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NCAAB; Recruiting: Carson’s College Plan Coming Together
Point guard Mesa, Arizona Mesa AAU: Compton Magic Ht:5'10" Wt:170 lbs GPA:2.9 Class:2011 (High School)
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jahii Carson de-committed from Oregon State earlier this month in part because he wanted to see which other schools would get involved and in only a few weeks things have taken off for the Mesa, Ariz., point guard.
It’s going just as Carson planned.
California, UNLV, Arizona, Oklahoma and Butler are some of the new programs involved with Carson, who finished with 16 points and at least eight assists in Compton Magic’s win against Organized Chaos Saturday at the Pangos Sweet 16.
Corona (Calif.) Centennial guard Mike Caffey had 18 points and Gabe York, a 2012 standout from Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, added 12 points. Memphis, Marquette, Arizona State and Washington have reached out to Carson as well.
“After de-committing, I was hoping Pac-10 and Big East schools would start to come, up-tempo schools, and what I thought was going to happen is happening,” said Carson, who plans to visit Arizona in early May.
“I started getting contact from schools that I wanted and the schools I was looking at but I still like Oregon State so I’m still trying to keep all the schools in the loop. I just want to keep my options open going into the spring and summer. I want to keep all my options open. I don’t want to give any school an edge over any other school.”
Despite backing away from his Oregon State pledge, Carson said the Beavers are still being considered especially since he has such a strong relationship with assistant coach David Grace.
“They’re still really in it,” Carson said. “They come see me whenever they can. Coach Grace still calls (Compton Magic coach) Etop (Udo-Ema) and I talk to him pretty much every day. I love him. He’s kind of like an uncle. He wants me for more than just basketball. He wants to help me become a young man.”
NCAAB; Recruiting: Selby to Kansas? That’s the sign
Point guard Baltimore, Maryland Lake Clifton AAU: Baltimore Elite Ht:6'2" Wt:183 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
Fortunately, Selby is one of a host of players planning to announce his decision Saturday at the Jordan Brand Classic. Which way is he leaning? It was difficult to believe Selby would want to attend Kentucky now that he’d be stuck alongside Knight, but then again, Calipari not only got Eric Bledsoe and John Wall to work, he landed both of them in the NBA draft. Anything was possible. But, thanks to a column on John Calipari’s recruitment by SI’s always-excellent Luke Winn, we now have a pretty good idea of where Selby isn’t going: Kentucky.
When I asked Selby for his reaction on Knight, he said, “I didn’t know that it happened. I don’t have a reaction, because it doesn’t have any effect on where I’m going.”
What he meant by it not having any effect on him is that he feels he’s good enough to earn time in any backcourt, whether it be alongside Knight or the Jayhawks’ Tyshawn Taylor. But one could sense that Selby, who’s going to announce his college choice at halftime of Saturday’s Jordan game, wasn’t too interested in Kentucky. He mentioned that while he’d spoken with Kansas coach Bill Self a few days earlier, he hadn’t spoken with Calipari in a couple of months.
I asked if I should take that as a sign. Selby said, “Yeah, that’s a sign.”
Winn’s column has a lot more to do with Calipari than Selby; the theory here is that we’re focusing a bit too much of Kentucky’s spring recruiting haul and ignoring the host of very good players — Duke recruit Kyrie Irving, for one — that will have a much larger effect on the 2010 game than will either Knight or Kentucky’s other bigtime recruit, Enes Kanter. This is true.
Here’s another question worth asking: Is John Calipari perhaps relying too much on landing really good, really high-profile, really temporary recruits? Winn quotes Cal lamenting what would have happened if he could have kept this year’s team for three years. Bummer, right? There’s not much you can do except recruit the best players and hope they stay for more than eight months. But part of building a program is in finding those Robert Dozier anchor types — guys that are really good and can start for your elite team but that aren’t going to leave for the NBA after one year. Calipari has build those teams before. He hasn’t had enough time at Kentucky, but no doubt he’s working on it.
Anyway, rambling thoughts aside, Josh Selby appears headed to Kansas. At the very least, he won’t be forming Bledsoe-Wall 2.0 in Kentucky’s backcourt anytime soon. And so the dominoes continue to fall.
Selby said his mother, Maeshon Witherspoon, already has a strong opinion on the matter.
“I think my mom knows where she wants me to go, so she knows. But I just want to sit down by myself and think about it,” he said.
Point guard Brandon Knight of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Pine Crest announced Wednesday that he will attend Kentucky, but Selby said that decision would not necessarily impact his.
“I didn’t wait for him to commit,” Selby said. “I was going to commit here. I wasn’t waiting for Brandon to commit, Cory [Joseph] to commit because it don’t have [any] effect on which school I want to go to.”
NCAAB; Recruiting: DORON LAMB HEADED TO KENTUCKY
Shooting guard Mouth of Wilson, Virginia Oak Hill Academy AAU: New York Gauchos Ht:6'4" Wt:175 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
If you missed it on National Signing Day, John Calipari is rebuilding another monster at Kentucky. Right after five of his underclassmen went pro, he immediately landed Brandon Knight, the top senior PG in the country, and Michael Gilchrist, maybe the top player period in the 2011 junior class. In addition to them, Calipari has two blue chip commits in swingman Stacey Poole and Turkish big man Enes Kanter. It’s time to add one more. While All-American senior shooting guard Doron Lamb is formally announcing his decision tomorrow at the Jordan Brand Classic, we already know what it’s going to be. Doron Lamb is headed to Kentucky.
