Central MS 30th Annual Summer Extravaganza

Thursday, July 19Mississippi ColiseumJacksonDoors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m.Tickets are $10 per adult and will be available at the door. Admission is FREE for all students and children (includes MSU students).

This is a great chance for all hoop fans to get a update for basketball. Rick gives a great report on the summer programs and what to expect for the upcoming season. Rick usually wanders through the crowd beforehand, so this is a great chance to talk to coach before things get to busy. I'll be attending and hope to see everyone there.

Jamont Gordon - A Point Guard Trapped in a Linebacker’s Body

Jamont Gordon isn’t your average size point guard, but then again he’s not your average basketball player either. Jamont weighs 40 more pounds than most point guards. Jamont sets himself apart from the competition because he is a triple double waiting to happen. No single player in college basketball did more for his team last season than Jamont Gordon. Jamont is a match up nightmare for college coaches. If you double team he’ll kick it out to one of our sharp shooters. If you put a big man on him he’ll post you up or blow by you for a dunk or lay up. And if that wasn’t enough he distributes the ball well and will go get rebounds. During the recruiting process, most people felt Jamont was heading to TN, but Jamont canceled his trip to Knoxville at the last minute, headed to Starkville and committed shortly after. As soon as Jamont arrived on campus, he was handed the reins by Coach Stansbury. The fan base has been up and down on Jamont, but after last season he is clearly the team’s leader. There is no question about it now, this is Jamont’s team. According to Rivals, Jamont will enter the season rated as the #1 point guard in the nation. Our perimeter players will be licking their chops every time Jamont drives the lane and draws a double team. There always seems to be a connection between MSU and players during the recruiting process. I learned during the NIT run that Jamont has been a long time friend of Dontae Jones, both hailing from Nashville, TN. The team’s ability to be in the hunt for a SEC title in February will hinge on Jamont’s play. Jamont has established himself as MSU's "Floor General". MSU fans need to enjoy Jamont next season, all things point to an NBA entry next year. We may never see another point guard at MSU with Jamont’s size and talent.

Looking foward to Atlanta

Its never too early to look forward to the SEC Basketball Tournament because all teams qualify. I have never been, but look foward to making my first trip this spring with my father and wife. It should be a good year to attend with our returning cast. Here is the schedule of future dates and sites:

2008 - March 13-16 Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome)
2009 - March 12-15 Tampa, Fla. (St. Petersburg Times Forum)
2010 - March 11-14 Nashville, Tenn. (Gaylord Entertainment Center)
2011 - March 10-13 Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome)
2012 - March 11-14 New Orleans, La. (New Orleans Arena)

There is as link for your viewing pleasure at the bottom of the blog of the tournament highlights. Does anyone have any favorite memories from the tournament?

Recruits on the Radar

One of the keys to to landing a top recruit is recruiting them early and often. One of the recurring themes for some of the top quotes from recruits is they started recruiting me my 9th grade year. Recruits like Ravern Johnson and Romero Osby have seen the MSU coaching staff in the stands as early as their 9th grade seasons. Here are some names that are on the radar for the next four years:

Shaunssey Smith 6'5" SG/SF Noxubee County HS- No doubt, the top recruit for the class of 09 in MS and one of MSU's top targets for the 09 class. I think MSU has the inside track on Smith, he is coached by former MSU player T. J. Billips. Shaun is athletic and has a very nice shot. Shaun has been offered by MSU and is getting attention from programs across the nation. Look for Shaun's list to grow over his last two HS seasons. I've seen Shaun at the Hump, so we know he has got a taste of the MSU expierence.

Class of 2010 (will be sophmores in HS)
The Jackson Metro area will be rich in talent for the class of 2010 and should dominate the class of 2010.

Dondrecous Nelson 5'11" PG Murrah
Stephon Smith 6'7" 210 PF Provine
Javerick Nelson 6"6" PF Callaway
Jalen Courtney 6'8" C Provine
Lavadius Williams 5'10" PG Forrest Hill

And last but not least the 9th graders, this is where the coaches lay the groundwork which they hope to hold up for four years until signing day. These players are hitting on the radar for the class of 2011.

