2009 LOUISVILLE COMMTMENTS STRONG AT NBA CAMP

June 25, 2008

**story courtesy of Ron Bailey of the NBE Basketball Report and photo courtesy of i95ballerz.com**


Peyton Siva – 6’0”, 180 pounds (Louisville commit) - It must be something with Louisville and spunky, offensive minded guards, as Siva fits the bill, and is headed to that storied program. Normally the Cardinal’s coach, Rick Pitino snaps up a New York-area guard to fill the bill (see Edgar Sosa and long ago, Billy Donavan), but this time, he returned to Seattle to nab Peyton Siva (following current L’Ville swingman Terrance Williams).

Siva, a junior, can score and pass, and does so with an irrepressible flair; going into championship play Saturday, he was 17th in the camp in assists. Peyton must get stronger for Big East play, but should fit in well at Louisville, where the guards are required to score, particularly from the perimeter.

Rakeem Buckles – 6’8”, 210 pounds (Louisville commit) – A frontcourt man who excels at using his athleticism and activity to attack the rim and clean glass, Buckles is your prototypical Florida-bred forward in that he keeps moving and overwhelms opponents resultantly. The kid really works around the tin.

Going forward, Buckles, a junior, must gain weight and get stronger, as his game is more in the paint than out of it. Increased mid-range shooting is in line also, as Louisville probably will transition him to power/small forward mix, thereby mandating he hit such shots.

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TOBIAS HARRIS VISITS LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL PROGRAM

June 24, 2008



Tobias Harris continues his world tour of college campuses as he made an unofficial visit to meet up with Rick Pitino and see the Louisville program this past weekend.

"Tobias' visit was great," his father, Torrel Harris Sr. told the NBE Basketball Report Sunday night. "He got to see the campus, ...meet some players, played pick up games and he had a chance to talk to Coach (Rick) Pitino. He is a great guy and a good person. Tobias just had a great time out there in Kentucky," Mr. Harris said.

Louisville put their best foot forward for Harris and he definitely liked what he saw. A highlight, of course, was getting the chance to meet and talk with coach Pitino, who made the expected positive impression. The Louisville campus was also a star of the visit.

"The campus is beautiful," Tobias indicated. "It's not really too big and not really too small, it is just cool. The school itself has a history of winning. It is a great school," Harris said.


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LOUISVILLE ENTERES CHEEK SWEEPSTAKES

June 16, 2008


Dominic Cheek is piling up the offers as more schools are becoming interested in the elite 2009 wing from St. Anthony's in Jersey City (NJ). Cheek Picks Up Memphis, Louisville Offers (NBE Basketball Report) recently to go with intense interest from Villanova, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Florida, UConn, Texas, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Maryland.

“I talked to Rick Pitino and everything,” Cheek told Adam Zagoria at the Rumble in the Bronx at Fordham University. “It was exciting.”

He added that former Pitt and current Memphis assistant Orlando Antigua is recruiting him for John Calipari’s team.

“I’m still wide open right now,” said Cheek, who hit a bunch of 3-pointers while also making athletic forays to the hoop in leading the Playaz to several victories. “I don’t have a favorite right now.”

Cheek said he plans to “start cutting the list down soon.” With a busy summer ahead, expect more schools to try and get involved as well.

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LOUISVILLE 2008-2009 SNAPSHOT

June 10, 2008


Head Coach: Rick Pitino
2007-2008 Record: 27-9 (14-4 Big East), NCAA Elite 8


Returning Players:
Terrence Williams, Senior (Small Forward)
Andre McGee, Senior (Guard)
Earl Clark, Junior (Forward)
Edgar Sosa, Junior (Guard)
Jerry Smith, Junior (Guard)
Will Scott (non-scholarship), Senior (Guard)
George Goode, rsFreshman (Forward)
Preston Knowles, Sophomore (Guard)

Incoming Players:
Samardo Samuels, Power Forward/Center
Terrence Jennings, Center/Power Forward
Jared Swopshire, Small Forward
Kyle Kuric, Shooting Guard


Eligible Transfer:
Reginald Delk, Junior (Guard)

Graduated Players:
Juan Palacios, Senior (Forward)
David Padgett, Senior (Center)
Terrance Farley, Senior (Center)

Transferred Out (or no longer playing):
Clarence Holloway, Freshman (Center)
Derrick Caracter, Sophomore (Center)


Open Items/Issues:
Spring time in Louisville can be quite busy, while the Cards were quiet on the 2008 recruiting front, they have been busy on the recruiting trail for 2009, locking up three verbal commitments. As for their roster, recruit Melquan Bolding parted ways with Louisville and signed with Duquesne, Clarence Holloway had to leave the basketball team due to health reasons and Derrick Caracter was declared academically ineligible to compete this coming season. The roster shake-up has settled has shaped the line-up for next season at 12 scholarship players.

Summary:
Louisville probably received the biggest internal boost this spring when Terrence Williams and Earl Clark quickly made decisions not to pursue their NBA Draft possibilities and return to the Cardinal line-up for the 2008-2009 season. Clark led the team in rebounding (8.1) with Williams 2nd on the club (7.2) and T-Will was the Cards' top assist man at 4.5/game and they both averaged 11.1 point a game, right behind David Padgett for the team lead. Clark also led the team in blocks with 59 last season. Clark's return did come as a surprise as a strong pre-season showed the flashes of his tremendous potential and had many believing he would be a mid-first round draft pick. It had also been speculated that he had no intention of staying in college for more than two seasons, but he decided to take Rick Pitino's advice and could be in line for an All-American season as a junior.

Louisville will definitely be a top-10 contender nationally next season and their success will likely hinge on Edgar Sosa becoming the consistent point guard that Rick Pitino is trying to develop out of him. Sosa can get into a rut of tunnel vision looking for his own offense at times, but Pitino is working hard to get him to think more team oriented and to concentrate on his defense more often. Jerry Smith is one of the league's top three-point threats and Andre McGee offers experience in the back court. The addition of transfer Reginald Delk will provide a perimeter shooting boost that is very crucial in Pitino's offensive system, something that has not been a consistent weapon the last couple seasons.

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The front court took a hit this off season with the graduation of David Padgett, Juan Palacios and Terrence Farley and the merciful end to the Derrick Caracter saga as the underachieving big forward failed to remain academically eligible. Padgett was often praised by coach Pitino for his all around play and making the team better with his high basketball IQ and understanding of what the Cardinals were trying to accomplish on each possession. He will be very difficult to replace, but the candidates are impressive with all-American recruit Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings leading the way.

As usual, Rick Pitino has an impressive list of athletes at his disposal to run his system. Terrence Williams and Earl Clark will be among the top players in the conference (as well as the country) at the forward positions and Samardo Samuels should be one of the most college-ready incoming big men in the nation. Three-point shooting weapons like Jerry Smith and Reginald Delk round out an offensive line-up that should put up a lot of points. If Edgar Sosa takes the big step in his junior year and they find some depth in the front court, this will be a definite top four Big East team and a club that will once again be knocking on the door of the Final Four.

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