MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Hugenerd]

I don't have a lot for you but Albertus Magnus has received a commitment from who will quite possibly step in and become THE BEST player in the GNAC the day he plays his first game there.  Jefferson Lora, a 6'7" PF out of Lyman Hall HS decommitted from Central Connecticut State University (Division I Scholarship) and selected Albertus Magnus.  Lora, a top 20 player in CT (#19 as of the last rankings) is a stud, not too many GNAC teams have D1 caliber players on their rosters....

The only other commitment I have seen is Curtis Robinson, the #13 ranked senior in Vermont out of Proctor High School is headed to Rivier College...

Here is the article that broke is talking about:
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/803/Lora-Changes-Mind-Albertus-Magnus-Gets-Huge-Steal.php

[bmull]

Many thanks - anybody else?

[beaner11]

From What we do know, what are you preseason picks for league standing? Obviously Emerson and Albertus have to be on top but where do you see the league falling after that.

[beaner11]

Long time until Oct 15 but an early look at the GNAC.

Teams to beat:

Emerson...Going into their senior year, guard Jeremy Shannon and Bryan Rouse are dictating that the road to a GNAC championship must go through them. With both of the top returning scorers in the league and the lead assist man and a strong third option in Messenger, the Lions should be a force this up coming season. The only quetion is if the supporting cast can give enough support?

Albertus Magnus: Lost a couple of games the probably should have won last year, but most likely that won't be the case this year. With Jefferson Lora coming in to bolster a team of combo guard Walden St Juste, young high post and reigning ROY Ray Askew, and the potential emergence of post Andre Beckford. Albertus will be a threat and possibly the favorite for the GNAC crown. Did they gain enough experience on the perimeter though?

Staint Joseph's : The Monks, defending champs, return probably the most versitle player in the league in Ray Eatmon. The 6'5 W/P can do just about anything they ask of him. Also coming back is the athletic guard like Post Chris Davis and the wing shooting tandem of Petzy and O'brien. The question for them is how much does losing Elbie Murphy hurt them?

Team to watch:

Johnson & Wales : Johnson and Wales brought to the table a freshman heavy team. Their result, a sixth place finish in conference play. Not bad for a team relying so heavly on freshman. They should be able to build upon their success last year and be a strong team in the conference. Their question lay in the fact that they lost their two inside presences in Chrenshaw and Nicholson?

Emmanuel: Despite losing their top players in Rob Williams-Hinton and Mack Spellman, strong year from So Isiah Dukes, SR Mike Jackson, an JR Tyronne Buchannan have the Saints set for another strong bid at the GNAC. Expect strong play from Sophmore big men Andre Fuller and Eric Spanbauer. The question that the Saints have to answer is where will their perimeter shooting come from with the departure of their two star seniors.


Which way will they go?:

Lasell: This is the make it or break it year for the Lasers in their quest to be a perennial contender in the league. After losing Caravoulias, Fallon,  Sanival, and oh not to mention D3 All American honorable mention, POY Jose Giutian, the Lasers look decimate but do not let that fool you they still have plenty of talent in Sophmores Javon Williams and Kevin Richard , Junior Corey Goodfrey, and Senior Charles Horton. Still will the loss of Jose Giutian prove to much?

Rivier : As the Raiders wave goodbye to the likes of Felipe Lima, Lance Bission, and  Kevin Harrington they wave hello to a new set of problems such as replacing those guys. Rivier showed a little bit of promise in junior Nick Bean and sophmore Mark Williams but will they be enough to help them have another succesfull year?

On the rise:

Norwich: The Cadets are one of the few teams that return all five of their five leading scorers and all five of them played major roles on the team. The underclassmen heavy team should improve this year with another year of experience under their belt and Sophomore center 6'11" Robert Thurman anchoring the middle for them, one of three players in the conference to be name to a D3 team of the week. The question with Norwich is that other than Thurman no one else on the team is an upper level talent in the conference. They will be better than eigth this year, but how much better will they be without much talent?

Could be a long one:

Mount Ida - Center Otis Thompson has moved on along with a good amount of the squad from last year. Couple that with a below par season last year and thing aren't to promising for the Mustangs. Still senior guard tandem of Darren Martinez and Dave Santos should form a strong backcourt coupled with Sophmore Jerome Bunch. Still with no front court presence, this might not be Mount Ida year. Dave Santos can put points up and in a hurry but will his scoring be enough to carry the Mustangs.