Choosing Kentucky over finalists Kansas, UConn, Arizona and West Virginia, we have confirmation from multiple sources that Lamb’s decision came down to the Wildcats and the Jayhawks, with him ultimately choosing to play next season in Lexington.
“I have a top five of Arizona, UConn, Kansas, Kentucky and West Virginia,” Lamb said.
But Doron said St. John’s came in “too late” to be considered.
After the former Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) standout spent the last two seasons at Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), the New York native is making the right decision to head to Kentucky. Calipari, along with assistants Rod Strickland and Orlando Antigua, are new York guys, and Strickland is also an Oak Hill alumnus. The three of them paid a visit to Lamb at school last week and also met with his parents in New York.
At 6-4, 185 pounds, Lamb will fit in perfectly alongside Knight in the backcourt – akin to Eric Bledsoe playing alongside John Wall. And depending on where the chips fall, he could also be playing with explosive guard Josh Selby, who will also be announcing his decision tomorrow at the Jordan Brand Classic.
“I don’t even know, man. I think it’s too late,” he said. “They tried to reach out to me at Oak Hill. They talked to my parents, but I don’t know what happened with them. I think it’s too late.”
A Queens, N.Y. native, Lamb won MVP honors last August at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game at the Gauchos Gym and hopes to have a similar performance on Saturday.
“Every time I play in New York City in an All-Star Game I always have a good game so I hope I have a good game this Saturday coming up,” he said. “I just want to play in front of my family and friends for the last time in a high school game.”
NCAAM: Recruiting: McCallum, B. Knight, Zeigler to announce Wed. (4/14)
Ray McCallum, Trey Zeigler, & Brandon Knight to Announce their Commitment on ESPNU Signing Day Special
Trey Zeigler
Shooting guard Mount Pleasant, Michigan Mount Pleasant Ht:6'4" Wt:185 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
Mt. Pleasant High School senior basketball star Trey Zeigler announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he will announce his college basketball plans on Wednesday live on ESPNU.
The time of his announcement is expected to be around 4:45 p.m. and will coincide with the network’s coverage of National Signing Day for college basketball.
Along with his television announcement, Zeigler will hold a press conference on Thursday at 9 a.m. from Mt. Pleasant High School to sign his Letter of Intent and make things official.
Zeigler has left five schools as possible destinations. Those schools are Central Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan, UCLA, and Arizona State.
Rivals.com ranks Zeigler as the 26th best prospect in the country for this year’s recruiting class and he is ranked the fourth best shooting guar in the country for this class.
Mt. Pleasant guard Trey Zeigler, one of the nation’s top uncommitted basketball players, will play his college basketball at Central Michigan, the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and thewolverine.com reported today, citing unnamed sources.
Ray McCallum
Point guard Detroit, Michigan Country Day AAU: Team Detroit Ht:6'1" Wt:175 lbs Class:2010 (High School
Detroit Country Day School point guard Ray McCallum Jr., recruited by Arizona, Detoit Mercy, UCLA and Florida, will announce his decision Wednesday at 1 p.m., Tucson time, on ESPNU.
Most believe he will choose between Arizona and Detroit. Ray McCallum Sr. is the coach at Detroit and there is a high possibility that he’ll sign on to play with his father.
Brandon Knight
One of the best-kept secrets in high school basketball will be revealed Wednesday.
Pine Crest senior Brandon Knight will finally sign a college letter-of-intent live on ESPNU’s Signing Day Special Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Pine Crest Auditorium.
It’s expected Knight will sign with either Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky or Syracuse.
Point guard Ft Lauderdale, Florida Pine Crest AAU: Team STAT & Southeast Elite Ht:6'3" Wt:185 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
He finished his career as Broward County’s leading scorer with 3,515 career points — second in Florida history behind Cape Coral Mariner’s Teddy Dupay’s 3,744.
Knight, who averaged a career-best 31.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists this past season, is a finalist for Gatorade’s Male High School Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented in July prior to the ESPY Awards.
NCAAM: Recruiting: St. John’s Reaches out to Doron Lamb
ZAGSBLOG first reported during the Final Fourthat St. John’s coach Steve Lavin would reach out to Oak Hill Academy guard Doron Lamb and now it has come to pass.
Calvin Lamb, Doron’s father, said Lavin called him shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday to express interest in Lamb, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard ranked among the top five nationally in the Class of 2010.
“I just got off the phone with Coach Lavin like five minutes ago,” Calvin said
He just talked about the style of play that Doron could come in and start and be a floor general and be a good fit with the nine seniors that they have. He could be the one player that could get them over the hump to the NCAA tournament.”
Calvin said no meeting with Lavin had been set and that he had to huddle with Doron before making any future plans.
“I gotta talk to my son,” he said.
Lamb, a Queens, N.Y. native, originally said he would announce his college choice Saturday at the Jordan Brand Classic in New York and would choose from among Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, UConn and West Virginia.
“This morning Ron and his father asked for their official release from St. John’s,” St. Peter’s Prep coach Mike Kelly said. “That was subsequent to a meeting [Monday] night with the coaching staff at St Peter’s Prep and his family. We were concerned that St. John’s coaching staff had no familiarity with Ron and it was in our best interest to move on.”
NCAAF: Recruiting: Cats Get Start on 2011 Class Transfer joins football team along with mid-year juco signees…
The Arizona football recruiting class of 2011 got off to an early start when noted Big 12 receiver Dan Buckner transferred for the spring term and is enrolling in classes this week.
Buckner, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, caught 49 passes in his first two years at the University of Texas.
