May 2010

ALEX MURPHY SHINES AT TOC; TALKS RECRUITING

Top 2012 prospect looks to visit Duke while in NC for Gibbons’ TOC event

by ALEX SCHWARTZ

Considered by many to be one of the best players in the nation in the class of 2012, 6-foot-8 forward Alex Murphy of St. Mark’s (MA) is being recruited by a plethora of big-time college programs. The younger brother of University of Florida rising sophomore Erik Murphy, Alex is a versatile player who can play the three or the four and has nice length. He has a nice, well-rounded game with a solid skill set, which includes an ability to rebound the ball.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read about Alex Murphy’s recruitment, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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NIKE EYBL (LOS ANGELES) NOTEBOOK

Doug Ferguson has made the trek to Session #3 of the Elite Youth Basketball League put on by Nike. This session was held at the Hangar Athletic Xchange in Los Angeles and just like the two previous stages the 42 teams making up the field battled hard with spots in the Peach Jam this July up for grabs.

In this notebook for NBE, Doug takes a close look at the big man battle between Amir Williams of The Family and Mikael Hopkins of Team Takeover from Saturday night. Also, an update on Trey Burke as the All-Ohio Red Guard officially re-opened his recruitment (after telling NBE’s Ray Mernagh he was going to do so last month) earlier this week and recruiting lists from players such as Jakarr Sampson, Anthony Davis, Nick Faust, Cimeon Bowers and more…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read our coverage on the Los Angeles stop of the 2010 Nike EYBL, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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GIBBONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS DAY THREE RECAP

BY JEFF BORZELLO

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The playoffs at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions started on Saturday night, with two separate brackets for the first and second-place group finishers in each age group. There were a few surprises to win their group, while several teams disappointed and didn’t even make the “Select” — second-place — bracket.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read our full coverage from Sunday at the Bob Gibbons’ Tournament of Champions, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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GIBBONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS DAY TWO RECAP

BY JEFF BORZELLO

CHAPEL HILL, N.C./DURHAM, N.C. — Duke and North Carolina are usually the main attractions down in the Triangle of Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham, but that was not the case this weekend with the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in town. 64 U-17 teams, 32 U-16 teams and 32 U-15 squads, spread out over 19 courts and 8 locations, it was a recruitnik’s dream. There was still plenty of talent on the rosters despite the EYBL taking place in Los Angeles, and here’s a look at some of the top players on Saturday…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read our full coverage from Saturday at the Bob Gibbons’ Tournament of Champions, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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GIBBONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS DAY ONE RECAP

BY JEFF BORZELLO

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions is annually one of the premier tournaments of the spring. This year, the third session of the NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League in Los Angeles watered-down the competition somewhat, but there was still plenty of prime-time talent in attendance in the gyms at Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and various local high schools. Things kicked off on Friday with three sessions of games at each of the 17 gyms and six locales.

In our TOC Day One Recruiting Notes we updated the recruitments of J.P. Tokoto, Jeremiah Davis, Cody Zeller, Marshall Plumlee, B.J. Young and more.

Here is a look at some player evals of the top players from the first day and some more recruiting notes…

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read our full coverage from the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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GIBBONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: DAY ONE RECRUITING NOTES

Jeff Borzello is in North Carolina to kick off this Memorial Day weekend by taking in the Bob Gibbons’ Tournament of Champions AAU tournament being held at different gyms in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh and other places in between.

While much of the attention this spring has been paid to the Nike EYBL and the strong field it has assembled, Bob Gibbons and his staff have done a tremendous job pulling together a strong field with eight of the top 20 teams in the latest PrepHoopsAssist.com Grassroots AAU Poll. For a comparison, the EYBL currently has seven ranked AAU programs in their line-up this weekend in Los Angeles.

Here is a rundown on some of the recruiting notes from the first night, spent in the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill watching the WI Playground Warriors and Carolina Elite battled in a 16-U pool clash while also catching up on some of the talent playing for St. Louis Gameface 17′s and the loaded Indiana Elite 17-U team.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read our opening night notes from the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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RECRUITMENT OF KYLE WILTJER STRETCHING FAR AND WIDE

West coast big man in 2011 class has colleges from coast-to-coast and North and South on his trail

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When you think of combo forwards from Oregon with the first name of Kyle that can score inside and also hit perimeter shots, the player that immediately comes to mind is Duke’s Kyle Singler.

Well, there might be another name to add to that list: Kyle Wiltjer.

The 6-foot-9 Wiltjer is one of the top forwards in the class of 2011, and the student of the game is studying many players at the next level to improve his skills.

