NBA Notes

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (11/4/2009)

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Syracuse and South Florida were in action last night hosting local Division II schools in exhibition action to tune up for the 2009-2010 regular season. If you haven’t heard already, the results of which team lost might shock you! Yep, a Big East team lost to a local D-II rival last night.

Louisville will expirement with line-up combinations in their exhibition with a D-II power. Connecticut is also in action tonight against Jim Calhoun’s alma mater. A couple things to watch early on with the Huskies is how Stanley Robinson takes charge as a senior and their center prospects trying to take over for Hasheem Thabeet. Also, a couple UCon recruiting notes are mentioned as well.

Also, Mick Cronin is hoping for more from ‘Biggie’ this season, Jamie Dixon shuns rebuilding talk in regards to his young Panthers, Jonathan Mitchell looks to be the glue for RU and St. John’s and Seton Hall hope this is the year they move up in the standings. Georgetown hopes their frontcourt improves from within and Marquette is in the mix for a talented big man in the 2010 recruiting class. Also, the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft has changed and raises issues.

Read about all and more below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/16/2009)

Everyone still seems a little sleepy following the busy weekend covering the Rumble in the Bronx. You will be hard-pressed to find any better coverage of the weekend’s event than what Jeff Borzello and Matt Whitfield brough to NBE over the weekend. As the week moves along, we will have more from the Rumble. Last night we had a story on Fuquan Edwin as he discussed his two choices for college (Edwin Narrows List to Two schools). This week, Matt will hit the road for the NBA Top 100 camp while Jeff heads to Teaneck (NJ) for the pre-Summer Metro Showcase put on by the Hoop Group this weekend.

Hopefully everyone liked the style of our weekend reporting, we have the same plans for the busy ‘camp’ week in July with people covering the Lebron James Skills Academy, Reebok All-American camp, Hoop Group Elite and King City Classic.

One correction from our weekend coverage, NBE incorrectly noted Derrick Williams was playing for New Heights this weekend (editing error, not a reporter error). In fact, Williams was playin with the Sports University All-Stars and was a big key in their reaching the Silver Bracket Championship game.

Also, a few fans wondered why Tobias Harris was not playing in the Rumble in the Bronx. The 6-foot-8, 2010 prospect was attending the Maryland elite camp this past weekend. The Terrapins are one of his favorites. UM was one of several schools hosting elite camps this past weekend, including WVU from the Big East and they landed an early 2012 commitment from their camp (see blow).

Also, recruiting updates on Lance Stephenson, Roy Marble Jr. and DePaul with the final NBA draft decisions also noted below. Rick Pitino addresses the rumors with coach Willard, Mick Cronin gets an extension and Jamie Dixon dodges questions on USC. Also, a preseason look at next year’s Big East as all linked below…

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JEFF GOODMAN’S BIG EAST RUNDOWN

The nbeblogger gives his feedback on the notes for each Big East school

Check out Jeff Goodman’s College Hoop Blog: Good ‘n Plenty, at FoxSports.com, for excellent coverage of college basketball. Here is the direct link to his post, which included an update on the America East conference’s decision about same-day travel for games within 200 miles, a decision not popular with coaches and certainly will not be for players. It is a cost-cutting move…

Anyway, here is Goodman’s Big East rundown where he goes over the comings and goings of staff, transfers and pre-conference schedule notes. He invites readers to e-mail him at jngoodman@aol.com with any additions or corrections…

Also, a programming reminder, please check back, beginning later tonight, for live blog-style updates throughout the weekend from the Rumble in the Bronx. Jeff Borzello will be there all weekend and Matt Whitfield will be there tomorrow along with our friends from RecruitRecon.com.

Cincinnati – Mick Cronin hired George Jackson from Bowling Green, moved Chris Goggin to director of operations and Chris Shumate to player development. The Bearcats will be in the Maui Invitational. Alvin Mitchell transferred out to Mountain State.

NBE says – Important season ahead for Mick Cronin’s program. With the return of Deonta Vaughn and Yancy Gates with the top half of last year’s conference finishers suffering heavy losses, the time to begin to compete for a spot in the upper-third of the conference is now!

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TERRENCE WILLIAMS WORKING TOWARDS THE NBA

Williams is a Multi-Channel Guy

by RON BAILEY

June 11, 2009 – Yesterday morning, Terrence Williams, the First Team All Big East selection from Louisville, worked out for the Washington Wizards. The session, one of many for him to date – taxed him.

