Yesterday was the (ridiculously early) end to the testing the waters period for players with college eligibility remaining. Here is the full list of players that have decided to keep their names in or pull their names out of draft contention.
Who were this year's deadline winners?
Kentucky: Kentucky lost two of their three early entrants, but would you have expected Terrence Jones to be the lone returnee? Brandon Knight announced last week, while on Sunday night DeAndre Liggins made his decision official as well. Jones, however, will return, meaning that John Calipari will likely be bringing Kyle Wiltjer, a top 25 recruit, off the bench next season. Jones will provide Kentucky with a legitimate front court scoring threat to go along with Michael Gilchrist's perimeter versatility and Anthony Davis' length and athleticism.
Pitt: The Panthers got a whole lot better when Ashton Gibbs made the decision to return to school. Not only was he Pitt's leading scorer a year ago, but he is a potential all-american next season. Gibbs is the only player on the Panthers with the ability to create a shot in a half court setting. And with Brad Wanamaker graduating, Gibbs will have more of a chance to show NBA people that he can create with the dribble.
Xavier: The Musketeers caught a break when Tu Holloway, who could very well end up being the bet point guard in the country next season, opted to return to Xavier for his senior season, making Xavier one of the early favorites to win the Atlantic 10. Holloway was up there with Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker as one of the most valuable players in the country last year, and much of the same should be expected next season.
New Head Coaches:
Hollis Thompson: Thompson has the tools and the skill set to potentially be a first round pick one day. But after spending two seasons playing out of position and in the role of glue guy, Thompson wasn't much more than a Big East afterthought his first two seasons at Georgetown. With Austin Freeman and Chris Wright graduating, and an influx of front court talent, Thompson will be a featured player for the Hoyas next season.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers lost a lot this past season. Casey Mitchell, John Flowers, and Joe Mazzulla graduated. Danny Jennings is no longer with the team. The entire 2010 freshmen class seemingly evaporated. Dalton Pepper, Deniz Kilicli, and Truck Bryant are all back, but without Kevin Jones in the fold, the Mountaineers would have had a long season. It will be interesting to see how Jones develops; he had a bit of a disappointing season as a junior.
Texas A&M: The Aggies are going to be a team to keep an eye on next season in the Big 12. With Khris Middleton opting not to put his name in the draft and David Loubeau withdrawing from consideration on Sunday, Mark Turgeon's team once again has the make up of one that can compete at the top of their league.
Austin Peay: The Governors finished third in the Sun Belt a season a go, behind Murray State and Morehead State. With both MSU's losing a number of key players, Austin Peay jumped up to preseason favorite to win the league with TyShawn Edmundson's decision to return for his senior season. Edmundson averaged 17.3 ppg a season ago.
Olu Ashaolu and Brandon Wood: Ashaolu opted to return to school, but he will transfer from Louisiana Tech for his senior season. Since he has already graduated, he will be eligible to play immediately, which means that the winner will be who ever is able to land him as a transfer. The same can be said for Wood, who withdrew from the draft and instead opted to transfer to Michigan State. The former Valpo guard will be eligible to play immediately after graduating. He averaged 15.1 ppg last season.
Northwestern: John Shurna pulled his name out of the NBA Draft, which means that the Wildcats will have their most talented scorer for his senior season. Will this once again spark the preseason debate of whether or not the Wildcats can make their first NCAA Tournament?
Other Notable returnees: Orlando Johnson (UCSB), Greg Mangano (Yale), Cameron Moore (UAB), Tony Taylor (George Washington)
Continue reading...
Monday, May 9, 2011
Deadline Decisions: Who were the winners? |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Once again, Kim English showing he's more than just a ball player |
I've written about Kim English plenty in this space.
Over the summer, we talked about English equating the Rudyard Kipling poem "If" to playing basketball. We also did a feature story on him and his work ethic. We I spoke to him on the phone for the story, he had the flu but he was still in the gym, riding the stationary bike while watching his teammates in open gym.
