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Article from the Fayetteville Online, mentioning that Randolph Morris may be taking a more serious look at the NBA than he has led on in previous statements. I've said it here all along - the NBA will get bigger and bigger for him. You could see it as his senior year progressed. And remember, the NBA does not draft based on talent. What, you say???? They draft on potential, not current talent. And of course Morris has loads of potential..... and 7 feet of verticality. As the cliche goes, you can't coach that. So does that mean he IS going pro? No, just that my guess is that it is becoming more and more of a possibility. My gut feeling for odds is 40% GT, 40% NBA, 20% UK. Of course I don't know squat, just a feeling.
This mock-draft has Randolph Morris being picked in thed 2nd round (34th overall pick).
Also notice in the article mention of three guys being recruited by the Jackets for next season - Bobby Frasor, Casaan Breeden and Jermonte Bush.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Hoops Recruiting
Early Football Recruiting
Three guys who are hearing from GT: (story here).
Clemson is checking out several players from Peach County High in Fort Valley, Ga. Heading the group is linebacker Darius Dewberry (6-4, 220). The Tigers also are showing interest in running back Tony Wright (5-11, 185) and defensive lineman Larry Cox (6-6, 251). Dewberry had 63 tackles and six sacks last season. Wright rushed for 2,155 yards and 20 touchdowns. Cox had 42 tackles last season. The three also are hearing from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Alabama and Auburn.
Jim Calhoun - the outspoken one
FoxSports.com story on Calhoun and his ability to fire off verbal shots.
Where are they now - Scott Wolf
Former Jacket Wolf, who transferred to UCF is giving up football for health reasons. (story here).......... Also note in the article that UCF could have their first game televised on ESPN............. To see how Coach O'Leary is settling into his UCF job, click here. Looks like some things never change.
Was last year rock-bottom for GT Sports
This writer thinks so (story here). Let's hope all the sports on are an upswing. We know hoops is there and for all the ups-and-downs in football last year, it exceeded most people's expectations also. Right now, the beesball is underperforming based on expectations, but the season is not over and there is time....
Zam "Buck" Fredrick and Jeremis Smith team up
... for the Pittsburgh Hoops World Classic. These guys will be part of the "USA All-Stars". Should be some fun for those guys (story here).
The St.John's Soap Opera might come to a close
Here is an article outlining what might happend. The thing that shocked me the most - Perry Clark of Miami had a $2million buyout clause in his contract - wow. (story here)........... Meanwhile, here is a little bit on the Miami job.
Picture of Jackets at the Braves
Haven't found a picture of the team with Sosa, but here they are with Chipper, who caught Coach Hewitt's first pitch.
from the AJC:
Have I said it enough? The ACC will be TOUGH next year in hoops
Another story on the possibility of 5 top 10 teams.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Beesball Team wins series over UNC
Top 10 UNC goes down, as the Jackets win 2 of 3, beating them today 13-8. (story here). The Jackets score 7 or more runs for the 10th consecutive game........ The team is going to have to keep this momentum going to keep their post-season hopes alive.
Where are they now - Tony Hargrove
.... visited "Ram's Park" this past weekend. (story here).
Hargrove displayed very good pass rush skills in his first two seasons at Georgia Tech, but was academically ineligible for the 2003 season, and then decided to turn pro. Based on a strong workout, Hargrove has intrigued several teams. He is 6 feet 3 and 269 pounds and was clocked as fast as 4.64 seconds in the 40.
Coach Hewitt and team throws out first pitch
... and they were joined in the picture by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa:
Georgia Tech basketball coach Paul Hewitt threw out Saturday night's first pitch to Jones, then much to the delight of the Yellow Jackets, Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa joined them for a photo.
Patrick Carter is back, and impressing Coach Gailey
Well, based on this story, he has been very impressive in his return since dislocating his knee, and should push Ball the rest of the spring. Toughness and durability seem to be his primary issues.
Recruiting - Anthony Morrow
If the sting of the loss to UConn has not worn off yet, then looking ahead to next year should make you feel better. Let's talk about Anythony Morrow. This guy is probably the most underrated guy in our class. A special young man, spiritual, respectful, incredibly coachable, a team player, athletic (can light it up from outside and also won a dunk contest recently). He was just named the Charlotte Observor Boys Player of the Year. He is 6'6", 180lb, a figures to be the hier apparent to Marvin Lewis, only more athletic.
For a GREAT article on this young man, click here (subscription required, but well worth it). Here are a couple of quotes from the article:
"I knew where my heart was telling me to go," said Morrow, a 6-foot-5 senior guard who repeats today as The All-Observer player of the year and is also Mr. Basketball in North Carolina. "And it's a blessing to come in and play for a team that just made the Final Four."
Morrow, who led Latin to consecutive N.C. 3A Independent School championships, said he couldn't remember being as excited about watching a game as he was for the Yellow Jackets' NCAA regional championship win against Kansas last month.
"I just couldn't believe it," he said. "I sat there and watched and everything (Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt) talked about, how they play and everything. I could see it in that game. Everything he promised was going to happen I could see. I really feel like everything's going to work out eventually now and I'm more excited than ever about going down there."
Picture from Charlotte Observer
MORROW YEAR BY YEAR
Freshman: 5.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 50 FG, 75 FT, team: 21-9
Sophomore: 21.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 52 FG; 85 FT; team 26-3
Junior: 23.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg; 51 FG; 85 FT; team 26-1
Senior: 22.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 56 FG; 84 FT; team 27-4
You just have to love what Coach Hewitt is doing at GT, bringing these type of young men. Outstanding. GO JACKETS!!!!
