Day One News and Notes
Doug Thomas, a forward with the West Coast All-Stars, is bound for Hargrave Military Academy next season. Thomas says he’s been offered by Southern Cal and Missouri already with UCLA taking a peek at him. … We didn’t speak with PF Chris Bosh yet, but one insider says the race is between Florida, Michigan and Georgia Tech. … Herb Sendek, Matt Doherty and Billy Donovan were the head coaches in attendance watching Shavlik Randolph’s first game. Steve Wojciechowski represented Duke. …
PG/SG Michael Ford is not with the Atlanta Celtics this week. However, we’ve learned he’s going to visit Allegany (MD) JC next Wednesday. … L.A. Rockfish PG Tim Drisdom is nursing a hyper-extended knee. Word has it that he’s close to committing to Utah. … The NABC held a meeting of college coaches in Las Vegas. The biggest topics were the NBA Developmental League and the “5/8” rule. College insiders are worried that the league might want to expand early and that could really hurt college buckets. The “5/8” rule, says the coaches, needs to be modified. We’ll agree with that one. …
Squires SF Sean Harris could wind up choosing between George Washington and Virginia Tech. … Speaking of the Hokies, the entire Tech staff was on hand to watch PG Todd Galloway. The likely choices for Galloway include Xavier, West Virginia, Florida State and Tech; each has offered. Wake Forest is said to be contemplating an offer. Skip Prosser was in attendance for part of Galloway’s game on Wednesday night. …
Wisconsin Friends of Hoop swingman Dan Grunfeld scored 45 points in an opening round game. … Raleigh Heat C Michael Thompson injured himself in the team’s opener and missed the evening game. He should be OK for Thursday. … Fairleigh Dickinson reportedly offered Baltimore Select forward Tynell Duckley. … Baltimore Select big man Kevin Steenberge is likely to pick from St. Joe’s and Richmond. … Speaking of the Spiders, they are out of the running for NC guard Shawan Robinson. The Leesville Road product could be waiting on an offer from Wake Forest and has offers from Clemson and Florida State, which will likely make up his final three schools. …
Chet Stachitas is going to visit Stanford after the tournament. None of the recruiting coaches will be around to help with the unofficial visit so those duties fall to Russell Turner, the Cardinal assistant who is not on the road this month. Stachitas likes Penn, Memphis, Rutgers, William and Mary and Davidson. … LA Rockfish forward Daryl Pegram likes George Mason, Yale and William and Mary; each has offered. Dayton and UTEP are looking. …
SG Brandon Lincoln says Gonzaga and Oregon have offered scholarships. Oklahoma and Arizona are looking. The Zags may be the strongest here. He’ll look to decide in early September. … Reggie Butler wants to attend Arizona but the Wildcats haven’t offered. Maryland and UCLA are his other favorites and he’s still waiting to see if they tender offers. … Forward Tremaine Mack of Hunting Park likes Vanderbilt, Siena, Penn and Princeton. …
The Rob Lanier Award
Last year, then Texas assistant Rob Lanier wore a Willowridge Basketball t-shirt to TJ Ford’s games. Ford eventually signed with Texas. Now, Georgia Tech assistant coach Dean Keener has employed a similar strategy with yet another Texan.
On Wednesday, Keener arrived at Green Valley H.S. sporting a t-shirt from The Colony, the high school team of PG Deron Williams. Williams saw the garb and was amused. Word is, Keener has similar shirts for Lincoln and St. Anthony’s, the high schools of Tech recruits Chris Bosh and Elijah Ingram.
You have to admire the creativity.
Move of the Day
Out of nowhere, Juice All-Stars guard Jason Olive drove baseline against Cleveland and rocked the rim with a two-handed jam. No one was expecting it so it came as a complete shocker.