USF Basketball Adds 6-10 Croatian Player

[Apis Bull]

Damnit, Leavitt should be fired!!  Oops, wrong thread..

[Guest BasketBull.]

I LOVE this staff!  ::toasting::

It's the late signing period and at the deadline, and they are able to pull in somebody we need badly, a big body that can rebound and not a stick. 6-10 and 242 people who rebound do not grow on trees. And if he's from Eastern Europe, we know he can shoot. Give him some time and this staff will turn him into a player.

You Bulls who do not follow recruiting closely have no idead how difficult it is to get players (who can play) this late in the signing period.

[Guest BasketBull.]

Apple Vs. Empire Showcase Games Preview

By Brian Towey  Senior Reporter

Date: Oct 31, 2004

It isn't often that the top talent in New York state is assembled in one gym, but with this weekend's Apple vs. Empire Showcase games at John Jay College in Manhattan, it looks like Eric Jaklitsch and Nick Blatchford will do just that.

Jaklitsch, the coach of the New York Elite, and Blatchford, coach of the New Heights Warriors, have managed to attract many of the state's brightest in two games that pit a team of New York City all-stars against notables from around the state.The underclassman game is a 1 p.m. start, while the senior game will follow at 3 p.m.

Among the guards, the older New York team features St. John's commit Ricky Torres, Big East target Levance Fields, Manhattan native Jessie Sapp, another player on the radar of high majors, as well as 6-foot-3 sharp shooter Niko Scott, who is bound for Columbia.

Brooklyn's Vernon Goodridge will anchor the frontcourt, aided by 6-foot-5 workhorse Chris Bethel, a Fordham pledge, 6-foot-9 Mike Davis of Benjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn, committed to Pittsburgh, and 6-foot-8 Cameron Lewis from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, who is being hotly pursued by Penn and Columbia. The wild card is 6-foot-10 Frane Markusovic of The Kent School in Connecticut, a highly touted import who hasn't gotten much exposure to date.

The Empire team features a beefy frontline that includes 6'8'' Pittsburgh commit Tyrell Biggs, 6'8'' Johnny Garcia, bound for Seton Hall, and 6'7'' James Tchana from Our Savior New American, who has cast his lot with Fresno State. The headliner is 6'11'' Andray Blatche, the spindly and versatile talent from South Kent Prep who is receiving feelers from pro scouts. 6'7'' Kahiem Seawright, who recently committed to Rhode Island, is a tireless worker in the paint.

6'2'' Tiki Mayben, who has already give Jim Boeheim his word, will man the point. He'll be joined by 6'5'' jack-of-all trades Danny Green, bound for North Carolina, 6'5'' perimeter threat Tyson Johnson, versatile 6'6'' wing player Bougari Konate, and 6'0'' Chris Lowe, the fearless point guard from state champion Mount Vernon.

The Underclassman game has culled the top performers not only from New York City, but from around the state.

The city team features two of the better point guards in the class of 2006 in St. Benedict's Eugene Harvey and Rice's Edgar Sosa. Christ the King's Larry Davis is a savvy combo guard with good size, while St. Patrick's Corey Fisher, Loughlin's Darius Gabriel, and All Hallows' Chris De La Rosa are three rising talents in the class of 2007.

6-foot-8 jumping jack Curtis Kelly highlights the frontliners for the City. He'll get help from 6-foot-8 Jabari Edwards from Poly Prep High School, 6-foot-6 Michael Glover, the younger brother of former St. John's standout Anthony, who attends Monroe Campus High School in the Bronx, and 6-foot-8 Austin Wallace from LaSalle Academy.

The Empire youngin's feature a potent blend of upstaters and metro area players. 6-foot-4 swingman Paul Harris from Niagara Falls High School is as tough as they come. He'll be flanked by 6-foot-4 combo guard Daye Kaba from Our Savior New American, who arrived from France this fall, and brings savvy and skill. 6-foot-1 point guard TJ Carey from St. Dominic's on Long Island is a sound player and steady hand in the backcourt, while St. Mary's Rashad Green is a burgeoning talent on the wing. Alex Zampier, a 6-foot-1 marksman from Columbia, New York, and 6-foot Talor Battle are two accomplished guards from the Albany area.

