Jami Frankenberry

Pilot staff writer Jami Frankenberry covers Old Dominion University's men's basketball team ... and blogs about it here..

Category: ODU Basketball

The blog tips off

Jul 08

2:28 PM

Welcome to the ODU men’s basketball blog.

So what if the Monarchs’ first practice is more than three months away. You wanna read about ODU hoops year-round, right?

Maybe you’ve heard I’m the new beat writer. The other guy bolted for a sport that kicks off in 2009. But we’re not going to mention the f-word here. It’s all hoops, all the time.

I’m taking over the beat at a great time for ODU men’s basketball: coach Blaine Taylor and ODU have shaken hands on a new contract; the Monarchs are coming off the program’s most successful four-year run ever (94 victories); and along with last season’s leading scorer and rebounder, Gerald Lee, the roster is loaded with young talent. It’s going to be fun.

For now, the blog will feature occasional news and notes and update you on the Monarchs’ schedule and other off-season happenings as I get them.

It’s July, and summertime can be slow on the news front. But I’ll check in every now and then to feed your voracious appetite for ODU men’s hoops, and I’ll do even more as the 2008-09 season approaches.

In the meantime, feel free to leave a comment on the blog or drop me a line at jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com.

Now, let’s get on with it …

Speaking of newcomers

I've been working on a story on ODU’s newest recruits. Chris Cooper, Marquel De Lancey, Trian Iliadis and Nick Wright arrived on-campus about a week ago. (Wright’s from Suffolk, so he didn’t have far to go.)

Some fans got their first glimpse of those four in last week’s pro-am at Booker T. Washington High School. They’ll play together all summer.

Taylor expects the rugged competition will help the incoming freshmen.

“Guys are playing against college-age or adult-age players and playing with levels of players that exceed what you did in high school,” Taylor said. “So it’s quite a different experience.”

Marlins make their choices

Feb 08

7:21 PM

Bayside High School, Virginia Beach

It was a great day at Bayside High School as the Marlins had four players sign on the national signing day.

Leading the way was QB E.J. Manuel who said he is glad to finally have the recruiting process over. Even though he committed to Florida State nearly a year ago, he said he still received constant pressure from LSU, Penn State and Boston College to come there.

Manuel received many accolades his senior season, including being named to the Parade All-American team and all-state team. But now he’s focused on making a name for himself in Tallahassee.

“They told me I’d get a chance to compete for the quarterback position right away,” he said. “But there’s no pressure on me. The guys that are in front me probably have more pressure on them than me. And if they slip up, then I will be ready.”

Teammate Marquel Thomas also is ready for the next stage of his life.

Thomas, a wide receiver, chose Youngstown State over Northern Illinois, Marshall and Eastern Michigan. Thomas said coaches are looking at him to play on both sides of the ball at wide receiver and corner back. He said signing on Wednesday was a dream come true.

“This is all a shock to me because I didn’t expect all of this,” he said. “And as I kept progressing, I knew I was going to end up getting a chance to make something out of myself. And I think it’s going to be a great opportunity.”

Linemen Tory Williams and Ryan Haynes signed with Norfolk State and Christopher Newport University, respectively.

“I just got a good vibe when I went there for my visit,” said Williams, who play tight end and defensive end. “The coaches were real nice the players seemed like they had a brotherhood there.”

He added that it didn’t that the Spartans are coming off a winning season.

“Everybody wants to be on a winning team,” he said. “I’m excited about going there.”

- Larry Rubama

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For a complete wrap-up of signing day, check out Thursday's Pilot.

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Great Bridge's great day

Feb 08

5:12 PM

3 p.m.

Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake

Casey Turner capped a wild ride as Great Bridge’s quarterback when he signed with Connecticut.

Alongside Turner, lineman Michael Price signed with Virginia, while Adam Warack announced he was headed to William and Mary as a walk-on. And Adam Klink, thrust into punting duties this season after an injury, signed to play soccer at Rutgers.

Turner took over as the Wildcats’ starter when he was a sophomore after Donnie Kirby transferred to Landstown.

All Turner did was become South Hampton Roads’ all-time leading passer with 7,667 yards. He also threw 82 touchdown passes and completed 577 passes.

As a senior Turner guided the Wildcats to an 8-3 finish – the program’s best season in years.

“Great Bridge gave me a great chance to see what tradition and pride is about,” Turner said after he and his teammates signed before a few dozen cheering supporters. “When you start winning people in the community started changing a little bit. It was nice going to McDonald’s and 7-Eleven and hearing people say congratulations on winning last night.”

