MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Closest authority indeed...thanks to Steve for the tip, which I have reported to the recruting part of the Daily Dose blog.

Waynedale has a senior named Ryan Besancon who (according to reports in the DR; I never saw him) had a pretty good season, leading Waynedale to a WCAL crown.  He's tallish (like 6'6" or better), and I filed him away in the back of my mind as a possible recruit, given that Erich Riebe was his coach.  Now that Riebe is a member of what has to be the largest assistant coaching staff in D3, I wonder if Besancon is headed for the Hill?

[ScotsFan]

I've seen Besancon and he is a pretty nice player indeed.  I haven't heard anyting on where he might be headed for college, but I'm sure Riebe has done his best to steer him Wooster's way.  I noticed this past season that he was in attendance at quite a few of the Scot's games.  This got me thinking back then that he might be considering Wooster.  Now that Riebe's going to be on the Scot's bench, that could make it all the easier for Besanson to choose Wooster.

[WoosterFAN]

A key thing about Battista is that he played in Michigan's largest Division (class A). From the one picture that I saw, he looks a little thin but it looks like he like to rebound!!

Some more information on Dex Battista:

First Team ALL-EAST - Detriot Free Press - Stats/Comments from the coach:
Macomb Area Conference Red Division MVP. Averaged 17 points, 10.5 rebounds and had 13 double-doubles. Coach Gerry Kraemer: "He's a complete player. He plays both ends of the floor and handled the basketball a lot for us. ... Because he knew the double teams were coming, he became a great passer for us. He's one of the most unselfish people I've ever coached."

First Team ALL-EAST - Detriot News - A three-year starter, Battista was named MVP of the Macomb Area Conference Red Division. This season he averaged 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and one block.
      In Utica's 64-51 victory over Utica Ford in the first round of the Class A districts, Battista had 16 points and 10 rebounds. He showed consistency throughout the season.
      "He's an all-around player," coach Gerry Kraemer said. "He can handle the ball and can score inside and out."
       Battista is being recruiting by Division II and III schools, including Hope.

2006 Associated Press: Class A All-State basketball team Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention All Metro - Detriot Free Press (all divisions)

[ScotsFan]

WoosterFAN,

Do you have a link to that picture of Battista?  I was looking for a picture of him, but couldn't find one.

Thanks.

[WoosterFAN]

Here is the link:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/SPORTS05/603230339/1004/SPORTS

Any other news on prospective new players?

[blindwatchmaker]

Nice article on Kyle Witucky

http://athletics.wooster.edu/spotlights/2005-06/witucky.php

[imderekpoe]

I heard over the weekend that, besides Battista, the Scots have at least 2 other big men coming in the fall.  I don't remember the details, but I know that they are both from Ohio.  I think that maybe one is from the Dayton area and the other possibly from the Mt. Vernon area.

[David Collinge]

Congratulations to Big John Ellenwood, named the new head men's coach at Thomas More.  Here's the full story in Notables.

[wooscotsfan]

Another recruit for Coach Moore and the Scots! 

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review newspaper:

Fox Chapel High School (PA) senior Rob Tenenini has made a verbal commitment to play basketball at the College of Wooster in Ohio.  The 6'4" swingman, who played everywhere from the point to the post, averaged 16.5 points and 9 rebounds a game for the Foxes last season.

"He's probably the best kept secret in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL)," Fox Chapel Coach Ben O'Connor said of Tenenini, who is a high honors student.  "He's by far the best all-around athlete I've coached."

GO SCOTS!!

[wooscotsfan]

cmhscots -- the big man joining the Scots from the Mt. Vernon area is:

6'8" Robert Melick, Mt. Vernon High School

Selected as Academic All-Ohio Division I
3.56 GPA and averaged 14.5 PPG this past season

[ScotsFan]

Sounds like Wooster is hauling in a pretty good class from what I've seen and heard so far.  This could be one of the tallest recruiting classes Wooster has had in quite some time.

Anyone have any news on any other NCAC schools and how they are fairing in the recuiting business?

[wooscotsfan]

A nice tribute was held on Saturday for former Wooster head coach Al Van Wie.  Here is the article from today's newspaper.

