Dominoes
He’s coming home, Michael Porter Jr. that is. In the winter of 2017 the number one prospect in the Class of 2017 was signed, sealed and delivered to the University of Washington. Look at the events, although Porter Jr. grew up in Columbia (MO) he was a Washington Huskie or so it seemed. The school hired his dad as an assistant coach; Coach Lorenzo Romar is his godfather.
This might not be in order however the series of events that found Porter Jr. at Mizzou are like dominos. Romar is fired by Washington; Porter Sr. no longer has a job. Porter Jr. asks for his release from commitment, brother Jontay de-committed to Washington. Cuonzo Martin is hired as head coach at Mizzou, Martin adds Porter Sr. to his coaching staff.
Late Friday afternoon word began circulating on the net Porter Jr. made up his mind---its official he’s headed back to Columbia (MO) home of Mizzou. I saw a comment making light of Mizzou hiring Porter Sr. allow me to go back in time. Once upon a time Page High School in Greensboro (NC) had an All-American player, his dad a former ABA player had moved into the coaching ranks and would become an assistant on Larry Brown's staff at Kansas.
The coaches son completed high school at Lawrence High and enrolled at Kansas University becoming an All American. Danny Manning would lead his team to the 1988 NCAA Championship, 50-year old Manning is head coach at Wake Forest. Ed Manning would remain on the coaching staff after his son left for the NBA and remained on his staff at the time Brown would become head coach of the NBA Spurs. Despite what you might believe this is not the first time a dad was hired as an inducement to recruit the son.
Subject to debate
This is going to create controversy and disagreement with several but here goes. The two best centers in the NBA were drafted by the Kings, the two best centers in the NBA no longer play for the Kings. The two best centers in the NBA were drafted in the same year (2010), one played at a basketball institution the other better know for football, give up? HINT: The names are backwards.
sucramed snisuoc and nassah edisetihw
The last time
I’m not going to report the latest LaVar Ball statement the one that prompted this account. I’m going to simply state I’m tired of reporting the insane comments he makes on a daily basis. ESPN is a co-conspirator always placing a microphone in front of his face. I hope to be a man of my word, I will continue to report on Lonzo and the other brothers. Going forward no more reports on the father of the brothers.
Who gets the job?
I believe the University of Indiana job belongs with the influential programs of the country. UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and perhaps Arizona are in the mix of elite basketball programs across the nation. Indiana needs a coach after terminating Tom Crean but who will it be? After Brad Underwood bolted for Illinois after but one year at Oklahoma State we have no idea. I always contend a number of youthful assistant coaches are striving to become head coaches however Indiana is not the job. The school is in the same position of Mizzou in that an assistant would not be hired.
Would Indiana guy Brad Stevens return to the collegiate ranks for this position? Stevens has made the transition to the NBA a success but he’s always appeared to be a guy more comfortable at the college level. Sticking with the NBA how about Billy Donovan, the Thunder haven’t raised their level of play and he’s another coach I could see return to college. I stated previously I cannot see Indiana guy Steve Alford returning to his roots, on the other hand Kansas State believed Bob Huggins would remain for “life.” They had no idea the opportunity to coach his Alma mater would see Huggins leave for West Virginia.
On second thought….maybe
I laughed out loud awhile back; a mock draft site by a CBS.com writer had the Lakers drafting Tacko Fall late in the first round. First of all there is no indication sophomore Fall is headed toward the NBA. Secondly as I pointed out at the time the youngster is extremely raw however at 7-6 and 300 pounds do you take a risk on him for the future? This account returns to a time Isiah Thomas was president of basketball for the Raptors he drafted a high school player.
Questioned at the time about the pick Thomas said; “We didn’t want to take a chance on missing out on a talent.” The Lakers with a trade have the 27th pick in the first round; Fall is scoring 11 points and grabbing nearly 10 rebounds a game. These are just average numbers but upward movement from his freshman year. We must keep in mind despite Tacko is 21 years old he’s only been playing basketball for five years.
