MBB: NESCAC

[middhoops]

Cross-posting this w/ Football board.

Middlebury Magazine pays tribute to Russ Reilly—former hoops coach and AD and PA voice of Panther football—w/ this video, "The Voice of Reilly":

"Sanchez escorted out of bounds by a bevy of Bobcats..."
Russ was sometimes the highlight of a football afternoon.
As entertaining as he was informative, Russ brought levity to the game.

[nyhoopstalk]

Those NESCAC-St. Joe's games should be really interesting.  There is a big difference between a team of essentially all first-years, as St. Joe's was last year, and one that is mainly sophomores, all of whom played leading roles last season.  Their talent (especially in the backcourt) is certainly on par with NESCAC teams, just not their level of experience.  But the Calhoun-Miller coaching pair is as good as it gets.  And now they add this dude, who looks like a crazy athlete for the D3 level, to the mix this year: https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/in-the-news/taelon-martin-to-play-for-calhoun-at-st-joes  I have a feeling that the St. Joe's program is set up to have a quick-ascending run like Cabrini or Rowan did back in the day, starting as soon as the 20-21 season. 

I think Williams has one of the most intriguing non-league schedules I've seen for the Ephs.  If you just go by records, the opponents aren't that impressive, but I think a lot of these teams are going to win their leagues and end up in the NCAA tourney.  Going chronologically, here are the most notable games:

-- Oneonta returns everyone from a team that lost in OT in the SUNYAC semifinals, may be favorites in their always-solid league this year
-- Wesleyan, a Little Three game, always a war, both teams will have very different looks this year so a good early barometer for both
-- Albertus Magnus only loses one guy and brought in some major talent, they will be a lot better this year
-- Springfield -- a healthy Jake Ross (he was not himself most of last year) plus Heath Post gives Springfield one of the best if not the best 1-2 punch in the country
-- Endicott -- brings back their top few guys, including potential all-American Keith Brown, and added Echevarria's little brother
-- Salem State -- brings back two star rising seniors, if they can add 1-2 more guys to the mix (and they usually have a few JUCO transfers), could be much more dangerous, as always the class of MASCAC
-- St. Joe's -- already discussed
-- Amherst -- speaks for itself
-- Yeshiva -- another really interesting game, they bring back their three stars (all of whom are legit players) plus possibly a fourth star who did not play last year, now a really experienced squad

That is one tough schedule for Williams. The games against Magnus (early Sunday afternoon on the road), St. Joes (midweek road game after playing Amherst) and Yeshiva (Monday game after playing on the road on Saturday) are very dangerous. I would not be surprised to see an upset in one of those games. All three teams will have some serious talent that Williams will need to be prepared for.

[nescac1]

St. Marks' Bobby Sommers commits to Amherst:

https://twitter.com/smboysbball/status/1177563585133928450?s=21

[Old Guy]

St. Marks' Bobby Sommers commits to Amherst:

https://twitter.com/smboysbball/status/1177563585133928450?s=21

Naive and old-fashioned, I find it interesting how the lingo of D1 has become a part of our lexicon in D3. I assume "St. Marks' Bobby Sommers" (who "committed" to Amherst) is applying early decision to Amherst and will go there if he gets in, and that amounts to a foregone conclusion. Some teams now post their rosters before practice starts. Do teams still have "tryouts," or is everyone who can play even a lick so well-known before arriving that he needn't even darken the gymnasium door once there? Is there such a thing as a "walk-on" anymore?

I know Middlebury has had, and has, players who were lightly recruited, some (Nolan Thompson perhaps) who were great players. Are there favorite players at other NESCAC schools in that category, or ones that miraculously just "showed up" and earned a place on the team, and made a contribution? Is it all about "tips" now? Am I right to think that an accomplished high school player who goes through the normal admission process and chooses from the schools that admit him is a true dinosaur (and must have perfect test scores and all A's to even consider this process)?

It's interesting to me that we tie our hoop fortunes to high school juniors, boys, 17 year olds (I know, I know, many are older, maturing as PGs at New England prep schools), forced to ignore the reality that kids mature at different rates. I do hope it's possible for a late-maturing student-basketball player to come to a D3 New England SMALL COLLEGE Athletic Conference school and make his mark, through some natural ability, passion for the game, good coaching, and hard work. Hopelessly idealistic and naive? Stories?

That's my reaction to Bobby Sommers "commitment" to Amherst in advance of an admission decision. What's next? D3 ESPN signing day?

[SpringSt7]

Forgive me for wondering what is wrong with the term "commit"--a player indicating to a school that he will be applying to and more than likely attending said school. Do these kids have to have a certain level of talent and high enough level of recruitment to use certain words, or are they allowed to be proud of their accomplishments like any other prospective college athlete?

