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Boys to Men

tornado

tornado

New member
Since the school is going to close and likely their web site will shut down, I wanted to initiate a discussion on the board so in the future we can reflect back and see how the players from this fine prep school turned out.

The kids who graduated in 2006 are all but lost to my memory, but at least four of them can still be tracked. Feel free to let me know who else you remember....

Xavier Crawford never did get academically qualified and went to Yuba. Hopefully he will still turn out to help BU, but unfortunately with the need to go the juco route, he'll only be available to BU for 2 years.
---Crawford has now committed to Cal State Northridge..plays as a sub

Craig Brackins left BTMA in 2006 and went to another prep school.
he is a top player, but got injured this past year and didn't play much. He still has a chance to be a fine college player, but the jury is still out....now he's a soph at Iowa State..decent production.

Thijin Moses at DePaul but his freshman year show he was overrated....NOW dismissed from DePaul he went to Texas A&M Corpus Christi...now at Seward Co. CC juco

Michael Glover graduated from BTMA in 2006 and went to Seton Hall, but wasn't academically eligible and had to go find another prep school for 2006-2007, and is now set to be at Seton Hall this fall.
*** he was deemed ineligible, sued the NCAA, lost and now will have to go to juco...



Then of the players who are listed as seniors or "post grad" students in 2007, here are the names:

The seniors..........
Anthony Edwards 6'4" Sr Guard Chatsworth, CA (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Djibril Coulibaly 6'9" Jr Forward Jamaica, NY (actually was a senior and is going to Manhattan)..finally in 2008 a freshman at Manhattan..deep sub did not even play in their first game.
.................http://hsillinois.scout.com/a.z?s=220&p=8&c=1&nid=2875412
Jamel Jackson 6'3" Sr Guard Brooklyn, NY
(ended up not qualifying and went to Technical Career Institute in NYC, a juco and is headed reportedly to Seton Hall...but was ineligible at Seton hall, booted out and now back at juco for one final year.
Leon Freeman 6'3" Sr. Guard Belleville, MI (Now spending another year at prep school - Eldon Academy in MI)
(apparently few people know this, as both Rivals and scout still have him listed as 2007 recruit from BTMA)..was in juco but now all but disappeared...
Kordero Anderson 6'2" Sr Guard Chicago, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)..was at Lincoln College, not there in 2008.
Nyal "Mac" Koshwal 6'9" Sr Forward Chicago, IL (going to DePaul)...entering sophomore season...decent production
Raymond Sims (sometimes listed as "Simms") 5'9" Sr Guard Philadelphia, PA (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Spencer Adams 6'6" Sr Forward Champaign, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)..WAS AT Yakima Valley CC but not there in 2008
Timothy Kiewel 6'9" Sr Forward/Center Parma, OH (Kiewel is now at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, AZ.
then he transferred to Eastern Utah juco) He has since left Eastern Utah.

The post grad kids...........
Alvin Abreu 6'2" PG Guard Lynn, MA ....Abreu is at New Hampshire Univ...now a soph, avg 9 ppg
Clarence Holloway 7'1" PG Center Chicago, IL (going to Louisville) -- but after 6 years of high school including one at Boys to Men, he is still unable to gain clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse and will sit out 2007-2008.....update.....surgery for a serious heart condition has sadly ended Holloway's career.
David Sanchez 6'9" PG Forward Toa Alta, PR (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)..was at Lon Morris juco but must be ineligible as he never played
Devin Miller 6'3" PG Guard Chicago, IL -- at Kennedy-King juco, avg 15.4 ppg in 08-09, now verballed to Coastal Carolina
Elijah Dildy 5'9" PG Guard Chicago, IL..now a soph at Kennedy-King juco in Chgo., avg. 1.6 ppg, 0.8 apg
...........here's more on Elijah Dildy...http://websportschicago.com/id406.htm
Dildy just finished his 1st tyear at Kennedy-King Junior College and is averaging 1 point per game, 1 assist per game (he's a 5'3" PG!)
Maurese Jackson 6'6" PG Forward Chicago, IL (has now surfaced at Monroe College (juco) in New York)..avg 4 ppg in 08-09

