Recruiting: Nice Additions for Marist Men

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference programs.

Up now ....

MARIST MEN

- Chavaughn Lewis, 6-5 guard/forward, St. Mary's H.S./Manhasset, N.Y.

He averaged 23.9 points per game this past season and his team reached the New York State Federation Tournament championship game.

"He has the potential to be a prolific scorer," said Marist coach Chuck Martin. "His size and his uncanny ability to score the ball are tremendous. The sky really is the limit for him. He's the highest rated player from New York State I've ever recruited at Marist."

- T.J. Curry, 6-1 guard, Christ the King H.S./NYC

No high school statistics are available, although his scoring average was just slightly over double figures. Capable of playing both guard spots.

"He's made a living doing the intangibles," said Martin. "He's a proven winner and a strong, physical combo guard who imposes his will on the game. He can impact the game on the defensive end, and he has the ability to make open deep shots."


- Isaiah Morton, 5-8 point guard, St. Augustine (N.J.) Prep

He averaged 24.9 points and 9 assists as a junior, and 21.1 points as a senior.

"He's a prolific scorer from the point guard spot," said Martin. "He's going to be outstanding in the open floor. I think he's going to excel in our style of play."

- Manny Thomas, 6-5 guard/forward, Xaverian H.S./Brooklyn.

No statistics available.

"He's a long, athletic wing who can be terrific on the defensive end and keep people honest on the offensive end," said Martin. "His best days are ahead of him. We think he's going to make a tremendous impact on our program."

ANALYSIS: Marist needed height (only one likely contributor over 6-6 on the roster), and didn't get any. Thomas and Lewis are both perimeter players and won't help with the rebounding. Lewis has been listed as being 6-3 (not 6-5) in some reports, but will help a lot, maybe right away. He and Curry are best friends and a variety of sources indicated they would join a school as a "package." Several schools, some others in the MAAC, weren't willing to take both players. Morton might be the best of the bunch, even at 5-8. Height is important, but one of the league's all-time best players, Keydren Clark, was only 5-8, too. Marist's future progress will be predicated on Lewis and Morton. But, the program lost three players, through attrition, who would have been contributors this year. To expect freshmen to fill those roles isn't realistic. Provided everyone stays in place, better days for the Red Foxes are likely to begin in the 2012-13 season.

Recruiting: Key Parts for Canisius Women

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference programs.

Up now ...

CANISIUS WOMEN

- Brooke Angelos, 5-7 point guard, Villa Maria Academy of Buffalo

She averaged 12.7 points per game as a high school senior.

"Brooke is a tremendous all-around player who really understands the game," Canisius head coach Terry Zeh said. "Her ability to see the floor and defend on the perimeter will really help us at the guard position."

- Ashley Gomez, 5-8 guard, Murray Bergraum H.S., Brooklyn.

She averaged 8.0 points per game as a high school senior.

"Ashley comes from a storied high school program in Murry Burgraum," Zeh said. "She has a tremendous feel for the game and brings the ability to play multiple guard positions."

- Kayla Hoohuli, 5-10 guard, St. Mary's (Pa.) H.S.

She averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.2 steals and 4.3 assists per game as a high school senior.

"Kayla is a prolific scorer as we saw with her scoring 52 points in a playoff game," Zeh said. "She has the ability to shoot it from deep, score the basketball and is a great athlete who fits in well to our system."

- Ashley Wilkes, 5-11 forward, Miami-Dade Junior College.

She averaged 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game this past season.

"A powerful athletic forward, Ashley's ability to rebound the basketball in traffic and score will really help us," Zeh said.

ANALYSIS: Canisius already has plenty of young height, so the influx of perimeter players should help. Wilkes is the lone forward of the incoming foursome, but she is a true power forward, and an experienced one with two years of JC play, and should help right away. Hoohuli was named to the 40-member Parade All-American team, and she is believed to be the only player thus honored to ever join a MAAC program. Her high school statistics are astronomical. By all accounts she should be ready to play and contribute right away. Angelos is a true point guard and joins a team that was lacking at that position last year. Gomez can play both guard spots. This is a good class that joins an already young and building team that should get the Golden Griffins into championship contention in the not-so-distant future.

Reruiting: Transition for Canisius Men

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference programs for the coming season.

Up now ....

CANISIUS MEN

- Freddie Asprilla, 6-10, 275-pound center, transfer from Kansas State.