An Allen. Texas, High School product who earned a starting nod in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he played as a true freshman for the Longhorns in 2008 and started seven contests in 2009. He has 26 games’ playing experience, with 526 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions.
Buckner will have to sit out the 2010 season and will have two years of eligibility beginning in 2011.
Meantime, UA’s initial 2010 newcomers, mid-year junior college transfers Derek Earl and Paul Vassallo, both linebackers, are settling into the off-season conditioning program and readying for their first spring when both are expected to push for starting roles. UA lost all three starting linebackers to graduation – Xavier Kelley, Vuna Tuihalamaka and Sterling Lewis.
Earls and Vassallo signed letters of intent in the December signing period. UA will sign its full 2010 class Feb. 3.
“Derek and Paul should be key for us in 2010 as we transition under new defensive coordinators Tim Kish and Greg Brown. They appear to be physically ready for Pac-10 play and we’ll get a quick look in spring ball,” said Coach Mike Stoops.
“Dan’s a proven player who will help us, and we’re glad to bring him into the program,” Stoops said. “His championship experience is something we can count on.“
Derek Earls – Linebacker – 6-3, 230, Junior – Waconia, Minn. (North Dakota State College)
Outside linebacker Wahpeton, North Dakota North Dakota State College of Science Ht:6'4
Enrolled at Arizona in January… First-team NJCAA honors as sophomore… First-team All-Midwestern Conference both years… SuperPrep Juco 100… Two-time MFC-West first-team all-region… 108 tackles, among Region 13 leaders, including 14 for losses, a sack and a forced fumble in 2009… 96 tackles as a junior, with 10 TFL and two sacks… Earned JCFootball.com preseason All-American defense second team entering his final juco year… Minneapolis Star-Tribune All-Metro RB/LB as a Waconia High School senior… Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game June 2008… 2007 AP All-State second-team honors as running back… Recruited by UA coach Tim Kish…
Paul Vassallo – Linebacker – 6-3, 240, Junior – Reno, Nev. (Sierra Community College)
Enrolled at Arizona in January… SuperPrep Juco 100… JCFootball preseason juco All-America… Missed seven 2009 games after a concussion, playing in four games and netting 16 tackles…
Outside linebacker Roseville, California Sierra C.C. Ht:6'3" Wt:230 lbs 40:4.65 secs Bench Max:320 Class:2010 (Junior College - Dec Grad)
Began at Nevada redshirting as a true freshman in 2007 but transferred to Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif. .. Recorded 87 tackles and 14 1/2 sacks and forcing five fumbles in his first season in 2008, All-Valley Conference first-team honors and all-California juco honors… Had three-sack game to earn J.C.Gridwire northern California player of the week honor in Sept. 2008… Prepped at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno… Team captain senior year… Second-team all-state as linebacker… Caught 11 passes for 157 yards and two TD in 2006 as a tight end, with 72 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions… Son of Pamela and the late Ben Vassallo… Born in Reno… Recruited by coach Jeff Hammerschmidt...
Dan Bucker – Receiver – 6-4, 215, Junior – Allen, Texas (Allen/Texas)
Transfer from the University of Texas who enrolled in January 2010 and will have to sit out a season… Will compete in spring 2010 ball for the Cats… University of Texas letterman 2008-09… 
Appeared in 26 games at UT, catching 50 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns in his career… Seven starts in 2009, with 45 grabs for 442 yards and four scores… Played in 12 games as true freshman in 2008, catching five passes for 84 yards and two scores… Enrolled at UT in January ’08… Member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll in spring 2009… Career high three times: 6-86 receiving and a career-long 36-yard TD at Wyoming, matched high with 6-75 and a TD vs. Texas Tech, and 6-71 vs UTEP with career-best two TDs… Allen, Texas, High School, 2008… First-team 5A all-state selection by The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior … First-team All-District 9-5A and all-area … Started in the 2008 U.S. Army All-America Bowl and tallied three catches for 28 yards, including a nine-yard TD … First-team member of Dave Campbell’s Super Team … Three-year letterman and starter at wide receiver who helped his team to a 23-3 record over his last two seasons … Posted 2,511 yards on 146 receptions (17.2 ypc) and 33 TDs during his career … Helped lead the Allen Eagles to a 10-1 record and a second-straight district title by pulling in 53 receptions for 1,012 yards (19.1 ypc) and 17 TDs as a senior… .First-team all-district 9-5A and all-area honors as a junior … had 72 catches for 1,154 yards (16.0 ypc) and 13 TDs, while helping his team to the district championship and a 13-2 season … Second-team all-district as a sophomore … recorded 21 receptions for 345 yards (16.4 ypc) and three TDs … also participated in basketball as a freshman and sophomore…
NBA: Gilbert Arenas Wants to Cop a Plea
Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas and the U.S. Attorney are negotiating a plea bargain … law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
Our sources say Arenas’ lawyer and prosecutors are discussing a plea in which Arenas would cop to misdemeanor gun charges. We’re told a deal hasn’t been struck yet, but it could come as early as today.
Sources say the filing of charges would coincide with the plea, so it would all go down quickly. We do not know what they are discussing with respect to a sentence … the prosecutor would recommend a sentence but ultimately it’s the judge’s decision.
Arenas is under investigation for felony gun charges for the locker room incident last month.
As for what a plea would do to Arenas’ status as a member of the Washington Wizards, we’re told G.M. Ernie Grunfeld and Arenas were text messaging each other shortly after the incident. In one of the text messages, Grunfeld wrote that Arenas had violated his NBA contract which prohibits players from possessing a firearm in a team or league facility. As a result Grunfeld texted the team had a right to void his contract … worth $111 million.
