The WAC late on Monday

Jeff Eisenberg provides a feature on the Leon Rice-ing of the Boise State basketball Broncos -- go here.

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AW Prince at Silver and Blue Sports offers an update interview with Wolf Pack recruit Kevin Panzer -- a sub is required.

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Among Jeff Goodman's latest Twitter tweets:

"Brady Heslip told FOXSports.com he is leaving tomorrow for official visit to Georgetown and then will go to Baylor. May also go to Hofstra."

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Jared Eborn checks in with his take on the Heslip situation.

Just asking: anyone else thinking about "Waiting For Godot"?

Here's Nick Jezierny on the Graham move

Nick Jezierny has the best coverage on Greg Graham's departure:

Boise State fires basketball coach Greg Graham
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
3/12/10

Greg Graham got the Boise State men’s basketball team back in the NCAA Tournament and set a school record for wins in a season with 25 and became the second-winningest coach in program history.

He took the Broncos to two other postseason tournaments and had an excellent track record for graduating players in a sport that often has trouble with the student part of student-athlete.

Despite those successes, Graham couldn’t win with the fans. They stopped buying season tickets and going to games as attendance at Taco Bell Arena hit an all-time low this season at 3,061 fans per game. Boise State sold 3,675 season tickets this season, the lowest total that the school has on record...

Go here for the remainder.

We have a favor to ask of Bronco fans. Please do not type the name Reggie Theus in any posts from your respective keyboards. There is as much a chance of him heading to Boise as there is of Wild Bill Sproat earning a Mr. Universe title. Period. Case closed. Actually, case never opened.

Also, the hunting and fishing would be great as far as Bob Knight is concerned but, hey, it ends there. Why would anyone think Knight would have interest in basketball at a football school -- let alone why AD Gene Bleymaier would even consider bringing aboard a smouldering volcano sure to explode in the near future?

Get your game reports here

Boise State kept it close into the second half but Utah State then kicked it into another gear as Tony Jones reports. He reports here that Kyle Gibson is gutting it out but nowhere near his usual capacity. Per Tony, going Green was a wise choice by Stew Morrill.

Shawn Harrison offers his game report here. Wade Denniston joins the Brian Green fan club.

Jared Eborn was also in Reno and filed this take on the game. Again, Brian Green receives recognition for his contributions.

Here's Nick Jezierny with his report on the game.

Maybe this is an overstatement but does Green flourish on any other team/in any other offensive sustem in the WAC? PTW thinks not. Green is not one to create for himself or others on the dribble drive -- he is a catch-and-shoot offensive talent who needs space in order to get off his shot. His strengths dovetail well with Morrill's offensive schemes and the unselfishness of the other USU players. So a tip o' the hat is due to Morrill for forseeing this when probably every other coach was wondering about Green's signing by the longtime Aggie mentor.

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Chris Murray reports on the Nevada win over Idaho here.

Travis Mason-Bushman provides his Vandal Nation post along with a post-game press conference video of Coach Don Verlin.

Nick Jezierny also covered the game and filed this take.

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Hit the Bulletin in the Zone for reports on all the matchups.

Jason Groves recaps the convincing triumph for Coach Marvin Menzies' team here.

Sam Wasson has his take here. Sam and AggieVision also offer 3+ minutes of NMSU highlights from the game.

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Despite a less-than-healthy Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech handled Fresno State. Daniel Lyght is here with the Fresno State perspective.

Utah State and LA TECH to tangle

Utah State did away with Boise State 84-60, Louisiana Tech just handled Fresno State 74-66 and each will meet up tomorrow.

It was 35-30 in favor of the Aggies at the half. For the game, USU out-rebounded the Broncos 47-27. Both squads attempted 61 shots but Stew Morrill's bunch made nine more.

A less-than-healthy Kyle Gibson managed just seven points in 33 minutes and committed six turnovers but Tech's Jamel Guyton exploded for a team-leading 31 points in the victory for the southern Bulldogs. Guyton grabbed 11 boards -- also tops on the team -- for a tourney double-double.

