Post by nashvillestag on Feb 7, 2020 14:11:30 GMT -5
Donovan Clingan update (the 6-11 sophomore from Bristol Central who is creating the most buzz of any single player in the state). In his last two games his stats have been off the roof. Last night against Middletown he had 34 points, 22 rebounds and 15 blocks in a victory. Previous game against state #1 Windsor he had something like (from memory) 22 points, 29 rebounds and maybe 9 blocks in a 4 point loss to the Warriors. He alone has made his team relevant in state circles this season, and his college recruitment is sure to grow even though he already has known offers from Syracuse, Georgetown and Providence among others. Maybe even UConn too as it was said in the paper he has visited them more than once. I'm praying he remains at his school and in the CIAC for two more years.
Donovan Clingan update (the 6-11 sophomore from Bristol Central who is creating the most buzz of any single player in the state). In his last two games his stats have been off the roof. Last night against Middletown he had 34 points, 22 rebounds and 15 blocks in a victory. Previous game against state #1 Windsor he had something like (from memory) 22 points, 29 rebounds and maybe 9 blocks in a 4 point loss to the Warriors. He alone has made his team relevant in state circles this season, and his college recruitment is sure to grow even though he already has known offers from Syracuse, Georgetown and Providence among others. Maybe even UConn too as it was said in the paper he has visited them more than once. I'm praying he remains at his school and in the CIAC for two more years.
Donovan Clingan is producing stats like Mike Gminski. If I remember correctly, Gminski committed to Duke after his soph year in HS and only played 3 years. Maybe Clingan will commit early like Gminski........ and choose the Stags.
Post by nashvillestag on Feb 18, 2020 17:10:39 GMT -5
There's an excellent article about Donovan Clingan right now on the ESPN website (under the men's basketball heading) that explains how the family tragedy of losing his mother to cancer a couple of years ago has motivated him to become a great basketball player, something that his mom had become at Bristol Central and then later at Maine as a 6-4 post player. I've been a fan of him as a player ever since he came on the scene last season as a 14 year old freshman, but now knowing this story, I'm really rooting extra hard for nothing but the best for him as he becomes a well-known target of prep school and college recruiters in the next couple of years. In fact the preps are trying to entice him to leave his home town school at the present time, but his allegiance to his school, family and friends may preclude him from making that move. This is a story that is as much a human interest one as opposed to just about a growing hoops legend, and for that reason it is well worth reading.
Last Edit: Feb 19, 2020 9:06:45 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Wherever he goes to school, he will be an instant franchise-maker. Have we offered or are we assuming we have zero chance? You never know. We may be what he is looking for. Crazy things happen. If we can’t get him, I am rooting for Cooley.
Post by nashvillestag on Feb 20, 2020 10:01:05 GMT -5
Dashon Gittens, a 6-3 junior guard from Weaver in Hartford went for 56 points last evening in a game at Harding. The Presidents aren't very good this year so I don't think you can say this was great competition. But still, that's a lot of points, and it comes from a kid who is very athletic and has been putting up a lot of points for a team who depends an awful lot on him to do well in order to win the games they do. Not highly rated yet, nevertheless he is someone to keep an eye on.
There's an excellent article about Donovan Clingan right now on the ESPN website (under the men's basketball heading) that explains how the family tragedy of losing his mother to cancer a couple of years ago has motivated him to become a great basketball player, something that his mom had become at Bristol Central and then later at Maine as a 6-4 post player. I've been a fan of him as a player ever since he came on the scene last season as a 14 year old freshman, but now knowing this story, I'm really rooting extra hard for nothing but the best for him as he becomes a well-known target of prep school and college recruiters in the next couple of years. In fact the preps are trying to entice him to leave his home town school at the present time, but his allegiance to his school, family and friends may preclude him from making that move. This is a story that is as much a human interest one as opposed to just about a growing hoops legend, and for that reason it is well worth reading.
The article says Matt Curtis is involved with Stags. I also think Primo Spears s on Fairfield's radar.
Matt Curtis, Northwest Catholic, 6-3, So., G: As a freshman, averaged 17.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 steals. Over the summer, he picked up his first Division I offer from Fairfield University. Primo Spears, Windsor, 6-2, Sr., G: One of the state’s top guards a year ago, averaged 27.5 points and nine assists, leading the Warriors to the Division I state title game. Likely a Division I caliber guard, Spears was an All-State football player this fall, too.