Report; Arenas Owned Several ‘Hundred’ Guns
File with the “should we be surprised?” pile: WTOPreports today that disgraced Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has “owned several hundred guns,” but moved most of those firearms out of his Virginia home before he brought guns into the Verizon Center over a month ago. All of Arenas’s firearms were reportedly legally procured, but we’re not just talking about some run of the mill weaponry here: 
The guns turned over to police include a so-called ‘Dirty Harry Revolver’ and a gold-plated Desert Eagle — which is so big and has such a powerful recoil — no law enforcement agency uses them.
Yowza. Revelations like this surely can’t help Arenas while an investigation into his locker room confrontation with Javaris Crittenton is still ongoing. Sure enough, TMZ is quoting anonymous sources who say that Arenas is attempting to plead down to misdemeanor gun charges, a deal that could happen as early as today. Such charges might still carry jail time, but would certainly spare Arenas the multiple-year sentence which had been suggested after the story first broke.
NCAAM: Pac-10 may be down, but it offers fascinating conference title race
Bashing the Pac-10 has been a sport within a sport this season, but I’m here to tell you something that may surprise you: This is going to be the most fascinating race inside any of the big six conferences.
The first reason I say this is that this thing could not be more wide open. It appears that no fewer than six of the league’s 10 teams have a legitimate chance to win this thing — and I’m not even including UCLA, which may have a little life in them yet.
Then there are the intriguing storylines to tickle our fancy. Can USC still contend for a title even though it is not eligible for the postseason? Will Arizona, which is off to a 2-2 start in the league, keep its nation’s-best 25-year NCAA tournament streak alive? Inquiring minds want to know.
I realize calling a league race “wide open” is the same as calling it “mediocre,” but you have to admit, the early results have been pretty wacky. Based on the first week of action, the only thing you can predict is unpredictability. Struggling UCLA clipped California in Berkeley by one point on Michael Roll‘s late jumper. Stanford got waxed on the road at Cal by 26 points and then swept the L.A. schools at home. Oregon, led by always-on-the-hot-seat coach Ernie Kent, sat atop the standings after the first week with a 2-0 record, but then the Ducks lost on Sunday night at home to Oregon State. That’s the same Oregon State team that last week lost to Seattle by 51 points.
You can’t make this stuff up.
But the main reason this league is going to be must-see TV is because everybody knows that NCAA tournament bids are going to be hard to come by. Personally, I think three bids (including the automatic) is the minimum, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Pac-10 only puts two teams into the tournament. That will put a much greater urgency on finishing in the top tier that you won’t find in any of the other power conferences. And there’s nothing more fun than watching teams play that are desperate.
So keep bashing the Pac-10 all you want. Skip their late-night games and get your sleep. I, for one, plan to drink lots of coffee and set my DVR to catch as much of the action as I can. Who would have guessed that a bunch of games between mediocre west coast teams could be so much fun to watch?
NCAAM: Gaddy chats with ‘my favorite coach’
Minutes after enduring the harshest fan treatment of his basketball career, Abdul Gaddy walked out of the Washington Huskies locker room to talk to the coach for whom he always wanted to play.
Lute Olson chatted with the freshman guard for a few minutes, wishing him well after the 87-70 shellacking by the Wildcats.
“My favorite coach I ever watched in college basketball,” he said after walking away from the UA legend. “I was hoping to play for him, but I didn’t get the opportunity. It was great seeing him.” 
It was Gaddy’s first positive interaction with an Arizona fan all day — although he did finish with a career-high 13 points.
The Tacoma, Wash., high schooler committed to play for the UA in August 2007, and stayed committed during the season, despite Olson’s taking a leave of absence and being replaced by Kevin O’Neill. He decommitted in May 2008 after Olson returned and changed assistants, but committed again in September 2008.
Five days after Olson’s retirement in October 2008, however, Gaddy announced he wouldn’t play for the Wildcats after all.
UA fans remembered Sunday.
When Gaddy was introduced before the game, he was greeted by a cacophony of boos.
“I think it put a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I need to come out and play with my heart, really play hard.”
Every time he touched the ball the rest of the game, even late in the second half when the Wildcats were coasting to victory, Gaddy was booed. That never happened in high school, he said.
“I think the crowd respects me, and they’re trying to help the team out by trying to get in my head,” he said.
They didn’t. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding one rebound, one assist and three turnovers. UA coach Sean Miller said Gaddy “is going to be a terrific guard in our league,” and squirmed a bit when asked about the fan reaction.
“Our fans love the game, love the Wildcats and certainly appreciate what a good young player he is,” Miller said.
Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said the 6-foot-3-inch guard is improving after averaging 3.7 points per game this year.
“I thought that would have come a couple games ago,” he said. “That could have come at any point, and that’s why he’s a starter. We know what he’s capable of.”
Gaddy said it was surreal playing at McKale Center, where he once thought he would spend his college career.
“My teammates always say, ‘You coulda been playing here,’ ” he said. “It’s a fun environment, a great environment.
That‘s part of the reason why I wanted to come here. I think about it a lot.”
NCAAM: Doron Lamb Talks Arizona Visit; April Decision Looming
Shooting guard Mouth of Wilson, Virginia Oak Hill Academy AAU: New York Gauchos Ht:6'4" Wt:175 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
Oak Hill Academy guard Doron Lamb enjoyed his weekend visit to Arizona but says he likely won’t decide on a school until April.
