Recruiting

Wednesday Recap: Lineup Changes Spark Nothing As UConn Falls

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:56:20 -0800

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun knew heading into Wednesday's game that his struggling team, losers of three straight, needed some kind of spark to get things going. That meant shuffling the lineup, with Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi being replaced as starters by Ryan Boatright and Roscoe Smith, and for a short time on Wednesday night the move paid off. UConn got out to a 13-7 lead at the first media timeout and generally played better basketball on the offensive end, which was likely the desired effect of the move.

But Georgetown went to their 2-3 zone defense, and against zones UConn has shown neither the confidence nor the basketball IQ needed to solve such a riddle. It didn't help matters that Boatright, who did a good job of facilitating the offense, picked up his second foul with just over ten minutes left in the half and the Huskies leading 15-14. It was essentially all downhill from there as the Hoyas woud outscore the Huskies 17-6 the remainder of the half, going on to beat UConn 58-44 and lead many to ask whether or not the defending national champs had what it took to turn things around.

"We come back from six [down] and somebody went for a steal, next thing you know we took a bad shot and now were down ten," remarked Calhoun of his team's struggles. "And you can't keep running up the hill for only so long and so that's where we picked up our fourth straight loss and should have lost all four games."

So how did the four players involved in the lineup changes respond? Not well, with Boatright having his performance short-circuited by foul trouble (zero points, four assists) being the biggest blow given how the flow of the contest changed when he had to sit. Napier, who earlier in the season lamented the lack of a response to his attempts to be a leader, shot 0-for-9 from the field and scored just one point while Oriakhi went scoreless. And Smith opened the scoring 33 seconds into the game...only to not score again.

Last year's team struggled in conference play, but the difference is that (in addition to having Kemba Walker) they were a lot tougher mentally than this group. Who steps up to change the path that this season is currently travelling? Jeremy Lamb's not the vocal type and while he scored 14 points it took 18 shots to do so (making four), and while Andre Drummond (18 points, seven rebounds) was UConn's best player on the floor it's tough to ask a freshman to become the team leader.

The truth of the matter is that Napier and Oriakhi should be the leaders for this team, and yet neither has shown the ability to do so. The teams that leave a mark in March will fight for everything in the face of adversity, pulling together to accomplish the common goal. That hasn't been a trait of this current edition of Huskies, as they either fail to respond or the "fight back" dissolves into guys trying to close the gap all by themselves.

Georgetown, a team picked to finish tenth in the Big East in the preseason, should be the story here given the play of Hollis Thompson (18 points, nine rebounds) and Jason Clark (11 points, five rebounds), and they're likely to improve even more as the season approaches it's defining month. Can the same be said for UConn? That's a tough question to answer at this point, but with a game against a Seton Hall team that's also struggling a lot will be learned about the toughness of both teams on Saturday.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Michigan jumps out to a big lead and holds off Indiana's second half rally to remain undefeated at home.
There's no doubt that Tom Crean's Hoosiers can win big games at home, with the energy provided by the Assembly Hall crowd providing a needed boost to a program that's definitely improved. But what about on the road, where teams have to manufacture their own energy in the face of a hostile crowd? That question remains unanswered thanks to Indiana's slow start in Ann Arbor, as they trailed Michigan by as many as 20 points in the first half on the way to a 68-56 defeat. Indiana was able to get as close as two points (52-50) with less than four minutes remaining but they couldn't overtake the Wolverines, who were led offensively by Trey Burke (18 points, four assists), Zack Novak (13 points) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (13 points).

Indiana shot a respectable 42.9% from the field in the first half but they turned the ball over eight times to just one for Michigan, and the Wolverines converted those miscues into eleven points (led 33-22 at the half). Michigan's now 13-0 at home this season while Indiana remains with just one conference road victory (Penn State) this season. While the Hoosiers are in a dogfight to remain in the top half of the league standings Michigan's bounce back from the loss at Ohio State shows that they remain a serious contender for the Big Ten crown.

2. UT-Arlington opens their new arena with a win over UTSA, increasing their lead in the Southland.
Wednesday night was a special night in the history of UT-Arlington, with the Mavericks playing in the new College Park Center for the first time. And they picked a good matchup for the debut, as defending Southland tournament champ UTSA was in town looking to move into a tie for first place with the Mavericks. But despite turning the ball over 23 times on the night UT-Arlington found a way to win, beating the Roadrunners 67-66 to expand their lead to two games. A pair of Kevin Butler free throws with 13.7 seconds remaining proved to be the points the Mavs needed to remain on track for the regular season crown in their final campaign before they head to the WAC in July.