“It was the toughest one” shared a clearly fatigued Williams, sweat still dripping from him “in that we only had two people. It’s like you get more work out of it, times two…It was more competitive than the other ones.”

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/10/2009)

We have a quick run throught he Big East on this Wednesday afternoon. There is a recruiting update on Kyrie Irving, as well as a story taking a closer look at the talented New Jersey guard, an update on Derrick Williams recruitment following a visit to an ACC school. Also, staff updates from Louisville, which has sparked some speculation among our readers of late of Rick Pitino’s future, and South Florida. Jonny Flynn could play more games at MSG in the future, while Scottie Reynolds will wait for his professional career. Devin Ebanks is getting ready for what he and WVU fans hope will be a big year by keeping busy this summer. However, his head coach is having a rough offseason, taking a beating from a bathroom door.

There is also a link to a Slam Online recap of Big East recruiting of the class of 2009. See all these stories below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/9/2009)

Here are the news and notes as the Big East players in the NBA draft that have not hired agents are heading towards the home stretch to make their final decisions. There are updates on Scottie Reynolds, Luke Harangody and Ater Majok for fans to check out. Also, roster attrition at West Virginia and Connecticut is in the news to day as well.

Also, updates on South Florida, an article on future St. John’s forward Justin Brownlee and an injury update and specialty camp update from Marquette, which hosted several top recruits from the 2011 and 2010 classes in the region, and beyond. Also, for your recruiting lists fix, Alex Schwartz has the goods from the recent Rasual Butler All-City Classic in Philly from last week.

Read on below for these updates…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/5/2009)

Another Friday afternoon is upon us! We have some good stuff planned from the weekend as we will have our write-up from the Frankie Williams Celebrity event from last night in Greenburgh (NY) where future Big East-er Dante Taylor was mighty impressive before Lance Stephenson stole the show after his fashionably late entrance. Also last night was the Rasual Butler All-City Classic in Philly and we will have some items from that excellent event as well as stories on a rising NYC youngster and Ray Mernagh’s column on the state of college basketball recruiting…

To whet the appetite this afternoon, there are stories on Tyrone Garland’s recruitment, a recruiting visit on tap for Derrick Williams, a feature on Mike Rosario, some coaching staff updates, a player transferring out of the Big East, a visit ahead for Davontay Grace, a Dante Cunningham NBA update and a look at Bobby Gonzalez and the direction of SHU.

Check it all out below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/4/2009)

Hopefully everyone got a chance to check out Pat Steven’s latest NBE Prep Corner – Vol 2.3 as he talked to some of the winningest coaches in the prep ranks on the 2009 Big East recruits that will be coming into the conference from prep school. Check out their thoughts on Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Omari Lawrence, Mike Burwell, Mike Marra, Dan Jennings, Vincent Council, Malik Stith, Johnny Lacy, Sean Kilpatrick and James Southerland. it is an excellent piece that will give fans of the Big East a very unique perspective on some of the talent coming into the conference next season.

Speaking of Malik Stith, NBE contributor Zach Smart spends time Kickin’ It With Malik Stith as the incoming SJU frosh gets acclimated to his new life as a college student.

Elsewhere today, lots of stuff to go over. South Florida adds some beef to their future roster with a transfer addition from Kansas State. On the recruiting front, an article on Philadelphia 2011 prospect John Johnson, an update on elite 2010 prospect Will Barton and VERY detailed information on a pair of NY prospects from the class of 2011, Sidiki Johnson and Angel Nunez, that Arizona has an early bead on, but watch the Big East turn up the heat this summer.

Other news around the league includes a look at the nearly completed new facility at Syracuse, some NBA draft decision updates on Ater Majok and Scottie Reynolds, who both have the option to return to school if they choose, staff updates with Villanova and Louisville, banquet circuit notes from Jim Calhoun and Jamie Dixon and a look at the NCAA’s eligibility center’s thoughts on punishing schools after initially clearing a player…

In all today we have something, either in news or recruiting info, on 15 of the 16 teams. If you take a look at the linked article above from Pat Stevens, you will get something on all 16 Big East teams…those are news and notes covering the conference!!!

