A weekly round-up of men’s basketball in the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Broncs add four to score
LAWRENCEVILLE-Rider University basketball coach Tommy Dempsey has announced the addition of four players to his 2011-12 roster.
“This is a recruiting class that will not only make an immediate impact but also continue to lay the foundation for long term success here at Rider,” Dempsey said.
Joining the Broncs in the fall will be Eddie Mitchell and Junior Fortunat of Philadelphia, Mark Medley of Wilmington, Delaware and Charles Oliver of Scotch Plains.
These four join Jeff Jones of Chester, PA who transferred to Rider from the University of Virginia and sat out the 2010-11 season.
Mitchell, a 6’0″ senior guard at La Salle College High School, averaged 16.2 points per game last season, earning First Team All-Catholic League and First Team All-City honors.
Fortunat is a 6’8″, 220 pound senior at Roman Catholic, the same high school that gave Rider Mike Ringgold ’11. Fortunat averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game to earn First Team All-Catholic and Honorable Mention All-City honors.
Medley is a 6’3″ senior at Tatnall High School, where he earned Second Team All-State honors as a junior and a senior. Medley graduates with 1,410 career points, averaging 20.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior.
Masiello announces Manhattan basketball staff
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan College head men’s basketball coach Steve Masiello has announced the hiring of associate head coach Matt Grady, assistant coach Rashon Burno, along with coordinator of basketball operations Matt Wilson. They join assistant coach Scott Padgett who will return for his second season at Manhattan. Grady brings nine years of NCAA Division I experience to Riverdale, most recently serving as associate head coach at Morehead State University. Burno, a local product who won two National Championships at St. Anthony’s High School for Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley, comes to Manhattan after an assistant coaching stint at Towson University. Wilson worked as the assistant video coordinator at Louisville last season after serving as a student manager the previous two years under head coach Rick Pitino.
Buonaguro, Dempsey and Dunne honored at Yankee Stadium
The New York Yankees welcomed Coaches vs. Cancer during a pregame home plate ceremony at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, prior to their game vs. the Kansas City Royals. Siena head coach Mitch Buonaguro was one of 10 coaches recognized.
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
The 10 coaches scheduled to attend were: Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Mitch Buonaguro (Siena College), Mo Cassara (Hofstra University), Tommy Dempsey (Rider University), Matt Doherty (Southern Methodist University), John Dunne (Saint Peter’s College), Mitch Henderson (Princeton University), Steve Lavin (St. John’s University), Mike Lonergan (George Washington University) and Mike Rice (Rutgers University).
The New York Yankees welcomed Coaches vs. Cancer during a pregame home plate ceremony at Yankee Stadium Wednesday prior to their game vs. the Kansas City Royals. Rider University head coach Tommy Dempsey was one of the ten coaches.
Dunne shows support for Coaches vs. Cancer
NEW YORK, NY – Saint Peter’s men’s basketball coach John Dunne continued his support for the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer initiative on Thursday with his participation at WJB Capital Group, Inc. (WJB) Charity Day in Midtown Manhattan. Dunne joined Naismith Hall of Fame basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving, NFL superstar running back and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Marshall Faulk, Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr. and several college basketball coaches who all worked the phones to generate donations at WJB’s new headquarters on Third Avenue. The group proceeded to Times Square to celebrate the completion of Charity Day by ringing the NASDAQ Closing Bell.
Masiello shows support for Coaches vs. Cancer
Coaches vs. Cancer (CvC) is a program founded by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams and communities to join the fight against cancer by participating in a variety of national and local events. Since its inception in 1993, coaches have raised nearly $50 million through the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Today, nearly 2,000 college and high school coaches, the most ever, participate in the program.
Rider to participate in Philly Hoop Group Classic
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.–The Philly Hoop Group Classic, a 5th annual, Thanksgiving Weekend basketball event featuring Division I level college teams.
The 2011 multiple team event will feature: University of Pittsburgh, James Madison University, LaSalle University, University of Pennsylvania, Rider University & Robert Morris University.
The Philly Hoop Group Classic’s Final Round games will be played at The Palestra on Friday, November 25th & Saturday November 26th. The event’s preliminary games will be played at participating schools from November 13th through the 23rd.
The Hoop Group, which organizes instructional camps, clinics, high school events and college events created The Philly Hoop Group Classic.
Niagara’s Martelli joins Delaware coaching staff
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men’s basketball assistant coach Phil Martelli, Jr. has joined the Delaware Blue Hen coaching staff after spending the last five seasons at Niagara.
“It was a really tough decision,” Martelli said. “It was a lot of hours thinking, a lot of lists being put together, reasons to stay, reasons to come to Delaware. It was real hard because I’m leaving a great place, but more importantly, a great person in coach (Joe) Mihalich.”
Ronald Moore’s team loses in Slovakian finals
Former Siena point guard Ronald Moore came up just short of winning a championship in his rookie season in Slovakia.
His Nitra team fell 70-58 to Levice in the deciding Game 5 of the finals in Slovakia’s Extraliga.
Levice won 3-2 in the best-of-five series.
Moore, Siena’s career assists leader, had 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists for Nitra.
Siena assistant leaves for Lehigh
For the second straight day, news arrives of a local Division I assistant coach leaving a program.
This time, it’s Siena’s Stephen Ott, who’s taken a similar position at Lehigh, Siena head coach Mitch Buonaguro confirmed today.
Ott has already updated his employment status on his Facebook page and changed his residence to Bethlehem, Pa.
Siena still searching after late signing period
The last day of the late signing period came and went on Wednesday with no news from the Siena basketball program, which still has two scholarships to offer for the 2011-12 season.
That doesn’t mean much because Siena can still come to a financial aid agreement with a recruit for next season. It just won’t be a binding document like the national letter of intent is.
“It is what it is,” Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro said. “Teams do it all the time, sign after the date.”
Buonaguro and his staff are still looking for a backup point guard to replace sophomore Jonathan Breeden, who transferred after the season. It won’t necessarily be easy with a lot of prospects already signed with other schools.
Niagara’s Edwards will not return for 2011-12 season
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men’s basketball head coach Joe Mihalich has announced that forward Kashief Edwards will not return for the 2011-12 season.
“Kashief Edwards will graduate this summer and has decided to use his last year of eligibility at another school,” Mihalich said. “We are extremely proud of all that Niagara University has done for Kashief on and off the floor and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Buffalo News article on the release of Edwards
Niagara University forward Kashief Edwards has been released from his scholarship and will transfer to another school, according to sources.
Edwards, who would have been a fifth-year senior next season, will earn his degree this summer and is eligible to play for another school immediately.
A native of Philadelphia, Edwards averaged 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a junior in 2010-11. He was the Purple Eagles’ leading rebounder and third leading scorer.
CBS Sports Network to televise Adidas grassroots evens
CBS Sports Network will broadcast three adidas grassroots basketball championship games this summer, including the adidas Nations finale in early August.
“We’re excited to partner with CBS Sports Network and bring adidas’ elite high school basketball events to millions of viewers across the country on television and online,” adidas vice president of Global Basketball Lawrence Norman said. “Our programs feature the game’s next superstars and we’re thrilled to showcase this high-level of basketball to viewers all across America.”
Coming soon
Stay tuned for the first annual Pickin’ Splinters rundown on the MAAC’s incoming class. Fans can get an in-depth look at all the new student-athletes to play next season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Leave a Reply