Good News and Bad News for AAMU basketball


DAHILL

DAHILL

Well-Known Member
Ford enrolls at Ala. A&M

By Gary Parrish
[email protected]
September 12, 2002

Michael Ford didn't like Massachusetts very much. And because of that, the University of Memphis is back down to two commitments.

Suffering from what his AAU coach called a severe case of home sickness, Ford left Notre Dame Prep School in Fitchburg, Mass., after just one week and has returned to Huntsville, Ala., to enroll at Division 1 Alabama A&M, essentially reneging on his commitment to John Calipari's Tigers.

''He was just homesick,'' said Wig Pierson, an AAU coach who accompanied Ford on an unofficial visit to the U of M campus a couple of months back. ''The kid's never been away from home. And he just couldn't stand it up there.''

A 6-8 wing forward who is skinny but can shoot, Ford committed to Memphis in August and at the time said he planned on signing with the Tigers in November. The chance of that happening, however, ended the second Ford left Notre Dame Prep. And his change of heart means Memphis now has an extra scholarship to offer.

''I'm disappointed in him,'' said Pierson. ''To be in a position to get the coaching he was going to be able to get at Memphis and possibly go to the next level, and now he's at Alabama A&M? I don't know. You can get lost down there."

Because of the development with Ford, the Tigers now have two commitments: Texas center Kendrick Perkins, considered the fourth-best prospect in the nation by Prepstars.com, and New Jersey wing guard Sean Banks.

Those two signatures alone will ensure that Memphis has one of the top signing classes in America. But odds are it will get better, as the Tigers are still in with several major prospects, among them Massachusetts center Courtney Sims, Texas power forward Noudi Ebi, Florida power forward Ivan Lopez, Massachusetts center Hassan Fofana, Texas wing guard Keena Young and Michigan wing forward Olu Famutimi.

A tremendous leaper who is also being pursued by Arkansas, Famutimi is expected to visit the U of M campus this weekend.
 
bad news

We lost one of the best recruiters we have had in a while....

http://www.rolltide.com/Mens Basketball/4507.asp

Sammy Jackson, a Headland native who has been assistant men?s basketball coach at Alabama A&M University since 2000, has been hired as the new assistant men?s basketball coach at the University of Alabama.

?I?m excited to have Sammy join us because he brings a lot to the table,? said Crimson Tide head coach Mark Gottfried. ?He has worked his way up which impresses me. Sammy is very highly thought of and known throughout most parts of the country. He?s a native of this state, so he?s very familiar with this program. He will be involved in every aspect of coaching here, on the floor, recruiting, and scouting. I think he?ll do a great job.?

Jackson, who will turn 38 on September 14, is a native of Headland and was an All-Conference player, four year letter winner and team captain at Montevallo from 1982-86. After playing semi-pro basketball for the Rockford Lightning, Jackson began his coaching career at Huntsville?s Butler High School as head assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach. He was there from 1988-93. Jackson was head men?s basketball coach at Savannah State University in 1999-2000 and has been an assistant at Auburn (1993-94), Georgia Southern (1995-99) and Tennessee State (1994-95).

?I?m excited for the opportunity for me and my family, but I will miss Coach Pettaway and the A&M Community,? said Jackson. ?This is something that?s been a dream of mine, to be able to work in a competitive program that has an opportunity to play for a national championship. I?m looking forward to working with Coach Gottfried and his staff. Growing up in the state of Alabama, I?ve always followed the Alabama program. I?ve followed the players and their success. Alabama has a huge basketball tradition, and I?m proud of this opportunity to become a part of it.?

Jackson is married to wife Phoebe, and they have two sons, Desmond, 14, and Devin, 8, as well as guardianship of his nephew, Bobby Norton, 16.
 