LaMarcus Reed III scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the way while Butler added 21 and eight, and these two are a big reason why the Mavs were able to make up for their turnovers by out-rebounding the Roadrunners 46-33 and score 16 second-chance points to just seven for UTSA. Kannon Burrage led the Roadrunners with 21 points off the bench and Melvin Johnson III added 14, but with Michael Hale III and Stephen Franklin combining to shoot 2-for-18 UTSA wasn't able to take full advantage of their turnover margin edge. With these two meeting in the regular season finale UTSA essentially has to win out while hoping for some help, and with UT-Arlington having won 12 straight that strategy may not bear fruit.

3. Pierre Jackson and Quincy Acy make big plays late to lead Baylor past Texas A&M.
Scott Drew's Bears seemed to try their best to give Texas A&M the game in the second half as they shot 31% from the field while the Aggies made half their field goals. But thanks to big plays down the stretch from Pierre Jackson (14 points, five assists) and Quincy Acy (11 points, four rebounds) Baylor escaped College Station with a 63-60 win in what could be the last regular season meeting in the "Battle of the Brazos" for a long time. A Jackson three with 17 seconds remaining proved to be the push Baylor needed to get to the finish line, and his two free throws with just over a second remaining sealed it.

Those two free throws came as a result of a hustle play by Acy, whose quick move to tip Jackson's missed free throw out (which Jackson was able to chase down), gave the junior college transfer a second chance at increasing the Bears' lead and he cashed in. After a Ray Turner basket gave A&M a 49-44 lead it was Acy who scored six of Baylor's nine points in a 9-0 run that put them up 53-49 with 6:13 to go. While the lottery picks (Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller) will enjoy the majority of the attention the contributions of a player like Acy cannot be ignored. In fact, that may be what allows Baylor to go deep into the NCAA tournament.

Quick Hitters

1. While the Atlantic 10 has enough quality teams to warrant four bids to the NCAA tournament, the chances of that happening become slimmer when teams at the top of the conference don't take care of business as they should. Wednesday's results of note were UMass losing 81-78 in overtime at Rhode Island and Dayton losing 83-73 at home to Duquesne. Xavier nearly joined those two teams but Tu Holloway's layup with 30 seconds remaining capped a good night for him (21 points, seven assists, six rebounds) and pushed the Musketeers past George Washington 59-58.

2. In a battle for sole possession of first place in Conference USA, Southern Miss finally got over the hump as they beat Memphis 75-72 to snap an 18-game losing streak in the series. Darnell Dodson and Neil Watson combined to score 40 points off the bench for the Golden Eagles, who are now 7-1 in conference play.

3. Center Garrett Stutz has been outstanding in road games for Wichita State this season and that trend continued in the Shockers' 74-67 win at Missouri State as he scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on the night. Ben Smith added 21 for Wichita State, who remains a game behind first-place Creighton (102-74 win over Illinois State) as a result of the victory.

4. With seven freshmen and three sophomores on the roster many expected the first year of Mountain West play to be a tough one for Boise State and it has been. But they've also shown signs of growth, and if not for a missed Thomas Bropleh three as time expired the Broncos would have left San Diego State with a win. Leon Rice's team has the ability to scare some teams in the MWC, and with the likes of Bropleh and Anthony Drmic the future looks to be bright for Boise State.

5. There's now a three-way tie for first place in the CAA as Delaware beat George Mason 65-60 in Newark. Kyle Anderson shot 8-for-11 from the field and scored 21 points to lead the way for the Blue Hens, and as a team Delaware shot 7-for-14 from deep (Mason finished 3-for-16). Drexel and VCU both picked up victories on Wednesday, and with the league's profile being poorer than in seasons past the fight for the CAA crown should be even fiercer than it's been of late.

6. Huge news in the recruiting world was broken by ESPN's Dave Telep, who reported that Tilton School big man Nerlens Noel move back to the 2012 class. Noel, who counts Kentucky and Syracuse among his most vigorous suitors, returns to his original class and is now right there with Shabazz Muhammad for the honor of being the best player in the class.

