Parsing The WAC

A New Mexico State recruiting target

2008-07-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

As always with recruiting, don't chisel anything in granite unless you have a very good eraser but here's a New Mexico State (and others) recruiting target:

Mouphtaou Yarou -- power forward 6-9 210
School: Woodstock (VA) Massanutten Military Academy Club Team: DC Blue Devils

Offers from: Florida State, Georgetown, Memphis, Pittsburgh, New Mexico State

As for the kid, here's an article:

West African Big Man Turning Heads in America
Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

May 30, 2008 - DC Blue Devils forward/center Mouphtaou Yarou may not be a household name on the high school hoops scene yet; that is until last weekend’s Nike Memorial Day Classic in Nashville.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Yarou (a rising senior) has only been playing basketball for a few years and while he has a long ways to go to be a complete player, he clearly is more advanced than most African big men at the same stage....

Go here for the remainder.

Fresno State looking at a point

2008-07-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

With Reggie Moore having backee out out of his letter-of-intent to Fresno State, Steve Cleveland must land a point with his final scholarship. Here's one he is looking at, again with the proviso that the recruiting process, on both sides, changes every day. It will take a Rivals subscription to read the entire article.

Bulldogs still hot after NorCal guard
Jed Tai
Special to RedWaveReport.com
July 22, 2008

With the chances of Reggie Moore ever stepping foot on campus apparently nil, the Fresno State basketball coaching staff is working hard on finding another point guard for the Class of 2008. It's difficult to find an impact player at this stage of the game, but Coach Steve Cleveland and his staff may have unearthed a gem recently. It's going to be a battle for the services of Shannon Sharpe, a talented 6-foot, 190-pound point guard from Corona (Calif.) Centennial High School, but after his recent performance at the West Coast All-Stars camp, the Bulldogs program is sold....

Go here for the remainder.

A possible Louisiana tech recruiting target

2008-07-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

Always, always, always keep in mind that college recruiting is FLUID. What was yesterday is not today but could be again tomorrow.

With such in mind, Rivals' Justin Young is reporting that Kadeem Green has Louisiana Tech as one of his top schools, along with Pitt and Minnesota.

He's 6-8, 210 four out of the Montverde (FL) Academy and plays for the Ontario Magic club team but also in listed as a member of the Grassroots Canada squad.

Can the Canadian pipeline keeping flowing to Ruston?

Back from hell

2008-07-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

How do the residents of Las Vegas do it? At least for six months out of the year? Better yet, why?

Yes, you haven't lived until you exit from a Vegas high school gym at 4 p.m. and it's 110 degrees with a warm, check that, hot, also check that, blistering wind blasting you like a furnace.

You don't dare sprint but you purposefully stride to your rental car, climb in and jam on the AC for that first hint of salvation coming at you from the dashboard.

Then you do it again and again and again...

Ah, the glamorous life college coaches lead!

Anyway, enough of this, we are back home and thoroughly enjoying the fog and 70 degree temps and vowing to get the late July club team basketball tournaments in Las Vegas bug out of our system forever so that we do not repeat such an act of self-punishment in 2009.

Boise State's summer prospectus is out

2008-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

The BSU nedia folks have issued a summer prospectus on Greg Graham's Broncos, the 2008 Western Athletic Conference champions.

Here's a taste:

Key Returners:

Anthony Thomas (6-0, 205, Jr., G) – Started all 34 games for Boise State at point guard, finishing with 141 assists (the third most in Boise State history) ... Averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1assists and 1.4 steals per game, while finishing fifth in the Western Athletic Conference in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Paul Noonan (6-7, 210, So., G/F) – Played in 33 of Boise State’s games, starting one ... Averaged 4.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, while making a team-best 86.5 percent of his free throw attempts.

Jamar Greene (6-0, 203, Sr., G) – Played in 33 of Boise State’s games, averaging 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Mark Sanchez (6-7, 235, Sr., F) – Played in 33 games for the Broncos, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 9.3 minutes per game.

