Projo College Hoops

Sitting Pretty -- And Pricey

For Friars fans or Rhody rooters who, in these trying economic times, may be thinking it's a bit expensive to acquire prime seats at the Ryan Center or "the Dunk," consider this item about UCLA that appeared in The Wall Street Journal of Thursday, July 2:

The headline read simply: "$500,000"

Under which was written: "The donation required for the right to purchase one courtside seat at UCLA's renovated basketball arena, which is set to reopen in 2012. Another $17,000 fee is charged annually to retain eligibility for the seat."

Talk about the price of success.

Makes those $2,500 box seats at Yankee Stadium seem like a bargain, doesn't it?

Of course, the Bruins have won 11 national championships. They garnered an amazing 10 in 12 years from 1964 through '75, when the legendary John Wooden coached the likes of Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich, and Walt Hazzard, and UCLA won an NCAA-record 88 consecutive games between 1971 and '74. and added then another title in 1995 when Jim Harrick was coach.

Wooden was known as "the Wizard of Westwood." Harrick, who was fired by UCLA for, among other things, lying to his athletic director about cheating on his expense account, was "the Lizard of Westwood" -- a reputation that proved accurate in subsequent jobs he held at URI and Georgia.

More recently, the Bruins reached the Final Four three years in a row from 2006-08.

Clearly, having a Big Time Program costs Big Money.

Baron will play in two NBA summer leagues

Jimmy Baron is going to play in two different NBA Summer Leagues, one for Utah, the second for the Washington.

Here is the release from URI:

Baron to play with the Utah Jazz at the Orlando Pro Summer League and with the Wizards at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Jimmy Baron will be taking part in two of the NBA's official summer leagues over the next few weeks.

Baron will play with the Utah Jazz summer league team at the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League at the RDV Sportsplex, from July 6-10. The 15-game event will feature the Jazz, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and a split squad between the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

From July 14-19, Baron will play with the Washington Wizards at the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.

With between four and seven games daily, the Summer League provides younger NBA players, undrafted free agents and newly drafted rookies the chance to get head-to-head NBA experience.

Summer League games play with a slightly different set of rules from regular NBA games. The games have four, ten minute quarters with an eight minute halftime and players don't foul out until their 10th personal foul.

Wide-open and high-scoring, the NBA Summer League should feature many of the lottery selections from the 2009 draft.

2009 Orlando Pro Summer League schedule
July 6 - Utah vs. Boston - 7 p.m.
July 7 - Utah vs. N.J./Philadelphia - 5 p.m.
July 8 - Utah vs. Indiana - 3 p.m.
July 9 - Utah vs. Orlando - 5 p.m.
July 10 - Utah vs. Oklahoma City - 11 a.m.

2009 NBA Summer League
July 14 - Washington vs. Cleveland - 6:30 p.m.
July 15 - Washington vs. Denver - 10:30 p.m.
July 17 - Washington vs. Minnesota - 8 p.m.
July 18 - Washington vs. L.A. Clippers - 8:30 p.m.
July 19 - Washington vs. New York - 4 p.m.

Paul Pierce Hosting Marshon Brooks & Gerard Coleman

Good news for a current and future Friar. Celtic star Paul Pierce is hosting a Nike-sponsored skills camp called the Paul Pierce Skills Academy this week for some of the better wing players in the country.
PC rising-junior Marshon Brooks is among the college players taking part. Gerard Coleman, a PC verbal commit for the class of 2010, is among the high school talent taking part.
Here is the college list of players.
Here is the high school list.

Tranghese reflects, Marinatto anticipates

Mike Tranghese ends his 19-year tenure as Big East commissioner Tuesday, and John Marinatto succeeds him Wednesday. Sporting News Today afforded each the opportunity to ruminate.

Tranghese reflected on the birth of Big East football, the departure of Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech to the ACC, the continued success of the Big East basketball tournament and the emergence of Big East women's basketball.

Marinatto cited his history of working with the only two commissioners in Big East history, ACC and Big East expansion and his intention to enhance the conference's bowl agreements.

In a separate story, Sporting News Today described three issues awaiting Marinatto: better bowl games, adding another football school and tweaking the men's basketball tournament format.

