Mid Major Hoops

James Transfers to Duquesne

So we now know what sweet nothings Duquesne coach Ron Everhart was saying into prized JUCO recruit Stuard Baldonado's ear to get him to play for the Dukes.  It was "Shawn James is coming to play with you!"

Yup, in what has to be a major coup for Ron Everhart, the former Northeastern coach landed (or many would say "raided") the CAA defensive player of the year for Northeastern, as Shawn James announced that he was transferring to Duquesne.  The six foot ten inch tall now junior James averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and had 196 blocks on the season.  James also has a excellent outside shooting touch as he shot 24 of 53 from the three point arc.   James must sit out a season, but when he comes back for the 2007-08 season he will be part of a nucleus that includes the power forward Baldonado, guards Reggie Jackson and Gary Tucker, JUCO teammates at Southern Union College, high scoring Steven "Sticks" Wood, along with earlier signees, Lucas Newton, a point guard from Westminster Academy (also another Miami Tropics players as was Baldonado), guard Destin Damachoua (Paris, France/The Master's School), guard/forward Scott Grote (Centerville, Ohio/Massanutten Military Academy) and forward Robert Mitchell (Brooklyn, N.Y./Notre Dame Preparatory School).  Throw in prized center  Hernol Hall (Limon, Costa Rica/Lon Morris College) - a November signee, and you have the makings of a dominant team in 2 years. 

However, I will take issue with one thing James said in his announcement.  "I made my decision on my coach and how much I love playing for him. It will definitely help playing against higher competition, and that's more exposure for me -- and that's something I don't feel I had on a nightly basis at Northeastern."

Um, Shawn, did the Atlantic Ten have a final four team?  No, the CAA did in George Mason.  The CAA also had as many teams in the NCAA tournament as the A10 (and should have had one more, Hofstra).   In fact, George Washington should have lost to UNC Wilmington in the tournament and Hofstra beat St Joe's in the NIT, so I would say the competition you played against was just as good as it was in the A10 this past season.  So to say something like that, well, not exactly correct.

But give Everhart credit.  In the span of not even two months, Everhart has signed eight players and added the coup de grace in landing James.   I think Duquesne's season ticket sales went up a whole lot, and maybe Baldonado did know what he was doing by choosing Duquesne over Hofstra...we'll see.

Various Goings On

A few weeks ago, I posted a column that talked about the wild coaching carousel that occurred in the CAA this April, and that the one person who strangely didn't get an extension was Final Four George Mason Coach Jim Larranaga.  Sure enough, they announced an extension for Larranaga several days after my posting.   

Strike one for Ron Everhart, the former Northeastern coach and new coach of Duquesne.  Everhart out recruited Hofstra for prized JUCO power forward recruit Stuard Baldonado.  Everhart signed three other players as well.  Personally, I agree with Walter Villa in an article written by him on the Miami Tropics web site, Hofstra was the best choice.  Baldonado is going to a team, Duquesne that won three games last year over a team that won 26 games, should have been in the NCAA tournament, won two NIT games, has its three starting guards returning plus an opening at power forward, which Baldonado plays, plus has early top 25 preseason rankings.  Baldonado only has two years of eligibility, so for him to pass up the chance to play for a potentially very successful team to play for  a rebuilding team is very unusual.  Plus Stokes and Carlos Rivera graduate next year, so Baldonado in 2007-08 would have been a main focal point of the offense.  There was an issue that Hofstra may not have had a scholarship for him, but I have no confirmation of that. Plus, trust me, teams can usually get a scholarship opening if they need to.

The case could be made that Baldonado wants to be the focal point of the team and get many touches as possible, as opposed to being a part of a team with two all CAA players in Agudio and Stokes and being potentially a third option.  That may be the reason why he chose Duquesne.  Everhart also is very close to the Miami Tropics coach and Jose Juan Barea came from the Tropics (as did Hofstra's Carlos Rivera).   However, someone will need to get Baldonado the ball at Duquesne.  Ask Steven Smith what it was like to be double teamed often, and not have a solid point guard to get him the ball at LaSalle.  Probably hurt his NBA stock big time. 

Simply put, Baldonado did not choose wisely.