Read all about it today…

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‘GOOD RUN’ AT UCONN FOR A.J. PRICE

A.J. Price looks toward NBA Draft after event-filled UConn career

A.J. Price had a career, and then some, in his five years as part of the Connecticut basketball program. Price game to Storrs as a highly touted recruit from Amityville (NY) in the class of 2004. Expected to play a big role right from the start, Price’s career, and life, was nearly cut short. Price was hospitalized in October of his freshman season when a life-threatening condition, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a defect of the circulatory system, caused bleeding in his brain.

After weeks in the hospital, Price would return to school at UConn but he nearly tossed away his basketball future that June when he was suspended for the 2005-06 academic year for his involvement in an on-campus incident involving stolen laptops.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/2/2009)

The troubles at USC might be close to completely wiping out their incoming recruiting class of 2009 as two more could be asking to be released this week. Kyrie Irving hints at a leader and others separating from the pack in his recruitment. Notre Dame and Providence have out of conference tournament’s scheduled for next season. Updates on Jerel McNeal and Jonny Flynn in the pre-NBA draft process. it looks like WVU forward John Flowers caused a little on-line furor. Speaking of creating a furor, Jeff Goodman does so with his ‘coaches on the hot seat’ look. Of the 12 highlighted across the country, four reside in the Big East.

Read on below for today’s news and notes…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/1/2009)

Back from a busy weekend, let’s take a look at the latest new and notes circling around the Big East for this Monday afternoon.

It looks like all is fine with Jarrid Famous and USF and expect the 6′11 big man to be a Bull next year. Louisville is looking at other forwards in the wake of recent de-commitments from at least two players in the class of 2010. A recruiting update on Doron Lamb is available as well as NBA Draft stories on Luke Harangody and Scottie Reynolds.

Also an article on Devin Ebanks and an update on the ‘Nova assistant coaching search. We finish today’s News & Notes with a couple general college basketball articles linked that are very interesting reads on a couple of new phenomenons surrounding the college game.

Read on below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/29/2009)

Well, before you head off for your weekend of fun, we have a round of Big East News and Notes to share with the readers. Some very good UConn scoop courtesy of Courant beat writer Mike Anthony today, some NBA draft analysis from the Chicago combine as well as stories on Luke Harangody, DeJuan Blair and Dante Cunningham today. A recruiting update can be found on elite 2010 prospect Brandon Knight as well as recently de-committed Aaron Craft, but the Big East isn’t likely to be able to sway this Ohio prospect. Also today a look at Dan Jennings and his long road to WVU where he will be reunited with Devin Ebanks, although that reunion might not be too long…

Also, I have been working hard on our summer event coverage schedule. We have a lot of great stuff planned if we can pull it all together that should make for a fun summer. If anyone wants to help NBE Basketball you can always visit our Donate to NBE page. Our writers, scouts and contributors but forth a lot of effort and we can see it is appreciated as we have averaged over 30,000 unique visitors a month the last three months, thank you!!

Read on for today’s news and notes…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/28/2009)

In today’s News & Notes there are some player evaluations from last week’s Gym Rat Challenge in Albany (NY) that Big East fans will find relevent as several possible Big East targets were in action. Elsewhere, the situation with Jarrid Famous is still unclear and just as confusing as a day ago. Louisville sees another of their 2010 verbal commitments become open again. There is a recruiting update on Dante Holmes as well as NBA Draft process updates on Paul Harris and Luke Harangody and a good Q&A on USF star Dominique Jones for readers today.

Read about all this below…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/26/2009)

Hope all our readers had a nice Memorial Day weekend! Of course, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and once again the summer will bring exciting action on the basketball court throughout the country. In June a couple of our favorite events will remain the Rumble in the Bronx at Fordham and the NBA Top 100 camp at the University of Virginia. This weekend NBE should also be able to spend some time covering the NY2LA Invitational on the Marquette campus and we also look forward to covering Hoop Group Metro Summer Showcase and other events throughout the next month leading up to what will definitely be an exciting July as the college coaches will hit the evaluation trail like caged animals being released from captivity after the NCAA did away with the April evaluation period.

