Other Articles in this Category
Most Viewed Stories
Most Commented Stories
Most Recommended Stories
Save & Share this Article
College Men's Basketball Capsules: Minnesota freshman White under suspicion again
Comments 0 | Recommend 0MINNEAPOLIS — Suspended Minnesota freshman forward Royce White is being investigated in the theft of a laptop computer from a campus dormitory room last weekend, a team spokesman said Wednesday.
"I don't have any real details other than the police are investigating a theft at a dorm and Royce's name came up," Gophers spokesman Garry Bowman said.
White already faces charges for allegedly shoplifting and shoving a security guard at a mall last month.
University of Minnesota Deputy Police Chief Chuck Miner said the laptop was stolen from a student's room at Territorial Hall on the East Bank campus about 8:30 p.m. Saturday. He said he couldn't confirm White is a suspect because the investigation is ongoing and because of state data practice laws.
"We have suspects at this time," Miner said. "Nobody has been charged or arrested."
White did not immediately return a phone message left Wednesday with a woman who identified herself as his mother but would not give her name. She declined comment and wouldn't say if White has an attorney.
Campus police are looking at surveillance video, talking to people and hope to finish their investigation in the next week or two, Miner said. He said the dorm room was not locked and there was no forced entry, but the burglary was reported shortly after it happened.
White is charged with misdemeanor theft and fifth-degree assault for allegedly shoplifting and shoving a security guard at the Mall of America on Oct. 13.
Coach Tubby Smith announced on Nov. 3 that he was suspending White indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
White sat out two preseason games, and Smith said White would not play in No. 25 Minnesota's opener Friday against Tennessee Tech. Beyond that, White's status is unclear.
White has a Nov. 17 arraignment scheduled for the mall incident. Bloomington police say Royce tried to steal a pair of pants and a shirt worth about $100 combined. When confronted, they say, he shoved a Macy's security guard several times and walked out of the store.
White was dismissed from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis for academic misconduct before finishing his prep career at Hopkins, where he led the Royals to the state Class 4A championship.
Charlotte's Shamari Spears suspended 1 game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte starting power forward Shamari Spears has been suspended for the season opener for breaking team rules.
Coach Bobby Lutz wouldn't disclose the violation in announcing the move late Wednesday. Spears will miss Friday's game against UNC Asheville.
Spears sat out last season after transferring from Boston College, where he played for two years. The Salisbury, N.C., native scored 26 points and hit all 12 free throws in an exhibition victory last week.
The 49ers will also be without forward An'Juan Wilderness Friday because of a calf injury. Freshman Gokhan Sirin will serve a one-game suspension for participating with a professional club team last summer.
Hawaii center Kurtz to miss first 6 games
HONOLULU — Hawaii center Douglas Kurtz must sit out the Rainbow Warriors' first six games because he played three games in a professional league in his native Brazil in 2007.
Coach Bob Nash said on Wednesday that he decided against appealing the NCAA ruling so that Kurtz and the rest of the team won't have to deal with the uncertainty of his status.
The 7-footer transferred to Hawaii from Marshalltown Community College in Iowa.
Hawaii opens its season Friday at its own Rainbow Classic against Southern Utah. Kurtz will be eligible to play for the Rainbow Warriors against Lamar on Dec. 6.
League Preview
Duquesne rebounding from shootings, bad seasons
PITTSBURGH — For years, it seemed as if Duquesne basketball knew nothing but failure, misfortune or tragedy.
The Dukes were one of college basketball's worst teams only four years ago, going 3-24 during a 12th consecutive losing season. Then, almost impossibly, it got worse — much worse.
Five players were shot, two seriously injured, in September 2006 during the worst act of on-campus violence to affect a major college sports team — more than one-third of the players were injured.
Somehow, a program that was nearly ruined by years of neglect, then left scarred by the shootings, not only is being revived but is prospering.