Kentucky man charged in Pitino extortion case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors have charged a Kentucky man with helping an alleged extortion attempt against University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

Lester Goetzinger is charged with aiding and abetting 49-year-old Karen Cunagin Sypher in her alleged attempt to extort millions from Pitino.

Court papers filed late Wednesday show prosecutors have reached a deal with Goetzinger that requires him to go through a pretrial diversion program. The deal means charges against Goetzinger will be dismissed after a year if he does not break the law.

Prosecutors claim Sypher tried to extort millions to pay for college tuition for her children and her house. She has pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors wouldn't comment on the deal Thursday morning and Goetzinger's attorney did not immediately return a telephone message.

Barons to be featured on ESPNU

The father-son duo of Jim and JImmy Baron wil lbe part of special ESPN Father's Day programming Sunday.

Here is the release sent by ESPN through URI:

SPNU to Showcase Barons as Part of Father's Day Programming on June 21
Network set to air games that feature athletes with famous fathers

June 17, 2009

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Jimmy Baron and head coach Jim Baron will be featured as part of a Father's Day celebration on the ESPNU network on the holiday this coming Sunday, June 21.

ESPNU will commemorate Father's Day with a full day of games that will include various college and high school athletes that have famous fathers for its "Who's Your Daddy?" Cram Session.

The Barons will be in the spotlight at 9 a.m., with a replay of the Rhode Island vs. Duke game from Nov. 16, 2008, and again at 6:30 p.m. with a re-airing of the 2009 State Farm 3-Point Contest.

The programming block will begin at 3 a.m. with a high school basketball telecast featuring Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers' son Austin Rivers and his Winter Park (Fla.) squad vs. Wheeler High School (Ga.) in the City Palms Classic from Dec. 23, 2008. Other games will feature former NBA player Dell Curry's son Stephen Curry of Davidson College; former NFL player Bubba Harris' twin daughters Ashley and Courtney of Oklahoma University; and Michael Jordan's son Marcus Jordan of Whitney Young (Ill.).

"Who's Your Daddy?" Schedule
3 a.m. - High School Basketball: Winter Park (Fla.) vs. Wheeler (Ga.); Austin Rivers (Winter Park) and Doc Rivers (Boston Celtics)
4:30 a.m. - Men's College Basketball: Davidson vs. Duke; Stephen Curry (Davidson) and Dell Curry (former NBA player)
6 a.m. - Women's College Basketball: Oklahoma vs. Connecticut; Ashley and Courtney Paris (Oklahoma) and Bubba Paris (former NFL player)
7:30 a.m. - High School Basketball: Mater Dei (Calif.) vs. Whitney Young (Ill.); Marcus Jordan (Whitney Young) and Michael Jordan (former NBA Player)
9 a.m. - Men's College Basketball: Rhode Island vs. Duke; Jimmy Baron (Rhode Island) and Jim Baron (Rhode Island head coach)
1 p.m. - Men's College Basketball: Davidson vs. Oklahoma; Stephen Curry (Davidson) and Dell Curry (former NBA player)
3 p.m. - Women's College Basketball: Louisville vs. Oklahoma; Ashley and Courtney Paris (Oklahoma) and Bubba Paris (former NFL player)
4:30 p.m. - High School Basketball: 2009 Jordan Brand Classic; Marcus Jordan (Whitney Young) and Michael Jordan (former NBA Player)
6:30 p.m. College Basketball: 21st Annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships; Jimmy Baron (Rhode Island) and Jim Baron (Rhode Island head coach)
8:30 p.m. - High School Basketball: Winter Park (Fla.) vs. Wheeler (Ga.); Austin Rivers (Winter Park) and Doc Rivers (Boston Celtics
-----

PC Recruiting Updates

We know how much fans love recruiting, even if the names of prospects linked with the Friars may be downright wrong.
With that said, we just stumbled on a PC rundown on the web that is excellent. It can be found on the always-informative web site, NBA Basketball Report.
PC just scored a huge coup by getting Boston guard Gerard Coleman and the hope is that more action follows. The biggest fish out there is Lawrence, Mass., center Carson Desrosiers, although he'll be the toughest to get on this long list.

UConn's Majok won't enter NBA Draft

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- The University of Connecticut says freshman basketball player Ater Majok has removed his name from the 2009 NBA draft.

Majok, a 6-foot-10 forward, said in April that he planned to use the pre-draft period to assess where he stood with the NBA, but planned to return to school.

