News from ICC,BU basketball/Summer league

[tornado]

ICC will not enter a team of all ICC players this summer in the Hersey Hawkins/Summer league at the RiverPlex.
The ICC players will be on several different teams, and will include most of the present ICC kids who have completed their freshman season, and also the following:
incoming sophomores Brandon Lee (Peoria Central) and DeAaron Williams (Limestone), freshman LaMarcus Anderson (Peoria Woodruff), and a couple of other juco kids transferring to ICC.
As usual, the incoming Bradley kids (Xavier Crawford, Andrew Warren, Matt Salley) will be playing on the Star Trucking team when they get on campus sometime in the summer, along with some other local kids.
It is possible Williams could be playing on the same team as the BU guys, but that has yet to be decided.

[BU1999]

Can someone post a summer league schedule as soon as it is available.

[BUBraves06]

Can someone post a summer league schedule as soon as it is available.

Along with the schedule, is there a website for the summer league?

[tornado]

I have never found a web site, but the summer league is organized and run by Junior Watkins.
Here is an older NCAA release that mentions the Hersey Hawkins/Summer League when it was held at ICC

http://www.ncaa.org/news/1998/19980629/active/3526n09.html

"Hersey Hawkins Coca-Cola Summer League at the I.C.C. in East Peoria. June 15-July 27. Junior Watkins, 125 Southwest Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61602-1224 (309/674-0566)."

And a short bio on Junior Watkins

http://www.peoriacounty.org/display.php?dept=countyBoard&page=meet

Some other links from last year's play at the RiverPlex

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:B5T2IV2GAWEJ:www.pjstar.com/stories/061705/DAV_B6NEG07P.071.shtml+%22hersey+hawkins%22+and+%22summer+league%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:oyhyLUDseewJ:www.pjstar.com/stories/061505/KIR_B6N6964U.077.shtml+%22hersey+hawkins%22+and+%22summer+league%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

By the way, I talked with some of the staff at ICC and DeAaron Williams is truly looking impressive in workouts at ICC, and will dominate at the juco level. Look for him to commit soon for one of BU's 2007 scholarships and continue his career as a Brave.


Probably this site, BradleyFans.com, is the best place to keep up on the action at the RiverPlex this summer as I along with several other BU fans are planning to take in much of the action down there this summer.

[tornado]

I have never found a web site, but the summer league is organized and run by Junior Watkins.
Here is an older NCAA release that mentions the Hersey Hawkins/Summer League when it was held at ICC

http://www.ncaa.org/news/1998/19980629/active/3526n09.html

"Hersey Hawkins Coca-Cola Summer League at the I.C.C. in East Peoria. June 15-July 27. Junior Watkins, 125 Southwest Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61602-1224 (309/674-0566)."

And a short bio on Junior Watkins

http://www.peoriacounty.org/display.php?dept=countyBoard&page=meet

Some other links from last year's play at the RiverPlex

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:B5T2IV2GAWEJ:www.pjstar.com/stories/061705/DAV_B6NEG07P.071.shtml+%22hersey+hawkins%22+and+%22summer+league%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:oyhyLUDseewJ:www.pjstar.com/stories/061505/KIR_B6N6964U.077.shtml+%22hersey+hawkins%22+and+%22summer+league%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

By the way, I talked with some of the staff at ICC and DeAaron Williams is truly looking impressive in workouts at ICC, and will dominate at the juco level. Look for him to commit soon for one of BU's 2007 scholarships and continue his career as a Brave.


Probably this site, BradleyFans.com, is the best place to keep up on the action at the RiverPlex this summer as I along with several other BU fans are planning to take in much of the action down there this summer.

Actually, I might point out that I got this info 3 weeks ago from a very good source at ICC who is close to the players and the staff. He also told me that Coach Bish wants very badly to have BLee at BU, but the priority might be to go for more size, and BLee might walk on in 2007. The other possibility is that one of the present players may leave unexpectedly between now and 2007 and that would open a scholarship, but it makes more sense to go after big men than another SG.
Also, of the present players at ICC, the recruiting has indeed died way down, but this summer Ping is hoping to get to a couple exposure events.