In one of college basketball's more remarkable turnarounds, the Dukes went 21-13 last season, reached the Atlantic 10 Conference final and took Virginia Tech to double overtime on the Hokies' home court before losing 116-108 in the NIT.
The Dukes haven't played in the NCAA tournament since 1977. They haven't been nationally ranked during any of their players' lifetimes. They're still not viewed as one of the A-10's powers — they're picked fifth in the preseason poll, behind traditional front-runners Dayton and Xavier.
Still, with four starters back from their first 20-win team since 1981, the Dukes suddenly find themselves dealing with ... success?
"And we have one of the youngest teams in the country," coach Ron Everhart said.
All but one of those four returning starters is a sophomore or a junior, led by 6-foot-7 junior forward Damian Saunders (13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds), a one-time Marquette recruit, and 6-3 sophomore Melquan Bolding (9.9 points), who committed to Louisville before landing at Duquesne.
Eric Evans, who scored 19 points in that NIT game, takes over for Aaron Jackson at point guard after averaging 9.8 points as a freshman. He'll be joined in the starting lineup by former walk-on Jason Duty, a senior who averaged 7.4 points, and 6-7 Bill Clark (12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds), the Dukes' most-improved player by season's end.
Jackson is the biggest loss. He finished off an exceptional senior season in which he averaged 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists by scoring 46 points against Virginia Tech in one of the best games by a visiting player in Hokies' history.
Jackson was the last of the players who had been shot to finish their careers at Duquesne, and he developed into a leader and playmaker who will be difficult to replace.
Even if Everhart believes he may already have his replacement.
Sean Johnson, a 6-2 freshman who was the MVP of New York City's Catholic high school league, probably won't start when the season begins, but it may be difficult to keep him out of the lineup. An excellent defender and shooter who can play point guard and shooting guard, he may be the school's best recruit since Everhart was hired nearly four years ago.
Duquesne, so undersized last year that it had only one starter taller than 6-5, also may have found a needed rebounder in 7-foot sophomore Morakinyo Williams. The surprise star of Kentucky's preseason scrimmage two years ago, he played so little as a freshman that he decided to transfer.
Rodrigo Peggau, a 6-8 freshman who showed promise last season before badly injuring a knee, also looks to be healthy — and, if he is, he also will be a big help on the boards.
The Dukes appear to have more depth than before in 6-5 swingman B.J. Monteiro, a former Connecticut high school player of the year; 6-2 sophomore Chase Robinson and 6-6 freshman Andre Marhold.
While the Dukes got off to good starts the previous two seasons (12-4 in 2008-09; 11-3 in 2007-08), they might not have as good a record in January, yet might be a better team.
Aware of how Temple plays a difficult schedule yet seems to improve as the A-10 season wears on, Everhart scheduled West Virginia and Iowa on the road, the usual in-city game with Pittsburgh, plus three games in three days in Cullowhee, N.C., later this month as part of the CBE Classic.
Duquesne hosts Nicholls State in the season opener on Friday night.
"It's going to be a big challenge to duplicate (the previous starts), but I think it's really going to help us in terms of the conference," Everhart said. "I'll put our non-conference schedule up against anybody's."
Now, the challenge for Duquesne after years of not being competitive is to raise itself to the level of the A-10's best teams. For a program that's been starved for success for more than 30 years, that's a whole lot more fun than losing.
-- Alan Robinson
Signings
Isiah Thomas signs 3 recruits to play for FIU
MIAMI — Isiah Thomas' first recruiting class at Florida International already appears to be the best in school history.
Thomas got three players to sign letters of intent Wednesday, including 6-foot-8 forward Dominique Ferguson — who originally committed to Kentucky and was ranked among the nation's top 50 prospects by multiple recruiting services.
Thomas called it "a special day."
DeJuan Wright, a 6-foot-4 guard who will transfer in from Gillette (Wyo.) Junior College, also signed. So did 6-foot-3 guard Richaud Pack of Birmingham, Mich.
Wright committed to FIU on the day Thomas was hired.
All three players will be eligible next season for FIU.
