MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hats off to Quarry Greenaway who was named a D3Hoops.com 3rd Team All-American the other day. Very deserving of the honor and a nice topper to an outstanding career.

Between the last few seasons with Albertus and this season's team with JWU, say what you want about the bottom half of the GNAC but the team that goes on and advances to the NCAA tournament has represented the GNAC proudly and have combined to beat some very good teams and well established programs. Again we all know the GNAC overall is weak but I have no doubt that this conference because of how competitive and physical the in-conference games are amongst GNAC opponents that it prepares the conference winner for post season play more so then maybe other conferences.

Waiting on the D3Hoop.com all region teams as I suspect Shontaey Lovell will most likely be named the New England rookie of the year. I took a brief look around at some other programs and conferences within NE and while there were certainly a number of very good freshman within the region, if you look at Lovells entire body of work and the way he fills the stat sheet, I think you would be hard pressed to find another freshman contributing as much as he did this year for a young Albertus team that far exceeded expectations this season.

This team is going to make some serious noise next year and I can't wait to see how this young group improves and what Coach Oliver will bring in terms of recruitment. He tends to find 1 or 2 gems a year that make you scratch your head and say "how the heck is this kid at the D3 level in New Haven CT at a school with an enrollment of less than 1000 students"......I don't think enough has been said about what Coach Oliver has done here at this school and the 360 degree turnaround that this program has made under his leadership. It truly is extraordinary. I really wish the school and athletics department in terms of funding and overall support would get behind this program more. If you drive around CT you see Albertus billboards and advertising, you hear people talking about the basketball program.......honestly none of this advertising or excitement ever occurred before Oliver got here. Coincidence??? I think not!!

Did you ask the AMC SID if Lovell was nominated for All-Region?  Without that nomination he wasn't going to be considered.

Also, from my perspective, Lovell really tailed off towards the end of the year.  A lot of freshmen get tired by the end of the season and performance suffers.  He was very impressive in Nov and Dec, less so later on.  That matters.

That being said, it's not just Pat and Dave making those selections - it's a voting body of regional coaches, etc - who choose from all the nominees.  I know there's been a lot of back and forth about NE teams not being willing to play AMC - I have some doubts about those claims, but playing more teams from bigger conferences might help exposure.

[7express]

I've been able to get out and attend some of the state championships games going on right now in CT and I must say there is a ton of really talented players in this state. I saw quite a few players that I would consider legit prospects for D1, D2 and more than enough who could have really respectable D3 careers. I am sure Coach Oliver and all coaches for that matter are hitting the recruiting trail hard and preparation for next season and possibly the years to come. The CT State Finals are at the Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend. While I would love to attend I am not quite sure if that is the safest and healthiest trip for me personally  .....Basketball and Gambling. I'm afraid I may not ever come home 

+1 Junkie.  Now that I'm in coaching I've seen a lot of these teams and I've seen some great players.  There's a couple really good one's going to big time D-1 programs (I've seen people with scholarship offers at Northwestern & Wisconsin (Big 10), LaSalle & UMass (Atlantic 10), St. John's (Big East), Syracuse (ACC), and Auburn (SEC), not to mention the division 2 and division 3 programs).  It's going to be fun to follow their journey's through college either the players I've coached against, scouted for, or just watch because I knew how talented they were.

BTW Junkie, not sure where you, but I know there;s a couple of high school showcase events next week for the seniors: The first is next Monday (March 28) at Fairfield Ludlowe high school, the other is the 30th at the Sheehan Center in Bridgeport, and I think the JCC event is around April 16.  Girls have a showcase event this evening at North Branford high school

[D3HoopJunkie]

Hoops Fan........I did not ask the SID at Albertus if he was nominated but I can almost guarantee he was. In years past Coach Oliver and the SID have always taken care of this. We have had a number of players in the past few years represented on these teams and I don't see why this year that would have changed. I completely agree with your assessment of Lovell. He did slow down a bit in regards to his rebounding but his point totals and FG% (which is astonishingly high for a freshman) remains tops in the league. Certainly every freshman does hit the "wall" if you will at some point in there first season of college hoops but when you look at the overall body of work from start to finish I think Lovell has done more than enough to garner such an accolade. There were a few other freshman who could certainly push him for this award and the one that stood out to me most was Marcos Echevarria from Nichols College. He had an outstanding freshman season as well but in terms of his production he was a bit one dimensional. He was a shooter, and any avid fans of Nichols I am sure would argue that he did more than that as I only saw Nichols play twice the entire season but again when it comes to filling the stat sheet and your overall value to your teams success.....it's Lovell all the way

[D3HoopJunkie]

That being said......that kid Echevarria from Nichols can really shoot the ball. He has a smooth quick release and can really light it up. I was very impressed with his shot and he can do both in terms of spotting up or catching and shooting in rhythm.

[D3HoopJunkie]

7express......Thanks for the info. I just may have to check one of those Showcases out. Is it run by coaches throughout the state or is it basically "open gym" but more organized. Do they put the kids through drills and showcase particular skills? Or do they just run 5 on 5 games??

Either way I am definitely going to try and go......I was just curious to the format and with you being a coach and all I figured you probably know best

Thanks again!