Price, meanwhile, picked Virginia after orginally committing to play at Old Dominion. The Cavaliers made a late push, and Price changed his mind earlier this week. He also had offers from Liberty and Army.

Price said he’s likely to red-shirt as a freshman at Virginia.

“I’m looking forward to getting into those more intense practice, and playing with guys at a higher level of competition,” Price said.

- Jami Frankenberry

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Headin’ to Big D

Feb 08

4:14 PM

Atlantic Shores Christian School, Chesapeake

WR E.J. Drewery signed with Southern Methodist, picking a school that recently hired June Jones as coach. Jones left Hawaii after this past season.

Drewery finished his senior season with 57 catches for 1,156 yards and 12 TDs. He had seven 100-yard games.

So why did Drewery sign to play for Jones? Could be because the WR likes these numbers. Hawaii’s offense last season ranked:

* First nationally at 43.4 yards per game

* Second in passing (thanks to QB Colt Brennan) at 439.1 yards per game

* Third nationally at 526.1 total yards per game

- Jami Frankenberry

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Dolphins Day

Feb 08

4:00 PM

Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach

Ocean Lakes’ players had to get up pretty early to see QB Marcus Davis, WR Randall Dunn and DB T.J. Coward sign their national letter of intents.

Dolphins coach Jim Prince said they set it up for 7:45 a.m. to benefit their respective schools.

“Most schools want you to fax their letter of intents to the university before 10 a.m. so they can announce who they signed at their press conferences,” Prince said.

Prince said it ended up being a learning experience for everyone. Along with player highlights, the morning also was a time to reflect for the entire team as Davis, Dunn and Cowart talked about their success and failure.

“Marcus and T.J. both didn’t do well in the ninth grade,” Prince said. “But then they told them how they had to make a change to get where they are now.”

Prince added that when each young man signed their letter of intents, you could hear a pin drop because it was so quiet.

“I think it will change five or six guys to make them say, ‘That’s where I want to be,’” Prince said.

He added that All-Tidewater defensive end James Rainey and quarterback Dan Pitts – who missed the season because of a knee injury – are still getting interest and hope to make a decision soon.

- Larry Rubama

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No surprises at Salem

Feb 08

1:57 PM

12:40 p.m.

Salem High School, Virginia Beach

Two players who helped Salem dominate the Beach District signed as expected, RB Kevin Whaley with Minnesota, LB Lyndell Gibson with Virginia Tech.

Gibson wore a Hokies cap and T-shirt, while Whaley sported a yellow sweater and dress shirt. Why didn’t Whaley have any Gopher gear on? “Couldn’t find any.”

Still, Whaley is headed to the Big Ten, and he sees similarities in the Gophers and in Salem when he arrived as a freshman. The SunDevils were 1-9 that year; Minnesota finished 1-11 last season.

“There’s a lot of new players coming in trying to help the program, and I’m one of them,” Whaley said, referring to Minnesota. “I’m just going to go out there and see what I can do.

Gibson, meanwhile, picked Virginia Tech – in large part, he said, because it was the first major school to offer him a scholarship. He took his only recruiting visit to Blacksburg.

“They were the first big school that came through; the first school on TV, and I want to play on TV,” Gibson said.

Whaley and Gibson helped the SunDevils go 20-0 in the Beach District in the past two seasons. Salem reached its first Group AAA Division 6 state tournament in 2006 and made back-to-back region championship games.

“These guys got it done on the field and off the field,” coach Robert Jackson said. “They made everybody on the field play better and changed the attitude of the program.”

- Jami Frankenberry

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Former star shows up, signs at FC

Feb 08

1:44 PM

First Colonial High School, Virginia Beach

A surprise visitor showed up at First Colonial this morning: Former DB Taveion Cuffee signed his letter of intent to play at James Madison University.

Cuffee was named The Virgininan-Pilot’s No. 2 prospect for the Class of 2007 after getting interest from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, N.C. State, Marshall, Akron and Kent. But he fell through the cracks as the season progressed due to injuries

He went to Fork Union and once again emerged as a high prospect as Connecticut, Memphis, Iowa and Iowa State recruited him.

But he decided to stay in state.

“I felt a home there,” said Cuffee, who is 6-foot and 185 pounds. “They also told me I could come there and start. It will also give me a chance to win a national championship and be an All-American.”

Also at FC on Wednesday, RB Tony Gregory signed with Virginia Tech and RB Eric Hitch with Norfolk State.

- Larry Rubama

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Maury: 5 Commodores sign

Feb 08

11:22 AM

9:15 a.m.