Kurt Cunningham (6-9, 265, Jr., C) Played in 33 of Boise State’s games, getting his fi rst career start at Hawaii ... Averaged 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, while making 62.1 percent of field goal attempts.

Aaron Garner (6-3, 175, Sr., G) – Played in 29 games, averaging 1.8 points and 0.7 rebounds per game ... Best game came when he scored a season-high 14 points in win over Utah State in WAC Tournament semifinals.

Other Returners:

Shawn Rouse (6-6, 187, So., F) – Played in 11 games, averaging 0.8 points and 0.5 rebounds per game. Zack Moritz (6-10, 246, So., C) – Played in just three games missing most of the season with an injury.

Returning Redshirts:

Ike Okoye (6-9, 230, Jr., F) – A transfer from Wyoming who redshirted during the 2007-08 season ... Averaged 3.1 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Cowboys while starting nine of their 31 games.

Top Newcomers:

Robert Arnold (6-7, 170, Jr., F) – Played two seasons at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif., where he led his team to a 56-18 overall record and a 21-7 record in Foothill Conference action ... Helped team to a runner-up fi nish in the state tournament as a freshman and a pair of Foothill Conference championships ... As a sophomore, named first-team all-state and fi rst-team all-conference after finishing 14th in the state and second in the Foothill Conference in scoring ... Averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.1 assists per game, while making 42 percent of field goal attempts, 31 percent of 3-pointers and 68 percent of free throws ...

Sean Imadiyi (6-7, 200, Jr., F) – Played one season at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz., after a season at New Mexico ... Named National Junior College Athletic Association Third-Team All-America ... Named first-team All-Region I and fi rst-team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference ... Finished among the nation’s top six junior college players and led the ACCAC in fi eld goal percentage making 71 percent of fi eld goal attempts ... Averaged 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while blocking 35 shots.

La’Shard Anderson (6-0, 160, So., G) – Played one season at Irvine Valley College in Irvine, Calif., where he led his team to a 27-5 record and a second-place finish in the Orange Empire Conference with a 10-2 record ... Averaged 9.9 points, 2.3 rebound, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while making 44 percent of fi eld goal attempts, 42 percent of 3-pointers and 85 percent of free throws.

Key Losses:

Reggie Larry (6-6, 224, F) – Earned fi rst-team All-WAC honors, as well as being named MVP of the WAC Tournament ... Led the Broncos averaging 19.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game ... Finished season with 661 points, becoming just the third player in Boise State history to score 600 points in a season.

Matt Nelson (6-9, 232, F) – Earned second-team All-WAC honors while also being named to the WAC All-Tournament Team ... Averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Broncos.

Matt Bauscher (6-3, 205 Sr., G) – Named to the WAC All-Defensive Team and the WAC All-Tournament Team ... Averaged 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds ... Ranked in the top five in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (105 assists, 36 turnovers) while also making 49 percent of shots.

Tyler Tiedeman (6-7, 212, F) – Averaged 13.9 points and 3.4 rebounds ... Became just the sixth Boise State player to ever score 400 points, grab 100 rebounds and hand out 100 assists in the same season ... Made 48.8 percent of 3-point field goal attempts....... Go here for the remainder of the pdf file

Deundrae Spraggins returns to Texas

2008-07-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

Deundrae Spraggins played junior college basketball in The Lone Star State before signing with Utah State. After a less-than-successful junior year in Logan, he has returned to Texas to attend school and play basketball.

Texas A&M Commerce: Lions Continue Pipeline With Signing of DeUndrae Spraggins

The pipeline of former Paris Junior College standouts to the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball program added another member with the signing of DeUndrae Spraggins.

The pipeline of former Paris Junior College standouts to the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball program added another member with the signing of DeUndrae Spraggins.

Spraggins, who played last year at Utah State after spending the previous two years at Paris Junior College. In his one season at Utah State, he played in 27 games on an Aggies squad that advanced to the championship game of the WAC Tournament and went on to play in the NIT...

Go here for the remainder.

