A weekly round-up of the latest comings and goings of Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
Temple’s Allen named Big 5’s Most Outstanding Player
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University senior forward Lavoy Allen was named the recipient of the Robert V. Geasey Trophy which is presented annually by the Herb Good Club to the Philadelphia Big 5’s Most Outstanding Player. Allen was joined on the first team all-Big 5 by his teammate, junior guard Ramone Moore while Temple junior guard Juan Fernandez was named to the second team. The awards will be presented at the Philadelphia Big Five banquet, Monday, April 25 in the Fox-Gittis Room at the Liacouras Center.
Allen ended his career as Temple’s all-time rebound leader (1,147) and 24th on the all-time scoring list with 1,421 points. He also moved into third place on the all-time blocked shots list with 213 and his 98 career wins in a Cherry and White uniform place him eighth in program history. A two-time first team All-Atlantic 10 selection and three-time all-defensive team honoree, the Morrisville, Pa. native led Temple and ranked second in the A10 in rebounding (8.6 ppg.) while placing third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg.). He also led the Owls in blocked shots with a career best 61 and compiled 41 career double-doubles, including eight in his last nine games.
SJU’s Galloway named Big 5 Rookie of the Year; Carl Jones gets second team
PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph’s freshman Langston Galloway has been named the Big 5 Rookie of the Year and sophomore Carl Jones has been named to the All-Big 5 Second Team and is the winner of the Palumbo Award as the city’s top scorer. Both Hawks will be honored at the Philadelphia Big 5 Banquet on April 25 at Temple’s Liacouras Center in the Fox-Gittis Room.
Holton, Powell sign NLIs to attend Rhode Island
KINGSTON, R.I. — Head coach Jim Baron announced that Jonathan Holton and Michael Powell have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic endeavors at the University of Rhode Island, beginning with the 2011-12 academic year.
“We are very excited to have Jonathan and Michael join us at Rhode Island,” said head coach Jim Baron. “Both players come from very good high school programs and they have had outstanding success in their prep careers. They are part of one the best recruiting classes to commit to URI.”
Baron upbeat with ‘great class’ of recruits
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — As all URI fans know, basketball coach Jim Baron is cautious by nature when it comes to making predictions or speaking about new players on his team. However, the Rhody coach did not hide his excitement Friday when his squad received another signed national letter of intent, this one from Michael Powell Jr., a 5-foot-10 point guard from Chicago.
Jackson reflects on his time at Xavier
CINCINNATI — The complexion of the Xavier men’s basketball team is about to change as its most vocal player prepares to graduate.
Dante Jackson, a two-time Connie Brown Award winner as the Musketeers’ most inspirational player, leaves a legacy that includes 107 wins, tied with teammate Joe Hughes for second most in school history, and seven NCAA tournament wins. Jason Love holds the school record with 108 career wins.
Former Ram Odom gets NBA’s Sixth Man Award
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Whether he’s on the court, in the locker room or at home with his reality-TV-star wife, Lamar Odom(notes) has evolved into the consummate supporting player.
The Los Angeles Lakers think it’s high time Odom got his own spotlight for being so willing to step back.
Odom won the NBA’s Sixth Man award on Tuesday as the league’s top reserve, easily outdistancing Dallas’ Jason Terry(notes) to win the first significant award for individual achievement in a career mostly spent supporting others.
St. Bonaventure saddened by the loss of Dr. John Watson
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Dr. John G. Watson, 67, dean of the School of Business, father of director of athletics Steve Watson and a member of the St. Bonaventure family for more than 35 years, passed away Sunday at about 10:15 p.m. in a York, Pa., hospital. He was visiting friends in York and suffered a stroke.
Akeem Richmond leaving URI after two seasons
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Akeem Richmond is leaving the URI basketball team after two years with the program.
“We granted him permission. He was homesick. He wants to go back home to North Carolina,” URI coach Jim Baron said Saturday. “We wish him well.”
The 6-foot-1 guard from Sanford, N.C., had an outstanding freshman season, coming off the bench. He averaged 8.7 points and set a URI freshman record with 81 3-pointers.
Gaffney named to D-League all-defensive team
UMass alum Tony Gaffney was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team. Gaffney averaged 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks (10th in the D-League) and 1.43 steals per game for the Utah Flash in 35 games.
Xavier’s Holloway declares for N.B.A. draft; does not hire agent
CINCINNATI – Xavier University junior guard Tu Holloway, a 2010-11 Associated Press Third Team All-American and the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, has submitted the necessary paperwork to declare for the June 23rd NBA Draft. Holloway has not hired an agent.
“I want to explore my options and gather as much information as I can, to see what opportunities might exist for me,” said Holloway. “I’ve always had a dream to play in the NBA and I want to see what the opportunities are and make the most well-informed decision about my future.”
Two-time All-State star Henry signs with 49ers
Charlotte, N.C. — Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball coach Alan Major has announced the signing of two-time all-state performer Pierriá (pronounced “perry-ay”) Henry (South Charleston, W.Va.) to a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Charlotte 49ers in 2011-12.
Sirin to leave 49ers
Charlotte, N.C. — Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major has announced that 6-9 sophomore forward Gokhan Sirin (Istanbul, Turkey) has decided to leave the 49ers basketball program.
“I enjoyed my time at Charlotte, but I feel I need to find a better situation for myself,” said Sirin, who has not decided where he would transfer.
Ex-Flyer Warren joins Gregory as graduate assistant
London Warren played professional basketball overseas last season, starting at the second-highest level in Germany and moving up to the top league midway through the year.
But the former University of Dayton point guard never could get acclimated to living in a foreign country, quitting after just two games with the Gloria Giants in Dusseldorf and returning home.
Ex-Flyer point guard Postorino to assist Gregory
In case you missed this, former UD basketball coach Brian Gregory has hired an ex-Flyer point guard as an assistant in his new gig at Georgia Tech.
Former UD assistant, primary contact for recruits takes job at Iowa State
Former University of Dayton basketball assistant Cornell Mann has accepted a position on the staff at Iowa State, and the hiring might give the Cyclones the inside track toward landing a player Mann helped deliver to UD.
The 39-year-old Michigan native was the Flyers’ primary recruiter for seniors LaDontae Henton of Lansing Eastern High School and Percy Gibson of Detroit Southeastern, who pulled out of their letters-of-intent when coach Brian Gregory left for Georgia Tech.
SLU faces tough job in replacing Moser
Some time soon, Loyola of Chicago will announce that SLU associate head coach Porter Moser is taking over as the Ramblers’ new coach. Moser’s departure will leave a significant hole in the SLU coaching staff and finding a replacement for him will not be easy.
Coming soon
Stay tuned for the first annual Pickin’ Splinters rundown of the A10′s incoming class. Fans can get an in-depth look at the new student-athletes to play next season in the Atlantic 10.
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Casey – what do you think of the chances of Holloway staying in the NBA draft? With a good incoming class and the possibility of a NBA lockout – you would think Holloway will come back for his senior year. But a high pick in the draft might be too tempting to pass up.
I don’t know about his chances, but it makes sense to declare. He will get the chance to be evaluated at the next level, and that will give Holloway a focus for the future.