[7express]

Junkie: It's an All Star game for the most part.  Think of the NBA All Star game minus about 150 points so instead of a 196-173 score you get like a 95-90 score.  But really pretty much no defense, and no offensive plays with the best seniors in the state.  It's pretty much a glorified "playground" game with officials.  There are coaches but they pretty much do nothing.  I was talking with my friend who coaches the Canton girls last night along with the Windsor Locks coach who coached in one of these games a couple years ago and they said they basically did nothing and just let the kids play.  Lots of 1-on-1 iso plays I saw last night-and that was girls, so I'm sure it's about the same in the boys game as well.  But it is fun because high school coaches, especially if they have any kids playing will go, regional area college coaches will go: either to look at their players they've signed or to look at others (because there are still a few players that are unsigned, and these are their last opportunities).  At the girls game last night I saw coaches from Adelphi, Emmanuel, Western Connecticut & Keene State were there, and I'm sure there were others that I missed.  Here's the roster for the CHSCA event at Maloney High school in Meriden tomorrow night.
http://www.gametimect.com/boys-basketball-chsca-star-games-held-march-23/
Here's the roster for the JCC game held on April 9 at the Sheehan Center in Bridgeport: http://www.gametimect.com/basketball-55th-jcc-schoolboyschoolgirl-classic-held-april-10/.  Most of the really good players from the CHSCA game will be at the JCC game as well (KeAndre Fair, Mark Carbone, Rich Kelly, and Robert Duran).  Not sure if I'll make it up to Maloney high school tomorrow night because we have nobody there, and I don't really know anyone there, but I'll definitely be at the JCC game on the 10th.

[7express]

Also Junkie, if you go to a showcase those two are the two main ones to go as those are the biggest.  Not sure what the two one's next week are but I think those are just for local players, not for players throughout the state, but if I find out differently I'll let you know.

[D3HoopJunkie]

Hold onto your hat's Falcon fans. I've just discovered that our great head Coach Mitch Oliver is a candidate for the Central Connecticut State University job. Obviously this is Division I and if he could somehow land the job he would replace a CCSU and CT coaching legend in Howie Dickenman.  This has officially turned into a very stressful next week or two as we sit tight and see what happens with their search going forward.

What an outstanding honor that would be for Oliver but yet such a heartbreaking loss for Albertus Magnus and the fans of this team.

[lildave678]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I forgot Dickenman retired...

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-state-college-notebook-0304-20160303-story.html

At least he wasn't mentioned here at the beginning of the month. Perhaps some of those candidates haven't panned out so now they've moved on to him?

[warriorcat]

If you scroll down to a story from yesterday Coach Oliver was not mentioned as those who were rumored to have been interviewed.  Interesting that Wesleyan's coach Reilly is mentioned in the article because he has a history with some of the people on the search committee.

[Saint-Paul]

that last post was so funny.  You guys are all worried about your coach leaving to take another job, and i am worried that my coach is staying.  Cannot understand why my guy gets his contract renewed losing year after losing year.  It must be that the administration just doesn't care about the athletic program.  I think that you guys will be ok,  CCSU will most likely hire a D-1 assistant from UCONN or UMASS.

[D3HoopJunkie]

I think we are safe from the CCSU job!! It appears Central CT will make their hire today according to an article in the Hartford Courant. Looks like its going to be Jay Young who was an assistant at Stony Brook and is coincidentally best friends with the AD from Central. Funny how those things seem to help and work out isn't it? LOL

Pat Sellers and Donyell Marshall are the other 2 finalists out of 60 who applied. A number were interviewed and from my understanding Oliver was one of them even though as warriocat mentioned above his name was not listed in the previous article of a handful that they chose to publicly released

I was really pulling for Coach Oliver here while at the same time deep down selfishly hoping he would remain at Albertus! The games are so entertaining and I love watching him coach and more importantly his team play.

Cant wait to here of any recruits considering or committing for next season already!

[Saint-Paul]

I would have to think that Albertus would be considered the favorite to win the GNAC next year.  JWU graduates almost everyone.  Same with Lasell and Anna Marie.  Emmanuel loses their big man who averaged a close double / double and also their only four year experienced small forward.  St Joe was very young and inexperienced but was also short on skill and talent.  Suffolk and Mt Ida did not beat any of the top teams this year.  Don't really see any surprises for next year.

[D3HoopJunkie]

I have to agree with you on that assessment Saint-Paul.

Albertus brings back a ton of talent and JWU and others lose quite a bit. Should be a very strong season for the Falcons. I wouldnt count the Wildcats out as they still have some quality players returning but overall the Falcons should be able to roll next year. As you mentioned, Lasell and Anna Maria lose a lot as well and the Monks of St. Joes don't have the athleticism to hang with Albertus or JWU.

That all being said.....those type of years scare me the most especially come conference tourney time. One slip up and your season is over because we all know the GNAC is a 1 bid league!!

[lildave678]

A buddy of mine told me Damian Grant from Wilby is headed to Albertus! Here is his Hudl tape:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4996715/damian-grant

As the school where Lemar Larsen came from, he's a similar mold. A bit less filled out (of course has time to grow) but a little more explosive I think. Has a knack for the ball and knows where to position himself down low. Hopefully he has the motor and drive Lemar did.