Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Friday, May 09, 2014
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Final Four Appearances
NCAA FINAL FOUR COACHES: Most all-time appearances (most recent)
12 John Wooden (1975)
11 Mike Krzyzewski (2010)
11 Dean Smith (1997)
7 Roy Williams (2009)
6 Tom Izzo (2010)
6 Denny Crum (1986)
6 Adolph Rupp (1966)
5 Bobby Knight (1992)
5 Guy Lewis (1984)
5 Lute Olson (2001)
5 Rick Pitino (2005)
12 John Wooden (1975)
11 Mike Krzyzewski (2010)
11 Dean Smith (1997)
7 Roy Williams (2009)
6 Tom Izzo (2010)
6 Denny Crum (1986)
6 Adolph Rupp (1966)
5 Bobby Knight (1992)
5 Guy Lewis (1984)
5 Lute Olson (2001)
5 Rick Pitino (2005)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, September 14, 2009
Girls Basketball
Abby played on the Deer Park Elementary Ninjas last season as a 3rd grader. This season, she will be one of the bigger girls (not that it stopped her last year)! She was a rebound machine! In one game, she made the go-ahead bucket with 25 sec. left. Then as the opposing team came down the court, they had two shots and two free throws to tie the game and missed all 4! Abby grabbed the last rebound and turned to pass to a teammate and the clock sounded...she had saved them from shooting once more! Even though it was a 3rd & 4th grade team, you can tell from the pic below (Abby is last one on right) that she was one of the tallest players! hahaha
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Dream Team vs ReDeem Team
The argument was made and I had to weigh in...Was last summer's Olympic ReDeem Team better than the 1992 Olympic Dream Team? Hmmmmm....
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=dw-dreamorredeem081808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=dw-dreamorredeem081808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Magic vs Bird 1979
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/03/03/march.mad/index.html
I was at Shearer Elementary in Winchester, Kentucky attending a carnival that night. I was 12 years old and in the 7th grade. Basketball was my fav sport and I had "tried-out" for the Belmont Junior High team that season, but was cut. My buddies challenged me to shoot in the free-throw contest cuz they knew more than the coaches that I had talent and was a good shooter. I was bummed over not making the team, but knew I was pretty good. However, to shut them up, I stepped to the line...and drained 13 in a row! No other kid or adult came close. I won a case of 7UP!
In the meantime, the school had placed a TV on a big rolling stand in the hallway leading into the gym that night because of the NCAA Championship. I ran back and forth between cake walks, fish ponds, shooting free throws, and the game - just to catch moments of history...Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson.
I was a little bothered that Magic's Mighigan State beat Bird's Indiana State; but I liked them both and continued to root for both, prefering Bird head-to-head through the years.
Watch the interview with Bird and Magic!
I was at Shearer Elementary in Winchester, Kentucky attending a carnival that night. I was 12 years old and in the 7th grade. Basketball was my fav sport and I had "tried-out" for the Belmont Junior High team that season, but was cut. My buddies challenged me to shoot in the free-throw contest cuz they knew more than the coaches that I had talent and was a good shooter. I was bummed over not making the team, but knew I was pretty good. However, to shut them up, I stepped to the line...and drained 13 in a row! No other kid or adult came close. I won a case of 7UP!
In the meantime, the school had placed a TV on a big rolling stand in the hallway leading into the gym that night because of the NCAA Championship. I ran back and forth between cake walks, fish ponds, shooting free throws, and the game - just to catch moments of history...Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson.
I was a little bothered that Magic's Mighigan State beat Bird's Indiana State; but I liked them both and continued to root for both, prefering Bird head-to-head through the years.