Fresno State was minus Mychal Ladd and went 4-18 from three-point range while gathering 11 less free throw attempts than LT. Paul George put up a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for Steve Cleveland's squad.

Your Friday wrap of last night's games

Let's lead off with the game, make that the shootout, of the night -- one that ESPN2, in retrospect, should have televised. Fields usually get furrowed but it was the Aggies plowed under by Brandon Fields last evening in Reno.

Chris Murray is all over the Wolf Pack win over New Mexico State here. Chris offers a plethora of game notes here. Sam Wasson is here and Jason Groves here with their game reports.

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Showing some fire still remains, host Fresno State rallied from a second-half deficit to beat Louisiana Tech, a southern Bulldog squad minus Kyle Gibson due to an ankle ailment. Daniel Lyght has his game report here.

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Travis Mason-Bushman live-blogged Idaho's victory over visiting San Jose State. Here is his game report plus a post-game video interview with Kashif Watson (although there is no definitive word if Watson called his bank shot). Josh Wright provides his game report here.

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Host Boise State had an easy time with Hawaii -- here is Nick Jezierny's game report. The Honolulu Advertiser has Josh Rodriguez and his take here.

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It was a night where each home team won, some unusual firepower was on display at a couple of the venues, where Fresno State had something to prove and did so and with Boise State continuing on its resurgence of sorts.

Boise State recruit Bryn Prinsloo

Mesa Coach Sam Ballard has another player -- Bryn Prinsloo -- who signed a national letter-of-intent with Boise State back in November. At 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, the freshman tore a labrum last season and sat out recuperating.

Of his post man, Ballard said "the extra year has actually helped Brynn because he was inexperienced and really raw and now is much stronger and has developed some post moves."

Ballard described Prinsloo as "very athletic and someone who gets up high when jumping." The big man is averaging 5.6 points per game on 53% shooting plus 3.6 boards a contest (almost equally divided between offensive and defensive rebounds).

Besides those on-court attributes, Prinsloo sports a 4.0 grade point average.

It's Sunday: here's your game reports

Daniel Lyght leads us off with Fresno State's fall at home to Idaho. Mac Hopson, plus Luciano de Souza's re-found three-point touch, led the way for the Vandals.

'Dogs men fall flat, lose to Idaho
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
February. 14, 2010

Two nights after defeating a team that shared first in the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball race, Fresno State fell to seventh-place Idaho in the Save Mart Center on Saturday night 68-59.

Mac Hopson led the way for Idaho, recording 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Vandals beat the Bulldogs for the fifth straight time. The last time the Bulldogs topped Idaho was January 2008...

Go here for the remainder.

Travis Mason-Bushman also reports on the Vandals brooming the Bulldogs here.

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Chris Murray offers his game report of Nevada squaker past Boise State.

Babbitt, Johnson power Pack in OT win
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
February 14, 2010

The second halves of Nevada basketball games are officially becoming Luke Babbitt & Armon Johnson Time. And now you can give overtime periods that moniker as well.

One game after scoring all 25 of the team's second-half points, Babbitt and Johnson combined to score 24 of the team's final 29 points in an 88-80 overtime victory over Boise State on Saturday night...

Go here for the remainder.

Nick Jezierny writes here that it was a night to remember for the BSU frontcourt -- Ike Okoye in particular -- but just the opposite for the backcourt of the Broncos. A major tip o' the hat to the Idaho Statesman management for sending their beat reporter to Reno to cover the game.

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Free is usually a successful promotion but not so at the charity stripe last night for either Louisiana Tech or Hawaii. Here's the Honolulu Advertiser staff report of UH's valiant but losing battle with LT.

Ethan Conley was there and provides his report:

Tech men stop Hawaii's rally
Ethan Conley
The News Star
February 14, 2010

Louisiana Tech led for the entire second half and held off a late Hawaii rally to win 66-60 on Saturday.

