And it is time for a Steven Adams update.
The best team in New Zealand national team — Tall Blacks — wanted him for their trip to China and Europe. They had him for tryouts. Even though, they knew it was doubtful that he would be permitted to take the trip.
Adams, brother of Olympic shot put champion Valerie, would be nigh on an automatic pick because he’s the only genuine piece of tall timber in contention along with Breakers and Waikato Pistons standout Alex Pledger. After Adams had a promising debut NBL season with the Saints, the national coaches were keen to begin his introduction to the international game.
US scouts have predicted a potential NBA future for him and he was snapped up by highly credentialed Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon last year.
But Vucinic confirmed there were doubts around the Scots College youngster who is being groomed for the 2012 entry class for the University of Pittsburgh.
“There are some issues with him around his availability for the programme, with school and other things,” Vucinic said yesterday. “We’re trying to work through that, but for whatever reasons, if he’s not available he still becomes a big part of our plans for the future.”
It’s understood that Adams’ minders, including Saints assistant coach Kenny McFadden, have told the Tall Blacks coaching staff his schoolwork must come first as he seeks to fulfil eligibility criteria ahead of his American college entry.
And sure enough he was left off the final roster.
There is some grumbling and grousing behind the scenes, though, that the real reason Adams was kept off the squad by his “minders” is that they have him slated to head to the US for a top basketball camp/tournament while the Tall Blacks are touring.
The Tall Blacks travels to China and Europe start next week and takes up most of August. So, it may be possible. But August is not an evaluation period, so any tournament would be purely for the competition. Making it at least more likely that this is just complaints from the Tall Blacks camp about not having Adams on the roster.
At least I hope so. Since our own selfish interests are to make sure Adams has his academic eligibility firmly established with the NCAA.
I have a general question on the topic of height measurement. One sees a range of heights bandied about for any given athlete. Are the variances accounted for by sloppily constructed measurement devices? Aren’t there new-fangled electronic devices that do a fine job?
I’m being facetious of course, but the whole issue of height has gotten out of hand.
56 Arthur Doakes OT Fr. RS 6-6/325 Lebanon, PA (Lebanon)
64 Shane Johnson OG So. RS 6-5/295 Fort Washington, MD (DeMatha Catholic)
66 Justin Virbitsky OG So. RS 6-4/265 Jermyn, PA (Lakeland)
69 Kevin Barthelemy LS So. RS 6-3/255 Moon Township, PA (Moon Area)
70 Juantez Hollins OT So. RS 6-5/290 Aliquippa, PA (Aliquippa)
72 Jack Lippert C So. RS 6-4/275 Harrisburg, PA (Central Dauphin)
74 Matt Rotheram OG Fr. RS 6-6/300 North Olmsted, OH (North Olmsted)
75 Ryan Turnley OG Jr. RS 6-6/305 Hopewell, PA (Hopewell)
76 Ryan Schlieper OG So. RS 6-5/300 Wexford, PA (North Allegheny)
77 Zenel Demhasaj C Jr. 6-7/320 Brooklyn, NY (New Utrecht H.S.)
78 Cory King OG So. RS 6-6/315 Stoneboro, PA (Lakeview)
BGP, I believe you were right about he moving back to DL
My gut feeling is that he will really struggle to meet the NCAA’s standards for entry in to a Division I program.
A very strong season on the field this fall is desperately needed if Pitt is to finish the 2012 class strongly and isn’t to begin to regress from a BE contender to just another middle of the pack (or worse) team in the BE, IMO. That isn’t the direction most Pitt fans want to go–they want Pitt to better than just a perennial contender for the BE title. They want Pitt to dominate the BE similar to the way tOSU dominated the Big Ten (but without the cheating, of course)!!
Pitt is a basketball school.
Yawn
This is a conference that seems to not want to even play the game.
Weird. Really Weird.
Sorry, we’re not N.Car, Duke or Kansas. Nice try.
Ya Chas, you on vacation???
Dixon
“we have to make our shots” Calhoun
“these kids have to learn the defense” Boeheim
Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!
don’t be silly!!!
Force him to play in Uzbekistan this coming year.
Who gives a f/f about Texas?
You’ll have to convince me that our football players do likewise.
Oh, never mind.
But, if I had my preference, it would be FB. FB pays the bills and is the more popular sport and always will be. No offense to the UConns, Kentucky’s, UCLA’s, Kansas, and Duke’s of the landscape, but I’d rather be associated with the football schools. I don’t want Pitt to be a BB only school. There’s just something about playing outdoors on a muddy field in the Fall, the violent contact, and most importantly the tailgating with friends that appeals to me.
Pitt was picked to finish second in the Big East behind the Hoopies. We just got Tom Rickett’s son back. Thank goodness he realized his mistake. Graham is a wizard at getting high quality transfers. Did Myles win the lobster eating contest? Bring on the FB baby!
Indeed. Here’s hoping.
It would take 20 years of Johnny Majors II to dissolve the football completely. Allthough not a fan of Harris or Wannsteadt, they had enough stars and put enough kids in the NFL, that we’re still known for playing football.
We’re fine. It’s good to have both!!!
As wbb said, it’s the profile of the BE as a great basketball and lousy football conference that skews the perception. Hopefully that changes with TCU and better competition overall in football.
Their FIBA Oceania qualifying tournament for the 2012 Olympics is in September, I wonder if Adams will be included in that… sounds unlikely.
His arrival at Pitt would be next summer unless NZ makes the Olympics and he chooses to play. Still alot up in the air..