I'm not going to lie, I like the kid. I think he embodies everything that is great about college athletics. He works hard, he plays hard, and he studies hard.
He also seems to have a pretty level head on his shoulders. For example, over the weekend, English tweeted this: Another racist act at my school during Black History Month. Someone spray painted "Nigger Month" on a campus sculpture.
He was asked about it by reporters on Monday. His response:"Things like that don't upset me because I know that people like that exist," English said. "Hopefully they won't, but they probably always will."
Could he have given a more intelligent, level-headed response?
[...]
"We've came such a long way and still have such a long way to go," said English, who is black. "It's a conservative state, close to the South. I wasn't blinded to the fact coming out here. I mean, it's happened two years in a row. I hope they catch the guys and kick them out of school, because what that guy does doesn't represent what most people at the University of Missouri, or the state of Missouri, feel."
[...]
"When I tweeted that I got probably a couple hundred responses from my followers saying that 'That's not Mizzou,'" English said. "I respect that, and I understand that. We have a black head coach, a predominantly black team, a black president. Most of the nation doesn’t feel that way, but one idiot did."
English hasn't had the season he was hoping to have in 2010-2011, as his scoring has dropped from 14.0 ppg to 10.8 ppg. Part of it has been his deference to Marcus Denmon, who has emerged has a go-to scorer as a junior, but Kimmie's been in a bit of a shooting slump of late. Mike Anderson has made the move to bring him off the bench. Its worked, as English scored 16 last night against Texas Tech.
Regardless of what he is doing on the court, English is always going to be a BIAH favorite off it.
How many people do you know that can quote 19th century British poetry?
Continue reading...
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Kim English eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball |
We all remember those t-shirts that said "Eat, Sleep, Play basketball." All the cool kids at basketball summer camp wore them (me), even the ones that weren't all that good (me again). And while I've always been a basketball junkie, be it my ten year old self that proclaimed it with a t-shirt or the 25 year old version that promotes an addiction through the intrawebs, my love for the game pales in comparison to the devotion of Missouri's Kim English.
The Tiger's leading scorer last season, English is renowned for his work ethic. Nothing keeps him out of the gym. Not the need to sleep in a bed -- he's made a habit of dragging a leather recliner into the Mizzou Arena locker to sleep on. Not even the flu could keep English at home.
"I'm actually watching them play pickup now," English told us this afternoon over the phone. "I'm on the [stationary] bike. I'm sick right now, I got the flu. But I couldn't actually not come to the gym, so I'm watching them play on the bicycle."
He's not kidding either.
There were more than a handful of times during our chat when English stopped a train of thought to yell instructions or words of encouragement to his teammates.
That's impressive, considering English sounded more clogged up on the phone than Billie Joe Armstrong.
For English, dedication and hard work have never been a problem.
"When I started playing when I was 13 I wasn’t good at all," English said. "I just could shoot, I could always shoot. But my father told me if I wanted to be good, I would have to work. Whether it was the playground or the gym, I just always outworked people. I knew that, honestly, when I started playing I wasn’t the most talented but I knew I would outwork guys. I’m confident, but my confidence comes from my preparation."
"I just know that if websites, or anybody, or the numbers say a guy is better than me, I’m going to put in the work to prove that I’m better than him."
Saying you want to work hard and want to reach your full potential is one thing. Actually putting in the work is a different story. It takes countless hours of busting your ass in the weight room and the pain threshold to bang out those last two squats when you're an hour into a plyometrics workout. It requires the patience to do the 10 or 20 or 100 reps it takes to perfect a new move, and the commitment to spend untold hours alone, in a gym, putting up jumpers and dribbling a basketball.
Everyday.
And based on what English's schedule was like this summer, he must be part cyborg. The young man apparently does not need to sleep. His day started before the newspaper is thrown on your stoop, with an alarm clock that says "National Champions, 2011" rousing him at 4:50 am. Then after some breakfast, and maybe even a nap, it was time to break down film -- classic games, old Missouri game tapes, even youtube highlight videos of guys like Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, and Steph Curry, the pros that English tries to model his game after -- before heading back to the gym for his second workout of the day. After another break in the afternoon, English was back in the gym, either playing pick-up or getting in a late-night workout.
