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.
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