Then the kids that were listed as still being juniors.......
Jelani Poston 6'6" Jr Forward Chicago, IL (going to Cincinnati Harmony Prep) ..now at UIC..but not playing...still hasn't cleared the NCAA...too many high schools
............Poston has verballed to UIC...http://www.suntimes.com/560552,CST-SPT-prep17.highschool
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/926
Jeremiah "Miah" Kelly 6'0" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (American Christian Academy Prep School in Philly)
............Kelly has verballed to DePaul....doing OK in the early going
Timothy Baines 6'6" Jr Forward Zion, IL (now at Kaskaskia juco in Centralia)..avg. 6.5 ppg in 08-09
Turhon Cora Jr 6'4" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (unknown) had transferred to BTMA from Rich Central..now at Oakton CC avg 12.7 ppg in 08-09 (DII juco)
Tyrone Justin Howard 6'3" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (unknown)

Clay Johnson ....(no info)

Michael Tuitt was listed on the 2005-2006 BTMA roster but I have tracked down a little info.
...he played little at BTMA, then transferred to American Christian School in Aston, Pa.
...he then got an offer from Morehead State but never qualified...http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/610510.html
.......presently at Monroe College (DI juco) avg 9 ppg in 08-09

Also...Angel Garcia was at BTMA for a week or so in the fall, but is now going to be a senior at East Chicago...will be going to Memphis...still not cleared by NCAA
Manual Cass was also there for a few days then went to prep school out east and is going to UTEP next year.
(Cass was dismissed and is now at John A. Logan Junior College)
Marcus Relphorde also spent a few weeks there, then went to another prep school and is now committed to St. Louis.
(Relphorde spent a year sitting the bench at SLU then got sent packing)...he's now at Nothern Kentucky

The rest of the 2005-2006 roster shows these guys.........
Darion Anderson, Jesse Childs, Gerald January, Maurese Jackson, Aaron Jackson, and Shawn Hilliard were all seniors in 2006 and have not been heard from since.
*****Shawn Hilliard has finally reappeared. After he didn't qualify, he went to Technical Career Institute in New York,
a 2- year junior college, and is now headed to Binghamton.
(Jesse Childs has now finished at Mesa Community College (juco) and will be going to Wisconsin-Green Bay. still has not played yet in 08-09 due to suspended for violation of team rules
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081117/GPG020101/81117086/1225/GPG02

I found one report that Darion Anderson was set to go to NIU in 2006-2007, but he isn't on the roster, and I cannot find where he is.
Darion Anderson is now at NIU...playing fairly well. ...17 ppg in 3 games but 5 turnovers/gm
Maurese Jackson is also at Monroe College in 08-09, avg. 4 ppg
Shawn Hilliard was at Binghamton but is gone now...not on the roster...must not have been eligible.

So....out of these 35 different players who spent at least SOME time at Boys to Men, and at least a dozen or so are already out of high school, so....let's see how many have an impact at the D-I level.
So far we are 0-for-35 but we'll visit this topic again.......



Later, I will do a followup on the Decatur Christian kids, and since the web site will likey soon remove the roster, I will stash that info here for later reference:

The roster per the website as of 6/14/07
Joel Johnson 5'10 155 13 G 11
Ty Nurse 6'0 170 G 10
..................Ty Nurse has gone back to Canada and enrolled at Canada Basketball's National Elite Development Academy (Hamilton, Ont) for the 2007-08 academic year. .........http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=79c440c8-9ee3-424f-b95e-703a6239c9d1
Justin Snyder 5'7 150 G 12
John Taylor 5'8 155 G 12
Ivan Gombovic 6'6 195 G 12 -- now at Winchendon School (MA) -- also may be deemed a pro like Staiger
Johan (or Johann) Mpondo 6'9 215 44 F 12 (Cameroon) -- *** This guy was said to have signed with Rhode Island. Here is the link:
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=67447&sport=2
but it is easy to show he is NOT on the roster at Rhode Island and transferred to prep school ( Massanutten in Virginia)
Here is Johann Mpondo at Massanutten but I cannot see where he got any D-I interest...
http://www.militaryschool.com/athletics/pgroster.htm

Beas Hamga 7'0 225 F/C 11 -- Ineligible for 2007-2008 season at UNLV..now being described as a long term project.
Austin Woods 5'10 180 F 11

and these names were from other articles, naming the players on the team...
Ozren Bjerogovic, 6-6 12 --** Now unlike the spelling from the Decatur web site, it appears this guy spells his name "Ozren Bjelogrlic" and he has appeared on the roster of Liberty University, playing as a freshman, even though now he is easier to track, now that we know the real spelling of his name, and he is all over the internet, playing pro ball in Europe, and he is already 21 years old.
http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=1848&TeamID=
Bjerogovic is now gone from the Liberty roster...