Fallout from the mess at Pacific

2008-07-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

The names of three Pacific men's basketball players who won't be on the roster next year have been announced, with a twist for two of them but one name/player apparently is a goner for good -- that being Steffan Johnson. It's still unknown if he has transferred to Idaho or not:

Three players off Pacific men's basketball roster
Jagdip Dhillon and Jason Anderson
The Stockton Record
July 19, 2008

Three key players from last season's University of the Pacific men's basketball team were missing from the 2008-09 roster released Friday.

Pacific spokesman Richard Rojo said he could not disclose whether those players - senior point guards Steffan Johnson and Michael Kirby and senior center Michael Nunnally - were involved in an alleged sexual assault investigated by the school.

The school's investigation and judicial review process of the reported assault ended last week, but the school did not release the names of the students involved, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. No criminal complaint was filed, police said.

Sources said that the alleged assault involved three men's basketball players and a women's basketball player.

On Friday, Rojo would not discuss Johnson's status at the school but made a brief statement regarding Nunnally and Kirby...

Go here for the remainder.

Utah State has offered a 2010 kid

2008-07-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

There are bound to be numerous names unknown to us now, multiple reversals, no's morphing into yes's and vice versa -- you name it -- with college basketball recruiting, especially for a 2010 prospect but Stew Morrill has offered a kid from Oregon:

Jed Tai
OregonPreps.com Editor
July 18, 2008

In recent years, every class has had a talented big man and in Oregon's Class of 2010 Jordan Railey could be the top dog. The still-growing 6-foot-10, 215-pound post from Beaverton High School has made rapid progress in his body and game in recent years, and that development has continued this off-season. Railey is making strides with the Team Jones AAU program, having plenty of fun and picking up college interest in the process - including his first college scholarship offers...

Go here for the remainder if you have a Rivals subscription.

A twist-and-turn story on a former LA TECH recruit

2008-07-18T12:31:00.001-07:00

Actually, this young man has a long list of suitors besides LA TECH but at one point in time it appeared that he was headed to Ruston -- at multiple points, he was headed to multiple colleges.

Men's Basketball: Sophomore Whitehead leaves Jays, goes home
Steven Pivovar
Omaha World-Leader
July 15, 2008

Tom Whitehead's Creighton basketball career is over before it began.

The 23-year-old junior college transfer, who would have been a sophomore this season, left the team and returned home to St. George, Utah. Whitehead said he made his decision to leave after discussions with Creighton coach Dana Altman left him with no alternatives.

"I knew I would have to compete to put myself in a position to get playing time," Whitehead said Monday from Salt Lake City. "Even when he told me there was a chance that I wouldn't play much this year, I was prepared to stay. I'm a sophomore. It wouldn't be all that unusual for me not to play a lot this first year.

"The more we talked, the more I felt he wanted me to quit. I didn't come to Creighton to quit, but it got to a point where I didn't feel I had any other choice..."

...He also completed two years of academic work in one and was prepared to transfer to Louisiana Tech last August. He graduated with honors but wasn't eligible to accept a scholarship from a four-year school because of an NCAA rule that required a non-qualifier to be a full-time student for three semesters at a junior college...

Go here for the remainder.

Hawaii's key player looks to be heading to the islands

2008-07-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

The key player for Hawaii's 2008-2009 basketball hopes looks to be island-bound:

UH hoops recruit is 'on my way'
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
July 18, 2008

The prized recruit for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team has already displayed an ability to finish.

Roderick Flemings said he is "just about finished" with the summer courses he needed to complete to become eligible for the Rainbow Warriors this season.

"I'm on my way to Hawai'i," he said. "It's a big relief. It was tough, but I got it done."

Flemings said summer classes end next week in Texas, but he has already completed the necessary work to pass his courses...

Go here for the remainder.

A JaVale McGee update

2008-07-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

The following article is one that can be re-written for probably at least the next couple of years on JaVale McGee. He's far from ready to contribute so tracking his progress -- not necessarily his numbers -- will be interesting.

JaVale McGee: Making it in Vegas
Sam Leeper
Special to the Gazette-Journal
July 17, 2008

LAS VEGAS — Being the No. 1 pick of an NBA franchise could put extra pressure on a player.

