| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug |
09/29/97 - Looks like I've got egg on my face (isn't the first time and won't be the last. remember I am talking about the recruitment of 17 and 18 year old kids. it's fun, but not an exact science.). On September 14th I reported that Mobile, Alabama basketball player Sam Haganis had verbally committed to play ball with Indiana. According to Sunday's Birmingham News, Sam has verbally committed to Alabama over Vandy, Indiana, Wake Forest, LSU and Auburn. If this turns out to be correct, Alabama got a great student (A student), a great person and the number 1 senior basketball player in Alabama.
09/26/97 - Here's an excellent SportsOnly article about New England prep school basketball. It mentions future MSU signee Tyrus Boswell.
09/26/97 - Miss State has 3 scholarships available for the upcoming recruiting season. Tyrus Boswell will get one. Ontario Harper and David Sanders are very iffy grade-wise so I expect them to be placed somewhere. Robert Jackson, a consensus National Top 25 power forward from Milwaukee, WI., is a solid possibility since we have made his final four (Colorado, Virginia, Villanova and MSU). The final scholarship is completely up in the air at this time. I have heard several names talked about, but I have a feeling it will be a surprise recruit. Just a hunch.
09/26/97 - Former Bulldog great Darryl Wilson scored 46 points in his last game. For those of you who don't already know it, Darryl is playing in a pro league in Iceland.
BTW, take a look at my Q & A page if you would like to offer your opinion on who you feel would be the best choice as MSU's new Assistant Basketball Coach. I think former Bulldog George Brooks would be a good choice.
09/26/97 - A source of mine had the opportunity to watch several members of the MSU basketball team play a pickup game recently. Here are some of his observations:
Detrick White is the real deal. He made 3-pointers from everywhere. He shot about 75% from 3-pt range in this pickup game. He also looks to be a leader on the floor.
Trey Moore still can take it up the floor and score.
Oral Roberts is very good and can jump.
Tyrone Washington needs to get more physical.
Tang Hamilton will be starting soon.
Marckell Patterson impressed my source the most, because he hits shots, played good defense and is a solid player.
09/24/97 - The best basketball coaching staff in the SEC has lost one of it's coaches. MSU Assistant Basketball Coach Owen Miller has resigned to take the primary recruiting job at The University of Texas at San Antonio. First, I want to congratulate Owen on been hired by San Antonio State as their chief recruiter. They have made a wise choice since Owen has learned from the best, Rick Stansberry. Second, I want you to know all Bulldog fans, especially all of us Babe McCarthy Tip-Off Club members, will miss you tremendously Owen. You will always be a member of the MSU Bulldog family. Good luck Owen.
09/24/97 - Todd Myles Profile: Todd is the perfect point guard. He is very unselfish, sees the court extremely well, has a knack for getting the ball in the hands of a player at precisely the second he gets open, outstanding passer and dribbler, will shoot better than people expect, runs the floor very well, very quick.
09/18/97 - If you haven't received your MSU Basketball season ticket application yet, look for it in your mailbox in the next two or three days. I received mine in the mail yesterday. Before some of you start worrying about why you haven't received yours yet, remember, I'm only 30+ miles from MSU.
09/17/97 - Here are some Recruiting USA comments about Robert Jackson, the 6-8 PF from Milwaukee, WI that MSU is recruiting:
"....has been a force at every venue. The power forward will have home visits with Temple, Clemson, Villanova, Colorado, and Mississippi State."
"....played well at addidas/ABCD, slowly pounding his opponents into submission with his relentless power moves to the basket. Jackson knows one direction--wherever the rim is--and with his body and toughness, he is very successful, as shown by the huge number of fouls he draws."
09/16/97 - Guess what outstanding Mississippi High School Basketball Head Coach was at the LSU-MSU basketball game? The one and only Lanier High School coach Thomas Billups. He also had a couple of players with him.