Duro Bjegovic, 6-8 12 -- now at Missouri State-West Plains (David Collins' juco) --he
also may get nailed with the pro-rule like Staiger -- now in 2008 he's transferring to Highland juco (name also spelled Djuro)..avg 9.5 ppg in 08-09

But here are some other names that once were on the roster

Lucca Staiger 6'5" G 12...ineligible for his freshman season at Iowa State
Jeliso Palacio 5'11 165 G 11
Brad Clark 5'10 180 G 12
Mike Behrens 6'6 225 G/F 12
Birama Konate 6'10 225 F 11
Chris Nandoe 6'11 235 F 11
Nikola Gacesa 6'10 240 F/C 12 -- is on the roster at Florida International...listed as a Jr....avg 10 ppg in 08-09.
http://www.fiusports.com/ViewArticl...4&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=651285&Q_SEASON=2007
Alioune Diallo 7'1 240 C 10 (Senegal)
Darrington Hobson 6'7" 180 F 12...at Eastern Utah Junior College
Mario Stula -- just deemed ineligible until the 8th game next season (2008-2009) by the NCAA -- at DePaul
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3993
http://www.a-hope.org/Current%20Students.htm

One more name "Birama Konate" is said to be playing for DCS - but apparently never did.
http://www.africabasket.com/MLI/MLI.asp?NewsNo=20

Then a few more names off their website roster:
Michael Grady, Melvin Tate, Malcom Walker, Bronson Dotson, Demeatrio Wade,
Zac Conrad, Matt Flint, Zack Stortzum, John Reimer.

Here is a thread updating where they are now
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5414


BUT---- lastly....in this story that was published when Decatur Christian closed down, their coach said this:
"They will or have placed each senior in a D-I program"
and
"Beas Hamga and Ty Nurse are the only underclassmen in the program"
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/05/05/sports/h_r_preps/boys_basketball/1023238.txt

This does not seem to be true.
Snyder, Taylor, Gombovic, Bjegovic & Bjegovic, Clark, Behrens, Tesla....are all seniors who are NOT playing D-I ball anywhere.
Did they just boot those guys off the team so they could say all the rest made it to D-I?
The only D-I guys are Stula (DePaul), Staiger (Iowa State), Hamga (UNLV). Hobson committed to New Mexico- but then didn't pass the clearinghouse and moved to a Utah juco.

Then what about the eight guys who are listed as underclassmen....what happened to them, and why is he now only saying they have just two (one of whom is Hamga who is going to college).
Again...they conveniently boot these guys into non-existence so they don't have to explain the failure to help them.

A later article seems to refute Huss' claims and reveals several of their players are NOT even qualified, some are NOT going to college, and others are still left hanging.
By the way, Mpondo never did sign with Rhode Island and may not qualify.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/05/08/sports/h_r_preps/boys_basketball/1023255.txt

also for the record....an interesting prediction:
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=51254#51254

Juco list
http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2309
 
I predict, as I did 2 years ago, that Xavier Crawford will never wear a BU uniform.

Through all of this, I'm sure Loren Jackson is significantly wealthier. But yeah, it was always about the kids. :roll:
 
It will all be worth it if Mac Koshwal gets past the clearinghouse. He will make some money back for Jackson.
 
I found something interesting...

Here is an online blog written by one of the Decatur Christian basketball players.

Note the blog is by Joel Johnson, and there is a Joel Johnson on the roster, but scroll down just a bit or do a word search in the blog for "Decatur Christian" and you'll see he writes about the team and makes it clear this is the team he plays for.
He also gives some other good links to stories.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/11/10/sports/local_sports/1019055.txt
http://joeljohnsondotcom.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2005/11/26/sports/basketball_preview/1011465.txt
http://joeljohnsondotcom.blogspot.com/2005/11/our-basketball-team-in-heraldand.html

Joel also reveals some very intriguing things about how the players were treated to totally free things, food, hotel stays, etc.....that really begs the question of who's paying for all this.
??Could there be NCAA violations for those kids who ended up at D-I? He also mentions meeting and being contacted by college coaches ("rick patino" :lol: )

When I went to the Tournament of Champions at the Civic Center last November, I noted that Joel was the only player on the team who actually looked like a high school kid.
All the others looked much older.
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=31005#31005
 
After reading that blog, you have to wonder if they ever teach grammar or spelling to those kids.
Anyway, I agree it is totally dishonest, deceitful, self-serving, and phoney for those prep coaches to boast the way they do about placing all those kids in D-I.
Many of those kids from Boy to Men and Decatur prep will never play college ball, and only a few (not "all of them") will ever play at D-I.
 
