On the Road with Steve Masiello – the July recruiting blog
July 7, 2011
Day 2 was a total success for the Jasper Nation as we covered Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Reading, Pa., and any other nook and cranny we thought might have a player. As we search for our next future Jasper, the one thing we agreed upon is we are looking for toughness and guys who can shoot the basketball. It is amazing how many sins shooting can make up for. It can make an average player look like a very good player.
Another interesting stat that we are keeping an eye on is deflections, which is a measurement of intensity on the defensive end. We saw one young man today get 11 in one quarter, which may be a record.
It seems as if our pool of talent is expanding everyday and it appears we will have plenty of options to choose from. Remember our motto, “Excuses are a sign of weakness”. The bottom line is get it done!
Go Jaspers!
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Buonaguro presents MAAC tornado relief donation
Edison, NJ – Siena College head men’s basketball coach Mitch Buonaguro appeared yesterday in Springfield, Mass. to present a tornado relief donation on behalf of the MAAC.
Springfield was hit by a tornado on June 1, which killed four people and did an estimated $175 million dollars worth of damage.
The donation was made to the Pioneer Valley Red Cross, who are assisting with recovery efforts. Until Wednesday the Red Cross had been operating a shelter at the MassMutual Center. The shelter housed over 300 people at its peak.
The MAAC’s tornado aid is more laudable because they didn’t have to do it
When the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference chose Springfield as the site for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the question I heard on the street was one the politicians would not ask.
Why should we care?
One answer came last week, when the MAAC donated $5,000 to local tornado relief efforts. I single out this donation with reluctance, but with a reason.
The reluctance comes from knowing so many generous organizations (including the Falcons, Armor, Boston teams and the University of Massachusetts) have donated time, money or both.
The reason is that alone in this group, the MAAC has no direct connection to Western Massachusetts. None of its teams even exist in this state.
Mihalich talks about NU’s latest recruiting class
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men’s basketball head coach Joe Mihalich has announced the program’s latest recruiting class in forward Ali Langord and guards Juan’ya Green and Ameen Tanksley.
“We are very excited about the three newcomers to Niagara basketball for the upcoming season,” Mihalich said. “Juan’ya Green, Ali Langford, and Ameen Tanksley will all have impact roles.”
Ali Langford | 6-6 | 200 | Forward | Cottonwood Height, Utah | Allan Hancock College
Langford was named the Western State Conference Player of the Year and helped the Allan Hancock (Calif.) Bulldogs to their first conference title since 1974. Langford was the centerpiece on the squad where he played center using his athletic 6-foot-7 frame. He led the conference in scoring and was sixth in the state with 21.6 points per game and led the state in rebounding with 12.8 boards per game. Langford, who became the first player in four years to move to a Division I program, chose Niagara from over 40 programs.
St. Peter’s Marlon Guild: On the recruiting trail
The July “live recruiting period” (which lasts from July 6-15 then July 22-31), is a fun, but rough time for us coaches. Sure, we get to sit in gymnasiums and watch prospective student-athletes play basketball and travel across the country, but at the same time we are away from our families and the time lost can be priceless. In the span of one week, I will travel from Pennsylvania to Missouri then back to Massachusetts.
Crazy, huh? I know.
The “live period” is a big one for us at St. Peter’s College. After winning the MAAC championship and going to the NCAA tournament this past season, we have raised the stakes in Jersey City and are looking for quality student-athletes that can help us maintain a winning level of consistency.
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Moore excelled this past season for BK Casta SPU Nitra in Slovokia. Siena’s all-time assist leader led the team with nearly 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game, guiding his club to the Championship game.
“I’m very excited for my second season playing professionally in Europe,” Moore said via facebook message Thursday. “This year I will be playing Poland for a team called Turow. We will be playing EuroCup which means we will travel to play other top teams in different Countries. My new team will be in a Tournament at the end of September, where if we win we will bump up into Euroleague which is the highest league in Europe with numerous prospective NBA players and ex NBA players play. I’m excited for this opportunity to further my career.”
Former Rider star Jason Thompson gives hope to small basketball schools everywhere
Jason Thompson enjoys telling his story as much as the kids listening to it like to hear it.
Thompson, the Rider University star turned NBA lottery pick, is becoming more and more of a spokesman and not just for the NBA, or his Sacramento Kings, which are both currently in a lockout.
The big man from South Jersey is giving back and he’s starting with the youth of the area, who he knows can learn the way he did when he was a young man with the dream of one day making it to the top.
“I’m just showing some love for the kids,’’ Thompson said. “I remember when I was a kid and going to different camps and listening to guys who were in the NBA or played big-time college ball.
Ensor named to Philadelphia Sports Congress Board of Directors
Edison, N.J. – Rich Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Sports Congress.
“After working closely with the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Sports Congress on the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships at the arena, I was happy to continue to develop a stronger tie with the city’s sports community by joining the board,” Ensor noted. “I hope to contribute to the Sports Congress’ efforts to attract additional NCAA championships
The announcement took some time, but Siena and UAlbany will continue their men’s basketball rivalry.
Siena spokeman Jason Rich confirmed today the schools have agreed upon a four-year contract through the 2014-15 season. The old pact expired after last season.
While it was assumed the programs would keep playing because of the enormous popularity of the annual game, no official word came until today.
Former Griff, Nix, moves to Wake Forest
Former New York Knicks assistant and executive Jeff Nix, who played college basketball at Canisius, is Wake Forest’s new director of basketball operations.
Coach Jeff Bzdelik announced the hiring Thursday. Nix spent 15 years in the Knicks’ organization from 1992-2007, including eight years as an assistant, five years as the assistant general manager and two years as the director of scouting.
Off-Season Report: Iona early pick
2010-11 RECAP: A new coach, a new playing style and a new “star” player joining the program. Not exactly the greatest recipe for success in a league that traditionally sees experienced players with developed chemistry as a team compete for league titles. But the Gaels not only survived all the transition, but thrived. First-year head coach Tim Cluess, whose previous experience as a head coach came either at the Division II level, or high school, installed an uptempo offensive style that enabled the team to average 13.1 points more per game than the previous year, the third-biggest increase on the Division I level this past season. Things didn’t start out well…
Road to “MAAC”-achusetts
As many know, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be played in Springfield, MA at the MassMutual Center for the next three years, 2012-2014!
Therefore, the Road to MAAC-achusetts has begun! The official countdown began the day after St. Peter’s Men’s Basketball and Marist Women’s Basketball won their respective championships. And everyone is excited to see what the new season will bring.
As the offseason is underway, the “Road to MAAC-achusetts” webpage will be highlighting different schools, updating fans with news and scores around the MAAC’ s Men and Women basketball teams, as well as prepare everyone to come to Springfield, Massachusetts and the MassMutual Center in 2012.
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 who will play next season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
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