“It was nice when I went out there,” the 6-foot-4 Lamb said Monday by phone. “It was hot. The team was good. I like the campus and everything and all that. I’m thinking about going there.”
Lamb saw the Wildcats fall to Washington State, 78-76, Friday night.
“They lost to Washington State on a buzzer-beater,” he said.
Lamb said Arizona coach Sean Miller told him he could come in and play 30-35 minutes a game in the backcourt and that Arizona had produced a large number of NBA players.
“He said I’d be playing the point,” Lamb said. “I could play 30-35 minutes and the ball would be in my hands.”
Arizona point guard Nic Wise is set to graduate this year, while Lamont “Momo” Jones, Lamb’s former Oak Hill teammate, is currently a freshman off guard.
Lamb also has a relationship with Arizona assistant Book Richardson but said that wouldn’t be a deciding factor for him.
“I’ve known him for a long time. He coached me in AAU,” Lamb said. “But that don’t mean anything (about a decision).”
Lamb is also considering Kentucky, Kansas, UConn and Oklahoma.
He said he was looking for “a good coaching staff, a winning program and somewhere that I feel like home and I feel comfortable.”
Asked when he might decide, Lamb said, “Probably April.”
Josh Selby, a combo guard out of Lake Baltimore (Md.) Clifton, came in on his Arizona visit after Lamb departed.
“He came in after I left. We’re cool,” he said.
Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star reported that Selby was on court at the McKale Center shooting threes an hour after Sunday’s win over Washington.
“I know the student section wasn’t here but it still seemed like a real good crowd,”Maeshon Witherspoon, Selby’s mom, told Pascoe: “We know they’re [the Wildcats] kind of young.”
Asked if the two could play together, Lamb said, “I have no idea.”
That‘s part of the reason why I wanted to come here. I think about it a lot.”
NCAAM: Doron Lamb Talks Recruiting
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Shooting guard Mouth of Wilson, Virginia Oak Hill Academy AAU: New York Gauchos Ht:6'4" Wt:175 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
Courtesy of Tim Brown and the folks at OregonLive.com, here’s an interview with Oak Hill guardDoron Lamb, who visits Arizona Jan. 7-9 and will watch the Wildcats host Washington State Friday.
“I’m talking to Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, Arizona and West Virginia right now,” he said. “I made four officials to Kansas, Kentucky, UConn and Oklahoma. I’m going on my last visit next week to Arizona.”
Watch highlights and listen in as we talk with Oak Hill Academy (VA) guard Doron Lamb about the development of his game, playing for Oak Hill and his college recruitment. Video by Tim Brown, OregonLive.com
Doron Lamb At Les Schwab InvitationalNCAAF: ‘Cats Narrowing Focus for Holiday Bowl
Photo Gallery: UA visits the San Diego Zoo
Dec. 27, 2009
Sunday featured a crisp two-hour practice and a trip to the San Diego Zoo as game day quickly approaches.
SAN DIEGO – The Arizona football team’s eventful stay in San Diego for the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl continued on Sunday, with the fourth practice in as many days in this beautiful city and a trip to the world famous San Diego Zoo.
The Wildcats turned in a crisp two-hour workout at the University of San Diego, one that Arizona coaches felt was the team’s best of the bowl season. With kickoff quickly approaching, the Wildcats treated today’s workout like a typical “Wednesday of game week” practice, with emphasis on fast-paced action on both sides of the ball to emulate game-speed repetitions.
“This was one of the best practices we’ve had,” head coach Mike Stoops told his players after practice. “We have to stay humble and remember what got us to this point. We’ve worked way too hard to not see this thing through. We have to keep our intensity and continue to prepare for a very physical football game.”
Video: Coach Mike Stoops after practice
At this point, three weeks removed the regular season finale at USC, the game plan for the Holiday Bowl is completely in place. Coaches will now begin the task of keeping players focused on the business aspect of the trip, which is, quite simply, preparing to win a football game.
This is not just any normal football game, however. This is the team’s second consecutive bowl appearance and a trip the second-most prestigious bowl game affiliated with the Pac-10 Conference. A win puts the Wildcats at 9-4 on season and firmly amongst the nation’s Top 20 teams in the rankings.
But, the Wildcats do not seem to be putting any added pressure on themselves. Players have soaked in the sights and sounds of San Diego without compromising their focus at practices and in team meetings. The coming days will be telling as bowl week events continue and kickoff nears.
Earlier today, Arizona players, coaches and support staff visited the San Diego Zoo. A two-hour visit to the park allowed players to relax their minds and take in one of the most popular attractions in the city.
A handful of players were given an up-close look at some of the zoo’s most unique animals including a few different cats. The Wildcats were tamed a bit by their real-life peers, particularly safety Robert Golden who made sure to keep a safe distance from the frisky felines. He was joined by Apai Tuihalamaka, Corey Hall,Marcus Benjamin, Brooks Reed, and Chula Vista native Taimi Tutogi.
Next up on the schedule of events will be the Navy and Marine Corps Luncheon on the USS Makin Island. Arizona and Holiday Bowl foe Nebraska will join members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aboard an active Naval vessel at 32nd Street, Naval Base San Diego for lunch, the presentation of the U.S. Grant Sharp Trophy and a tour of the ship.
Later in the day, the Wildcats return to practice to put the finishing touches on game preparations. Coaches were sure to let players know that the final tune-ups will be critical for Wednesday’s game.
“We have to stay focused on why we are here,” Stoops told the team. “We have to use our skill and diversity to win this game. We have to play well in all three phases of the game. When we have done that, we have been a very, very good team this season. The only way we do that is to practice, prepare and play as a team.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Qualcomm Stadium. The game can be seen live on ESPN.