Followup on one more Boys to Men "graduate", or should we say "failure"--

Clarence Holloway, who finished at Chicago Harlan Academy in spring of 2005,committed to Louisville early in his senior year. But he lacked ACT/SAT test scores to qualify. He initially entertained the thought of entering the NBA draft in 2005, but then decided against it. He has spent the last 2 additional years at prep schools. He spent 2005-2006 at the IMG Academy and the Pendleton School (Fla.), then spent 2006-2006 at Boys to Men Academy in Chicago. He recommitted to Louisville in October of 2006. But it's looking like he may never play for Louisville, and now over 20 years old, if he doesn't miraculously clear the NCAA Clearinghouse, his only realistic option left would be Junior College.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070805/SPORTS/708050550/1002/SPORTS
 
Thanks, Da Coach......as time goes on I think we will see that those comments by Boys to Men head coach Loren Jackson will turn out to be total HOG WASH.
Most of the kids from BTMA got BAD educations, and very few got any better playing basketball, as the entire effort was geared towards getting Mac Koshwal to the NBA, and producing a big pay day for you know who.

Keep in mind that many (if not most) of the WELL RESPECTED prep schools produce kids year in and year out who become fine college and pro players. In the end we will see that BTMA and DCS were failures at their intended goals. The fact that both have already folded, means they are aready on the fast track to establishing a legacy as failures.
 
Re: Boys to Men

tornado said:
..........a followup on the Decatur Christian kids

........Darrington Hobson
Click to expand...


Time to drag up the old thread in which I expressed doubt that many of the Boys to Men or Decatur Christian kids would ever have much D-I impact.
Now remember....lots of people have given me a little flak for having my doubt, and I have been told I am way wrong in judging all this talent................
and some claims were that every one of those kids on the rosters named above would do well at the D-I level! :roll:

But all I ever said was I am skeptical until at least one of all these incredibly highly touted (I think overrated) kids actually gets somewhere and produces................so far, none have........but let's see if there's any recent news.............


Last we heard of Darrington Hobson, he committed to Pepperdine, then decommitted and signed a LOI last spring with Steve Alford at New Mexico. Alford even had to lure Pepperdine's assistant who had recruited Hobson, in order to get him to switch.
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6336


Then two weeks ago in an Albuquerque story we saw this:
Alford was till busy hiring assistants like this big name Houston area AAU coach in order to get recruits, but at the bottom of the story--
"UNM is still waiting for the official word on four-star high school guard Darrington Hobson from Decatur (Ill.) Christian School. A Lobos booster said he's been told by UNM that Hobson has passed his classes and is waiting on clearance."
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/aug/03/unm-mens-basketball-walker-brings-experience-texas/


But here it is, only a week before school starts at New Mexico, and Hobson still has not gotten cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. There is even some discussion on some of the Lobo message boards that they are preparing to be without him this season, somewhat shocking since New Mexico is not considered by some to be a mid-major.
Here is a quote:
"Hobson Lost?
I guess it is a real possibility that Hobson will not be with us do to NCAA issues...
...there is much doubt as to his gaining approval from the NCAA clearing house. Many feel that this is taking much to long"

One other New Mexico recruit was so far behind on classwork but still made up 15 credit hours in 8 weeks over the summer, and got cleared by the Clearinghouse, so "miracles" do seem to happen when a school is possibly a bit above the mid-major level.
http://newmexico.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=180&mid=98135502&sid=912&tid=98066379&style=1
 
It's nearing official....Darrington Hobson is NOT qualified.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/aug/21/mens-basketball-grades-red-tape-may-keep-lobos-sid/

That's really a tough break for this kid and it reflects just ONE more example of a kid who wasted a whole year at Decatur Christian and GOT NO EDUCATION, and is possibly messed up for the rest of his life.

Ozren Bjerovic, Johan Mpondo, Ivan Gombovic, and Duro Bjegovic and more all had severe trouble qualifying, and most will probably never play college basketball.
They will likely just go back to Europe and play pro ball.

When all is said and done, I think we will find that of the names on the list of Decatur Christian and Boys to Men roster.....precious few will ever play let alone contribute at the D-I level.

