Basketball Skuttle-Butt

July 1998 MSU Basketball Skuttle-Butt


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This page consists of facts I have read and rumors that I have heard or been emailed. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the rumors, but I want all of you to know what I know.
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1998-1999 MSU Basketball Recruiting Prospects.

07/31/98 - According to a source who told me he is close to the Terrell family, Marcus Terrell wants to be a Miss State Bulldog. Marcus, as most of you know, is the outstanding two-guard from Provine HS in Jackson, Miss. As of this moment, I am not sure how heavy MSU is recruiting Marcus.

07/25/98 - According to Jacey, who maintaines an unofficial Illinois website, Illinois has not received an oral commitment from Jonathan Bender. In fact, he said Illinois has three scholarships available for November and they are going to Brian Cook, Jerrance Howard and Marcus Griffin. He goes on to say there is no way that Illinois could even get Bender to look at them.

According to a couple of sources of mine, MSU's primary competition for Bender is the NBA and LSU. It has also been mentioned that Florida and Alabama could get into the picture. My guess is MSU is definitely the team to beat for Bender.

07/24/98 - There was a great crowd of Bulldog fans at the Mississippi Trade Mart last night (over 1,500 strong). Coach Stansbury, Coach Sherrill and Dr. Malcolm Portera spoke to a very appreciative gathering of MSU supporters. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Conference Call for setting up a booth at the Trade Mart and interviewing Coach Sherrill and David Wilson. MSU appreciates all who help spread the word about our Bulldogs.

Now on to comments by our coaches and president. I'll post it in the order they appeared.

First Coach Stansbury.

  • MSU signee Tyrus Boswell will finish prep school in the middle of August. His eligibility status is unknown until then.
  • MSU signee Robert Jackson has the necessary core and ACT and only has to go through the NCAA National Clearinghouse to be fully qualified.
  • MSU signee Joe Marshall brings two very important things to MSU's basketball team: Toughness and the ability to shoot the outside shot.
  • Sophomore to be Tang Hamilton has added 17 pounds to his frame and is tougher mentally. He can be an exceptional player if he continues to improve.
  • Two present Bulldogs, Tyrone Washington and Bart Hyche are on pace to graduate in December of this year. Both will take graduate courses in the spring. Almost all of the players are presently in summer school trying to get ahead academically so that it will not be as stressful for them during the season.
  • Tyrone Washington has had a great spring and summer. Look for him to show more leadership and, hopefully, be more consistent in his play this season.
  • Michael Gholar can jump and shoot. He only needs to develop a better understanding of the game.
  • Oral Roberts has had a great spring and summer.
  • Marckell Patterson has the chance to be an exceptional player. Very skilled and is a great competitor.
  • Detrick White is recovering very well from his foot injury and will be 100% very soon.
  • T. J. Billupshas shown improvement.
  • They are trying to not move anyone out of their present seats as the Hump is expanded.
  • Be positive about MSU. If you have nothing positive to say about MSU, then say nothing.
  • Buy season tickets and use them. If you can't use them, then give them to someone who will.
  • He wants to really get the crowd into the games so that the Hump will be a tough place for opponents to play in.

    • Next, Coach Sherrill:

  • The freshmen signees report on the 6th of August. The veterans report on the 11th and the team starts two-a-days on the 13th. Meet-the-players day is on the 29th of August. They decided to have it on this day (a Saturday) so that out-of-towners could come to it.
  • The freshmen signees have an average score of 21 on their ACT test. Three will major in Engineering and one will be in Pre-Med.
  • The group of quarterbacks that MSU will have this year will be the best group they have had since 1991. The three newcomers, Wayne Madkin (redshirt freshman), Brandon Butler and Kelvin Love are all very talented quarterbacks.
  • Coach Sherrill introduced the members of his coaching staff (and their wives) that were at the party: Glenn Davis, Jerry Fremin, Melvin Smith, Craig Stump, Bob Boyd, Jim Tompkins and David Wilson
  • Congrats go out to assistant coach Jim Tompkins who was just named assistant head coach by Coach Sherrill.

