Lauren Kirschman

LEBRON JAMES SKILLS ACADEMY RECRUITING FOCUS: JAMEL ARTIS & AUSTIN COLBERT

By Lauren Kirschman

The Lebron James Skills Academy rolled on this afternoon with another high school player workout at James A. Rhodes Arena on the University of Akron campus. The media had another chance for a round of interviews following the workout. It would be the last chance to interview players on Wednesday as the evening workout did not have a scheduled interview session following the on-court activities.

NBE had the opportunity to speak with Jamel Artis ’12 and Austin Colbert ’13 in the afternoon. Both players list BIG EAST schools among their leaders. Artis looks to be focusing most of his energy on the recruiting aspect on one school from the BIG EAST. Read about both below…

Read more

SHABAZZ NAPIER CONTENT ON BEING HIMSELF AT CONNECTICUT

Big shoes to fill for UConn sophomore in backcourt with Kemba Walker heading to the NBA

By Lauren Kirschman

Shabazz Napier isn’t Kemba Walker. That’s something he wants to make clear.

During the 2011-12 season ahead, Napier and Connecticut must learn to play without Walker, who carried the team on his shoulders during remarkable post-season runs to Big East and NCAA Tournament Championships.

For Napier—who averaged 7.8 points last season—that means a larger role on the court. But he has a message for onlookers.

“If people are looking for another Kemba Walker, that’s not going to happen,” he said at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio. “The things that he did were historical. I don’t think any other player would be able to do that.”

Still, Napier said that stepping up in Walker’s absence would be one of his most important tasks this season.
Read more

LEBRON JAMES SKILLS ACADEMY RECRUITING FOCUS: KENDRICK NUNN & ALEX POYTHRESS

By Lauren Kirschmann

The 2011 Lebron James Skills Academy hosted by Nike is underway once again on the campus of the University of Akron. Scouts and media members have converged on James A. Rhodes Arena for the first full day of workouts for the college and high school players who received invitations to the camp. Tomorrow we can expect the intensity to be ratcheted up another notch as the college coaches will converge upon the arena as the July evaluation period frenzy comes to Akron.

NBE’s Lauren Kirschman made the trip into Akron this morning and will be bringing NBE readers continuous coverage into Friday afternoon with recruiting updates and notes on some of the top players in action. So stay tuned right here at NBE for all the important news & notes from the July evaluation period.

In Lauren’s first update from the camp, she catches up with Kendrick Nunn (’13) and Alex Poythress (’12) to learn the latest from the pair as they embark on the July evaluation period journey:
Read more

KEVIN NOREEN HELPING YOUNG MOUNTAINEER TEAMMATES LEARN THEIR WAY

By Lauren Kirschman

Kevin Noreen is the lone player on his summer league team that played a game for the West Virginia Mountaineers last season.

The remainder of the squad is made up of freshmen and two transfers—Aaric Murray (La Salle) and Juwan Staten (Dayton).

The team played its first game together on Monday.

The players all met for the first time on Saturday.

“We’re all on the same team in this league and we’re just getting to know each other really well,” Noreen said. “I think in these two games we’ve already gelled and have a good camaraderie going on so far.

Although the Mountaineer roster isn’t completely lacking experience with seniors Darryl Bryant and Kevin Jones as well as junior Deniz Killcli, none of those players are on Noreen’s team this summer.
Read more

DANTE TAYLOR: HIS TIME IS NOW

Pitt junior looking to be latest player to break out in junior season for Panthers

By Lauren Kirschman

It’s the summer before his junior season at Pittsburgh and Dante Taylor said it’s time for him to stop making excuses.

“I’ve been working hard my past two years and it’s my third year here,” Taylor said. “It’s time for me to just get out on the court and play.”

He said this could be the season that he takes a step forward.

After all, it wouldn’t be the first time that a Pitt player transformed his game before his junior year.

Former point guard and current assistant coach Brandin Knight became a third team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year as a junior.

Sam Young went from averaging 7.2 points per game as a sophomore to leading the Panthers with 18.1 points a game a year later as the Big East Most Improved Player.

2011 graduate Gary McGhee scored 6.9 points and grabbed a team-leading 6.8 rebounds per game as a junior after totaling 38 points and 48 rebounds his entire sophomore season.

