Sullivan player Bobby Jones is back for a second year and, at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he will be a tough matchup for opponents at the three spot. Mohamed Dansoko from Brooklyn has been the surprise of preseason camp, providing a big, strong post presence and the ability to contribute right away as a 6-5 freshman.

Sophomore Naqwan Crowell from Poughkeepsie, a transfer from SUNY Dutchess, may be Sullivan's hidden weapon. Crowell, who did not play last season, averaged 20 points a game and was a regional all-star two seasons ago. He still brings speed and athleticism to the guard position. Irving Lewis from the Miami area is a 6-3 freshman who can play the one, two, three and four positions and score in multiple ways. Maurice Eastwood is a 6-6 freshman who will be a backup post player with the ability to step out and shoot the 3-pointer. Freshman Gerald McClease, from Trinity-Pawling prep, provides good size in the post at 6-4. Long Island's Darien Croft, a sophomore, is a very good shooter off the bench.

"We are not a championship team right now, whereas the past two years I thought we were,'' DeVantier said. "I think down the road, when we start to build on things, then we will have a shot.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com;

Twitter: @KenMcMIllanTHR

Schedule

November
Tues. 6 – SUNY Ulster, 7 p.m.; Thur. 8 – Hostos CC, 7:30 p.m. (DH); Sat.-Sun. 10-11 – at Monroe College tournament; Sat. 10 – TBD; Sun. 11 – Monroe CC, 1 p.m.; Thur. 15 – SUNY Westchester, 7 p.m.; Sat. 17 – at Manhattan CC, 2:30 p.m. (DH); Tues. 20 – at SUNY Dutchess, 7 p.m.; Tues. 27 – at Bronx CC, 7 p.m. (DH); Wed. 28 – SUNY Orange, 7 p.m.; Fri. 30 – at Columbus State tournament

December
Sat. 1 – at Columbus State tournament; Tues. 4 – at SUNY Rockland, 7:30 p.m. (DH); Thur. 6 – at Queensborough CC, 7 p.m.; Mon. 10 – Kingsborough CC, 7:30 p.m.; Tues. 11 – SUNY Delhi, 7 p.m. (DH); Fri. 14 – Suffolk CCC, 5 p.m.; Sat. 15 – Nassau CC, 2 p.m.

January
Sat. 19 – at Suffolk CCC, 2 p.m.; Tues. 22 – at SUNY Orange, 7 p.m. (DH); Thur. 24 – at SUNY Ulster, 7 p.m.; Tues. 29 – at SUNY Westchester, 7 p.m. (DH); Thur. 31 – Bronx CC, 7 p.m. (DH)

February
Sat. 2 – at Nassau CC, 3 p.m. (DH); Tues. 5 – SUNY Rockland, 7:30 p.m. (DH); Thur. 7 – at Hostos CC, 8 p.m.; Sat. 9 – Manhattan CC, 3 p.m. (DH); Thur. 14 – SUNY Dutchess, 7 p.m. (DH); Sat. 16 – at Kingsborough CC, 3 p.m. (DH); Sun. 17 – Queensborough CC, 3 p.m. (DH); Mon. 25 – ASA Institute, 7 p.m.

March
Fri.-Sun. 1-3 – Region XV tournament; Thur.-Sat. 14-16 – NJCAA Div. III tourney at Sullivan
Home games at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse in Loch Sheldrake; (DH) – indicates doubleheader with SUNY Sullivan women's team

SUNY SULLIVAN ROSTER
Sophomores (6): No. 24 Darien Croft, G; No. 10 Naqwan Crowell, G; No. 5 Antoine Gattling, G; No. 3 Marcus Henderson, G; No. 22 Bobby Jones, G; No. 23 Willie Williams, F

Freshmen (8): No. 4 Brandon Alford, G; No.32 Mohamed Dansoko, F; No. 00 Maurice Eastwood, F; No. 14 Douglas Escobar, G; No. 21 Irving Lewis, G; No. 33 Gerald McClease, F; No. 12 Lucas Savage, G; No. 11 Ken Woodard, F

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

6'3" Aaron Ray comes from a basketball family Both of his older brothers played division 1 basketball and one even made it to the NBA.

The younger Ray is now forging his own path as he carries Middleton High School towards a championship season.

During the summer, the sophomore plays with the Bronx, NY based Team SCAN. Coach Oswald Cross describes Ray as a "Power 2 guard; great rebounder for his position."

Ray is also armed with a good perimeter game as well as with nice pull-up shot and an aptitude for scoring. With all the aforementioned along with the ability to flat out get to the rack, Coach Cross believes that Ray could "Pretty much [be] one of the best scorers in the country."

Apparently, Cross is not alone in his assessment. "Iowa State, Nova, Illinois, St. John's, Kansas, Rutgers, Sienna, Marist and Binghamton" have all expressed interest.

Only a sophomore, Cross believed that once Ray increases his defensive intensity offers will begin materializing during the spring.

By Paul Suellentrop
The Wichita Eagle
Published Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at 5:19

Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle | Buy this photo
Cleanthony Early is a newcomer to the Wichita State basketball team and hopes to make an impact this year. (Oct. 24, 2012)

Shocker Madness
When: 5 p.m. Thursday with men?s team autograph session
Events: Women's 20-minute scrimmage: 6:15; dunk contest and men's MVC ring ceremony follows; men?s 30-minute scrimmage at 7:15.
Admission: Free

Cleanthony Early and coach Gregg Marshall remember the moment basically the same way, until the end. Early, in his first Wichita State basketball practice of the summer, took a 17-foot turnaround jumper from the baseline, the type of shot he won't take if he wants to play for the Shockers.
It probably went in, though, Early said.
Marshall remembers it falling three feet short of the rim.
He turned and shot it like, I guess, the way he did last year at his junior college, he said. He wasn't open. It was a bad shot, even if he was open.
Early's memory reveals his role and his confidence. He can score. He can play multiple positions. He defends and rebounds. Making baskets, however, is his identity.
I'm a scorer, he said. I know with the offense that we have, scoring won't even be something I should focus on, because I know it's something that's going to come, whether it's me crashing the boards on offense and getting tip-ins or getting an open shot. I'm going to score.
Early, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, proved that at Sullivan County (N.Y.) Community College, where he averaged 24.2 points as a sophomore and made 58 percent of his shots and 23 of 62 three-pointers (37 percent). He is WSU's most prominent newcomer after earning NJCAA Division III Player of the Year honors twice at Sullivan.
As Marshall's anecdote demonstrates, Early needed to learn how to play smarter to take advantage of his physical gifts. WSU guard Malcolm Armstead, a senior who practiced with the Shockers last season while redshirting, notices Early picking up one of the key points of the offense.
He understand that if he sets a good screen on somebody else's man, then he's going to be open just as much because his man has to help, Armstead said. He is understanding what his role is and what coach wants him to do. He's a gifted player, because he's 6-8, 6-9 and he can score on the perimeter. He can run like a guard, but he's big.
Lost in practices this summer, Early made fast progress and Marshall counts him as a player ready to contribute at both forward positions.
He will be a factor from Day 1, Marshall said. We haven't had anybody like him since I've been here a forward that is incredibly athletic, and fairly skilled and 6-foot-8 and pretty strong.
While WSU needs his scoring, Early knows other jobs are important. He won't be the offensive focal point for 40 minutes as he was at Sullivan. Defenses will be more difficult to master in the Missouri Valley Conference. The best players contribute even when shots aren't going in.
Whatever I can do, whether it's getting rebounds, blocking shots, making passes, scoring the ball whatever I feel like is in my ability, I'm going to try to do it at my best, he said. I've got to worry about stopping my man, getting that loose ball, boxing out. That's what I need to focus on and become better at.
Early's progress is critical for chemistry, which is an issue after losing five seniors. WSU, which went 27-6 and played in the NCAA Tournament last season, is mixing in six newcomers. Armstead calls Early a good catch-and-shoot scorer, someone who doesn't need a dribble to set himself before shooting. He can run the pick-and-pop and is fast enough to score on the break. When he plays power forward, his outside shooting can stretch the defense.
Guys know where your spot is and where to find you, Early said. Demetric (Williams) and Malcolm, they're starting to learn my game. That's always been the type of player I've been, to rely on a good point guard to set me up and make even better. They're going to make sure I'm in the right spot.
Early's attitude helps his progress.
He listens very well, so he tries to pick our brain, Williams said. He is very coachable. He is very hungry and humble and wants to really be out there this season.

October 23, 2012
Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

NEW YORK, NY - Sunday was a good day for basketball junkies at Baruch College. The Jim Couch Super 16 games took place and featured some of the top freshman and sophomore high school players.

Bryant takes over; Purple Sophomore Team wins, 90-88

The sophomore game ended up being more of a Sophomore/freshmen game due to a shortage of sophs. It was nonetheless entertaining.

It would be an up-tempo game as two sport star Kejuan Johnson and Jamar Ergas hit the ground running for the White team. Thomas Bryant would also show his skills at finishing off the catch near the rim as well as in transition. Thomas was the motor for the Purple Team but 6'3" Aaron Ray (Middletown HS, NY) and Unique McLean were the gas, gaving them a slight 54-50 at the half.

The game stayed close throughout the third quarter and throughout most of the fourth as a mano y mano emerged between Thomas and Cheick Diallo, egged on by the M.C.

The two big men put on a show, scoring on and blocking each other but as everyone's attention was averted up high, the White team took a lead as 5'10" PG Cheyenne Nettleton from Holy Cross HS (NY) nailed some hard fought buckets.

With 3:19 left to play 6'4" forward Chancellor Ellis from St. Andrews Prep in Rhode Island would knot the game at 80 for the Purple Team with a 3-ball. The Purple team would fall behind again by a bucket and Ellis would encore his performance with another trifecta with 3 seconds left. It would be enough give the Purple team the win.

Bryant took MVP honor scoring a game high 23 points for the Purple Team. Ellis added 18 points and Ray, 14 points. The Sportsmanship award went to Johnson who led the White Team. Nettleton pitched in with 16 points while Ergos contributed 14 points.

More importantly, the two games confirmed that the upcoming 2015 and 2016 class has a bright future.
Sunday's Jim Couch Super 16 games were quite refreshing. The advanced level of play should be encouraging to fans of the game as well as to College Coaches. While both games were entertaining, there were quite a few players in both the freshman and sophomore all-star games that caught the eye of NYCHoops.net.

Aaron Ray - The 6'3" forward from Middletown HS (NY) plays more like a power guard. Similar to Gibbs, Ray comes from a lineage of basketball talent with an older brother, Kendrick Ray who's a freshman at Quinnipiac and an oldest brother Allen Ray who played at Nova and briefly in the NBA. Aggressive to the rim, Ray got to the line quite often. Interested to see how his midrange and perimeter game develops. Ray scored 14 points.

iS8/Nike Recaps Saturday (10/13)
Deborah N. Harris
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

SOUTH JAMAICA, N.Y. - On Saturday, although there were some late changes to the schedule, there was still some solid action on the hardwood of the gymnasium at Intermediate School 8 as part of the iS8/Nike Fall Tip-Off Classic.

B.C. Eagles Stave Off Team Underrated, 73-64

B.C. Eagles (N.Y.) and Team Underrated (N.Y.) engaged in a heated battle from jump-ball. However, thanks, in part, to the point guard skills of B.C. Eagles' Justin Robinson (Kingston High School (N.Y.) '13), the squad was strung together nicely. Robinson set up his teammates in sweet spots, regardless of whether it was from 3-point range or under the basket.

In the first quarter, B.C. Eagles was able to acquire a seven-point lead quite a few times in the period. The team, however, held a six-point advantage, 18-11, by the close of the warm-up phase. Playing from down, Team Underrated tightened up its defense in order to close the margin.

On a 2-of-2 performance by Payton Johnson (The Academy of the New Church (Pa.) '14), Team Underrated slashed the deficit to four points, 20-16. Still, floor general Robinson was able to hit off teammates for buckets, as well as in good positions to draw fouls. As a result, within the final minute of the second quarter, B.C. Eagles held an 11-point advantage, 35-24, after a 3-pointer by Calvin Crawford (Valley Central (N.Y.) '13) and free throws by Robinson.

The halftime closed with B.C. Eagles still ahead by 11, 39-28.

With a few exceptions, Team Underrated struggled to capitalize on the opportunities it earned on the defensive end, missing chippies and bunnies near the rim. B.C. Eagles, refusing to allow Team Underrated to earn second-chance points, played them close on defense, grabbing loose balls and converting at the rack or earning them at the stripe. B.C. Eagles held as much as a 13-point lead, 41-28, in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, determined to help his team dig out of a hole, Chaz Watler (Archbishop Molloy High School (N.Y.) '13) continued his defensive prowess, but also became more aggressive on the offensive end, attacking the rack and assisting his teammates. Teammate Kyle Williams (St. John the Baptist High School (N.Y.) '14) aided his squad on the inside, scoring all of his 10 points in the second half. As a result, Team Underrated dropped its deficit to five points, 55-50.