7. Vermont held off a Boston University rally to beat the Terriers 68-67 in Boston to take over sole possession of second place in America East. Luke Apfeld scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Catamounts, who swept the season series as a result of the win.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Julian Mavunga (Miami (OH))
19 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists in the RedHawks' 62-57 overtime win over Eastern Michigan.

2. F Thomas Robinson (Kansas)
20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists in the Jayhawks' 84-62 win over Oklahoma.

3. F Orion Outerbridge (Rhode Island)
29 points and 11 rebounds in the Rams' 81-78 overtime win over Massachusetts.

College Hoops "Roundtable": Thoughts on New Recruiting Guidelines

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:10:35 -0700

In advance of the upcoming college basketball season, I recently had the chance to connect with some college basketball writers to discuss some of the hot-button topics in college basketball as well as college sports as a whole. The first question, which can be found here, addressed the impact that conference realignment has had on collegiate athletics. Today's question will deal more with college basketball, and specifically the changes to the recruiting rules made by the NCAA.

Question: What are your thoughts on the new recruiting rules that the NCAA has put in place? Sufficient or no, and if not what would you like changed?

Peter Robert Casey (Five-Star Basketball)
Opening up the contact rules - unlimited texts, emails, calls - was a step in the right direction. Increased contact offers the chance to strengthen player-recruit relationships and gives both parties more opportunities to determine if there's a mutually good fit. Too much contact isn't always perceived in a positive way by kids. But at least now you don't have coaches strategically trying to skirt the limits. As long as it's not abused, I think it works.

I also feel that condensing the July live period was necessary. There were too many games in too many places. The whole thing was tiring and unsightly. Hopefully, though, the new-found time for kids is spent in the gym focused on getting better, while college coaches can have more time at home with their families and back on campus with their teams. Two weekends in April should offer plenty of room for coaches to evaluate talent.
Moving permissible official visits up to January 1st of a prospect's junior year at the schools' expense, seems sensible to me. Hopefully, it cleans up some the dirty behavior that was taking place.

Rob Dauster (Ballin' is a Habit)
I like them. I think that unlimited contact from coaches could end up getting overwhelming, but I think that a coach calling and texting too often will turn a player off from the program. I think bringing April back is important to evaluating the players, and I have no problem with players getting worked out on their recruiting visits or players being allowed to make official visits earlier. Anything that allows a coach to better evaluate a) a player's ability and b) a player's personality and work ethic is a good thing.
If anything is going to be changed, I think I would open July back up to 20 days. Not having coaches on the road isn't going to prevent people from hosting these tournaments and the players from participating. You might as well allow the coaches to be there.

Brian Ewart (VUHoops.com)
I love the new recruiting rules. There is no reason to restrict kids from visiting schools officially or otherwise, so allowing those visits to start during a players' Junior year is a positive step in that direction. It's also great that coaches can evaluate players in April now and that minimal changes were done to the July open period, coaches and players both benefit from having more opportunities for live evaluation.

I'm also not worried about the phone/text rules being changed. Coaches were skirting those rules with "burner" phones anyway. Now they can go ahead and do what they were doing above-board. If a kid is feeling harassed by the calls or texts then it will be counterproductive for a coach to continue. Coaches who use the calls and texts to build a relationship, rather than to harass will benefit -- and so should the recruits, who will have a better idea of who they are committing to play for.

Troy Machir (Ballin' is a Habit)
The recent changes made by the NCAA are an indication that they are actively trying to make things better. The progress they are making may not be substantial, but at least they are showing us that they realize things need to be changes. Most of the NCAA rules are archaic. I believe that the new text/phone call rules will give some of the power back to the recruits. Certainly there is much more that can be changed in regards to recruiting, but I do think this is a good first step in the right direction.

Ray Mernagh (NBE Sports)
I like the fact that the rules allow for a more thorough relationship between recruits and coaches as well as players and coaches. I also like that coaches will have more evaluation time because that will cut down on mistakes by staffs (hopefully) and cause more kids to end up at the right level for them. I hate the fact that the communication is unlimited. I think kids with parents who can monitor it will be fine because they'll set up boundaries the way good HS coaches/parents did back in the day, and if coaches cross those boundaries they'll be out of the running for the kid. But some kids are going to go from a semi-bothersome level of calls to a bombardment of texts/calls. That's not good for anyone, least of all kids that should be allowed to be kids at least a little bit.

