MBB: NESCAC

[Hugenerd]

That site doesnt seem to be in line with other sites, like NERR, were Mussachia isnt ranked in MA (the players they list as 1 and 2 on that site are listed 3 and 20 by NERR).  He also isnt listed on any other recruiting service that I see, so although he looks like a great player, 3rd in the state seems like a stretch.

Here are the MA rankings from NERR, where all the players in the Top 20 from MA that have committed (not all have committed yet), are going D1:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/massachusetts.php

[Colby Hoops]

I think that the discrepancy is that NERR includes prep schools and all private school leagues, while the other rankings seem to be just public and catholic schools.  That significantly narrows the talent pool as almost all of the best New England players play in the prep school leagues.  So ranking third on that list means hes very good, but likely more of an ivy league/nescac borderline player, rather than a high-level D-1 talent.

[Colby Hoops]

I'm also pretty sure that his high school, Manchester-Essex, is in the lowest division in Mass, and the competition would be pretty shaky.

[ephoops]

Pat:

See story below.  How is it that Troy W. was not named to D3Hoops "Team of the Week"

Troy Whittington adds ECAC-New England Player of the Week honors

CENTERVILLE, MA -- Eph senior forward Troy Whittington was named the NESCAC Player of the Week for his role in wins over Springfield and Hamilton last week and now he has been recognized as the ECAC-New England Player of the Week as well.

Whittington's 21 rebounds vs. Hamilton tied the Williams Division III single game record held by Ben Coffin '04 and Brandt Johnson '87.

Whittington is averaging 18.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game for the 9-0 Ephs. He is hitting on 68% of his field goals (51-84) and 77% of his free throws (51-66). Five times Whittington has led the Ephs in scoring in the nine games to date and seven times he has topped the Ephs in rebounds.

Division III – New England

Player of the Week

Troy Whittington – Williams College
Senior, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Whittington averaged a double-double during a 2-0 week for the Ephs, scoring 24.0 points and grabbing 15.5 rebounds per game. He made 14-of-22 from the floor (.636), hit 20-of-24 free throw attempts (.833), and added in three assists, two blocks, and two steals. In a 79-56 win over Hamilton, Whitting tied Williams' single-game record for rebounds with a career-best 21, and he matched the figure with 21 points. He followed with his fifth double-double of the season in an 83-60 victory at Springfield, pouring in a career-high 27 points and bringing in ten boards.

[Hugenerd]

Pat:

See story below.  How is it that Troy W. was not named to D3Hoops "Team of the Week"

Troy Whittington adds ECAC-New England Player of the Week honors

CENTERVILLE, MA -- Eph senior forward Troy Whittington was named the NESCAC Player of the Week for his role in wins over Springfield and Hamilton last week and now he has been recognized as the ECAC-New England Player of the Week as well.

Whittington's 21 rebounds vs. Hamilton tied the Williams Division III single game record held by Ben Coffin '04 and Brandt Johnson '87.

Whittington is averaging 18.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks a game for the 9-0 Ephs. He is hitting on 68% of his field goals (51-84) and 77% of his free throws (51-66). Five times Whittington has led the Ephs in scoring in the nine games to date and seven times he has topped the Ephs in rebounds.

Division III – New England

Player of the Week

Troy Whittington – Williams College
Senior, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Whittington averaged a double-double during a 2-0 week for the Ephs, scoring 24.0 points and grabbing 15.5 rebounds per game. He made 14-of-22 from the floor (.636), hit 20-of-24 free throw attempts (.833), and added in three assists, two blocks, and two steals. In a 79-56 win over Hamilton, Whitting tied Williams' single-game record for rebounds with a career-best 21, and he matched the figure with 21 points. He followed with his fifth double-double of the season in an 83-60 victory at Springfield, pouring in a career-high 27 points and bringing in ten boards.

He may have not been nominated.  For these awards, and the end of year awards, ADs must nominate players for consideration.  Pat doesnt check the boxscore of every game, every week to select the players.

[david1959]

I think that the discrepancy is that NERR includes prep schools and all private school leagues, while the other rankings seem to be just public and catholic schools.  That significantly narrows the talent pool as almost all of the best New England players play in the prep school leagues.  So ranking third on that list means hes very good, but likely more of an ivy league/nescac borderline player, rather than a high-level D-1 talent.

be careful how you interpret rankings on NERR, it is a business.

