Post by nashvillestag on Sept 7, 2021 14:23:31 GMT -5
The start of actual scholastic basketball is a long way off of course, but I'll start the thread now because I have just learned that longtime successful Career coach Larry Kelley has recently announced his retirement at the age of 67. A former player for Syracuse in the mid-70s, Kelley had been the head coach at the small New Haven school for 14 years and had won a couple of SCC league championships as well as a state class L title to boot. Always fiery and entertaining on the sidelines, Larry was certainly tough on his players as kind of an 'old school' type mentor, but yet a couple of characteristics that stood out concerning his teams were that they always played hard in getting the most out of their ability plus they were always attentive to the instructions being doled out by the coach. I'm sure there were some who viewed him as a little out of control sometimes, but to me he was a guy who really cared about his players and probably became a father figure to some. So I think he should be remembered as a guy who had a great career doing something which he obviously was very passionate about. He will be missed.
Last Edit: Sept 7, 2021 14:27:25 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Is that the same Larry Kelley who was a student at Fairfield for a semester or two? There was a Larry Kelley who, along with Owen Mahorn, solely took classes; they weren’t on the team their first year on campus. Owen, of course, went on to play for us in the mid-seventies.
Is that the same Larry Kelley who was a student at Fairfield for a semester or two? There was a Larry Kelley who, along with Owen Mahorn, solely took classes; they weren’t on the team their first year on campus. Owen, of course, went on to play for us in the mid-seventies.
Probably not, because as you can see, this LK played four complete years at Syracuse at a time when spending four years at any school was the norm. But that said, I am guessing and could be wrong. I don't remember the LK you are referring to at Fairfield. But I am not doubting your memory however.
Post by nashvillestag on Sept 8, 2021 10:53:43 GMT -5
There is a meeting scheduled this week with the CIAC competition committee regarding the very real possibility that the state might come out of the dark ages starting next year by installing shots clocks for their games (both boys and girls). The time has long come for this to happen, something that now has come to the front of the line for attention after the national federation gave the official word last spring encouraging all states to do this very thing. Almost all the Connecticut coaches are for this, something that was pointed out in two huge articles today in the C. Post. Some athletic directors and school principles not so much however, cost being the biggest stated reason why they are against it. Maybe it's easy for me to say without actually spending the money, but the figures thrown around in the articles such as a couple grand for the clocks plus some small extra pay for someone to actually operate the clocks by and large don't seem that oppressive. Anyway, one of the things among many that hurts this state in keeping the real studs in the organization for all four years is that college coaches are more apt to want kids who play under the modern system encouraging speed and decision making, something that is oppressed a bit the way things are now. Therefore these players are more apt to transfer to prep schools or even nearby states such as NY, Mass. and RI who all have the devices for their games. Anyway, I hope (I pray) that they do the right thing (IMO) and approve the motion in order to bring the scholastic game up to the level of the modern ages.
Post by nashvillestag on Sept 9, 2021 12:34:56 GMT -5
And in the meeting, the committee said "yes" to the proposal (for a 35 second clock). Still has to be passed by a vote of the schools themselves, and that could be problematic. That said, I am very optimistic there will be enough support to actually make this thing a reality starting next season.
Putting this gametimect link listing some of the more intriguing CIAC games for the coming season into its appropriate thread. Apparently Prep will be splitting its home games between Warde and Lauralton Hall this year while the Convocation Center is being constructed.
And in the meeting, the committee said "yes" to the proposal (for a 35 second clock). Still has to be passed by a vote of the schools themselves, and that could be problematic. That said, I am very optimistic there will be enough support to actually make this thing a reality starting next season.
Will be happening but delayed for a year. So starting in 2023-24, boys (and girls) high school basketball in the CIAC will be using a 35 second clock. Biggest reason for the delay as stated is that the the Conn. Athletic Directors Association felt they needed an extra year to get everything in place. Seems like one year is enough, but anyway I'm glad it will finally happen even with another year to wait.
Last Edit: Oct 29, 2021 8:47:25 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
About 30 players illustrate that for a small state, Connecticut produces their fair share of talent. This number is not unusual but rather typical of any particular year. But sadly a majority of these guys either have played in the CIAC and left or else never player under the state umbrella, biggest reason being antiquated rules which holds back development and therefore recruitment. But whether they play in the CIAC or go the Prep route, Fairfield has a lot of talent right in their area to consider every year. Acquiring Matt Curtis might be a great start to establishing a pipeline to the best talent (not going to UConn or other power teams). BTW one name missing here (and I see he is listed on the Kansas St. roster) is former Bunnell standout Max Edwards, much discussed in some of these threads over the previous years. He has a chance to be a good one for the Wildcats I think.
