Meyers News Notes

2004 PROSPECT WATCH:

Strong Performance but No Repeat for Lofton

Undecided 2004 shooting guard prospect Chris Lofton led his Mason County High School team back to the Kentucky state championship game but was unable to come away with the title. Warren Central came away with the victory and a state championship. Lofton, who is considering Louisville, Notre Dame, Arkansas, N.C. State, and Oklahoma, averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds per game over a four game run in the state tournament. He shot 24 of 26 from the line during the tournament.

2005 PROSPECT WATCH:

Arizona Leads for Houston Hoops Star

Rashad Woods, the No. 22 ranked player in the class of 2005, named Arizona his leader with Connecticut, Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Baylor following the Wildcats. The one time Baylor commitment noted his strong relationship with Arizona assistant coach Josh Pastner when speaking of Arizona as his leader. Pastner has strong family ties to the Houston Hoops AAU program which is headed by his father Hal Pastner. Coach Josh Pastner recently interview for the Houston head coaching vacancy, but speculation has the Cougars leaning towards other candidates.

First Offer for Texas Sharp Shooter

Coach Bobby Knight of Texas Tech is the first coach to offer a scholarship to Austin Johnson of Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas. Both Arkansas and Arizona State have been to Amarillo to watch the No. 78 ranked player in the class of 2005 play this year. Johnson will play this summer for Team Texas.

Delks Come Up Short in Title Game

Reginald Delk and Richard Delk of Jackson Northside finished Tennessee state runner ups to nationally ranked White Station. While watching UAB defeat Kentucky yesterday and the Taylor twins hook up for one of the best steal, assist, finish plays of the season, I could not help but picture the Delk twins taking the place of the Taylor twins who will finish their careers at UAB next year. The word is that the Blazers are very high on the guard tandem of Reginald and Richard Delk.

Creighton Commitment Leads Team to Nebraska State Crown

Point guard Josh Dotzler scored 15 points, grabbed 7 boards, dished out 7 assists, and picked up 7 steals for Bellevue West in their state championship game. Bellevue West head coach Doug Woodard indicated that Dotzler’s commitment to Creighton is solid as long as Coach Dana Altman is at Creighton.

2006 PROSPECT WATCH:

Kemp Wins Title, Names Schools

Point guard prospect Willie Kemp scored 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 8 assists, blocked 2 shots, and had 3 steals in leading Bolivar Central to the Tennessee AA state championship. Kemp is listing Tennessee, Alabama, Stanford, and UCLA.

2007 PROSPECT WATCH:

The Next Bahamian Big Man

6-foot-9, 185-pound Garvin Hunt is Coach Darrell Sears latest basketball project at St. George High School in Freeport, Bahamas. Hunt has only been playing the sport for seven months, but he already has an invitation to participate in the Nike Hoops Jamboree in St. Louis this summer. Hunt hopes to follow in the footsteps of Bahamian Magnum Rolle, who recently committed to Florida State and will transfer to Hargrave Military Academy for his senior season.

FINAL SHOT:

Alabama Boys Ballin

Who would have thought that two renowned basketball powers and number one seeds in Stanford and Kentucky would fall in the round of 32? And for that matter, fall to two schools from a so called football state. The majority of both Alabama and UAB’s rosters are comprised of in-state players.

Five in-state players on the Alabama All-State team will look to make an impact on the NCAA tournament in the years to come. The All-State team is comprised of Ron Steele (Alabama), D.J. White (Indiana), Walter Sharpe (Undecided), Courtney Beasley (Prep School), and Mike Williams (Texas).