Asprilla averaged 4.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game at Kansas State in 16 games last season before a "mutual decision" was made that it was in his best interest to leave that program. Initially announced that he would pursue professional opportunities in South America before he opted to attend Canisius in order to complete degree work. Due to transfer rules, he is not eligible until the 2012-13 season and has just one year of playing eligibility left.

- Jose Agosto, 6-6 Forward, Gatlenburgh (Tenn.)-Pittman H.S.

He averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a high school senior.

- Josiah Heath, 6-9, 230-pound center, Irondequoit H.S., Rochester, N.Y.

He averaged 21 points and 16.6 rebounds per game as a high school senior.

- Jordan Heath, 6-10, 225-pound center, transfer from Robert Weslyan College of Rochester.

He averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game at Robert Weslyan, an NAIA-level school, this past season. He has two remaining years of eligibility, beginning in the 2012-13 season. He is the older brother of Josiah Heath.

- Isaac Sosa, 6-3 guard, transfer from Central Florida.

He averaged 8.0 points per game at Central Florida this past season as a junior. Over three years there he has made 190 3-pointers. He has one remaining year of eligibility beginning in the 2012-13 season.

- Franklin Milian, 6-4 guard, Our Savior New American School of Long Island.

He averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game as a high shool senior.

- David Santiago, 6-4 guard, transfer from American University School in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

He averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds per game as a freshman at the Puerto Rico school in the 2009-10 season. He was at Canisius this past season and, as per transfer rules, was allowed to practice with the team. He is eligible to play this season.

- Kevin Bleeker, 6-10 enter, BV Noordkop Club Team of Holland.

He just competed in the under-18 division of the European Championships earlier this month and averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in five games.

- Harold Washington, 6-1 guard, transfer from Cecil (Md.) Community College.

He averaged 13 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this past season. As a junior college transfer he is eligible immediately.

ANALYSIS: No conference program has more incoming players, and no program needed them more than the Golden Griffins, who graduated five seniors who made major contributions to the team this past season. The problem, though, is that three incoming players are transfers from four-year schools and won't be eligible until 2012-13.

So, let's start with everyone else. Josiah Heath, by most reports, might not be an immediate contributor but has future potential and much needed size. Agosta, a well-built forward, appears capable of contending for early playing time. The others ... Milian, Santiago and Washington ... are guards. Washington, a JC transfer, appears most-likely to get significant minutes early. It should also be interesting to see how Santiago adjusts from playing in Puerto Rico to competing at the U.S. college level, although a year of practicing with the Griffs this past season likely helped. There is no way of knowing if the 6-10 Bleeker can help out right away, but the history of foreign big men impacting programs at this level early in their careers isn't in his favor.

The Griffs' returning strength, though, is perimeter players. While the incoming guards don't hurt, the program needed height. And, most of that height, particularly Asprilla, is a year away.

Asprilla is an interesting newcomer in a lot of ways. First, his size (6-10, 275 pounds) and talent level far surpasses what the MAAC usually sees. Then again, there are reasons why Canisius will be the fifth college he'll attend (one year at Florida International, one semester at Miami-Dade Junior College, one semester at Cloud (Kan.) Community College and a year at Kansas St.). He's a gamble, but he has the type of talent coaches are willing to take that gamble with, even if only for one season. When he graduates (May, 2013), he will be 25 years old.

The elder Heath has nice statistics, but they were recorded at the NAIA level, where the level of play traditionally equates to somewhere between the NCAA's Division II and Division III.

Sosa, if nothing else, is an effective long-range sniper.

This certainly will be an interesting year of transition at Canisius, with the blending of newcomers who can play right away with the addition of the non-eligible transfer players. If everyone stays in place, the Griffs could be a very interesting team to watch in the 2012-13 season.

Niagara Women Recruits Should Help

Here's another in the series looking at new players joining conferene teams.

Up now ....

NIAGARA WOMEN

- Lauren Gatto, 6-2 center, transfer from University of Illinois-Chicago.

A native of Pittsburgh, Gatto averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as a college freshman, including a career-high seven rebounds in a Nov. 2008 meeting with Niagara. She is a true post player.

- Gabby Baldasare, 6-1 G/F, Vincentian Academy of Pittsburgh.

Baldasare won the 2010-11 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class A Player of the Year and was named to the first team all-conference and first team all-state during her senior season for the Vincentian Academy Royals. Baldasare was an instrumental part of the 2010-11 Royals team that went 21-1 and unbeaten (10-0) in the WPIAL Section 2 Class A. As a junior, Baldasare averaged 14 ppg and helped lead the Royals to a 19-8 record en route to the WPIAL Class A championship and advanced to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (PIAA) semifinals. No senior season statistics are available.

