MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the third player. I'm sure that it'll come to me tomorrow. I don't know if that third Wheaton North player is still a possibility for Wheaton.

I'm pretty sure that the 3rd Wheaton North player to whom Greg is referring  above is Kristian Rosenberger. He is an about 5'9" guard who started in their 3 guard offense. A deadly shooter at times, especially from the LEFT elbow and corner, he hit 40 three pointers this year and was Wheaton North's #3 scorer.

[Titan Q]

Fitzpatrick---Coach Nazos indicated in January that Tom would be receiving an offer from Northern State. Thats Division II Northern State in Aberdeen, SOUTH DAKOTA.
If he wants to play at a scholarship school, it appears his choice is between going to an NCAA DII school in South Dakota or staying local and playing at NAIA (not NCAA) St. Xavier.

Looks like Northern State is a very good Division II program...

http://nsuwolvesathletics.com/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=mensbasketball

Last year they were 29-4 overall, 16-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  They lost at eventual national champion Winona St in the North Central Regional championship game by 8 points.

Northern State is also one of the small college attendance leaders.  Here is a list I put together about 18 months ago per NCAA figures:

Division II and Division III attendance leaders, 2005-06:

1. Winston-Salem (3529) - II
2. Northern St. (3416) - II
3. Morehouse (3183) - II
4. Hope (2928) - III
5. Washburn (2750) - II
6. Virginia St. (2639) - II
7. Central Mo. St. (2621) - II
8. Augustana, S.D. (2553) - II
9. St. Cloud St. (2522) - II
10. Fort Hays St. (2490) - II
11. Illinois Wesleyan (2470) - III
12. Southern Indiana (2353) - II
13. North Dakota (2279) - II
14. Cal St. Bakersfield (2213) - II
15. Emporia St. (2171) - II
16. Harding (2095) - II
17. Calvin (2089) - III
18. Alaska-Anchorage (2082) - II
19. Johnson C. Smith (2067) - II
20. Southwest Baptist (2040) - II


(Not sure where Warrensburg is, but maybe I need to get to some Central Mo. St. games while I am here in Columbia.)

[Titan Q]

It sounds like Fitzpatrick is in the same boat that so many former CCIW (and small college in general) players have been in...holding out every last hope of being a Division I player.  But eventually in late April or early May, when that bubble officially bursts, it's time to face reality and make a decision.

Rick Harrigan (Augustana '06) comes to mind.  When did he commit to Augie...July?  It was very late, I know that. 

Will be interesting to see what Fitzpatrick does.

[Titan Q]

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third.

Going back to February, I know for sure Wheaton was recruiting Tom Fitzpatrick pretty hard.  Not sure if they are still in the mix or not.  So that would make 4 Wheaton North '08 players they've been on (and they obviously already have freshman Andrew Jahns from WN.)

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the third player. I'm sure that it'll come to me tomorrow. I don't know if that third Wheaton North player is still a possibility for Wheaton.

I'm pretty sure that the 3rd Wheaton North player to whom Greg is referring  above is Kristian Rosenberger. He is an about 5'9" guard who started in their 3 guard offense. A deadly shooter at times, especially from the LEFT elbow and corner, he hit 40 three pointers this year and was Wheaton North's #3 scorer.

Yeah, it was Rosenberger. Thanks, AO.

Going back to February, I know for sure Wheaton was recruiting Tom Fitzpatrick pretty hard.  Not sure if they are still in the mix or not.  So that would make 4 Wheaton North '08 players they've been on (and they obviously already have freshman Andrew Jahns from WN.)

No, Bob, read my above post again. I said that the Wheaton staff had three Wheaton North players whom they were pursuing and whom they felt that they were likely to get. They were also pursuing Fitzpatrick, but, as you and AO have already mentioned, they knew that Wheaton was well down his list. Not so for Pilalis, Pierotti, and Rosenberger; it's my understanding that those three have had Wheaton at the top of their lists all along.

[Titan Q]

Going back to February, I know for sure Wheaton was recruiting Tom Fitzpatrick pretty hard.  Not sure if they are still in the mix or not.  So that would make 4 Wheaton North '08 players they've been on (and they obviously already have freshman Andrew Jahns from WN.)

No, Bob, read my above post again. I said that the Wheaton staff had three Wheaton North players whom they were pursuing and whom they felt that they were likely to get. They were also pursuing Fitzpatrick, but, as you and AO have already mentioned, they knew that Wheaton was well down his list. Not so for Pilalis, Pierotti, and Rosenberger; it's my understanding that those three have had Wheaton at the top of their lists all along.

Right.

What did I say that contradicted that?

[Gregory Sager]

You quoted my post about Wheaton pursuing, and being sure that it would get, three Wheaton North players, and that Fitzpatrick wasn't one of them, and then replied that Wheaton was in fact recruiting Fitzpatrick, making that four WNHS players whom Harris & Co. were after. The way I read it, you appeared to be correcting me. Perhaps I'm just not following your intent.