Laquenton Ross
Tyler Adams
Marqurius Smith
Darrell Robinson

Beam me up Scotty

Rick Stansbury is putting together a recruiting class that is looking to be one of the finest ever at MSU. Rick already has two solid commitments and one of those is Scotty Hopson of Hopkinsville, KY. Rick has ruled the roost for many years when it comes to in state recruits, but Rick has reached across the bluegrass state and snatched one of top high school prospects in KY. You ask how, Scotty's AAU team (summer basketball league) is the Mid-State Ballerz, which alumni include the likes of Richard and Reginald Delk, Jarvis Varnado, and Barry Stewart. Rick has built a realationship with Ballerz coach Mike Artis and continues to milk the Ballerz pipeline. Scotty has been in and out of the good graces of the national recruiting sites. Towards the end of his junior season he slipped from as high as the overall #2 small forward in the nation. Lately, Scotty has been lighting the summer circuit up. He scored 35 pts at the 2007 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions and selected to play at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival with some of the best high school prospects in the nation such as Greg Monroe. With his performance this past weekend at the USA festival Scotty should be on his way back up the rankings. At the rate Scotty is improving he should have the MSU fan base buzzing. At the rate he is producing, Scotty could be the highest recruited player since Monta Ellis. Don't worry, the NBA rules work in our favor making one year of college mandatory where they haven't in recent years. Scotty is listed as a small forward but has been recruited to play the two at MSU. Scotty has a legitimate NBA shooting guard frame at 6'6" and 190 lbs. Scotty is lighting quick and if opposing players bite to hard on his shot fake, he will make them pay. Scotty has the athletic ability to rebound and block shots as well. Scotty has developed his perimeter game this summer and is a threat from beyond the arc. The best comparison I've heard is too Ron Mercer who played one year for Pitino's 96 championship team at KY and then went on to be the 6th overall pick in the NBA draft. Most of the Bluegrass state and surrounding programs were (and probally still are in denial) over Scotty commiting to MSU. Scotty will be a strong candidate for Mr. Basketball for KY and a Mcdonald's All American if his play he showcased through the summer continues into his senior high school season. Scotty commited early back on October 23, 2006 and still has the Bulldogs as a solid commitment. Scotty chose MSU over the likes of KY, Ohio State, Louisville, TN, Florida, AL, Clemson, Indiana, and Miami. I think Scotty has all the tools to be one of the most exciting players to ever wear a MSU jersey. The Hump will be filled with oos and aaws soon as he beams up Humphrey Coliseum for the Scotty Hopson Show.

Phil is ready, are you ready for Phil?

For the time being, Phil Turner has been a little know redshirt freshman guard at MSU. Phil hails from Grenada, Mississippi where he played for 5A Grenada High School and averaged 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals, and 2.1 assists a game. The Mississippi State Athletics website describes Phil as a "Versatile in-state wing product with a tremendous upside... Athletic backcourt performer who has a nose for the basketball on both ends of the floor... High-energy athlete who likes to go to the offensive boards in the mold of former State swingman Winsome Frazier... Possesses great quickness with very active hands on defense... ". According to the MSU coaches Phil is being groomed to spell Jamont Gordon at the point guard but can play the two guard as well. Having attended the pre-season scrimmage last year, I came away impressed with Phil's play on both sides of the court. Barry Stewart's play last season surprised fans and I anticipate Phil doing no less. Phil has shown he possesses the offensive skills needed as he scored 26 points at the SCORE International basketball team week long tour of Argentina. I sense Phil Turner's biggest role on the team will come from the departure of Richard Delk, arguably the team's best shut down defender on the wing. Phil's nose for defense will solidify his case for minutes as the season wears on. Phil sat on the bench his first season and will have the opprotunity come October, along with fellow teammate Brian Johnson to put his fingerprint on the 07-08 basketball season and play a role as the Dogs make a run to get back to the Big Dance. We know Phil Turner is ready, are you?

Humphrey Coliseum

There has been talk of expanding the Hump and building new practice facilities. All the bulldog faithful who make the trek to Humphrey Coliseum know its more than just brick and hardwood floors, it is something special. I attended MSU from 98-02 and spent countless hours before opening of the doors just to get a floor seat. Now I am a regualar season ticket holder and try to make the treck from Brandon, MS everyone chance I get. The Hump has been described by some opposing players as the hardest place to play in the Southeastern Conferance. Some of my fondest memories are at the Hump. The hair stands up on the back of my neck everytime I hear Dr. Flick say "To the Hump for Hoops". If you never been to the Hump it is an atmosphere that word don't do justice. Over the last couple of years I have found myself taking my deer club dues and putting it toward season tickets and gas money. The Hump is a special place to me and I don't see any advantages to the players or our fanbase by expanding the Hump. Lets focus on getting Coach Stansbury some state of the art practice facilities and keep the atmosphere that is feared around the SEC. What does the Hump mean to you and what impression has Humphrey Coliseum left on you?