The Wonderlic Test
Every NFL prospect has to take this standardized intelligence test. Our own Nat Dorsey made the "honor roll" scoring a 35 out of a maximum 50. A 21 is considered average intelligence, 14 is considered unskilled labor, and the average NFL prospect is in the range of 19. So Nat scored quite well.
Now check out our new "brothers" at Miami. If you add up Kellen Winslow (12), Carlos Joseph (7) and Sean Taylor (10), you get a grand total of 29, a grand total of 6 points below what Nat Dorsey did all by himself. Wow, Miami is sure going to ruin the bell curve of the ACC, no doubt.
For the full story, click here.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Where are they now - Stewart Cink
Cink is hanging around after the 3rd round, finishing the day at even par (story here).
Robert Brooks writes his final diary entry
A classy journal write-up and good to see the support for the team in SA. (Journal here).
UK biased story on Morris
Found this (story here). Obviously slanted towards UK, but worth posting.
Morris still likely to land at UK
Scott Hagerman, Commentary
04/10/04
Messenger-Inquirer
Randolph Morris is a patient man. And that's driving a lot of University of Kentucky basketball fans crazy.
The 6-foot-11, 270-pound McDonald's All-American has yet to announce where he'll play collegiate basketball next season -- or if he'll bypass college and jump straight to the National Basketball Association.
It's become increasingly less likely he'll make the jump to the pros. So that leaves Georgia Tech and Kentucky battling to secure his services.
Many Wildcat fans are nervous Georgia Tech's recent Final Four appearance has given them an edge in the recruiting battle. But a big contributor to the Yellow Jackets' success was the play of 7-1 junior center Luke Schenscher.
That means Morris is looking at a backup role next season if he decides to stay in Georgia, and that scenario rarely sits well with NBA-caliber talents.
Kentucky fans should also feel good about the fact Morris has waited so long to announce his intentions, since players who intend to stay close to home don't usually wait so long to commit.
That was a primary reason many UK supporters kept believing Joe Crawford was leaning toward UK over Michigan when he remained undecided past the most recent signing period. And they were proven correct when the Detroit product verbally committed to the Wildcats.
Kentucky also has scholarship issues that may be a factor in Morris waiting to announce.
The Wildcats currently have no scholarships available. But that could quickly change when the spring semester ends next month.
Bernard Coté is believed to be the most likely candidate to transfer -- and, thus, open up a scholarship -- while Brandon Stockton and Josh Carrier have also been mentioned as players possibly looking at their options.
Stockton would seem the most logical to depart. He often seemed overwhelmed this past season, and with two McDonald's All-Americans -- Rajon Rondo and Crawford -- along with highly-touted Ramel Bradley and Western Kentucky transfer Patrick Sparks joining the backcourt rotation, his prospects for playing time appear dim.
If no one transfers, Kentucky may still have a chance at Morris. His father was quoted as saying it's possible he could walk-on with the Wildcats.
But expecting a player of Morris' potential to walk-on could be stretching reality.
What has been lost in the Morris sweepstakes is that Kentucky isn't as desperate to land a big man as many seem to believe.
Sheray Thomas is an inch shorter than Erik Daniels, but showed the potential to be an upgrade on the boards. And while he's not as polished offensively as Daniels, he showed the ability to get good looks, as he shot 59 percent from the field last year. Seven-footer Lukasz Obrzut also figures to be improved.
And neither Thomas or Obrzut will need to give the Wildcats the scoring Daniels provided, with Chuck Hayes capable of raising his offensive output, Kelenna Azubuike a potential 20-point scorer and Sparks a good bet to be more offensive-minded than Cliff Hawkins.
So the Wildcats aren't depending on landing Morris. But having him in the blue-and-white would certainly make the future brighter.
Draft Notes on Football
From the Chargers Page:
On Nat Dorsey:
"Players are supposed to improve throughout their college career. If that were the case, Nat Dorsey would be right up there with Robert Gallery as the top OT in this class. As a freshman, Dorsey won first team All ACC honors and capped off a brilliant year by dominating Julius Peppers in his bowl game. He has great size at 6’7” 322 pounds with the quickness and athleticism to play LT at a high level. What happened? Dorsey has displayed frustrating inconsistency at the college level and regressed as a player. While Gallery has dedicated himself to become as technically sound as any OT to come out of college in a long time, Dorsey is a lazy player who relies on his tools. Talent wise, Dorsey compares favorably with Cincinnati’s Levi Jones when he became the 10th pick out of Arizona State. His upside is immense if a coach can get through to him. He would be a slight reach in round 2 and a calculated risk in round 3." - Rob Curtis
On Daryl Smith:
"In my opinion, the most underrated LB in the draft is Daryl Smith out of Georgia Tech. There are players who simply know how to play the game. You watch them and realize that they do the work in the film room and put a lot of effort into their preparation. It manifests itself in the form of big plays and a high level of consistency. While the LB's from Miami and Florida State receive a lot of publicity, Smith is the best LB in this draft (though Jonathan Vilma will give him a run for his money). He is a little undersized at 6-2, 234 pounds, but the guy is a good interior run defender with the mobility to play sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage. Daryl Smith is a throwback and a guy who I would welcome on my team." - Rob Curtis
The 49ers have shown interest in Tony Hargrove (story here).