Travis Mason-Bushman with another Don Verlin interview

Travis Mason-Bushman interviews Don Verlin, with the subject being Idaho's 2009-2010 schedule.

On the Record with Don Verlin: “I wish we had more home games”
Travis Mason-Bushman
Vandal Nation
September 3, 2009

The 2009-10 Idaho Vandals men’s basketball schedule has been released, and we sat down yesterday with coach Don Verlin to find out his thoughts on the Vandals’ foes and the chase for the Western Athletic Conference championship.

Tomorrow, in the second half of the interview, we’ll quiz Don on his scheduling philosophy and the challenge of putting together a winnable mid-major schedule.

Vandal Nation: I have to say, this looks a lot like a Stew Morrill schedule down at Utah State.

Don Verlin: Well, I did them at Utah State, so it would look pretty similar! We don’t have as many home games as those guys have. They have 19 home games and are hosting a tournament — it’s a great deal for them. I wish we had more home games. That’s the thing I don’t like about our schedule...

Go here for the remainder.

Maybe (or not) an update on Jordan Gathers

This is territory already covered but Eric Boal/LA Daily News has a blog entry today about Bryce Jones hooking up with USC. At the end, he mentions Jones' teammate, backcourter Jordan Gathers, is still connected to Nevada and Fresno State recruiting efforts.

Chris Murray has a new Nevada recruiting name

Chris Murray has a post up about a name new to us -- backcourter Meiko Lyles -- who is getting interest from the Wolf Pack. Go here for the article.

Why the WAC will be better this season

Chris Murray has a post up about the WAC having a solid number of players being listed right now as 2010 NBA draftees. Go here for Chris' post.

This is indicative of how much better the league will be overall in 2009-2010 and we'll expand on that in a minute. What also deserves mentioning is there are quite the number of undergrad players listed (or not) who have yet to declare their intentions, plus any number of European players who may or may not come to the states to play professional ball. So do look at such a list as 'penciled' in at the moment.

We will take a more serious and lengthier look a little while down the road but we see the WAC as wide open this coming season. In fact, it really isn't a stretch to say that ANY team in the conference actually has a chance of finishing on top in the league tournament -- cases can be made for such.

It remains unlikely that more than one team will be Big Dancing but it's going to be fun.

An early look at Fresno State

We don't know who he is but it's worth taking a look at 1insider's sense of Fresno State basketball.

So go to the Bark Board (the Scout Fresno State site) and click on Forums and then the Save Mart Center message board.

There's a thread right near the top where 1insider is the second poster -- have at it.

Utah State had a visitor

Prospects are out and about and one has visited Logan, Utah -- that being Texas backcourter Paul Garnica. He's 6-0, 160 and a top scorer in the state. Damon Sayles at TexasHoops has an article today about Garnica's visit. A Rivals sub is required.

At Texas Basketball Inc, Coach Max Ivany posted this on Garnica in October, 2008:

"The key guy for Lee is 2010 PG 6'0" Paul Garnica. In late May, Garnica got promoted to the top Texas D-1 Ambassador group. He was simply too good to keep out of the lineup. Keep in mind that to this point we've had guards off that group commit to Arizona, Lamar, and two others who have been offered by San Francisco and Colorado. Garnica belonged in this group! He hit 10 three pointers in a game as a freshman at Lee. It goes without saying he can heat it up from the perimeter. As I got to know Paul, what became obvious is that he is a real student of the game while also possessing an "annoying street edge" to his repertoire. Annoying that is to the opposition. He's a great team mate and very unselfish. He prides himself on deflections and steals defensively, many times drawing the assignment on the other team's most talented offensive player. One drawback Garnica has is he can occasionally be nonchalant when handling the ball. As he continues to mature though, I see this occurring less and less. He has above average grades, even drawing the interest of the Ivy league's Cornell who were in the Lee gym watching him in last week's athletic period."

DJ still with LT and KR

According to a source familiar with LA TECH basketball, D.J. Wright is still headed to Ruston. The move from Salt Lake [to Mt. San Jacinto College in southern California] was purely about academics. He’ll sign with Kerry Rupp in November.