Hawaii forward Adhar Mayen buried a turnaround jump shot from the free throw line with 2:38 remaining , cutting Tech’s lead to 55-53. The Bulldogs came up empty on their next possession — forward David Jackson missed a jump shot from the baseline — setting the stage for Hawaii to either tie the score or take the lead on its next trip up the floor...

Go here for the remainder.

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Utah State had no trouble:

Make it 20 wins
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
February 14, 2010

SAN JOSE, Calif. — For just the second time this season, Aggie head men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill has had to dance.

But he doesn’t mind, even though he might have abbreviated it somewhat Saturday night. Utah State kept its winning streak alive, reached 20 wins for the 11th straight season and has firmly placed itself atop the Western Athletic Conference standings.

The Aggies used big runs in each half and turned what many thought would be a down-to-the-wire affair into a double-digit victory. USU picked up its 10th win in a row with a 81-65 victory over San Jose State in front of 2,128 fans at The Event Center...

Go here for the remainder.

and

Ags pound Spartans
USU goes inside against shorter San Jose State.
Tony Jones
Salt Lake Tribune
2/13/2010

San Jose, Calif. » Instead of the expected close game, Utah State made it look almost easy.

Instead of a potential loss to a San Jose State team that's been almost unbeatable on its home floor, the Aggies went into THE Event Center and put on a clinic on how to shoot the ball and how to play defense.

Utah State's 81-65 win over Adrian Oliver and Co. was impressive because the Spartans were almost never in the game. Yes, before 2,128, SJSU drew within six points once in the second half, but on Saturday night, the Aggies were too good in almost every facet of the game...

Go here for the remainder.

Here is Tony Jones' post-game analysis.

What a night of hoops!

Gotta lead with Jimmy Watson's game report of the Bulldog blowout of the Aggies. We never expected to see the headline attached to his article.

Shawn Harrison (tip o' the hat to the Herald Journal management) has the Bulldogs blasting the Aggies here.

Tony Jones has a pair of blog entries on the contest here and here.

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Jason Groves doesn't have a lot of good to report here after watching the visiting Wolf Pack win in a game apparently not as close as the final score indicates. He has a blog entry on the game here.

Sam Wasson has his Nevada - New Mexico State game report here. Plus, here are photos from the game.

Chris Murray made the trip to Las Cruces (kudos to the RGJ management for making this happen) and here is what he witnessed. Here is his blog entry of game tidbits.

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This is interesting. San Jose State opens WAC play (winning against a tough Idaho squad) and the Mercury News (no longer calling itself the San Jose Mercury News) has an Associated Press report of the game. No, we will not link to it.

Santa Clara hosts Harvard -- a non conference matchup -- featuring the return to the Bay Area of Palo Alto High's Jeremy Lin who has been 'discovered' by the national media and a Mercury News reporter is assigned to cover that game. SC lost and is now 8-9. Go figure that editorial judgment.

Luckily, road warrior Travis Mason-Bushman is continuing to pile up the miles via planes, trains and automobiles (actually, we're not sure about the middle one) and offer this press row perspective on the game. It contains post-game video interviews with Coach Don Verlin and guard Steffan Johnson so do read and watch it. Let's sure hope that some smart sports editor latches on to T M-B once he graduates.

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Hawaii took down Boise State behind the sterling play of Roderick Flemings, Hiram Thompson and Paul Campbell. Dayton Morinaga has his game report here and Brian McInnis his here. The victory was accomplished minus the injured Dwain Williams.

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Marek Warszawski has a blog entry on Fresno State basketball that contains some strong opinions and is certainly worth a read.

Your Tuesday night WAC game scores

Western Oregon, Lewis and Clark and Northwest Nazarene. No, we are not talking about geographical or historical reference points but Tuesday night WAC opponents.