And when that pick is also the first son of a WNBA player to be drafted, the expectations grow even more.

But JaVale McGee, who left Nevada after his sophomore season and was picked No. 18 by the Washington Wizards, takes everything in stride.
The seven-footer is participating in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV through Sunday...

Go here for the remainder.

A Nick Fazekas update

2008-07-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on Nick Fazekas and the reception he is receiving while playing in the Las Vegas summer league:

Fazekas feels the love (and hate)
Andy Samuelson
Las Vegas Sun
July 17, 2008

The Los Angeles Clippers have had a larger Summer League following this past week, but one player in particular has heard just as many jeers as cheers.

“Sometimes it is kind of fun to play in front of people who don’t really like you. It kind of makes you play a little harder,” said Nevada product Nick Fazekas, who had his best Summer League showing Thursday when he scored 16 points in the Clippers last game of the session, an 80-76 overtime loss to New Orleans.

But coming back to such familiar (at times hostile) surroundings on the UNLV campus wasn’t all negative for the soon-to-be second-year player, who suited up 26 games for Dallas and the Clippers last year.

“I definitely have some Nevada fans here, cheering for and against me. It’s better than a neutral crowd,” said Fazekas, who averaged 9.2 points per game and 5.2 rebounds a contest in five Summer League games...

Go here for the remainder.

More on Fresno State's current recruiting efforts

2008-07-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a compilation of recruiting 'news' for you Fresno State Bulldog fans:

Coach Steve Cleveland has reached an agreement with local player Elliott Berry, who will first attend Fresno City College in order to earn his A.A. degree. Berry is 6-7, 200 and out of nearby Clovis West High. Go here for the article if you have a Rivals subscription.

+

The following article contains a name we've already mentioned (or think we have) plus some details about Steve Cleveland's recruiting plans in the near future.

Bulldogs get big boost of basketball energy
JC hoops transfer Seals to provide defensive help.
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
7/17/08

The point guard is coming, Steve Cleveland said, but for right now the Fresno State men's basketball coach has signed 6-foot-7 power forward Brian Seals -- a player the coach hopes will add energy and aggressive defense.

"He brings a dimension we don't have and that's someone who loves to guard and rebound," Cleveland said. "He doesn't know how to play other than hard."

Seals played his two previous seasons at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds in 12 games before injuring ligaments in his ankle. As a freshman, he averaged seven points and 10 rebounds per game.

Cleveland said Seals sat out the entire season because Seals wanted his ankle to strengthen. Seals has been playing against the other Bulldogs during summer school, however, and Cleveland said "they love his energy."

The Bulldogs lacked a consistently effective defensive post presence last season and Cleveland hopes Seals can provide that. Seals is 210 pounds so he'll mostly front the posting player to deny him the ball, but he has banged often with Bulldogs center Brandon Webster (6-10, 250) in recent weeks.

"He has the potential to be the best defender on our team," Cleveland said...

Go here for the remainder.

Rosters changes for men's basketball at Pacific?

2008-07-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, Pacific still resides in The Big West Conference but WAC member Idaho just might have a new basketballer -- a former Pacific one -- according to some digging by a Stockton newspaper reporter.

Jason Anderson of The Stockton Record does a superb job of covering Pacific Tiger basketball between his newspaper articles and his blog entries. It appears he has dug up some information on a story that has yet to break and also located a detail that at least seems to indicate a new backcourter is residing in Moscow, Idaho.

Sexual assault probed at UOP
Sources: Four basketball players were investigated
Jason Anderson
Stockton Record
July 17, 2008

STOCKTON - University of the Pacific officials have completed a sexual assault investigation and judicial review process that may affect the enrollment and roster status of as many as four student-athletes.

Pacific spokesman Richard Rojo said he could not identify the students because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law protecting the privacy of student education records.

Sources said the case involves three men's basketball players and one women's basketball player. Rojo wouldn't confirm the involvement of athletes but indicated there could be unanticipated changes to the men's basketball roster, a potentially damaging blow to a team with NCAA Tournament aspirations...

Go here to read the remainder.