“Gabby is great at all facets of her game playing at the high post,” said Niagara coach Kendra Faustin said. I see her being very successful in transition and hitting the boards.”

- Meghan MGuiness, 5-10 G, Middletown South H.S., Lincroft, N.J.

She averaged 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a high school senior.

"Meghan is a tireless worker and her strength and skills reflect that,” Faustin said. “She is an all-around player who can handle the basketball, pass and really shoot it well.”

- Val McQuade, 6-0 G, Shaler Area H.S., Pittsburgh.

She averaged 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a high school senior.

“Val is a gifted, tough, tall guard with a high basketball IQ,” Faustin said. “One of her best attributes to our program is she is able to really stretch defenses with her shooting ability."

- Kelly VanLeeuan, 5-9 G, St. John's College, Branford, Ont.

Van Leeuwen helped the St. John’s College Green Eagles (Brantford, Ont.) to consecutive Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (CWOSSA) titles. The 2010-11 team went 36-6 and won the 2010 Brant County crown on its way to defending its CWOSSA championship. The Green Eagles were seeded second in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) AAAA Tournament where they advanced to the bronze medal game; Van Leeuwen led the team with 22 points. She has championship experience nationally, too. She led Team Ontario to the Canadian under-15 girls’ championship in 2008.

"Kelly is a student of the game and has remarkable discipline and work ethic,” Faustin said. “She understands the value of the basketball and is an excellent passer, which makes those around her better.”

ANALYSIS: No team in the conference needs help more than Niagara, which went 0-18 in league play and 1-29 overall last season. But, it's on the way particularly with Gatto, an inside player who should have a big impact right away. Niagara has struggled on the boards in reent years, but the program has brought in height with Gatto and freshmen Baldasare and McQuade. And, VanLeeuwan and McGuiness both bring the prospect of offensive firepower. The four freshman and the transfer (Gatto) should help turn things around for Niagara.

Transfers To Impact Two Women's Teams

Some of the best players to ply their wares in the MAAC have come via transfer from higher-level programs.

Luis Flores of Manhattan began his career at Rutgers, came to the MAAC for his sophomore season and was twice the conference's Player of the Year; Andre Collins spent three years at Maryland before transferring to Loyola where he led the MAAC in scoring as a senior.

Loyola's front court right now, a good one with center Shane Walker (who began at Maryland) and Erik Etherly (Northeastern), is made up of two transfers.

Ryan Schneider played three years at Vermont before transferring to Marist, where he had an all-star caliber senior season.

And, so it goes. Nearly every conference program has benefitted from a transfer from a four-year school.

But, notice, that "trend" has occurrred almost exclusively on the men's side.

It doesn't happen as often for women's programs. Outside of Maureen Magarity, who initially played at Boston College before transferring to Marist (where her father, Dave Magarity, was serving as the men's coach), your hoopscribe can't think of another truly impact women's transfer. Please feel free to use the comment section to jog my memory.

But, suddenly, two women's programs have added transfers who, by all accounts, should be standout players when each becomes eligible in the 2012-13 season.

Two months ago Marist was able to bring in Tori Jarosz, a strong post player who saw limited time this past season as a freshman at Vanderbilt. Listed as either 6-foot-2, or 6-3, Jarosz is a true center who impacts games at both ends of the court.

She not only joins the conference's strongest program, but fills a tough-to-find position ... a true inside player ... at this level. She will have three seasons of eligibility once she can begin playing in games.

The other impact transfer landed at Siena recently as 5-8 point guard Janine Davis joined the Saints after playing two seasons at George Washington University. She will have two seasons of eligibility remaining starting in 2012-13.

Davis, a native of Jamaica, N.Y., appeared in 28 games (13 starts) at GW as a freshman and led the team in assists. Her time as a sophomore was limited due to some injuries.

Prior to college she was ranked the 20th-best high school point guard in the country, with a Scouts Grade of 90, according to ESPN HoopGurlz, while she played at St. Michaels' Academy. She led that program to New York State's Federation Tournament championship.

A Look at Niagara Men's Reruiting

Here's the first in a series examining players joining MAAC teams, either via traditional recruiting or through a transfer situation.

Your scribe will offer opinions of players he knows something about, whether through personal observation on the AAU circuit, or by word of mouth from sources who have seen the player involved.

And, now, the annual cautionary note: We all love to talk about new players coming into the conference. They bring a fresh sense of hope, a promise of great days on the court.