NCAAF: Nebraska DT Suh named AP Player of the Year
NEW YORK (AP) —Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh bulled past the guys who play the glamour positions and proved you don’t have to score touchdowns or toss passes to be the player of the year.
Spurred by a dominant performance against Texas in the Big 12 title game, Suh became the first defensive player voted The Associated Press College Football Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Suh had already won two defensive player of the year awards — the Nagurski and Bednarik — and two for best lineman — the Lombardi and Outland. He also finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
“Just being recognized as player of the year is a huge accomplishment,” Suh said in a recent phone interview from Lincoln, Neb.
He received 26 of a possible 59 votes from AP college football poll voters to edge Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who received 20 votes.
Heisman winner Mark Ingram finished tied for third with Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, each getting six votes. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow received one vote.
Since the AP started handing out a player of the year award in 1998, all the winners have been quarterbacks or running backs.
“It’s a great choice,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. ” I give (the voters) a lot of credit. I’m not taking anything away from Ingram or McCoy or any of the other guys. I just think at his position, you would be hard-pressed to say there’s a better player than Suh. He’s had a tremendous year.”
It’s the fourth time the AP award went to a player other than the Heisman winner and first since Iowa quarterback Brad Banks beat out USC’s Carson Palmer in 2003.
Suh finished behind Ingram, Gerhart and McCoy in the Heisman voting, though he did receive more points than any fourth-place finisher in the 75-year history of the award.
Suh, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior, was already having an All-America-caliber season before the Cornhuskers played Texas on Dec. 5 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
He nearly led Nebraska to a stunning upset, with 12 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks. The Longhorns kicked a last-second field goal to escape with a 13-12 victory, but Suh was so utterly unblockable he earned a trip to New York as one of five finalists for the Heisman.
He finished the season with 12 sacks and was the pillar of the ninth-ranked defense in the country.
“I think I had a good year,” he said. “I definitely got better in a couple of areas. I won’t say I’m satisfied by any means, because we still have a big game left to play against Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.”
He’ll tell you he’s still learning to play the game.
“I haven’t played a perfect game yet so let’s try and see if I can do that against Arizona,” he said.
Suh got a relatively late start to football. Soccer and basketball were his thing growing up in Portland, Ore., the son of a Jamaican mother and father from Cameroon. His name means “House of Spears” in the language of the Ngema tribe.
But Suh literally outgrew soccer. His mother, Bernadette, was apprehensive about allowing her son to play football, but eventually gave her permission.
Ball carriers have been dealing with the repercussions of that decision ever since.
Suh went through some tough times in his first two seasons at Nebraska, being part of one of the worst defenses in school history in 2007. Then Pelini became the Huskers coach and Nebraska’s defense began to turn around with Suh leading the charge.
Physically, Suh is everything an NFL team could want in a defensive linemen. Big, strong, quick and agile, he’s projected to be one of the first players taken in April’s draft.
Suh credits the coaching of Pelini and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, Bo’s brother, for his development.
“Mentally, being able to pick up on different reads and formations and what things can be run out of certain formations and tendencies of teams,” Suh said.
Carl Pelini’s first chance to coach Suh came with the player unable to play. It was spring practice of 2008 and Suh was recovering from surgery. Without ever putting on pads, Suh impressed his coach.
“I was coaching the other guys, and he was just watching,” Pelini said. “He was shoulder to shoulder with me. He hadn’t practiced a snap but he was a better football player coming out of that spring.
“He’s a very cerebral guy. He wants to know why, and it’s made him a great football player.”
Academics always came before sports in Suh’s home. That can happen when your mom is a teacher.
“They know coming from Third World countries that education is the key,” he said.
The 22-year-old graduated last weekend with a degree in construction management engineering. He said he plans to take some postgraduate courses while he prepares for the NFL combine.
“The main focus is, now that I’m done with school, just worry about football and go from there,” he said.
Suh seems set to go far.
NCAAF: Florida State, Fisher Agree On Five-Year Pact, Worth $1.8M Per Season
Tallahassee, FL, U.S.- The Florida State Seminoles officially hired offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher as its newest head coach starting next season, according to various media outfits Saturday.
Fisher signed a five-year, $1.8 million per season deal with the Seminoles, excluding bonuses that could go as high as $675,000.
However, if he leaves the school within the first three years, his buyout will be $675,000 and $450,000 if he decides to leave in the last two years of his contract.
Fisher started his career in Samford as offensive coordinator and moved up to major football programs, such as Auburn, Cincinnati, LSU, and Florida State.
Florida State is scheduled to play West Virginia in the New Year’s Day Gator Bowl, which will be Seminoles’ retiring coach Bobby Bowden’s last game.
On January 5, Fisher will begin his job as the ninth coach in Florida State’s college football history.
NBA: Jerryd Bayless and the Liberation of Combo Guards
The myth of point guard purity is one of my personal voodoos, 
so excuse the bleating back pat to come. Jerryd Bayless, a so-called combo guard, a Gilbert Arenas lite, went to Portland in the 2008 draft. In fact, Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard sent valued Jarrett Jack to Indiana in order to move up a few spot in the mid-first round to grab Bayless when the top 10 drafters bypassed the Wildcat for illustrious talents like Joe Alexander.