Still, the hard work and quick execution of Jemal Mosley (Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) '13), Crawford and Robinson pushed B.C. Eagles ahead again. On the completion of a conventional three-point play by Jonte Rutty (Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) '13), B.C. Eagles was up by as much as 15 points, 69-54, with about two minutes left in the contest.

B.C. Eagles' Mosley finished with a game-high 18 points, while teammate Crawford added 16 points in the win. Eagles' Robinson and Rutty posted 15 points apiece. Meanwhile, Team Underrated's Watler scored a team-high 16 points, while teammates Williams and Jaylen Hernandez (Paramus Catholic (N.J.) '14) each posted 10 points.

Section 9 Standout Calvin Crawford of Valley Central High School is Garnering Division One Attention.

Crawford, a Section 9, Class AA All-League selection last season, has been offered a scholarship by the University of Vermont out of the America East conference.

Crawford has not made his mind up about where he wants to play yet, but says Vermont has impressed him. They were pretty successful last year, losing to North Carolina in the tournament. It's a big university, Crawford said in a recent interview with Upstate Scouting.

At 6"7" Crawford has impressed scouts with his ability to shoot the ball for a big man. Crawford?s inside-outside game has been his best weapon at the High School level. In college however, he sees himself moving exclusively out to the wing. I see myself playing the two or three at the college level, maybe even a four

that can stretch the floor. When I was talking to Vermont, he (Vermont Coach John Becker) said he?d probably have me at the two or three.

Crawford admits making the transition to a permanent wing player will require work on his end. If I'm gonna play the perimeter in college I'll need to improve my ball handling. It's decent now but it can always get better. Also shooting off the dribble, and rebounding. I'm a decent rebounder now, but it?s going to be harder going against bigger guys in college.

Along with his shooting and scoring ability, Crawford sees his leadership as being one of his top attributes, but says that he is looking to even further increase that role in the upcoming season. I was the team leader last year, but I?d like to become even more of a leader next year, said Crawford. I play hard no matter where I?m playing or who I?m playing against. I want to help the guys on my team get better too, instead of it being just all about me.

Crawford credits his parents, as well as some former coaches for helping him get to where he is today, a future Division I basketball player. My mom and dad have definitely been my biggest influences, said Crawford. They drive me everywhere, take me out to tournaments, and every game. My dad is my biggest fan. As far as coaches, I give a lot of credit to my AAU coach Bob Rahn for taking me places and making me a better player, as well as coach William Thom and coach Lou Demelo, I probably had my best improvement with them playing for the East Coast Panthers.

Crawford also had the unique privilege while playing with the Panthers to be coached in practice by former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks Head Coach Mike D'Antoni, who's son Michael was a teammate of Crawford's. At first it was surreal I didn't believe it but once it got going it was really cool you had to think a lot and play hard, but to say you got coached by a guy like Mike D?Antoni is always gonna be cool, it was a fun practice.

With still one more year remaining with Valley Central, Crawford has his sites set on leaving his impact on Section 9 before moving on to college. ?I?d like to maybe even go for Section 9 Player of the Year. I like to aim high with my goals, so that?d be a cool thing to accomplish my senior year. I definitely want to get back into the Section 9 championship game, I know Valley Central hasn?t been there in a while. But, hopefully I can do that, and help my team do that.?

Crawford can be seen this summer playing for the BCANY?s Section 9 team in the Basketball Coaches Association of New York?s Summer Hoops Festival where he will play along side former featured Upstate Scouting prospects Zach and Tyler Lydon of Pine Plains.

Upstate thanks Calvin Crawford for answering our questions and wishes him the best of luck in his senior year and beyond.

Ross Bentley, Staff writer

?

By Chris Hunn, Register Staff
chunn@nhregister.com / Twitter: @Chris_Hunn

HAMDEN - It's a little less than two months before the Quinnipiac men's basketball team tips off its season and some of the Bobcats are at the TD Bank Sports Center playing in a pick-up game.

Down the court comes freshman Kendrick Ray dribbling with his left hand. He gives a stutter step, crosses over to his right and whips by a defender into the lane. For the next 20 minutes or so, Ray shows why he is one of the most promising recruits the program has ever landed.

His game has an exceptional smoothness to it. Watching him, it's easy to see why he is expected to come in and make an immediate impact for Quinnipiac. He's quick, athletic and explosive with the ability to play at either guard spot. The 6-footer from Middletown, N.Y., should also help fill the void left by graduated leading scorer James Johnson.

He's probably as talented as any guard we've ever brought in, Bobcats coach Tom Moore said. I had the same feeling about Johnson. As I saw him on the circuit last July playing against other guys who many considered Big East or Atlantic-10, or Colonial players, I didn't see a real big drop off from them to him. If he stays hungry and continues to work, I think his ability is going to be a big recruit at this level.

In addition to his talent, Ray has a very strong support system starting with his parents. Two of his siblings have played Division I basketball and are there to guide him along the way. His brother Allan helped Villanova to the Elite Eight in 2006, played for the Boston Celtics and is now playing in Germany. His sister Brittany was a standout guard for Rutgers.

Ray got a first-hand look of what to expect sitting in on both his brother's and sister?s practices in the past. Watching them succeed has also given Ray a hunger to follow in their footsteps. And the one-on-one battles with both growing up at Baruch College in Manhattan have also prepared him.

I'd always be the one to talk trash, but I'd still lose, said Ray with a smile.

Moore said Ray arrived in Hamden with a humbleness and humility that is refreshing to see.

He doesn't feel like he's already arrived or has this thing figured out,Moore said. He's got a desire to learn and has a good work ethic.
Ray, whose decision came down to Quinnipiac and Wagner, seems to be a good fit for Moore's system that allows guards plenty of freedom. While there is certainly potential for him to emerge right away, there is no pressure. The Bobcats are loaded at guard and will once again be a contender in the Northeast Conference.

As a senior at Middletown High (N.Y.) last year he averaged 21 points, six assists and four steals per game, carrying his team to the final eight of the New York state championships.

He moved up and took over the starting point guard role as a freshman, explained his high school coach Jim Kelly. He's a great leader, the type to be the first in the gym and the last one out. He was a real gym rat. If you needed him to score, he'd score. If you needed him to get others involved, he could distribute.

Like many young guards, Ray still needs to get stronger so he can absorb hits on his drives to the basket. He needs to improve his shot selection and tighten his mechanics on his jumper along the perimeter. But as Moore points out, that will all come with time.

And Ray is willing to listen and work.

Right now, he is still adjusting to the independence and responsibility that comes with college life, while also very anxious for the season to start.

For Moore, the feeling is mutual.

He's a talented young man, Moore said. He's got a good basketball body and I don't see any backdown in him. I'm really looking forward to coaching him.

October 16, 2012

Veteran University of Scranton men’s basketball coach Carl Danzig has never backed down from a challenge.

He inherited a storied program—one that has won two national titles (1976, 1983) and has advanced to the Final Four on two other occasions (1977, 1988)—and yet has managed to carve out a niche of his own.

In 11 seasons, he’s won more than 200 games and has led the Royals to six NCAA tournament appearances and six conference championships, including four in Scranton’s recent five-year affiliation with the Landmark Conference.

Of all the excitement that Danzig has created since taking over in 2001, however, the most memorable might have been last year, when the Royals capped off a 23-8 season with an incredible run in the NCAA tournament.

Scranton overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to defeat Messiah College in overtime, 70-67, in the first round; dismantled Becker College (Mass.) in the next round, 69-41; then upset fourth-ranked Middlebury College, 58-55, on Middlebury’s home floor to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993.

A season-ending 78-58 loss to eventual runner-up Cabrini College in the NCAA sectional final did nothing to diminish the Royals’ magical season.

Scranton fans will once again have lofty expectations, fueled by the return of three starters from last year’s team that earned a 15th-place national ranking in D3hoops.com’s final poll. That nucleus will be called upon, especially in the early going, to offset the loss of some key personnel.

All three starters—senior Travis Farrell (Middletown, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy), sophomore Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy-NJ), and junior Tommy Morgan (Greenlawn, NY/Chaminade)—are guards who are adept in all phases of the game.

Each scored in double figures, two of the three (Farrell and Danzig) tied for the team-lead in rebounding (while Morgan was next at 4.5 per game), and all three were top-notch defenders, especially Farrell, who led the Royals for the third straight year in steals and was named the 2012 Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior Tim Lavelle (Clarks Green, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) is yet another veteran who has played considerable minutes over the past three years and gives Danzig another scoring threat in the back court.

“We’re excited about our guard play,” says Danzig. “We have four quality guards that have a ton of minutes under their belt and are going to be very tough to defend. In addition, we’re bringing along some upperclassmen that haven’t seen a lot of time the last couple of years, but should see more in a supporting role this season.

Those upperclassmen battling for playing time are juniors Michael Barr (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) and Mike Marchman (Blauvelt, NY/St. Joseph Regional) and sophomores Michael Fee (Richboro, Pa./St. Joseph’s Preparatory) and Justin Klingman (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) at guard, and juniors Jack McKenna (Netcong, NJ/Lenape Valley) and Kyle Ranck (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) at forward.

For Danzig, replacing two-time first-team all-conference selection Luke Hawk, a 6-4 swing man and one of the Landmark’s best interior players, along with 6-8 forward Matt Swaback, a three-year starter who was a defensive nightmare for most opponents because of his perimeter shooting ability, poses a tremendous challenge

Furthermore, Danzig must replace 6-8 forward Nick Jaskula, who played 30 games last year and was unquestionably the Royals’ most improved player, as well as forward Edmond O’Connell, who wasn’t afraid to mix it up down low over the past three years.

To shore up these losses, Danzig concentrated his recruiting efforts on size—both in quantity and quality.

“We brought in a big class—I don’t think I’ve ever brought in a class this big,” he says. “The emphasis was on height because we graduated all of our size.”

Of the eight newcomers, four are 6-4 or taller. Danzig is confident 6-8 junior Jason Pierce (Scranton, Pa./Conestoga), a transfer from nearby Lackawanna College, and freshmen Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola), Sam Palermo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), Billy Garneau (Warwick, NY/John S. Burke Catholic), and Marcus Thomas (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg) can blend in quickly.

“Jason (Pierce) is an older student who brings maturity and size and Sam (Palermo) and Brendan (Boken) are both very capable players. They’re (Palermo, Boken) inside-outside type of players, and their success is really dependent on how quickly they learn the system. Once they get comfortable, I think their level of play will pick up.”

Rounding out the newcomers are sharp-shooting guards Brian Farrell (Verona, NJ/Verona) and Justice Perez (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and point-guard Shaun Cooke (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro), each of whom is expected to make contributions.

With an inexperienced front line, Danzig will once again rely on his talented back court to share the scoring and rebounding duties.

“That’s how we play, and that will be our emphasis again,” he says. “We always seem to have three or four guys averaging in double figures, so I think Timmy (Lavelle), Ross (Danzig), Tommy (Morgan), and Travis (Farrell)—there’s four guys right there who can get double figures. I’m really hoping they continue to play well together, and then we’ll sprinkle in the new kids.”

If anything, Danzig is hoping the Royals can recapture the chemistry of last year’s team, which pulled out a number of wins with heart-stopping, late-game heroics.

“So much of it is the DNA of the kids and how they bond together,” says Danzig. “The catalysts behind last year’s team are back. If the older kids are fighting till the end, it brings along the younger kids and they understand that’s who we are. So over the years, we’ve been able to develop that type of mentality. Last year was great because everybody clicked. We never felt like we were ever out of a game, whether we were up or down.”

News & Notes: Royals are 53-17 (.757) against Landmark Conference opponents in five seasons as a league member…Ross Danzig, the 2012 Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year, scored 407 points last season, the most by a Scranton freshman since three-time all-American Irv Johnson tallied 427 in 1976, the year the Royals won their first NCAA Division III championship…Farrell is 73 steals shy of tying Randy Arnold as the Royals’ all-time leader (Arnold had 252 steals from 2004-2008)…Royals will host NCAA runner-up Cabrini College on Tuesday, November 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the Long Center…Wilkes University will be the site of the second annual Cross-County Challenge on January 2-3; Royals won the initial challenge by defeating former Freedom Conference rivals Wilkes, 71-53, and King’s College, 62-47, last January at Marywood University…Royals are 126-24 (.827) on their home court, the Long Center, during Danzig’s 11-year tenure as head coach, including a 12-1 mark last season…Scranton led the Landmark Conference in scoring defense (64.7 points per game allowed) and field goal percentage (.462)…the Royals will play seven, possibly eight, non-conference opponents this year that posted winning records last season: Misericordia (21-7), Cabrini (31-2), Mt. St. Mary-NY (23-7), Keystone (21-6), Alvernia (20-8) or Gwynedd-Mercy (17-10), St. Joseph-NY (21-5), and Wilkes (17-10); Scranton also faces the possibility of playing York-Pa. (18-11) in the third place or championship game of the season-opening Radisson Invitational.