SUNDAY  JUNE 11, 2006 

Alums return to immortalize the Dutchman
By JOHN FINN
Special to The Daily Record
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WOOSTER - A generation of former basketball players came together at The College of Wooster's Timken Gymnasium on Saturday to pay tribute to legendary head coach Al Van Wie. The "Dutchman," who guided the Scots to 303 victories between 1961 and 1982, was immortalized with a bronze bust, which will take up permanent residence in Wooster's Armington Physical Education Center.

"It's overwhelming," said Van Wie. "To think that these guys came from far and wide to be here today. The word 'awesome' just doesn't do justice to the way I feel."

Organized by Tim Baab, a 19 71 grad, and Chuck Cooper (��), who were members of Van Wie's first championship team in 1971, the Saturday afternoon ceremony was attended by fans, friends, and former players, including Larry Shyatt (��), now an assistant coach at the University of Florida, which captured the Div. I national championship in April.

"He taught us how to carry over what we learned on the court to what we would face in life," said Shyatt of his former mentor. "As players, we all have a piece of him inside us."

Baab and Cooper expressed similar sentiments.

"A lot of us realized what he has done for us, and we wanted to honor him for it," said Baab. "It was long overdue."

Added Cooper, "He made a difference in my life, and I know he made a difference in the lives of a whole lot of others."

Tom Dinger (��), Wooster's all-time leading scorer, said that he liked Van Wie from the moment the two met and that they had a mutual respect for one another. He also expressed a common sentiment among the players when he said that most of them appreciated their former coach even more after they graduated.

"When I became a coach, I realized that I was doing many of the same things he did," said Dinger. "He has been a very special person in my life."

Sam Dixon (��), who helped lead Wooster to three consecutive 20-win seasons, said "It was an honor to play for coach Van Wie. He has done tremendous things for me. I trust him completely, and I know I can always count on him."

Reggie Minton (��), former head coach at the United States Air Force Academy and emcee for Saturday's ceremony, said that Van Wie was "singularly responsible" for getting him through school.

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to be at Wooster; I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay," said Minton. "Coach provided guidance for me. I was always treated as though I was part of the family."

Family was the focus of Van Wie's remarks/

"I am surrounded by people I truly care about and love," he said. "You are all part of our extended family. We have been very blessed."

Baab hopes the bust will become part of a new tradition.

"Notre Dame has its sign; Clemson has its rock; now Wooster has its bust," he said. "We hope to place its somewhere that athletes, coaches, and fans can rub it for good luck."

[diehardfan]

My next trip will hopefully be a long leisurely drive from Alaska to San Diego.

Not to make a post waaaay after the fact or anything.... but... 

Me too, though your idea sounds better. I was planning on hopping over to Glacier rather than going to Alaska. I just have to find someone to go with me, and figure out how to get that much time off of work. I may be able to hit Crater Lake, and Redwoods NP during a July trip for work to Portland (6 hrs? no sweat, hehe) which was an important component of that trip, but the coast drive is supposed to be so pretty, I'm probably still gonna want to do it. Incidentally, if you do come this way, and don't stop by to say hi, I'm gonna eat you.

On my move out to Cali, I definitely took the scenic route, to visit a friend in Missouri and Colorado Springs, and to hit a bunch of National Parks.... and then there was the trouble my car had getting over the Rockies full of my junk and the Tow back to Denver.



A little less than 4000 miles (or was it more?) from Lincolnton, NC to Temecula, CA.


But we did it in 6 days.   

[sac]

Life's too short to not do it April

Glacier was easily my second favorite part of my trip last year, just seeing clear bluegreen water come down the mountains was enough.

If you go to Glacier you might as well go to Banff in Canada, although a little crowded and Europeanish (you'll likely be one of the few speaking English, including the Canadians ) its worth the trip and then some.  Is only about 5-6 hours north of Glacier and Calgary is a nice city to visit.

[David Collinge]

To my knowledge, Wooster has not announced their schedule for 2006-07, but at least one game snuck into today's Daily Record.  Wooster will host NAIA power and Wittenberg rival Cedarville U. on Dec. 16.  This game will be the capstone of day 1 of the Steve Smith Classic, a 7-game boys' HS hoops festival.

I don't know anything else about the Scots' schedule, except that Calvin College is coming down for the Mose Hole Classic (a fact confirmed by Calvin's schedule.)  If anyone else has any information on upcoming NCAC schedules, please post!