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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/23/2008)

It seemed like a slow day on the news wire, but still plenty to discuss for Big East fans. The transfers out of the conference continues as Curtis Kelly is the latest jettisoned from the UConn program as they make room for the reinforcements. One of the most-likely possibilities is on campus today making his official visit.

South Florida, who has seen their share of players leave the program, might luck out and get a big time talent to transfer in if his Mom can get on board. Otherwise, Stan Heath is widening his net for 2008 perimeter help on the AAU circuit looking through the leftovers.

Speaking of leftovers, you won’t find any on Melvyn Oliver’s plate as the big man prepared to move into the Big East, Hoops Weiss also mentions Notre Dame is in the mix for transfer out of the SEC.

Maurice Sutton’s attention might have been taken by a Big 10 offer. St. John’s is expressing a desire to be considered by a 6’9 Serbian-native JUCO shooter and Mike DeCourcy writes about the tough job coaches face recruiting in the Big East…their coaching lives may depend on it…

It became official yesterday, not to anyone’s surprise, that Curtis Kelly is Leaving UConn (Hartford Courant) and will look for opportunities for more playing time to finish out his last two years of eligibility.

Kelly’s spot on the roster could be filled this week as 6’9 Ater Majok will begin his official visit at UConn today. Majok has been the main recruiting target for the Huskies for a few months.

Kelly, 6’9 our of NYC’s Rice High School, leaves the program after appearing in 51 games in two seasons, averaging 2.4 points a game and 2.2 rebounds. Kelly joins classmate Doug Wiggins as players leaving the program this spring.

Jim Calhoun stated after the season that there would be changes and with Kelly Out, Majok In? Is Hasheem Thabeet Staying (New Haven Register)? Thabeet was widely expected to enter the NBE Draft this spring, but more and more the speculation is that he would be staying.

Connecticut signed Kemba Walker last November, added Scottie Haralson (signed) and Charles Okwandu (verbal) this spring and the expected return of Thabeet would have had UConn over the 13-player scholarship limit if Majok was to be added. UConn is also hoping that Nate Miles can make it to campus by the Fall.

Wiggins and Kelly join Marcus Johnson, Ben Eaves and Robert Garrison as players who have left the program in the last 12 months.

Maurice Sutton has plenty of Big East teams interested in his services for the 2008-2009 season, including Seton Hall, Villanova, Syracuse and Marquette. However, now that Tom Crean has left Marquette for Indiana and has extended an offer to the 6’11, 195 lb C, does that mean Sutton to IU (Louisville Courier-Journal)? Maybe…
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Hoops Weiss updates his Hoops on Hoops blog with the New York Daily News with the story that Seton Hall Lands 340-lb Melvyn Oliver. Weiss also indicates that Ben Hansbrough, the younger brother of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough, has left Mississippi State after averaging 11 PPG as a sophomore. Ben is a guard with excellent three-point shooting range and Notre Dame is in the mix. We have been told that Notre Dame could be hosting Hansbrough this week.
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South Florida continues their attempt to rebuild their basketball roster with Stan Heath now in charge for a full year. Heath is taking a look this spring at 6’3 combo guard Gaby Belardo who played this past season at Notre Dame Prep (MA). The Bulls Target Puerto Rican Combo Guard (St. Petersburg Times) after his strong play last weekend at the Kingwood Classic in Texas on the AAU circuit. The Bulls have been waiting on a decision from Mott CC guard Jeremie Simmons, but they could move in Belardo’s direction quickly as they are the lone school from a major conference showing significant interest in him. Heath will watch Belardo this weekend as he competes again for the Miami Tropics on the AAU circuit.

One guard that would have looked mighty good on the Bulls roster is 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year Patrick Beverly. Rumors were swirling that the 6’3 sophomore guard was looking to transfer from Arkansas with USF as a likely destination. For now, those rumors have been squashed and Beverly’s Mom Says No to Bulls (Tampa Tribune) and he will be staying put as a Hog. Beverly averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds as a sophomore. Beverly was recruited to Arkansas by coach Heath and played for his as a freshman, indications are he would like to play for him again. Stay tuned…
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Nicola Kecman is a 6’9 JUCO prospect with quite a shooting touch, shooting 59% from the floor and nearly 46% from three-point range this past season with Eastern Arizona this past season. He averaged 13 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on the season. The Serbian Big Man Visits Kentucky (Kentucky.com) and also has interest from St. John’s, who is loosing players much faster than they are coming in…
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There are so many quality college basketball writers we are all so lucky to have access to, right near the top of any list is SportingNews.com’s Mike DeCourcy. Recently, DeCourcy took a look at how difficult of a job it is to not only be successful in the Big East, but to attract talent to your school. He points out to the difficulty Providence and Marquette faced when gauging interest to fill their recent coaching positions as Recruiting the Big East Can Be a Beast in its own right.

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