That's why we have to lead with Louisiana Tech's 99-94 victory over Houston and in Texas. This one must have been great television. We wish we could take some credit because the very next game after we wondered about Magnum Rolle's points per game contribution this season, he scores 29 (13-15 shooting) and also grabs 10 rebounds. We're sure Kerry Rupp is fed-exing a consultant contract at this very moment to PTW but we caution he should first contact our agent's law office -- Dewey, Cheatum and Howe.

The Dogs shot 51% on the night and that enormously loud vacuuming sound you heard for about two hours earlier tonight was emanating Olu Ashaholu's hands -- he latched on to 21 boards in addition to 17 points. Oh yeah, Kyle Gibson ho-hummed another one with a measly 28 points.

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Host Utah State nearly doubled the score -- 78 to 42 -- on the aforementioned Wolves of Western Oregon.

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Boise State had no trouble with the incoming Crusaders of Northwest Nazarene of Nampa, Idaho, winning 76-58.

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Idaho, obviously with no appreciation of history, sent Lewis and Clark packing, 71-52.

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Now, on to the WAC slate finally so it can be determined -- on the court -- as to who are the contenders and who are the pretenders.

Greg Graham to add a 2009-2010 player?

Ah, that Greg Graham is a sly one. BroncoCountry.com -- Kevin Hiatt is the proprietor -- has some very interesting details today about a freshman point out of southern California who may be heading north for the 2009-2010 season. A Scout sub is required.

Oregon prep center goes with Portland State

We're a little surprised by the choice here but also completely unaware of the factors that went into it. An Oregion high center center has decided to remain home -- Boise State was in the mix.

Cataldo Staying Close To Home Premium Story
Greg Hicks
West Coast Recruiting Analyst
August 17, 2009

Brandon Cataldo, 6-10 SR C Rainier (Ore.) High, has committed to Portland State...

Go here for the remainder and a Scout sub is required.

Boise's basketball schedule

Your assignment? Find a basketball fan who is satisfied with his or her team's schedule, particularly who is coming in to play.

Boise State men's basketball lacks marquee home game
Idaho Statesman
8/13/09

Boise State's 2009-10 schedule is a good one for the team. There are games that will challenge and test a Bronco team that coach Greg Graham thinks can be very good.

But the schedule isn't good for fans.

When your best nonconference home games are against San Diego and rebuilding Portland State, you need a slick marketing campaign...

Go here for the remainder.

Here's the Bronco schedule:

Tue., Nov. 3 Willamette university
Sat., Nov 7 Concordia
Fri., Nov. 13 at Montana
Sat., Nov.14 vs. Loyola Marymount - Missoula
Sat., Nov. 15 vs. North Dakota - Missoula
Sat., Nov. 21 at Wyoming
Tue., Nov. 24 at Eastern Washington
Sat., Nov. 28 North Texas
Sat., Dec. 5 at Illinois - Champaign
Wed., Dec. 9 at Idaho State University
Sat., Dec. 12 San Diego
Sat., Dec. 19 Houston Baptist
Mon., Dec. 21 Portland State University
Wed., Dec. 23 Montana
Tue., Dec. 29 Northwest Nazarene

Sat., Jan. 2 at Fresno State
Mon., Jan. 4 at Hawaii
Sat., Jan. 9 Louisiana Tech
Mon., Jan. 11 New Mexico State
Thu., Jan. 14 at San Jose State
Sat., Jan. 16 at Utah State
Thu., Jan. 21 Nevada
Mon., Jan. 25 at Idaho
Sat., Jan. 30 Fresno State

Sat., Feb. 6 Idaho
Thu., Feb. 11 Utah State
Sat., Feb. 13 at Nevada
Wed., Feb. 17 Cal-State Bakersfield
Sat., Feb. 20 BracketBusters
Thu., Feb. 25 at Louisiana Tech
Sat., Feb. 27 at New Mexico State
Thu., March 4 Hawaii
Sat., March 6 San Jose State

Texan Jordan Clarkson mentions Boise State

6-foot-3 backcourter Jordan Clarkson is generating interest from a number of schools although only Prairie View has offered to date. Maybe Boise State can dip back into Texas in the hopes of replacing Lone Star Stater Anthony Thomas.