But please remember that this is an inexact sience. For every impact transfer, like former Manhattan star Luis Flores or former Loyola standout Andre Collins, there are at least an equal number of players dropping down to the MAAC from higher-level conferences who don't have much of an impact. No need to name them.

And, highly touted recruits coming in directly from high school or prep school don't always have the expected flash.

But, some highly overlooked players often becomd the conference's biggest surprises. Your scribe remembers a certain undersized guard a few years back who accepted the only real Division I level offer he received.

That offer came from Saint Peter's, and the player was 5-foot-8 Keydren Clark. All Clark did was lead the nation in scoring in consecutive seasons and become one of just a very select group of players with 3,000 career points.

Anyway, our recruiting reports have no particular order. We'll just concentrate on one program at a time, doing the same for women as for men.

First up ...

NIAGARA MEN

- Ali Langford, 6-6, 225-pound forward from Allen Hancock Junior College in California.

Langford averaged 21.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in junior college this past season.

"He is a high-energy, fill-up-the-stats-sheet kind of guy," said Niagara coach Joe Mihalich, about Langford. "He is undersized, but is all over the floor."

- Juan'ya Green, 6-3, 200-pound guard, Archbishop Carroll H.S. (Pa.)

He averaged 21 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game as a junior this past season, and drew recruiting interest from, among others, Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph's, Maryland, George Mason and Drexel.

"He is one of those players that gets you excited when he has the ball in his hands," said Mihalich. "When he doesn't have the ball, you an't wait until he gets it back."

Ameen Tanksley, 6-4, 175-pound guard, Imhotep harter School, Philadelphia.

A swingman at the high school level Tanksley averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks per game this past season. He also drew interest from, among others, Hofstra and VCU.

"He doesn't have a position ... he is just a player," Mihalich said. "He is extremely versatile and beats you any way he can."

ANALYSIS: Langford is likely to be an immediate contributor, and Niagara's fortunes this season could depend on just how much he's able to contribute. The Purple Eagles need help inside, and he seems capable of providing it. Green and Tanksley are both highly sought-after perimeter players. Niagara was already fairly well-stocked on the perimeter, but head coach Joe Mihalich certainly knows how to use guards and has never been adverse to using unconventional lineups to succeed. Overall, a nice incoming group that should help Niagara return to winning seasons in the foreseeable future.

An Early Look at How They'll Finish

Here's the annual commercial break to advise readers to purchase the upcoming College Basketball Annual issue of The Sporting News.

Although it will hit newsstands everywhere in late September, printing deadlines required an early July submission of league previews.

Your hoopscribe, as I have been doing for more than a decade, provided the preseason look at the MAAC.

I will say, hopefully with full objectivity, that The Sporting News' college hoops preview magazine is the best of its kind out there. It only contracts with correspondents who actually cover leagues they write about. In my case ... well, I've been covereing MAAC basketball in some form or other since 1989.

Anyway, The Sporting News does not permit its writers to duplicate its previews elsewhere. So, you'll have to buy the magazine to read the MAAC insights.

That said, here is a very brief synopsis of how I picked the order of finish for the 2011-12 MAAC regular-season standings ... you'll have to buy the magazine to see my picks for Top player, newcomer, coach and the preseason all-star team:

1) Iona. Mike Glover and Scott Machado are two of the top five players in the league and both are seniors. A strong supporting cast also returns.

2) Fairfield. As much talent as any team, but also much transition in a new coach and two eligible transfers.

3) Loyola. Just about every player of significance returns except graduated point guard Brian Rudolph. Shane Walker and Erik Etherly are a nice inside duo.

4) Rider. Novar Gadson poised for a big senior season and incoming transfer Jeff Jones is eligible and should have a significant impact.

5) Saint Peter's. Four seniors graduated, yet Blaise Ffrench and Chris Burke should step up, other role players return and transfer guard Chris Prescott, now eligible, will provide scoring.

6) Niagara. Antoine Mason is healthy, Marvin Jordan had a nice rookie year, many role players return and recruiting has helped.

7) Siena. Rakeem Brookins should have a big year, but several freshman from the incoming six-person first-year class will need to contribute.

8) Manhattan. Jaspers could finish higher as trio of George Beamon, Mike Alvarado and Rhamel Brown is above average.

9) Canisius. Guard Gaby Belardo is the only significant returnee. Griffs have several incoming transfers who aren't eligible until 2012-13.

10) Marist. The defection of three key players since last season all but ensures the Red Foxes will struggle once again.