Jon Pence (SCACCHoops.com)
The NCAA did a nice job of addressing a problem with runners by allowing coaches to be in contact with players earlier and more frequently. Hopefully this cuts out the need for third parties. The question is what loopholes were opened? One thing that is clear is that NCAA coaches have an innate ability to push the rules to the limit. My only concern is are the players protected from schools badgering them now? The word "unlimited" scares me when it comes to phone calls and texts.

Jon Teitel (CollegeHoops.net)
I am all for harsher recruiting rules: the amount of visits/calls/texts is already ridiculous, so to rescind any limits will make it a total free-for-all. If the NCAA allows a coach to send 1,000 private messages on Facebook to a recruit but prohibits a single message about that same player to be made public, I think such a double standard will just encourage schools to do unseemly things behind the scenes with no repercussions. I have no problem with a coach attending a high school player's games, letting him make an official visit to the college campus, or giving him a few calls/emails during the year. Just keep it in check so that the kid has time to enjoy being a kid instead of a highly-prized commodity. I am also a big believer in deterrence: make the rules clear, the penalties severe, instill some fear, and no agents allowed near.

Ben Weixlmann (Heard This Blog)
At first glance, I liked them a lot. Unlike many others, I don't really worry about the unlimited contact becoming an issue. Kids can choose to ignore whomever they want. After all, they do it already. It will force college coaches to be selective about how often they contact kids. I think bringing in an April period is also a win-win. Players will have more chances to get exposure, and coaches will be able to evaluate their progress more readily.

Off the top of my head, the only gripe I have that isn't currently being addressed is having kids play for AAU teams that aren't even anywhere close to their geographic location. When I see this happening, it really makes me wonder how much pull the shoe companies have, and how much illegal activity is still going on behind the scenes of AAU basketball.

My Thoughts
I like the moves made with regards to contact periods, which in theory should allow for better relationships between coaches and prospective student-athletes. That's been a big issue with regards to only allowing coaches to be out on the road for 20 days in July as well. That essentially put a large portion of the recruiting process into the hands of third parties: be it the more accepted scouting guru or the "middle man" than many feel is the most powerful voice on the grassroots circuit (inaccurate assumption in many cases). It should also help out the kids, as playing 20 days practically non-stop does them no good, and it's not like events weren't staged in periods made off limits by the NCAA. For the phone calls and texts: it probably makes it just as important for both sides to establish clear guidelines on how often they speak which is a good thing.

Next Question: What are your thoughts on the initiative to raise the value of a full scholarship (adding up to $2,000 to help reach the total cost of attendance)?

Battle of the Classes Super 80 Event

Press Release — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:16:54 -0700

"THE BATTLE OF THE CLASSES" SUPER 80

Friday September 30, 2011
Copper Canyon High School
9146 West Camelback Road, Glendale, AZ 85305

Top Players Confirmed to play:
Jaylen Jenkins, 6'3 (Mesa) 2015
Isaac Allen, 6'10 (Mesa) 2014
Kris Lamberson, 6'1 (AZ Lutheran) 2014
AD Hart, 6'2 (Tempe) 2014
Kodi Justice, 6'4 (Dobson/Arizona State verbal) 2014
Paul Watson, 6'6 (Paradise Valley/Ranked #49 on Rivals) 2013
Drew Bender, 6'5 (Pinnacle) 2013
Jaron Hopkins, 6'4 (Basha) 2013
Maurice Kirby, 6'9 (Basha) 2013
Torren Jones, 6'9 (Basha) 2013
Jeremiah April, 6'10 (Joy Christian) 2013
Joe Boyd, 6'9 (Chaparral) 2013
Tyler Roberts, 6'5 (Foothill/Henderson, NV) 2013
Gio Guzman, 6'0 (Bishop Gorman/Las Vegas, NV) 2012
Joseph Monreal, 6'1 (Nogales/Nogales, AZ) 2012
William Marshall, 6'9 (Estrella Charter) 2012
Austin Cooke, 6'6 (Desert Mountain) 2012
DeWayne Russell, 5'11 (Peoria) 2012
Demitrius Balark, 6'1 (Kellis) 2012
Cody McDavis, 6'8 (Pinnacle) 2012
Sami Bzai, 6'3 (Mesquite) 2012
TK Edogi, 6'7 (Valley Vista) 2012
Michael Barry, 6'3 (Agua Fria) 2012
Chris Thompson, 6'7 (Arcadia) 2012
Vamba Donzo, 6'5 (Glendale) 2012