6-foot-5 high-wire act Rob Thomas is a dynamic athlete on the wing, as is Beacon's Melquan Bolding, a precocious wing player. 6-foot-7 Devin Erwin from Bishop Gibbons High School and 6-foot-6 Greg Avila from Port Chester High School in Westchester County round out the Empire roster.

Link

[Guest BasketBull.]

Basketball for 2004/2005

12/11/04     Choate Rosemary Hall     3:30 PM     Kent     Win  57-45  

Frane Markusovic scored his first two points on American soil, as well. We wish him many more.

2/2/05     Avon Old Farms     4:30 PM     Avon     Loss  51-46

Pete Trgovich sunk for 14, Brandon Adams for 10, Josh Jones for 7 and Frane Markusovic for 6.

2/19/05     Westminster School     4:00 PM     Kent     Loss  73-71  

All of this in spite of the following strong numbers displaying fine contributions from a variety of team members: Trgovich: 21 pts.; Perry: 17 pts.; Adams: 14 pts. and 12 rebounds; Markusovic: 9 rebounds; Geraghty: 5 assists.

2/26/05     Trinity-Pawling     8:30 PM     Trinity-Pawling     Win  61-59  

At the end of the first half, Kent trailed by 15 points. No one, apparently, was willing to concede a loss, so the squad stepped-up, especially in the final moments of the game. It was a barn-burner.

Barron Perry posted 21 points, Pete Trgovich had 17, Brandon Adams had 12 and Frane Markusovic topped-off with 7.

Again, Andre Geraghty had a great game on the floor. He coughed-up a mere one turn-over and shut-down Trinity-Pawling's leading scorer, to boot. Additionally, in the team-work-department, Adams had a 17-rebound game, to Markusovic's 9 and Perry's 7.

In a tournament stake, Kent will face T-P again on Wednesday March 2 at 6 p.m. at Trinity-Pawling School.

Link

[The_Reaper]

I told you all Coach Mac had a little sumthin under his sleeve!!!     Reaper

[Guest AstroBull]

Great signing Mac!  One more to go

[Papa_Bull]

I think Markusovic will play this summer in the European games like Marius did last year, so it will give us something to follow if that is the case.

I checked and the U20 European Championship Men

will be played in Moscow starting July 8. The roster for Croatia has not yet been set.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?cid={A440F8BD-44CB-4159-9FC6-547E93455FE2}&season=&compID={792A6AB7-C6A6-434B-BEA5-9BF1BC619DB4}&roundID=3794&

BTW, Marius is on a list to possibly play for Lithuania at the European Championships in September:

THE CHAMPS ANNOUNCED THE LIST

 

R. Siskauskas

The Basketball Federation of Lithuania announced a list of candidates for the September 16-25 European Championships in Serbia and Montenegro. They also told media about the schedule of the preparations that will have their culmination in Podgorica on a tournament against the home team of Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Croatia - also their opponent in the second game of the Championships.

Mindaugas Zukauskas

Similar to what they did before the Olympic games in Athens last August, Lithuania will travel to play games in Asia and Australia. They start their training camp for the newcomers on June 21. They will go to Beijing, Japan to play in the first annual “Bora Stankovic†tournament.

The team best players will join the trainings a month later. The team will participate in the tournaments playing against Russia, Hungary, Estonia.

The last preparation tournament is in Podgorica, the same place where Lithuania’s Group B will be hosted. The Group B is also featuring teams of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Croatia.

Lithuania is also hosting the 2011 European Championships, the first time after 72 years.

LITHUANIA CANDIDATES

Eurelijus Zukauskas ("Ulker", Istambul)

Robertas Javtokas ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Povilas Ciukinas ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Saulius Kuzminskas ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleaveland "Cavaliers")

Darjus Lavrinovic ("Žalgiris", Kaunas)

Ksistof Lavrinovič ("Dinamo", Moscow)

Linas Kleiza (Missouri "Tigers", NCAA)

Darius Songaila (Sakramento "Kings")

Paulius Jankunas ("Žalgiris", Kaunas)

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Saulius Stombergas ("Ulker", Istanbul )

Mindaugas Zukauskas ("Montepaschi", Siena)

Dainius Salenga ("Žalgiris", Kaunas)

Simas Jasaitis ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Simonas Serapinas ("Žalgiris", Kaunas)