Blue Zertuche
TexasHoops.com Recruiting Analyst
August 14, 2009

6-foot-3 wing, Jordan Clark isn't sure if he will wait for the late signing period before he makes a decision, but he definitely has a head start with handful of colleges calling.

"I've been getting calls here and there," said Clark. "I am happy with the attention of the college coaches and they seem interested."

Clark has a list of schools that stretch across the country...

Go here for the remainder and a Rivals sub is required.

Another Boise recruiting target?

From his comments, it seems unlikely that this young man will leaves the state of Texas. He does mention that Boise State has been calling.

Blue Zertuche
TexasHoops.com Recruiting Analyst
August 13, 2009

Amos Olatayo is an explosive athlete that has an upside that could make him a steal in a low major conference. The 6-foot-4, lean built guard has the ability to take over games and is an exciting player to watch.

"Everything is alright recruiting. I have some offers", said Olatayo. "SFA, Air Force, Citadel, UTA, and Texas State have offered...

Go here for the remainder and a Rivals sub is required.

Garrett Jackson with a Boise State mention

The Rivals Oregon Preps site has an article today that highlights how 6-foot-6, 195 Garrett Jackson is enjoying a much higher level of recruiting due to his improved showing over the summer.

Jackson is out of Westview High in Portland and a member of the I-5 club basketball squad.

Boise State is listed in the article as having offered -- along with quite a number of West Coast Conference schools and Rice.

Let's see how far his impressive play boosts his recruiting interest.

Boise State recruiting

How in the world does Greg Graham do it? Boise State men's basketball has been very competitive of late yet minus any 'heralded' recruits. That may sound like a backhanded compliment but it's not meant to be taken that way.

We don't see those even creeping towards blue-chip status consideration ever considering Boise, a situation that also applies to most of the WAC membership. The highly skilled who also display solid if not top level athleticism just aren't available. So what does Graham do?

He builds a team -- in all the positive senses. Graham typically nabs high IQ players, those willing to work hard and play unselfishly as a unit.

For example, consider the buzz -- or lack thereof -- when Kurt Cunningham signed? Did anyone forsee him leading the WAC in shooting? The same with Mark Sanchez? Where were the experts who noted he would achieve All-WAC Second Team status as a senior? Were the expectations that Ike Okoye and Anthony Thomas would earn berths on the WAC All-Defensive squad? Matt Nelson transferred in from Eastern Washington and became nearly unstoppable down low. Tyler Tiedeman's claim to fame was as a baseballer until he hurt his arm. Reggie Larry was known for his quickness and jumping but many -- if not most - simply considered him an undersized junior college power forward. Heck, Matt Baucher and Coby Karl were walk-ons.

Graham is a molder, one of the best compliments a coach can be given.

As for Graham's 2009 class, let's look at Mason Sawyer, Westley Perryman, Sam Hicks and Daequon Montreal. Sawyer is a 5-foot-9 point out of the Utah high school ranks who is heading out on his two-year LDS mission. Perryman is an athletic junior college transfer, signed with the expectations he will fill a role in the backcourt as a points producer. Hicks played against very little same-sized and not nearly as talented competition in league play at a northern California high school but exposure with a name club team got the 6-foot-9 freshman-to-be a WAC scholarship. He's a good athlete who will need to bulk up a bit. It was expected that the 6-foot-8 Montreal would head elsewhere after leaving powerhouse College of Southern Idaho -- Gonzaga was one school attached to him in recruiting circles, at least for a time.

Montreal is the most heralded of the quartet and he'll immediately move right on to the Bronco frontline as will Perryman in Boise's backcourt. Hicks will need time and the depth Graham has on the frontline will afford that.