Last Edit: Nov 1, 2021 12:53:34 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Post by nashvillestag on Dec 16, 2021 14:55:35 GMT -5
New boys basketball season officially begins tonight for the CIAC schools. Hopefully no forfeits or cancellations with this new Covid news. Fingers crossed. But anyway, according to the preview in the Connecticut Post of the best teams, the top 10 list looks extremely similar to how the squads were rated at the end of last season. For instance the four best starting out are Bristol Central, Northwest Catholic, East Catholic and Windsor, all from the Central Conn. Conference (CCC). Closer to home Ridgefield cracks the list at #5, Wilbur Cross at #6, Kolbe Cathedral #8 and Notre Dame-Fairfield at #10. As far as the players who are listed as being among the best 25 in the state, obviously Donovan Clingan of BC is there as is future Stag Matt Curtis from NWC. A couple of others that I know about and watched in the past (two years ago) who might be special are Hayden Abdullah of NWC and Avery Hinnant of Naugatuck. After that, most of the others are just names to me because I haven't actually watched most of them. However there is one guy on that list who has received a lot of love from the NERR website through his strong rating in the state and all of New England. Keyshawn Mitchell, a wing forward from Capital Prep, actually has a rating a couple of spots ahead of Curtis as the second best player in the association, so that tells me he has to be really good. Finally though, among the local players who show up on the list, Justyn Davis of Warde, Jayquen Kirkland of Stratford, Matt Manjos of Fairfield Prep, Esa Onakpoma of Naugatuck and Ty Staples-Santos of Kolbe Cathedral might be guys to pay attention to. Always surprises are in store once play actually happens however, so that's why thay play the games. Let's get it started.
Last Edit: Dec 17, 2021 0:09:00 GMT -5 by nashvillestag
Where is Fairfield Prep playing its home games this season?
Many will be at Warde. The others for some reason are over at Lauralton Hall in Milford. Why they aren't using Ludlowe down the street is a mystery to me.
Not sure which player(s) we’re interested in at this tournament, but we’re one of many schools at the event:
/photo/2
Edit: Realized this morning that VA had posted a couple months back that we’d offered 2 Stepinac players (classes of ‘24 and ‘25) so those (among possibly others) were probably who we were watching at the tourney yesterday.
Post by nashvillestag on Dec 21, 2021 9:53:25 GMT -5
The opening first few days of the season saw some high level match ups in two locations featuring some of the top teams and players in the state.
On Saturday up at Trinity College in Hartford five games were played, one of which I most wanted to see because it featured our future Stag Matt Curtis of Northwest Catholic, the #2 rated squad, competing against #5 Wilbur Cross. As far as Matt's play, actually he had a very sub-par first half in which he was not nearly as involved as I thought he should have been, but in the second half that changed quite a bit as he got more aggressive and scored 16 of his total of around 21 points (according to my unofficial stats which I kept in my head). Anyway although it's still a long way off before he gets here, I haven't changed my opinion that he should become a good recruit for the school. As far as the game itself was concerned, it was wild in that NW started off with a huge lead only to lose it all mostly because of an unbelievable 3-point shooting performance by WC junior guard Jarel Delgado who by my (unofficial) count made about 9 or 10 bombs from beyond the arc, many of which were WELL beyond the normal 22 foot area. Cross BTW won in this contest which went down to the final seconds. But the real surprise to me was the performance of a 6-10 freshman from NW named Badara Diakite who is (obviously) tall, fast, and has a lot of skills for someone so young. Maybe the next great big player in the state? Someone to keep an eye on for sure.
And last night up at Mohegan Sun the highly anticipated competition between #1 Bristol Central and #3 East Catholic took place with BC easily defeating East behind the expected domination of UConn bound Donovan Clingan who had a normal production line of 29 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks despite missing around seven minutes due to foul trouble. He should have had more points actually as he left some out there through missed free throws and a couple of short misses he should have made around the rim. Their overall team has improved around the big guy and therefore I would be surprised if they lost more than a game or two this season. EC is good, but like any other team who has to face the big guy, they are in trouble. It will be interesting to see if any find the right formula to pull off an upset of the Rams. Maybe Cross and a hot shooting Delgado when the two teams meet in New Haven later this year? That game might be fun to watch.