Game Times: Friday September 30, 2011
6:00PM- Future Stars (9th-10th Graders)
7:00PM- Best of the Rest Game
8:00PM- 2013 Junior Showcase Game (Boys)
9:00PM- 2012 Senior Showcase Game (Boys)

NOTE: The Battle of the Classes Super 80 Exposure Event for the Best Boys Grades 9-12 includes the Top 80 high school prospects in Arizona. For media credentials or more info please contact Chad Groth (602) 318-4731 or pregameent@aol.com

Junior College & Unsigned Senior All American Camp

Press Release — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:22:14 -0700

Phoenix, AZ - The 2nd Annual JUCO & Unsigned Senior All American Camp will take place on Tuesday July 26 at Phoenix College. Over 100 college coaches from all levels will be in town for this NCAA Certified event directed by Chad Groth of Area Codes Basketball.

Only 100 players will participate. Limited space is available as this is a competitive basketball event open to Junior College players, unsigned seniors and prep school students. Many of the top players from Brooklyn, NY, Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Minneapolis, MN and Houston, TX have already confirmed to come to the valley for this highly respected camp.

Last year over a dozen Arizona players earned scholarships during this camp including Steve Jurich (Cal State Fullerton), Asaad Woods (Liberty), Blake Nash (South Florida), Brandon Burnett (Indiana State), Michael Perez (UTEP) and Bryce Cotton (Providence).

The camp is mainly all games and includes an educational session which talks about drugs, gambling, academics and life skills which is mandatory for all players to participate.

FACTS ABOUT THE JUCO & UNSIGNED SR ALL AMERICAN CAMP

*The JUCO & UNSIGNED SR ALL AMERICAN EXPOSURE CAMP is a college exposure showcase that will provide all attending players an opportunity to demonstrate their skills to the Division I college coaches, scouts and media that are expected to attend.

Camp Features:
* Over 75 4-Year College Coaches attended in 2010, which included
Over 50 Division 1 Colleges

* Play against Top West Coast JUCO Competition*

*Top unsigned high school seniors*

* Get Evaluated by some of the Top scouts in the country like: Arizona Informant Newspaper, Westcoasthoopsreport.com, Areacodesbasketball.com, Coast2Coast Recruiting, Premierball.com, Hoopmasters.com, Courtcred.com, Hoopsreport.com, ESPNU, The JUCO Basketball Beat & Californiapreps.com

* All players will be included in a special Area Codes Basketball Scouting Service & West Coast Hoops Report on a specific JUCO Prospects Report.

* All players will participate in 2-3 Games & receive a T-shirt

* NCAA Eligibility Seminar (REQUIRED)

* JUCO freshman, sophomores, Unsigned Seniors (2010) and JC Post-Grads Invited

*Top 20 & 40 All Star Game

Need More Information contact Chad Groth (602) 318-4731 or email Chadg2k5@aol.com

2010-11 Penn Quakers Welcome New Recruits

Jon Teitel — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:31:21 -0700

The 2009-10 season was a tough one for the Penn Quakers and their fans, as the 25-time Ivy League champions lost their first ten games (and 14 of their first 15) on the way to a disappointing record of 6-22 (5-9 Ivy). But a season with few highlights included Zack Rosen, Jack Eggleston and company handing eventual league champion (and Sweet 16 member) Cornell their first conference loss of the season, and with Jerome Allen beginning his first full season as head coach hope springs eternal.

Along with two assistants (former Hartford head coach Dan Leibovitz (now an assistant at Penn) and Rudy Wise) the Quakers welcome an incoming class of eight players, with the hope being that they'll lend a helping hand in grabbing Ivy crown number twenty-six. CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with four of the eight recruits: Miles Cartwright, Fran Dougherty, Chris Hatfield and Dau Jok.

Miles Cartwright

JT: You went to Loyola HS in Los Angeles, where you led your team in scoring. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to being a great scorer?

MC: My whole life growing up I played SG, but then my coach needed me to play PG during my junior year. I feel most comfortable on the wing where I can create my own shot. The secret to being a great scorer is just always being ready, because you do not know where the passes are coming from. It is also important to read the defense.

