UWGB lands forward

[Hack]

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/sports/archive/sports_17708611.shtml

I like how it mentions his 38-point game against Wild Rose. Hell, my scrawny 5-11 ass could put up 38 against Wild Rose in the paint.

Not too many world-beaters in the CWC-Small ... at least Dylan came from a CWC-Large school.

Story briefly mentions what we already know about Tillema as well, with UWM, UWGB and UW being his final 3 -- UW only offered him a partial scholarship.

[dylanrocks]

Guys, this leaves GB with just one available scholarship for the 2005-06 and three point guards -- Brandon Morris, Javier Mendiburu and Matt Rhode -- about to use up their eligibility. Could the signing of Berry be in essence a bow-out on Ryan Tillema. It certainly has that appearance, doesn't it?

[Hack]

That was my thought. Saving face by signing someone before Tillema turns them down.

[dylanrocks]

Hey, guys. Check this out.

We could be in the lead for J.R. Blount. Also, notice that Demovsky says that the signing leaves the Phoenix with at least one scholarship remaining.

This is only if they back off on their offer of a buy-1-get-4-free offer to Robby Springborn (similar to the one signed by Gordy when he originally came here) or perhaps chase someone else out of the program. Otherwise, they are out of bullets.


Phoenix men score another top recruit

By Rob Demovsky
[e-mail]

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team may have found its point guard of the future.

Simon Farine, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound high school senior from Toronto, Ont., made a verbal commitment Saturday to play for the Phoenix beginning with the 2005-06 season.

Farine began his official visit to the UWGB campus Thursday and accepted coach Tod Kowalczyk's scholarship offer before he left town Saturday morning. He became the fourth player to commit for the ’05-06 class but the first point guard. That position was critical because after this season UWGB loses its trio of starting guards, Javier Mendiburu, Brandon Morris and Matt Rohde.

“That's one of the main factors — the opportunity to play right away,” Farine said. “I felt like I have the chance to be an impact player there. I liked the coaches. I felt like I could relate to the players, and I liked the town — not too big but not too small.”

After securing commitments from Farine, Racine St. Catherine's guard Cordero Barkley, Somerset forward Mike Schachtner and Almond-Bancroft forward Randy Barry, Kowalczyk still has at least one scholarship to offer for next year’s incoming class. His first choice is Randolph forward Ryan Tillema, who is expected to make his official visit to UWGB this month.

Farine said he also had scholarship offers from Boston University, Canisius, Central Michigan and Colgate. As a high school junior at Toronto Northern, Farine averaged 25.5 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game. Though Farine said he had never met fellow Canadian UWGB player Mike King, who graduated last spring, he said King helped convince him to come to Green Bay.

“He called me on the phone and told me how much he really liked Coach K,” Farine said. “He had nothing but positive things to say.”

NCAA rules prohibit Kowalczyk from commenting on recruits until they sign their national letters of intent. All four players who have verbally committed are expected to sign their letters in November.

[Hack]

Coach K ... gimme a break.

[dylanrocks]

Amen to that, Hack! The repeal of the 5/8 rule has effectively ended loyalty to the student-athlete.

[Hack]

I was referring to the Coach K reference.

There's only one Coach K.

[dylanrocks]

I hear that GB is looking at a small forward from Paraguay. Kowalczyk really hasn't seen him play, but he's heard he's really good. Again, this latest commitment looks like a face-saving move to me.

[dylanrocks]

I hope you guys got a chance to see Beano's exchange with Phoenix on the GB website. Beano, your posts mirrored my opinions on Kowalczyk's paranoia perfectly. I would have nothing more to add.