MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Cool event for anyone in the area - Chris Herren is speaking at Williams next week:  https://ephsports.williams.edu/general/2018-19/releases/20190403iuapdy

I highly recommend Fall River Dreams, which focuses on Herren's high school years (among other things), for anyone who wants to read a great hoops memoir.  Similar to Friday Night Lights. 

[ContinentalDomer]

Fall River Dreams is a wonderful book.

Fast-forwarding to the present, the ESPN special about Chris Herren's journey through darkness and recovery is remarkably well done.

Moreover, if you have an opportunity to persuade local school officials (middle school, high school) or college admins to bring Chris in to speak, do it.  His message about alcohol, drug, and (specifically) opiod abuse is incredibly timely, gut-wrenching, and inspiring.

Check out his organization on social media.  Get him to a school near you.  No one will regret it.

Cool event for anyone in the area - Chris Herren is speaking at Williams next week:  https://ephsports.williams.edu/general/2018-19/releases/20190403iuapdy

I highly recommend Fall River Dreams, which focuses on Herren's high school years (among other things), for anyone who wants to read a great hoops memoir.  Similar to Friday Night Lights.

[Gabriel]

His son, also Chris Herren, just finished his first year at BC.

[thescottharris]

Chris Herren in person is a must-see event. We brought him to Hampden-Sydney when I was there and it was awesome.

[nescac1]

Duncan Robinson signs two-year contract with the Heat:

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article229040319.html

[toad22]

Great news! Duncan made a lot of friends and admirers in his year at Williams. A fun fact about Duncan was that before every practice, Duncan would come over to any visitors watching practice and thank them for coming. At the end of practice, he again thanked each visitor for coming. It never seemed fake or phony, just very sincere. He also worked harder on his game than anybody I have seen at Williams.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Love the headline on this one: https://williamsrecord.com/2019/04/duncan-robinson-takes-talents-to-south-beach-inks-two-year-deal/

[Mr. Ypsi]

Love the headline on this one: https://williamsrecord.com/2019/04/duncan-robinson-takes-talents-to-south-beach-inks-two-year-deal/

WooHoo - DR is the new LeBron!

[D3HforLyfe]

Hope everyone is doing well! Thought some of you may find this interesting ...

David Dixon (current Wesleyan junior) and Kelly Hogan (former Wesleyan player who graduated last year) have started a podcast over the past couple of months called "The Double-Double". Their most recent guest was Swarthmore Head Coach Landry Kosmalski. I thought it was a fascinating listen for any D3 hoops junkie (as a lot of us certainly are) as Coach Kosmalski seemed very honest and open during the 30 minute free flowing conversation. They touched on everything from building a powerhouse at Swarthmore to LK playing, coaching with, and learning from the legendary Bob McKillop. They even got into some quick Steph Curry stories at the end. I really enjoyed all of it. Anyways, link below. Also available on Spotify and Soundcloud.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-17-swarthmores-landry-kosmalski/id1451996810?i=1000434841534

Cheers!

[jayhawk]

National Association of Basketball Coaches selected Aaron Toomey as one of the 30 most outstanding men's basketball coaches under the age of 30
which includes D1 coaches
Aaron has a bright future

http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190416gsg03e

[JustAFan]

Former Trinity player Tyler Simms was named the new head coach at Clark University yesterday.  His most recent experience was as an assistant at Brown, with a stint at Trinity before that. Good hire by Clark.

https://www.telegram.com/news/20190419/mens-college-basketball-former-brown-assistant-tyler-simms-will-stress-defense-as-clarks-new-coach

[NEhoops]

I agree that Simms is a solid hire for Clark.

I haven't heard anything regarding the head coaching vacancy at Conn College.

The Assumption College (MA - DII) opening is another interesting one to follow. That could continue to the keep the carousel going in regards to moves among coaches in the Northeast. 

[nescac1]

Conn seems to be in for a massive rebuilding process.  Still having no coach this late in the process means they lose not only this year in recruiting, but they will be at a handicap with next year's class as well.  And I haven't seen word of a single recruit heading to Conn next year (although there might be some who have not been made public).  Throw in the loss of their top player from a team that went 0-10 in NESCAC, plus the general uncertainty with player retention amidst a coaching change, and next season could be a historically ugly one for the Camels.  On the plus side, Dan Draffan might put up 25 plus per game next year out of pure necessity!

But, with the right coach there is no reason they can't right the ship - eventually.  Conn has had a history of winning in the past, as one of the five NESCAC teams to make it to the Final Four, and they play in an appealing geographic area surrounded by ample hoops talent.  I think also the lack of the football team means that there should be a lot more slots available for basketball recruiting, if the right coach figures out how to utilize those slots.  Were I an up and coming coach, I'd seize on the Conn job for sure, knowing that there will be a four year grace period before there is any real expectation of winning. 

Speaking of recruiting, there have been a number of guys who have announced they are attending NESCAC schools in recent weeks.  I imagine there will be a few more between now and May 1.  Here is the full list that I've read about:

Amherst: F Dan Schleckman and F Beluo Oranye

Bates: F Jacob Iwowo and C Cameron Riley

Bowdoin: C Jack Garza, G Dylan Lien, F Jack Shea, G Ben McPherron and G Manav Randhawa

Colby: G Kevin O'Boy, F Cooper Wirkala, G Will King, F Alex McGovern and G Kyle Butler

Conn:

Hamilton: C Patrick Mogan, G Nkoski Cooper, G Conner Rood and F Liam Regan

Middlebury: G/F Jackson Pitcher, F Charley Moore, and G Noah Osher

Trinity: G Joe Hoch and G/F D.J. Smith

Tufts: G/F Casey McClaren, G/F Dylan Thoerner and C Jayson Taylor

Wesleyan: G Gabe Millstein and F Preston Maccoux

Williams: G Cole Prowitt-Smith and F Brandon Arnold 

[nescac1]

Nice recruiting pick up for the Ephs, Nate Karren, a 6'8 center.  After graduating three centers the Ephs certainly had a huge need there. 

https://twitter.com/rtoste22/status/1122598552553840641?s=21

From NERR:

Nate Karren, Pomfret – A post-graduate big man from California, Karren was virtually unheard of locally before Friday night. While his team wasn't able to come up with the win, he showed a skill-set and feel for the game that is extremely rare for his size. With a long list of D1 suitors following his progress, and a longer list of D2's and D3's hoping to get a steal, he'll be a popular man for the next three months.

https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/in-the-news/src-lasting-impressions

He joins a long line of California players on the Ephs since App became the head coach.

[nescac1]

Congrats to Brian Emerson (Williams class of 2012), the new head coach at Sewanee. 

http://www.sewaneetigers.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190429o5wfaf

One of these days it would be interesting to see a list all the NESCAC alums currently serving as college head coaches or in other prominent basketball-related jobs.  From Williams alone, there is Emerson, Dave Paulsen (George Mason coach), Will Hardy (Spurs assistant), Mike Crotty (head of prominent AAU program), and Pat Duquette (Umass Lowell head coach), plus likely some others I'm not thinking of.  There are loads more from other schools as well (e.g. Cavs' GM Koby Altman from Midd, and a bunch of Amherst alums currently serving as D3 head coaches).