Another Live Weekend Upon Us

 

The Spring of 2012 was another “banner” year for NCAA Division 1 coaching changes.  To this point 40 jobs have changed hands with a few more to come as there are still vacancies at Grambling, Southern Miss, Brown and Virginia Tech.

Things only get better for the D1 Nation as many of the new hires are old friends of mine.  These are guys we’ve placed kids with in the past at other schools and in many cases had close relationships with young coaches that are now getting their first head coaching gigs.

Old friends includes Dave Pilipovich (Air Force), Doug Wojcik (College of Charleston), Jack Murphy (Northern Arizona), Tony Benford (North Texas), Jay Spoonhour (Eastern Illinois), Johnny Jones (LSU), Jim Christian (Ohio), Trent Johnson (TCU), Tim Miles (Nebraska), and Danny Manning (Tulsa).  I’m especially happy for Tony Benford who has paid his dues at Arizona State and Marquette amongst a list of stops and Jack Murphy who I first met when he was wet behind the ears as one of Lute Olson’s grad assistants at Arizona 10 years ago. The relationships continue to build to the benefit of the D1 Nation’s players.

Tulsa has lost it’s starting backcourt as both Texas D1 Ambassadors alums are moving on with the firing of Coach Doug Wojcik.  Freshman Eric McClellan has visits to Gonzaga, Vanderbilt and Marquette ( and possibly two others).  Meanwhile there’s a fly in the ointment for super soph Jordan Clarkson.  He’s been granted his release but Tulsa has refused to allow him to transfer to Vanderbilt, Arizona or Texas.  His appeal with the NCAA on this matter is scheduled for tomorrow.

Austin American Statesman’s Kirk Bohl’s touched on this yesterday.  It’s one of the travesties that the NCAA must address ASAP.  If they really act in the best interests of the kids, then the transfer rule needs to be fair and equitable.  Coaches can transfer to another job anytime they like (usually for a considerable raise $$$.  Kids already have to serve a one year penalty by being required to sit out.  I’m ok with that but to then have the ability to indiscriminately rstrict their transfers or to outright deny them is CRIMINAL.  Fortunately, now the media exerts a lot of pressure and guys like Bo Ryan at Wisconsin have been forced to release kids who desire a move because of the pressure of looking so bad in the public’s opinion.  Once again, I reiterate to all players.  It’s a business!  Do what’s best for you because once your eligibility is exhausted you’ll be an afterthought in all but a few cases. That’s my editorial for the day.-Max Ivany

The D1 Nation will be in Denver this weekend at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse (6 courts under one roof).  Talent level is high at the 16U and 17 divisions in particular.  D1 Nation players who will be in attendance this weekend who are ones to watch to already and/or have offers or a high level of interest.  If your name’s not on here I’ll look forward to adding it if your perfomrance proves you belong this weekend. 

2015 Players

2015 W 6’5″   C.J. Bobbitt               Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany   MM

2015 G 6’2″ Alex Carrick                 Oregon D1 Ambassadors  LM

2015  W 6′4″  Rashard Odomes    Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton  HM  (Texas Top 10)

2015 F 6’5″ Reece Wible                  Oregon D1 Ambassadors   MM

2014 Players

2014 6’7″  Hayden Cagle            Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton  MM

2014 5’11″ Chase Carlton           Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton  LM

2014 6’3″  Cameron Delaney    Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton  MM

2014 6’4″  Garrett Gray             Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton   MM

2014 6’6″  Ryan Shearmire      Oregon D1 Ambassadors  MM

2014 6’7″ Gabe Taylor                Oregon D1 Ambassadors   HM  (#1 in Oregon)

2014 6’7″ Roderick Taylor       Texas D1 Ambassadors-Carlton  MM

2014 6’3″ Trae Dilworth          Texas D1 Ambassadors -Carlton  HM (Texas Top 10)

2013 Prospects

2013 G 5’10″ Johnny Azzinaro  Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  MM

2013 G 6’4″  Bryce Alford           Danny Granger D1 Ambassadors  Elite  (New Mexico)

2013 G 6’3″  Rasmus Bach         Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse   LM

2013 G 6’0″ Darian Bostic        Texas D1 Ambassadors-Wingfield LM

2013 F 6’7″   Blake Danielak    Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  (Texas Tech)

2013 G 5’11″  John Gramlich    Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse  LM

2013 F 6’7″   Pierce Grisebaum   Texas D1 Ambassadors-Wingfield   LM

2013 F 6’6″  Eli Harrison            Oregon D1 Ambassadors    MM

2013 G 6’0″ Sam Haywood       Danny Granger D1 Ambassadors Elite  LM

2013 W 6’7″ Andre Hughes      Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  MM

2013 G 5’9″  Marcus Keene      Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany   MM

2013 F 6’5″  George King           Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  MM

2013 W 6’5″ Jacob McGraw      Oregon D1 Ambassadors MM

2013 G 6’2″  Will Morse             Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse  MM

2013 G 6’4″  Cullen Neal            Danny Granger D1 Ambassadors (St. Mary’s CA)

2013 G 6’0″  Napoleon Onyeje   Texas D1 Ambassadors-Wingfield  MM

2013 G 6’2″  Alex Ortiz                Oregon D1 Ambassadors  LM

2013 F 6’7″  Zach Overby           Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse  MM

2013 F 6’6″   A.J. Pulliam          Texas D1 Ambassadors-Wingfield  LM

2013 G 6’4″  Stefan Vidovic     Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  MM

2013 G 6’2″  T.J. Williams       Texas D1 Ambassadors-Ivany  MM/HM  (injured thumb)

2012 Availables:

2012 F 6’10  Jerred Kite          Danny Granger D1 Ambassadors Elite  LM

2012 G 6’2″  Cole Martinez    Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse   MM

College Coaches: Be sure to check the entire D1 Ambassadors rosters on this site.  New videos were added today on the player’s pages  for Rasmus Bach and Will Morse.