| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep |
10/30/98 - One of the questions I am asked very, very often is "will Jonathan Bender and Alonzo Lane qualify?" My sources, who are very close to the situation, say they will. I mean who are you going to trust, fans of schools who lost out on Jonathan or me, a fan who knows the right people?
Also, don't go conceding junior basketball player Justin Reed (6-6, SF, Provine HS) to any other school just yet. He may have strong connections to former Provine HS coach Wayne Brent but Brent is no longer the coach at Provine, Ernie Watson is and I have been told Ernie and MSU head basketball coach Rick Stansbury are very good friends.
10/30/98 - If you don't subscribe to Dawgs' Bite you missed out on this info from recruiting analyst Kevin Henderson:
"Several regional and national analysts, including myself, believe Bender to be the top player in the nation. Yes, that's a big statement. But how many 6'11" players can handle the ball, pass it well, has the great hands, great athletic ability, and play as comfortably in the perimeter as in the post? Oh, and shoot the trey, too? Bender does have his weaknesses, since he only weighs around 200 pounds. Really, he has yet to fully realize just how good he can be. I don't want to throw out the name of a young NBA star Bender compares to, but I will say hello to MSU's first McDonald's All-American signee. The NBA will be saying hello to Mississippi's leading prospect of 1998-199 in a few years, too.
"Any other year, 6'7" forward Alonzo Lane, Canton HS, would be the state's top prospect. The 245-pound powerman is second-best in his state but potentially one of the nation's top 20 or higher rated talents around the goal........ I reported in the summer how Lane destroyed the Memphis all-star camps against taller and better-known players. He was invited to the national all-star camps, financed by Nike and adidas, and in those weeks vaulted from a top 150 listing to top 30 status. His stock is still rising this senior season. What impressed the scouts wasn't just his muscle but his hops, his quickness off the floor, and what I judged a 36-inch vertical leap. You will hear rumbles from some fans that he's just 6'5"; I asked him after the summer, and he said he is 6'6-1/2". It's his frame that makes him look shorter, and I'd bet you couldn't 'pinch and inch' on him with vise-grips."
According to Kevin, adding the commitment of Lane to Bender would give State the nucleus of an all-world front line when added with freshmen Robert Jackson, Tyrus Boswell and Michael Gholar.
If you don't subscribe to Dawgs' Bite I have a subscription form on my page which you can go to by clicking here.
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10/28/98 - From The Clarion-Ledger:
Canton basketball star Alonzo Lane committed Monday to play for Mississippi State.
This time, though, Lane said his decision is for good.
Lane, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound Dandy Dozen power forward prospect, originally announced for the Bulldogs several months ago, then later backed away from any commitment.
"I just had to take my time and get with my mother to see what she wanted me to do," Lane said. "I think it's certain this time."
Lane, a second-team All-State pick as a junior, had home visits from MSU, Jackson State, Ole Miss, Southern Mississippi and Murray State. He averaged 17.2 points points and 13 rebounds as a junior.
"There are very few people who can defend Alonzo around the basket," Canton coach Lewis Love said. "He's a good shooter from 10 to 12 feet. He probably just needs to work on his ball-handling to play some small forward."
Lane is MSU's fourth verbal commitment before the week-long early signing period, which begins Nov. 11.
10/18/98 - Jonathan Bender came in for his official visit Saturday morning after enjoying Picayune's homecoming Friday night. He was seen walking around with present MSU basketball player Tang Hamilton.
10/18/98 - Pictures from Midnight Madness:
The Rev rotating the ball on his finger.
The Rev and his wife.
Meo Stansbury and her mother and dad.
Bulldog players prior to the start of Midnight Madness.
Former Bulldog basketball players Carl Nichols and Mr. Hustle himself, Robert Woodard.
Former MSU football player Chris Firle and his daughter.
Michael Gholar dunking the ball. Sorry for how blurry it is. Hope you can see that his head is about half way up the net and he is still rising.