Well of course there have been plenty of comments about Spears throughout this thread, but now having witnessed Curtis in action twice this year, I can say without any hesitation that this kid is a coming star in state circles. This is a 6-3 combo guard who can do everything you would want on a basketball court. Shooting, passing, rebounding, playing defense, etc. means he is hard to contain for the opposition. Averaging about 25 points a game this year, something that won't come down after the 27 he scored in a first round league (CCC Conference) playoff game at home tonight against Conard. How would I describe his game? The best thing I can think of is that as a sophomore he probably compares, and compares favorable to how Tyler Nelson did as a sophomore in high school. I say "probably" because actually I never saw Tyler or knew of him until his senior year at Central Catholic. But anyway, Curtis is already one of the best players in the state even though he has two more years to go, and I'm certainly happy that the Stags were apparently the first to offer him back in the summer.
Last Edit: Nov 17, 2020 14:28:53 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Some very good basketball players came out of TC, including Earl Johnson (Rutgers, Iona), Craig Austrie (UConn), Dave McClure (Duke), Torey Thomas (Holy Cross) and Schadrac Casimir (Iona, FGCU). I don't think anyone from TC ever played for Fairfield.
Some very good basketball players came out of TC, including Earl Johnson (Rutgers, Iona), Craig Austrie (UConn), Dave McClure (Duke), Torey Thomas (Holy Cross) and Schadrac Casimir (Iona, FGCU). I don't think anyone from TC ever played for Fairfield.
Yeah I think you're right. Off hand I can't think of anyone who ever has suited up for the Stags, and since (as you have documented here) there have obviously been some very good players coming from that program who have gone on to have good or better than good collegiate careers, that's a shame and certainly accentuates a point that some of us have been making for a long time, that being that for what ever reason, Fairfield has done a very poor job of taking advantage of some of the local talent out there. Hopefully that will change now with a new staff in place. But in looking at this list which is extensive and packed with players who have all played for former head coach Mike Walsh, I can think of at least four others. Rashamel Jones who played in the early 1990s, might move to the top based on his production as one of the first important people in the early part of the UConn dominant years. Then there was a kid who went on to have a pretty good career at Iowa State named Shavin Sanvilcin (I may be way off on the spelling of his name-it's been a long time). Third guy, and this is going way back (early 80s) is John Symth, who BTW was VERY CLOSE to becoming a Stag as a great shooting big guard. Word was it was an internal battle between his mother and father, his father I think being a Fairfield grad, but unfortunately for us it was Princeton that won out in the end, especially since he became a very good player for the Tigers. Finally, and this is little known and maybe a bit of a technicality, but Pascal Chukwu actually was at TC as a freshman, although he hardly got off the bench that year. It was the next season that he transferred to Fairfield Prep and started to make a name for himself in local scholastic circles. Others? I think that's it, but as you can see, it's quite extensive.
Final comment, and certainly it applies to much more than who played basketball there, is this is a sad day for a school and community with a great tradition. But the memories will live on forever for what Trinity Catholic (formerly Stamford Catholic) meant for all the people who came in contact with the school in any way. Funny thing though is that regarding their team this very year, they have a chance to really establish a lasting athletic memory because the team is loaded and could have a chance to be not only league champions (FCIAC) but also possibly (more far-fetched) state champions in D-1. Now THAT would be a way to go out with a bang, wouldn't it?
Last Edit: Feb 28, 2020 10:21:45 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by nashvillestag on Feb 28, 2020 10:49:38 GMT -5
One correction from above. As I think of it now, Chukwu actually played two years at TC. In fact it was during his sophomore season there that he started to show a lot of potential as a force, especially blocking shots. That's why when it was announced he was transferring to Prep, this was exciting news for them but not so much for the Crusaders. In fact until that time it was always TC who benefited from kids transferring to them. This move then represented just the opposite type of thing.
Post by nashvillestag on Mar 3, 2020 13:06:25 GMT -5
Last night was a historical one in the CIAC and more specifically in the Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) as Sacred Heart lost in a league semi-final match-up to Holy Cross, a loss that ended an unfathomable 125 straight victories over league opponents, obviously spanning many years. One of the aspects of the game that very well could have been a difference-maker was that 6-11 junior Connor Tierney went down with an injury just before halftime. The score was tied at the time. But the Crusaders completely took control in the 2nd and won very handily in the end, so I'm not sure the big guy would have meant a difference in the result. Anyway if Tierney doesn't come back soon that would certainly hurt their chances in the upcoming state tournament in the loaded D-1 bracket they figured to be one of the favorites to win.
Last Edit: Mar 3, 2020 13:10:37 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by nashvillestag on Mar 6, 2020 16:56:28 GMT -5
Next week begins the 2-week CIAC state tournament, March Madness for Connecticut high school basketball enthusiasts. FIVE divisions, a joke (editorial comment), but anyway, it is what it is I guess. Anyway considering I admit to not knowing much about the bottom two divisions I will say that I am rooting for local favorites Bullard Havens in D-5 and Joel Barlow in D-4, the latter of which I have watched a couple of times and are coached by our well-known former player in Pat Yerina. They both have a decent chance I think.
