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While We’re Young (Ideas) – October 31

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The Top 25 for NCAA College Basketball 2021-22

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s Halloween, the eve of All-Saints Day a.k.a All Hallows’ Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows. Others think of it differently, with all due respect to the Roman Catholic Holy day of obligation, says this disciple of the great Hall-of-Fame St. John’s head coach, Louie Carnessecca.

For college basketball fans, it’s officially MIDNIGHT M🏀DNESS!

Lately, college basketball is a lot like Halloween as prominent coaches and their recruiting assistants and runners repping bigtime schools go house-to-house “trick-or-treating” for players – once committed to another school – but now in the transfer portals.

In 2018, the NCAA put in place a new rule that college student athletes can transfer one time without having to sit-out a season. The system is in place and popular for college soccer players and for men’s and women’s basketball, in particular. There are favorable transfer portal rules for graduate transfers and for the players left behind by a coach who was either fired or moved on to a better position or more money. Also, because of the pandemic, the NCAA has allowed student-athletes an extra year of eligibility and that has been reason for some players to look to transfer.

Depending on the coach and the program (sans the IVY League which doesn’t fool around with such nonsense), the recruitment of a transfer can fill a hole in a program, replace an injured player, replace a player who might’ve dropped-out or other circumstances that require relocation. Note: Here is an interesting compilation of the transfer portals researched and provided by Athletic Director U.

Although the rules provide for an immediate return for programs that seem “one player away,” many college coaches don’t actively shop the transfer portal., including the likes of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, a Hall-of-Famer.

According to AD U, Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman has nearly perfected a system to project how a low-major player will perform at a high major, an “Up-Transfer” to a tough competition conference, such as the SEC. He did the same when he was successfully coaching Nevada in the Mountain West.

What is quite interesting is a good look at the annual preseason college basketball rankings. A tough task, yes, but the Associated Press, the College Basketball Coaches and the bible of college basketball, the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook all do their very own Top 25 predictions.

On first look, all three are very similar in their rankings. Additionally, the listings include the “usual suspects,” those college basketball juggernauts that we all find in the 68-team NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament every March.

To save time and space, our parent publication, Digital Sports Desk, crunched some numbers and created a “Consensus Top 25,” utilizing the three polls cited above while adding insights and observations from college basketball media days, player updates and trends.

Here is the 2021-22 Consensus Preseason College Basketball Top 25:

  1. Gonzaga
  2. UCLA
  3. Kansas
  4. Villanova
  5. Texas
  6. Michigan
  7. Purdue
  8. Baylor
  9. Kentucky
  10. Duke
  11. Illinois
  12. Memphis
  13. Oregon
  14. Alabama
  15. Arkansas
  16. Houston
  17. Tennessee
  18. Ohio State
  19. Florida State
  20. North Carolina
  21. Maryland
  22. Auburn
  23. St. Bonaventure
  24. UConnecticut
  25. Virginia

Keep an Eye On: Mississippi State, Indiana, USC, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The bible of college basketball noted above, Chris Dortch’s Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, is a must-purchase for every hoops fans. Media members contribute and benefit from the enormous amount of work and research provided by the editorial staff headed by editor/publisher Chris Dortch. This columnist can’t remember the last time a college basketball season began without the yearbook in the home office. One reporter refers to the day Blue Ribbon arrives as “the best day of the year.” with respects to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, The Breeders’ Cup, BIG EAST Thursday & Friday, March Madness Thursday, and Final Four Saturday, no one disagrees.

This year Dortch wrote, “For the second consecutive year, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the production of this book challenging. But, in 41 years of publishing, we’ve faced down many potential roadblocks. Some we’ve faced head-on and overcome, others we’ve had to devise a work-around.” … Dortch also wrote about Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski who announced this would be his last year coaching college basketball and Blue Ribbon dedicated its cover to Coach K. … You can get your very own (we recommend the spiral bound and digital download combo) Blue Ribbon by visiting their online site HERE. You can also read about the college basketball news all season long by subscribing to Blue Ribbon on this Substack platform.

COLLEGE COACHES AND OTHER ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK: This week, in a salute to the great career of Duke’s Coach Krzyzewski, we’ll provide a list of the Top 10 coaches in college basketball. Next week, we’ll delve into the BIG EAST conference.