Here is the beginning of Anderson's accompanying blog entry:

Turnover for the Tigers?

You’ll have to read Thursday’s paper or go to recordnet.com at midnight to find out why there may be some unanticipated changes within the Pacific men’s basketball program. There is an interesting side note I can share with you now, but first and foremost I want to stress that it may have nothing to do with what you’ll read tomorrow.

Efforts to ascertain players’ respective whereabouts while reporting the aforementioned story led to a peculiar bit of information on a social networking site. Senior point guard Steffan Johnson’s MySpace profile lists his location as “Moscow, Idaho/Kent, Washington.” Kent is Johnson’s hometown. Moscow is home to the University of Idaho – and not much else...

Go here to read the remainder.

The Fresno Bee's Matt James on FSU men's basketball

2008-07-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Matt James pulls no punches in his blog entries and here's his latest take on Fresno State men's basketball and what has recently transpired:

Matt James
Fresno Bee
July 16, 2008

Bulldog basketball blues

I am still not exactly sure what goes on in college basketball recruiting. I think that people who do college basketball recruiting don't even know what goes on in college basketball recruiting. I suspect that it is very, very slimy. You know when you accidentally hold on to the release button on your fishing pole for too long and the hook goes slamming straight down into the edge of the river and you drag it out along with 17 pounds of seaweed? Pretty sure that's still big-time college basketball recruiting. Except with extra sludge and maybe a piranha on the hook that flies out and bites you on the eyeball.

I am referring, at least in part, to the case of Reggie Moore, the point guard from Seattle who notified the Fresno State coaching staff just before June 1 that he wanted out of his letter of intent to play for the Bulldogs. Moore was the supposed prize of a four-player freshmen recruiting class for Fresno State. He was rated the 34th-best point guard in the nation for the class of 2008 by someone who is probably never seen Reggie Moore in person. My column about the ordeal ran in Wednesday's paper, where I lamented about how this was the last thing Steve Cleveland's program needed right now. It's already dealing with unfair NCAA sanctions* and Dwight O'Neil's domestic disagreement** and Bryan Harvey's unsure status and the fact that if Harvey doesn't make next year's squad, that leaves exactly one senior (O'Neil) and one junior (Sylvester Seay) on scholarship. That could change if Cleveland signs a junior college transfer with one of his two remaining scholarships, but you get the point. It is not good to enter a season where your entire roster has exactly 60 starts*** at any level of college basketball. (Three asterisks in one paragraph could be a new world record. Let's get to them.)

*I could go on for many days about the stupidity of NCAA rules and penalties, but this example is perfect. Fresno State is losing four hours of practice time per week and one scholarship next season because it's APR (Academic Progress Rate) score wasn't high enough for the '06-'07 season. But the NCAA takes that scholarship away from the average number of scholarships a program has used over the last four seasons, as to equally penalize universities who don't fund the same number of scholarships. In other words, reducing a school's total number of available scholarships from 13 to 12, doesn't hurt much if it only funds 10 anyway. But since Fresno State had been penalized so much in the past for various other transgressions, it had only averaged 11 scholarships the last four seasons, so it's total number of scholarships for next season was reduced from 11 to 10, even though it had planned to finally have the full allotment of 13. You could of course argue that if it had stayed out of trouble in the first place, Fresno State wouldn't be in this situation. Sure. But you absolutely, positively, without a doubt, have to see that the Bulldogs were double-penalized for old violations. That's just wrong. So Fresno State appealed and lost. The NCAA couldn't see past a technicality, apparently. The excruciating part is that the team might not have gotten penalized at all had the APR score simply been an improvement on the year before. (The NCAA gives a reprieve for APR improvement, even if it's still a sub-standard score. Just ask the Fresno State softball team.) So if the '05-'06 Fresno State men's basketball APR score had simply been a little worse, Fresno State might have 13 scholarships. Instead, it has 10. Go figure that one out and try not to put your head through a double-pane window. On a bright note, though, the Bulldogs don't have to practice as much...

Go here for the remainder.