By Jeff Eisenberg | The Dagger

Yahoo! Sports is breaking down each league for the upcoming college basketball season working backward from No. 31 to No. 1.

Here's a look at our No. 11 league, the Missouri Valley Conference.
Thanks to its All-American forward, high-octane offense and burgeoning national profile, Creighton will probably emerge as the Missouri Valley Conference's showcase team again this winter.
What will determine if this is a good season for the Valley or not, however, is whether any of the teams behind the Bluejays are good enough to help the league earn multiple NCAA tournament bids for the second straight year.
Last year, regular season champion Wichita State earned a No. 5 seed and runner-up Creighton landed a No. 8, snapping a five-year at-large drought for the Valley. This year, Illinois State appears to be the most likely team to challenge the Bluejays in the Valley race and perhaps contend for an NCAA tournament bid.
Although coach Tim Jankovich left to become the heir apparent to Larry Brown at SMU and standout point guard Nic Moore followed him to Dallas, the Redbirds still return the core of a team that won 21 games last season. Illinois State upset Wichita State in the Valley semifinals, took Creighton to overtime in the title game and made a solid showing in the NIT, raising hopes the Redbirds can end a 15-year NCAA tournament drought next March.
The barometer for whether Illinois State can meet expectations or not may be whether any of the point guards on the roster can help ease the loss of Moore. Promising freshman Kaza Keane, a 6-foot-1 Canadian guard new coach Dan Muller added in May, will likely eventually get the starting nod over senior Anthony Cousin and sophomore Johnny Hill.
If the point guard position doesn't become a liability, Illinois State has the makings of a loaded offense. All-league forward Jackie Carmichael?averaged 13.9 points and a Valley best 9.7 rebounds last year, Jon Ekey and Tyler Brown are lights-out perimeter shooters and John Wilkins can do damage inside and out.
Besides the Redbirds, the teams most likely to challenge Creighton and perhaps make a push for an NCAA bid are Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Evansville.
Defense will again be the strength for a Northern Iowa team that returns six of its top seven players, but the Panthers need sophomores Seth Tuttle and Deon Mitchell to help the offense become more efficient. Wichita State lost all five starters from last year, but the Shockers have a chance to reload rather than rebuild because the incoming class may be coach Gregg Marshall's best ever. And Evansville returns high-scoring Colt Ryan but will need interior scorers to emerge before it can challenge the league's best teams.

MAKING A LIST
Best shooter: Doug McDermott, Creighton
Best playmaker: Jake Odum, Indiana State
Best defender: Gregory Echenique, Creighton
Coach on the rise: Gregg Marshall, Wichita State
Coach on the hot seat: Marty Simmons, Evansville
Three must-see games: 1 Creighton vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 23 (Las Vegas will be the site of the marquee non-league game for the Bluejays); 2. Illinois State at Louisville, Dec. 1 (A Valley contender takes aim at a national contender); 3. North Texas at Creighton (Tony Mitchell vs. Doug McDermott Yes, please.)

FACTS AND FIGURES
New coaches: Dan Muller, Illinois State (Had been assistant at Vanderbilt); Barry Hinson, Southern Illinois (Had been director of basketball operations at Kansas)
Regular-season winner last season: Wichita State
Tourney winner last season: Creighton
League RPI rank in each of past 3 seasons: 2011-12: 8th ; 2010-11: 12th, 2009-10: 9th
Last NCAA tourney win by a league team: 2012, eighth-seeded Creighton defeated Alabama in the round of 64

By Paul Suellentrop
The Wichita Eagle

Published Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at 6:24 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at 10:08 a.m.
ARTICLE

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/10/10/2527769/wichita-state-begins-practice.html#storylink=cpy

The natural instinct for basketball newcomers is to try to impress the coach and make big plays in the early days of practice.
Wichita State seniors Malcolm Armstead and Demetric Williams are here to tell them that is often the wrong move. The Shockers start daily practices on Friday and finding scoring appears to be the big question.
Scoring, the newcomers will learn, comes easier when they work within the offense.
They're going to have to pay a whole lot of attention to learning the system and not trying to do too much and try to show everything they've got,Williams said. Take it easy and be patient. If you go out there trying to do too much, not really knowing the system, it's not good for you, it's not beneficial for the team.
WSU, 27-6 last season, returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 with one of the nation?s most efficient offenses. The senior-dominated team knew how to get good shots, avoided turnovers and used defense and rebounding to produce easy baskets. WSU made 48.2 percent of its shots (15th nationally), and 37.1 percent of its three-pointers (56th).
It will not be easy to duplicate those numbers after losing five seniors. Center Garrett Stutz and guards Toure Murry and David Kyles had four seasons of experience. Guard Joe Ragland made 50.4 percent of his three-pointers and forward Ben Smith made 38.6 percent.
We've got to defend with this group, WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. Then we've got to figure out a way to score. We lost a lot of great scorers.
The importance of defense leading to offense won't change. The Shockers appear to possess the athletic ability and depth to play aggressive defense and disrupt offenses.
Your defense can start your scoring, Armstead said. That's where this group here can really get it going, by allowing our defense and our pressure to start the transition and get out and make plays that way.
Williams, one of four seniors, sets the example for trusting the system. His playing time increased when he cut down turnovers and allowed his scoring to come within the flow of the offense.
He is recovering from ankle surgery and is limited to light work in practice. He won?t know more about his return until after a checkup later this month.
Newcomers such as forward Cleanthony Early, who can score inside and from the perimeter, and swingman Nick Wiggins, an excellent shooter from deep, will get their chances to invigorate WSU's offense. So will redshirt freshman guard Ron Baker, called WSU's best shooter by Marshall. Center Chadrack Lufile is making a good impression with his speed for a big man.
I try to tell everybody to do the easy things, Williams said. Try to get the system. Try to remember all the plays. Try to do what coach wants to do. Then show what you got.
Armstead practiced with the Shockers last season after transferring from Oregon. He saw first-hand how the offense can work when players let it work.
That's my job, to be able to figure out that now in practice so when we get to games it?s not so much players forcing the issue or trying to do things out of character, he said.
The departure of Stutz, who averaged 13.3 points, doesn't mean the focus of WSU's offense changes. He forced most opponents to double-team him, producing open shots for perimeter players. It remains to be seen if another Shocker can command that respect from defense. Senior Carl Hall did at times last season, when he averaged 8.4 points and made 57.2 percent of his shots.
The system is for the post players, so a lot of it is going to come from Ehimen (Orukpe) and Carl (Hall), Williams said. (Carl) has expanded his game to the 17-foot range, jump shots, and he's always been real physical. Expanding his game to be able to hit the mid-range is a good aspect to his game.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/10/10/2527769/wichita-state-begins-practice.html#storylink=cpy

#12 Matthew Cooney

Position: G
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Yr.: Junior
High School: John S. Burke
Hometown: Blooming Grove

#33 Dennis Leahy

Position: F
Height: 6-7
Weight: 200
Yr.: Sophomore
High School: John S. Burke
Hometown: Campbell Hall

#11 Cleanthony Early

Position: F
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 215
Year: Junior
Hometown: Middletown, N.Y.
Other College: Sullivan JC

At WSU: Signed with WSU in the Fall of 2011 before earning his second-straight NJCAA Player of the Year award.

Junior College: Junior College: Two-time NJCAA Division III Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, and an NJCAA All-American... Two-time Region XV player of the year and Basketball Coaches Association of New York junior college player of the year in 2012… As a sophomore for Sullivan (N.Y.) County Community College, he averaged 24.2 points and 10.7 rebounds for the Generals, which went 28-4 overall… Averaged 20.4 points and 11.4 rebounds for Sullivan as a freshman while shooting 57 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line… He helped his team to the Region XV championship, a third place finish in the National Tournament and a 30-5 record as a freshman.


High School: Averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Pine Bush [N.Y.] Bushmen as a senior… At Mt. Zion academy in North Carolina he averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game... Won national tournament and was named MVP...

Personal: Son of Sandra Glover... Born April 17, 1991... Recruited by Alabama, Baylor, Missouri, San Diego State, Washington State, Quinnipiac, Albany, Central Connecticut, Iona, Robert Morris, West Virginia, Siena, Pitt, Memphis, Georgetown, St. John's and Rutgers... Majoring in Sport Management.

#2 Jordan Thorpe

Position: Forward
Height: 6-6
Class: Junior
Major:
Hometown: Newburgh, N.Y.
Previous School: Mount Zion Christian Academy

Bio coming soon ...

Kendrick Ray

Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Middletown, N.Y.
High School: Middletown
Position: Guard

Before Quinnipiac:
Enjoyed a tremendous career with the Bears’ varsity basketball team at Middletown High School … Averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game en route a Section 9 First Team All-Star selection as a senior … Named the team’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Bears to a Section 9 Championship in 2011-12 … Ranked in top-20 among athletes at the Hoop Group Elite Basketball Camp in 2011 … Recognized as the 2012 NYCHoops.com’s Top Point Guard in New York … Also a member of the BC Eagles AAU basketball team.

Personal:
The son of Larnel and Allen Ray … Born in Bronx, N.Y. … Has two brothers, Allan and Aaron, and one sister, Brittany … His brother, Allan, enjoyed a four-year stint at Villanova before signing with the Celtics for the 2006-07 season … His sister, Brittany, enrolled at fellow Big East institution Rutgers University and recently signed with the Atlanta Platinum of the Women’s United States Basketball Association (WUBSA) ... A communications major.

Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Year: Fr.
Hometown: Warwick, NY
High School: John S. Burke Catholic
Position: F
Major: Exploratory

Lettered in basketball three years...member of 2011 team that won New York State Class B state title and lost on a buzzer-beater to Watervliet in the state semifinals in 2012...averaged 15 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game...earned first-team all-star and was an all-section and all-county selection his senior year...was also a fourth-team all-state pick and was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the Glen McGinnis tournament in 2012...his high school coach was Doug Janekzco...also lettered in football, baseball, and lacrosse...son of Bill and Janette Garneau...major: Exploratory...date of birth: January 7, 1994

21 ZACH RUFER
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Bloomingburg, N.Y.
High School: Burke Catholic
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 180
Position: Guard
Major:Undecided

General: Combo guard who is an excellent passer...has the ability to score, when necessary.

High School: Averaged15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game in his senior season...guided his squad to the Class B State Semifinal...named the Times Herald-Record Player of the Year in 2010-11 and 2011-12...as a junior, he contributed 15.0 points per game, including 22.0 points per game in the postseason, leading his team to a Class B state title.

Personal: Son of John and Sherri Rufer...has an older brother, John, and an older sister, Megan...born on Aug. 6, 1994.

15 Marvin Jean
Class: Junior
Hometown: Harriman, N.Y.
High School: Mt. Zion (NC) Christian Academy
Last College: Sullivan CC
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 190
Position: Forward
Experience: JC

THIS SEASON:
Is very sound in all phases of the game... Can score, plays very hard and values both ends of the court... Can be a defensive force and team's best defender... Also a solid outside hitter... Wants to be successful at the Division I level.

JUNIOR COLLEGE:
Earned first-team Mid-Hudson Conference honors during both of his years at Sullivan (N.Y.) Community College... As a sophomore at Sullivan CC, he helped lead the Generals to a 27-4 record and to the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletics Association Region XV Division III Tournament... During his sophomore season, he averaged 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 40.8 percent from the field (143-350), 40.3 percent from three-point range (54-134) and 72.6 percent at the free throw line (53-73)... Along with earning a pair of first-team all-conference honors, he also earned first-team all-region honors as a freshman and second-team all-region honors as sophomore at Sullivan CC... During his freshman season at Sullivan CC, he helped the Generals to a 30-5 record and the Region XV Championship as he was named the MVP of both his conference and the region tournament... As a freshman, he averaged 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field (135-304), 37.1 percent from three-point range (36-97) and 73.8 percent at the free throw line (31-42)... Finished his two-year career ninth on the Generals' list of all-time scorers with 919 points.

HIGH SCHOOL:
Was a team captain for Mount Zion [N.C.] Christian Academy... Averaged 19.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Griffons.

PERSONAL:
Full name is Marvin Jerome Jean... Born Dec. 13, 1990 in Nyack, N.Y... One of five boys of Pierre and Eva Jean... Majoring in interdisciplinary studies-sports management.

Oct. 12, 2012
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's men's basketball team conducted its first official practice of the 2012-13 season Friday night as 15 players participated in the two hour and 30 minute workout in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Among the group were five returning lettermen, including three starters, back from last year's team that finished the season with a 21-16 record, advancing to the championship game of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).