Bayless hasn’t really paid off for Pritchard or the Blazers … until now, that is. Bayless played in only 53 games last season, averaging 12 minutes per contest. Portland has a few higher-profile point guards (Andre Miller and Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez last year) and a starting two-guard (Brandon Roy) who happens to dominate the ball and initiate the offense. Bayless seemed to be on a repeat path this season: pulling in only when injury, foul trouble or garbage time struck. He’s not a fit with coach Nate McMillan‘s conservative, slow system, and there is the perception that Portland alreadyhad too many mouths to feed before introducing a score-first lead guard to the mix.
But something funny happened, even with Blake and Miller and Roy all healthy. Portland has disappointed, and McMillan has gotten desperate. You can stick to religion when you exceed expectations, even if sin would add a win. To a degree, that’s a fine stance to take: in years past, it was always about the future with the club, and indoctrinating the roster in the ways of Blazer Ball served as a dominant goal.
But tomorrow is here, and the Blazers can’t get by (in the media, with the home crowd) building for the future. It’s suddenly all about this moment, this opportunity to leap into orbit, to join the Lakers, the Celtics, the Magic, the Cavaliers. That’s how the atmosphere has been all year, and Portland’s disappointing start has added a hanging smog of … well, disappointment. McMillan, as I said, is on the precipice of desperation.
Enter Bayless, who has become a smidge vocal about his lack of opportunity. McMillan the Pastor would never approve of what Bayless has done the past two games — 11 shot attempts (six FGAs, 10 FTAs) in 24 minutes against Sacramento Tuesday,21 shots (15 FGAs, 12 FTAs) in 29 minutes Thursday against the Suns. But McMillan lost his cloth when Greg Oden went down, and McMillan the Coach Facing Criticism for the First Time in a Long Time sure loves it. To wit, McMillan’s post-game comments, transcribed by Ben Golliver of Blazersedge:
What can you say? I thought he had a great game. We know Jerryd can put some points on the board. And with all the guys we have out, we need that. He’s getting the opportunity to play and he’s taking advantage of it. I’ve told him for really for the last two years ‘be patient, be patient, the opportunity is going to come. I don’t know when but it just does in the NBA.’ And that opportunity has come in the last two games. He’s shown this at times. The last two times he’s shown what he’s capable of doing with that opportunity.
Of course, Bayless scored a vital 14 against Sacramento, and a game-high 29 against Phoenix. If those shots don’t fall, if Bayless doesn’t get the whistles he did and more possessions end with a missed FGA instead of two made FTAs, then McMillan doesn’t say that, and Bayless gets no freedom. McMillan, I’d argue, doesn’t believe in Bayless, but believes in what Bayless just did, and knows that right now, with the bench suffering from the losses of Oden (bumping Joel Przybilla to the starting unit), Travis Outlaw, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez, he as a coach and manager of playing time needs to keep believing in Bayless’s work until twilight falls on the guard.
And that, perhaps, is the long-term curse of the combo guards who serve under traditional coaches: you’re like the woman on the side. When coach needs you, he’ll use you. But the minute you disappoint, or try to break out of the lopsided relationship, you’re gone, and it’s on to the new one. Combo guards deserve better treatment under the old school regime. If Dennis Johnson is the Susan B. Anthony of this movement, maybe Bayless can be the Gloria Steinem. Forward!
NCAA: Livengood takes UNLV Job as New AD
TUCSON–University of Arizona athletics director Jim Livengood today was introduced at a news conference in Las Vegas as the new AD at UNLV.
Livengood, 64, has been director at Arizona through a 16-year period marked by tremendous growth in the program and widespread success by Wildcat teams. He was named AD at UA in January 1994.
“My experience in 16 years at the University of Arizona has been nothing short of phenomenal, both professionally and personally,” Livengood said. “To complete a period like this, with so many high points and other dramatically difficult moments, is truly satisfying.
“I’m proud to have been a Wildcat. The hard part will be the separation between me and the hundreds of people with whom I have worked so closely at the University of Arizona,” Livengood said.
University of Arizona President Dr. Robert Shelton said, “In his 16 years at UA, Jim Livengood has done an exceptional job leading our Athletics Department. Jim has been a terrific colleague who has always been committed to doing what is right for the University of Arizona and its student-athletes. This is an exciting new opportunity for Jim, and he moves to Las Vegas with our best wishes, our profound respect, and our thanks for a job very well done.”
“With Jim’s departure, I am naming Senior Associate AD Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose as the interim Athletics Director. There is no one more highly regarded at this University, and the department will be in good hands under Rocky’s leadership while we search for a permanent replacement for Jim.
“The athletic director’s position is an extremely important one for our University. I intend to move forward with a search as soon as possible,” Shelton said.
Wildcat programs won 11 NCAA Championships during Livengood’s career at UA beginning with the 1994 softball crown and most recently with men’s and women’s swimming championships in 2008. He was named a regional AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2006.
Livengood’s tenure at the UA showed he and the program were up to speed in facing numerous challenges, keeping pace nationally with the explosive growth of intercollegiate athletics and its fiscal underpinnings. The UA department of athletics enters the new decade with an annual budget of some $44 million, and throughout each of his years in Tucson the department never operated at a deficit, putting the school among a handful of model programs. The annual budget for athletics in his first year was around $18 million.
The growth of intercollegiate athletics was matched by UA in other areas as well, including key capital projects such as the Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion, the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium, Murphey Stadium for soccer, the Mary Roby Gymnastics Center, Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, and extensive improvements to Arizona Stadium, McKale Center and all sport venues.
Additionally, Livengood has spearheaded a project study, “Vision Arizona,” which is the school’s master plan for immediate and future facility enhancements.
