MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

I saw a bunch of Guilford players play a Triad Pro-Am game in Winston Salem last night.  Man, they looked good!  Outstanding features were three point shooting, playmaking and hustle.  They managed to hold their own in the paint also.

Good.  Who'd you see play, sludge?

Update - Actually, I just looked up a roster and it looks as though most of the current Guilford team (plus incoming freshmen and Ben Strong!) are on a team that played Chris Paul's Mercedes Benz team last night.

I see three Guilford newcomers - Daniel Waln, Tatum Lemly and Josh Pittman.  A quick internet search shows Waln and Lemly were teammates on a very successful Ashe Co. (NC) HS team and I already knew about Pittman, a 2000+ career point guy at Trinity (NC) HS.  When you add 6'10" Josh Best from N. Johnston (NC) HS, it's been a good recruiting year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I saw a bunch of Guilford players play a Triad Pro-Am game in Winston Salem last night.  Man, they looked good!  Outstanding features were three point shooting, playmaking and hustle.  They managed to hold their own in the paint also.

Good.  Who'd you see play, sludge?

Update - Actually, I just looked up a roster and it looks as though most of the current Guilford team (plus incoming freshmen and Ben Strong!) are on a team that played Chris Paul's Mercedes Benz team last night.

I see three Guilford newcomers - Daniel Waln, Tatum Lemly and Josh Pittman.  A quick internet search shows Waln and Lemly were teammates on a very successful Ashe Co. (NC) HS team and I already knew about Pittman, a 2000+ career point guy at Trinity (NC) HS.  When you add 6'10" Josh Best from N. Johnston (NC) HS, it's been a good recruiting year.

Once the 'real' season comes along, think anyone would notice if you snuck Ben in in Stafford's uni?

[hasanova]

I saw a bunch of Guilford players play a Triad Pro-Am game in Winston Salem last night.  Man, they looked good!  Outstanding features were three point shooting, playmaking and hustle.  They managed to hold their own in the paint also.

Good.  Who'd you see play, sludge?

Update - Actually, I just looked up a roster and it looks as though most of the current Guilford team (plus incoming freshmen and Ben Strong!) are on a team that played Chris Paul's Mercedes Benz team last night.

I see three Guilford newcomers - Daniel Waln, Tatum Lemly and Josh Pittman.  A quick internet search shows Waln and Lemly were teammates on a very successful Ashe Co. (NC) HS team and I already knew about Pittman, a 2000+ career point guy at Trinity (NC) HS.  When you add 6'10" Josh Best from N. Johnston (NC) HS, it's been a good recruiting year.

Once the 'real' season comes along, think anyone would notice if you snuck Ben in in Stafford's uni?

Ben would need to grow a beard, but yeah, I think a few opposing coaches and fans "might" notice.  

[hasanova]

I know I'm a bit biased, but I realistically think Guilford will have to be the ODAC preseason #1 and a Top 15 preseason pick in d3.  Where do you have the ODAC standings this season?

Who do you think will be the top players?  I'm going to put Henson, Bonner and Sanborn in the mix right off the bat - they had stellar junior seasons and there's no reason to not project that as seniors.  For newcomers, watch out for Josh Pittman, a 6'1" guard from Trinity (NC) HS who got a lot of DI interest that eventually faltered for reasons unknown to me.  He once scored 50 of his team's 69 points in a winning effort (20 FGs, 7 treys and 3 FTs)!  Others? 

[ODACHOOPS]

Turner King will obviously be a pre-season player of the year candidate and in my opinion the leading candidate for what should be a very interesting race all season long. 

I think if hsc would have had just a "good" season last year as appose to a very average season that he could have very well won the honor (taking nothing away from a much deserving Justin Short).   However, it definitely helps your case when your team is doing well and winning games.  This is why Henson and Sanborn might very well win the award this year because Guilford most likely will have another great season. And yes Guilford should be the heavy favorite heading into the odac season, not to put any extra pressure on them or anything haha.   

[hasanova]

Turner King will obviously be a pre-season player of the year candidate and in my opinion the leading candidate for what should be a very interesting race all season long. 

I think if hsc would have had just a "good" season last year as appose to a very average season that he could have very well won the honor (taking nothing away from a much deserving Justin Short).   However, it definitely helps your case when your team is doing well and winning games.  This is why Henson and Sanborn might very well win the award this year because Guilford most likely will have another great season. And yes Guilford should be the heavy favorite heading into the odac season, not to put any extra pressure on them or anything haha.   

Turner King is a great player - no doubt about it - and HSC fans are tops, but the Tigers definitely had a strange up and down season.   No offense meant to Randolph because they've made great strides, but that HSC loss was a real surprise to me.