Maury High School, Norfolk

The folks at Maury were so excited to get their national signing day ceremony started that they began 15 minutes early.

That didn’t bother defensive back Ricky Nichols. He couldn’t wait to sign the dotted line to go to Old Dominion University. In October, he was the first player to commit to the new program, which begins play in 2009.

“It feels good to know that I’m getting ready to embark on a new legacy,” said Nichols. “It’s a building process at ODU and I guess I’m the first person to try to help build it.”

Nichols, 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, said he’s also looking forward to playing for former Maury coach Dealton Cotton, who is now an assistant on the Monarchs staff.

“It’s going to feel good playing for him because he is like a second father for me,” he said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in right now.”

Nichols was one of five Commodores to make their college decision official. The others were highly touted lineman Vinston Painter (Virginia Tech), linebacker Jamal Giddens (Liberty), lineman Travis Branche (Virginia State) and running back Carnell Cooke (Carson-Newman College).

Cooke, who rushed for nearly 900 yards this past season, said he was thrilled to be going to the Division II school in Tennessee.

“They were the only college that was really interested in me and I went down there to visit and it went great,” said Cooke. “I just loved the college and it’s a great little atmosphere down there.”

- Larry Rubama

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At Green Run: Not your average Joe

Feb 08

10:48 AM

9:15 a.m.

Green Run High School, Virginia Beach

Late last summer, Joe Jones was about as anonymous as the Green Run football program, which had won only two games in the two previous seasons.

“In August, I wasn’t even thinking about college,” said the 6-3, 240-pound defensive end. “Nobody was interested in me.”

But just like the Stallions, who came from out of nowhere to go 10-2 under new head coach Shawn Wilson, Jones’ stock skyrocketed.

“After a few games the coaches made a highlight film of me and that got things going,” said Jones, who returned to Green Run for his senior year after living in Tennessee as a junior.

A first-team All-Tidewater pick, Jones wound up with offers from a number of schools, including Maryland, Georgia Tech, Penn State. West Virginia and UConn. Wednesday, he signed with Virginia Tech.

Green Run coach Shawn Wilson said Jones’ signing is a notable event capping his first year as head coach.

“This signing is huge for the program,” he said. “We have a lot of good juniors and sophomores and this shows them that they can do it academically and on the field. This will help a lot.”

No one was beaming more at the ceremony than Amanda Ford, Jones’ mother.

“Joe’s father (Terence Ford) couldn’t be here, he’s in Tennessee, but we’re both very proud of him,” she said. “Joe has worked hard academically and athletically to get to this level. We’re really, really excited for Joe and his big, fat scholarship to Virginia Tech.”

- Chic Riebel, On-line Sports Coordinator

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First stop: Oscar Smith

Feb 08

10:32 AM

9 a.m.

Oscar Smith High School, Chesapeake

Lights, camera ...

Richard Morgan is known to run a tight ship, so it was no surprise that the Tigers’ coach started his signing ceremony precisely at 9 a.m.

Morgan, sharply dressed in a dark suit and blue shirt and tie, played emcee as a camera rolled, broadcasting the happenings on Oscar Smith’s in-house TV network. A handful of classmates and parents were in the school’s media center (whatever happened to libraries?) to see four Tigers sign.

Three wide receivers previously had committed: Kerry Boykins to Maryland, Todd Harrelson to North Carolina and Jamal Wilson to Marshall. They signed, and RB Lonnie Andrews joined them and signed with Virginia State. Andrews, third on the school’s all-time rushing list, said he also had offers from Winston-Salem State and James Madison.

“I liked the campus and the football team was very family oriented,” Andrews said. “I also know a lot of people already up there.”

Morgan pointed out that the quartet over the past four seasons had helped the Tigers finish 39-1 during the regular season, win or share four Southeastern District titles and appeared in four Eastern Region Division 6 championship games. Oscar Smith won its first region crown this past season.

“I’m going to miss you guys, and I hate to see you go,” Morgan told them. “But you’re on to bigger and better things.”

Since Morgan arrived six years ago, his players have made a habit of moving on to college. Morgan said 40 of his players have gone on to play college football – 28 of them on full scholarships.

“Recruiting was a priority when I got here,” Morgan said. “I get their names out there, and we have everything ready when the college coaches walk in there, and we focus on academics.”

Added Boykins, “As long as you work hard academically and produce on the field Coach Morgan will find a way to get you in a school that’s best for you.”

- Jami Frankenberry

Next stops: Maury in Norfolk and Green Run in Virginia Beach ...

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