For those with long term memory ability

Here's a 2012 kid that Utah State has offered although it seems like the young man will end up in the PAC-10 or maybe Gonzaga. From the Gonzaga fan sute The Slipper Still Fits:

ON THE RISE

Another big-time player is in the making in Oregon. Landon Lucas, a 2012 post prospect out of Portland Sunset High School, has the attention of a number of schools out west. Oregon State, Portland State and Utah State have already offered, and Arizona, California, Stanford and Washington are recruiting the 6-8 Lucas. According to his travel team coach, Garry Ward of the Northwest Panthers, Lucas is an excellent student with a strong competitive streak.

Rivals had this mention about 2012 recruit Landen Lucas. Don't worry that Gonzaga isn't mentioned, because the Zags are on the radar, and Lucas was a participant at the elite camp this summer. (side note...the correct spelling is Landen, so we will have to let Rivals know about the wrong spelling)

Godwin Okonji to visit Hawaii

A big at Finley Prep in Las Vegas is scheduled to take a visit to Hawaii among other locales.

Here is a May 2009 ESPN evaluation of Okonji.

Here is a November 2007 Las Vegas Review Journal article featuring Okonji.

Here is a very nice YouTube video on Okonji.

Jeff Goodman talks to David Carter

Fox Sport's Jeff Goodman has posted a solid interview with Nevada's David Carter:

CARTER TAKES REIGNS IN RENO

The last time that Nevada decided to hand the baton to the next guy down the line, it worked pretty well.

Trent Johnson left for LSU and former assistant Mark Fox moved down a seat. He won an average of more than 20 games per season before leaving for Georgia in the offseason.

Now it’s David Carter’s turn – the former Johnson and Fox aide who has spent the last decade in Reno...

Go here for the remainder.

Vandal Nation looks at Idaho's schedule

Travis Mason-Bushman at his Vandal Nation site takes a look at the Idaho schedule for 2009-2010 and offers some commentary.

Go here.

Ron Tyler posts about Kyle Gibson

Ron Tyler offers some love for Kyle Gibson, readying for his senior season with Louisiana Tech. Of anyone in the WAC considering what he has played through, Gibson deserves a season surrounded by talented teammates implementing an 'all for one, one for all' philosophy and zero player disruptions and defections.

Kyle Gibson keeps getting better
Ron Tyler
A Closer Look at LATECH Hoops
August 30, 2009

Remember how Kyle Gibson averaged 20.5 points over the last eleven games of the season and I said he’s going to have a huge senior year…..

He kept up where he left off in March this summer playing in the Drew Summer League in Los Angeles. In fact Kyle was named the MVP of the Championship Game. What is the Drew Summer League you ask? Who did Kyle spend the summer playing against?

Go here for the remainder.

Cross Korchek off the Aggie list

6-foot-8 Arizona prepster Matt Korchek had an offer from Utah State but has narrowed his choices down to three other schools" Pavific, UTEP and Northern Arizona. Weber State apparently also had extended an offer.

As usual, Anthony Ray has the scoop at his Rivals Arizona Preps site. A Rivals sub required.

Here is a 2008 article on Korchek.

Chris Murray mentions Troy Leaf

Chris Murray offers San Diego area backcourter Troy Leaf as a Wolf Pack possibility today. Go here for the entry.

Leaf gave a verbal as a freshman (why does either side even bother at that age?) to San Diego State but recently crossed the Aztecs off his list when the SDSU backcourt roster and recruiting situation was almost heading to double figures.

Here is an article about that.

We've never seen Leaf play so take this for what it's worth: our measurement tool is any prospect who says he has, besides Nevada, a pair of PAC-10 schools, along with Portland out of the WCC interetsed is offering too broad of a spectrum in his recruiting. Our sense is Leaf is more suited for success in the WCC. Maybe we're wrong (it wouldn't be the first time, nor the last) and we will gladly admit to such if the future proves us incorrect. Especially when it involves what appears to be a very good young man.

A Jordan Gathers update

Greg Hicks offered an article today on southern California backcourter Jordan Gathers who indicated Nevada and Fresno State (among many others) are interested in his services.

Go here for Hicks' article and a Scout sub is required.

Here is a March 2009 ESPN evaluation.