This year, Taylor could see similar improvement. A former McDonald’s All-American, the 6-foot-9 forward contributed off the bench throughout his first two seasons with the Panthers.
Read more

GILBERT HOPES TO BECOME PITT’S FUTURE MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

By Lauren Kirschman

When asked what he wanted to bring to the floor for Pittsburgh this season, incoming freshman Malcolm Gilbert said “a really big defensive presence.”

And since he’s entering a program that consistently focuses on excelling defensively, Gilbert should fit in just fine.

The 6-foot-11, 215-center joins the Panther frontcourt along with classmate and 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American Khem Birch.

The two add size to a Pitt roster that already holds 6-foot-9 forwards Talib Zanna and Dante Taylor. Gilbert said the team wants to use that size to its advantage.

“The guys and I were talking about we got trees now,” Gilbert said. “We just want to clog up the middle and just swat everything.”

He added that even with a focus on defense, his game has improved offensively.
Read more

AFTER A YEAR OF WATCHING, EPPS & WRIGHT READY TO CONTRIBUTE FOR PITT

By Lauren Kirschman

Last season, when Pittsburgh claimed the Big East regular season title with a victory over Villanova, all redshirt freshmen Isaiah Epps and Cameron Wright could do was watch.

Earlier that season, they watched when the Panthers jumped out to a 19-0 lead over Syracuse in a match-up of top-5 teams at the Petersen Events Center.

They watched Kemba Walker sink Pitt’s Big East Tournament Championship hopes with a last-second shot in Madison Square Garden.

And when the Panthers lost a heartbreaker to No. 8 seed Butler in the NCAA Tournament, Epps and Wright could only watch.

When asked if that redshirt season was difficult on him, Wright’s only reply was an emphatic, “Yes. Without a doubt.”

How did he get through it?

“God.”
Read more

JOHN JOHNSON READY TO MAKE IMPACT AT PITT

By Lauren Kirschman

Most of the hype surrounding the Pittsburgh recruiting class of 2011 centered on McDonald’s All-American Khem Birch, but on the opening night of the Pittsburgh Basketball Club’s Pro-Am summer league it was John Johnson who stole the show.

Johnson grabbed the attention of the crowd by hitting his first shot of the night—a contested 3-pointer—that caused several onlookers to check their rosters in an attempt to figure out the newcomer’s name.

The interest in the 6-foot-1, 170-pound point guard grew as he continually made moves to the basket and finished with ease. By halftime, Johnson had 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and was the main topic of conversation among fans.

The point guard might have arrived at Pitt under the radar, but he quickly made a name for himself Monday night.

Although his team eventually lost 69-63, Johnson finished with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting and showed early signs that he could contend for minutes this season.

He said that although it took some time for him to adjust, it felt good playing his first summer league contest.

“I think it’s good publicity to play in front of reporters and Pitt fans,” he said. “I had great teammates. Everybody played defense and everybody rebounded.”

He added that the Pro-Am league is important to help incoming freshman blend with the current members of the team.

“If they see me play well then they’ll have more confidence in me when I’m on the court with them,” he said.

He made an impact on at least one current member of the Panther squad as Lamar Patterson came away impressed with all of the incoming freshmen, but especially Johnson and Birch.

Patterson has spent time helping Johnson and another incoming Pitt freshman, Durand Johnson, find their way around campus.

Johnson said that Patterson and J.J. Moore have assisted the two in navigating Pittsburgh since the freshmen arrived.

But that doesn’t mean Johnson has a handle on his new city quite yet.

“I’ve been lost,” Johnson said with a laugh. “When I first came over, I was lost for hours trying to find the Petersen Center…My phone had no service. I was just walking around for hours.”

As Johnson adjusts to the campus, he’ll find his place on Pitt’s team as well. While he acknowledged that he has plenty to work on before the season begins, he knows he’ll bring energy to the Panthers.

He said he decided to bring that energy to Pitt mainly because of how head coach Jamie Dixon interacted with his players.

“When I first came up here, I met Coach Dixon,” he said. “On the court, he’s a coach. He disciplines. Off the court, he still disciplines but he’s more of a father figure.

“I grew up without a father and I wanted to come to a place where I would have a father figure and somebody to look up to.”