UConn coach Jim Calhoun has said there is also a possibility that Majok could leave school and play in Europe.

Majok, a former refugee from Sudan, is not eligible to play at Connecticut until the end of the 2009 fall semester. His name has also been linked peripherally to an NCAA investigation into possible recruiting violations at UConn.

Friars Grab Star Boston Guard

By KEVIN McNAMARA

Gerard Coleman, a Boston native who is regarded as one of the top shooting guard prospects in the East, has verbally committed to play at Providence College. Coleman is the first member of the Friars' recruiting class of 2010.
Coleman will be a senior at Tilton Academy in New Hampshire this fall. He is a native of Mattapan in Boston.
Coleman also considered Connecticut, Clemson, Louisville and Miami.
"I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and the way they play and it's only 45 minutes away," Coleman said. "There's a lot of good things to come at Providence."

Slots available for Keno Davis basketball camps

Providence College men's basketball coach Keno Davis will hold four basketball camps this summer on the campus of Providence College. The camps will take place June 29 to July 2 (team camp for high schools students), July 11 to 14 (overnight camp for ages 9-18), July 15 to 18 (day camp for ages 7-13) and July 30 to Aug. 2 (team camp for high school students).

The daily schedule for campers includes, games, basketball workouts and contests. Campers also will learn what it takes to become a college basketball player and tour the Friars' athletic facilities.

To register or to learn more about the camps, visit www.providencebasketballcamp.com or call the Providence basketball office at 877-PC-Hoops.

Scottie Reynolds pulls his name out of draft consideration

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) -- Villanova's Scottie Reynolds will return to school for his senior season -- and maybe another run at a national title.

The Wildcats' star point guard removed his name from the 2009 NBA draft pool on Tuesday, calling his decision to return to school the "best option" for him.

Reynolds averaged 15.2 points per game last season as the Wildcats reached their first Final Four since winning the national championship in 1985.

Reynolds' layup with 0.5 seconds left stunned top-seeded Pittsburgh in the regional final before the Wildcats fell in the national semifinals to eventual national champion North Carolina.

The 6-foot-2 Reynolds submitted his name for the draft but didn't hire an agent. The deadline to withdraw is June 15.

2 from Massachusetts among incoming class of Brown hoops recruits

Here are profiles of coach Jesse Agel's four freshman recurits, from the Brown athletic department:

Tucker Halpern
6-8, 215
Forward
Brookline, Massachusetts
Secondary School Background: Averaged 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a senior at Noble & Greenough...All-time leading scorer at Noble & Greenough with 1,800 career points...McDonald's All-American nominee...Four-time All-Independent School League All-Star...All-Area Greater Boston selection...New England Class C semifinalist for three straight years...Named to Slam Magazine's 10 Most Impressive Players at the Orlando Super Showcase.

Andrew McCarthy
6-8, 205
Forward
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Secondary School Background: Averaged 13 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game at Northfield Mount Hermon...Played in the 2009 Feinberg Academic All-American game in Los Angeles...McDonald's All-American nominee...Played in the BasketBull's New England Prep School Athletic Council All-Star Game...Also played in the Hoop Mountain Greater Boston All-Star Game...Scored over 1,500 points in his schoolboy career...Four-time All-Independent School League selection at Buckingham Browne & Nichols...Missed his senior year at Noble & Greenough due to injury after averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore and junior seasons...Team MVP at Buckingham, Brown & Nichols and New England Elite 75 All-Star in 2006.

Tyler Ponticelli
6-7, 210
Forward
Northbrook, Illinois
Secondary School Background: Missed most of his senior year due to injury after averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a junior... Two-time team captain at Glenbrook North High School...Two-time Pioneer Press All-Area and Central Suburban League All-Conference selection...Posted a career record of 89-22 at Glenbrook with two State Elite Eight finishes and four Central Suburban League North Conference Championships...Shot 58-percent from the field, 46-percent from behind the three-point arc and 70-percent from the free throw line his junior year.