It would start over again the next morning.
At 4:50 am.
I'm exhausted just typing that.
And this was his summer "vacation".
English's father may have planted the seed of the benefits of hard work, but it was the words of an assistant coach that helped English's work ethic bloom, allowing him to blossom into the player he is today.
"He said your talent gets you to the level you play at," English said. "Your hard work gets you on the court. Your commitment and consistency will take you to the elite. I know I'm good enough, I know I work hard enough, I know I'm going to play."
"The next step is to work and try to perfect my craft. To be the best player I can be."
English took a big step towards that goal last season, taking advantage of an expanded role in Missouri's offense and seeing his scoring average jump from 6.5 ppg as a freshman to 14.0 ppg as a sophomore. His game centers around his jump shot, a stroke that is about as pretty as you will see at this level. As Draft Express puts it, his jumper is the most NBA-ready skill in his arsenal.
Being the leading scorer for a Big XII team that won 23 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament is impressive, but English has not yet come close to his ceiling. As his ball-handling improves and he becomes more comfortable as a slasher, English will only see his draft profile get stronger.
On the court, there is still plenty of room for English to grow.
I'm not so sure the same can be said for English off the court.
Rudyard Kipling was one of the most popular writers of the 19th and 20 centuries. In 1907, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first English language writer to win the award. To date, he is still the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Prize in Literature. Among Kipling's most famous works is the poem "If". "If" is particularly popular among the British, and one of the poem's lines is written above the player's entrance of Wimbledon's Centre Court.
Now, I wouldn't blame you if you've never heard of this poem, or Rudyard Kipling, before.
I have.
The last time we wrote about English, it was because of a series of tweets he posted, taking lines from "If" and relating them to basketball. It was impressive, to say the least. English, who was introduced to poerty by former teammate Zaire Taylor and learned about "If" from Missouri football player Wes Kemp, reads the poem every day when he wakes up.
Its not often that you come across a college student, let alone a star athlete, that dabbles in 19th century British poetry.
Kim English may never make it in the NBA. Professional sports are a fickle business, and unfortunately there are quite a few talented athletes in every sport that never get a chance to showcase what they can do.
Few things in the world of sports are a certainty.
But does anyone want to bet against English working his way to the league?
Continue reading...
Monday, July 12, 2010
Kim English isn't your average college student |
Its a tired cliche:
College basketball players are dumb; they get their work done by their tutors; the only reason they pass is because their professors want them to win. It would be inappropriate to consider that the norm, but after hearing about scandals like the one orchestrated by the Harrick's at Georgia, or the issues with Derrick Rose and his SAT scores, or the fact that any player heading to the NBA doesn't have to attend class during the spring semester, it would be tough to blame any one that thought that way.
English averaged 14.0 ppg in the Big XII, came off the bench to hit a game-winning free throw in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, and quotes Rudyard Kipling.(photo credit: Zimbio)
That said, there are quite a few college basketball players out there that are also students, and I'm not just talking about the Ivy and Patriot Leagues.
Enter Kim English, a rising junior that led Missouri in scoring as a sophomore. Now, I spend hours on twitter every day, but the number of players that I follow is quite low. Why? Because I don't need to know the inner workings of every 19 year old's life.
English, whose twitter handle is @englishscope24, is not your average college basketball player. He's a gym rat to the fullest, literally sleeping in the locker room at Mizzou Arena so he can workout in the morning before class. That's a big reason why he went from a role player as a freshman to a 14 ppg scorer as a sophomore.
But his tweets are about more than just hoops. Take this series of tweets from July 8th, comparing "If", a poem by Rudyard Kipling written in 1910, to basketball:
"If you can keep your had when all about you Are losing theirs...." -stay poised and be your teams calming force in a tough time.