MITCH MCGARY: RISING 2012 BIG MAN SEEING RECRUITMENT INTENSIFY

By Lauren Kirschman

Since transferring to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire last year, class of 2012 big man Mitch McGary has been opening some eyes.

McGary began to shine this past season as the sixth man for one of the nations’ top prep schools and he’s continued to show off his improved skills on the AAU circuit this spring.

Now McGary is attracting the attention of top schools from across the country, including Duke, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Xavier and Cincinnati.

He’s already taken trips to Illinois, Marquette, Purdue and Indiana and is attempting to plan visits to Cincinnati, Maryland, Florida, Indiana and Texas.

McGary said that both Indiana and Cincinnati are recruiting him hard, but he hasn’t reached a college decision yet. Right now, he’s keeping his recruitment wide open.

Mitch McGary '12 prospect of Brewster Academy

“I want to go to whatever school fits me best,” he said. “Everyone is still in the mix.”

All of those potential schools will be watching as McGary continues to climb the recruiting rankings. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center said the improvement in his game since he transferred to Brewster is indescribable.

“It was a big step for me,” he said. “Brewster is a lot tougher, it’s the highest level of play. The intensity is at another level. It’s so much faster.”

He’s gotten stronger in his year at Brewster, putting on muscle as he focused on lifting and conditioning.

But the concentration on lifting led McGary to falter with other aspects of his game, including his 18-foot and 3-point shots, but he said he’ll be working on returning those skills to his repertoire throughout the summer.

“I’m working on shots, working on post moves,” McGary said. “I want to focus on using post work in these [AAU games].”

And even if the hot prospect big man doesn’t end up playing his college basketball in Pittsburgh, he gave Panther fans an indication of the level of player they’ll be seeing inside next year.

When asked who was the toughest player he faced at Brewster this past season, McGary said that distinction belonged to incoming 2011 Pitt recruit Khem Birch.

MORE PITTSBURGH JAMFEST RECRUITING NOTES

By Lauren Kirschman

Recruiting rundown of some of the top names from this past weekend’s Pittsburgh Jamfest put on by the Hoop Group…

Jalen Robinson (2012)
Power forward
AAU Team: All-Ohio Red
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 215
Considering: Wisconsin, UCLA, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Xavier, Iowa, Penn State, DePaul, Cincinnati, Ohio University, Tennessee, Michigan
————————————————

Elijah Macon (2012)
Power foward
AAU Team: All-Ohio Red
Considering: West Virginia, South Florida, USC, Cincinnati, Tennessee
Offers from: South Florida, USC
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 200
Leaders: West Virginia and Cincinnati
——————————————————
Read more

JERAMI GRANT IMPRESSES AT JAM FEST; MORE NEWS & NOTES

By Ray Mernagh

It was an impressive weekend for Jerami Grant. The 6-foot-7, 180-lb forward out of DeMatha (DC) was the best player throughout the weekend on the best team at the Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest. The long, bouncy and skinny-strong athlete took over games for minutes at a time and closed them when he needed to. An inside-out threat, Grant reminds me of a cross between Darius Miles and (potentially) Kevin Durant right now. His game is growing by leaps and bounds, especially off the bounce and in the mid-post area. Grant exploded off two feet time and time again to attack the rim, but has the versatility to also show off a finesse skill set.

Grant played well on both ends of the floor, rebounding and defending the perimeter well. He got to the foul line often for and-one’s. In the end…he led Team Takeover DC to the Jam Fest’s overall title.

Grant, a straight baller in the Class of 2012 showing the signs of a potential pro, told NBE’s Lauren Kirschmann that he holds offers from Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami, Rutgers and Clemson. He also tells Lauren that he is working on his ball handling and the consistency of his jumper. With no favorites, expect the recruitment of the latest Grant to blow up in the coming months VERY quickly.
————————————————–

Read more

MYLES DAVIS: 2012 SHOOTING STAR

By Lauren Kirschman

Class of 2012 guard Myles Davis grew up wanting to emulate his older cousin, former Pitt point guard and current Pitt assistant coach Brandin Knight.

Depending on where Davis decides to attend college, he might get the chance to don the same uniform.