While We’re Young (Ideas) Top 10 College Basketball Coaches 2021-22: There’s no other place to start than with Coach K, who not only guided Duke University to great heights but also helped restore the pride and winning ways of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team.

  1. Mike Krzyzewski (Duke)
  2. Mark Few (Gonzaga)
  3. Jay Wright (Villanova)
  4. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
  5. Bob McKillop (Davidson)
  6. Eric Musselman (Arkansas)
  7. Chris Beard (Texas Tech)
  8. Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)
  9. Ed Cooley (Providence)
  10. Tony Bennett (Virginia)

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Also: Our PGA Tour Brunch will return in the new year of 2022 with the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Sign-Up HERE.

Happy Halloween.🎃

Baseball Series: The Shot Heard Around a Local Neighborhood

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By TERRY LYONS

ATLANTA – Welcome to Game 3 of the Unincorporated Community of Cumberland Series. After two games at the Harris County Series, Major League Baseball will stage its first pitch of the first truly local, everyday series with the Harris County Astros tied with the Cumberland Braves, 1-game apiece.

Embed from Getty Images

Gone are the days of the World Series and amazing feats like the Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff which brought the 1951 NY Giants to an early version of the Local Series, called a Subway Series which was lost to the New York Yankees in six games. Gone are “I can’t believe what I just saw” moments, as no one will see it.

“We don’t market our game on a nationwide basis,” said Manfred as the series opened in Harris County, Texas. “Ours is an everyday game, you’ve got to sell tickets every single day to the fans in that market. And there are all sorts of differences among the clubs among the regions as to how the games are marketed.”

That is certainly true and to be fair to MLB and Manfred, he was explaining how every MLB club must compete in each MLB town to attract fans, sell tickets and get TV eye-balls on their regular season games. It’s a difficult task multiplied by 81 home games in the heat of summer, the cold dampness of April in the northern USA cities and the sad reality of being 20 games back in September for the cellar-dwellers.

Manfred was defending MLBs attempt to be “apolitical,” Yet, and in all seriousness, with the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 World Series, baseball found itself in the State of Georgia where they left this summer’s All-Star Game behind to make a stand against the obvious voter suppression laws being enacted by state lawmakers in reaction to the upset election of two Democratic United States Senators (Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock) in a State run by a Republican governor. The All-Star Game went to Denver, Colorado and baseball found itself right, smack in the middle of politics in these formerly United States.

Apolitical?

Let me say this,” Manfred said. “It’s harder than it used to be. It sure is.”

That brings us to the Braves, the club name and the (adopted from the Florida State Seminole fans) Tomahawk “Chop.”

“We have 30 markets around the country. They’re not all the same,” said Manfred. “The Native American community in that region is fully supportive of the Braves program, including the chop. And for me, that’s kind of the end of the story.”

Note to PR practitioners: When someone hoping to end a story says it’s “kind of the end of the story,” the public relations people still have a story and potential crisis on their hands.

While scores of athletic programs (college mostly) dropped mascots and program nicknames like, “Warriors, Redmen, and Indians,” and the North Dakota Fighting Sioux dropped their college nickname and have yet to replace it, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish look on.  Two professional teams found themselves as the major focal points of the politically incorrect position of promoting their franchises as the Cleveland Indians (MLB) and the Washington Redskins (NFL).

The Redskins made the PC move to become the Washington Football Team two seasons ago but are yet to come up with a suitable team name. The Cleveland Indians made the announcement that they would become the Cleveland Guardians but were recently sued in U.S. District Court by a Roller Derby team claiming ownership of the word “Guardians.”

No matter what the case may be, someone, somewhere and somehow will be offended – some rightfully and others trying to make a fuss or a buck but the Braves and Astros will play Game 3 of the Series of the pastime formerly known as national.

NHL Fines Chicago Blackhawks $2M for Botching 2010 Harassment Incident

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official League News Release). – The National Hockey League fined the Chicago Blackhawks $2 Million for the organization’s inadequate internal procedures, along with an insufficient and untimely response in the handling of matters related to former video coach Brad Aldrich’s employment with the team and ultimate departure in 2010. The league and the Blackhawks have decided that $1 Million of the fine money will be dedicated to fund local organizations in and around the Chicago community that provide counseling and training for, and support and assistance to, survivors of sexual and other forms of abuse.