''I'm disappointed in him,'' said Pierson. ''To be in a position to get the coaching he was going to be able to get at Memphis and possibly go to the next level, and now he's at Alabama A&M? I don't know. You can get lost down there."
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that is the kind of crap we deal with. AAU coaches get paid under the table to deliver athletes to certain places and this guy is mad because he lost his crack. So he downs AAMU because the kid wants to stay home and play.

Idiots.

What makes Calipari a great coach anyway? Give me 7 highly regarded athletes on a consistent basis along with his budget I can look good also.
 
Originally posted by Blu Panther



that is the kind of crap we deal with. AAU coaches get paid under the table to deliver athletes to certain places and this guy is mad because he lost his crack. So he downs AAMU because the kid wants to stay home and play.

Idiots.

What makes Calipari a great coach anyway? Give me 7 highly regarded athletes on a consistent basis along with his budget I can look good also.
Click to expand...

its all AAU Nike/Adidas politics.... The funny thing about it is WIG PEARSON GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA A&M.... and he is upset because THREE of his players from his Nike Alabama Lasers team signed with AAMU. He had one of the top AAU teams in the nation.
 
right there, you already know his program is shady. If a graduate is not excited about his own kids attending his school you know something is up.
 
Originally posted by DAHILL
... The funny thing about it is WIG PEARSON GRADUATED FROM ALABAMA A&M....
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That makes it even worser!!!!

If he's saying stuff like that "you can get lost down there" to a reporter, I can only imagine what he's saying off the record. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to talk that kid into going to uah before A&M.
:rolleyes:



btw DAHILL,
ASU gon whoop A&M regardless!!!
:p
 
http://theinsidershoops.theinsiders.com/2/43075.html

this is an article from the BOO WILLIAMS Nike Classic which is one of the top Nike AAU tournaments in the country....


Lasers Blaze To 17 and Under Championship
By Michael Kruse, special to this site.
Date: Apr 7, 2002

HAMPTON, Va. - <b>Mike Ford</b> arrived here in Southeastern Virginia under-recruited and relatively unknown. He left with a championship and an MVP trophy - and a chance at plenty more options for college.

The 6-7 SF from Huntsville (AL) Johnson scored 16 points in leading the Alabama Lasers to a 79-74 win over Riverside Church in the 17-and-under championship at the Boo Williams Invitational.
"He's going to prep school next year," Alabama coach William "Wig" Pearson said after the victory. "We had him one, but we might try to send him somewhere else now. I don't know."

But he does know this: Ford could hack it just about anywhere in the prep school ranks. He's only 17 years old - he doesn't turn 18 until October - and he's very thin. But he can handle the ball fairly well, shoot it from the perimeter and sneak into the paint for a key rebound here and there.

"He just needs to get stronger," Pearson explained, "and he needs a year to get older. But he's got game. He's a high-major player. No doubt about it."

That remains to be seen. But there's no doubt about the Lasers' worthiness as champs. They played the weekend without their best player - Tuscaloosa (AL) Hillcrest super soph D.J. White - but got solid contributions from a balanced roster.

On Sunday afternoon against the Church, Huntsville (AL) Butler sophomore SG Courtney Beasley scored 15 points in the second half en route to a team-high 22, and<b> Huntsville (AL) Johnson senior PG Mike Davis added 20. </b>

The Lasers erased 40-34 halftime deficit to notch the upset.

For coach Kenny Pretlow's Hawks, Brooklyn (NY) Robeson PG Gary Ervin led the way with 22 points (the senior is going to prep school next year), while Brooklyn (NY) Grady WG (also probably going to prep after originally signing with Hofstra last November) pitched in 14 in spite of struggling all game long with his usually reliable outside shot. He managed only two threes.

Gary Forbes, a junior SF from Brooklyn (NY) Bannuker, had 10. Teaneck (NJ) High junior SF Willie Irish went for eight. Ditto for Milford (CT) Academy junior SF Kelvin "Peedy" Nelson.

<b>Alabama's Davis</b>, Riverside's Ervin and South Carolina Raven Ra'Sean Dickey joined Ford on the all-tournament team.