"It comes up pretty quick. The great thing about NCAA rules is that for the last few years we've been able to work with our players for a couple hours a week, so at least you've had some contact over the last three or four weeks. That has been really valuable for us," said USU head coach Stew Morrill, who is entering his 15th season at USU and 27th overall as a Division I head coach.

Friday's practice was the Aggies' first as they prepare for the 2012-113 season, which will be their eighth and final season in the Western Athletic Conference, before moving to the Mountain West Conference next season.

"The first day of practice is always an exciting time. If you're not excited about this in coaching, something's wrong with you. Even though it's my 27th year as a head coach, 15th year at Utah State, I still have the butterflies and am still anxious to see where we're at," Morrill said.

In addition to the five returning lettermen, Morrill and the Aggies have two redshirts and eight newcomers on the 2012-13 roster.

"I'd have to just start listing them all because you just don't know yet. Until you get into official practice and start trying to figure out who can do what, you just have hopes and expectations," said Morrill about any newcomers to keep an eye on early. "We have some size which we didn't have as much of last year. Jarred Shaw is a redshirt transfer from Oklahoma State who gives us some size, and of course Jordan Stone is better and improved in his second year. We've got Matt (Lopez) who's also a big inside kid. We're new at a lot of positions. We're new at the five-position, new at the point guard, we've got new wings who are expected to help - just a whole lot of new players. Until we get some practice under our belt, it's hard to say who will fit where."

One of the returners is junior guard Preston Medlin, who is entering his fourth year with the team after redshirting the 2010-11 season.

"I'm the guy who's been here the longest. This is my fourth year compared to everyone else, Ben (Clifford) is the closest with three years. I know what teams in the past have done to make them good and I'm trying to do the same things with this team," Medlin said.

Forward Kyisean Reed is the lone senior on the Aggies' squad, which includes seven juniors, but Medlin is just one of three that were with the team last year, as four players came to USU from the junior college ranks. In addition to three sophomores, the Aggies also have four freshmen on the roster.

"It brings new energy. Today is a really big learning day. There are a lot of new things with the offenses and defenses that we learned today. Sometimes guys struggle with that, sometimes they learn it really easily. We'll see how it goes as the week goes along," Medlin said.

Two of the eight newcomers are guard Marcel Davis and forward Quincy Bair, who are both from American Fork, Utah and were high school teammates at American Fork High School.

"Quincy Bair and Marcel Davis are both out of American Fork. They're good players and good kids, but they're freshmen. It's a big jump from high school basketball to Division I. I think they're adapting well and will give us some athleticism. We're excited about their futures," Morrill said.

The Aggies future is focused on extending their current school records for consecutive 20-win seasons and postseason appearances to 13-straight in 2012 as they are one of just five schools nationally to win 21 games in each of the last 13 years along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse. Furthermore, Utah State's current run of 13-straight postseason appearances is tied for the 11th-longest active streak in the nation.

USU enters its eighth and final year in the Western Athletic Conference, as the Aggies have amassed a 178-65 (.732) overall record, including 83-27 (.755) in WAC games, going 8-6 last season, finishing fourth.

In his 14 years as the Aggies' head coach, Morrill has led USU to an incredible 345-119 (.744) record, including a 175-55 (.761) conference ledger in Big West and WAC action. While at Utah State, he has guided the Aggies to 13 straight 21-win seasons and 13 straight postseason appearances (8-NCAA, 4-NIT, 1-CIT), both of which are school records. Morrill is the winningest coach in school history and ranks first all-time in games coached (464). Morrill is also the second-longest tenured coach in school history behind E. Lowell Romney (1920-41) who spent 22 years coaching basketball.

Headlining the USU returners is Medlin, who averaged 17.0 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest, and was named first-team all-WAC in 2012, marking the 13th-straight year that Utah State has had at least one player earn first-team all-conference honors. For Medlin, he was just the second sophomore in school history to earn first-team all-league honors along with Nate Harris (2004).

Medlin started all 37 games for the Aggies, setting a school record for games started and games played, and finished the season shooting 49.6 percent from the field (204-of-411), 42.8 percent from three-point range (95-of-222) and 80.1 percent at the free throw line (125-of-156). Medlin scored in double-figures 31 times, including 20-plus points 13 times, and a career-high 32 points against Idaho. He finished the year ranking second in the WAC and 16th in the nation in three-point shooting, third in the WAC and 80th in the nation in points per game, and 10th in the WAC and 75th in the nation in overall shooting. Medlin also ranked fourth in the league in free throw shooting, seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.70) and ninth in assists.

Utah State's most experienced position heading into the 2012-13 season will be at power forward as it returns two proven players here from a year ago in senior starter Kyisean Reed and sophomore reserve Ben Clifford. Reed, who is perhaps the most athletic post-player in the WAC, was named to the league's all-newcomer team a year ago as he averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots per game, while shooting 61.4 percent from the field (135-of-220) and 67.9 percent at the free throw line (91-of-134). He finished the season ranking first in the WAC in field goal shooting, sixth in blocked shots and 14th and rebounding, and had an eye-popping 40 dunks to also rank first in the conference.

After redshirting his first year at Utah State, Clifford played in 36 games, starting four, in 2012 and finished the season averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 50.9 percent from the field (58-of-114), 38.9 percent from three-point range (7-of-18) and 72.9 percent at the free throw line (35-of-48) in 16.8 minutes per outing.

In addition to Medlin and Reed, the Aggies also have a third returning starter back in junior Danny Berger, who can play both forward positions. Last season Berger sat out the first six games of the year as a potential redshirt, but then started in 25 of 31 games played. Berger netted double-digit points 10 times last season, including three of the final six games, highlighted by tying a school record with five three-pointers in a postseason game as part of his career-high tying 17 points in CollegeInsiders.com Tournament semifinal win over Oakland. Berger finished the year with a 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game average, while shooting 37.2 percent from the field (64-of-172) and 36.7 percent from three-point range (36-of-98) to go with a 76.9 percent free throw shooting (40-of-52).

The fifth returning Aggie letterman is sophomore center Jordan Stone, who both gained valuable playing time as a freshman last year and is expected to pick up where he left off in his progress from a season ago, as Stone saw action in 31 games. He tallied 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest, and both were solid defenders in the post for USU.

Joining Utah State's five returning lettermen are two redshirts, junior center Jarred Shaw and sophomore center Matt Lopez, as well as eight newcomers. The newcomers are evenly split of four junior college players in junior forward/guard Spencer Butterfield, junior forwards Sean Harris and Marvin Jean along with junior guard TeNale Roland, and a four-player freshman class consisting of forwards Quincy Bair and Quinn Taylor, along with guards Riley Bradshaw and Marcel Davis.

The Aggies open the 2012-13 season on Friday, Oct. 26 in an exhibition game against Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. USU will host Simon Fraser in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., before kicking off the regular-season schedule by hosting Idaho State on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. USU opens the season with four-straight home games at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Utah State men's basketball season tickets for the 2012-13 season are now on sale at the USU Ticket Office.

Ticket prices are $230 in non-priority areas and $220 in priority areas, which have Big Blue Scholarship Fund per seat commitment fees apply, ranging from $100-$900 per seat in addition to ticket cost.

Family Plans are also available for purchase at $800 (two adults and three Jr Aggies). Please be aware that there is a limit of one Family Plan per household.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com, over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE1 or (435) 797-0305, or in person at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Ticket Office during regular hours of operation.

Fans can follow the Aggie men's basketball program at twitter.com/AggieHoops. USU fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Congrats to goes out to Shackquiel Scott, 2013 F, from the Robinson School for pickling up and and offer and committing to the Bobcats all in the same day.

Shackquiel becomes the 6th BC Eagle to verbal to Coach Tom Moore and his Quinnipiac program!

The B.C. Eagles 7/8th grade team and 8/9th grade team participated in the 2012 Roundball Classic Summer League run by Coach Derrick Stanton.

In the Future Division the 7/8th grade team had a great run in the tournament finishing 3rd and with an overall record of 7-1. They lost a hard fought game at the buzzer to a terrific St. Joe's team. The two teams squared up earlier in the season and BC came out on top in that game. However, this game St. Joe's had their full squad and it was the BC Eagles team that was w/o Jordan McCallister and Chris Paul. St. Joe's(5-4) went on to the Championship before falling to Middletown's Finest (8-1).

In the older, Junior Division, the B.C. Eagles ran through the competition and finished with an impressive overall record on 8-0. The Eagles faced the Newburgh Panthers in the semi-finals while the Washingtonville Wizards faced Middletown's Finest in the other semi-final matchup. The Eagles then played a talented and well coached Washingtonville Wizards teams in the finals. Benny Brown was named MVP of the Junior Division.
(picture from left to right: Ruben Jimenez, Matt McHale,Ishmael Chisolm, Marques Vaval, Kena Gilmour, Hashan French and Benny Brown.)
(Missing from the team Picture: Anthony Salmon, Kyle Buczek, Aaron Ray Tyler Wilson and Tyler Robinson.)

THANK YOU AND S/O GO OUT TO MR. STANTON, HIS WIFE(IRENA) AND SON(DERRICK) FOR RUNNING A WONDERFUL SUMMER LEAGUE!!!

By Peter Febbraro | Jul 25, 2012 | Elite Camp Updates
COMPILED BY PETER FEBBRARO AND EDGAR WALKER

The third session of Hoop Group Elite Camp tipped off on Tuesday, and a select group of players quickly impressed and rose above the competition.
The players listed below are not necessarily the best prospects at camp, but rather the players who stood out for one reason or another on Day One.

Stanley Buczek | BC Eagles - Burke Catholic (NY) | 6'5? F | 2013
His strength and physical play in the post had people debating whether he was talented enough to move for his traditional position as a four to possibly playing as a five throughout

Calvin Crawford | BC Eagles - Valley Central HS (NY) | 6'7? F | 2013
Crawford is another big man who impressed with his solid play in the four spot. Just like Buczek, he seems to posses the strength to play both the four and the five. @pfebbraro

Jay Gomes
NJHoops.com

The Hoop Group opened up their second biggest and last camp of the live period on Tuesday at Albright College in Reading Pennsylvania.

A large group of over 450 prospects were on hand. After tryout games the staff coaches met to draft players for their squads and balance the teams. A look at the top draft picks gives an indication of a few of the top players at the camp.

CENTERS
Jonathan Nwankowo 6-foot-10 So. Iona Prep NY
Jamal Custis 6-foot-5 Jr. Neuman Goretti

POINT GUARDS
Bryce Jones 5-foot-10 5-foot-10 Grad Boys & Girls NY
Mike Greenman 5-foot-8 Sr. St. Augustine's NJ

WING FORWARDS
Emile Blackmon 6-foot-4 Grad Half Hollows West NY
Maurice McDonald 6-foot-4 Sr. IMG FL

POWER FORWARDS
Marko Kozul 6-foot-5 Sr. Archbishop Molly NY
Devonne Pinkard 6-foot-6 Sr. McCaskey PA

SHOOTING GUARDS
Jemal Mosley-B.C. EAGLES -6-foot-2 PG/SG Don Bosco Prep/Putnam Science Prep
Leo Vincent 5-foot-11 Sr. Bensalem PA

More coverage of the Hoop Group Elite Camp upcoming on this site and in NJ Hoops Newsletter.

July 11, 2012|By LARRY VAUGHT | larry@amnews.com

When Kentucky played Kansas in the national championship game, Lafayette College coach Fran O’Hanlon was pulling for the Wildcats to win.

“I was cheering hard for them. It doesn’t do us any good to say we played the second place team,” joked the Lafayette coach.

That’s because he already knew then his team would be playing coach John Calipari’s Cats this season. He will bring his team to Lexington on Nov. 16 to play UK and two days later Lafayette will play at Morehead to complete its Bluegrass road trip.

O’Hanlon was an assistant at Penn when it played at Rupp Arena and knows what type atmosphere to expect.

“When I was there before we were in an elevator and a 6-year-old girl was saying Penn was in the Ivy League. I thought there are people in Pennsylvania who don’t know that and a 6-year-old UK¿basketball fan knows it,” O’Hanlon said. “It will be a tremendous atmosphere, tremendous basketball.

“Our kids are extremely excited. Hopefully they are working hard.¿I keeping sending them e-mails to remind them what lies ahead and that they better not be resting. I imagine our kids will be a little awe-struck in that arena. I know you are not supposed to write Kentucky and Louisville in the same sentence in your area, but when we played Louisville before we were down 18-0 before we got our feet under us. We have to keep our poise, but you just can’t simulate Rupp Arena. They will have 23,000 or 24,000 people in there and we just can’t prepare for that.”

It will also be UK’s regular-season home opener after two exhibition games and neutral site games against Maryland in Brooklyn and Duke in Atlanta.

“That’s great. They will be handing out the (national) championship trophy. Are you trying to scare me?” O’Hanlon laughed and said. “But seriously, from a prestige standpoint, this is something our kids will remember the rest of their lives. Maybe in 20 years, they will be saying they almost beat Kentucky. Maybe they will be telling we were up 12 with a minute to go and Kentucky had a miraculous rally.”