The NHL’s substantial fine comes after a review of an independent investigative report conducted and prepared by the law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP. The league said in a statement it “has reviewed the report and is satisfied as to its methodology and thoroughness.”

The investigation was conducted independent of interference or other influence from the Blackhawks, the NHL or any other third party. Said the NHL statement, “The scope of the investigation was broad and comprehensive, involving the interviews of 139 witnesses and the review of all relevant documents and records that remained available for inspection. We are comfortable that the Report provides an accurate account (or at least as accurate as possible) of the events that transpired 11 years ago.’

The report is primarily focused on the club’s response (or lack of response) to an incident brought to senior management’s attention in the Spring of 2010, when the Blackhawks were competing in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which involved then-current video coach Brad Aldrich. According to the Report, based on available evidence and recollections of those involved, Aldrich was involved in a sexual encounter with another individual in the organization (a player), which some described as a sexual assault and others described as consensual. Unfortunately, as a result of the club’s inadequate and delayed follow-up upon learning of these events, as well as the sheer passage of time, it is now difficult, if not impossible, to determine the specifics of the incident with any adequate degree of certainty. Nevertheless, and regardless of the precise nature of the incident itself, it is recognized and must be acknowledged that the respective employment roles of the two involved individuals (coach and player) rendered the encounter — even if it was consensual — problematic and inappropriate.

The report describes in detail a meeting that was convened among members of the team’s senior management on May 23, 2010, following the clinching game of the 2010 Western Conference Championship Series. The meeting involved (at various times) six individuals from then-senior management, including then-President John McDonough, then-Senior Vice President Jay Blunk, General Manager Stan Bowman, then-Senior Director of Hockey Administration Al MacIsaac, then-Assistant General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, and then-head coach Joel Quenneville. (Jim Gary, at the time a mental skills coach for the Blackhawks, was also present for the beginning of the meeting, but departed upon making his report.)

According to the report, after discussion of the alleged incident and how the club should be dealing with it — including the potential options of initiating an investigation, notifying appropriate members of the team’s Human Resources department, ensuring the immediate separation of Aldrich from the club’s players, among other things — ultimately the determination was made and direction given that Hockey Operations personnel should devote their exclusive attention to on-ice matters heading into the Stanley Cup Final, and that other appropriate club personnel within the organization would take responsibility for “handling” the Aldrich situation in a prompt and appropriate manner — which, as subsequent events make clear, did not happen.

Specifically, the report concluded, “after being informed of Aldrich’s alleged sexual harassment and misconduct with a player, no action was taken for three weeks…While there was a lack of recollection as to whether anyone else present in the meeting besides [the club’s president] needed to or would take any additional steps, nothing was done by the other senior leaders to address the situation.” The failure to promptly and thoroughly investigate the matter not only violated the Blackhawks’ own sexual harassment policy in effect at the time, the decision to take no action from May 23 to June 14, [2010] had real consequences, including allegations involving an additional unwanted sexual advance by Aldrich to a Blackhawks’ intern before he was ultimately separated from the club.

“We acknowledge that the Blackhawks have taken responsibility and ownership for what transpired, and have already implemented new preventative measures, as well as committed to additional changes that may be deemed appropriate as part of its responsive plan of action to the investigation and Report,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in the statement. “Such steps have included, but were not limited to: (i) retaining independent counsel to conduct a thorough investigation into the facts surrounding the 2010 allegations and the sufficiency of the club’s response thereto; (ii) reviewing the club’s internal policies, procedures and practices, including its internal operating structure and management personnel, to ensure a best-in-class approach going forward; and (iii) implementing various changes and upgrades to its internal procedures and personnel, including by adding enhanced subject matter expertise, creating more stringent reporting obligations, developing new and modernized employee handbooks, and implementing more comprehensive training and education programs.

“Having said that, this fine represents a direct and necessary response to the failure of the club to follow-up and address the 2010 incident in a timely and appropriate manner,” Bettman continued. “And, this response should send a clear message to all NHL clubs and all NHL personnel that inappropriate acts must be addressed in a timely fashion. In that regard, we also reiterate that the League has implemented a confidential and anonymous Hot Line, which is available at any time to all NHL personnel.”

Importantly, the report makes clear that senior management’s handling of the alleged incident included a failure to report the matter to Chicago ownership, both as to what was alleged and how it was being handled. This failure only highlights the flawed and inadequate procedures the Club had in place at the time to deal with an allegation of this type.