10/17/98 - Picayune's outstanding big man Jonathan Bender chose Mississippi State as the place he wants to spend his college basketball years. Welcome to one of the premiere college basketball programs in the nation, Jonathan. We also welcome some of the greatest fans and people in Mississippi, the Picayune High School fans. Jonathan is yours and no one will ever take him away from you but I promise you we will now treat him as one of our own. Now that Jonathan has finally announced his intentions to play for Miss State, I can FINALLY, FINALLY say Jonathan will be officially visiting Miss State this weekend (not Kentucky as the entire recruiting world seemed to think). What a relief it is to finally be able to post this. BTW, where in the world did that rumor about him visiting Kentucky's Midnight Madness start? It seems like everybody, even the experts, believed it (notice you never saw me post it anywhere).
10/17/98 - Tyrus Boswell Update: I talked to David Murray of Dawgs' Bite at Midnight Madness and he gave me the true academic story about Tyrus (it will be in more detail in next weeks Dawgs' Bite). Tyrus has one core class that is being reviewed by an NCAA Committee. If they approve it, which MSU officials are very confident they will, his information will be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse for approval or disapproval. This last part will probably be a rubber stamp type action. As I receive more details, I will post them on my page.
10/17/98 Midnight Madness went very well. There were many events such as the 3-on-3 competition as well as the 3-pt competition which has been mentioned previously (the coaches lost both contests). There were Elvis singing impersonations. A game of horse between the Rev and Sharon Fanning (sorry to say The Rev lost). BTW, the Rev is an entertainer folks. He was a delight to watch and was a favorite of the fans. You should have seen him spinning a basketball on his fingertip and around his body. The man has talent. There was also great music and a great introduction of all the players with a spotlight on them as they entered the arena. BTW, Coach Stansbury said Midnight Madness would be an annual event.
10/16/98 - I had a great time at the Starkville Quarterback Club last night. They are a bunch of great guys. If you live in the triangle area (Starkville, Columbus and West Point), you ought to think about joining. You can contact them via email at http://www2.msstate.edu/~boo/sqbc.html.
10/16/98 - Today at 1:30 p.m. Jonathan Bender will choose between Mississippi State or Kentucky. If the reports that he will not be at Kentucky's Midnight Madness are true, who do you think he will chose? BTW, did you know Friday night is Picayune's homecoming game? I hear Jonathan will be there. I'll be like everybody else, I'll be on pins and needles until 1:45 (that's when I will get THE CALL). Let's hope Jonathan follows his heart and stays home in Mississippi. What a great beginning this would be for a great weekend for a Bulldog.
10/15/98 - I will be speaking at the Starkville Quarterback Club meeting tonight. Come on out and enjoy the food, fellowship and me attempting to entertain a crowd. You never know, I might have late breaking recruiting news. Probably not, but even I don't know what I will receive via email. If you need more info about the SQC, click here.
10/15/98 - The early signing period begins November 11th and lasts a week.
10/14/98 - If you are going to Midnight Madness this Friday night, you had better get there early. The doors open at 10:00 p.m.
10/14/98 - Miss State received a verbal commitment from Jim Hill (Jackson, MS) High School's Trey Sanders (6-3, 190) yesterday, according to The Clarion-Ledger. He also considered Southern Miss and Ole Miss. Trey is rated the 76th best player in the country by Recruiting USA.. They also list him as the 2nd best point guard in the south (15th in the nation), just behind Derrick Zimmerman of Wossman HS in Monroe, La. You can go to their online site by going to http://www.recruitingusa.com.
10/12/98 - Miss State basketball commitment Jason Johnson (6-9, 245), a senior from St. Al. in Vicksburg, was seen at the game this past Saturday. A source of mine talked to him and came away very impressed. According to my source, he seemed to be a very nice and personable young man.
10/11/98 - Future Bulldog Tyrus Boswell and several of the Miss State basketball players (Detrick White, Oral Roberts, Tyrone Washington, T.J. Billups, Michael Gholar (all very nice guys, BTW)) were walking around campus visiting with Bulldog fans. Folks, Tyrus, when you stand next to him, is very, very big in the upper body. He has some of the widest shoulders I have ever seen. He is sure going to be a great addition when he joins the team in January. Yes, he WILL be a Bulldog in January.
