BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/10/2008)
Just a couple small recruiting notes as the spring signing period starts on April 16th and the AAU circuit warms up this weekend with the first round of major events.
Providence has narrowed its focus on the coaching search and awaits an answer from their targeted choice. More NBA draft entry decisions to analyze and early looks from national college basketball writers on the 2008-2009 season.
RECRUITING UPDATES:
Boo Williams Summer League center DeShawn Painter of Norfolk is ready to get back to enjoying basketball and Make it Fun Again (Daily Press) when he hits the AAU circuit beginning this weekend. After an impressive showing last spring/summer on the circuit, Painter had the pressure this past season to live up to the high ranking placed on him. Although 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks a game are definitely good numbers, people expected more from the highly rated 6’9 center, ranked in some analysts’ top 10.
Painter has already decided to play next season at Hargrave Military Academy instead of Booker T. Washington to help refine his game against better competition and make sure his academics are in order. Louisville is among an impressive list of schools already courting his services, but Painter is willing to let the process play itself out.
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This weekend, Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez and assistant Derm Player will head to Jackson (MS) to visit 6’11, 330 lb center Melvin Oliver of Mississippi Elite Christian Academy. Gonzo To Visit Oliver (zagsblog) in hopes of securing, at least, a visit from the uncommitted 5th year prep player in the Pirates’ quest to add some production to their frontcourt. Oliver is also considering Southern Miss, Nebraska and Baylor as he looks to sign during the late recruiting period which begins April 16th.
EARLY 2008-2009 TOP 25’s:
A couple more college basketball analysts have released their early looks at 2008-2009:
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News has his ridiculously early look at the 2008-2009 top 25 in college basketball. Here are his Big East teams:
#2 Connecticut
#7 Louisville
#8 West Virginia
#9 Marquette
#9b Georgetown (see his note)
#14 Syracuse
#18 Notre Dame
Here is Gary Parish’s look from CBS Sportsline:
#6 Georgetown
#7 Notre Dame
#9 Pittsburgh
#11 Louisville
#14 Connecticut
#17 Marquette
#19 Villanova
Syracuse and West Virginia just miss his cut. The other noteworthy item in his piece is the possible transfer of Edgar Sosa from Louisville to Miami.
Finally, Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports.com also gets into the act with his early top 25:
#3 Notre Dame
#5 Georgetown
#11 Connecticut
#15 Villanova
#16 Pittsburgh
#17 Marquette
#23 Louisville
Syracuse and West Virginia were among his other 10 to watch.
TESTING THE NBA WATERS?:
Freshman Donte Greene is jumping in as SU’s Greene Enters NBA Draft, Will Hire an Agent (Press & Sun-Bulletin), ending his brief college career.
West Virginia’s Joe Alexander is Available for the NBA Draft (Daily Mail), however the 6’8 junior will not hire an agent (at least in the immediate future) and expects to return for his senior season at WVU. A native of Mt. Airy, Md., Alexander led West Virginia in both scoring (16.9) and rebounding (6.4).
Pitt’s Sam Young might test the waters, but nothing has been announced, however a Pitt spokesman close to Pitt basketball (whatever that means) says Young is 90% on Staying at Pitt (Sportingblogs at the Sporting News) for his senior season.
Following Rick Pitino’s advice, unlike teammate Earl Clark, Louisville’s Terrence Williams Will Return (FoxSports.com) for his senior season with the Cards next year. Looking over the potential draft class, Williams believes his chances of being a 1st round pick will be much greater in next year’s draft.
COACHING NEWS:
The Providence Friars once again look as if they have put the ball in the court of another prospective hire as the Friars Eye UMass Coach Travis Ford (Boston Globe) for their head coach opening. Ford and his wife Heather were wined and dined by the Providence College administration yesterday and Ford Could Be On Board as Friars’ Next Coach Today (Providence Journal) as it is likely he will come to a final decision prior to the UMass basketball banquet scheduled for tonight.
Ford is 62-35 in three years at UMass, with 49 wins and NIT appearances in each of the last two seasons.
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In other coaching news, former Providence head coach Tim Welsh is in the running for the vacant head coaching position at Toledo, according to Jeff Goodman’s Random Notes at his blog of Fox Sports/ Goodman also reports that Villanova associate head coach Brett Gunning has withdrawn from consideration for the Marist opening.