The most curious signing was Sawyer. Anthony Thomas will be a senior in the 2009-2010 season, La'Shard Anderson a junior and both will have departed prior to Sawyer arriving.

So Graham needs to land a point in his 2010 recruiting class, one definitely ready to contribute after at most a season of adjustment. Will a high schooler be able to do so or does Graham go the junior college route?

Considering the current makeup of his roster, we view Graham's 2010 recruiting class as critical. He's going to need some talent that can step forward quickly as WAC-competitive. That may concern some in Boise but let's leave it right now with the fact that he has done it before.

Greg Graham is blogging

Thankfully, it isn't t--------g (or do you really care what restaurant John Calipari had a fantastic meal at last night?). Here's Boise State's Greg Graham posting about the Bronco coaching staff activities this summer and yes, there is some substance within it, unlike 99.9% of t--------g.

THE FLIP SIDE OF COACH GRAHAM, Friday's Update
Boise State Sports Information
7/10/2009

In the midst of a month long July recruiting period that will cover dozens of cities and thousands of miles, Bronco head men's basketball coach Greg Graham provides regular blogging updates from the road.

SPRINKLE SOME MAGIC ON THE BRONCOS
July 10, 2009

When you spend so much time in the gym and then have to catch early morning flights to the next stop, you tend to try and catch up on sleep on the plane. But, for those who have flown a bunch, you know it’s not always the best sleeping accommodations. So, you end up doing a little reading. Currently, I’m working my way through Magic Johnson’s book 32 Ways To Be a Championship Business...

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray comes through

Just as the summer doldrums are swirling in (although PatrickH is doing his damndest to change the atmospheric conditions), Chris Murray provides a shot of energy with the opening feature in his summertime WAC team basketball preview.

Summer basketball prospectus on Boise State
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
7/7/2009

Editor's note: Each day for the next two weeks, we will take an early look at one basketball team in the Western Athletic Conference. Today: Boise State.

Last year's record: 19-13 overall, 9-7 in the WAC (tied for third)

Returning starters: Four (Anthony Thomas, Paul Noonan, Ike Okoye, Kurt Cunningham)

Key losses: Mark Sanchez, Jamar Greene, Aaron Garner

Potential starting lineup...

Go here for the remainder.

A Coby Karl update

NOTE: We mis-typed Coby's first name here and apologize for the error -- this does not allow him four more years of NCAA basketball eligibility as Cody Karl ;-) Coby Karl's situation is always fascinating, primarily because he came to Boise State as a walk-on and now is a borderline NBA-er and someone who will make a nice financial living playing ball regardless of the location. Nick Jezierny has the latest.

Karl hoping to use summer league as avenue back to NBA.
The former BSU standout is playing for the Celtics' summer league team in Florida
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
7/07/09

Former Boise State standout Coby Karl started his quest to make it back to the NBA on Monday night.

Karl is playing for the Boston Celtics' summer league team in Orlando, Fla., but did not see action in an 87-56 win Monday against the Utah Jazz.

The 2007 BSU graduate is hoping to use this week's games in Orlando as a steppingstone to get back in the NBA. Karl played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007-08.

"My goal is to be on an NBA roster at the beginning of the season," Karl told the Idaho Statesman before Monday's game...

Go here for the remainder.

An Arizona prepster with a Boise State mention

Here's an Arizona high schooler connected to Boise State recruiting among many others.

Anthony Ray
ArizonaPreps.com Recruiting Analyst
July 6, 2009

One of Arizona's top rated overall prospects in the state's very talented 2010 class is Gilbert High School's 6-foot-5 senior forward/wing Shawn King.

Gilbert HS 6-foot-5 senior Shawn King has suffered a summer-ending knee injury.
King is coming off a very good junior season and a strong spring performance on the aau/club circuit, but a recent injury will now keep him out the remainder of the summer...

Go here for the remainder and a Rivals sub is required.