10/11/98 - Congrats go out to assistant basketball coach Bill and his wife Kameron Ball for bringing baby girl Conner, another future Lady Bulldog, into the world Friday morning.
10/11/98 - Get ready for Midnight Madness this coming Friday night. Remember, there are only going to be about 2,500 seats available so get there early. I don't know how good we are going to be this season, but the Rick Stansbury era, in my opinion, has the potential to be the greatest era in Miss State basketball history. His nickname is "The Recruiter" and now he is the head of his own program. Thank about it. The fun is about to start, folks. Get use to the signing of the Boswell's, Jackson's, Dampier's, Jones', and Wilson's. Like he said at the Vicksburg meeting the other night, when you have the kind of program we have at Miss State (SEC Champs, SEC Tournament Champs, Sweet Sixteens, Final Four), you have a great product to sell and he sells it with a passion (see names and achievements above for proof).
BTW, I met new assistant coach Bill Ball at the football game, Saturday. Really super guy and a Bulldog grad to boot. I haven't mentioned our other new assistant basketball coach Robert Kirby before, but I have also met him and came away with the impression this is one really nice guy who obviously has the personality to be an outstanding recruiter. I look for these two guys to really help Coach Stansbury rebuild the program we deserve and now expect. Next time you see either of these coaches, let them know you are proud to have them aboard.
10/11/98 - The details haven't been worked out at the moment, but I have been invited by Miss State women's basketball coach, Sharon Fanning, to be a guest coach for one of the home games this season. I'll post additional info about this on the IBBC site. BTW, Sharon is a great person and really works hard to build our program and really deserves our support. Try and make as many games as you can. I know I have been bad about not going to women's basketball and will try and make as many as possible this year. I even plan on buying season tickets.
10/08/98 - According to a source of mine, the Miss State basketball players were expecting new head basketball coach Rick Stansbury to be a little easier on them than his predecessor Richard Williams. You can understand their surprised when he told them he encouraged them to eat breakfast in the cafeteria each weekday morning at 7:00 a.m. My source felt this was Coach Stansbury's way of making sure all the players were up and out of bed and ready to go to their morning classes.
10/06/98 - I had the chance to go into the Humphrey Coliseum for a few minutes last week. It was too dark to take pictures. About half the seats have been removed and the ceiling has also been removed. I was told the ceiling will not be replaced. The metal rafters will now be what you will see when looking at the top of the building. The wooden basketball floor has also been removed.
10/02/98 - Clarification: MSU commitment Jason Johnson (6-9, 245) will attend a prep school next year and attend MSU the following year.
10/02/98 - Looks like MSU Head Basketball Coach Rick Stansbury was very serious about getting the fans more involved in our basketball program. Read about some special Midnight Madness events by clicking here. Looks like Midnight Madness at Miss State is going to be really special this year. Remember, there will only be approximately 2,500 seats available at the Newell-Grissom Building, so you had better get there early.
What a time to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. Coach Sherrill has the football program looking great, the basketball program, under the guidance of Coach Stans, is about to jump off the map and the baseball program is about to reach new heights under Coach Mac's leadership. Some schools have one or two good programs among the big three (football, basketball and baseball), but we have three. About the only thing we lack is an expanded football stadium and if we would show up for the home games, we would have that. The coaches and players are doing their part. Now it's our turn, as fans, to do our part...............
10/01/98 - Since this is Jonathan Bender related, I thought I would share it with you.
According to a reliable source of mine, Curtis Borchardt, a 6-10 player from Washington that Kentucky was recruiting, has committed to Stanford. The word is Marquis Estill, another big man Kentucky is recruiting, has been offered a scholarship by Kentucky and his coach, according to my source, believes he will accept it. If this winds up being true, this means Kentucky will be out of scholarships unless one of their players turns pro (Magliore?) or one quits. In other words: No scholarship available for Bender. In my opinion, Florida, not Kentucky, is Miss State's real competition for Jonathan.
By the way, people in the know continue to believe Canton High School's outstanding big man, Alonzo Lane will be a Miss State Bulldog next year. I mean can you blame him? All he has to do is look in the rafters in Humphrey Coliseum to see what he can look forward to (Final Four) if he signs with the Bulldogs.