Watch the interview with Bird and Magic!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
McDonald's All-Americans from Kentucky
According to Statsheet.com - here are the McDonald's All-Americans from Kentucky since 1977:
Scotty Hopson 2008 - Tennessee Hopkinsville KY
Rajon Rondo 2004 - Kentucky Louisville KY
Carlos Hurt 2001 - Louisville Louisville KY
Jason Osborne 1993 - Louisville Louisville KY
Dwayne Morton 1990 - Louisville Louisville KY
Allan Houston 1989 - Tennessee Louisville KY
Rex Chapman 1986 - Kentucky Owensboro KY
Tony Kimbro 1985 - Louisville Louisville KY
Winston Bennett 1983 - Kentucky Louisville KY
Manuel Forrest 1981 - Louisville Louisville KY
Dirk Minniefield 1979 - Kentucky Lexington KY
Jerry Eaves 1978 - Louisville Louisville KY
Vince Taylor 1978 - Duke Lexington KY
Jeff Lamp 1977 - Virginia Louisville KY
Scotty Hopson 2008 - Tennessee Hopkinsville KY
Rajon Rondo 2004 - Kentucky Louisville KY
Carlos Hurt 2001 - Louisville Louisville KY
Jason Osborne 1993 - Louisville Louisville KY
Dwayne Morton 1990 - Louisville Louisville KY
Allan Houston 1989 - Tennessee Louisville KY
Rex Chapman 1986 - Kentucky Owensboro KY
Tony Kimbro 1985 - Louisville Louisville KY
Winston Bennett 1983 - Kentucky Louisville KY
Manuel Forrest 1981 - Louisville Louisville KY
Dirk Minniefield 1979 - Kentucky Lexington KY
Jerry Eaves 1978 - Louisville Louisville KY
Vince Taylor 1978 - Duke Lexington KY
Jeff Lamp 1977 - Virginia Louisville KY
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jodie Meeks!
Dan Issel scored 53 points in 1970 that stood for 39 years! Until last night, Jodie Meeks scored 54 against Tennessee, in Knoxville! He went 15-22 FG, 10-15 3PT, 14-14 FT...simply amazing shooting!
He is also a very good defensive player and came into the game averaging 24 pts a game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3831403
He is also a very good defensive player and came into the game averaging 24 pts a game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3831403
Thursday, December 18, 2008
NBA Rookies
He was an NBA prospect since 8th grade! I remember when I lived in Georgetown, KY (1999 - 2004), and a friend named Joe Thurmond told me about a young rising star from Ohio named O.J. Mayo. Now, he is one of the top 3 rookies in the NBA, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies - here pictured with fellow rook, Derrick Rose.
Crazy how we are enamored by young players and yet the predictions were right...this kid can play.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
DREAM TEAM 92 VS REDEEM TEAM 08
| "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi "It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen"If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." - Jesus of Nazareth |
Friday, May 09, 2008
The Youngest Kentucky Basketball Recruit
by Jeff Drummond of CatsPause.com
To hear Howard Avery describe it, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie knew nothing of his son when their paths happened to cross at a recent AAU basketball event. As fate would have it, though, that chance encounter led to a scholarship offer from the Wildcats and perhaps the earliest verbal commitment in the history of college basketball's winningest program.
Michael Avery, a 6-foot-4 eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., says he will play for the Cats. Now on with the business of finding a high school. "That's the funny thing," Howard Avery said with laugh. "We've got our college. Now we need our high school."
Avery currently attends Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks. He recently came east to interview with a private school in Culver, Ind., that he is considering attending next year. During that trip, the coach of Culver's upstart basketball program introduced the family to the Indiana Elite AAU staff, who subsequently invited Avery to play with their team in the King James tournament in Akron, Ohio.
According to Avery, Gillispie was scouting the event when the young player caught his eye. "The second game we played, coach Gillispie was there watching a couple of other players that he may have had an interest in," Avery said. "There was a 7-footer from Africa, a 6-10 player and a 6-8 player, so there were a lot of talented players at that game. I don't even think he was aware of Michael before this game.
"Michael came off the bench each half and had a good game against some really good competition. From what I understand, he displayed a total skill set and the basketball IQ to know when and where to use that skill set within the context of the game. I think that's what really impressed coach Gillispie."
Rules prohibit college coaches from initiating contact with prospects and their families at events like the King James tournament, but word was later filtered through the Indiana Elite staff that Gillispie was very impressed with Avery.