[nescac1]

Old Guy, so far as I can recall, Nolan Thompson is the ONLY true "walk on" (meaning not actively, affirmatively recruited player) to make a significant impact for a NESCAC team this century.  The only other examples, if they even count, might be two-sport stars recruited for some other sport.  But Thompson is a true unicorn, the exception that proves the rule.  Walk-ons I'm sure are welcome everywhere, but even in D3 they tend to be deep bench players.   Just the world we live in! 

Football is even beyond hoops in terms of Nescac recruiting lingo.  Now lots of guys, as early as the summer before their senior year, announce on Twitter or Instagram that they have been "offered" spots at (often multiple) Nescac programs.  I've yet to see that in any sport besides football.  But don't be shocked if we see it in hoops one day too. 

[amh63]

Old Guy!  Great to hear from you .  Admission batter here/now is surprising...considering all the negative press recently elsewhere.
Anyway, was watching a battle in LeFrak last night...a volleyball contest between Amherst and Midd.  Midd has a FY player...a DS from San Fran.  Her older brother just graduated from Amherst...a two sport player....football and baseball.  The crowd was big for Amherst.  Over half of the MBB team was cheering expressively after each point by a particular Amherst player.  Yes, it is early.  It is still good to see basketball players jump up and down with energy.  There is also a WBB player on the volleyball team....a returning front court starter.

[toad22]

The last player that I believe fits the bill of a "walk on" at Williams is Seth Mehr '96. He was a 5'8" guard who played in the rotation in his junior and senior years under coach Harry Sheehy.  In this era of intense competition for good players, I would't be surprised if Seth Mehr is the last of the "walk ons" at Williams. There has been, for better or worse, a professionalization of sports everywhere, including the NESCAC.

[jayhawk]

Even though he is 67" I believe DJ Diabete on the present Amherst team was not recruited but tried out and was a walk on

[amh63]

Jayhawk....you maybe correct.  When I visit my best man in the Durham/ChapelHill area, I drive by Diabetes's school....the NC School for Math and Science.  Not a hot bed of basketball talent...but full of smart kids.  Will not be surprised that the big man will contribute more this upcoming season in the front court.

[NEhoops]

In the case of Sommers at Amherst it seems like the recruiting tactic of "go early and you'll get in" was put to use.

Is that a type of promise that can be made league wide?

[jayhawk]

actually as it relates to Sommers commitment to Amherst that is actually not so early in some ways. I saw that a Williams girl basketball commit from maine made that commit in July and I think that there have vbeen other commits.by other schools as well
I know Amherst would prefer that players not broadcoast their commit so early
On the other hand I am aware that players have committed and then later on changed their commit so this type of announcmeent  would prevent that.
remember that early decison  applicaiton are due soon I believe November 1

My guess is that a potential recruit will have his application reviewed by admissions committee if asked by coaches to  seee if qualitfy for a an admission slot
That said Sommers  seems like a reasonably smart individiual as his web public information says he has a 3.8 GPA and ACT of 33- fairly competitive on academics

[Old Guy]

My guess is that a potential recruit will have his application reviewed by admissions committee if asked by coaches to  seee if qualitfy for a an admission slot

Without question. But there have been times when coaches have been fairly warm with recruits regarding admission before meeting with admission officers, and had to report bad news to recruits who had been led on. NESCAC coaches, I'm sure, are very careful about this. 

[nescac1]

Note that the majority of TIPS (the most heavily recruited athletes) at NESCAC schools, across all sports, are committed to their school of choice by the early decision deadline, in many cases, many months before.   All are very confident -- for good reason -- that they will be admitted early.  Some may announce it, others may not, but those who don't have received the same assurances.  I've never heard of a NESCAC athlete that was told by a coach that they are in-if-they-apply get rejected.  Or at least, it must be exceedingly rare.  If that happened with any regularity, the coach would lose credibility with future recruits.  The bigger danger -- and a very real one -- is if something happens, either academically or in terms of behavior, during the remainder of a recruit's time in high school that leads a school to rescind an admission offer.  That unfortunately does occur from time to time. 

On another note, here's an interesting, very detailed article on Hutcherson's journey from high school to University of Illinois:

https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/waiting-game-continues-for-austin-hutcherson-but-that-s-nothing/article_9d88afa8-c57f-51bc-96f3-8ea1e81caabc.html

Any other surprise additions or subtractions to/from NESCAC rosters to look forward to this November?  Last year there were a few seniors who would have been difference-makers for their squads who for reasons never disclosed here ended up not competing ...

[NEhoops]

nescac1, when can we expect to see your preseason conference rankings?