JT: One of your HS opponents was fellow Penn recruit Austin Kelly of Harvard-Westlake. What was it like to play against Austin, and what do you think it will be like to switch from being opponents to being teammates?

MC: Austin has always been a great friend of mine off the court, as we have played against each other since we were 9 years old on the AAU circuit. We have had some tough battles in the past, but I think being teammates will just make our friendship better.

JT: You played on an AAU team (California Supreme) with several big-time recruits (Gary Franklin, Dwayne Polee, Tyler Lamb, etc.). Who is the best guy you have ever played with, and who is the best guy you have ever played against?

MC: The best guy I ever played with was Hollis Thompson, who is now at Georgetown. He taught me a lot, as I watched how he carried himself. The best guy I ever played against has got to be Austin Rivers. He is a big-time player who is going to be a huge star in the pros someday.

JT: You are one of several guards in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

MC: Not at all. The great thing about our class is that we just want to win, no matter what it takes or what the best formula is. We are already good friends through emails/texts/etc., so we are not worried about playing the same position. All we care about is wins and losses.

JT: ESPN/Scouts Inc. gave you the highest rating of any of Penn's recruits with a 90. What other schools did you consider, and why did you choose Penn?

MC: I was looking at Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Washington State, and some other mid-major schools out west. I ended up choosing Penn for the academics as well as the basketball tradition, even though it has been down the past couple of years.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

MC: I built a great relationship with former Coach Glenn Miller, and I was let down when Penn let him go. However, I am excited to play for Jerome, as he is someone who has been through it all and knows what it takes to win in the Ivy League.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what do you think will be the hardest part?

MC: I do not know if this will make sense, but the easiest part will be just playing. The talent level will go up from high school, but we just have to play. The toughest part will be the speed of the game. I played pickup games in LA against guys who are going to Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga, and I was impressed by how fast everyone was.

JT: You had a 3.7 GPA in HS. What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

MC: My parents always told me that while basketball was a tool, academics was the key that would get me somewhere. They would not let me play ball until my homework was done. I want to be a broadcaster, so I would like to study sports journalism at Annenberg.

JT: Your younger brother Parker will follow in your footsteps as a freshman at Loyola in the fall. How good a player is he, and will you urge him to go to Penn if you enjoy your own time there?

MC: He has been written about as the top PG in the Class of 2014, and has already heard from most of the Pac-10 schools and been to a bunch of All-American camps. I will try to put something in his ear about my new team, but if he continues to progress, then I do not think I can get him to Penn.

JT: Your mother worked on the Judge Joe Brown TV show while your sister worked on the Judge Judy TV show. To you feel like you have a career in legal entertainment as a fall-back plan if basketball does not work out for you, and do they make you watch their shows all the time?

MC: My mom was one of the main producers for Joe Brown, and just started a new show with Nancy Grace. I am not a big fan of those programs, and I always tell my mom that, so I do not think I will end up working for any of those shows.

Fran Dougherty

JT: You went to Archbishop Wood HS in Warminster, PA, about 20 miles north of Philly. How important was it for you to stay close to home, and how special will it be to have your family be able to attend all of your home games at the Palestra?

FD: It was a big factor in my decision, and it helps that I can go home whenever I want to. It will be awesome to have my family come to games, and also my friends, as a lot of my friends live in or near Philly.

JT: You were team captain for 2 years in high school. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to being a great leader?

FD: I was most comfortable at the 4 spot in high school. The key to being a leader is to be vocal and be a good teammate.

JT: In addition to high school basketball you also played varsity tennis. How big an advantage was your size on the tennis court, and which sport do you enjoy more?

FD: I definitely like basketball better. The other sport was just a hobby, as a lot of my friends played tennis. My size definitely helped me on the court, especially with my serve.

JT: You are one of eight players in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

FD: Yes, but you just have to work hard every day. Everyone has an equal chance with a new coach coming in, so everyone has a shot at proving that they deserve some playing time.

JT: You played a great game against Roman Catholic HS earlier this year (22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks) despite a stress fracture in your foot. How were you able to play so well despite being injured, and how important is toughness in your own style of play?

FD: It was hard, but I did not think anything was wrong with my foot, so I did not let it affect me. I am not oversized for a college big man, so I have to play tough and get physical in the paint.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

FD: I know that he was a great player and a big part of the program at Penn. When I talked to the guys before Coach Allen even got hired, they told me how he would work hard to make you a better player by the end of your four years.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what do you think will be the hardest part?