[bu fan 9]

I agree with Chuck B. if a great player wants to come to Bradley you take him no matter how many of the same type of players you have.I still think Sam M. will redshirt anyway.I just think if we can get Brandon Lee you better take him.

[dogsrus]

9 do you really feel B Lee is THAT good. I'm asking because I really don't know. I saw him on TV a few times but am a terrible evaluator of HS talent....

[bu fan 9]

I really think Brandon would be a good get for us he is better than most of our guards on the team now.This is just my opinon.

[MickeyT]

I really like Brandon's game too. From watching him in high school, it always seemed that his shooting percentage went up when it was a big game or when the pressure was on. He is a smart player and will be a good division 1 player. In any other year, I would love to see him at Bradley. But Bradley needs to concentrate on signing a couple big men. I don't see a scholarship for Brandon, unless someone else leaves.

[MacabreMob]

OK, you guys say "he is better than most of our guards on the team now".

I WILL STAND BY THESE GUYS:
Danny Ruff.
Will Franklin.
JJ.

Offense is one thing (NBA) and defense is another (college).

I stand by our PROVEN players.

I am not saying I don't want BU to pursue BL. I just stand by what we have right now. These guards got us to the Sweet16 (minus TB). That shows something other than being a top prospect.

[dogsrus]

OK, you guys say "he is better than most of our guards on the team now".

I WILL STAND BY THESE GUYS:
Danny Ruff.
Will Franklin.
JJ.

Offense is one thing (NBA) and defense is another (college).

I stand by our PROVEN players.

I am not saying I don't want BU to pursue BL. I just stand by what we have right now. These guards got us to the Sweet16 (minus TB). That shows something other than being a top prospect.

Since I asked for bu9 opinion I can't now "argue" but you make a great point and I agree. I would ALSO consider Lee but have to give the edge (rather large) to proven players currently on the BU roster.

[Braves4Life]

Ruff and Franklin

My only concern about Ruff and Franklin is their size. These guys handle the ball great against Valley-style pressure and the smaller guards in the Valley. However, they showed against Kansas at crunch time that they have difficulty with athletic, long-armed guards (Top 50 HS athletes).

I'd like to see us with a 6'4 or better combo or point guard who can really handle the ball. Or, a 6' point guard like Wahington from Memphis who has a big, powerful body that he can use to fend off the pressure.

Anybody know if Fears or Williams fit the first mold? I'm afraid Maniscalco will be like Ruff with a good shot. Not that there's anything wrong with that. BU has used that style of guard effectively in The Valley for years.

[OrangeandBlack74]

Re: Ruff and Franklin

My only concern about Ruff and Franklin is their size. These guys handle the ball great against Valley-style pressure and the smaller guards in the Valley. However, they showed against Kansas at crunch time that they have difficulty with athletic, long-armed guards (Top 50 HS athletes).

I'd like to see us with a 6'4 or better combo or point guard who can really handle the ball. Or, a 6' point guard like Wahington from Memphis who has a big, powerful body that he can use to fend off the pressure.

Anybody know if Fears or Williams fit the first mold? I'm afraid Maniscalco will be like Ruff with a good shot. Not that there's anything wrong with that. BU has used that style of guard effectively in The Valley for years.

I think Fears fits the mold of a combo guard with size (6'3 - 6'4). Williams is more of a wing player/slasher, who can play either SG or SF.

[Da Coach]

Jim Les likes to play with 2 or 3 guards who can all handle the ball and pass like point guards. It worked well last year when 2 or 3 of the point guards- Ruffin, Bennett, and Franklin were plying at the same time.

Fears is a very good ball handler and is capable of playing the point. Even DeAaron Williams and Andrew Warren, though not true point guards, can handle the ball well, and are excellent passers. DW averaged 4 assists per game in HS, and AW was the best passer on his team. This group of guards will give Les the ability to match up against any type of team.

[bu fan 9]

Don't forget Brandon was known for his defense in highschool a lot of people and coachs said that he was the best defensive player in the state his Sr. year.