“I watch versatile big men,” Wiltjer said Thursday night. “I don’t really focus on one person, I want to be a combo of all of them. I like Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Kevin Durant, Carmelo [Anthony].”

Not surprisingly, a player with his all-around talent is garnering plenty of college interest from a long and winding list of schools.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Wiltjer and his recruitment as one of the top big men in the 2011 class, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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CONNECTICUT RELEASES NCAA NOTICE OF ALLEGATIONS

*Story published by www.uconnhuskies.com

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut announced Friday that it has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA pertaining to the men’s basketball program.

This notice is the result of 15 months of review by the NCAA and the University in response to published reports in March of 2009 which alleged NCAA violations by current and former members of the UConn men’s basketball staff.

This notice of allegations concludes the initial fact-finding portion of the NCAA review. The University has until August 20, 2010 to provide its response to the notice of allegations to the NCAA Committee on Infractions. During this period, the University will continue to review and collect information in regard to this case. University representatives are scheduled to appear before the committee in Indianapolis on October 15-16, 2010.

The notice contains eight allegations of violation of NCAA Bylaws including:

-Impermissible phone calls and text messages to prospective student-athletes;

-Impermissible benefits provided to a prospective student-athlete by a representative of the institution’s athletic interests; -Impermissible benefit to a prospective student-athlete by a member of the basketball staff;

-Allegations against two (2) members of the basketball staff for providing false and misleading information to the NCAA Enforcement staff and to the institution;

-Providing impermissible complimentary admissions or discretionary tickets;

-A failure by the head men’s basketball coach to promote an atmosphere of compliance in the men’s basketball program and a failure to adequately monitor the program to ensure compliance with NCAA legislation regarding telephone calls, text messages and benefits provided by a representative of the institution’s athletic interests;

-A failure by the institution to adequately monitor the conduct and administration of the men’s basketball staff in the areas of: telephone records, representatives of the institution’s athletics interests; and, complimentary admissions or discretionary tickets.

The University and Athletic Department will not be making any further comments as this is an ongoing process with the NCAA.

—Stay tuned for reaction and analysis on the news from www.nbebasketball.com/w3/

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FINDLAY PREP’S NICK JOHNSON SEEING RECRUITMENT SOAR

Findlay Prep guard may play second fiddle often, but recruitment is first rate

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Nick Johnson is constantly overshadowed on the basketball court.

At Findlay Prep last season, he played alongside Texas signees Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson. With the Oakland Soldiers on the AAU circuit, he is teammates with five-star prospects Jabari Brown (see latest on Brown’s white-hot spring and recruitment HERE) and Kyle Wiltjer (more on Wiltjer coming soon).

Typical with his easygoing personality, though, Johnson does not mind one bit.

“I mean, I know my time will come with Findlay, and with the Soldiers, I’m not really worried about scoring because we have plenty of that,” Johnson said. “So I just try to do everything else.”

Despite not being the main option on his team, Johnson’s recruitment has picked up heavily since Findlay won the National High School Invitational and the Oakland Soldiers rolled through the first two sessions of the NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League at 7-2.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Johnson and his recruitment that has picked up greatly in recent months, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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JOHNNY O’BRYANT WORKING ON GAME; TALKS RECRUITING

Big man from Mississippi has etched his place as an elite 2011 prospect with a long list of elite suitors

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Opinions vary on the consistency or ideal position of Johnny O’Bryant, but one thing is certain – he is one of the premier big men in the class of 2011, and has as much potential as anyone.

The 6-foot-9 O’Bryant, from East Side High School (Miss.), has been showing flashes of that ceiling during the past couple of years on the AAU circuit, garnering plenty of notoriety and college interest.

“I think I can [play with anyone in the country],” O’Bryant said. “I don’t think I have to prove anything to anyone; I just come out and try to play hard, and try to get a win for my AAU team.”

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on O’Bryant and his thoughts on his recruitment, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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2010-2011 PRESEASON BIG EAST POWER POLL; VERSION 2.3

Last month we took an early look at the 2010-2011 Big East conference, but since that time the spring signing period has completed as well as the deadline for college basketball players to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft and return to school with their eligibility still intact. The Big East has also seen plenty of comint and goings around the league as well…here is a summary of some of the movement:

Players in the NBA Draft:

– Devin Ebanks (WVU)
– Wes Johnson (SU)
– Dominique Jones (USF)
– Mac Koshwal (DPU)
– Greg Monroe (GU)
– Samardo Samuels (UL)
– Lance Stephenson (UC)