The Leopards lost five seniors off last year’s team that finished 13-19, including an 89-58 loss at Vanderbilt. It also lost two Patriot League matchups to Lehigh, the team that upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament, and three to Bucknell, the team that beat Arizona in the NIT.

“We think we will have a good team, but not SEC good,” the Lafayette coach said.

He has added five freshmen — 6-10 Nathaniel Musters of Australia, 6-10 center Ben Freeland of California, 6-2 guard Bryce Scott of California, 6-3 combo guard Zach Rufer of ¿New York and 6-9 forward Billy Murphy of Connecticut.

“I have not told Musters about (UK freshman center Nerlens)¿Noel yet,” O’Hanlon said.

The team will have only two seniors. Forward Levi Giese played about 15 minutes a game and averaged 3.1 points. Guard Tony Johnson missed the first 15 games last year with a back injury, returned to play 10 games and then broke a bone in his foot. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in the games he did play.

“Tony is a good player. It will be a really good thing for us if he is healthy,” O’Hanlon said. “When you are going to play Kentucky, it’s a good thing to have a point guard who knows what he is doing.”

The Lafayette coach hopes playing Kentucky early in the season could be beneficial to the Leopards since UK¿lost its top six players off the national championship team.

“With a new team like Kentucky, John will have them getting better by the day and week. The earlier you play them, the better,” O’Hanlon said. “Not that it will be a good time for us, but it will be better than later in the season when they are even better.”

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)

Didn't get over to King of Prussia for yesterday's opening day of the Summer Classic East, a select tournament of some of the region's best AAU squads, but spent quite a few hours at KoP's Competitive Edge Sports complex checking out today?s action. The event was loaded with top prospects in every class from 2012 to 2016 as teams in the 17U, 16U and 15U divisions battled it out for the Summer Classic East title. Here were a few of the games I took in on the afternoon with some stats, recruiting notes and quotes mixed in.

17U East Coast Fusion vs. B.C. Eagles Elite (NY)
Checked out this matchup for the second half, a 15-point win by East Coast Fusion, but it was a player on the B.C. Eagles who caught my eye.

Jonte Rutty is a 6-foot-5 forward with a big body and a nice jump shot; a comparison between Brandon Taylor (headed for Penn State) in either game style or haircut wouldn't be too far off.

He definitely can shoot the 3-ball, he?s got nice soft touch, B.C. Eagles coach Bobby Rahn said. We like to start him in early, get him a quick bucket inside, and then get him in pick-and-pop situations. He's very good in a trailing '4' spot and he's great on the glass.

Rutty is going to spend a year at Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) in 2012-13 after garnering mostly D-II offers in high school if he continues to work on his shooting and maybe sheds a few pounds he certainly could end up as a low-to-mid D-I prospect.

July 11, 2012

Alex Kline
TheRecruitScoop.com

While he is still unknown by most after two days of camp, 2013 Robinson School (NJ) small forward Shackquiel Scott is showing mid-major schools why he is the right fit for them. An athletic specimen who could use a jump shot, Scott is catching the attention of Quinnipiac, Houston, Tulane, Virginia Tech, Morehead State, Morgan State and Western Kentucky. Look for a few offers to come his way following the camp.

Jack Dwyer earns All-Star Honors

By Dave Krupinski | Jul 11, 2012 | Elite Camp Updates

Players didn't waste a minute yesterday as soon as the registration process was complete instruction stations? intensity resembled something like a high school tryout. Well what players may or may not have realized is that they were trying out. Hoop Group coaches were busy evaluating players throughout instruction stations as well as the first sets of games in order to go through Hoop Group?s comprehensive process of balancing teams. Here are some of the outstanding performers from day 1:

Shaquille Scott | 6'6"F | B.C. Eagles - Robinson School (NJ) | Class of 2012
Scott stole the show with some freakishly athletic plays. He is a wing player with jaw-dropping athleticism. He has some nice moves on the inside but projects as more of a wing because of the way he moves on the court. Everyone in the gym was talking about him and gathering around to see him put on a show. @lucashapiro

Travis Cook | 6'3? G/F | B.C. Eagles - Middletown HS (NY) | Class of 2014
Cook might have had dunk of the day, but that is not necessarily what makes him special. He is a quiet scorer who has sneaky athleticism. @lucashapiro

By Justin Rodriguez
Times Herald-Record
July 16, 2012 - 2:00 AM

So what did Valley Central center Calvin Crawford do on his summer vacation?

See full article text click to collapse contents?
For starters, last month, just as the break began, he received a full scholarship offer from the University of Vermont. Several other Division I schools are interested in Crawford, a 6-foot-7 center entering his senior year.

Crawford has picked up more exposure this summer with his AAU team, the BC Eagles, and he's earned the right to get a few more looks next week. Crawford is one of 12 players named to the Mid-Hudson team that will compete in the second annual Basketball Coaches Association of New York festival from Aug. 3-5 in Johnson City.

"To get the chance to represent the mid-Hudson is pretty big," said Crawford, who averaged 19 points and seven rebounds for Valley Central last season. "I hope to help put the mid-Hudson on the map at the tournament. I want to get exposure, but I also want to get my team exposure. I hope a lot of schools see us play and we do a good job representing Section 9."

Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 07/07/12

SUNY Orange has dipped into Newburgh for a pair of scholarship basketball players next season.

Coach Tom Rickard announced the signing of Jarrod Scurlock and Will Williams from Newburgh Free Academy, plus the verbal commitments from six others, including four from the mid-Hudson: Anthony Bailey of S.S. Seward, Garrett Roeber of Minisink Valley, Aphonso James of Middletown and Nick Occhi of Onteora.

Scurlock was a first-team Varsity 845 all-star and Bailey and James were honorable-mention picks.

"One of our needs for this year was we needed shooters and we addressed that need,'' Rickard said. "We needed some more playmakers and we did that.''

Scurlock, a strong 5-foot-11 guard, was a four-year varsity player for NFA. As a senior, he averaged 19.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and two steals for the Goldbacks, and was named the player of the year by the Section 9 Class AA coaches.

"We're real excited to have him,'' Rickard said of Scurlock. "He can score, he can handle the ball, he can play multiple positions and he can defend. He's a kid who can make a serious impact from day one. He is a kid I would expect to compete for a starting job.''

Williams did not play basketball during his senior year at NFA as he focused on grades — that impressed Rickard enough to offer him one of the two open scholarships.

"He's a wing who can really shoot the ball — that is something we lacked last year,'' Rickard said. "He can get to the rim and he can be physical enough for us. I think he has some good leadership qualities.''

Bailey was the Class C player of the year as voted by the sectional coaches, averaging 20 points a game. At 6-foot-2, he played post for Seward but he's more likely to play guard at Orange.

"He can do everything — he can handle and he can shoot the ball,'' Rickard said. "I like his game because he's versatile. He will have an adjustment to make, going from Class C to the college level. In time he will be a good player for us. He's a smart kid. He will adjust to it and be able to contribute.''

James started for sectional champion Middletown. Rickard likes his hard-nosed style and ability to rebound and defend. "He's a junkyard dog-type of kid, with a high motor,'' Rickard said.

Roeber started for Minisink Valley for three seasons. Rickard said he's strong enough for college play and has good speed and quickness, something that will serve him well at the point and two-guard spots.

Occhi is a strong shooter and should help right away. David Ba is a 6-3 guard from state Class A champion Harborfield who will play the two or three spots. Ba has long arms, good defensive skills and the ability to shoot from mid-range as well as go to the basket. Keith Murphy is a point guard from Carmel, which lost in the Section 1 semifinals. Murphy can run the team and also hit the open jump shot.

SUNY Orange was 22-9 last season, bowing to Community College of Rhode Island in the Region XXI title game by 14 points. Next season Orange will be competing with the New Jersey schools in District XIX.

"If we can get these (new) guys playing, we can challenge for a regional championship,'' Rickard said.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

2012 - NIKE RUMBLE in the BRONX - Recap

14u Coach Gillen team finishes 1-2. Dunk Dog from Louisiana would defeat Team SCAN in the Final.

15u Coach Buczek ELITE team finishes 1-2. BABC advanced to the Playoffs. Team SCAN would eventually fall to NJ PLAYAZ in the Final.

16u ELITE Team finished 2-1. Philly Ball Hawks advanced from Pool to make it to the Final Four before losing to the City.
The City would eventually lose to Team SCAN in the Final.

17u ELITE Team finished 3-1. They won their Pool at 3-0 with an impressive win over the Dallas Mustangs. They became the 1st B.C. Team to ever advance to the Playoffs before losing to a very good and very big NJ PLAYAZ Team. The Playaz would go onto the Championship before losing to Sports U int he Final. The Dallas Mustangs ran the table in the Silver Division to take home the chip.

Hoopville Rumble in the Bronx All Tournament Team Selections
Jemal Mosley (6?1″ Sr. PG-SG, Nanuet (NY) Don Bosco Prep, Putnam Science Academy, B.C. Eagles) A quick point guard with a good body, he ran the show well and helped seal a game for his team with free throws. He also got a big strip at the defensive end late in the game.

Jonte Rutty (6?5″ Sr. SF-PF, Newburgh (NY) Free Academy, Putnum Science Academy, B.C. Eagles) Gradually, this well-built forward has been moving out to the perimeter, and on Saturday he seemingly didn?t miss from long range as he hit six shots from there in a 20-point outing. The lefty has a mature body and uses it inside, but his perimeter shot is getting better and it?s not coming from forced shots as the shots he took were good ones to begin with. Mid-major prospect.

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

New York, NY - It was a full plate of games on Friday at the John Jay College site of the Rumble in the Bronx Tournament.

Even with the lack of 17U team rosters, the top performers shined through. In the first day of pool play,

Jonte Rutty (6'5" Newburgh Free Academy/ post-grad Putnam Science). Not terribly athletic but solid possesses a solid post game. With a knack for being in the right place at the right time and a reliable midrange shot, Ruddy poured in 20pts as the B.C. Eagles trounce Wayne PAL by at least 40 points.

Day 1 - HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kyle Smith (5'7" SG/Rising senior @ Burke Catholic) - B.C. Eagles

By STEVE AMEDIO

GymRat CHALLENGE Director of Communications

Bigger, better, and the place for emerging young talent to earn their basketball reputation. That's the annual GymRat CHALLENGE AAU boys' tournament that had its 15th Memorial Day Weekend event on May 26-27, 2012 at various sites throughout Upstate New York's Capital Region.

A reputation builder? In 1999 almost no one knew the name of a lanky, young big man from Houston, Emeka Okafor, who had a breakout event. The current NBA standout has repeatedly confirmed that the GymRat was the confidence-building platform he needed to prove both to himself and college recruiters he could play at a high level.

A few years later, it was Glens Falls' Jimmer Fredette, then an undersized shooting guard who shocked observers by putting up huge point totals as a 14-year old participant. That was his proverbial breakout performance. A year later, he was an age division's MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) and, in the 2010-11 NCAA season while at Brigham Young he led the country in scoring and, later, became a Lottery Pick of the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

And, so it is with the GymRat CHALLENGE where nine former participants became NBA Lottery Picks, several dozen others got time in the pro league and where hundreds of its alum have moved on to play Division I basketball.

Call it a proving ground for reputations, a place for the sport's future stars to start shining and emerging.

In essence, the annual event is a who's who of who's next.

Who's next from this year's event?

You can start with a smallish 5-foot-7 point guard Justin Robinson of the B.C. Eagles and Kingston High School, the 17-under division's MVG after leading his team to an age-group championship.

Robinson, who has received only a few low-to-mid major level inquiries so far, spoke after his championship game effort of how his play here would open recruiting doors for him.

A GymRat CHALLENGE MVG award has that kind of reputation-building impact.

Or, maybe, it will be young emerging big men such as 6-foot-9 Evan Maxwell of the J.B. Hoops program or 6-8 Sam Eckstrom of the Buffalo United Dragons, both only rising juniors and playing up a level in the 17-under division, who helped their own efforts to secure Division I scholarships.

For sure, the largest GymRat event in its history with 276 teams competing in six age brackets (with 12-under being contested for the first time) was filled with players aspiring to do what Okafor, Fredette and hundreds of others have done before them ... emerge and build a reputation, attract college interest and, just maybe, go beyond that in the sport.

But the GymRat is about more than just individual play. In every bracket contested this year the themes of championship squads were teamwork, intelligent play and hard defense ... the intangibles that go beyond individual talent required to win games anywhere.

Team Scan of the Bronx might have had the greatest collection of individual talent this event has ever hosted at the 15-under level. The talent is enough for the program to be rated No. 4 nationally among 15-under AAU programs. But, it wasn't until Team Scan finally eschewed individual play and put together a few eye-popping moments of smothering defense and unselfish offense at the end of a pool-round game that was able to overcome a 12-point deficit with 2:37 remaining and sneak away with a one-point victory and continue on to a division title.

