Mark Treadwell Update
To say that Mark Treadwell has been well traveled would be an understatement.
Treadwell, a 6-5, 210 pound swingman from Chicago, Ill., has crisscrossed the country since signing at Indiana University several years back.
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Treadwell, who played for famed Head Coach Gene Pingatore at St. Joseph's H.S. in Westchester, Ill., never attended Indiana. Instead, he wound up at Rhode Island, but encountered some difficulties there and left that Atlantic 10 school.
Which brings us to 2001. Treadwell competed with the L.A. Trade Tech squad at the recent San Jose City College Basketball Classic.
Inquiring minds had to ask -- was this the same Mark Treadwell who had signed at IU all those years ago?
The answer was yes.
According to L.A. Trade Tech Head Coach Richard Wells, he first became aware of Treadwell this past summer at "Say No Classic," which is held at the two-year school.
"In talking to Mark, he had spoken about some of the trials he had trying to stick to a program," Wells said. "I was telling him that we do very well with kids like that. As a matter of fact, most of the kids we deal with are the ones that other schools won't work with."
So far, it's been productive for both parties.
"Since he has been with us, he has been a good student, and I can see his character start to develop," Wells said. "I think he may have had a bit of mistrust for coaches, and I think he is turning the corner on that."
Although he got off to a slow start this season, Treadwell has picked up the pace and become a key cog for the Beavers' attack. He averages 15 points and 13 rebounds per game.
"He has all kind of talent," Wells said. "He can score inside and can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. He's a real good finisher, and he's been rebounding well for us."
Treadwell turned in a solid performance for L.A. Trade Tech in their third place game victory over the College of Alameda. While he was a bit turnover prone with the ball, he displayed an inside/out offensive game.
Although there some questions as to his eligibility for a Division I school, Wells feels that Treadwell has a chance to bounce back to the Division I level. The question is, will he have one or two years of eligibility at that level?
As for his sometimes rocky past, Wells said that Treadwell really does not talk about his experiences at Rhode Island or his IU recruitment.
"He talks mostly about growing up in Chicago and his neighborhood and that sort of thing," Wells said. "I've heard rumors about his situation back there, but once he cleared eligibility, I felt that that when he wanted to talk about that with me, he would. It's not an issue with me."