"If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you" - Game winning free throws in NCAA sec round, with 5.5 secs left and ur 65% on the year
"But make allowance for their doubting too" - after you make them, be humble and don't throw their doubt in their face.
"if you can wait, and not be tired by waiting" -You play little minutes as a freshmen, but you stay true to the game, come early, leave late
"..Or being hated, dont give way to hating" -only intake info crucial to your teams success, reject all other information. you dont need it.
"And dont look too good, nor talk too wise" -fundamentals are best, trash talk is never necessary. let you game do your talking.
"If you can dream, and not make dreams your master" -Dream of the NBA, but never allow that dream interfere with the teams success.
"If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim" -You just loss, all you think about is the rematch. don't lose focus on the next 8 gamesImpressive, right? There is a reason Kim English is one of the only college hoopers I follow on twitter. He's a baller with a brain. If you are on twitter, and you aren't following him, than you are doing yourself a disservice.
Continue reading...
Monday, October 19, 2009
2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Breakout Players |
Cole Aldrich averaged just 8.3 mpg as a freshman, before becoming one of the best centers in the country this past season.
Jodie Meeks had two unimpressive, injury-plagued seasons before becoming one of college basketball's most electrifying scorers as a junior.
Every season, there are kids that come from college basketball obscurity and burst onto the national scene. Who will have a break out year in 2009-2010?
Ed Davis, North Carolina - 6'10" 225lb: Davis is in kind of the same boat Aldrich was last season. As a freshman, he was a promising prospect that was stuck behind a loaded front line. Davis is long, athletic, and plays with a great deal of energy. He has shown the ability to be one of the better defenders and rebounders in the country, and with the added scoring opportunities with the graduation of Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson, it isn't a stretch to think Davis could average 15 and 10 as a sophomore.
Ed Davis could be the next great Tar Heel big man.(photo credit: Raleigh Durham About)
Kemba Walker, UConn - 6'1" 172lb: Walker was stuck playing behind AJ Price as a freshman. But with Price's graduation, this will be Kemba's UConn team to run. And run they will. The last two seasons, UConn has played a much more controlled pace than you expect from a Jim Calhoun team. Price, Hasheem Thabeet, and Jeff Adrien were all more suited to a slower paced, grind-it-out style. With those three gone, UConn will rely on Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson to lead them, all of whom could be considered the most athletic player at their positions. UConn is going to press defensively and run offensively, and Walker is going to be the catalyst.
Kim English, Missouri - 6'6" 200lb: Anyone that watched the NCAA tournament (and if you read this blog, that means you) should know what English can do when he gets hot: during a four minute stretch against Marquette in the second round, English hit three threes and scored 15 points. A 6'6" two-guard, English is tall enough to get his shot off over most perimeter defenders, but he also has enough athleticism to survive in the 40-minutes-of-hell style the Tigers play. With guys like Leo Lyons, DeMarre Carroll, JT Tiller, and Matt Lawrence all graduating, expect English to get many more minutes and shots.
Chris Wright, Georgetown - 6'1", 208lb: Wright was a much-hyped recruit coming out of St. John's high school in Maryland, but an injury to his foot severely limited his court time as a freshman. Combine that with playing behind Jonathon Wallace, and last season was essentially Wright's first in the Big East. With that came the growing pains - at times he was brilliant, but overall he had an inconsistent season. He now has a year of experience under his belt, and knowing what to expect in a watered down Big East, Wright should be more comfortable and confident leading the Hoyas.
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse - 6'7", 198lb: Johnson was a player for two years with Iowa State, averaging 12 ppg both seasons. But during his sophomore year, he played on an ankle that required surgery after the season was done. Now that he has had 16 months to get healthy, Johnson will start over in a program looking for their own fresh start. The Orange lost a ton of talent on the perimeter, and Johnson will be expected to shoulder the scoring load from day one. Johnson is a tremendous athlete with a jumper that is very effective when he doesn't fall in love with it - which is what happened during his sophomore season (although, that was most likely a result of his injury). If he can become the player he was as a freshman - attacking the glass, going to the basket, defending - Johnson should put up impressive scoring numbers and thrive playing the back line of the Syracuse zone.
Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson will be counted on to replace the scoring of Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf.(photo credit: Flagrant Fouls)
Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Washington - 6'9", 240lb: A lot of people are predicting the Huskies to be the best team on the West Coast, and that prediction could very well hold true as U-Dub will field one of the most dynamic back courts in the country. But back court play will only get you so far during the season. Washington will be heading into this year with a gaping hole in their frontline courtesy of Jon Brockman's graduation. Bryan-Amaning will be the guy called upon to fill a lot of those minutes. He has shown signs of being a star-in-the-making during his first two seasons, but both seasons faded down the stretch as his minutes and production tailed off during Pac-10 play. The Huskies, if possible, are going to play an even faster tempo than they did last season, and given Bryan-Amaning's length, athleticism, and face-up game, he should be able to thrive.
Malcolm Lee, UCLA - 6'5", 180lb: Lee has been getting a ton of attention during the off-season, and it isn't hard to see why - the kid looks like he could be the second coming off Russell Westbrook. If you remember, Westbrook flew under the radar as a freshman before exploding as a sophomore and becoming the fourth pick of the 2008 draft. Like Westbrook, Lee is a rangy combo guard with outstanding athleticism. He struggled to find minutes in a crowded back court last season, but that doesn't mean that he isn't blessed loads of talent. Lee is still a bit raw, especially on the offensive end, but he has already garnered a reputation for being a play maker defensively. If he is allowed to take some advantage of his outstanding ability to create in the open court, Lee could be a first team all-Pac 10 player.
Can Malcolm Lee follow in Russell Westbrook's footsteps?Roburt Sallie, Memphis - 6'5", 196lb: Remember what I said about Kim English? If you watched the NCAA Tournament, you know what this guy is capable of. The exact same can be said about Sallie. Sallie spent most of the season on John Calipari's bench, but exploded for 35 points and 10 three's as he carried the Tiger's to a first round win against Cal State Northridge. One of the best shooters in the country, new coach Josh Pastner is going to need a big season out of Sallie, as the NBA Draft and a disappearing recruiting class has left the Tiger's cupboard pretty bare.
Ishmael Smith, Wake Forest - 6'0", 175lb: As a freshman, Ishmael Smith was one of the most promising point guards in the country, averaging 6.0 apg. But something happened over the past two seasons, and that something was named Jeff Teague. Teague dominated the ball during his time in Winston-Salem, forcing Smith into a much less significant role. But that doesn't mean Smith can't play. He is not a great scorer, but what he does well is break down a defense and lead a break. In other words, he can create scoring chances for others, which is going to be so important for a Wake team that doesn't have a lot of polished offensive weapons.
Ashton Gibbs, Pttsburgh - 6'2", 200lb: Pitt will be heading into this season with basically a whole new team. With four starters gone, and two of their top returners out to start the season (Jermaine Dixon's foot injury and Gilbert Brown's suspension), Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker will be basically the only two guys back. Gibbs played a limited role as a freshman for the Panthers, but in those limited minutes he produced. He also had an impressive summer playing for the U-19 World Champions (coached by Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon). Gibbs will be counted upon immediately to produce for the Panthers, and he should be up to the task. He proved his ability to shoot from the perimeter last season, but this year he will be asked to lead this team as a scorer and play maker.
William Buford, Ohio State - 6'5", 185lb: Buford took some time to find a rhythm as a freshman, but once he got comfortable he really started to show some promising signs at the end of the year. Buford is one of the most fluid scorers in the Big Ten. He is so good at reading a defense and coming off of a screen, and is deadly when shooting in the 15-18 foot range. If Buford can expand his ability to slash to the rim, he could prove to be a deadly complement to Evan Turner.
Honorable Mention:
Michael Dunigan, Oregon
Paul George, Fresno State
Demetri Goodson, Gonzaga
Terrence Jennings, Louisville
Larry Sanders, VCU
Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt
Continue reading...
Posts