Michigan signs NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway's son
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan's men's basketball coach John Beilein says the son of five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway has signed a letter of intent to play for the Wolverines.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is a 6-foot-5-inch forward from Palmetto High School in Miami.
He averaged 23.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals last season.
Tulsa signs 3, including top Texas prospect
TULSA, Okla. — Conference USA favorite Tulsa signed three basketball players on Wednesday, including a top Texas high school prospect.
Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik signed guards Jordan Clarkson of San Antonio and Tim Peete of Memphis, Tenn., along with forward Blondy Baruti of Mesa, Ariz.
Clarkson has led Wagner High School to a 67-12 record the past two seasons and the 6-foot-4 guard is rated by one recruiting service as the fourth-best prospect in Texas. He averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game as a junior.
The 6-foot-4 Peete has helped Memphis Central High School to 72 wins the past three seasons. He averaged 14.4 points per game last season.
Baruti, a 6-foot-9 native of the Congo, was a high school teammate of current Tulsa guard Donte Medder. Baruit averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game in his first season of high school competition.
Angsomwine signs to play hoops at Oral Roberts
TULSA, Okla. — Ghana native Chris Angsomwine has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Oral Roberts next season.
Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton says the 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward will have two seasons of eligibility left. Angsomwine is playing this season for Kilgore (Texas) College after spending last season at Harcum (Pa.) College.
Sutton says Angsomwine will fill a significant need for the Golden Eagles, who will lose current senior Kevin Ford at the end of this season. Sutton says he wanted to sign an athletic big man to replace Ford and that Angsomwine is a shot blocker who can rebound.
Sutton says he hopes Angsomwine will use this season at Kilgore to further develop his offensive game.
Arkansas signs guard from Texas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Rickey Scott has signed on to play basketball at Arkansas.
Scott, a 6-foot-3 guard from Irving, Texas, averaged 18.3 points and 6.7 rebounds a game as a junior for MacArthur High School. Razorbacks coach John Pelphrey said Scott is a good student and will be a unique player at the guard spot because of his size and athleticism.
Scott has also been a standout football player as a high school sophomore.
Izzo: Recruiting class fits Michigan St. program
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says his latest recruiting class fits a program with five Final Four appearances in 11 seasons.
Keith Appling, a guard from Detroit Pershing, and Adreian Payne, a center from Dayton Jefferson in Ohio, are the most heralded of the four players signed by the Spartans Wednesday.
Izzo also likes the potential of Russell Byrd, a 6-7 swingman from Blackhawk Christian High in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Alex Gauna, a 6-9 forward from Eaton Rapids.
"This year's class really fits our needs," Izzo said. "We've got a banger, a couple of scorers and a lot of versatility. We got a couple of guys early and one late. And we're still recruiting and looking.
"There's a possibility we could take one more. It probably won't be early, though."
The 6-foot-2 Appling was the 2009 Associated Press Class A Player of the Year in Michigan. The guard averaged 23.9 points, six assists and five rebounds and led Pershing to a state title with a Finals-record 49 points on just 24 shots.
The 6-foot-10 Payne averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots for a 19-5 Jefferson High team. He chose Michigan State over West Virginia, Kentucky and Arizona, giving the Spartans a rare blend of size and athleticism.
The 6-foot-7 Byrd averaged 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds for Blackhawk Christian and showed exceptional shooting range. He attended all the major camps and joined Payne on Team USA Midwest at the Nike Global Challenge.
The 6-foot-9 Gauna averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for Eaton Rapids. He shot 62 percent from the field and brought the ball upcourt against pressure, despite being the biggest player on the court in every game.
"Keith has had an outstanding career and been very well coached," Izzo said of Appling. "They all have. Adreian has been ranked among the five best players at his position and the Top 25 overall. He's a unique kid. Everyone recruited him."
Fewer big-time programs sought Byrd's and Gauna's services. And that's just fine with Izzo, who liked what he saw last season and in summer competition.
