MBB: NESCAC

[ContinentalDomer]

Saw DR last week. The difference in size/strength versus 2 years ago is noticeable. His stroke remains phenomenal. I do think it will be interesting to see not only how he plays defense, but how he responds to the physicality that the Big 10/Big Integer dishes out. As to the latter, he'll need time to adjust, but I think he'll be fine. As to the former, we'll see.

Speaking of D1 transfers, does anyone have insight as to whether/how former Hamilton guard Matt Hart may fare now that he's eligible to play at GW? Still a walk-on, or did he earn a scholarship?

[GoWesYoungMan]

Congratulations to those NESCAC seniors who will be graduating in the next few weeks. Most will be making a significant break from basketball for the first time in 15 years. They will carry personal qualities that have served them well in athletics to new arenas: teamwork, self-discipline, openness to criticism. In addition to the three seniors from Wes I'll particularly miss Swords and Wohl--well I'll miss them as long as they're not playing Wes. Many others made the past four years fun to follow, and while I may have grumbled at their success against Wes I would have loved to have them play for the Cards. Good luck seniors.

[amh63]

GoWest....thoughtful and generous post!  Plus K

[nescac1]

Jayhawk, the Oni / Robinson comparison is an interesting one, but I don't think quite accurate. Both were early commits to Williams but Robinson, despite plenty of higher-level interest after he exploded, never waivered and of course ended up attending and honoring his ED commitment.  Robinson did transfer, but that was only after the coach who had recruited him left the program; there was no indication he was considering transferring prior to that (and certainly Beilein never in a million years would have come after Maker's star player).  So there were extenuating circumstances there not present in the Oni situation.  I've actually never heard of a NESCAC ED recruit who bagged after receiving D1 scholarship interest (not that it happens that often).

In all events, nothing I've seen indicates that Oni has the hoops future that Robinson does, although Oni likely would have been a top, if not the top, recruit for the Ephs this year, and the loss of a D1 scholarship level talent who was committed to attend stings a bit.  Fortunately, App's first recruiting class seems to be very deep with loads of size -- while a few guys have no official announcements on the web but when all is said and done it looks like a strong group that should replenish the frontcourt depth for years to come, but may lack that one instant-impact superstar the Ephs needs to credibly contend in NESCAC this coming season.   

[Old Guy]

I'm a little surprised that Dylan Sinnickson didn't grab a spot on the All-Nescac Baseball Team. Batting leadoff and playing centerfield (at 6'5"), he hit .364, with 5 homers, 20 RBI (in 77 ABs), .405 OBP, .662 SLG. He was a bit compromised by the lack of success of the team (only 4 wins) and a nagging hamstring injury, suffered in the second Williams game in Tucson, which cost him six games and many infield hits. When he's fully healthy, a ground ball in the hole is usually a hit. Defensively, he gets to balls few others do. He's a terrific baseball player. To be All-NESCAC in two sports would have been a nice honor and a testament to his extraordinary ability. Compared to basketball, baseball is a hobby to him. He's fun to watch. 

[nescac1]

Williams' recruiting updated on the D3 basketball recruiting site.  As noted before, Miye Oni has been removed from the class, but it still seems like a very solid group overall, with tremendous size.  Soto, Porath, and Kempton are 6'8, 6'9, and 6'10 respectively.  Soto is a post-grad at Lawrenceville who has a very nice outside shot and looks fairly athletic.  Kempton seems like a late bloomer (he didn't really play much until his senior year of high school) but he has great bloodlines: his father played in the NBA and his older brother was Patriot League POY as a sophomore at Lehigh.  What's nice about the class, in addition to adding badly-needed size up front, is that 5/6 of the recruits are plus three-point shooters for their positions. 

http://www.d3bballrecruits.com/2015/02/williams.html

JAKE PORATH - Forward, Chaminade HS (CA)
BOBBY CASEY - Guard, Scranton Prep (PA)
KYLE SCADLOCK - Wing, University School (OH)
JAMES HESKETT - Wing, St. Xavier HS (OH)
MARCOS SOTO ESPARZA - Forward, Westlake HS (CA)/Lawrenceville School (NJ)
MICHAEL KEMPTON - Forward, Brophy College Prep (AZ)

[amh63]

Nescac1....thanks for the updates! ...though the linked site does have errors.  The Amherst box on the site has the prep school for The front court player as NY!