FD: I would not say there is an easy part from what I have seen so far. You are going up against experienced players who are stronger and faster, so that is tough.

JT: What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

FD: Academics have always been a big part of my life, as my parents always pushed me, which was another reason I came to Penn. I want to study environmental management or marketing.

JT: At 6'8" you will be one of the tallest players on the Penn roster. Do you think you are done growing, and how do you use your size to your advantage on the court?

FD: I am pretty sure that I am done growing, at least according to my doctor. There are other tall guys on the team, so I will also need to have the ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor.

JT: You have spent this summer playing for team Trad Jazz with Jack Eggleston and several of your fellow incoming freshman. What has impressed you the most about Eggleston, and how do you think that playing with your future teammates this summer will help you during the season?

FD: Playing with Jack gave me a preview of what it takes to compete in the Ivy League, as he is one of the best big men in the conference and a good team leader. Playing with the other recruits should also help us in the fall.

Chris Hatfield

JT: You went to Miramonte HS in Orinda, CA, where you graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer. What is the secret to being a great scorer, and has it sunk in how prolific a player you were?

CH: Part of the key to being my school's top scorer was the fact that I played varsity all four years, so by my senior season I was very comfortable on the court and had already found my style of play. As for any "secret" to scoring, I had none; I simply did whatever I could to make the ball go through the basket. This often meant a lot of ugly, scrappy plays and scoring by sheer hustle rather than finesse, but it helped our team so I kept doing it. I would not say that my school has ever had the reputation of being a basketball "powerhouse" (no Miramonte team had gone further in the state bracket than we did my senior season), so I have to put the record into perspective. However, I am still proud to hold such a record.

JT: You were team captain for two years in high school. What is the secret to being a great leader?

CH: All I can say is that leaders can only lead because they have the respect of others. The reason I was voted captain in my opinion was because the other players respected my work ethic.

JT: What position do you feel most comfortable at on the court?

CH: I was somewhat obligated to play the 4/5 position because our team did not have anyone else who could guard a big man in the paint. While I could certainly play the 5 spot in HS, it is not my most comfortable position. During the playoffs I returned to my more familiar position of a shooting/small forward, which is where I am most comfortable. In college, however, I am going to have to move away from a big man position and work more on my shooting and wing play.

JT: Who is the best guy you have ever played with?

CH: That is hard to say. One of my favorite guys to play with was Brian Barbour on the Lakeshow AAU team. He is now at Columbia and can pass dimes like it is nobody's business.

JT: Who is the best guy you have ever played against?

CH: It was probably Desmond Simmons, a lanky 6'7" forward at Salesian HS who is now playing at Washington.

JT: You are one of eight players in Penn's recruiting class of 2014, and there are reports that you will start off on the JV team. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for everyone, and how long do you expect to stay on the JV squad?

CH: I have not really had that concern, nor do I really have an expectation as to how long I will be on the JV team. I have never played with any of the other players, so I cannot really gauge my skill level relative to the rest of the players. I am just happy to be on the team, and if the coaches do decide to move me up at some time in my career, I will be honored to play on the varsity squad.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

CH: I know very little about Coach Allen, as I have never met him or exchanged an email with him. I have only seen interviews with him, but I have a lot of respect for him as the head coach of an Ivy League and Division I program.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college?

CH: I do not really expect any part of the jump to be easy, especially seeing as how I am going to have an incredible academic workload on top of basketball.

JT: What do you think will be the hardest part about making the jump from high school to college?

CH: I am going to have to work most on my ball-handling and shooting as I transition from the 4-spot to a wing player.

JT: You are enrolled at Wharton (Penn's prestigious business school). What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

CH: Academics play a huge part in my life, as my choice to attend Penn was based primarily on its academic reputation and Wharton. The chance to play on the JV team was just icing on the cake. I am still open to different business subjects, but right now I am really interested in the actuarial science/risk management concentration in the business school.

Dau Jok

JT: You were born in the Sudan, where your dad passed away when you were 6 years old and you were raised by your mother before moving to the U.S. in 2003. How has growing up in a single parent household impacted your life, and what is the biggest difference between Africa and the U.S.?