    • Comments by Dr. Malcolm Portera:

  • Over 16,000 people were at MSU's 1998 commencement.
  • When he was first chosen as the new president, MSU was in third place in the state of Mississippi in regard to faculty salaries. We are now in first place in the state.
  • MSU's library budget has gone from 4.5 million to 6 million dollars since he was chosen as the new president. He expects to increase it 1 million dollars per year for at least the next two years.
  • MSU is 61st among 610 public universities in regard to sponsored research activity.
  • After reviewing the number of faculty at MSU, he decided we needed 165 more full-time faculty within the next three years. In six months he has funded 50 of those positions.

    • Rumors and other info heard on the floor:

  • 10 of the top 100 players in the country attended MSU's football camps.
  • There is nothing to the rumor that MSU signee Brandon Butler will decommit and attend LSU. This is he first I had heard anything about this.
  • MSU will be renting space on 50 billboards throughout Mississippi in the next few weeks promoting season football tickets. Each billboard costs $3,000 per month to rent. This is $150,000 per month for you non accountants. This doesn't include the cost of making the paper ads that go on the billboards.
  • MSU has sold around 20,500 season tickets, so far.

    • 07/23/98 - If you live in the Jackson, Mississippi area, don't forget about the Central MS Annual Summer Extravaganza which is sponsored by the Central Mississippi MSU Alumni Association. It will be at the Mississippi Trademark. Doors open 6:00 p.m./ Program begins at 7 p.m. MSU President Portera, Coaches Sherrill and Stansbury as well as other members of the athletic staff will be there. I have heard that the crowd may be upwards of 1,500. If you are a Bulldog fan and live in the Jackson or surrounding area, then this event is where you should be. Mary Ann and I hope to see you there.

    07/23/98 - If you haven't done so, check out The Big Book of Mississippi Football website. Kevin and John would love for you to contact them about buying their book. Its eighty pages of Mississippi high school, junior college and college football for just $3.95.

    07/20/98 - No new news on MSU signee Tyrus Boswell. I will do a weekly update until his academic situation is known.

    07/16/98 - Jonathan Bender has committed to Illinois? Don't bet the farm on it. Enough said.

    07/16/98 - More Sanderson Rec Center Skuttle-Butt:

    Todd Myles has great one-on-one moves. Outside shooting needs to improve.
    Robert Jackson has a very nice turnaround jumper from 12 feet in. I see why the recruiting publications said he was a good offensive player. He is definitely 6-8 to 6-9. Seems like a really nice kid.
    Michael Gholar was shooting threes when we first got there and was making them all. No one was guarding him since this was in between games, but it showed me that he is a natural shooter. His dunks will be something everybody will love to watch. You have to wonder if he has flubber in his shoes watching him jump.
    Joe Marshall is chiseled. It is obvious he works out with the weights. He is going to be a good addition to the team. Add him to Todd, Detrick, Marckell and Bart and you have a solid backcourt.

    07/16/98 - Just thought I would mention to you guys what Quentin Smith told a friend of mine. He is really looking forward to this year. He is very happy being back at MSU. He is really going to concentrate on his school work this coming school year and take as many of his most difficult classes as possible.

    07/15/98 - Mary Ann and I visited the new Sanderson Recreational Center last night. We were lucky enough to see most of the basketball team as well as former MSU players play a few pickup games.

    I'll have more detailed info tomorrow night but here are a few tidbits to carry you over:
    Michael Gholar can flat out jump and has a very good outside shot when open.
    Tang Hamilton has gained a few pounds.
    Detrick White is showing no signs of problems from his injury.
    Joe Marshall is very muscular and has very good leaping ability. Also the quietest player on the court.
    Robert Jackson - Very tall and has a very nice offensive touch.

    0711/98 - According to Keith Easterwood, Mississippians Alonzo Lane, Jonathan Bender and Ronald Dupree all made the ABCD All-Star game, which is made up of the Top 30 players at the camp. Mississippi, California and North Carolina all had three players in the game. Mississippian Justin Reed was rated one of the top underclassmen.

    Thanks once again to Keith for keeping MSU fans up to date on the latest at the ABCD Camp.

    07/11/98 - I talked to Kevin Henderson a couple of nights ago. He told me Lane would be fine academically. He also felt Bender would be OK academically. He also told me that he felt Lane is without a doubt the best power forward in the South. He also felt Bender would not go pro.