"Byrd gives us incredible shooting ability with size," Izzo said. "He's a true guard. And Alex is a helluva player. He's the most underrated as far as having the chance to do some things. His best basketball is definitely ahead of him."
Izzo praised all three of his assistants, Mark Montgomery, Dwayne Stephens and Mike Garland, for their lead roles in the signings. But Izzo still worked as hard as any coach in the country, scouring the country and sealing the deal.
"It's not like we can shake a tree, have 7-footers fall off and win a championship," said the coach of the 2000 NCAA titleists and 2009 runners-up. "That's why I want to build something can't be destroyed, a place people are dying to get into and there are waiting lists for seats like at Duke, (North) Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky, where everyone knows that basketball is very important.
"We're mentioned with those teams now. But we're constantly trying to earn our keep."
Illinois adds 3 top recruits for 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A year after signing a class of recruits that helped pushed Illinois back into the Top 25 this season, Illini have signed three players considered to be among the country's 100 best.
Forward Jerome Richmond, guard Crandall Head — the younger brother of former Illinois standout and current Indiana Pacer Luther Head — and center Meyers Leonard signed letters of intent Wednesday indicating they'll join the 23rd-ranked Illini next season, Illinois basketball spokesman Derrick Burson said.
Coach Bruce Weber was not available for comment. He delayed a news conference to discuss the signings until Thursday because of Veterans Day, Burson said.
The 6-7 Richmond is from Waukegan High School in Waukegan. College sports Web site Rivals.com calls him the 36th best player among college recruits this year.
He'll be joined by Crandall Head, a 6-5 shooting guard from Rich South High School in Richton Park. Rivals.com considers him No. 81 on the list of the top recruits. Luther Head was part of the Illini team that went to the 2005 NCAA championship game, losing to North Carolina.
Leonard is a 7-0 center from Robinson High School in Robinson. He is No. 39 on Rivals' list of top recruits.
The Illini, who start play Friday against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, added four top recruits to this season's team: guards D.J. Richardson, Joseph Bertrand and Brandon Paul and forward Tyler Griffey.
Richardson and Paul are both expected to get serious minutes this season and, combined with returning junior Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale, a part of the reason Illinois is in the Top 25 and considered one of the Top Big Ten teams.
Buckeyes sign 6 highly touted recruits
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A six-player recruiting class, dubbed by some analysts as the best in the nation, has signed with No. 16 Ohio State.
The centerpiece is 6-foot-9 power forward Jared Sullinger from Columbus' Northland High School. The brother of former Ohio State player J.J. Sullinger is joined by his high school teammate, 6-6 small forward J.D. Weatherspoon.
Deshaun Thomas, a 6-7 native of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Lenzelle Smith, Jr., a 6-4 guard from Zion, Ill.; also became Buckeyes on the first day for the signing of Division I national letters of intent.
Rounding out the class are guards Aaron Craft from Findlay Liberty-Benton and 6-4 Jordan Sibert of Cincinnati.
Coach Thad Matta said all six are versatile players who come from winning programs that have won or played for state championships.
Hawks sign 4 prep basketball players
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa has signed prep basketball players Ben Brust, Cody Larson, Devyn Marble, and Zach McCabe to national letters of intent.
Brust is a point guard from Illinois who averaged 27.5 points per game last season.
Larson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Sioux Falls, S.D., was a first-team all-state pick in 2008-09.
Marble, a 6-foot-5 wing player, is the son of former Hawkeyes legend Roy Marble.
McCabe was a teammate of current Iowa post player Brennan Cougill. McCabe is from Sioux City and helped lead Bishop Heelan to a state title last season.
Hawkeyes coach Todd Lickliter praised his latest recruiting class for its skills, versatility and basketball knowledge.
Wednesday marks the start of the early signing period for recruits.
Penn St. signs Battle's half-brother, Buie
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State has signed touted high school guard Taran Buie to a letter of intent.