In our original Version 1.1 the bottom quarter of the conference it was 16) Rutgers, 15) DePaul, 14) Seton Hall and 13) Cincinnati with the rest of the bottom half in Version 1.2 consisted of 12) South Florida, 11) Providence, 10) Louisville and 9) St. John’s. Version 1.3 took a look at the next four with 8} UConn, 7) Notre Dame, 6) Marquette and 5) West Virginia. So far this week we provided capsule previews of the teams that are currently slotted in spots 16th through 13th in our updated early Big East Power Poll for 2010-2011 with Version 2.1 and teams 12th – 9th in Version 2.2. Now for the next four teams in the countdown…

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KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL LOOKS TO BUILD ON HOT SPRING

Georgia product is a high priority for ACC and SEC programs

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When a player hits 10-of-22 three-point shots and finishes with 37 points, he’s sure to get noticed.

That seems to be happening an awful lot this spring with guard Kentavious Caldwell, who has emerged as one of the top prospects in the class of 2011.

Caldwell, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Greenville High School (Ga.), is among the top shooters in the country, and is capable of taking over a game from behind the arc.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Caldwell and his recruitment as he talks about the impressive offers he has, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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2010-2011 PRESEASON BIG EAST POWER POLL; VERSION 2.2

Last month we took an early look at the 2010-2011 Big East conference, but since that time the spring signing period has completed as well as the deadline for college basketball players to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft and return to school with their eligibility still intact. The Big East has also seen plenty of comint and goings around the league as well…here is a summary of some of the movement:

Players in the NBA Draft:

– Devin Ebanks (WVU)
– Wes Johnson (SU)
– Dominique Jones (USF)
– Mac Koshwal (DPU)
– Greg Monroe (GU)
– Samardo Samuels (UL)
– Lance Stephenson (UC)

In our original Version 1.1 the bottom quarter of the conference it was 16) Rutgers, 15) DePaul, 14) Seton Hall and 13) Cincinnati and the rest of the bottom half in Version 1.2 consisted of 12) South Florida, 11) Providence, 10) Louisville and 9) St. John’s. Yesterday we provided capsule previews of the teams that are currently slotted in spots 16th through 13th in our updated early Big East Power Poll for 2010-2011 with Version 2.1:

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/26/2010)

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In today’s news and notes, the elimination of the double-bye (in reality, byes altogether) from the Big East tournament is nearing reality after yesterday’s unanimous vote by the coaches. Recruiting updates on Chasson Randle and Karron Johnson are also linked for readers to catch up on as well.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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KANSAS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM…

As Scooby Doo would say: Rut Roh!

Yahoo! comes with the dirt in an exclusive look at a Kansas Ticket Scandal, which includes a timeline and cast of characters.

Tickets, cash profits (reportedly almost a million) going to a KU employee, a player’s father and all of it orchestrated from the advise — ALLEGEDLY according to those busted — by hoop power brokers the Pumps (see the cast of characters above).

Wow.

Of course, we’ll learn about the outcome in 7-9 years!

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JABARI BROWN BLOWING UP ON SPRING AAU CIRCUIT

Big spring has Cali guard listed as one of 2011′s elite recruits

BY JEFF BORZELLO

After two sessions of the NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League, the Drew Gooden/Oakland Soldiers are one of the top AAU teams in the country, sitting at 7-2. The primary reason for the hot spring is the blossoming of Jabari Brown, who has developed into one of the top 2011 prospects in the country.

Brown has put up one impressive performance after another, including an outstanding 23-point first-half outing against Marquis Teague and the Spiece Indiana Heat. He is now ranked as a top-15 recruit by most experts.

“Hard work is paying off for me on the court,” Brown said. “I feel like I’m one of the top players, I can play with anyone. I’ve known I can do it, and I think people are seeing it.”

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Brown and his recruitment as he talks about some upcoming visits, as well as any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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MERNAGH: MORE COACHING SCUTTLEBUTT (ASSISTANT EDITION)

by RAY MERNAGH

Van Macon was added to Mike Rice’s staff at Rutgers as an assistant. Macon was at Hofstra under Tom Pecora and moved over to Fordham with Pecora when he wasn’t hired as the head coach of the Pride. Macon was followed to Fordham by recruit Branden Frazier, a guard out of Brooklyn’s Bishop Laughlin and the New Heights Grassroots program. Don’t be surprised if New Heights’ own Kimani Young fills the spot left vacant by Macon. Young wants to get back into the college game (he was an administrative assistant/video coordinator at St. John’s before some tragic events in his personal life caused him to leave and take care of his children).