[amh63]

Was planning to spend this time watching the slew of Div 1 BB games to see how the teams with the "best talent" are doing.  Been reading about the early decision type recruits at the conference schools.....as they dribble in.  Anyway, decided to put my few cents worth in.
Though the NERR and other recruiting services are informative, I am struck that the players at the "top prep schools", are ones that transfer from public schools far and wide and often transfer to other prep schools mid season and even back to local high schools.   In short, such ranked players should not interest NESCAC schools in general.  There is no academic factors really in the rankings that I can gleem, other then remarks that the private schools are top academic prep schools, etc.
Recently, I attended a talk/discussion of student/athletes at Amherst that included students, profs. and led by the AD.
Several bits of info that may be of interest to posters:
1. Amherst was most pleased the past year to get a high number of top students who are also "stars" in their sports.  These are students that will be impact players and do not require "tips" or whatever they are called in admissions.  I forget the "label" the AD put on them....1A?.
 2. Amherst is incorporating a program that introduce professors with students that play sports.  Teams have faculty advisors and players work on community service  projects with faculty, etc......all to reduce any "division" in perception mainly...between teachers and sport playing students.  Varsity sports should be considered at Amherst as any other activity outside of class such as publications,  singing, etc.   It seems to be going well.
 3. Coaches are taking a more aggressive approach in recruiting due to the changing world of college recruiting ..even in Div3.
The recruits are more knowledgeable about options, and top recruits are involved in their sports outside of high school....such as AAU/club teams and for longer periods of the year.
 4. Once top impact students are identified, willing professors are encouraged to "recruit" the individual.
 5. There are "particular" events that conference coaches are allowed to attend to see players and to be seen.  These region wide events in a given sport bring together players that have been considered qualified academically for IVY schools, Patriot League schools, UAA, NESCAC, etc.   Most interesting to me.  Do any posters know of any specific events?
I guess, after seeing such "candidates, and identifying students....it becomes a matter of "marketing".
Of course, there is the "old fashion" methods of knowing HS coaches.
In the area of how particular star players arrive on campus, I am struck how few "degrees of Freedom"  it took to connect a student with a school....i.e. the recently posted BB player going to Bowdoin.

[Hugenerd]

I think that the discrepancy is that NERR includes prep schools and all private school leagues, while the other rankings seem to be just public and catholic schools.  That significantly narrows the talent pool as almost all of the best New England players play in the prep school leagues.  So ranking third on that list means hes very good, but likely more of an ivy league/nescac borderline player, rather than a high-level D-1 talent.

be careful how you interpret rankings on NERR, it is a business.

Yeah, but when NERR's top 20 are all going to D1's and the other rankings have players in the top 3 going d3, that also tells you something.

[quicksilver]

Here's a story about another Mass prospect headed for Bowdoin. This one is a PG from BC High:

http://mass-nh-highschoolbasketballreport.blogspot.com/2010/12/byran-hurley-heading-to-bowdoin.html

[david1959]

I think that the discrepancy is that NERR includes prep schools and all private school leagues, while the other rankings seem to be just public and catholic schools.  That significantly narrows the talent pool as almost all of the best New England players play in the prep school leagues.  So ranking third on that list means hes very good, but likely more of an ivy league/nescac borderline player, rather than a high-level D-1 talent.

be careful how you interpret rankings on NERR, it is a business.

Yeah, but when NERR's top 20 are all going to D1's and the other rankings have players in the top 3 going d3, that also tells you something.

what other rankings??

[Hugenerd]

I think that the discrepancy is that NERR includes prep schools and all private school leagues, while the other rankings seem to be just public and catholic schools.  That significantly narrows the talent pool as almost all of the best New England players play in the prep school leagues.  So ranking third on that list means hes very good, but likely more of an ivy league/nescac borderline player, rather than a high-level D-1 talent.

be careful how you interpret rankings on NERR, it is a business.

Yeah, but when NERR's top 20 are all going to D1's and the other rankings have players in the top 3 going d3, that also tells you something.

what other rankings??

The one that sparked the entire conversation, if you read further up the board (initially posted by nescac1):

http://mass-nh-highschoolbasketballreport.blogspot.com/2010/01/mass-boys-player-rankings-2011.html

[JustAFan]

Wesleyan lands a 6-7 Canadian and a point guard for next year, news on 2 Tufts backcourt recruits and a couple of previously reported "signings" by Bowdoin together with yet another big kid headed to MIT (why don't more NESCAC teams schedule the Engineers?), all on NERR:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1765/Commitment-CatchUp.php

[Hugenerd]

Wesleyan lands a 6-7 Canadian and a point guard for next year, news on 2 Tufts backcourt recruits and a couple of previously reported "signings" by Bowdoin together with yet another big kid headed to MIT (why don't more NESCAC teams schedule the Engineers?), all on NERR:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1765/Commitment-CatchUp.php

The "big" kid is actually a 6'7" SG/SF (not necessarily a post player).

MIT played Amherst a few years back in two consecutive seasons and Middlebury before that, but in recent years its been Tufts and Conn College.

[walzy31]

Wesleyan lands a 6-7 Canadian and a point guard for next year, news on 2 Tufts backcourt recruits and a couple of previously reported "signings" by Bowdoin together with yet another big kid headed to MIT (why don't more NESCAC teams schedule the Engineers?), all on NERR:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1765/Commitment-CatchUp.php

Random thought: Why would Wesleyan recruit another PG if he isn't going to play until Junior year (Sha Brown)?

[highhoops]

as a backup?