And so it went, it seems, in every age bracket.

At the 17-under level it was Robinson almost flawlessly directing a precise offense that enabled the B.C. Eagles to capture a GymRat CHALLENGE crown.

Kyle Wilson, coach of the 16-under champions Team Insane cited watching the team-oriented play of opposing programs and adapting it to his own group of players for his squad's success.

Despite Team Scan's talent at the 15-under division, merely advancing beyond pool play was in question before the attempt to provide individual highlights gave way to playing as a unit at both ends.

Even at the younger levels, Shooting Stars' coach Scott Leip cited his team's conditioning and dedication to defense for its championship in the 14-under division; York Ballers' coach Pat McGlynn pointed to an unselfish style of team play for that program's 13-under age bracket crown; and, Ring City Elite coach Roger Cameron pointed to a concerted defensive effort for his team's championship-game victory.

It all proves, once again, that the GymRat CHALLENGE not only is a proving ground for individual talent but place where young players can show they can also play successfully within a team framework.

Those that can combine both ... emerging talent and a willingness to contribute to winning ... are the "Who's Next" of basketball. And, the GymRat CHALLENGE continues to be the place where those skills are identified.

17:U AGE DIVISION

ROBINSON EMERGES TO LEAD B.C. EAGLES TO TITLE IN OVERTIME

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- AAU basketball, at its best, provides an opportunity for young players to showcase big-time talent, and the GymRat CHALLENGE, over its 15 years of competition, has proven to be one of the nation's best at providing a big stage for reputations to be made.

Justin Robinson entered this year's GymRat CHALLENGE with a low profile, getting some looks mostly from low-level Division I programs. His play here, helping deliver a GymRat CHALLENGE 17-under championship for his B.C. Eagles' team, should be a springboard that puts him on the recruiting lists of higher-level programs.

The 5-foot-7 point guard had a team-high 14 points to lead his squad to a 58-54 overtime victory over the Houston Lynx in Sunday night's championship contest at Skidmore College in what was one of the most competitive, exciting championship contests at any level in the GymRat CHALLENGE's storied history.

Not only did the game's smallest player run the Eagles' offense to near perfection, but he took over in the overtime session, dishing to an open teammate for the extra session's first basket and then, keeping the ball in his own hands as the Lynx squad was forced to foul to regain possession in the closing seconds. Robinson made three of four free throw attempts in the final 40 seconds to help deliver a 58-54 victory.

The effort not only brought a tournament title to his program, but earned Robinson the event's MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) Award.

Robinson immediately knew what all of that, accomplished against some of the best AAU competition nationally here, could mean to him personally.

"I hope this opens some eyes, gets me on the recruiting lists of some big programs," said Robinson, a rising senior at Kingston High School.

"Right now I've been hearing from Marist, a little from Siena and from some low Division I-level and Division II programs," he said. "My goal is to someday play in the Big East. I definitely want to play in Division I, and at the highest level possible. This should help."

Those watching saw a tournament in which Robinson's skills and contributions certainly belied his height. He used quickness, athleticism and rare court smarts to get into the lane for finishes or assists, to get and connect on open shots and, usually, just direct a well-run team-oriented offense.

Robinson had seven assists in the championship game, and his work often found wide-open teammates who delivered and helped the winners overcome build a seven-point lead with 2:38 left in regulation. The Lynx, though, rallied back and when guard Jordan Manse connected on a driving bucket in the closing seconds the game went into overtime.

And, Robinson took over again. He drove the lane to find teammate Tyler Sayre for an open bucket and, then, he made a free throw. The Lynx pulled to within two late in the OT, but was forced to foul Robinson with eight seconds left and he calmly sank both ensuing free throws to clinch the game, the championship and his MVG credentials.

"This is an awesome championship for our program," said Eagles' coach Jim Smith. "Justin Robinson is our catalyst. Both offensively and defensively….he runs the show."

The B.C. Eagles, with players from New York's Hudson Valley region, is now 29-5 in AAU games so far this spring.

"We've got players committed to team play and to good defense," added Smith. "We've just got a bunch of good guys."

Robinson epitomizes the squad's team-first style.

"We've definitely got everyone playing together. We're a real team," he said. "Winning AAU games isn't that hard if you've got a team committed to playing defense."

Robinson said that he learned the lessons he's employing now from a former Kingston High School standout, Tay Fisher who had a standout career at Siena College and now plays with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Like Robinson, Fisher was an undersized guard, but overcame that perceived deficiency to have a strong college career at Siena that included 229 made three-pointers.

He has worked with me since I was little, and has really helped me learn the game," said Robinson. "He is an inspiration to me."

An example, too, showing that an undersized guard can have success at the Division I level, as long as someone is willing to take a chance.

Robinson's performance in this year's GymRat Challenge is likely to ensure a significant Division I program will give him a chance, too.

17:U MVG-MOST VALUABLE GYMRAT
Justin Robinson (5-7 PG) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Kingston H.S.: The smallest player on his team came up big throughout this event, playing superlative defense, running the team like a prototypical point guard and delivering big points when they were needed. Has the ability to go by defenders at will, and enough strength and leaping ability to finish at the rim against contact. He is adept at drawing and dishing, or pulling up for mid-range jumpers if the defense doesn't compensate for his penetration. Good long-range shooting ability, too. Has heard from Marist, Siena and Monmouth, but looks like he might start drawing looks from higher-level programs.

17:U ALL-GYMRAT CHALLENGE FIRST TEAM
Jonte Rutty (6-6 F) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Putnam Science Academy: Aggressive scorer who connected on three treys in a minute's time in the championship game here. Crafty player with a nice long-range shooting touch. Also showed the ability to drive and pull up. Works hard on both ends of the floor. Has basketball smarts and should continue to improve. Put up big numbers and dominated all three pool-play games here.

Jamal Mosley (6-1 G/F) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Don Bosco H.S.: An athletic player who can really score. Strong and physical and uses those traits to his advantage. Sweet touch around the hoop as well as from three-point range. Active on both ends of the floor. Getting looks from America East and NEC teams. Plans on doing a post-graduate year at Putnam Science Academy.

17:U ALL GYMRAT HONORABLE MENTION
Tyler Sayre (6-4 F) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Albertus Magnus H.S.
Kyle Smith (5-8 G) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Burke Catholic H.S.
Joey Feinberg (6-0 G) B.C. Eagles-Nutt/Don Bosco H.S.
Andrew Nutt (6-4 PF) B.C. Eagles-Nutt/Burke Catholic H.S.

16:U ALL-GYMRAT CHALLENGE FIRST TEAM
Calvin Crawford (6-8 F) BC Eagles-LaFrance/Valley Central H.S.: Long and lanky forward who can play inside and out. Three-point shooter, nice touch. High-post game yet can throw down a dunk. A special player. Excellent hands. Good turnaround jumper and solid pivot game. A factor on the boards. A player who worked hard and earned recognition here. If he gets stronger, so will his game. Excellent hi-low passer. Much potential.

Benny Brown (6-2 G) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Burke Catholic H.S.: Long and athletic. Good ball-handler and has a nice outside shot. Has the ability to draw and dish. Drives to the hoop well. Keep an eye on him, potential to get interest at a high major level. Cuts hard without the ball. Attacks the defense off the dribble. Big-time "ups," and crashes offensive boards.

16:U ALL-GYMRAT CHALLENGE HONORABLE MENTION
Mike Coffey (5-11 G) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Monroe-Woodbury
Travis Cook (6-3 F) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Middletown
Jack Dwyer (5-9 PG) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/St. Benedicts Prep
Anthony Salmon (6-1 G) B.C. Eagles-LaFrance/Newburgh Free Academy
Dante Gray (5-9 PG) B.C. Eagles-Sanders/Monroe-Woodbury

15:U ALL-GYMRAT CHALLENGE FIRST TEAM
Marques Vaval-Paris (5-6 PG) B.C. Eagles-Buczek/Middletown H.S.: Smallish guard whose skills belie his size. He can slash to the bucket and finish or dish to teammate.One of best PGs at running a team at this level. Delivers passes well. Finds open teammates every time. Uses quickness and quick hands to advantage on defense.

15:U ALL-GYMRAT HONORABLE MENTION
Aaron Ray (6-2 G) Team Scan/Middletown H.S.

14:U ALL-GYMRAT CHALLENGE FIRST TEAM
Brian Gillen (6-0 SG) BC Eagles-Gillen/Don Bosco Prep: Talented offensive player. Has the tools to be a big-time scorer. Good hoops IQ. Lets offense come to him. Good athleticism. Fast with the ball in the open court and good lateral quickness. Outside shot will become more consistent with added strength. Draws contact on drives and able to finish through contact.

GYMRAT CHALLENGE ... TOURNAMENT RECAP

Great weekend BC Eagles combine to go 25-6 at the GymRat Challenge.

14u Elite Coach Gillen went 3-1 at the GymRat Challenge.

16u Sanders finished the weekend 1-2 losing to the eventual Tournament Champions, Team Insane, in Pool Play.

15u Elite and Coach Buczek and 17u and Coach Nutt both make impressive runs at the GymRat and make the playoffs and combine to go 8-2.

16u and 17 Elite BC squads combine to go 13-1 on the weekend at the GymRat Challenge as 16u loses by 10 in chip and 17u takes home the chip

16u BC Eagles Elite goes 6-1 and finishes 2nd at GymRat Challenge

17u BC Eagles Elite team goes a perfect 7-0 and takes home the 2012 GymRat Challenge Championship. They came in 1st out if 96 teams!

This weekend marked to 4th time that the B.C. Eagles have gone to the Final 4 of the GymRat Challenge. This was the first time ever for a B.C. 16U Team and the 3rd time for the B.C. 17U teams. However, both teams managed to win the Final F our match up and advance to the Finals and that is the First time that has EVER Happened! The 17u squad that took home the chip...that was the 1st TIME EVER as well!!!

Congrats to 17u BC Elite point guard Justin Robinson of Kingston for leading his team to the GymRat Challenge Championship and getting MVP!

BC Eagles cap off a great weekend by collecting $120,000.00 in scholarship money for prep schools for our players! N we ain't done yet!

The B.C. Eagles 17U Team won the GymRat Challenge this past weekend in Albany, NY. The Eagles went 7-0 and defeated the Houston Lynx from Houston, Texas to keep the Championship in New York!

The Eagles were led by Tournament MVP Justin Robinson, Jonte Rutty, Shaq Scott, Kyle Smith, Stan Buczek, Pat Joyner, Mike Kelly, Tyler Sayre and Jemal Mosley.

The 16u Team finished the Memorial Day Weekend with a record of 6-1. They lost a close game in the Championship to Team Insane from Philly.

The Lady Eagles 9th grade- Blue team coached by Cassandra Adelman and Terence Mahoney won their first championship @ the Nor' East Lightning Showdown.

Coach Hazen and Percarpio led the BC Lady Eagles 5th Grade team to their 2nd Championship (in two weeks) by taking home medals @ the Nor' East Lightning Showdown in Brewster.

Congrats goes out to the 12u B.C. Eagles team coached by Bill Garneau. The boys took home the Tom Dowd Memorial Championship this past weekend! Great job guys... GREAT WIN Coach Garneau, Coach Concannon an Coach Rufer!!!

5u Team falls in championship game for second week in a row.
The 15u LaRegina team lost in the championship game at the Brewster Jamboree Tournament on May 26. In both of the first two games the team overcame 12 point deficits. Cold shooting in the first game against the Outlaws led to a 28 – 16 deficit at half time. The team continued to work hard defensively and in the second half their shots began to drop. The team was led by Jon holder with 14 points, 12 in the second half, T.J. Wilson scored 9 half and Anthony LaRegina scored 7 points in the second half to win 53 -49. In the second game against Yorktown the team started slowly again trailing 26 – 325 at halftime. Jon Holder led the team with 13 points, T.J. Wilson had 10 and Skip Ronne had 8 points. Inside presence of Chisom Watson helped dominate rebounding. In the championship against the OC Crusaders tough physical play was needed to compete. Marcus Rhett led the team with 12, Skip Ronne had 10 points, Chisom Watson and T.J. Wilson had 8 points. The game went into overtime and the team lost 64 -58. The team showed great resilience in the tournament. Continue the hard work guys. They plan to be ready for the Tom Dowd Tournament.

The BC Lady Eagles 5th Grade Team Coached by Danielle Hazen and Kendra Percarpio won The Tom Dowd Memorial Tournament this past weekend in Central Valley, NY!

The BC Lady Eagles 9th Grade Team Coached by Deonna Gould placed 2nd at the Tom Dowd Memorial Tournament!

Great Job Lady's!

Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 05/27/12
By Justin Rodriguez

At this time next year, Newburgh Free Academy power forward Jonte Rutty hopes to have a college basketball scholarship in hand.