To the person who emailed me this info, I tried to email you my thanks, but it wouldn't go through. Email me with your email address in the body of your letter. Maybe that will help.
09/15/97 - There has been some talk that Tyrone Washington will be declaring for the draft after his junior year. Not true. Tyrone, according to a reliable source who talked to him several times this past summer, wants to be at State his senior year because he feels the team is going to be something special and he wants to be a part of it.
BTW, I heard at the game the first preseason basketball publication is out. We are ranked 3rd in the Western Division. Not ranked on the national scene. Ole Miss is picked to win the West and are ranked 18th nationally.
Don't forget if you want to see a Midnight Madness this year, email Coach Williams by way of an email to Coach Miller.
09/14/97 - Ontario Harper unofficially visited Miss State for the second week in a row. Yours truly saw him at the game and I was told by one of my sources he was at last week's game also.
09/14/97 - This year's preseason Alabama Player-of-the-Year, Sam Haginas, a Power Forward from Mobile, Alabama, has committed to Indiana. As far as I know, this has not been released to the news media. You ask how in the world do you know this Gene? Suffice it to say, I have sources in every state in the southeast. Who might these sources be you ask? Look in a mirror, my friends. Each one of you are the providers of info for this page. What is the significance of this commitment you ask? For the third year in a row, the University of Alabama has lost out on the top player in Alabama. And for all of you MSU fans who thought we were after him, we weren't, because, my sources tell me, we are after much better players than him. You know who I mean: Tyrus Boswell, Alabama's best last year, and Robert Jackson, one of this year's national top 20 players and at least one other big man whose name I have as yet not uncovered. As I have stated several times before, if the recruiting firm of Stansbury, Carter and Miller really want a player, forget it, it is almost a lock they will get him. Anybody ready for Midnight Madness? Well, if you are send your emails to Coach Richard Williams' attention via an email to Coach Owen Miller. Hopefully, he will pass them on to Coach Williams. If we want MM, we have to make the effort to get it. DO YOUR PART!
09/11/97 - Looks like the recruiting firm of Stansbury, Carter and Miller is at it again. I found out through sources that Miss State had one of the top Forward/Centers in the nation on campus this past weekend. Robert Jackson, a 6-9, 245 pounder from Milwaukee, WI, is considered the 20th best player in the nation according to Recruiter's Handbook. Here's a little info on him: he is an outstanding shooter, very good hands, passes very well and runs the floor well. What are our chances? I wish I knew, but at least he made a visit. That's a start wouldn't you think?
09/11/97 - Detrick White Profile: One of the five best guards in the country last year (Juco or senior college), according to MISSISSIPPI HOOPS' Kevin Henderson. Has the total package, according to sources who have seen him play; great athlete, can make shots from anywhere, excellent passer (played 2G and PG at Conners State), exceptional speed, tremendous dribbler. According to sources who saw him play at Conners State, he loves to defend and because of this, plus his exceptional athletic ability, he is an excellent defender. Does this whet your appetite enough to cause you to email Coach Miller with your request for a Midnight Madness? Watch for another player profile next week.
09/11/97 - Here's some info I received via email a couple of days ago: Jerry Tipton's column in Tuesday's KentuckyConnect says MSU will have an in-house visit with J.R. Van Hoose on Sunday. He would go to KY in a heartbeat, but they have backed off. J. R., who is 6-10, 222-lbs and fully qualified, is rated the 17th best player in the nation by Recruiter's Handbook.
09/09/97 - I don't know about you guys, but I would really like to see a Midnight Madness this year. Practice starts on October 18th, a Saturday. No school, no work, so we all should be able to make it and sleep late the next morning. If you are interested, email Coach Miller by clicking here. To help persuade you to contact Coach Miller about Midnight Madness, I will be posting a little info on several of the players starting this week. I will gather all the info I have received on each player and write a little synopsis about each one of them.
09/04/97 - Former Bulldog Marcus Bullard signed with Auburn-Montgomery, an NAIA school in Montgomery, Alabama.