Today in our News & Notes update, it is chock full of recruiting lists found around the web. There are lists from dozens of players and everyone will find something of interest with their program today. Also, a look at some of the NBA draft workouts of Jonny Flynn and an impressive Paul Harris, an update on the Jio Fontan situation and ESPN.com runs through the 2009 Big East recruiting classes…

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BELLY OF THE BE-AST: ‘MELO EDITION

by Ray Mernagh

The first time I saw Carmelo Anthony play he was 18-years old and I knew he would be a fantastic pro. That’s not saying a lot as everyone on the planet — save Joe Dumars — recognized the same thing. The second time I saw him was his only year at Syracuse against Pitt. The Panthers were extremely physical with him and limited his output the best they could for the duration of that game. I remember sitting down before the game started and the man sitting next to me asking me “who’s the great freshman ‘Cuse is supposed to have?” I answered “it’s that kid in the headband and this will be the only time you see him here because he’ll be the number two pick in the draft next summer,” — damn Dumars!

As I explained Anthony had sort of an up and down game. With about ten minutes left the guy leaned over and said “he’d better come back to school because he’s definitely not ready for the NBA.” Not more than a minute later ‘Melo beat his man from the wing on the dribble, spun to avoid the double team and laid the ball up on the other side of the basket to avoid the block. He did all of that while getting fouled and showing an incredible mixture of quickness, athleticism and a quality that can only be described as smooth. I leaned back over and said “he’s ready.”

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/22/2009)

Many of our readers are already on the road ready to enjoy the long holiday weekend. The NBE Basketball Report and all of our staff wish that everyone enjoys their Memorial Day festivities and travels safe this weekend. We thank everyone for their continued support of our website and we are sure everyone is ready for the upcoming summer schedule to get rolling!

Today we take a tour through the Big East and it is somewhat of an abbreviated ensemble of news and notes. We start with Rutgers who is still trying to figure out what to do at point guard next year and the staff promises to leave no stone unturned looking from within as well as continuing to look outside for help. James Beatty and Jio Fontan status updates are included as well. Cincinnati looks to ave a better handle on their point guard position for next season. West Virginia’s Bob Huggins is focused on winning, DePaul is finally focused on recruiting some local talent and the investigation into alleged recruiting violations at UConn moves along, slowly. Also, Doug Ferguson takes a stab at a mock NBA draft following the draft lottery of earlier this week.

We have some recruiting news and notes that will be coming throughout the weekend…so, in between the bar-b-que and picnics, stop and and see what is happening at NBE…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/20/2009)

We are kind of getting off track from our regular News & Notes postings, sorry, I will try and be better in that area.

Today is kind of a wrap-up of some of the news and notes that hgave been hanging around for a couple days. May is the slowest of months around college basketball, but still some worthwhile news to catch up on including recruiting updates on Marquis Teague, Dominique Ferguson, Chris Evans and Ja’Quon Parker. Also, USF sees another player leave and they are still looking at a potential incoming transfer. Mick Cronin is optimistic, Mike Brey hints at more Big East Tournament changes, Rutgers gets a head start on the 2009-2010 season, Scottie Reynolds continues his NBA audition and more can be found below today…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/29/2009)

First, our apologies for the technical difficulties forcing the site down for about 12 hours from last night until early this morning. With the quick growth and exploding traffic of the last couple months, we exceeded our server bandwidth limitations. We are back up and running and the news around the Big East continues to fly in from all angles…let’s see if we can catch everyone up!

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/24/2009)

Its been quite a week around the Big East and Louisville has been the center of quite a storm of stories in the past several days. Also, stories on Dan Jennings, Brandon Triche and Jim Boeheim’s opinion on how the Syracuse fate with three players leaving early for the professional ranks. Also declaring for the draft his week, but not retaining agents, are Ater Majok of UConn and ‘Nova’s NCAA Tourney hero Scottie Reynolds.

Also, with college coaches evaluating high school prospects in open gyms, several recruiting updates are available as well as the 2009 SEC-Big East Invitational match-ups are announced, too.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/17/2009)

Nice day to catch up around the Big East on the latest news and stories. Again, it is a busy time with underclassmen making their NBA Draft decisions known, such as Greg Monroe, Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet, Dar Tucker and Luke Harangody. It was also the beginning of the spring signing period this week and a few stories on the impacts of the comings and goings at UConn as well as the official additions at Providence, WVU, Marquette, Rutgers, South Florida as well as the recruitment of Jarrid Famous and other USF frontcourt prospects. Also, an update on Carson Desrosiers, who had quite a busy morning today…

It will be a busy weekend for the NBE Basketball Report with coverage of the Pittsburgh JamFest put on by The HoopGroup, the HoopHall Classic staged by BasketBull of CT and the Jordan Brand Classic Regional and National game. Check back often this weekend for the latest news…

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