The 6-foot-2 Buie is very familiar with Happy Valley — his half-brother is Penn State junior and point guard Talor Battle.
The Nittany Lions say they landed one of the most highly sought-after recruits in the basketball program's history.
Buie led his high school team in Albany, N.Y., to a state title and two straight undefeated regular seasons. He and his family moved over the summer to State College, where he will play his high school senior year.
Scout.com listed Buie as the No. 28 shooting guard prospect in the country, while Rivals.com listed him at No. 32 at point guard.
Battle and Buie would play together for Penn State next year.
Gophers add 2 recruits for next year's class
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota men's basketball has added two more recruits for next season.
Wednesday was signing day for national letters of intent. The Gophers will give scholarships to 6-foot-11 center Elliott Eliason and 6-foot-4 shooting guard Austin Hollins.
Coach Tubby Smith is still recruiting for next year's class, so there could be more. The Gophers will lose three seniors from the current team, small forward Damian Johnson and shooting guards Lawrence Westbrook and Devron Bostick.
Eliason is from Chadron, Neb.
Hollins is from Germantown, Tenn. He's the son of Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.
The Gophers open the regular season on Friday against Tennessee Tech.
South Carolina hoop recruits ranked in top 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Darrin Horn signed five players for next year, a class that one recruiting service lists among the country's top 10.
The Gamecocks announced Wednesday they had signed guards Bruce Ellington, Brian Richardson and Eric Smith; and forwards Damontre Harris and RJ Slawson.
Scout.com put South Carolina No. 10 in the country. Rivals.com had the Gamecocks signees at No. 12.
The 5-foot-10 Ellington is considered one of the top point guards in the country. He averaged 28.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists his junior year at Berkeley High.
Harris, a 6-9 forward from Fayetteville, N.C., was rated as the country's No. 5 center according to ESPN.com.
Horn said his second full signing class moves South Carolina closer to where he wants it to be.
LSU gets 4 players in early signing period
BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU has landed commitments from four players during college basketball's early signing period.
The Tigers received papers from Matt Derenbecker, Andre Stringer, Jalen Courtney and Ralston Turner.
Derenbecker is a 6-foot-7 forward from Metairie who led Country Day High School to a state championship. Courtney is a 6-8 forward from Jackson, Miss., whose Provine High School also won state titles. Stringer is a 5-9 point guard from Jackson and was named Mississippi Mr. Basketball for 2009. Turner is a 6-6 shooting guard from Muscle Shoals, Ala.
LSU head coach Trent Johnson says Turner might be the best recruit in all of Alabama and that the addition of the four players should mean a bright future for the Tigers.
Wisconsin loses Blue but signs 3 others
MADISON, Wis. — After being spurned by hometown prep star Vander Blue, who changed his mind and signed with state rival Marquette on Wednesday, Wisconsin regrouped to pick up three other players.
The Badgers signed 6-11 center Evan Anderson, 6-8 forward Duje Dukan (pronounced DOO-yay, DOO-kahn), and 6-4 guard Josh Gasser.
Anderson averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game in an injury-shortened junior season for Eau Claire North, but still earned AP all-state honorable mention.
Dukan is from Deerfield, Ill., and is a native of Croatia. He is the son of Ivica Dukan, who is currently the Director of International Scouting for the Chicago Bulls, after playing professionally in Europe for 15 years.
Gasser averaged double figures in both points and rebounds in each of the last two seasons at Port Washington.
Prep star signs with MU after announcing for UW
MILWAUKEE — After announcing he would attend Wisconsin, prep basketball star Vander Blue changed his mind and signed with state rival Marquette on Wednesday.
Blue, a 6-4 guard from defending state champion Madison Memorial, is considered the best high school player in Wisconsin and a consensus top-40 prospect nationally.
His former Memorial teammate, Jeronne Maymon, is the reigning Wisconsin AP player of the year and now a freshman at Marquette. Memorial also produced former Golden Eagles star Wesley Matthews, who's now playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA.