    07/10/98 - Here's the latest info on how MSU basketball commitment Alonzo Lane is doing at the ABCD camp. According to Keith Easterwood, he is in the paint dunking on bigger foes and working non-stop. Keith feels "he will be a big-time performer for the Bulldogs." Keith also mentioned that Hoopscoop now lists Alonzo in their National Top 30 after day 2 of the camp.

    I'm sure I speak for all Bulldog fans when I say thanks a bunch for this info, Keith.

    07/10/98 - Don't forget to buy one of former Bulldog basketball player Russell Walters' tapes or CDs. Click here to go to his site where you can find an order blank.

    07/07/98 - According to the latest issue of Recruiter's Handbook, Picayune HS senior-to-be Jonathan Bender has raised his GPA above the 2.0 mark after a 3.4 last year. RH has Jonathan listed as their 9th best player nationally.

    If you are interested in subscribing to Recruiter's Handbook, you can contact them at http://www.prepstars.com on the internet or call them toll free at 800-447-7667. The paper version costs $25 and is well worth it.

    07/07/98 - If you are having trouble reading my page, contact fellow Bulldog fan Boyce Craig at Optical 2000 (my latest advertiser) for the best contacts or glasses around. You surely don't want to miss the latest MSU sports news.

    07/04/98 - Year 2000 recruiting already? According to someone who talked to this kid, Miss State is number one on the list of former Starkville resident LaQuincey Williams, a 6-1 Prep All-American guard from Fort Lauderdale, FL. LaQuincey would like to transfer to Miss State after playing one year of basketball at Indian River CC. My source noticed LaQuincey was wearing a MSU t-shirt after playing in a semi-final game at the 1998 Junior Men's AAU Basketball Tournament and decided to talk to him. LaQuincey moved from Starkville to Florida during the 8th grade.

    07/03/98 - Here is a list of Mississippi High School players that will be going to either the Nike or ABCD (adidas) camps in July. Source: The Clarion-Ledger

    Nike Camp

  • Darius Rice - Junior, Forward, Lanier HS
  • James Thomas - Junior, PG, Lanier HS
  • James West - Junior, PG, Natchez HS

    • ABCD Camp

  • Jonathan Bender - Senior, Forward/Center, Picayune HS
  • Justin Reed - Junior, Forward, Provine HS
  • Ronald Dupree - Senior, Biloxi HS
  • Aaron Harper - Senior, Provine HS
  • Alonzo Lane - Senior, Forward, Canton HS
  • Trey Sanders - Senior, Wingfield HS
  • Joseph Ward - Senior, Clinton HS
  • Mario Myles - Senior, Callaway HS
  • John Gunn - Senior, Oxford HS

    • 07/02/98 - Rick Stansbury spoke at the Tupelo Rotary Club recently and talked about several things of interest.

  • He mentioned that Michael Gholar, who has qualified, can jump, as he put it by putting his hand on his forehead, this high and can shoot the basketball. Michael "doesn't know how to play.....or how hard he'll have to play. Those are things we can teach."
  • Rick raved about the shooting and mental toughness of Joe Marshall and Marckell Patterson. He said "we'll have a lot of perimeter depth. We want to be able to play 9 or 10 guys."
  • Rick also stated that Robert Jackson has made his core grades and ACT score. All he lacks is going through the NCAA Clearinghouse. It will be late summer before MSU knows if MSU signee Tyrus Boswell will qualify.
  • MSU will play Northwestern (La.) State at the Tupelo Coliseum Saturday, Nov. 21st. Rick also mentioned that the Nov. 25th Belmont College game will "probably" be played in Tupelo as well.

    • The source for this info was the Tupelo Daily Journal.

    07/01/98 - The latest issue of Recruiting USA has their final basketball recruiting rankings and MSU wound up 18th nationally. Other SEC teams in the top 25 were LSU (3rd), Florida (6th), Kentucky (8th), Tenn. (9th), Auburn (24th) and South Carolina (25th).

    BTW, if you don't subscribe to Recruiting USA, I highly recommend it. Click here to go to a Recruiting USA subscription form.

    If you haven't done so, contact former Bulldog Russell Walters and tell him you would like to purchase his great country music tape (or CD) Big Country. His website is listed at the top of this page. I have one and can tell you this young man has quite a bit of talent. It is only a matter of time before someone in the music industry is going to discover him.

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