Now moving up to D-3, certainly the level of play increases greatly considering some of the schools who will be competing in this bracket. A couple of teams who have had great seasons are Tolland and Capital Prep, but in my opinion the odds-on favorite to win this title is Northwest Catholic, the squad that just a few days ago knocked off state #1 Windsor in a CCC league semi-final. And even in the finals where they lost to maybe even a better team in East Catholic, they were competitive and tied with about 5 minutes to go before the Eagles put on a great run in the end to win going away. BTW a 'local' school who has a decent chance to advance a couple of rounds is Fairfield Ludlowe, a team who has had a great year and at times has been dominant.
D-2 can be very interesting considering some of the teams and players involved, but I am rooting for Bristol Central because they are led by the many times mentioned Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot sophomore center who has been receiving more publicity than any other player in the state. His supporting cast isn't that great however, therefore he will have to be better than good for them to have a chance to go all the way. Other schools who have a chance in this division are Holy Cross, Naugatuck and Prince Tech, a squad that went 20-0 during the regular season and are led by one of the better players in the state in Kazell Stewart.
Finally D-1 where obviously most of the best teams reside. Among the favorites in no particular order are Sacred Heart, Windsor, East Catholic, Notre Dame-West Haven and Norwich Free Academy. From our local angle I think FCIAC champ Ridgefield could surprise, but even more so I believe Trinity Catholic has the talent to possibly pull a few upsets even though they lost to Ridgefield in the league finals. I think a majority of people feel East Catholic will defend the title they won last year, but I am going to predict that Windsor, based on talent, will come out on top in the end. Consistency has been a problem with them however, therefore they could also get knocked out early if they aren't careful.
Anyway, that's it, let the games begin, they should be fun to observe!
Last Edit: Mar 6, 2020 16:59:01 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Next week begins the 2-week CIAC state tournament, March Madness for Connecticut high school basketball enthusiasts. FIVE divisions, a joke (editorial comment), but anyway, it is what it is I guess. Anyway considering I admit to not knowing much about the bottom two divisions I will say that I am rooting for local favorites Bullard Havens in D-5 and Joel Barlow in D-4, the latter of which I have watched a couple of times and are coached by our well-known former player in Pat Yerina. They both have a decent chance I think.
Now moving up to D-3, certainly the level of play increases greatly considering some of the schools who will be competing in this bracket. A couple of teams who have had great seasons are Tolland and Capital Prep, but in my opinion the odds-on favorite to win this title is Northwest Catholic, the squad that just a few days ago knocked off state #1 Windsor in a CCC league semi-final. And even in the finals where they lost to maybe even a better team in East Catholic, they were competitive and tied with about 5 minutes to go before the Eagles put on a great run in the end to win going away. BTW a 'local' school who has a decent chance to advance a couple of rounds is Fairfield Ludlowe, a team who has had a great year and at times has been dominant.
D-2 can be very interesting considering some of the teams and players involved, but I am rooting for Bristol Central because they are led by the many times mentioned Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot sophomore center who has been receiving more publicity than any other player in the state. His supporting cast isn't that great however, therefore he will have to be better than good for them to have a chance to go all the way. Other schools who have a chance in this division are Holy Cross, Naugatuck and Prince Tech, a squad that went 20-0 during the regular season and are led by one of the better players in the state in Kazell Stewart.
Finally D-1 where obviously most of the best teams reside. Among the favorites in no particular order are Sacred Heart, Windsor, East Catholic, Notre Dame-West Haven and Norwich Free Academy. From our local angle I think FCIAC champ Ridgefield could surprise, but even more so I believe Trinity Catholic has the talent to possibly pull a few upsets even though they lost to Ridgefield in the league finals. I think a majority of people feel East Catholic will defend the title they won last year, but I am going to predict that Windsor, based on talent, will come out on top in the end. Consistency has been a problem with them however, therefore they could also get knocked out early if they aren't careful.
Anyway, that's it, let the games begin, they should be fun to observe!
Completely agree about 5 CIAC divisions being a joke. And the way they come up with the divisions...how you can have the 4th largest school by male enrollment (Westhill) and the 164th school (Wamogo), both public schools, in the same division is beyond me. Northwest Catholic also doesn't belong in D3, and I like them to win that division, with Shelton as my long shot. In D1, I can't see anything but Windsor-EC in the final.
Have to say I am rooting for Naugatuck in Division II as my grandson plays for the Greyhounds. They have played very unselfish team ball all year.
sorce, what is his name? I have watched Naugy play a couple of times recently, and yes they are built on a foundation of good teamwork. Also doesn't hurt that they have a rising big-man star in sophomore Avery Hinnant, someone to keep an eye on for future college recruitment. And you know what would be cool? A final at Mohegan Sun between them and Bristol Central. Hinnant against Donovan Clingan would be fun to observe, wouldn't it?