Matt Sullivan
6-5, 205
Guard
Wilmette, Illinois
Secondary School Background: Averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a senior at Loyola Academy, while shooting 47-percent from the field and 80-percent from the free throw line...Chicago Catholic League First Team All-Conference selection as a junior and senior...Pioneer Press First Team All-Area selection...Scored over 1,000 career points and grabbed over 400 career rebounds at Loyola Academy...Named to All-Tournament Team at the Wheeling Christmas Tournament, and named MVP of the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament...Selected to the Catholic League All-Star Game and the Chicago High School City Suburban Classic All-Star Game...His brother, Peter, is a junior with the Brown Basketball team.

Baron to enter Bonaventure Hall of Fame

Jim Baron officially becomes a Hall of Famer this weekend.

The URI basketball coach will be inducted into the St. Bonaventure Hall of Fame in ceremonies Saturday in Olean, N.Y.

Baron was a member of the Class of 1977 at Bonaventure. One of the most influential figures in Bona basketball history, Baron was a hard-nosed, defensive-minded guard who helped the Bonnies to a 73-28 record. As a senior co-captain and the team's starting point guard, Baron led the Bonnies to one of the most magical seasons in school history that included 24 wins and a 1977 NIT Championship.

Also an excellent student, Baron was named the Ideal St. Bonaventure Student in 1977 and received the General Excellence Medal in Physical Education that year.

Baron returned to St. Bonaventure in 1992, this time as the head coach. He led the Bonnies to an NIT berth in just his third season in 1995, earning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors along the way. His most successful season came in 1999-2000, when he led St. Bonaventure to 21-10 record, a second place finish in the A-10 Tournament and the school's first NCAA Tournament berth in 22 years. Overall, Baron finished his nine seasons as the leader of the Brown and White with 132 victories, three NIT appearances and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Baron moved on to fellow A-10 member Rhode Island in 2001, where he has continued to have success, leading the Rams to four NIT appearances and four 20-win seasons. The Rams have posted 131 wins over his time in Kingston, R.I., while Baron has captured three more A-10 Coach of the Year honors, including this past season.

June 5-7 is Alumni Weekend at Bonaventure University. Baron will be the fourth member of the 2009 class and the 110th member of the Athletics Hall Of Fame. Anna Belliveau `99, Jean Pascal Gingras `98, and Father Gerald T. McCaffrey O.F.M. `54 were inducted in February.

Presenting Baron will be former teammate and fellow 1977 graduate Essie Hollis, Baron's son Jimmy Baron and former St. Bonaventure sports information director Jim Engelhardt.

Jimmy Adams, former URI star and coach of dominant Central High hoops teams, dies

Jimmy Adams, one of the most successful high school coaches in Rhode Island history, as well as an outstanding athlete himself, died Monday. He was 73.

Adams played football and basketball at the University of Rhode Island. He completed his playing career in 1957 and was named to the school's Hall of Fame in 1981. He also was a member of the Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame.

Adams excelled in both football and basketball at URI. Among other honors, he was an All-Yankee Conference selection in football and was named to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. He received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1958.

He took a job at Central High, first as a teacher and coach and later as an assistant principal. He coached both football and basketball. It was in basketball where his teams excelled, at one point winning four straight state titles.

He moved on to coach basketball at Providence College under Dave Gavitt and later as head coach at Rhode Island College. It was at RIC where he spent the bulk of his career, 21 years in all. He was not only basketball coach but also assistant athletic director for the Anchormen. He retired in 2000 but continued to work part-time as a supervisor at the college's Recreation Center until the fall of 2008.

In basketball, his teams compiled a record of 247-287. In December 1999, the Providence Journal chose him as one of the century's Top 100 Most Influential Coaches and Athletes in Rhode Island.

Under his guidance, the Anchormen captured the ECAC Division III title in 1982-83. Adams was selected as the Little East Conference's Co-Coach of the Year in 1987-88 after RIC finished the regular season in first place.

Adams is survived by his wife Lola and his three children James III, Karen and Michael.

Alex Kellogg Enrolls at Ohio U.

Alex Kellogg has transferred from Providence College to Ohio University and will be eligible to play for the Bobcats at the start of the 2010-11 season, according to Ohio University officials.

Kellogg, the son of former NBA player and current TV analyst Clark Kellogg, finished his sophomore year at PC and almost instantly enrolled at Ohio, which runs on a tri-mester calendar. Kellogg, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward, played in 33 games over the last two years at Providence, starting one game. The Columbus, Ohio native was an all-state performer as a senior in high school.