Don't forget the testimony of Decatur Christian coach Alan Huss that EVERY ONE of the kids on his roster was going to play D-I ball this season! (see first post in this thread)
 
Darrington Hobson, who was on the Decatur Christian team that played in the Tournament of Champions here in Peoria (but Hobson didn't play due to injury), and who was then recruited to New Mexico,
has now signed to play for College of Eastern Utah. The College of Eastern Utah is a D-I junior college in Price, Utah.
http://njcaa.org/sports.cfm?menu=33
The head coach at Eastern Utah is Chris Craig (his first year, he was an assistant last year and is presently "the youngest head coach in the country"), who is said to be personally "close to Alan Huss, the coach at Decatur Christian in Illinois where Hobson spent his senior year. Eastern Utah also had Hobson's cousin on the roster."
http://athletics.ceu.edu/mensbball_roster.htm
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/sep/06/unm-mens-basketball-lobos-recruit-signs-junior-col/

"His move to junior college also eliminates any obligation to attend UNM and leaves him free to choose any other four-year college once he qualifies academically."
(these are all quotes from the above links)

Many who have seen Hobson say he is amazingly talented. I am anxious to see how he does.
One of the kids who just graduated from College of Eastern Utah is Tyler Kepkay, who averaged 27.5ppg, 5 apg, 46% 3-point shooting, and who led ALL of D-I junior colleges in scoring, and who just signed last spring to play for the Utah Utes.



at one point, (see this link) Oklahoma State, Baylor, and USC had all offered, and North Carolina was calling.
He was also being looked at by Illinois, as well as Georgetown, Arizona, Florida, UCLA....wow
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=579820

"He can rebound...He can really hit the open man. He's a scorer but not a shooter. He probably gaps people better than anyone I've ever coached. He finds spaces (between defenders) that no one else can," If Hobson, a deft passer from the perimeter into the post, continues to flourish, "he'll be an NBA basketball player" according to Isaacs.
Isaacs said Hobson reminds him of L.A. Clipper Shaun Livingston, who went straight from high school to the NBA."
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=910&CID=553925
 
Well I spent a little time doing some search engine work this morning....
I updated the initial post in this thread about the Boys to Men players.
We are now more than two years down the road since Boys to Men first opened its doors.
(I had also included a little discussion about Decatur Christian as well)
What you find is an amazing tendency for all the numerous kids who went through these two "prep schools" to have either found themselves unable to qualify and/or they disappeared off the map.

So, of the 35 players who spent time at BTMA, we are still 0-35 in any of them yet to have any impact in a college anywhere.
I know there's still time for some, especially Koshwal, to show something, but just to keep the record up to date, we remain at 0-35.

As for DCS, we stand at 0-28, but of course there's still time for some to play college ball and show something, but with Hobson and Hamga failing to qualify, the DCS chances have taken a BIG HIT recently.

In total.....the running score when BTMA and DCS are combined for over 3 years of total operation, and 62 different potentially prep caliber players making their way through the schools (2005-06 and 2006-07) is....
0-62...........I'll update as we go along, and I expect Koshwal, Staiger, Moses, and a few others (Kelly, Hamga, Hobson) to actually get some playing time, but in the end the vast majority of the players will go unheard-from.
 
In a bizarre bit of news......yet another Boys to Men player will miss this coming season but this time with a really sad reason behind it.

Clarence (Clay) Holloway, had verballed to and is now at Louisville, had to undergo surgery to repair his aorta and aortic valve in a surgery very reminiscent of the type that Lakers' first round draft pick Ronny Turiaf (from Gonzaga) had to have a little over a year ago.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3031905&campaign=rss&source=NCAAHeadlines


Oddly...as you can see in the story....even though Holloway is enrolled at Louisville, he still is
NOT CLEARED by the NCAA Clearinghouse, which is sadly the rule rather than the exception with these BTMA kids.
 
More followup on Boys to Men and Decatur Christian..........

ex-Decatur Christian player Beas Hamga has received his ruling from the NCAA Clearinghouse, and it is one that appears to puzzle everyone.

He is NOT cleared to play in 2007-2008, and is ineligible this season. However, they ruled that he can enroll at UNLV, can receive financial aid (a scholarship) and can practice with the team, but cannot play. No explanation of the ruling was available.



Also Djibril Coulibaly (see first post in this thread) from Boys to Men, was announced as going to Manhattan
BUT, he is ineligible and cannot enroll there, and Manhattan's roster does not mention him.
http://www.gojaspers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12500&SPID=5439&SPSID=52462


So we are still 0-62, but we might break that string soon, as a few of the players such as
Lucca Staiger, Mac Koshwal, and Thijin Moses, could have some impact soon.


I have also edited and updated the numerous players in the first post in this thread...with many being ineligible
and simply not showing up where it was said they were going.
 
Now we've had a bit more time to review how all the players from Boys to Men and Decatur Christian are doing....I have updated a few comments on the various players...........
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Since the school is going to close and likely their web site will shut down, I wanted to initiate a discussion on the board so in the future we can reflect back and see how the players from this fine prep school turned out.

