CoachJG

Wanna Know? Come to Guy B.Amis, Muse, T.R. White or Denmark on Sundays and find out.

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.

That is cool.... and you make a lot of great points. ETSU has not made a ton of great decisions in the past with basketball.... totally agreed.

 

Again, my argument was that it has never happened before. A coach from the AAC has a hard time making it out of that league. They either retire, take high school jobs, or get out of coaching all together. Coach Pitts may very well be the exception. But look at Tony Wallingford at Milligan. From 1993-2002 he won 8 championships in that league. If there has ever been a guy deserving, it is him. Why cant he make it out? Why doesnt he get offered a D-2 job?

 

Again, I am a coach Pitts fan. If anyone can make the moves, I am sure that it is him.... but I have to disagree with you that it will be in less than two years. As much as the guy already knows... he still has a lot to learn. Sure, once he gets guys on the floor he is a genious. But getting guys to come to King over Carson Newman, Lee (they have a TV show), Mountain State (they have a jet for recruiting), or any other plethora of schools out there is a different challenge. He has NEVER experienced what it is like to recruit. And he will be recruiting kids who have to be smart. You need a 3.5 or higher just to make it at King....

 

Its gonna be fun to watch.... I sincerely hope that he does well.

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.

I think that Coach Tony Hardin a longtime coach in East Tn is looking into this job. He is all of what it sounds like you need. He could really build another program. He did it at Elizabethton High school and has been coaching for over 25 years.

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.

I thought I was on the money and so were you!

Do you offer any package deals like 2 for 1 or

the K-mart blue light special. Dang they need to give you a little help up there.

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!

CoachSH, MAYBE thats why yall are struggling down there at UTC with money...Yall would rather have out of area players that are just as good as these guys around here...I am just a fan who dont know much, but I do know that yall are crazy to not recruit Pugh, Hare, and Pickel all together...BUT maybe you are satisfied with getting 2nd best every year in conference play...Maybe these guys aren't good enough to play at the powerhouse college team you have at UTC but dont make the comment about Pickel or Pugh not being able to play somewhere D1... That comment just makes you look stupid, and the worse thing is, your a coach! I can PROMISE you that Pickel can be used somewhere for a D1 school and you know that!

 

By the way, at first yall didn't want Alphonso Pugh either bc u didnt think he could play there...Now look at what he's done for you...

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!

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.

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?

Yeah I played then that was my Jr. year. We had a pretty good team that year. I think we went 21-8 and made it to the regional tournament.

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!

For the record...... Hare is going to Belmont. Kellen was NEVER recruited by UTC, as that would have been his choice to play basketball. UTC is local, yet backed off on Hare, and never even flirted with signing Pickel. Like many others, I think that is a shame that they didn't look at the local boys to help them out. I can see why they may feel the other Bradley boys have been such a disappointment (Pugh, Copeland,) Both are and were standouts down there. Luvinsports, none of us understand this recruiting stuff. These guys are great players with character. I think that is where the problem is. They have too much class for these schools to recruit them. Many of the D1 schools, like Tennessee, want to rcruit players who may have to sit out because of grades, behavior, etc. The ones who have several tatoos up and down their arms, with several body piercings and do not live anywhere close. None of them recruit on talent/character. Only Duke does that and look where it gets them. The Tennessee schools such as Tech, Austin Peay, Belmont, Lipscomb, UTC, ETSU should have seriously looked at taking the two guards together. They would have gone together. Oh well, I am off my soap box now.

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.

Volunteer,

 

You didnt think anybody knew about A.B. did you? LOL I thought when you said class you were talking about basketball class. All of those guys did graduate in 92. I played against them when I went to school at Ripley High.

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!

,..................................

Has any of these guys signed yet?

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

Just kidding

First of all let me state I`m talking of only rural West TN, so don`t even bring up Shelby County players.

 

There are lot`s of talented players in west TN right now...Kemp, Lake, Chism, Delk, and Delk are probably the best. I`m wondering how they compare to several years back when West TN had another fine group of players. I remember when Tony Delk (Haywood County), Steve Hamer (all 7 feet of him from Middleton) Stanley Caldwell (Union City) and Kirk Goerhing (Northside) were all in the same class from West TN. That was some talent!!!

 

Delk signed with Kentucky

Hamer signed with Tennessee

Caldwell signed with Tennessee

Goerhing signed with LSU

 

As for one class I think that one was the best ever in West TN.

 

Keep in mind that The Delk twins are juniors and Kemp and Chism are sophomores. I can`t remember a time when there has been so much talent in West TN as there is right now, but the best overall class was when Tony Delk wa a senior.

VolunteerGeneral? Are you a JCM grad---or current student. I graduated form there in 1990.

Volunteer,

 

This is a good post but you information is not exactly right. All of the guys that you named were not in the same classification or district. I know because I played against all of these guys but Stanley Caldwell. But I did see him play and later went to college with him. Delk was in AAA, Steve Hamer was in A, Stanley Caldwell was in AA, and Goerhing was also in AAA and was in the same district with Haywood. These were some very good basketball players. You forgot to mention that JCM had a seven footer, Albert Bond, at that time that went on to play at Tennessee State for a while.

 

In reference to the other Delk that plays for Haywood, his name is Leslie Delk and he is also Tony's nephew.

 

 

Wow!!! An Albert Bond mention. Former TSU Tiger and a former HS teammate of mine----he was a SOPH my SR year and I started at the 2 for the Cougars. Where did you play?

Jarrod Wooten (6'6 Post from Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett) signed with King College.

James Chapman from Chatt Arts and Sciences signed w/King College this past Tuesday. James is an athletic player who played the 1,2,3,and 4 spots as a SR. He's 6'1 and will play the 2/3 spot in college.

Jarrod Wooten, the 6'5 athletic post man from Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett's state tournament team will sign with King next Tuesday.

King College is also hosting our 2nd annual Boys' Basketball Team Camp July 11-12.

If you are interested, please contact Assistant Coach Jason Gillespie at (423)967-6790 or via email at jmgilles@king.edu

COngratulations to him.....he's going to a fine program!!

Red---weren't you 'hatin' on Jamar?

Why does there have to be anything other to his decision than what it is? You really don't think he heard from schools like Stanford and whoever?

Maybe he wanted to play for one of the best young coaches in the nation and stay close to home doing it....maybe the staff at UTC made enough of an impression on him to get the committ.

You said it yourself----don't hate. Why not congratulate the guy for making a decision that is in HIS best interest----and who cares where he might could/could not have gone!

Spanarkle: please email me at jmgilles@king.edu

Thanks!

The Blue kid from Bearden and Cedric Dozier were pretty good. I didn't see the 1st game but heard Malone from Greeneville was pretty good. Left at halftime of the last game.

I know of a college that is looking for 3 or 4 JV players. If you or anyone else would be interested in that possibility let me know.