DJ: It was hard having only one parent, but it made me stronger as it forced me to grow up quickly and adjust to different things. It also developed my work ethic, as it means you have to do a lot more than most kids your age. It taught me a lot of communication skills as well. My mom faced a big challenge in trying to raise us, but she is a tough individual and her struggle motivated me. Growing up in Africa everything was solved through violence, and in America you can solve more things peacefully, and there are more opportunities here as well.

JT: You went to Roosevelt HS in Des Moines, Iowa, where you had a 3.89 GPA. What made you choose Penn, and how important are academics in your life?

DJ: I chose Penn for the education, as a degree from here will make me better off in the future. There is so much diversity here and so many people to learn from. I think everything happens for a reason, and the coaching staff is made up of great people from top to bottom, so I think we are set up for a great 4-year run.

JT: You also lettered in cross country while in high school. How much of an advantage is your stamina on the court?

DJ: I think stamina is all in your head in terms of whether you let it affect you. I ran with a bunch of teammates who are now at Division I schools, so we had a great team.

JT: You are one of several guards in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

DJ: I am not worried about playing time; my biggest concern is just about what I can do right now to get better. Coach John Wooden said, "Make each day your masterpiece", so I am just worried about what I can control: going to class, making progress on the court, etc. The more powerful a team we have, the better, so it is not a bad thing to have a lot of good guards.

JT: You have been described as a three-point specialist. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to three-point shooting?

DJ: Two words: Ray Allen! I feel comfortable coming off of screens and running the break. I shoot a lot on my own all the time, especially this summer; that is the whole secret, so to answer your question, shoot. Another key is to be your own critic, in terms of footwork, motivation, etc.

JT: Your uncle is former NBA center Manute Bol and your cousin is current Bulls forward Luol Deng. How did you feel about Manute passing away earlier this summer, and what advice has Luol given you about how to succeed on the court?

DJ: I was not as close with Luol; I am closer to Longar Longar, who is at Oklahoma. He keeps telling me to understand why I am here; I did not come all the way from Sudan to screw around, so I just have to stay true to who I am. My biggest regret is that I was supposed to call Manute the week that he passed away, but I never got to do that. He will be missed, as he was a great humanitarian who tried to make the Sudan a better place for people who had nothing. He was a hero and we need more people like that. He motivates me to try to have the same effect on my people.

JT: Your brother Peter is a high school sophomore who is listed as one of the top talents in the Class of 2013. Which of you is going to end up as the better player, and any chance you can convince him to join you at Penn?

DJ: He is going to be WAY better than I am; it is not even a question! He got bigger and stronger over the summer and is doing stuff athletically that I cannot do. He has to take care of his academics and work on his people skills, and I hope he gets a chance to play at the highest level. I pray that he always does well, and hope he ends up as the best player to ever come out of Iowa.

JT: This past summer you played summer league ball with upperclassmen Jack Eggleston/Zack Rosen and freshmen Fran Dougherty/Steve Rennard on team Trad Jazz. What impressed you the most about Rosen, and how do you think that playing with your future teammates over the summer will help you during the season?

DJ: Zack has strengthened my values, as he respects everyone and works his butt off. If you get a chance to be around Zack, what you learn is priceless. He is Coach Allen's coach on the court. Everyone knows him around campus, and he is very engaging. The kind of person he is off the court impresses me more than the player he is on the court. I have never seen anyone work as hard as him; the dude works his ass off! He is not the tallest or the fastest, but he plays with heart and works the hardest. Summer league was a nice chance to get to know each other, but now is the time when we can really start to gel.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen and why do you want to play for him?

DJ: I know that he cares about the person you are more than the player you are. The first thing he asks you is not how your shot is coming along, but how you are doing. His work in the community is well known, and I want to learn from the best. If I can only pick up 10% from each of our coaches, I will have picked up a lot.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what will be the hardest part?

DJ: I do not think anything will be easy. The hardest part is just being patient with the learning curve. Zack always says to move on and live in the now. I am willing to learn every day, even if it is a day when I struggle so that I can come back and be even better the next day. The college game is much quicker, and there is a lot of thought that goes into everything, but I am not too worried because I am in the right hands.

Poll: Who is the Top 2010 Prospect?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:00:08 -0700

Poll: What Team Has the Best Recruiting Class?

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Poll: Who is the Pac-10's Top Incoming Freshman?

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