Rutty's new coach, Tom Espinosa, can see that happening for his newest player. Rutty, who helped NFA to the Section 9 Class AA championship in 2011, will play next year for Espinosa at the prep school Putnam Science Academy (Conn.).

"Jonte will get a lot of looks here and I think he is definitely Division II," Espinosa said. "He could be Division I, an extra year often does wonders. I heard I lot of good things about Jonte and when I saw him play, I loved his motor. He's always hustling."

Rutty, who averaged 13 points and nine rebounds for NFA this past season, chose to play at Putnam to get more exposure. Rutty had gained some attention from Division II and junior colleges. According to Rutty and his AAU coach, Bobby Rahn of the B.C. Eagles, his grades at NFA are good enough to play in college right now.

"I'm hoping this will open a lot more doors for me," said Rutty, who will play on an athletic scholarship that will cover most of his expenses. Putnam costs approximately $40,000 per year. "I think it's good for my focus to leave Newburgh. I just passed the SAT, so that takes a lot of stress off me. I can concentrate a lot on basketball."

Rutty, who is 6-foot-5, played inside for the Goldbacks, but also could hit the 3-pointer.

"Jonte needs to perform for us, he needs to be tough," Espinosa said. "He's going to play a lot of minutes and play against Division I-caliber kids every night."

jrodriguez@th-record.com

Cleanthony Early captures some impressive hardware as his JUCO Career comes to an end.

He received his Trophy for being named the Player of the Year in the Country at the JUCO Level which for the record was his 2nd in as many years.

He also was invited to an All-Star in Las Vegas where he Captured the MVP award and was named to the First Team for the tournament. His team lost the game but Cle enjoyed the event and the opportunity and left his impressions on Sin City!

LaRegina’s 15 and under BC Eagles fared well in the BBall Shootout at Drew University in New Jersey May 19th and 20th. After going 1-1 on Saturday, the next day they won a crucial game in overtime that propelled them into the finals. Despite playing without their two big men, they received solid inside play from Skip Ronnne and Sean McGill and were led in scoring by Marcus Rhett 13 points and D’Andre Liburd 12 points.

In the championship game Sunday versus The Future Stars, the BC Eagles stayed close compliments of a half court buzzer beater by Anthony LaRegina( 10 points) and Marcus Rhett 11 points They were however overcome by too much inside presence from the eventual tournament winners.

The team looks forward to being at full strength for their next tournament May 26 thru 27 at the Brewster Sports complex.

'The Voice' finale recap: Jermaine Paul wins Season 2
May 9, 2012 | 5:00 am
LA TIMES

Jermaine Paul won! The former backup singer for Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige stepped definitely out of the background and into winner's circle in the season 2 finale of "The Voice" Tuesday night.

"Winning would mean just, uh … it would mean the world to me," Paul had said, choking up, moments before Carson Daly had revealed the results of the audience vote that would determine the winner.

It had taken Paul years of hard work, touring and toiling, to get there, clustered with fellow contestants Chris Mann, Juliet Simms and Tony Lucca, on "Voice" stage, waiting to hear whether he'd captured this season's crown, as well as the recording contract and $100,000 that come with it. (Each of the four finalists had already won a new car, we learned during the finale, and Paul had seemed particularly tickled about his new wheels.)

Viewers may have felt they had spent years getting to the moment of truth as well. Tuesday's two-hour finale included performances by the four finalists, who brought back previously dispatched Season 2 "Voice" contestants to sing with them. But that wasn't even the half of it. There were highlight reels of the judges' bloopers, a tribute to CeeLo Green's cat, a look at Blake Shelton and Adam Levine's "bromance." Flo Rida dueted with Simms. Daryl Hall and John Oates sang "Rich Girl," backed by Paul, Mann and Lucca. Lady Antebellum performed. And Justin Bieber kept that promise he made his fans and the show earlier this season and returned to sing his new single "Boyfriend." (What, you didn't belieb him?)

At the outset of the show, Paul's coach, Shelton, had uttered words that would prove prescient: "Jermaine Paul dug down deep" with his stirring, stylish rendition of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" Monday night, giving "the performance of his lifetime," Shelton said. "He won."

And win he did.

Daly revealed the results from the bottom up, revealing first the contestant finishing fourth, Team Christina's Mann, who was separated from the third place finisher, Team Adam's Lucca, by only a quarter of one percentage point. (Talk about a squeaker.)

That left Paul and Team CeeLo's Simms clinging to each other, awaiting their fate.

Only four percentage points separated them, Daly said, then asked, "Are you ready to find out the winner?"

In the seconds before she learned she'd finished second, tears gushed down Simms' face. But her emotional display was no match for Paul's, once he learned he'd triumphed. He thanked the voters, his wife, his children, his father and mother, even his mother in law. (What a guy.) And then he gave a special shout-out: "Nobody but Jesus, man, nobody."

Then he had so many people to hug and kiss, he could barely get through the beginning of "I Believe I Can Fly," which he was to reprise, singing a large part of it holding his wife, who was sobbing in his arms.

But finally, Paul broke away from the pack and let his voice soar, which it did, as impressively as ever.

Paul's career, too, is set to take wing. I believe he can fly. And though I wouldn't have minded seeing Simms go home a victor (I'll forever admire her "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World"), I have to admit, the win couldn't have happened to a nicer-seeming guy.

Juice All-Stars Drops the Ball Against B.C. Eagles, 71-66

With the addition of Rueben King (formerly of Lincoln High School '11) in the lineup, and an opponent that pressured the ball a little less than Team Underrated, Juice All-Stars seemed to put up a better fight in the contest with B.C. Eagles (N.Y.). However, with B.C. Eagles' ability to shoot from up top and down low, Juice found itself attempting to dig out of a hole. And, once again, the comeback from Juice came too late to overcome the competition.

B.C. Eagles led 37-32 at halftime.

Juice watched the halftime differential expand from a five-point deficit to a 13-point deficit, 48-35, at the 3:45 mark of the third quarter after a bucket by Tyler Sayre (Albertus Magnus High School (N.Y.) '12). Sayre finished with 13 points.

Though that deficit was sliced to six points, 54-48, by the end of the tertiary period, the margin increased to 14 points, 64-50 in the fourth quarter. Juice's King and teammate Leroy Fludd (Boys & Girls High School '12) aided their team in sharply cutting the B.C. Eagles' lead to six points, 70-64, with about 20 seconds left in the contest.

B.C. Eagles' Mike McCahey (Clarkstown South High School (N.Y.) '12) finished with a game-high 19 points, while teammate Jemal Mosley (Don Bosco Prep High School (N.J.) '12) netted 17 points. Juice's King and Fludd scored 17 and 14 points, respectively.

B.C. Eagles are 1-2, while Juice fell to 2-2.

Deborah N. Harris
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer


New York is saturated with point guards, but the play of senior point guard Shaq Mosley (Uniondale High School (N.Y.) '12) will demand that recruiters and spectators, alike, sit up and pay attention.

J. Mumford

Mosley, who received the Nassau County player-of-the-year accolade, led his team to an undefeated season until suffering a disappointing loss to Baldwin H.S. in the Nassau Class AA boys basketball championship.

Despite his small frame, the 5-foot-7, 145-pound floor general aids in sewing his squad's talent together like a patchwork quilt to make various styles of play blend well. Because of this quality, how Mosley performs in matchups is a crucial, common thread in the on-court chemistry, effectiveness and, ultimately, the overall success rate of any squad he joins.

"In my senior year, I took more of a leadership role; more of a point guard role; and just got my teammates involved," said Mosley, who is playing with Team Underrated in the iS8/Nike Spring High School Classic. "I've been playing 19-and-under iS8 [iS8/Nike Classics] since I was 12[-years old]. I've always played up all my life so, when I play up against big guys, it doesn't matter."

Mosley's leadership skills at the one helped Team Underrated to a perfect 4-0 standing in the pool play portion of the iS8. As a result, Team Underrated earned an automatic bid in the Classic's one-and-done playoffs, which kick off next week.

On the offensive end of the floor, Mosley has a high basketball IQ when it comes to in-game decision-making. He has an innate ability to find his teammates for high-percentage shots on the floor with tight, concise passes that he can execute in midair or during dribbling speed change-ups.

With sturdy ball-handling skills, Mosley likes to penetrate to the middle up against big men to score or draw the defense in for the dribble-drive-and-kick to teammates waiting at the wings for a 3-pointer or within the circle for a midrange jumper. Because of his rapid speed, and an effective stutter-step, at times, incorporated into his footwork, Mosley can easily rattle opponents out of their defensive posture, giving himself enough space to exploit passing or driving lanes.

"When you're playing against big guys, you have to play very smart," said Mosley, a McDonald's All-American nominee, when asked about his fearless penetration. "You don't want to go in the lane and get your shot smacked all around. When you go to the basket, you have to have heart and finish . . ."

When Mosley is running the offense, he does not panic when - as it often happens - the defense collapses on him. Instead, the guard maintains poise and gets the job done whether through assisting on a basket, scoring or drawing the foul.


On the defensive end, what Mosley lacks in height, he compensates with quick hands and toughness. He, oftentimes, frustrates opponents on the ball because he can stay in front of them. As a hard player to shake off, Mosley frequently steals balls and can capitalize in transition rapidly, as he is usually the fastest player on the court.

Regarding Mosley's jump-shooting - when he leaks out to the perimeter and has had time to get his feet set - he can knock down a shot from deep. He also has the ability to nail pull-up jumpers off the bounce. Mosley knows how to lull his defenders to sleep with his impressive ball-handling skills, get some space, and shoot or accelerate down the lane to the basket. Having all the tools for a superior midrange and outside game, he just needs to display more consistency.

In halfcourt sets, when attempting to initiate the offense, Mosley may become tentative if he gets stuck waiting for his opponents to open up for facilitation. This gives defenders time and opportunity to force a turnover by stealing the ball or poking it loose. If his teammates are not moving around well without the ball, Mosley will force a play on the inside - usually bailing his team out by drawing the foul.

"I was thinking about verbally committing to either Quinnipiac or Iona," said Mosley, "but I'm going to prep school because I want to get my SATs higher, get another year in for [athletic] maturity and to get stronger."

With the understanding of self-improvement, Mosley said that he is looking to attend Marianapolis Preparatory School (Thompson, Conn.), Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.) or Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.) for post-grad academics and athletics.

Mosley is currently playing A.A.U. with the B.C. Eagles.

Although Mosley is uncertain as to where he will be attending prep school right now, one thing is for sure - one can expect a more polished and dynamic game from him by the end of the 2012-13 season.

By Adam Zagoria on May 04, 2012, 4:42PM

Ryan Rhoomes is headed to Fordham.

The 6-foot-9, 237-pound former TCU commit pledged to the Rams on Friday.

“I just chose them because everything felt right,” Rhoomes told SNY.tv. “It’s close to home and I feel they can develop my game.”

Rhoomes was recruited by assistant coach David Duke as well as head coach Tom Pecora.

“I think it might be a nice fit,” Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio said. “He visited the other day, he liked it. David played for me at Cardozo and he always works hard with Cardozo players.”

Naclerio said St. John’s, Rhode Island, Hofstra, Temple, Iona and Seton Hall also called on Rhoomes.

Rhoomes is taking three online courses to qualify and Naclerio said he has finished up two of them and is still working on his math class.

“It’s good for the kid and it’s for Cardozo basketball,” Naclerio said. “It’s another kid that we placed.”

Photo: NY Post

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) American Justin Burrell was named Most Valuable Player in Japan's professional basketball league on Thursday.

The 24-year-old former St. John's forward, a first-year pro, averaged 18.7 points per game in helping the expansion Yokohama B-Corsairs to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference with a 31-21 record.

Burrell said the award was an honor and he was ''so happy to bring this award to an up-and-coming franchise like the B-Corsairs.''

The team's American coach, Reggie Geary picked up coach of the year honors. Geary played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs between 1996 and 1998.

2012 New York Sports Writers Association
5/2/12

B.C. EAGLES who made All-State Teams for 2011-2012 Season

CLASS AA
2nd Team - Shaq Mosley - Uniondale
3rd Team - Kendrick Ray - Middletown
3rd Team - Mike McCahey - Clarkstown South
7th Team - LJ Scurlock - NFA
11th Team - Justin Robinson - Kingston

CLASS B
1st Team - Zach Rufer - Burke Catholic
1st Team - Tyler Sayre - Albertus Magnus
4th Team - Billy Garneau - Burke Catholic
8th Team - Stan Buczek - Burke Catholic
10th Team - Mark Candelario - Ellenville

2012 BCANY TOP 50 BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN NEW YORK.
VOTED ON BY COACHES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE BCANY ASSOCIATION

B.C. Eagles who made top 50 Players in New York: Shaq Mosley, Kendrick Ray, Tyler Sayre, Zach Rufer, Mike McCahey and Jarrod Scurlock.