“Additionally, we are faced with determining whether the imposition of league discipline is appropriate for the club’s senior leaders at the time who were specifically referenced in the Report. As to four of those individuals (i.e., John McDonough and Jay Blunk and, as of today, Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac), they are no longer employed by the Chicago Blackhawks and are no longer employed in the league. Should they wish to re-enter the NHL in some capacity in the future, I will require a meeting with me in advance of their accepting any NHL club-related position in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place,” Bettman said.

“With respect to Messrs. Cheveldayoff and Quenneville, who are currently employed by NHL franchises other than the Blackhawks (the Winnipeg Jets and the Florida Panthers, respectively), I plan to arrange personal meetings in the near future with both individuals to discuss their roles in the relevant events as detailed in the report.

“I will reserve judgment on next steps, if any, with respect to them.”

While We’re Young (Ideas) – October 24

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Final Wrap on All Things NBA 75

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The “official” NBA75 listing was published by the league this week.

There were nine NBA legends that made the While We’re Young (Ideas) list that DID NOT MAKE the official listing. Obviously, the Denver Nuggets and Kentucky Colonels’ alum, and the ABA overall, made much more of an impression on this reporter than the NBA committee members, as three Nuggets greats and four former ABAers were with us and none with them. Here’s the full list cross-referenced:

While We’re Young (Ideas) had:

  1. Vince Carter
  2. Alex English
  3. Artis Gilmore
  4. Connie Hawkins
  5. Tommy Heinsohn
  6. Dan Issel
  7. Bernard King
  8. David Thompson
  9. Jamaal Wilkes

Looking at it the other way, the NBA 75 had:

  1. Carmelo Anthony
  2. Anthony Davis
  3. Dave DeBusschere
  4. Damien Lillard
  5. Jerry Lucas
  6. Chris Paul
  7. Gary Payton
  8. Dennis Rodman
  9. Dolph Schayes
  10. Bill Sharman

Note: The one person discrepancy lies with the fact the NBA named 76 players.

COACHING TREE: To tie this all in a sweet, 75-year-old bow, two additional aspects of the anniversary team should be examined – Coaching and Play-by-Play broadcasters.

At the NBA@50, only 10 coaches were honored. They were:

  1. Red Auerbach
  2. Chuck Daly
  3. Bill Fitch
  4. Red Holzman
  5. Phil Jackson
  6. John Kundla
  7. Don Nelson
  8. Jack Ramsay
  9. Pat Riley
  10. Lenny Wilkens

Since only 10 coaches were named at year 50, WWYI will add only THREE more to the list above for NBA 75. The opinion here places these two coaches into the hall of glory:

  1. Hubie Brown
  2. Gregg Popovich
  3. Erik Spoelstra

While the great, Sports Emmy award winner in Turner Sports studio anchor Ernie Johnson Jr. was noted as a key contributor to the successes of the NBA in our listing last week. That prompted a final NBA at 75 list of 12 of the league’s Greatest Play-by-Play commentators, a list of artists who brought the games to millions of fans. Here’s one columnist’s opinion of the best of the best in the industry:

  1. Marv Albert
  2. Mike Breen
  3. Jim Durham
  4. Ian Eagle
  5. Marty Glickman
  6. Mike Gorman
  7. Chick Hearn
  8. Al McCoy
  9. Brent Musburger
  10. Johnny Most
  11. Dick Stockton
  12. Joe Tait

There are MANY other deserving (radio and TV) voices of the NBA teams over the years, far too many to mention but Eddie Doucette, Hot Rod Hundley, Bill Schonely, and Bob Wolff are listed with apologies while Bob Costas and Curt Gowdy are to be honored in Baseball. There are also a fair number of NBA team play-by-play commentators who were somewhat exposed by the advent of NBA League Pass (TV and audio) and the amount of complaining about referee calls is second only to the players themselves who seem to whine about every call.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: According to France’s L’Equipe and Spanish EuroPresse, EuroLeague Basketball denied possible creation of “an NBA division in Europe,” although it has admitted a three-way meeting last month with the NBA and the FIBA. The intention of the meetings were, “joining forces to increase the popularity of basketball in Europe,” confirmed related parties attending the meeting. As both the NBA and FIBA ​​have confirmed, executives from the three parties (FIBA, NBA and EuroLeague Basketball) met in Madrid in September. … Spain’s highly regarded sports section in “Marca” ran a front page story with banner headline, “The NBA Lands in Europe,” but EuroLeague Basketball quickly shot down the possibilities.