Utah State offers a local junior

2008-07-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Utah is always a bountiful state for college basketball recruiting and Utah State is eyeing a local junior prospect. Do check out Jay Drew and his recruiting column in the Salt Lake City Tribune for EVERYTHING recruiting in Utah and sometimes beyond:

The recruiting trail
Jay Drew
Salt Lake Tribune
July 17, 2008

Utah State offers Bingham junior-to-be

Just got word that Ben Clifford, the rising junior from Bingham High, has been offered a basketball scholarship by Utah State.

Clifford, 6-7, recently played for Salt Lake Metro Black at the Pangos Cream of the Crop tournament in California (see post below). He had 18 rebounds in one particular game.

Anyway, when Clifford returned home on Tuesday, the Aggies apparently contacted him and offered the scholarship.

It is Clifford's first offer (remember, he's only a junior), but more are expected in the next year.

Updates on WAC NBA hopefuls

2008-07-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

The Draft Express site should be a daily visit for all basketball fans -- it certainly is for us. Here's the latest on summer league ball a couple of former WAC stars.

"Las Vegas Summer League Day Five
Matt Kamalsky, Mike Schmidt
DraftExpress.com
July 16, 2008

Coby Karl: 18 Points, 5-13 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-6 FT, 1 Rebound, 2 Assists, 1 Steal, 3 Turnovers

Karl had a nice game today, but spent quite a bit of time on the floor. He’s a gritty player, but has no issue taking his lumps. He made his fair share of impressive plays today, splitting a double team with a bounce pass for an assist, ripping the ball away from a couple of jump shooters, and getting an and one around two would be shot blockers by shielding the ball with his body. Karl is a tremendously cerebral player, he thinks the game like a veteran. His shot was falling today, and that allowed him to do a lot of damage from three point range. He’s got great form and his range allows him to get his shot off even when he’s facing a lot of pressure defensively. Though Karl wasn’t able to carry his team to a win, this was easily his best individual performance, showcasing his offensive skills. Karl took a beating today, and it is clear that he’s one of the most competitive guys here in Vegas."

Plus this:

"Ramon Sessions: 21 Points, 6-11 FG, 0-1 3FG, 9-12 FT, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Turnovers

Sessions had a great game today, carrying his team over Detroit in a defensive battle. He solidified his spot on the Bucks’ roster last season, and has been a standout all week here in Vegas. He’s got tremendous quickness and very good ball handling ability, allowing him to get into the lane at will. This game was just another instance of Sessions making a move at the top of the key and getting to the rim. Though he’s not going to play above the rim, he gets to the line at a high rate, and shows a lot of savvy attacking the basket. Sessions is a good rebounder for a point guard, and played solid defense throughout this game against Detroit’s lesser guards. Sessions has developed quite a bit since his days in the D-League, and given Milwaukee’s positive feelings about him, may get more playing time than most would expect."

Here's a little more on Ramon Sessions, this time from ESPN:

"Summer League: Midway Point Awards
Maurice Brooks
ESPN
July 16, 2008

BEST PLAYMAKER: Ramon Sessions, Bucks

He is very good at changing up the speed of play, controlling the game and taking what the defense gives him. Against the Grizzlies, he took just four shots, but handed out a game-high nine assists. He was more shot-oriented yesterday against the Pistons, scoring 21 points on 6-for-11 from the field, but still found time to give out four helpers, while reducing his turnovers from seven to two."

A possible Nevada recruiting target

2008-07-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

Recruiting is such a fluid entity and also permeated with feints and propaganda so we never get overly excited when we comes across a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) -related recruiting item.

With that in mind, the Rivals ArizonaPreps site, hosted by Anthony Ray, had a mention about 6-8 Brandon Garrett with Nevada apparently showing some interest.

Garrett is a 2008 high school grad (Paradise Valley) with up-in-the-air plans regarding the upcoming school year. He hasn't committed to either a college or a prep school as yet. His length and quickness are intriguing but he remains a ways off from being ready to contribute.

Our understanding is that Nevada doesn't have a scholarship to issue so maybe the Wolf Pack interest is as a walk-on.

