A San Jose State and Seattle recruiting note

From the LaJolla Prep Twitter account: "7-1 Mike VanKirk, La Jolla Prep, has scheduled officials to: Seattle, San Jose State, Evansville & Tenn Chatanooga in the next 3 weeks"

VanKirk is a post grad originally out of the Palmdale, CA area. 

Here's a piece on VanKirk from February.

Saturday's WAC hoops roundup

Continuing in his series, Jordan Finn goes under Chris Murray's microscope.

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Spencer Farrin offers an Idaho Vandal basketball look at the past season plus what's ahead.

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The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Big Wen did his thing last night in New Orleans.

Jason Groves works through next year's roster, to date, for New Mexico State.

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Missed this from earlier: Tony Jones' article looks at Danny Berger's season.

Remember James Walker?

6-foot-2 James Walker who was named a California Community College Co-Player of the Year this season and played at Utah State as a frosh, is supposedly deciding between University of San Francisco, Saint Mary’s, TCU, Colorado and Missouri State.

A community college guard tripping to USU

At the USU Fans Stew's Spectrum MB, bpd has posted that a community college backcourter will be visiting in Logan.

The WAC is drifting away

Travis Detheridge in The Longhorn (the Texas Arlington student newspaper) has a column up all about the present and future of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Do take a read as TA is waiting for any other shoes to drop and not exactly expecting a lengthy stay.

It's fairly certain that Utah State and San Jose State are next in line to exit, at least in regards to the MWC, whose Commissioner Craig Thompson didn't recently trip to Logan and San Jose for recreational purposes.

The unknown is when.

PTW's bias (or inelasticity, take your pick) is eternally looking through basketball-colored goggles when it's football that hogs the driver's seat and owns the fast lane.

We want to see New Mexico State basketball and Idaho hoops come along and also want to view how Coach Mike White continues to resurrect his Louisiana Tech program. However, it does make geographical and financial and therefore undeniable sense -- since operating costs are only going to rise -- for schools to adapt into more regional territory alliances.

One matter we always find odd (please send along an explanation if one exists) is the offering of a large television market as a prerequisite for interest. The WAC added Seattle and Denver for basketball, a pair of good sized population centers but a key question is just who (or really how many) people in those areas will be watching games on television, therefore being subject to the advertising? Or even showing up in person? We are unaware of any Chieftain or Pioneer hoops mania in circulation, not even as startups.

Also, there are surely a number of reasons for the disparity but why the cavernous difference between base salaries for Steve Alford at New Mexico ($1,089,000) and Marvin Menzies at New Mexico State ($280,500)?

Yes, the former has a more storied history (alongside some NCAA warts) but each falls into the category of one of the two top state educational institutions in the Land of Enchantment. Is there more state money pipelined to Albuquerque than Las Cruces? The former has 887,000 in population according to the last census while the latter is around 100,000, 200,000 in the surrounding county -- so is it simply the difference in the surrounding fanbase? New Mexico draws around 14,500 a game versus less than half that for the Aggies so there's a major money differential. Anything else? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Friday and the WAC basketball universe

BenD/Torn By Sports looks at next season's Utah State squad.

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Chris Murray looks at Jerry Evans' season and beyond. Chris has also posted a 'notes' column.

That's it so far.

Thursday's WAC season finale report

Turn out the lights, the party's over ...

Well, that was a conclusion we didn't want but certainly a heckuva game as Mercer took down Utah State 70-67. It was a points-lean 31-22 at the half in favor of the visitors and then the lead exchanged hands until Mercer came out on top. Four Aggies scored in double figures: Kyisean Reed went for 15 points, Preston Medlin 13 and Danny Berger 13. Morgan Grim finished with 10 points. Both teams shot 41% for the game and Mercer buried 7-8 free throws in the last 35 seconds.

Tony Jones tweeted the matchup.

Tony, Shawn Harrison, Rhett Wilkinson, Kraig Williams and Matt Sonnenberg were all over the pairing.

Craig Peterson has posted 62 game photos.

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Chris Murray figuratively dissects Devonte Elliott who will enjoy a golden opportunity with the Wolf Pack next season.

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It looks like Reggie Theus finished second in a bid to fill the opening at Illinois.     

The Wednesday WAC-down, part deux

Mercer comes to town tonight to face an on-a-roll Utah State for the CIT championship. Matt Sonnenberg, Rhett Wilkinson, Tony Jones, Shawn Harrison and Kraig Williams all preview the pairing.

There's a USU Assistant Coach Tarvish Felton - Mercer area (not school)  connection as Michael A. Lough details.

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Andy Boogaard writes about the decision now facing big Robert Upshaw. Kansas State is out, per the young man.

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Jeff Portnoy look at Joston Thomas' decision and speculates on the possibility of others on the UH roster.

The Wednesday WAC-down

Chris Murray takes apart Deonte Burton (no, we're not talking an ankle breaker maneuver but an analysis).

Chris also profiles prep backcourter  Marqueze Coleman, the level of recruit the Wolf Pack needs to keep the present momentum going and to effectively compete in the Mountain West Conference.

Dan Hinxman writes that Nick Fazekas is heading back to the Philippines, the San Miguel Beermen in particular. PTW is open to repping the Sam Adams Gulpers if it can be arranged. Very little $$$ would be required just access to product.

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In big time news out of the islands, Dayton Morinaga has the details of Joston Thomas' decision to play-for-pay. This is best for all involved as UH will miss Thomas' contributions but having one less fiery personality in the mix is a good thing. 6-foot-8 Christian Standhardinger will certainly be a solid addition come next season and meet, if not exceed, the numbers Thomas posted. Trevor Wiseman is probably very happy at the moment as his PT projection is skying. But another good-sized frontcourter would be helpful even if a freshman.

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Sam Wasson has posted video on the Top 10 plays of the season for New Mexico State basketball.

Another reporter covering Utah State

Man, press row must be elbow-to-elbow at The Spectrum as PTW just found out that Rhett Wilkinson of the Standard Examiner also covers Aggie home games. We will add him to the sites PTW heads to for Utah State coverage and be linking to him in the future.

Jason Groves interviews Big Wen

Jason Groves talked with Wendell McKines.

Teddy Feinberg with more Aggie basketball coverage

Teddy Feinberg answers questions that arose from his previous New Mexico State basketball column.

Hawaii connected to a SoCal prepster

A Josh Gershon tweet: "2012 Pasadena (Calif.) SF Blake Hamilton officially visited Cal State Northridge this weekend. He'll also check out Hawaii"

Tuesday's WAC hoops rundown

Tony Jones writes about the evolution of the Aggies during the 2011-12 season.

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Jason Groves has a feature up on Wendell McKines' future.

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Chris Murray puts the spotlight on Jordan Burris in what will be a series of looks at the Wolf Pack reserves this season. Chris also reports that Coach David Carter is filling out next season's schedule.

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Antelope Valley shooting guard Jason Johnson had made his college choice and Mel Grussing offers the details. 

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Nobody knows as yet but Frank Martin's decision to leave Kansas State and head to Columbia, South Carolina just may play out in Fresno State's favor as Rob Dauster has the details of 6-foot-10 Robert Upshaw's deft decision earlier regarding document signing.

Of course, maybe Upshaw will set his sites on the Palmetto State too since players sign with colleges based on the coach and not necessarily the majors offered, the weather or other factors.

He would certainly fill a need for the Bulldogs and Coach Rodney Terry.

Three WAC talents to the PIT?

The Draft Express folks are projecting Wendell McKines, Olek Czyz and Dario Hunt as invitees to the upcoming Portsmouth Invitational tourney. Oh yes, Herb Pope too.