FIBA (International Basketball Federation) went a bit further with a statement that specified the meeting was only to discuss “the unification of European basketball, divided between the Euroleague, the private professional league, and International Federation competitions such as the Champions League (BCL). The International Federation also said in a statement that monthly meetings would now be held on the subject.

The NBA commented, but kept the discussions close to the vest, stating: “We were recently invited to initiate discussions on how we can work together to develop basketball in Europe. We look forward to participating to further these discussions in the future.”

Said Marca, “A European NBA with a Western Conference (clubs in Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom, the Benelux region, Germany, Austria and the northern countries such as Poland or Sweden) and an Eastern Conference (with clubs in Russia, Turkey, Greece, the Baltic States, Israel, Romania etc. “would be fire.”

The speculation of the idea was presuming the entity would run on its own and not interact for in-season games with the NBA in North America. In other words, it would run similar to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) that began this year on the African Continent.

NOTE: See While We’re Young (Ideas) to subscribe for the full notebook, sent every weekend.

Costacos Collection Opens with “Say Hey” Willie Mays Digital Artwork

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SEATTLE – Say Hey, it’s Willie Mays and John Costacos with the very first offering in the new Costacos Collection of Digital Art. The recently introduced collection will feature one of the most respected legends in professional sports, Baseball Hall of Famer Mays. The 90th Birthday Celebration drop will take place Sunday, October 24, as an ode to Willie’s iconic number and two days before the start of the 117th World Series. For the fifth year, the MVP of the Fall Classic will be recognized as the “Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player.”

Willie will be donating all proceeds from the drop to his Say Hey Foundation’s effort to honor the people who gave him a start in life, by establishing a baseball academy for underprivileged youth where he grew up in Alabama, and to restore the historic baseball facilities at Rickwood Field where Willie started his career with the Negro League Birmingham Black Barons.  Mays said, “I’ve never forgotten the people who supported me, taught me, and helped me find my way.  I want every child to have the same chances that I had, and this gives me a way to do that starting in my original hometown.  Rickwood was the first place I ever got to see professional ballplayers, and I want these kids to learn the game and be inspired the way I was.”  Rickwood Field itself serves as a central theme of the drop’s art.

The first drop tells the story of Willie’s path to the majors, from Fairfield Industrial High in Birmingham, to the Negro American League, culminating with his move to the New York Giants with whom he would win the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951. The various edition pieces capture the key themes and statistics of those periods, and the 1/1 hero piece adds to the story with a number of never-before-seen personal documents and images from Willie’s journey – most notably, a copy of Willie’s high school diploma, in which he was assigned a career in “cleaning, dyeing, and pressing.” Willie recalls that all Black kids were assigned trade careers, while white kids “on the other side of the barbed-wire fence” were able to choose their paths and professions. Willie’s journey to becoming one of America’s most beloved sports figures and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was only possible because of baseball and the people of Fairfield and beyond who helped him chart a different path.  The NFT art piece includes a voiceover in which Willie’s powerful story is told by an iconic voice of sports, Bob Costas, who will join Mays in donating to the baseball academy and Rickwood Field restoration project.

“In the mid-1960s, I learned to read a box score by stealing my dad’s paper to see what magic Willie Mays had done the night before,” said Costacos Collection founder John Costacos. “Yet with all the historic moments in his career, Willie, the humblest GOAT you’ll ever meet, asked us to focus not on his 24 All Star Games, 2 MVP awards, World Series victory in ‘54, his 12 Gold Gloves or 660 home runs – rather, he saw this as a unique opportunity to pay tribute to his roots and earliest days growing up in Fairfield, Alabama. We’re honored to partner with the great Willie Mays and to give fans an opportunity to connect with the legend through one-of-a-kind digital art in support of the Say Hey Foundation.”

HoopHall: Abdul-Jabbar Watch List ’22

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is celebrating the 2021-22 college basketball season by unveiling the watch list for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“Rounding out the Men’s Starting Five watch list is the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Mr. Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most accomplished and decorated athletes of all time, so it is truly fitting to have his name associated with such a prestigious award. As a strong advocate for education and character, he brings a significant and meaningful perspective when evaluating talent and we truly cherish his involvement.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). As a professional, Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time NBA All-Star and the league’s all-time leading scorer. In 2021 The NBA created the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award, which honors players who are making strides in the fight for social justice.