An Idaho recruiting target

2008-07-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Now do keep in mind that college recruiting is best described by this one word: fluid.

Allegiances changes every day, sometimes on the hour it seems. Offers get extended, then pulled. Verbal commitments are mouthed but a new choice pops up the very next day. Heck, as we just saw, even a letter-of-intent signing is no guarantee.

Plus, here's something always to keep in mind: For both Rivals and Scout, the schools that are listed as interested in a certain recruit are rarely updated with new suitors or a mention of those who have fallen by the wayside or chose to bail -- meaning that the listings are rife with out-dated information.

The school listings for recruits are based on articles posted about said recruits. So if the latest story on a kid is a year old, then ... you get the picture.

Having typed all the above, here's a kid with an Idaho offer:

Markhuri Sanders-Frison
6-8 270
Jefferson High Portland, OR
Eastern Arizona College in 2007-2008 -- 8.8 ppg., 8.9 ppg., 58% shooting
Is now enrolled at South Plains JC (TX) as a sophomore

The kid apparently was at The Hebron Academy (a prep school in Maine) prior to Eastern Arizona College. Coincidentally (or not), Eastern Arizona played at South Plain JC last season.

BSU's Matt Nelson off to Spain

2008-07-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Matt Nelson has found a professional basketball home abroad. Here's the link.

More Moore from the Fresno Bee

2008-07-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Wow. This and the timing of such really hurts Fresno State. There is no true point on the current FSU roster and Moore's earlier signing is the primary reason for this. We will never know but it would be fascinating to learn how this came about -- was it generated solely by Moore? Did another school or schools continue to 'recruit' him after his signing of a letter-of-intent?

Various Fresno State mesage board posters (yes, take it for what it's worth) have Washington, Washington State and Gonzaga individually and collectively as the so-called 'culprits' in this matter. However, Washington has no scholarships to offer and we're unsire where WSU and Gonzaga stand. But that's all speculation anyway. Heck, former Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings, a point with a national reputation, just announced plans for playing in Europe instead. Will Moore be traipsing to Tucson? And yes, in fairness, take that for what's it's worth too.

'Dogs recruit out before he starts
Reggie Moore was expected to take over at point for 'Dogs.
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
7/15/08

Seattle prep basketball standout Reggie Moore is seeking a release from his letter of intent to attend Fresno State, sending the Bulldogs coaching staff on a last-minute hunt to find another scholarship point guard.

Moore, who was named the Washington state 3A MVP and helped lead Rainier Beach High this past season to a state championship, asked to be released in late May.

Fresno State has not released Moore and coach Steve Cleveland wouldn't comment on when or if it would.

Moore said Monday he never felt comfortable signing with Fresno State during the early signing period in November, but felt pressured to do so.

"Something just didn't excite me about going to Fresno," Moore said....

Go here for the remainder.

Mike Hall finds a new home

2008-07-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Three-point shooter deluxe Mike Hall, who was recently dismissed from the team by new Idaho Coach Don Verlin, has found a new home -- but with his old coach.

Hall has again joined forces with George Pfeifer at Montana State Billings.

Here's the link.

Another blow to Fresno State? -- UPDATE The Barkboard says it is so

2008-07-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

******* UPDATE -- Mario Gomez, the editor of the Barkboard (the SCOUT site for Fresno State), has a premium article posted indicating Moore has cut his ties with Fresno State. This obviously really hurts as the Bulldogs now have no roster replacement for Kevin Bell. Moore wasn't going to set the WAC alight this coming season but he more than likely would have been a freshman starter. It will be fascinating to see where he eventually re-signs and what darts, arrows and other ordance will be tossed in the direction of that school's coaching staff.

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If we could, we would type this entry in pencil because no authoritative word as yet has appeared about Rainer Beach High point Reggie Moore and his supposed decision not to attend Fresno State.

The Fresno State Save Mart Center message board has a long string about this subject but no official confirmation from Moore, Fresno State Coach Steve Cleveland or any other parties involved.

We've put out several feelers seeking information and are awaiting responses.