15u Elite falls top Expressions in the Bronze Championship of the 2012 Hoop Group/Under Armor Providence JamFest. The 15u team came in 11th out of 32 teams and finished 2-2 on the weekend.

16U and 17U Elite Teams combined to go 8-2 at the 2012 Hoop Group/Under Armor Providence JamFest! Both teams took home the Silver Championships! The 17u team finished 9th out of 64 teams and the 16U team finished 9th out of 48 Teams!

NERR - NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL RECRUITING REPORT
www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com

Hoop Group Providence Jamfest: 17u Standouts -- TOP 20

May 2nd, 2012
by A.J. Stokes

Jonte Rutty - '12 - BC Eagles - Long southpaw wing player who fills it up from beyond the arc to draw hard close-outs from the defense; at which point he'll attack the basket with the one-dribble drive or break down into a mid-range pull-up

By Justin Rodriguez
Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 04/29/12

Brian McNally spent Saturday afternoon relaxing at his Cornwall home, watching the final day of the NFL draft, waiting for the call on his cellphone that came in the seventh and final round from the Washington Redskins.

McNally said he recognized the area code from the Washington, D.C., area and, sure enough, on the other end was Redskins' linebackers coach Bob Slowik. According to McNally, Slowik told McNally the team wanted to sign him as a free agent. Shortly after the draft ended Saturday night, he accepted: Brian McNally is a Washington Redskin.

He will sign a three-year, nonguaranteed free-agent contract with the Redskins early this week and leave for rookie mini-camp Thursday.
Brian McNally file

Age: 22

NFL team: Will sign a free agent deal with Washington Redskins this week.

Position: Defensive lineman (will be moved to outside linebacker with Redskins)

Height/weight: 6-3 1/2, 265

High School: Cornwall (2007)

College: New Hampshire (graduated in December with bachelor's degree in kinesiology)

Awards and accolades: McNally is New Hampshire's all-time sack leader (28.5). His 13.5 sacks in 2010 is a New Hampshire single-season record. As a senior, he led New Hampshire again with 7.5 sacks, earning spots on the Colonial Athletic Association first-team and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) all-New England team. ... McNally was also first-team CAA and named to the all-New England team as a junior. ... Played in 12 games for New Hampshire as a sophomore and was named the CAA defensive rookie of the year as a red-shirt freshman. He had 55 tackles and led the team with tackles for a loss (8.5).

"It's tough to put in words. It's surreal," said McNally, a 2007 Cornwall graduate, who starred at defensive lineman for the Green Dragons and at Division I-AA University of New Hampshire. "It's like, wow. Now I'm a part of the NFL. It's definitely exciting when you realize a dream like this."

McNally, New Hampshire's all-time sacks leader (28.5), spoke with Washington defensive coordinator Jim Haslett Saturday night. Haslett informed McNally the Redskins would move him from defensive lineman to outside linebacker. It's a move that didn't surprise McNally, who is 6-foot-3 1/2, 265 pounds. He also could make the team as a special teamer.

For McNally, there are no guarantees — he will be considered a long shot to make the team — when he arrives to training camp this summer. Each NFL team keeps a 53-man roster and an additional eight players on the practice squad. A lot of people are betting on McNally — a two-time Colonial Athletic Association first-team selection.

"If anyone's going to make it, he's going to make it," said Monticello football coach Matt Buddenhagen, who coached McNally at Cornwall. "You see some of these superstar kids go through the motions, but Brian never did that, even though he's the biggest, most dominating kid. He wants to get better and is coachable. The coaches will see that. He's like Tim Tebow, the first guy at practice, the last to leave. When you talk about old school, that's Brian."

McNally, who received a signing bonus from Washington for an undisclosed amount, and his agent heard from several NFL teams before and during the draft. He said he picked the Redskins, who are coached by Mike Shanahan, because "it was the best fit."

"It's not going to be easy, but it's definitely a great opportunity," said McNally, 22.

"Washington showed the most interest in me and I'm excited about learning a new position. I'm confident because I've played pretty good at a high level. I'm going to work hard, just like I have my entire life. I know that's my answer a lot, but I think that is really important."

By Ken McMillan | Published: April 25, 2012

Cleanthony Early is national player of the year

Pine Bush grad headed to Wichita St.

Middletown’s Cleanthony Early was named the junior college player of the year as determined by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association. Early was also named the NJCAA Div. III player of the year.
Early, a Pine Bush graduate, played two seasons for SUNY Sullivan. He is headed for Wichita State University on scholarship next season.


By WILLIAM MONTGOMERY

Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM - 04/26/12

For the second straight season, Cleanthony Early was selected the Division III junior college player of the year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association.

Early, of Middletown, recently finished his second season at SUNY Sullivan. On June 1, he will head to Wichita State University on a full scholarship.

A 6-foot-8 forward, Early was a high school star at Pine Bush, but his grades kept him from becoming a Division I college player right away. Early attended Mount Zion Academy in Durham, N.C., following high school, improving his game and soaking in the school's religious instruction as part of his spiritual transformation.

The tragic July 2010 drowning death of his brother, Jamal Glover, kept Early close to home following a year at prep school. He wanted to support Glover's children as well as his mother.

"It's that point of epiphany where you realize it's now or never," Early said. "It's the opportunity. You're becoming a man now. You were in high school and you made mistakes. You were a knucklehead. Everyone was absolutely right. I was just like, it's time for a change. It starts within yourself before you find it anywhere else."

"From the time I recruited him as a senior at Pine Bush to now, he's grown into a man," said Sullivan coach Kevin DeVantier. "His big improvements are his maturity and handling life and knowing the importance of an education. Those are probably the most important things that we've watched happened since he's been with us."

Winning two national player of the year awards isn't cause for celebration, not for Early. He's already come a long way and he's still dreaming big. Early, who will have two years of eligibility at Wichita State, hopes to continue his career on the professional level.

"I still have so much work to do, but I'm thankful," he said. "I would love to thank my parents, God, my coaches and teammates, just everyone that helped me and supported me along this journey and who are continuing to help and support me during this journey."

Cleanthony Early File
Height: 6-foot-8

Position: forward

2011-12 stats: averaged 24.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.6 blocks ... shot 58 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point, 79 percent at free-throw line.

Accomplishments: two-time NJCAA Division III national player of the year; two-time Region XV player of the year; first-team all-NJCAA Division III team, 2012; Basketball Coaches Association of New York junior college player of the year, 2012.

Trivia: Early is one of three Sullivan players to earn national player of the year honors. Jason Johnson won in 2007 and Cornwall's B.J. McDowell earned the honor playing for the Generals in 2008.

The future: "Our expectations, as well as Wichita's expectations, is that he steps in right away and contributes as a starter." - Sullivan head coach Kevin DeVantier

In there first game in the Panther Prowl tournament the 15u Eagles team beat Hudson Valley Warriors 48-40. In the second game the beat Hudson Valley Wolves 38-31. In the third game which decided the championship they beat the Westchester Cougars 46-45. During the championship the team was behind most the game trailing 31-23 at halftime. In the second we were down 40-32 with five minutes left when we had a 6 - 0 run with three consecutive baskets by Anthony LaRegina. Chisolm Watson and Marcus Rhett led the team in scoring with 10 points each and ten players contributed to the scoring. However it was the defense that made the difference. They held the Cougars to only 14 points in the second and did not the Cougars to score in the final two minutes of play to secure the championship!
Great Job Guys!!!

by Phil Kasiecki
April 25, 2012

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The first of two weekends that were open to Division I coaches saw a trip to Connecticut on the docket. The Hall of Fame New England Championship was held primarily a little away from Hartford, with the key games being at Wesleyan University.

The 16-under final was a close game throughout, with Team Scan leading the B.C. Eagles for most of the game. Down 40-35 late, the B.C. Eagles finished the game on an 8-1 run for a 43-41 win. Calvin Crawford (6’7? Jr. SF, Montgomery (NY) Valley Central HS) led the Eagles with a game-high 15 points and was their only player in double figures. Chris McCullough (6’9? So. PF, White Plains (NY) Salisbury Prep) led Team Scan with 13 points and Conrad Chambers (6’1? So. SG, Chester (PA) Friends Central HS) added 11.

The 17-under final was a close one throughout as well. Middlesex Magic trailed for a good portion of the game, but rallied to take the lead well into the second half. Late in the game, Brookwood Elite made the shots and got the stops to hang on for a 58-53 win over Middlesex Magic. Mamadou Gueye (6’7? Jr. SF-PF, Laval (Que.) Ste-Foy) led Brookwood Elite with 17 points. Chris Braley (6’4? Jr. SG, Newport (ME) Philips Exeter Academy) led Middlesex Magic with a game-high 21 points in the losing effort.

Now, here’s a look at some of the players in action this weekend.

Travis Cook (6’3? So. SG, Middletown (NY) High) A long and lanky guard, he’s a baby physically with nice upside given what he showed here. He has the size to play off the ball in college, but looks like he can handle and pass the ball well enough to play the point in a pinch if a team ever needed him to.

Calvin Crawford (6’7? Jr. SF, Montgomery (NY) Valley Central HS) Long and a baby physically, he was probably the most impressive prospect in the 16-under, in part because Chris McCullough was not the factor he can be. Crawford has a very thin upper body and is a plus athlete, and while he looks most adept at finishing he can shoot the ball and the ball skills are good but will need to continue to get better. He scored 20 points in his team’s semifinal win before adding 15 in the title game.

Donchevell Nugent (5’8? So. PG, Newburgh (NY) Free Academy) His size dictates that he likely plays the point at the next level, but he showed he can score in helping his team to the 16-under title. He had a bloody nose in the championship game, but returned to help his team in the final minutes.

Other players who caught our attention:
Jonte Rutty (6’5? Sr. SF-PF, Newburgh (NY) Free Academy)

Week of April 25th, 2012

16u B.C. Eagles make National Headlines as they knock off Team Scan in the latest Five Star Basketball Rankings.

If Team SCAN had won the Hall of Fame New England Championship, they could have made the case for a top-five ranking. Instead, they lost to the uranked B.C. Eagles and drop a bit. They moved out of the top 10 and check in at #15 in the Nation this week.

The weekend prior to their win at the New England Championships hosted by Basketbull the B.C. Eagles 16u lost a one point heart breaker to the Albany City Rocks who at that point in time were ranked #30 in the Nation. The City Rocks have fell out od this weekd poll.

The 16 B.C. Eagles team beat Team Scan who was ranked #4 in the nation and led by Chris McCullough who is a top 10 player in the class of 2014 and was recently offered by Kansas and Coach Bill Self.

The Eagles had a great weekend winning finishing 5-0 and taking the Championship at the Hall of Fame New England Championships @Wesleyan College hosted by Basketbull.

Calvin Crawford of the B.C. Eagles was named Tournament MVP and All Tournament Team!

April 21-22,2012

Recap and Top Performers from the Hall of Fame New England Championships hosted by Basketbull.

15u Elite team finished with an overall record of 4-1 and took home the Championship in the Silver Bracket.

16u Elite went undefeated with an overall record of 5-0. The knocked off the #4 team in the Nation in Team Scan 43-41. Calvin Crawford was named MVP and All-Tournament Team!
See below for more details...

17u Elite finished in the Gold Bracket and lost in the Championship to Ivey 23 from Washington, D.C. The 17u Team lost in the Platinum Bracket to the eventual Champions in Brentwood Elite from Canada. They finished 7th out of 48 teams and Jonte Rutty was named Player to watch before the tournament and All-Tournament Team when it was all said and done!
See below for more details...


Top Performers at the New England Championships

April 24, 2012

The Hall of Fame New England Championships was battling with countless other events, including shoe-sponsored events at Adidas, Nike and Under Armour, but that didn't stop elite teams and top players from showing the college coaches on hand why they should be on their recruiting lists.

Calvin Crawford, BC Eagles - The 6'7 sophomore forward for Bobby Rahn's BC Eagles had a big weekend. Calvin had his coming out party scoring in multiple ways - around the rim, out to 17 feet, and in transition. Look for Crawford to continue his head-turning performances as his body continues to develop. He caught the attention of numerous Division I schools in attendance. Crawford finished almost everything around the rim with a dunk, despite his lean frame. He also showed the ability to knock down the 15-foot shot. Scored 15 points in their championship win over Team Scan.

Donchevell Nugent (BC Eagles, NY) - Strong, athletic guard that is a lock-down defender. Changed the pace of the game against Scan in the championship. Hit big shots and broke the press. Tough kid, as evidenced by a cut on his head, only to come back out and finish the game.

Travis Cook (BC Eagles, NY) - 6'3 wing that made some big plays and hit big shots against Scan in the chip. Smooth scoring wing who has a chance to be a very special player.

Jonte Rutty, BC Eagles, NFA - The 6'5 forward is a load to deal with around the hoop, but he can also step out to the 3-land, on occasion. Is a very tough matchup as he has quickness on bigs and strength on guards.