College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just 5. In March the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

The winner of the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award, in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include two-time winner Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).

2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates*

Walker Kessler Auburn
Nick Muszynski Belmont
Mark Williams Duke
Colin Castleton Florida
Chet Holmgren Gonzaga
Kofi Cockburn Illinois
David McCormack Kansas
Oscar Tshiebwe Kentucky
Ahsan Asadullah Lipscomb
Qudus Wahab Maryland
Jalen Duren Memphis
Hunter Dickinson Michigan
Armando Bacot North Carolina
Moussa Cisse Oklahoma State
Nate Watson Providence
Zach Edey Purdue
Osun Osunniyi St. Bonaventure
Myles Johnson UCLA
Fardaws Aimaq Utah Valley
Liam Robbins Vanderbilt

Sports Biz: NBA Extends HBCU Support

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NEW YORK –  (Staff Report from Official League News Release) – The NBA will extend and expand its ongoing commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with new programs designed to create greater opportunity for students and alumni, encourage economic advancement and further celebrate their rich traditions.  As part of this partnership, the NBA will develop new programs and events focused on the HBCU community – specifically around professional development, career advancement and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions.

The NBA is committed to supporting the growth of the next generation of leaders from the Black community.  HBCUs – which produce 20 percent of the country’s Black college graduates but only account for three percent of all colleges in the United States – have historically been under-resourced, averaging one-eighth the size of endowments of historically white colleges and universities.  The NBA’s programming will advance educational, career and economic opportunities in collaboration with HBCU networks, and will focus on three areas:

New Fellowship Program for Career Development:

  • Starting in 2022, the NBA and its teams will offer a new paid fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students.  The program, which will be led by the NBA Foundation, will offer HBCU students the opportunity to gain real-life insights and professional experience around the business and operations of basketball.  The students will work in positions at the league office and NBA and WNBA teams, and be matched with a league or team employee mentor as part of their experience.  Applications for the program will open on Careers.NBA.com in the coming months.

NBA HBCU Classic:

  • Building off the success of NBA All-Star 2021, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) will once again highlight the HBCU community during NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland.
  • The celebrations will be highlighted by a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup between Howard University and Morgan State University men’s basketball teams.  The game will be played at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland on February 19, 2022 and will be broadcast live.
  • During NBA All-Star, more than $1 million will be contributed in support to the HBCU community through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and academic institutions.  Additionally, HBCUs will be showcased through unique content, storytelling and special performances.

Additional Programs:

  • The NBA, G League and Basketball Africa League will leverage their pre-Draft combines and showcase events for HBCU players, coaches and athletic trainers.  These engagements will increase exposure and opportunities to pursue professional basketball careers.
  • The league will expand the NBA’s targeted referee development strategy to leverage existing programs and focus on identification, training and educational opportunities for HBCU students and alumni in the officiating pipeline.
  • The NBA 2K League will host events with HBCU networks to introduce students to careers in gaming and esports, creating pathways for students to pursue careers in the growing industry.
  • HBCU alumni and Black entrepreneurs will partner with the league as part of the NBA’s commitment to onboarding more minority-owned businesses as league licensees.
  • The NBA will air special alternate game telecasts this season featuring interactive enhancements on League Pass and will work with HBCU schools to provide special experiences around those select games.

These new efforts will bolster the league’s support of HBCUs and their students through additional scholarship programs, business case competitions, mentorship, networking and internship opportunities with partners, teams, the NBA Foundation and other members of the NBA family.  Former NBA Commissioner, the late David Stern, served as a founding member of the TMCF Board of Directors for more than 30 years.

HoopHall: Karl Malone Award Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is celebrating the start of the 2021-22 College Basketball season by unveiling is annual Top 20 watchlist for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of20 candidates.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually recognize the best student-athletes in the collegiate game with positional awards bearing the names of some of the greatest players of all time,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEOof the Basketball Hall of Fame. “To be named to the watchlist of the Naismith Starting Five is a great honor and I know our Hall of Famers sincerely enjoy the opportunity to watch these players compete. We thank Mr. Malone for his unwavering support over the years and the unique perspective he brings to ultimately selecting a winner.”