Some MBB info...the WSJ had a note yesterday that the upcoming season could have some new rules...just approved by the NCAA.  One is the shot clock will now be 30 seconds...down from 35 sec. The other is that coaches will have one less time outs available.  Seems the rule changes trend towards a faster pace game.  Within the CAC, the reduction in time outs available will least impact Amherst, IMO.  Historically Coach Hixon does not use many time outs.

[P'bearfan]

Just heard that Hunter Sabety is transferring to Hofstra next year.  This is a real blow for Tufts but possibly a good opportunity for Sabety.

[Hoop4Life]

Nescac1, thanks for the update. It seems Williams are going to compete for the next season and future. While they might not have Miye Oni, who was their projected top recruit, they should be very good as a group. On the comparison with Duncan Robinson situation, Robinson was able to transfer due to a coaching change. If Oni had enrolled, he will have a difficult time transferring out. That would have been bad for the team dynamic. Anyway, I am happy that the future is bright for the Ephs.

[toad22]

I don't think that Oni was projected to be the top Eph recruit. Several other guys, Scadlock, Casey, and Heskett were projected at least as highly. Kempton had several D1 scholarship offers, and Soto, though a different type of player, could help the Ephs as much. Oni was a loss, but with the addition of Soto late, not a loss that would seem to hurt the quality of the class very much. I think it will take some time to get the lineup sorted out, but this class should be the foundation of a very good Eph squad for some time to come.

[nescac1]

Crazy re: Sabety.  A tough blow for a Tufts team that looked to be a real contender with the Sabety-Palleschi duo inside.  I don't recall any NESCAC player EVER transferring up and actually playing for a D1 school prior to Varun Ram from Trinity a few years back.  Now it seems like NESCAC is bleeding its top players -- Robinson, Hart, Sabety, all in quick succession.  Sabety certainly has D1 size, strength and athleticism but needs a LOT of refinement of his skills to make a contribution at a higher level.  I don't recall him making many shots outside around about five feet from the rim and he won't be able to simply overpower guys at the next level.  Still, you can't teach size and jumping ability, and with a year of top-flight coaching, work in the weight room, and work on refining his post moves and touch, I see no reason he can't be a rotation big for two years at a place like Hofstra.

On the bright side for NESCAC coaches, there aren't really any underclassmen left who are D1-level talents with any prospect of leaving.  Amherst's McCarthy could probably play D1, but as the son of an alum and a local product, I don't see him going anywhere. 

[amh63]

Me too wrt to JMac! .
What puzzles me on some of these moves from the CAC to Div1 is the question of WHY.  Do not believe it is for playing time......though in the situation at Tufts, it is a little more hazy....there was never much pairing of Both Big Men together for most of the game...an offense built with both in the game. The games I recall was that one relived the other for the most part.  Maybe the common thread is a chance to win a title in the near future vice any financial gain....yes that "cloudy"money area.  With the possible exception of DR of Williams, I do not see the other two going into the NBA.  All I can speculate is that in Div1, all will get a FULL ride at the college level....vice lesser generous CAC financial aid.
Do not want to go the academic advantages of remaing in the CAC...education wise...thin ice area and requires data on personal career goals, etc.
All well, should/ could be an interesting upcoming season.

[grabtherim]

If Sabety stays healthy, he can play in the Colonial, Hofstra's league.  He never seemed to hit his stride at Tufts.  Good luck to him. 

[nescac1]

On an off-hoops topic, it has been an absolutely ridiculous spring so far for NESCAC athletics.  Williams won national titles in women's golf and, today, in women's tennis.  Midd is playing in the national title game in men's tennis later today.  Tufts men's lacrosse will be playing in the NCAA championship game, looking to repeat on last year's title.  Tufts women's softball is 46-0 (!!) and is favored to repeat as national champions (they are in the Final Four) behind a basically unhittable pitcher (175 ip, 380 k, 49 h, .12 era -- ridiculous).  Trinity and Middlebury are both in the women's lacrosse final four.  Trinity, Williams and Bates are among the favorites to win the women's crew national title.  NESCAC may collectively account for as many as seven national champs this Spring.  Really, really impressive showing by the sports that get a bit less attention.  And Tufts has a pretty solid chance to be national champs in men's lacrosse, men's soccer, and softball, which is surely unprecedented.  Congrats to all! 

[jayhawk]

official announcement of Sabety transfer
http://gohofstra.com/news/2015/5/19/MBB_0519150526.aspx