Out of Washington state, Moore transformed his game into that of a lead guard after being seen mostly as a shooting backcourter. It's always difficult to put such in perspective but Moore was probably the best Bulldog recruit -- he certainly is the most important since uber-point Kevin Bell has completed his eligibility at FSU.

Here an ESPN description of Moore:

"December, 2007: Moore (Fresno State signee) was the best point guard at this event and clearly demonstrated why he should have been recruited at the Pac-10 level. He has the ideal size, skill and savvy to play at the highest level of college basketball. He is a true point guard (hard to come by nowadays) as he sets up his teammates first before looking for his own shot. He's an excellent open court passer, though he does have a tendency for the spectacular, and can create off the dribble equally as well (solid crossover move). His jump shot is solid out to the stripe as well. In addition, he displays the leadership skills of a point guard and is a tough competitor. Moore should start as a freshman for the Bulldogs during the 2008-09 season and have an excellent career before he graduates..."

In a Seattle Post Intelligencer, Mike McLaughlin-penned article from March 18, this appears:

"...He also earned a scholarship to Fresno State, along with teammate Mike Ladd.

"That's just icing on the cake," Moore said. "To play college basketball and to experience it with one of my best friends is as good as it gets."

Maybe, maybe not.

ESPN sees the light

2008-07-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Granted, we are obviously WAC-biased but it's great news that the Western Athletic Conference was finally able to reach an agreement with 800-pound gorilla in the living room ESPN, thereby allowing more WAC football and basketball games to be televised. Thank you to the Boise State and Hawaii football teams for their part in providing leverage.

A hat tip to Aggie Sam at BleedCrimson.net for letting us know of the article.

WAC to get boost from ESPN
Proposed deal would increase exposure, pay $4 million per year
Ferd Lewis
Honolulu Advertiser
July 11, 2008

All signs point to the Western Athletic Conference shortly announcing a significantly upgraded and expanded contract extension with ESPN.

Conference officials have been in negotiations with ESPN for several months and WAC members held a conference call yesterday apparently to approve a deal in principle.

The new agreement, when announced, is expected to run from 5 to 7 years and, on top of a several-fold increase in rights fees, include heavily expanded exposure for conference teams.

The WAC had been receiving $900,000 per year on a six-year deal set to run through the 2009-10 academic year. That figure was down from $1 million after Texas-El Paso and three other schools left for Conference USA in 2005. The new agreement is expected to be worth, on average, approximately $4 million per year to the conference...

Go here for the remainder.

An informative article on USU AD Scott Barnes and his plans

2008-07-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a look at the current state of Utah State athletics, with a little history and big plans for the future included. It's a good read even if you're not an Aggie fan as the article details what a number of WAC schools are facing.

Barnes angling for USU success
Aggies' new AD planning three-pronged program
Nick Newman
Deseret News
July 11, 2008

LOGAN — Scott Barnes recently spent a free Friday night to scout out a section of Blacksmith Fork after another long day in the Utah State athletic department.

The next day, USU's new athletic director spent hours working harder than ever — not encouraging the next donor to plunk down cash to advance another athletic project on campus, but rather in pursuit of a rare salmon fly.

After four hours of searching, Barnes finally found one. He grabbed the fly, tossed it in the river, then followed it for 100 feet before a trout came up and snagged it. Barnes figured he had the perfect opportunity for a catch, so he threw his own fly in and waited, knowing a bite was coming soon. Eventually, the fish came up and pulled on the line, but the new leader of Aggie Nation missed the catch.

"That was the only action I had all day," Barnes said.

In the past, with the exception of basketball, Utah State athletics has been much like Barnes' experience fishing — a huge investment of time and work, but very little action.

The glory years of the 1960s have long since faded, and Aggie fans have been subjected to countless years of football mired in mediocrity or worse. The Aggies were Division I vagabonds, becoming an Independent, making an ill-fated jump into the Sun Belt, and finally finding a safe haven in the Western Athletic Conference. Hoops success at the Spectrum made Logan winters bearable, but the program that alumni and boosters once cared most about — Aggie football — had been at the bottom of the competitive sports dumpster in three different leagues for too long...

Go here for the remainder.