Suffolk: Brian Small graduates and takes hope along with him. Suffolk has struggle in the recent past and this year does not look to be any better for the. Losing their scorer and rebounder hurts them and they do not quite have the depth to replace him. Allan Ray can score in a hurrry and the sharp shooting sophomore Mike Gibbons is a breath of fresh air for them but they just don't have the power. Suffolk always seems to throw a screw ball into everyones gameplans though upseting Lasell last year. Can they turn the upsets into series of wins?

09-10 Pre-Season Picks:

Champ - Emerson
POY - Jeremey Shannon (EME)
ROY - Jefferson Lora (AMC)
1st Team - Robert Thurman (NU),  Jeremey Shannon, Bryan Rouse (EME), Ray Eatmon (SJM), Lamonte Thomas (JW)



Any Thought........

[bmull]

Very grateful for your homework on the conference - it would be sweet if some SIDs or coaches would pump some transfer/frosh info into the pipeline. Thanks again.

[Ralph Turner]

Very grateful for your homework on the conference - it would be sweet if some SIDs or coaches would pump some transfer/frosh info into the pipeline. Thanks again.

In our part of the country, coaches and SID's don't like revealing that information until the 8th day of the fall semester, when the final day for withdrawing has passed.  This is to prevent opposing coaches from stealing the prospects.

[TheWord]

[


Norwich: The Cadets are one of the few teams that return all five of their five leading scorers and all five of them played major roles on the team. The underclassmen heavy team should improve this year with another year of experience under their belt and Sophomore center 6'11" Robert Thurman anchoring the middle for them, one of three players in the conference to be name to a D3 team of the week. The question with Norwich is that other than Thurman no one else on the team is an upper level talent in the conference. They will be better than eigth this year, but how much better will they be without much talent?

1st Team - Robert Thurman (NU),  Jeremey Shannon, Bryan Rouse (EME), Ray Eatmon (SJM), Lamonte Thomas (JW)



Any Thought........
[/quote]

I've been hearing this kid is TOO good...that he might go D1.....any thoughts?

[TheWord]

 According to the rumor mill in the San Francisco Bay Area, Robert may have signed with Stanford or Cal Berkeley...... that would be a MAJOR blow to the Cadets chances of anything better than last year... anyone hear something to this affect through GNAC sources?

[TheWord]

 According to the Antelope Valley Pressor Palmdale, CA, in a full page article on him 15 August, Robert Thurman has signed with UC Berkeley and Coach Montgomery. There was no question of his talent in D3, but we'll have to see how far he can get with 7'3" Max Zheng and a host of other 6'8"+ players. He'll more than likely Red SHirt, since he can't play in D1 without sitting out a year by NCAA rules.
Anyone out there have a reaction from the Cadets or Coach Booth about this?!?

According to the rumor mill in the San Francisco Bay Area, Robert may have signed with Stanford or Cal Berkeley...... that would be a MAJOR blow to the Cadets chances of anything better than last year... anyone hear something to this affect through GNAC sources?

[Hugenerd]

Here is that article:

http://avc-basketball-fan.spaces.live.com/

They incorrectly state that he received a "scholarship" to play d3 basketball.  Maybe he did get a scholarship, but it definitely wasnt for basketball, could have been academic since they emphasize his academics so much in the article.  Berkeley is a really nice place, good luck to him.

There appears to be similar information on this board:

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f98/robert-thurman-218211/

[All-around]

I was told that 6'5 Cori Boston (Charlestown, MA) who is now entering his senior year will be at Norwich. He previously played at Robert Morris and Merrimack I believe.

[bmull]

Friends   Now that players have been back on campus a few weeks, and the frosh are settling in to the college routine, could some SIDs give us the scoop on how things are shaping up for 09-10 - thanks!

[beaner11]

Looks like the rich are getting richer. The word is Kyle Kesses has been particapating in offseason workouts and will be playing this season.

[All-around]

Beaner---at what school?

[pjunito]

I think he is at Emerson, however, I don't know how that would help Emerson. If I am thinking of the right kid, he is from Connecticut and isn't that good of a player. He is a streaky shooter but can't create his own shot. Remember Emerson lost by over 25 points at home in the playoffs. I think teams in the GNAC will look at that game and really pressure Shannon and not allow him to win games. The secondary players must step up for Emerson to have a good year. If teams pressure Shannon, play physical with Emerson and can force them to play a up and down the court game, I can't see them hosting a game in the playoffs this year.