I'm sure the Quakers and Coach Palombo are mentally prepared for the favorite's role ... the big three from last year's 3rd place team all return and the reserves and incoming freshmen look great.  In addition, the entire team is playing together as a unit (along with Ben Strong) in the very competitive Triad Pro-Am summer league in Winston-Salem.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Turner King will obviously be a pre-season player of the year candidate and in my opinion the leading candidate for what should be a very interesting race all season long. 

I think if hsc would have had just a "good" season last year as appose to a very average season that he could have very well won the honor (taking nothing away from a much deserving Justin Short).   However, it definitely helps your case when your team is doing well and winning games.  This is why Henson and Sanborn might very well win the award this year because Guilford most likely will have another great season. And yes Guilford should be the heavy favorite heading into the odac season, not to put any extra pressure on them or anything haha.   

Turner King is a great player - no doubt about it - and HSC fans are tops, but the Tigers definitely had a strange up and down season.   No offense meant to Randolph because they've made great strides, but that HSC loss was a real surprise to me.

I'm sure the Quakers and Coach Palombo are mentally prepared for the favorite's role ... the big three from last year's 3rd place team all return and the reserves and incoming freshmen look great.  In addition, the entire team is playing together as a unit (along with Ben Strong) in the very competitive Triad Pro-Am summer league in Winston-Salem.

The summer is (largely) to have fun, so it's great they can play with Ben.  But (unless you come up with a way to sneak him into the regular season ), I hope it won't come back to bite them.  They might start relying too much on a guy who won't be there.

While I'm mostly a neutral observer (and no offense to 'on-line friends' from the other ODAC schools), you may have noticed that I'm becoming a bit of a closet Guilford fan.

[hasanova]

The summer is (largely) to have fun, so it's great they can play with Ben.  But (unless you come up with a way to sneak him into the regular season ), I hope it won't come back to bite them.  They might start relying too much on a guy who won't be there.

While I'm mostly a neutral observer (and no offense to 'on-line friends' from the other ODAC schools), you may have noticed that I'm becoming a bit of a closet Guilford fan.

Yes, the summer is largely fun ... but it can't hurt to play against (and with) some pro and "higher" level college players.  If you're smart (and I think this group is), they'll learn from the experience.  It's obvious Ben is still a Guilford fan and roots for his former teammates and the newcomers to have great success.  I'm absolutely positive he's sharing some of his insights with others.

Always good to have more fans!  Entering his 7th season, Coach Palombo and his staff have built a nice program that looks as though it may have sustainable success.  I was there during the previous heyday, so this one feels great too!

[wvagoal]

New to the board.   Does anyone have any sense as to what W&L has coming back or has added?  They were up and down last year, but made a nice run in the tournament.   It is hard to find out anything about new kids coming in.  I have read about a shooter named Atkins from WVa who is going to W&L but don't know about others.  Any word out there?

[hasanova]

New to the board.   Does anyone have any sense as to what W&L has coming back or has added?  They were up and down last year, but made a nice run in the tournament.   It is hard to find out anything about new kids coming in.  I have read about a shooter named Atkins from WVa who is going to W&L but don't know about others.  Any word out there?

Welcome aboard, wvagoal.  I don't know anything about newcomers, but I'll scout around and let you know.  W&L has a pretty good track record for keeping underclassmen, so I'd subtract last year's seniors and project the others to return.  I do know 6'10" Josh Best was recruited by the Generals, but opted to stay in NC and play at Guilford.  Anyway, always good to have new posters!

[wvagoal]

Thanks   I am checking around too.

[Ralph Turner]

New to the board.   Does anyone have any sense as to what W&L has coming back or has added?  They were up and down last year, but made a nice run in the tournament.   It is hard to find out anything about new kids coming in.  I have read about a shooter named Atkins from WVa who is going to W&L but don't know about others.  Any word out there?

Welcome aboard, wvagoal.  I don't know anything about newcomers, but I'll scout around and let you know.  W&L has a pretty good track record for keeping underclassmen, so I'd subtract last year's seniors and project the others to return.  I do know 6'10" Josh Best was recruited by the Generals, but opted to stay in NC and play at Guilford.  Anyway, always good to have new posters!

Thanks   I am checking around too.

Well, I guess we will need to watch for that Atkins fellow from WVA at W&L when the season starts.  

[Seatfiller]

While were checking around for recruits anyone got any info on Randolph-Macons? I know that Lamar Giggets(courtland) commited but thats the only one I know for certain

[rmc1982]

Seatfiller-That one's been a mystery around here for a while...what you just posted has been more than we've seen so far.......if you find out anything else let us know.....

[Seatfiller]

Well I also know that Luke Sellers(courtland) is going to RMC to play football but might also play bball