Michael Kruse writes for Basketball America and BasketballAmerica.com.
 
Wig hates so much that 3 of his players are going to AAMU that this is what he told reporters about another one of his players that signed with AAMU... Mike Davis



URL]http://collegebasketballnews.theinsiders.com/2/43108.html[/URL]

Alabama Lasers Win 17 and Under Title
By Chris Monter
Date: Apr 7, 2002

The Alabama Lasers scored four points off a technical call Kelvin Nelson of Riverside Church to break open a 67-67 tie for a 79-74 win in Boo Williams Invitational 17 and Under title. 5-10 senior <b>Mike Davis</b> of Huntsville (AL) Johnson and 6-2 sophomore Courtney Beasley from Huntsville (AL) Butler scored 20 points each for the Lasers. <b>6-7 senior Michael Ford added 16 points for the winners. Davis and Ford are headed to a prep school. </b>


<b>Davis had signed with Alabama A&M, but is looking for a bigger school after one prep school season. </b>


Mike Davis' dad (who is AAMU alum and a popular minister) shot this theory down during a church sermon.
 
I thought you were talking about "Deuce" Ford a first. I was so tired of hearing about that boy.
 
Originally posted by Blu Panther



that is the kind of crap we deal with. AAU coaches get paid under the table to deliver athletes to certain places and this guy is mad because he lost his crack. So he downs AAMU because the kid wants to stay home and play.

Idiots.

What makes Calipari a great coach anyway? Give me 7 highly regarded athletes on a consistent basis along with his budget I can look good also.
Click to expand...


That's always the argument when you have good players on a team, but they still have to be coached, And the U of M budget is not exactly the biggest in NCAA. But the guy was out of line. But hey, we at HBCUs are used to it by now.
 
''I'm disappointed in him,'' said Pierson. ''To be in a position to get the coaching he was going to be able to get at Memphis and possibly go to the next level, and now he's at Alabama A&M? I don't know. You can get lost down there."

Yeah, tell that to Scottie Pippen who graduated from an NAIA school.


I am glad he decided to go to SWAC a school.
 
I really need to meet this Wig Pearson guy!

a c**n at his best! as you can see money will change some people for the worst!
 
Originally posted by DAHILL

Davis and Ford are headed to a prep school.... </b>


<b>Davis had signed with Alabama A&M, but is looking for a bigger school after one prep school season. </b>________________________________________________


I saw this article earlier this year. When I went to the graduation services, I saw Coach Pettway and asked why Davis had backed out of his committment. He looked at me with a daze in his eyes and stated that the kid never tried to change his mind. There was never any truth to the statement that Davis was going to a prep school. Apparently, Wig tried to get Davis to change schools after Davis and Ford put on that show at the tournament. It was good that Davis did not change. Now Ford will again run with Davis at A&M much like they did at Johnson High.

The SWAC needs to be worried. Considering the 6"9 center who sat out last year, the 6'7 shooting forward from junior college, the 6'8 freshman center from Butler, 6'8 Ford, Davis at point guard, and the 6'2 shooting guard from Robertsdale who averaged 27 points a game, the Bulldogs will be stocked. All we need now is one or two 6'11 centers and we will run the rest of the SWAC back to the Ice Age.

Bumble Bee State, Jenny Sue, Alkan State, all of you got presents coming, and they will be delivered.
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Michael Ford will have to sit out this year unless he took the ACT again over the summer. He has the GPA to play but he didnt make a high enough grade on the ACT and that is why he was going to the prep school.

Mike Davis and Mike Ford are very exciting players. They are both from my hood and played at my high school J.O. Johnson. Mike Davis averaged around 24 a game and Mike Ford averaged about 20 a game. I was sad when their high school career came to an end in regionals when Mike Davis missed two free throws with no time on the clock and JOJ lost by one point. Pettaway said Mike Davis was one of the top point guards in Alabama last year, and Mike Ford can play EVERY position on the floor. He is a tremendous 6'8 three point shooter.
 
