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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/20/2008)

With all the action this past week, we have neglected our Daily News and Notes for a few days, well, it is back today and jam-packed with information from around the Big East.

West Virginia might be close to adding a late big man to their 2008 recruiting class. The Mountaineers are one of three Big East schools on the final four list of potential destinations for a very good transfer from Iowa State.

Notre Dame welcomes their new faces into the program while the Irish will prepare this summer for a trip to Ireland. ND, as well as WVU, announce the majority of their non-conference slates and there is a look at what promises to be the top 20 marquee non-conference match-ups for 2008-2009.

Recruiting updates can also be found on Aaric Murray, Kevin Parrom, Markus Kennedy, Donald Williams, David Brown, Aaron Crosby, Josh Sewell and ‘Mo Mo’ Jones. Rick Pitino gives a run down on his squad as summer approaches and the NABC wants to end the real early commitment trend before it gets even more ridiculous.

After parting ways with Oklahoma State in the wake of Sean Sutton being replaced by Travis Ford, 6-foot-9 Angelina Community College’s Dee Proby could be headed to the Big East. The Junior College Forward Could be Headed to WVU (Charleston Gazette) next season, providing West Virginia with much needed size.

Despite being 6’9 and listed at 250 pounds, Proby is more of a face-up front court player, attempting 96 three’s last season (connecting on just 27) and averaged 4.3 rebounds along with his 11 points a game average for the junior college in Lufkin (TX).

The Mountaineers still hope to have Roscoe Davis complete his eligibility requirements to enroll in the fall. If WVU adds Proby and Davis is cleared academically, the Mountaineers will have used their full allotment of scholarships for 2008-2009.

In the event that either scenario does not come to fruition, Jeff Goodman in his FoxSports.com blog that Wesley Johnson Lists Four potential destinations as he has decided to transfer from Iowa State. Johnson’s list is heavy on the Big East with West Virginia, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, along with Ohio State, in the mix for the 6-foot-7 combo forward.

Taking a look at his list, it seems that Syracuse has the room to offer a scholarship, it is likely West Virginia will, but Pittsburgh is full right now. However, the Panthers are in the process of applying for a 6th year for Mike Cook, so they must have a opening at least possible in the event the NCAA grants Mike Cook a 6th season (he sat out one as a transfer and blew out his knee last season in the school’s 11th game of the season, putting him on the cusp of being eligible for a medical redshirt). While SU and WVU might have the room, both teams seem to be rather heavy with 6’7 combo-forward types. It is a position Pittsburgh could likely use the type of player to replace Sam Young.

The Charleston Gazette article also gives information on the WVU non-conference schedule which includes road games with Ole Miss and Ohio State, a date with Miami University and a spot in the Las Vegas Invitational where they will play two games against a combination of Iowa, Kentucky or Kansas State Nov. 28-29.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 6-foot-10 center Aaric Murray of Glen Mills has narrowed his college choices to West Virginia, Villanova, LsSalle, Temple and St. Joseph’s. The North Philly native said yesterday from the NBA Playaer’s Associated Top 100 camp that the Mountaineers really have his attention right now.
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Adam Zagoria has several blog updates up at zagsblog.net (note the new address) with recruiting ties to the Big East. The latest is on Kevin Parrom as Xavier is Working Hard on Parrom and others in the New York area, utilizing the great ties assistant ‘Book’ Richardson has brought to Sean Miller’s staff.

Zags also has an update on class of 2010 prospect Markus Kennedy as St. Pat’s Kennedy Has Offers from Villanova and Rutgers with interest from St. John’s and others.

Speaking of St. John’s, the Donald (zagsblog.net) with the Redstorm very much in the mix after a successful visit recently. Marquette is also in the mix for an upcoming visit and Oklahoma State has joined the chase.
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HighSchoolHoop.com has a wide-ranking Interview with LaMont ‘Mo Mo’ Jones, the former Louisville commit that is now open in the recruiting process. Jones does give a list of schools in the interview, which touches on things like his friends on MySpace, favorite meal, music, clothing, etc. Jones indicated that Seton Hall, Providence and South Florida are among the schools on his list that have offered, joining Xavier, Florida and Florida State while Memphis, Duke and Texas have expressed some interest.
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David Brown Picks Up Two Offers (Illinoishsbasketball.com) as Cincinnati and Baylor have joined a list of DePaul, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Bradley. Providence and Connecticut also make the list of schools recruiting him, with Brown referring to UConn as his ‘dream school.’

The 6’3 guard plays for the Illinois Warriors on the AAU circuit and will compete at the Lebron James Skills Academy next month. David Brown attends Honenegah High School in Illinois.
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Jody Demling updates his recruiting blog at the Louisville Courier-Journal with some recruiting information from the area. Class of 2010 Aaron Crosby Visits U of L. The Jefferson town standout was an early commitment to UMass put opened it back up when Travis ford left for Oklahoma State. Louisville is now actively recruiting him along with Auburn, Minnesota and South Carolina.

There are also Two Locals Getting Looks, including 6-foot-5 class of 2010 guard Josh Sewell. The Trinity standout has Cincinnati interested in his talent.
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The South Bend Tribune reports how the new incoming Transfers Blend into Notre Dame Program. Scott Martin and Ben Hansbrough will be the only new faces on the Notre Dame squad that returns seven of their top eight from last season. Neither will play their first game with the Irish until November of 2009, per NCAA transfer rules, but they have already begun to make their mark on Mike Brey’s program.

The Irish will be playing in Ireland in August against some solid competition. They will play six games in the 12 day trip which will include a date with the Ireland National Team with former Irish shooting guard Colin Falls expected to be in the line-up, as well as former Providence College point guard Donnie McGrath.

Add a Notre Dame-Ohio State game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6 as part of a Basketball Hall of Fame doubleheader that also includes Gonzaga and Indiana. Ohio State rounds out a schedule that already features a non-league game against UCLA, the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
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Rick Pitino runs down the Louisville roster and updates readers of his blog what everyone on the team is up to. Here is the transcript in the Louisville Courier-Journal: Pitino Update. Always good stuff. Pitino likes to tell it like it is…
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Jeff Goodman lists the Top 20 Non-Conference Games for 2008-2009 (FoxSports.com) as it stands now and seven of the games include Big East teams.

One team not on the list is Pittsburgh, but the Panthers are trying. Pitt has secured the use of Madison Square Garden for December 17th and, according to Andy Katz, have an open invitation to any team of the ACC, Big 10, SEC, Pac 10 or Big 12 to join them. Hey, North Carolina…are you busy??
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With the early commitment craze, some might call this the Billy Gillispie rule, the NABC Calls for a Crackdown on Youth Recruiting (NY Daily News) as the commitments of 8th graders is causing quite a stir…and, not a good one!

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