Karl Malone attended Louisiana Tech University due to its close proximity to his hometown of Summerfield, Louisiana. Heled the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and earned All-Southland honors in his three seasons while averaging 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Malone achieved great success during his 19 seasons in the NBA as a 14-time NBAAll-Star (1988-98, 2000-02), 11-time All-NBA First Team player (1989-99) and a member of the NBA’s 50th AnniversaryAll-Time Team. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996).

College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just 5. In March the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).

2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Candidates*

Azoulas Tubelis Arizona
Jabari Smith Auburn
David Roddy Colorado St.
Paolo Banchero Duke
Drew Timme Gonzaga
Trayce Jackson-Davis Indiana
Kenneth Lofton Jr. Louisiana Tech
Eli Scott Loyola Marymount
Darius Days LSU
Donta Scott Maryland
DeAndre Williams Memphis
Dawson Garcia North Carolina
EJ Liddell Ohio State
Quincy Guerrier Oregon
Trevion Williams Purdue
John Fulkerson Tennessee
Tre Mitchell Texas
Isaiah Mobley USC
Jayden Gardner Virginia
Keve Aluma Virginia Tech

HoopHall: Dr. J Award Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official New Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is tipping off its interaction with the 2021-22 college basketball season by unveiling its watch list for the 2022 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“With the new season on the horizon, we could not be more excited to watch the stars of the collegiate game take the floor and do what they do best,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We encourage fans to support their favorite players by participating in the Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies. These prestigious awards are not possible without the support of the fans, Dell Technologies, our knowledgeable selection committee, and the Hall of Famers they represent.”

Julius Erving attended the University of Massachusetts and averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, making him one of only six NCAA men’s basketball players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. After two seasons, Erving made the jump to the American Basketball Association and was the league’s most recognizable player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four most valuable player awards and three scoring titles. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just 5. In March the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Erving and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).

2022 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates*

Marcus Bagley Arizona St.
Matthew Mayer Baylor
Kendall Brown Baylor
Jabari Walker Colorado
Hyunjung Lee Davidson
AJ Griffin Duke
Matthew Cleveland Florida State
Jalen Wilson Kansas
Lucas Williamson Loyola-Chicago
Emoni Bates Memphis
Caleb Houstan Michigan
Justice Sueing Ohio State
Ron Harper Jr. Rutgers
Julian Champagnie St. John’s
Harrison Ingram Stanford
Timmy Allen Texas
Kevin Obanor Texas Tech
Jaime Jaquez Jr. UCLA
Patrick Baldwin Jr. UW-Milwaukee
Jermaine Samuels Villanova

HoopHall: Jerry West Award Watch List

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is tipping-off the 2021-22 college basketball season with its annual watch list of players for the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

“As we enter our eighth year of the Naismith Starting Five, we’re excited as ever to watch some of the best collegiate student-athletes in the country compete at a very high level,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized on a preseason watch list. Each of the young men nominated for this honor has undoubtedly worked extremely hard to be in this position and should feel an immense sense of pride in their achievements. That being said, a player can be added to the watch list at any point in the season, so Mr. West and our committee are eager to evaluate talent as we return to on-court action in the coming weeks.”

West attended West Virginia University and averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in his three varsity seasons. He led his team to the NCAA Championship game in 1959 and was named a consensus All-American in 1959 and 1960. In the summer of 1960, he was co-captain of the U.S. men’s basketball team and won an Olympic gold medal. As a professional player, West played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers making the All-NBA First Team 10 times. West won an NBA championship in 1972 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team not winning the championship. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just 5. In March the five finalists will be presented to Mr. West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Candidates*

Jaden Shackelford Alabama
Bennedict Mathurin Arizona
Adam Flagler Baylor
Hunter Sallis Gonzaga
Ochai Agbaji Kansas
Kellan Grady Kentucky
Taevion Kinsey Marshall
Eric Ayala Maryland
Landers Nolley Memphis
Isaiah Wong Miami
Eli Brooks Michigan
De’Vion Harmon Oregon
Jaden Ivey Purdue
Matt Bradley San Diego St.
Jared Rhoden Seton Hall
Buddy Boeheim Syracuse
Andrew Jones Texas
Terrence Shannon Jr. Texas Tech
Johnny Juzang UCLA
Justin Moore Villanova