Originally posted by TRU3000
I really need to meet this Wig Pearson guy!

a c**n at his best! as you can see money will change some people for the worst!
Click to expand...

He goes to our church..... that is Chris Pearson dad. Chris is a student at Auburn University on full scholarship as a basketball trainer :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

now do things look clearer to you.... expect Wig to be questioned in that Auburn basketball investigation soon. Its all about money... I can hear it now...

Auburn coach Cliff Ellis: your son has a scholarship if you help me out


Wig... OK Massa I am on my way.... next thing you know Brandon Robinson (one of Wigs players with Nike Lasers) signs with Auburn.
 



It would be a good thing if he did sit out. That will allow him another year to put on some weight and get stronger. Pettaway is now using the football strength coach to work with the basketball players.

He is exactly the type of player that we need. We need a tall forward that can score on the outside. Pettaway was still trying to find some rebounders this summer. We lost to Bumblee Bee State the last couple of years because we did not have any inside scoring or dept at the rebounding positions. We are about to correct these problems, and we will see the return of good times in Elmore.
 
Originally posted by mighty hornet
Ora,

Still sore from those kickings huh?


_____________________________________________________

MH:
Stock up on rubbing alcohol and buy some soft seat cushions. You will need both after the showdown in Elmore in January.
Click to expand...
 
Hate to interrupt your weekly debates but what makes you think TSU and PV aren't doing the same you all are doing?

Several of you all fail to realize the same recruits schools like PV and TSU signed have probably faced the Lasers or a top name team like that somewhere. If one of those players were a 7-0 muscle guy who averaged 34.0 points a game, I would have a reason to be worried. I know personally the Texas teams have several players in that 6-4 to 6-8 range who can go.

Even though this is football, an early SWAC poll could look like this (no certain order)

AAMU, Alabama State, Texas Southern, Prairie View, Alcorn
 
Blu Panther:

When PV or TSU ever claim 1st place or show the potential to win the conference tournament, we will place them among the confrence elite. Until then, enjoy your view from the middle of the pack.
 
The saddest part is that the man bashed Aamu and is alumni. of that school.

Oh well.....
 
Originally posted by Blu Panther
Hate to interrupt your weekly debates but what makes you think TSU and PV aren't doing the same you all are doing?

Several of you all fail to realize the same recruits schools like PV and TSU signed have probably faced the Lasers or a top name team like that somewhere. If one of those players were a 7-0 muscle guy who averaged 34.0 points a game, I would have a reason to be worried. I know personally the Texas teams have several players in that 6-4 to 6-8 range who can go.

Even though this is football, an early SWAC poll could look like this (no certain order)

AAMU, Alabama State, Texas Southern, Prairie View, Alcorn
Click to expand...

I am not downplaying Texas So or PV.... I just talk about the players that I have seen play before.... As you can see I dont talk too much about AAMU's other guard that was signed Obbie Trotter who averaged 27 points because I havent seen him play. PV has always had more talent than AAMU, but the coaching and conditioning messed them up. With new coaching I am sure they will be better... but you have to realize that AAMU has been winning in the SWAC, with NO TALENT... basically one man teams. In my opnion, Pettaway is one of the top coaches in the SWAC because he knows how to win without talent. Anybody can win with a lot of talent. With Mike Davis running the point, things should BE READY this year. When Mike Ford plays next year things should be even more better. My cousin is a head coach in the Mobile area and he gave me the report on SG Obbie Trotter, he told he that he scored 51 and 43 on his high school team, so hopefully we will have that one two punch at guard this year.
 
A&M - Folks

Do not feel bad, because one of your alum, bad mouth the school. One of our's bad mouth TN State over 20 years and sent all his football players to Ill, Mizz or some other PWC.

Money will make you act a fool and dis-own your mama
 
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