"So what I proceeded to do was make contact with coach Gillispie," Avery said. "I got a contact number for him and left him a message, but didn't hear back from him. I started wondering, does he really like my son? When I got in Los Angeles Monday morning, I decided to try again, and he answered the call. He told me he remembered my son, and that he was really glad that I called. He explained that he wasn't allowed to call me back, so it had to be me that initiated the call.
"We talked for a while and he said, 'I like your son. In fact, I like him so much I want to offer him a scholarship here at Kentucky.' I was like, 'You're joking, right?' He said, 'Nope. I'm serious. I really love the way he plays." When he told his son about the UK scholarship offer, the first official offer Michael Avery had received, it was difficult to restrain the excitement.
"I think Michael wanted to commit right then," Avery said. "But this is all so new to us, and I'm aware of the unusual nature of an eighth-grader giving a commitment to a college. I wasn't really sure how to react to it at first. A lot of people will say it's too early in the process, but after talking to some people who know coach Gillispie, we decided it really can't get much better than this opportunity.
"It's a dream school for any kid who grows up wanting to play basketball. There's only a few of them out there: Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Indiana back east; UCLA out here. If you've got an opportunity to play for one of those schools and get a great education, why not? We don't need a hundred offers; we just need one great program and one great coach."
Avery had also been getting early interest from USC, who according to his father had invited him to the Trojans' elite camp this summer. Several other programs were just beginning to inquire about him. Family ties could make it easier for Avery to see himself playing in this part of the country. His mother is from Indiana, and his grandmother still lives near Indianapolis.
The elder Avery said he is not a diehard fan of college basketball, but his son is. "Michael's a student of the game. When he's not playing or studying, he's watching basketball. That's his life. He's really passionate about it. He must have watched about 12 Kentucky games last year. He knew all about them."
And what does the family know about Gillispie and his coaching style thus far?
"We just know that he's been really, really successful no matter where he's been," Avery said. "The turnaround at UTEP and the turnaround at Texas A&M... they speak for themselves. He's got a tremendous track record, and everyone we've talked to about coach Gillispie have nothing but great things to say about him. We know he's a coach who can develop Michael's game and get the most out of his ability."
Much can change in a player's body and physical development between the eighth grade and his senior year of high school. Avery could end up being much taller and developing into another position, but his father said the UK staff envisions him as a combo guard at this point.
Rivals.com does not rank players at such an early age, but some services list Avery among the top 10 players in his class. "He was ranked third in the U.S. Elite Camp at Baylor," Avery said. "And he was ranked eighth at the Junior All-American Camp.
"But, you know, I don't think coach Gillispie was aware of any of that. He just saw my kid play. There's something to be said for that. He's not going based on what anyone has told him or where some website has Michael ranked. He saw his ability and potential himself. I really respect it."
The Averys have not made a final decision on his high school future. If he does not come to Indiana, he will likely play for Crespi High School in the L.A. area.
"No matter where he is, he's got a lot of motivation now," Avery said. "He's going to be working really hard to improve his game because he knows a lot will be expected of him when word gets out that he's going to a school like Kentucky.
---------------------------------------------------------
So, how young is too young for a college coach to offer a kid and his family a college scholarship? I say it's never too young. That's a chance the college coach is taking assuming the kid will remain as competitive as he has been against his own competition. We'll see in like the Fall of 2012, when Michael arrives on campus in Lexington as the youngest "signee" Kentucky has ever recruited.
To hear Howard Avery describe it, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie knew nothing of his son when their paths happened to cross at a recent AAU basketball event. As fate would have it, though, that chance encounter led to a scholarship offer from the Wildcats and perhaps the earliest verbal commitment in the history of college basketball's winningest program.
Michael Avery, a 6-foot-4 eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., says he will play for the Cats. Now on with the business of finding a high school. "That's the funny thing," Howard Avery said with laugh. "We've got our college. Now we need our high school."
Avery currently attends Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks. He recently came east to interview with a private school in Culver, Ind., that he is considering attending next year. During that trip, the coach of Culver's upstart basketball program introduced the family to the Indiana Elite AAU staff, who subsequently invited Avery to play with their team in the King James tournament in Akron, Ohio.