Another guy that has connections all over the country, plus sizable coaching experience is Pittsburgh Video Coordinator Rasheen Davis. Davis is overqualified as a video guy and has relationships throughout basketball with players and AAU program directors and coaches. He’s definitely a guy just waiting for a shot and has been hesitant to jump at just any opening, knowing that he’s in a good place at Pitt. But it seems as if others are starting to contact Davis and the latest inquiry has come from Western Kentucky. Davis, according to several sources, interviewed for the position on Ken McDonald’s staff late last week in Bowling Green. WKU is said to also be considering former Kentucky and NBA baller Tony Delk for the spot. Delk has exactly 13 months of experience in college basketball and that’s as an administrative assistant at Kentucky. John Calipari hired him last April and is now pushing him for an assistant job. Delk lost out on a job at UNC-W that he interviewed for. McDonald’s staff at WKU is full of guys with head coaching experience and would be a great crew to join and learn under for Davis. What they don’t have is a guy that can make a phone call to literally hundreds of friends across the country and have that phone call result in a visit from a player out of respect to Davis. Tony Delk is a huge “name” in the state of Kentucky, but can he do that?

Staying at Pitt, sources have told me that Jamie Dixon has had preliminary discussions over the phone with several candidates (Lamonta Stone of Bowling Green reportedly being one of those conversations) but tonight the word on the street is that Pat Skerry has become the favorite to fill the opening on Dixon’s staff created by Tom Herrion taking the head coaching job at Marshall. Skerry is an assistant at Providence, and before that Rhode Island, with entrenched ties to the Prep School scene in New England as well as a respected bench coach. He also fits the profile that Dixon has gone after with his last few hires.

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CARRICK FELIX OPENS UP RECRUITMENT

BY JEFF BORZELLO

There was plenty of excitement and recognition when Carrick Felix signed a letter-of-intent to attend Duke, becoming head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s first-ever junior college recruit.

However, Coach K will still have a goose-egg in the JC column, as the 6-foot-6 Felix has decided to open up his recruitment. He asked for his release this past weekend.

“With Kyle Singler coming back, he saw less of an opportunity to play,” College of Southern Idaho head coach Steve Gosar said.

Reports swirled around Monday that Felix did not make the cut academically at Duke, but Gosar denied those rumors.

“He’s going to be fine,” Gosar said, adding that Felix received his release this morning from Duke.

He said that he doesn’t want to speculate as to when Felix finally made his decision, but did say that he and Felix spoke this weekend about the situation.

“Everything sort of went down this weekend,” Gosar said.

As for the next step, Gosar said plenty of schools have been contacting Felix since the news, but there is not a list of possible destinations just yet.

“We’re just trying to see who has a scholarship,” he said. “There were about 30 different schools, Carrick weeded a few out that he’s thinking about.”

Depending on the school he chooses, Carrick is ready to make an immediate impact at the major-conference level.

“He’s a really long, athletic wing that is good in transition; he can get out and finish at the rim,” Gosar said. “He’s definitely a guy whose conditioning is unbelievable.”

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Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

2010-2011 PRESEASON BIG EAST POWER POLL; VERSION 2.1

Last month we took an early look at the 2010-2011 Big East conference, but since that time the spring signing period has completed as well as the deadline for college basketball players to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft and return to school with their eligibility still intact. The Big East has also seen plenty of comint and goings around the league as well…here is a summary of some of the movement:

Players in the NBA Draft:

– Devin Ebanks (WVU)
– Wes Johnson (SU)
– Dominique Jones (USF)
– Mac Koshwal (DPU)
– Greg Monroe (GU)
– Samardo Samuels (UL)
– Lance Stephenson (UC)

In our original Version 1.1 the bottom quarter of the conference it was 16) Rutgers, 15) DePaul, 14) Seton Hall and 13) Cincinnati. Today we provide capsule previews of the teams that are currently slotted in spots 16th through 13th in our updated early Big East Power Poll for 2010-2011:

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MERNAGH’S MINUTE: BIG 10 SHOWS WU HAD IT RIGHT WITH C.R.E.A.M

by RAY MERNAGH

Back when the Wu-Tang Clan first hit with their seminal classic CREAM — Cash Rules Everything Around Me — I never thought I’d be able to use it in a column about conference expansion.

I missed the chance when the ACC pulled their drive-by on the Big East but quite frankly, I was never all that impressed with the schools they poached (and it turns out the ACC probably isn’t either, HA).

But now? Oh I’m not letting this one slip by, no freaking way.

Not with the Big Ten circling every other conference like an eleven-winged vulture just waiting to feast on the death and destruction of their peers — actually instigating the coming destruction to be succinct.

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