Basketball from a fans perspective
Update
If you check the Roll Tide story published on Wednesday it must be updated. A portion dealt with Kobe Eubanks one of the basketball talents headed to Alabama. As the story was published Wednesday morning a change regarding Eubanks was announced the same evening. The NCAA Clearinghouse was unable to clear Eubanks and Coach Johnson says he will not enroll at Alabama. The status of this highly talented 6-5 prospect is in limbo, unable to enroll at the school of his choice. With such a short time period remaining prior to the start of school Eubanks only opportunity might be enrolling at a community college.
Big Blue Nation
6-10 power forward Sacha Killeya-Jones committed to Kentucky, the 4-star prospect is from Lynchburg (VA) and rated number 51 on Rivals Class of 2016 prospects.
Killeya-Jones stated Coach Cal was the reason he chose Kentucky rather than another school. I’m unsure if this was covered earlier however there is another prospect headed to Kentucky. Tai Wynyard also a 4-star prospect is a 6-9 power forward and the number 43 prospect in the Class of 2016. Wynard hails from the South Pacific island nation of New Zealand.
Nacogdoches
Pronounced Nak-uh-doh-chuh z is a city of almost 33,000 Texans and is located about 140 miles north-northeast of Houston and 90 miles southwest of Shreveport (LA). Nacogdoches is also home to a basketball power unfamiliar to most of the nation. The city is home to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks who compete in the Southland Conference. After serving as an assistant at several stops he assumed the helm of the Lumberjacks in 2013. His first team finished the season 32-3 18-0 in the conference. Last season in the 13-team league they led the way last season with a 29-5 record 17-1 in the conference.
Both seasons the Lumberjacks were selected for the NCAA Tournament. Underwood deserves credit for the school’s outstanding record but not completely. The Lumberjacks last sub par season was 2006-07 when they finished 15-14 overall and 8-8 in the conference. Because they play in a smaller conference the Stephen F. Austin doesn’t receive the publicity of Duke, Kentucky and others. If we could fast forward to March of 2016 it’s likely we’ll find the Lumberjacks in the NCAA Tourney once again.
Better than expected
Almost everyone expected the Heat to fall in a hole; you know that huge gap after the departure of LeBron James to Cleveland. They managed to finish the season with a
37-45 record despite injuries to key members. Chris Bosh had to shut it down after playing but 44 games and Dwayne Wade missed 20 games. Before he succumbed to injury the numbers Bosh put up were outstanding as he was no longer in the shadow of LeBron. With these two missing so much time who would step into the void, I’m glad you ask the question. Hassan Whiteside became Superman as he rushed to the rescue; the 7-foot center proved he could play after “drifting” around in a basketball waste land.
In addition Goran Dragic stabilized the point guard position in my view; Mario Chalmers is strictly a reserve player. They “stole” Duke’s Justise Winslow in the June draft, don’t expect eye-popping numbers from the youngster nevertheless he can play. In addition there is veteran Luol Deng at the small forward who will enter his second year with the Heat. There are several positives as the Heat look toward the 2015-16 season. The return of Bosh, Dragic for the entire year the continued development of Whiteside sees where I’m going? They need D-Wade to play more than 62 games. This team will not win the 2016 NBA Championship but should compete for a playoff spot. The Heat has one of the best basketball minds in Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra has grown in his role as head coach.