[Titan Q]

You quoted my post about Wheaton pursuing, and being sure that it would get, three Wheaton North players, and that Fitzpatrick wasn't one of them, and then replied that Wheaton was in fact recruiting Fitzpatrick, making that four WNHS players whom Harris & Co. were after. The way I read it, you appeared to be correcting me. Perhaps I'm just not following your intent.

Oh....yes, that wasn't my intent.  Simply meant to reference your quote about the 3 WN players being recruited by Wheaton, add my own two cents about knowing Wheaton is on Fitzpatrick, and make the point about 4 players from the same H.S. team being pursued by one college.

[Titan Q]

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the third player. I'm sure that it'll come to me tomorrow. I don't know if that third Wheaton North player is still a possibility for Wheaton.

I'm pretty sure that the 3rd Wheaton North player to whom Greg is referring  above is Kristian Rosenberger. He is an about 5'9" guard who started in their 3 guard offense. A deadly shooter at times, especially from the LEFT elbow and corner, he hit 40 three pointers this year and was Wheaton North's #3 scorer.

Yeah, it was Rosenberger. Thanks, AO.

Just received the following note from someone very "in the know" at Wheaton...

Bob,

Just an FYI Wheaton's basketball coaches were never recruiting Kristian Rosenberger for hoops - he is coming to Wheaton to play soccer.  It was Mike Giuliano who was recruiting him.

[petemcb]

6-1 Pflederer is what you call a "combo guard", but I think he'll primarily play point-guard in college.  He is also a track star at Tremont and is just lightning fast with the basketball in his hands. 

He should be an All-CCIW player in time.  As I posted back in February, just seems like a great kid...and a terrific student (33 ACT).  Good recruit for Wheaton.  With Jahns, Plfederer, and a couple of those kids from Wheaton North I believe they're getting, the Thunder will be very good at guard...as usual.

Again, I can't confirm this, but I believe it is accurate.

TQ-------

"a couple of those kids from Wheaton North I believe they're getting."

Anyone specific you're aware of?

I really don't know specifics.  A month or so ago I heard Wheaton was in good shape on Dave Pilalis and another Wheaton North guard.  I have no idea if that is still the case though.

As far as I know it's Pilalis and Steve Pierotti

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the third player. I'm sure that it'll come to me tomorrow. I don't know if that third Wheaton North player is still a possibility for Wheaton.

Anyone have the low-down on the the all-state kid heading to North Park (Joel Benson, Westminster Christian)?  6-5 center I believe?

I played against Benson in high school; we played in the same conference. He's listed at 6-5 probably more like 6-4. He is strong and knows how to finish, and he is also a leader on the floor. With that said, I have never been super impressed with him. He put up some good numbers this year in a league that was really lacking strong post play. When we played them my senior year (his junior year), we got him into foul trouble pretty quickly. I don't think he will be in the rotation at NPU right away, but you never know.

This aligns fairly closely with what the NPU coaches told me about Benson when he committed to the Park back in mid-season. Benson's a 6'4, 220 kid who'll play power forward for the Vikings. He'll be on the NPU junior varsity next season. He's not an immediate varsity player, but the coaches think he has long-term potential.

He sounds like a shorter Phil Schneidermeier.  Have the coaches drawn any comparisons like that?

[Mugsy]

Wheaton North actually had three players whom the Wheaton coaching staff were pursuing and figured that they had a good chance of getting. Pilalis and Pierotti were two of them, but Tom Fitzpatrick was not the third. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the third player. I'm sure that it'll come to me tomorrow. I don't know if that third Wheaton North player is still a possibility for Wheaton.

I'm pretty sure that the 3rd Wheaton North player to whom Greg is referring  above is Kristian Rosenberger. He is an about 5'9" guard who started in their 3 guard offense. A deadly shooter at times, especially from the LEFT elbow and corner, he hit 40 three pointers this year and was Wheaton North's #3 scorer.

Kristian Rosenberger goes to my church.  He is a great kid and good athlete.  I doubt he would play significant time his first few years.  Unless he really blossom's at the next level, I would guess a top potential as a role player at best.

Again... a great kid who would flourish as a person at Wheaton and would benefit from D3 athletics.

[augie22]

I have also hear that Kristian's older brother John, currently enrolled at Indian, is going to leave school and hopes to play basketball at a DIII school.  He plays much like Kristian but is a little taller.  If I am not mistaken he is looking at schools such at IBC, Aurora and North Central(?).  Maybe someone else can confirm this.

[petemcb]

I have also hear that Kristian's older brother John, currently enrolled at Indian, is going to leave school and hopes to play basketball at a DIII school.  He plays much like Kristian but is a little taller.  If I am not mistaken he is looking at schools such at IBC,

IBC?! What does bottled root beer have to do with anything?

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I have also hear that Kristian's older brother John, currently enrolled at Indian, is going to leave school and hopes to play basketball at a DIII school.  He plays much like Kristian but is a little taller.  If I am not mistaken he is looking at schools such at IBC,

IBC?! What does bottled root beer have to do with anything?

IBC? Que?  Root Beer?

Where's Indian?

is that the Carlisle school - where Jim Thorpe went?

[petemcb]

and Henry Boucha (first obscure hockey reference in the history of the board, perhaps?)