Marquette also signed 6-6 Jamail Jones from Green Forest Christian Academy in Decatur, Ga., who will play at Montverde Academy in Florida this season.
Huskies add Bay Area HS star Desmond Simmons
SEATTLE — Washington has signed Bay Area high school standout Desmond Simmons to a letter of intent.
Coach Lorenzo Romar said Wednesday the power forward reminds him of energetic former Huskies team leader Bobby Jones.
Simmons is expected to enroll in time for the 2010-11 season.
Romar says the 6-foot-7 Simmons has mental and physical toughness and a "motor (that) is always running."
Simmons scored 31 points and 19 rebounds for Salesian High School of Richmond, Calif., in the Northern California championship game last spring.
He will join former Utah prep scoring leader C.J. Wilcox as additions next season. Romar has announced Wilcox will redshirt as a freshman this season.
Ephrata's Patrick Simon is newest WSU Cougars player
PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State has signed in-state recruit Patrick Simon to a national letter of intent to play next season.
New coach Ken Bone said Wednesday the 6-foot-8 forward from Ephrata is a great shooter who is likely to contribute immediately, primarily from the perimeter.
All three players signed by Bone since he took over the Cougars in April are from Washington.
Simon missed last season for Ephrata High School with a broken foot. Bone says Simon has recovered and was playing well all summer.
Simon was a first-team All-State selection as a sophomore while leading Ephrata to a 25-2 record and the state Class 2A championship. He averaged 13 points per game as a freshman.
Tide's Grant signs 2 out-of-state players
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Anthony Grant has signed two out-of-state players in the early signing period.
Grant said Wednesday that Kansas point guard Trevor Releford and Florida guard/forward Charles Hankerson Jr. have signed to play for the Crimson Tide next season.
He said both come from great high school programs and know what it takes to be successful.
Releford was rated the No. 11 point guard prospect nationally by Scout.com. He led his team to the 5A state championship game as a junior, averaging 18.6 points and 6.3 assists.
Hankerson is also rated a four-star prospect after averaging 21.6 points and six rebounds a game to lead Coral Reef High School to its first state title.
Virginia's Tucker takes indefinite leave
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett says senior forward Jamil Tucker is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team.
Bennett said in a news release Wednesday that Tucker needs time off to deal with some issues. The first-year Cavaliers coach declined to provide more specifics during a conference call.
The 6-foot-9 Tucker, from Gary, Ind., played in all 28 games and started four last year. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Virginia also will be without 7-foot center Assane Sene when it opens the season Friday night against Longwood. Sene is suspended for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.
Wildcats sign Daniel Bejarano
TUCSON, Ariz. — Guard Daniel Bejarano has signed with the University of Arizona and will report to the school in next fall.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Bejarano is ranked among the top shooting guards in the nation by recruiting analysts. He is a product of North High School, where he averaged 23 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a junior, leading the Mustangs to the state championship last spring.
Arizona State signs G Keala King
TEMPE, Ariz. — Keala King has signed with Arizona State and will join the Sun Devils next season.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard is among the top prospects in California.
King has transferred to Mater Dei High School for his senior year after playing for Dominguez High School, where he averaged 16 points per game last season.
Georgia's Fox signs Lalane from Florida
ATHENS, Ga. — First-year Georgia coach Mark Fox has landed another signee from Florida.
Fox on Wednesday signed 6-foot-8 forward Cady Lalanne — pronounced Caddy LaLANE — of Orlando's Oak Ridge High School. He averaged about 17 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks last year.
Lalanne is rated the nation's 21st best center by Scout.com and the nation's 37th best forward by ESPN.com.
Fox's first signee after he was hired by Georgia last spring was Vincent Williams of Homestead.
See archived 'Sports' stories »
We want our site to be a place where people discuss and debate ideas that foster stronger communities. We built this for you. Please take care of it. Tolerate broad thinking, but take action against obscene or hateful material. Make it a credible and safe place worth preserving and sharing.