The kids who graduated in 2006 are all but lost to my memory, but at least four of them can still be tracked. Feel free to let me know who else you remember....

Xavier Crawford never did get academically qualified and went to Yuba. Hopefully he will still turn out to help BU, but unfortunately with the need to go the juco route, he'll only be available to BU for 2 years.

Craig Brackins left BTMA in 2006 and went to another prep school. Pretty fortunate since he probably would NOT have gained eligibility
unless he did his final year elsewhere at prep school.
He is a top player, but got injured this past year and didn't play much. He still has a chance to be a fine college player, and did perform well against BU when he played here in the Iowa State game, but so far he's averaging 12pts, 7.7 rebs in 30 mpg!

Thijin Moses is at DePaul but his freshman year certainly showed he was overrated...now he isn't even on the roster..and is likely redshirting his soph. year!!

Michael Glover graduated from BTMA in 2006 and went to Seton Hall, but wasn't academically eligible and had to go find another prep school for 2006-2007 (American Christian in Philly), and is now set to be at Seton Hall this fall.
Seton Hall is bad and just needed overtime to beat Robert Morris, so if Glover was any good, they'd use him, right?
Well....he is listed on the roster, but he didn't get a single minute of playing time in either of their first two games, even though he's already going on 21 years old as a freshman....does this sound like maybe he's a bit overrated?
http://www.shupirates.com/ViewArtic...0&DB_OEM_ID=12600&ATCLID=925705&Q_SEASON=2007



Then of the players who are listed as seniors or "post grad" students in 2007, here are the names:

The seniors..........
Anthony Edwards 6'4" Sr Guard Chatsworth, CA (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Djibril Coulibaly 6'9" Jr Forward Jamaica, NY (actually was a senior and is going to Manhattan) -- still not playing D-I ball anywhere, definitely didn't qualify at Manhattan
.................http://hsillinois.scout.com/a.z?s=220&p=8&c=1&nid=2875412
Jamel Jackson 6'3" Sr Guard Brooklyn, NY (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Leon Freeman 6'3" Sr. Guard Belleville, MI (going to juco)
Kordero Anderson 6'2" Sr Guard Chicago, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Nyal "Mac" Koshwal 6'9" Sr Forward Chicago, IL (going to DePaul) -- so far Mac hasn't played up to the hype, as
........he has played in 2 D-I games, DePaul is 1-1, and Mac has a TEAM LEADING 50 MINUTES PLAYED, but is 6th in scoring at 5.5ppg
........but is rebounding well.
Raymond Sims (sometimes listed as "Simms") 5'9" Sr Guard Philadelphia, PA (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Spencer Adams 6'6" Sr Forward Champaign, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Timothy Kiewel 6'9" Sr Forward/Center Parma, OH (Kiewel is now at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, AZ.
The Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters are a Division I junior college and Kiewel is playing his freshman juco season there,
with hopes of going to a 4-year school for his remaining 3 years of college eligibility.)

The post grad kids...........
Alvin Abreu 6'2" PG Guard Lynn, MA -- A FRESHMAN AT NEW HAMPSHIRE, PLAYING WELL, AVG 12PPG.
Clarence Holloway 7'1" PG Center Chicago, IL (going to Louisville) -- but after 6 years of high school including one at Boys to Men, he is still unable to gain clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse and will sit out 2007-2008.
--- now sadly, Clay is recuping from heart surgery.
David Sanchez 6'9" PG Forward Toa Alta, PR (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Devin Miller 6'3" PG Guard Chicago, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)
Elijah Dildy 5'9" PG Guard Chicago, IL
...........here's more on Elijah Dildy...http://websportschicago.com/id406.htm
Maurese Jackson 6'6" PG Forward Chicago, IL (I have not heard if he is playing college ball)

Then the kids that were listed as still being juniors.......
Jelani Poston 6'6" Jr Forward Chicago, IL (going to Cincinnati Harmony Prep)
............Poston has verballed to UIC...http://www.suntimes.com/560552,CST-SPT-prep17.highschool
Jeremiah "Miah" Kelly 6'0" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (American Christian Academy Prep School in Philly)
............Kelly has verballed to DePaul --- so far Kelly has played pretty well for American Christian Prep...
Timmothy Baines 6'6" Jr Forward Zion, IL (unknown)
Turhon Cora Jr 6'4" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (unknown) had transferred to BTMA from Rich Central
Tyrone Justin Howard 6'3" Jr Guard Chicago, IL (unknown)

Clay Johnson ....(no info)

Michael Tuitt was listed on the 2005-2006 BTMA roster but I have tracked down a little info.
...he played little at BTMA, then transferred to American Christian School in Aston, Pa.
...he then got an offer from Morehead State but never qualified...http://hsnewyork.scout.com/2/610510.html
...nobody seems to know where he is now.