Right now, however, the Notre Dame Prep product is keeping his options open as he holds offers from Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Villanova, Xavier, Georgetown, Virginia Tech and South Carolina.
Read more

LAUREN KIRSCHMAN’S WALK-ON CHRONICLES: KEVIN CLARK OF ST. JOHN’S

St. John’s walk-on Kevin Clark has played in four games this season, but hasn’t scored a point. Only last year, he scored four points in one game. But one of his most memorable moments with the Red Storm didn’t come from a made basket.

It came from an assist.

When St. John’s blew out DePaul 76-51 on Feb. 23, it was an invitation for Clark to see some playing time. With a little over two minutes remaining in the game, Clark walked onto the floor at Madison Square Garden to the student section chanting his name.

He was fouled with about 42 seconds remaining in the game and he stood at the line, hoping to score the first points of his senior season.

Clark missed the first shot.

Then he missed the second.

Despite the misses, Clark found a way to make his rare game appearance unforgettable. Seconds later, he guided a late fast break down the court and found teammate Cameron Edison for a lay-up.

Read more

LAUREN KIRSCHMAN’S WALK ON CHRONICLES: WEST VIRGINIA’S CRAIG CAREY

When Craig Carey was young, his mother took him and his siblings to all of his father’s basketball games. Afterward, Carey would stay in the gym and shoot around in the dark.

Carey said basketball is all he ever knew.

Now Carey spends his time shooting around with the West Virginia basketball team as a walk-on for the Mountaineers. One thing hasn’t changed, however: Carey’s father is still nearby.

Mike Carey is the head coach for the West Virginia women’s basketball team.

“It was always a little bit of added pressure,” Carey said of growing up as a coach’s son. “When people know your dad is a coach, there is this assumption that you’re good and you know about the game.”

But at the same time, Mike helped his son develop as a player.

“He helped me out a lot,” Carey said. “I liked having a dad as a coach. He would always watch my games, tell me what was wrong.”

Read more

LAUREN KIRSCHMAN’S WALK ON CHRONICLES: CINCINNATI’S EDDIE TYREE

Most high school basketball players dream of the chance to compete at the collegiate level, but not all of them actually get the opportunity.

Coming out of high school, Eddie Tyree got his shot.

He attended Division III Thomas More College, a liberal arts school in Nothern Kentucky, to play Division III hoops. He stayed there for two seasons, averaging 3.4 points and dishing out 28 assists, including a career-high 10 points in the 2006-2007 season opener.

But for Tyree, Thomas More wasn’t enough. He always wanted to play major college basketball; somewhere at the Division 1 level. So, following his sophomore year, he decided to work hard and finally reach his goal.

“Two years ago, I made the decision,” he said. “I had a dream to play high level basketball. I decided I was going to go after my dream.”

Tyree, now a senior, chose Cincinnati because it was the closest option at the time and he has family in the area. Tyree’s from Columbus, Ohio, where he was a three-year letter winner at Groveport Madison, averaging 10 points and five assists as a senior. He added that Cincinnati made him feel like part of the team.

He said the biggest differences between playing at Division III Thomas More and at Cincinnati, a university in arguably the country’s best conference, is intensity.

Read more

LAUREN KIRSCHMAN’S WALK ON CHRONICLES: PITT’S ARON NWANKWO

Balance.

It’s a lesson every college student has to learn: keeping an equilibrium between school work, a social life, extracurricular activities and every once and while, a good night’s sleep.

It’s also a lesson that Aron Nwankwo had to master immediately.

Nwankwo, a freshman on the Pittsburgh men’s basketball team, juggles walking-on to one of the nation’s top squads with a full academic scholarship and a major in pre-Med. For Nwankwo, that means a lot of late nights.

“It’s tough, it’s really tough,” he said. “You’ve got to manage your time wisely.”

Now in his second semester at Pitt, Nwankwo said he’s used to the time management required in order to keep up with his school work. His solution to handling what could be an overwhelming load is simple: it’s all about discipline. When he needs to get work done, he gets it done.

But that doesn’t mean Nwankwo doesn’t occasionally fall victim to the slayer of many college students’ good intentions.

“I procrastinate sometimes,” he admitted. “Then I have to punish myself and stay up late.”

Read more

« Previous Page