CoachJG

Been awhile since I lived in Jackson......Graduated HS in 90 and moved away in 92.....do they still have the Midnight League in the Summer at TR White? Played in that one and LOVED it. Nothing like playing ball at 2 in the morning in 88 degree heat and 100% humidity. I lived in West TN most my life and coached some in East TN......basketball is looked at differently in those two places. You don't find a ton of places to play in the East like you do in the West. Used to be--and it seemed like things were changing when I left TN....the coaching in the East was, for the most part (not in all cases of course...but, generally) was superior to that in the West while the sheer basketball talent was better in the West. Is that still the case? Maybe. Dunno. I'm too far removed to give a good answer.

Actually---know for a fact Coach Wallingford had some similar opportunities but chose to stay at Milligan, mainly for his family or the timing wasn't right. WITHOUT A DOUBT----he is someone capable of getting it done at the D2 or D1 level. As you've stated about the AAC, it isn't the easiest league to move up out of---but King won't be in that league much longer.....they have a GREAT facility and good budget for athletics. Actually, the 3.5 GPA needed at King? That is really not even close. Under the right circumstances, you can get in there with MUCH less than that.....trust me. All in all----it's a great hire for King. They've already gotten a TON of publicity out of something that has been done for a while now (that's the rumor). Burns will get it done there as the AD with or without Coach Pitts. I will be SHOCKED if it's without him.

Nice name, Coach. I know Coach Hardin a bit-----he's a GREAT coach and would be a great hire for whoever decides to take him. He was at Eliz. the same time I was passing through East Tn and always had the Cyclones playing hard.

Unfortunatley, no. But, there are ways to get it done through the school---I think our Financial Aid office can make things possible.

Starman: Yup---gotta feeling I saw an email not too long ago from down your way!

Easy there....Coach SH isn't affiliated with UTC---I know that much! Also---I agree with him. I spent time at the D1 level as an asst, at the NAIA level, and at NCAA III as an asst. In MY opinion.....Pickel and Pugh would make GREAT NAIA players---POSSIBLY, NCAA II. At the LOW (Atlantic Sun conference)---they would be preferred walkons. They could also possibly be walkons in the Southern Conference or the OVC. AGAIN---this is just my opinion---y'all are more than entitled to yours! I may be wrong...and one more time---they are GREAT players and it's NOT an insult to say that they're not D1 scholarship players....

Coach SH? Who'd want to get in contact with him? He won't call me back!! Kidding---by the way!

There was some good talent at this game-----and it was REALLY organized well. The guys who run the Pre-Game Academy did a great job for the 2nd year in a row. I see that game kind of developing into a Chattanooga tradition!

I hung out with Corrie a little when he was at ETSU-----I played a year at an NAIA in East TN before transferring to ETSU and getting into coaching---he was a FR during my 1st year at ETSU. How is big Albert doing? I played summer ball with him in the Midnight League at TR White after my 1st year of college. Is he back in Jackson? I always liked the big guy!

Sorry have to disagree with you man on that one. Both Pickel and Hare are D1 and Pugh may very well grow into D1 potential. Don't think Miss Wareagle was saying that schools should take them because they are locals or of good character. I think maybe she was saying that Pickel and Pugh are just as good as some of the character"less" players that are being recruited by some of these schools. Watched them all year. Pickel is actually a better floor general and shooter than Hare. Hare is stronger. Belmont is probably a good fit for Hare but to say that Pickel and Pugh could not play at that level is asanine. However, I hope they both stay close at home and play for Lee. The years I have watched Lee, Lee could play with UTC most of the time anyway. Both of these guys could be standouts at Lee you are right but don't make the statement that they are not D1. If Mr McMinn is D1 then Hare Pickel and Pugh are d1 allstars. Thanks---I'm asinine? If you're going to insult someone at least spell it right. What position do you see Pickel playing at the D-1 level? Again---he is a VERY good player---and a Lee would be a good fit. He can shoot it but is he quick enough to be a D-1 PG? Is he big enough or athletic enough to be a NCAA I 2G? I think the answer to both these questions is no---BUT, not by much! Just my opinion! I didn't degrade anyone with my comments---just offered my opinions! I guess the state's D-1 coaches are all 'asinine' as well?

well----you beat the crap out of us that year, then. Did you guys play Hardin Co? Corrie Johnson was a monster FR my SR year!

THose guys at Bradley Central are GREAT players! UNFORTUNATLEY---the only one with D-1 potential is Hare.....and Belmont is a good fit for him....level wise and system wise. Pickel and Pugh are BOTH very talented players---but to suggest a school take them simply because they are 'local' guys with class acts----well, that's a bit silly. The great Duke you brought up recruits across the country and picks from the very best---they don't limit themselves to recruiting guys from their immediate area and neither schould the Chattanooga's or Tn Tech's. Look at the example of Brent Jolly---he had a VERY solid career at Tn Tech. He could have played in the SEC and been a role player but chose a more prominent role at Tech---by the way---he was EASILY the player of the year in AA in HS----compare his accolades to Hare, Pickel and Pugh. If you were a coach at a TN Mid-major, would you seriously go after those guys? Again---I am NOT degrading those guys----but don't degrade the level they belong on! There are schools like Lee, Cumberland, Tn Wesleyan, King, Milligan, Lambuth, Union, Trevecca, etc (all NAIA schools) that play a really competitive level of basketball----these guys (Pickel and Pugh) could be outstanding at that level---or, they could try to go bigger and not play as prominent a role.

Did you play in 89-90? That was my SR year (and Mr. Bond's SO). Y'all swept us---then again, we got beat a LOT that year!

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I hear they are all going to King College in Bristol, TN!! Just kidding