Also...Angel Garcia was at BTMA for a week or so in the fall, but is now going to be a senior at East Chicago.
Manual Cass was also there for a few days then went to prep school out east and is going to UTEP next year.
Marcus Relphorde also spent a few weeks there, then went to another prep school and is now committed to St. Louis.

The rest of the 2005-2006 roster shows these guys.........
Darion Anderson, Jesse Childs, Gerald January, Maurese Jackson, Aaron Jackson, and Shawn Hilliard were all seniors in 2006 and have not been heard from since.

I found one report that Darion Anderson was set to go to NIU in 2006-2007, but he isn't on the roster, and I cannot find where he is.

So....out of these 35 different players who spent at least SOME time at Boys to Men, and at least a dozen or so are already out of high school, so....let's see how many have an impact at the D-I level.
So far we are 0-for-35 but we'll visit this topic again.......
 
That last post was the BTMA kids, here is the Decatur Christian list
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Later, I will do a followup on the Decatur Christian kids, and since the web site will likey soon remove the roster, I will stash that info here for later reference:

The roster per the website as of 6/14/07
Joel Johnson 5'10 155 13 G 11
Ty Nurse 6'0 170 G 10
..................Ty Nurse has gone back to Canada and enrolled at Canada Basketball's National Elite Development Academy (Hamilton, Ont) for the 2007-08 academic year. .........http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=79c440c8-9ee3-424f-b95e-703a6239c9d1
Justin Snyder 5'7 150 G 12
John Taylor 5'8 155 G 12
Ivan Gombovic 6'6 195 G 12 -- now at Winchendon School (MA) -- also may be deemed a pro like Staiger
Johan Mpondo 6'9 215 44 F 12 (Cameroon) -- *** This guy was said to have signed with Rhode Island. Here is the link:
http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=67447&sport=2
but it is easy to show he is NOT on the roster at Rhode Island and transferred to prep school ( Massanutten in Virginia)

Beas Hamga 7'0 225 F/C 11 -- Ineligible for 2007-2008 season at UNLV
Austin Woods 5'10 180 F 11

and these names were from other articles, naming the players on the team...
Ozren Bjerogovic, 6-6 12 --** Now unlike the spelling from the Decatur web site, it appears this guy spells his name "Ozren Bjelogrlic" and he has appeared on the roster of Liberty University, playing as a freshman, even though now he is easier to track, now that we know the real spelling of his name, and he is all over the internet, playing pro ball in Europe, and he is already 21 years old.
http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID=10869&newsID=1848&TeamID=
-------------------Ozren is now at Libetry, and after one exhibition and 5 regular games, he has NOT yet logged even one minute of court time. Looks like Ozren will also fit the prediction quite well, overhyped while at Decatur Christian and totally unproductive even at the low end of the D-I scale.

Duro Bjegovic, 6-8 12 -- now at Missouri State-West Plains (David Collins' juco) --he
also may get nailed with the pro-rule like Staiger when he tries to go D-I-- he is playing at juco and after 5 games at UM-WP is averaging 5ppg, good for 8th best on the team, and 2.8 rpg top go with 35% shooting pct.

But here are some other names that once were on the roster

Lucca Staiger 6'5" G 12-- presently ineligible at Iowa State and may end up losing a whole year of eligibility.
Jeliso Palacio 5'11 165 G 11
Brad Clark 5'10 180 G 12
Mike Behrens 6'6 225 G/F 12
Birama Konate 6'10 225 F 11
Chris Nandoe 6'11 235 F 11
Nikola Gacesa 6'10 240 F/C 12 -- is on the roster at Florida International
This year, has played in only one game, logged 19 minutes but didn't make a shot and had 0 pts, 0 rebounds,
pretty paltry production for 19 minutes!! (last year averaged 4ppg, 2rpg in 15.5 mpg)
http://www.fiusports.com/ViewArticl...4&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=651285&Q_SEASON=2007
Alioune Diallo 7'1 240 C 10 (Senegal)
Darrington Hobson 6'7" 180 F 12 -- ineligible at D-I now at juco in Utah...however, at College of Eastern Utah,
Hobson's team is 2-3 and Hobson appears to have only played in one game so far.