According to Avery, Gillispie was scouting the event when the young player caught his eye. "The second game we played, coach Gillispie was there watching a couple of other players that he may have had an interest in," Avery said. "There was a 7-footer from Africa, a 6-10 player and a 6-8 player, so there were a lot of talented players at that game. I don't even think he was aware of Michael before this game.
"Michael came off the bench each half and had a good game against some really good competition. From what I understand, he displayed a total skill set and the basketball IQ to know when and where to use that skill set within the context of the game. I think that's what really impressed coach Gillispie."
Rules prohibit college coaches from initiating contact with prospects and their families at events like the King James tournament, but word was later filtered through the Indiana Elite staff that Gillispie was very impressed with Avery.
"So what I proceeded to do was make contact with coach Gillispie," Avery said. "I got a contact number for him and left him a message, but didn't hear back from him. I started wondering, does he really like my son? When I got in Los Angeles Monday morning, I decided to try again, and he answered the call. He told me he remembered my son, and that he was really glad that I called. He explained that he wasn't allowed to call me back, so it had to be me that initiated the call.
"We talked for a while and he said, 'I like your son. In fact, I like him so much I want to offer him a scholarship here at Kentucky.' I was like, 'You're joking, right?' He said, 'Nope. I'm serious. I really love the way he plays." When he told his son about the UK scholarship offer, the first official offer Michael Avery had received, it was difficult to restrain the excitement.
"I think Michael wanted to commit right then," Avery said. "But this is all so new to us, and I'm aware of the unusual nature of an eighth-grader giving a commitment to a college. I wasn't really sure how to react to it at first. A lot of people will say it's too early in the process, but after talking to some people who know coach Gillispie, we decided it really can't get much better than this opportunity.
"It's a dream school for any kid who grows up wanting to play basketball. There's only a few of them out there: Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Indiana back east; UCLA out here. If you've got an opportunity to play for one of those schools and get a great education, why not? We don't need a hundred offers; we just need one great program and one great coach."
Avery had also been getting early interest from USC, who according to his father had invited him to the Trojans' elite camp this summer. Several other programs were just beginning to inquire about him. Family ties could make it easier for Avery to see himself playing in this part of the country. His mother is from Indiana, and his grandmother still lives near Indianapolis.
The elder Avery said he is not a diehard fan of college basketball, but his son is. "Michael's a student of the game. When he's not playing or studying, he's watching basketball. That's his life. He's really passionate about it. He must have watched about 12 Kentucky games last year. He knew all about them."
And what does the family know about Gillispie and his coaching style thus far?
"We just know that he's been really, really successful no matter where he's been," Avery said. "The turnaround at UTEP and the turnaround at Texas A&M... they speak for themselves. He's got a tremendous track record, and everyone we've talked to about coach Gillispie have nothing but great things to say about him. We know he's a coach who can develop Michael's game and get the most out of his ability."
Much can change in a player's body and physical development between the eighth grade and his senior year of high school. Avery could end up being much taller and developing into another position, but his father said the UK staff envisions him as a combo guard at this point.
Rivals.com does not rank players at such an early age, but some services list Avery among the top 10 players in his class. "He was ranked third in the U.S. Elite Camp at Baylor," Avery said. "And he was ranked eighth at the Junior All-American Camp.
"But, you know, I don't think coach Gillispie was aware of any of that. He just saw my kid play. There's something to be said for that. He's not going based on what anyone has told him or where some website has Michael ranked. He saw his ability and potential himself. I really respect it."
The Averys have not made a final decision on his high school future. If he does not come to Indiana, he will likely play for Crespi High School in the L.A. area.
"No matter where he is, he's got a lot of motivation now," Avery said. "He's going to be working really hard to improve his game because he knows a lot will be expected of him when word gets out that he's going to a school like Kentucky.
---------------------------------------------------------
So, how young is too young for a college coach to offer a kid and his family a college scholarship? I say it's never too young. That's a chance the college coach is taking assuming the kid will remain as competitive as he has been against his own competition. We'll see in like the Fall of 2012, when Michael arrives on campus in Lexington as the youngest "signee" Kentucky has ever recruited.
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