Livengood’s broad-based stewardship also put considerable focus on student-athlete welfare during his tenure, with expanded services through its C.A.T.S. program, revamping of the department’s academic services unit and other personal development objectives for Wildcat student-athletes.
Livengood served under three presidents at the University of Arizona starting with Dr. Manuel Pacheco from 1994 to 1997, Dr. Peter Likins from 1997 to 2006, and current UA president Shelton from 2006 onward.
Livengood will take his fourth college athletics director’s post with the appointment at UNLV. 
He was AD at Washington State University from 1988 until his appointment at UA, and AD at Southern Illinois from 1985 to 1987 for a total of 25 years as the top executive of an athletics department. He began his administrative career as an associate director for development and public relations at WSU from 1980-85.
NCAAM: Doron Lamb Sets Up Visit to Arizona
Shooting guard Mouth of Wilson, Virginia Oak Hill Academy AAU: New York Gauchos Ht:6'4" Wt:175 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
Goazcats.com is reporting that Doron Lamb is trying to set up a visit to Arizona. Arizona is trying to finalize an official visit with 6-foot-4, 175-pound Mouth of Wilson (Virg.) Oak Hill Academy five-star guard Doron Lamb. It would be Lamb’s fifth and final official visit, as the 2010 prospect has already tripped to Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky and Connecticut. Many believe it will be the same date as Josh Selby visit to Arizona (Jan. 9th).
Lamb is rated the 21st best prospect according to Rivals.com. He is also considering Kentucky, UConn, Kansas, Oklahoma, amongst others.
“One of the top scoring wing players in his class. Lamb seems like he’s been going through the “wars” for years. Really has a great feel for getting buckets. Could be more explosive off the bounce. Talented kid, lock high-major and a guy that programs will chase around until they land him.” – scouting report from Scout.com
NCAAM: Josh Selby Sets Up Visit to Arizona
Point guard Baltimore, Maryland Lake Clifton AAU: Baltimore Elite View Map Ht:6'2" Wt:183 lbs Class:2010 (High School)
According to Arizona Rivals fansite, Goazcats.com Josh Selby, will visit Arizona on January 9th. Selby is rated as the 2nd best PG in the Class of 2010, and 4th Best prospect overall. Rivals’ Jerry Meyer, the national director of scouting and recruiting analyst for Rivals, describes Selby as “A combo guard, Selby is a dynamic playmaker who specializes in knocking down tough shots. At times he can get out of control and force shots, but there is no denying his ability to create something out of nothing. Although he has a scorers mentality, Selby also has the ability to creative scoring opportunities for teammates and is a strong on the ball defender.” In the class of 2010, Arizona has yet to receive a commitment from a point guard but is recruiting some elite players. In recent weeks, Arizona has picked up its recruitment of Rivals.com’s 4th ranked prospect, Josh Selby.
NCAAF: Mark Stoops to leave for Florida State following Holiday Bowl
Stoops was considered to be a top candidate to take the head coaching position at Youngstown State but decided to become the defensive coordinator for the Seminoles.
“I just felt like Florida State was the right situation for me,” Stoops said. “I think with the tradition that they have and the players in the state of Florida, it just felt like it was the right move for me.”
Stoops, 42, has previous coaching experience in Florida as he was the secondary coach for Miami from 2001-03. While he said he thinks it’s a good situation for him in Tallahassee, it was far from an easy choice to leave Tucson.
“It’s hard to just pick up and move,” Stoops said. “When you care so much about a program, when you’ve invested so much in a program, it’s very, very close to me and working with my brother, those are all hard decisions.
“I just felt like this was the right opportunity at the right time. Other times when you talk about leaving here it just didn’t sit well with me. It just felt like there was too much unfinished business,” he added. “As I told the players, I can leave here with my head held high knowing that I worked extremely hard to help this program. I’m just small piece to help turn this program (around). There’s a lot of people who have done a lot of hard work and a lot of great things and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”
Stoops said his brother, UA head coach Mike Stoops, was very supportive throughout the whole process. Mike Stoops echoed those sentiments when approached about the situation after a Dec. 12 practice.
“I know it’s a tough decision, but I think it’ll be good for Mark to be on his own and to help develop Florida State. I think it’s a good move for him personally and professionally and to grow and be on his own,” Mike Stoops said. “He’s done some awfully special things here, and certainly being a defensive head coach I sometimes get credit for that, and really Mark has developed his skills as a coach over the last three or four years. He’s really grown in a lot of ways and I think he’ll continually grow in this position.”
Mark Stoops told the Arizona players of his decision before the Dec. 12 practice, and while some of the Wildcats might have come to Tucson to play for him there didn’t appear to be any ill will towards their soon-to-be former defensive coordinator.
“He has kids and his wife and everything, so it might just be a great job for him family wise. I just feel like if he had a great opportunity at hand then he should take it, no hard feelings,” said sophomore safety Robert Golden. “… We still have coach Mike Stoops and I know when he brings in a secondary coach he’ll be a great guy for us. It’s all good. I support coach Mark Stoops 100 percent. He taught me a lot so I’m proud of him and his new coaching job.”
NCAAF: Colorado secondary coach to be named UA co-defensive coordinator
The University of Colorado announced Saturday that secondary coach Greg Brown is leaving the football program to become co-defensive coordinator at Arizona.
Brown will replace Mark Stoops, the younger brother of UA coach Mike Stoops, who is leaving to be the defensive coordinator at Florida State. Brown, who has coached mostly in the NFL as well as two stints at Colorado, transitions immediately to Arizona and is expected to help coach the Cats against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30.
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