Ramunas Siskauskas ( "Benneton", Trevizo)

Arvydas Macijauskas ("Tau Ceramica", Vitoria)

Andrius Giedraitis ("EnBW", Liudwigsbourg)

Mindaugas Lukauskis ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Gintaras Kadziulis ("Anwil", Vloclavek)

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Sarunas Jasikevicius ("Maccabi", Tel Aviv )

Vidas Ginevicius ("Zalgiris", Kaunas)

Tomas Delininkaitis ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

Giedrius Gustas ("Lokomotiv", Rostov)

Rimantas Kaukenas ("Vertical Vision", Kantu)

Marius Prekevicius (South Florida, NCAA)

Martynas Pocius - Holdernes High School (USA)

Tomas Delininkaitis ("Lietuvos rytas", Vilnius)

[Papa_Bull]

Frane Markusovic

Some members of the Croatian U 20 team just started training but not all players are listed:

U-20 TEAM STARTS TRAININGS

- K. D.

Few days ago U-20 national team started trainings in Bjelolasica for European Championship that will take place in Moscow. After this year championship ends, players from Zadar, Zagreb, Cibona and Split will join the team. Some players from Dubrava will also join the team after the qualifications end.

 

Following players are currently participating in the trainings:

Hrvoje Kovacevic, Slavonski Brod (A1)

Petar Cosic, Slavonski Brod (A1)

Dino Erceg, Zagorje Tehnobeton (A1)

Rok Stipcevic, Zadar (A1)

Hrvoje Milicevic, Zrinjski (Bosnia-Herzegovina – D1)

Ante Paic, Hermes Analitica (A1)

Vedran Pusic, Zrinjevac (A1)

Danko Barisic, Webber State (NCAA)

Simunic, Cibona II (A2)

Ivan Novacic, Karlovac (A2)

Krunoslav Cukrov, Dani Erceg

http://www.crobasket.com/main.asp?P=Vijest&J=ENG&VijestID=1114

Maybe Greg can tell us if Frane is scheduled to play for Croatia this summer.

[Guest BasketBull.]

However his summer turns out, he's definitely going to be getting minutes next year with our roster so bereft of big men.

[Papa_Bull]

Looks like Marius is getting some good experience over in Europe. He had 17 points the other day against the Men's national team:

NT II beat Lithuania U-21 NT - July 1, 2005 - by BasketNews LT

Two Lithuania Nationals teams meet on Thursday. Lithuania men National team II beat Lithuania U-21 National team 83:70 (33:13, 19:16, 18:20, 15:21). Only Ksystof Lavrinovic was a player for LT NT II, who was a member of Lithuania NT last year in olympics.

By the way, K.Lavrinovic played in the same team with his brother twin Darjush after 7 years break.

LT NT II took a lead from beggining of the game. After 11 points by brothers Lavrinovics LT NT II had 13 points lead 15:2. Later they got 19 points lead 24:5.

But LT U-21 NT, which is preparing for World Championship in Argentina, made game better and closed by 10 points, but that was all.

Lithuania NT II: Simas Jasaitis 19 points, Ksystof Lavrinovic and Paulius Jankunas 13, Darjush Lavrinovic 10, Tomas Delininkaitis and Povilas Ciukinas 7, Simonas Serapinas 6, Sarunas Velius 5, Mindaugas Lukauskis 3, (Arvydas Eitutavicius, Tautvydas Lydeka, Marius Pociukonis, Mantas Cesnauskis).

Lithuania U-21 NT: Marius Prekevicius 17, Vaidotas PRidotkas 14, Steponas Babrauskas 13, Darius Silinskis 8, Gediminas Navickas 7, Michailas Anisimovas 6, Antanas Kavaliauskas 5.

The second stage of Lithuania NT II starts today. These players are invited in team, which will go to Asia for 07.10 - 08.25: Povilas Čukinas, Saulius Kuzminskas, Audrius Danusevičius, Martynas Andriukaitis, Tautvydas Lydeka, Tadas Klimavičius, Mantas Česnauskis, Vytautas Danelius, Andrius Giedraitis, Mindaugas Lukauskis, Vaidas Pauliukėnas, Simonas Serapinas, Vidas Ginevičius, Giedrius Gustas.

http://www.eurobasket.com/ltu/ltu.asp