Mario Stula -- maybe ineligible per the same rule that nailed Staiger-- but either way, he hasn't logged a minute yet for DePaul, as he's both injured
AND he has not yet been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.....so is this another wasted scholarship??
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3993
http://www.a-hope.org/Current Students.htm

One more name "Birama Konate" is said to be playing for DCS - but apparently never did.
http://www.africabasket.com/MLI/MLI.asp?NewsNo=20

Then a few more names off their website roster:
Michael Grady, Melvin Tate, Malcom Walker, Bronson Dotson, Demeatrio Wade,
Zac Conrad, Matt Flint, Zack Stortzum, John Reimer.

Here is a thread updating where they are now
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5414


BUT---- lastly....in this story that was published when Decatur Christian closed down, their coach said this:
"They will or have placed each senior in a D-I program"
and
"Beas Hamga and Ty Nurse are the only underclassmen in the program"
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/05/05/sports/h_r_preps/boys_basketball/1023238.txt

This does not seem to be true.
Snyder, Taylor, Gombovic, Bjegovic & Bjegovic, Clark, Behrens, tesla....are all seniors who are NOT playing D-I ball anywhere.
Did they just boot those guys off the team so they could say all the rest made it to D-I?
The only D-I guys are Stula (DePaul), Staiger (Iowa State), Hamga (UNLV), Hobson (New Mexico).

Then what about the eight guys who are listed as underclassmen....what happened to them, and why is he now only saying they have just two (one of whom is Hamga who is going to college).
Again...they conveniently boot these guys into non-existence so they don't have to explain the failure to help them.

A later article seems to refute Huss' claims and reveals several of their players are NOT even qualified, some are NOT going to college, and others are still left hanging.
By the way, Mpondo never did sign with Rhode Island and may not qualify.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/05/08/sports/h_r_preps/boys_basketball/1023255.txt

also for the record....an interesting prediction:
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=51254#51254
 
I have a little followup on Darrington Hobson, the well travelled player from Decatur Christian who failed to gain entry to New Mexico and who is now at College of Eastern Utah.

The team is 5-5, but Hobson missed the first few games for the same reason he has trouble with the NCAA, that his numerous transcripts from the 5 different high schools he has attended had to be reviewed before he could be eligible.

In the games Darrington Hobson has played for College of Eastern Utah, they are 2-4, as Hobson has now played in 6 junior college games,
and since he is a highly touted 4-STAR recruit, he should be dominating.....

Here are his stats:
6 games
12.67ppg
61% on FT's
46.9% on FG's
27.8% (5-18 ) on 3-pointers
7.8rpg
1.8 assists
0.17 steals/gm
 
Wow all these rulings on the kids from Decatur Christian that they cannot play due to participating on pro teams, has really hurt the probably of any of them from contributing soon.

We were tracking 62 different players whose names were at one time associated with Boys to Men or Decatur Christian.
Many ended up never playing even though on the rosters, and many who did play, have ended up never gaining eligibility to play beyond high school.
Of the few remaining who still might have an impact at college, now we'll have to wait a year since several such as Hamga, Staiger, Bjelogrlic, Stula, and Bjegovic won't be playing soon.

Mac Koshwal is doing OK at DePaul. He hasn't helped them win much as they are 3-7 and one of the worst teams in the Big East, but Mac is averaging 11ppg, 8rpg, although he's a 22 year old freshman.

A few other followups.....
Leon Freeman is doing another prep school year (a 6th year of high school) at Michigan Eldon Academy
Timothy Kiewel is at Eastern Arizona College (juco) but only averaging 1ppg
Clarence Holloway after 6 years of prep, is now out due to illness but still not cleared to play at Louisville.
Alvin Abreu is at New Hampshire
Jelani Poston is at Cincinnati Harmony Prep
Jeremiah Kelly is at Philadelphia American Chrstian Prep
Manual Cass and Marcus Relphorde are freshman at UTEP and SLU and averaging respectively, 5ppg/1.6rpg and 6mpg/2ppg, but even thought they were on the BTMA roster, neither played there.
Bjelogrlic was never cleared to play at Liberty, and Hobson never made it either and is averaging 12ppg/7rpg at College of Eastern Utah.
Gacesa, who didn't play at BTMA, but was one of their 7-footers, is averaging 3.7ppg/2.3rpg at Florida International.

So the jury is still out, but of the 62 names we've been tracking, only a few are even still in the running to ever play D-I ball, and only Koshwal is having even a minor tremor on the Richter scale of success. I know it is still early, but some of the kids have already been out of those prep schools almost 1.5 seasons, so we should see more impact by now than the Maybe-1-for 62 that we are presently seeing.
 
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