Friday, December 20, 2013

Smeathers to Transfer from Butler to Mount

Exciting news for the program yesterday when Andy Smeathers announced his intentions to join the Mount from Butler. Smeathers a 6-6 wing, spent his first two years with the Bulldogs after an all-state high school career in Indiana.

Smeathers decided to transfer just prior to the start of the season this year, and therefore will have 1 and half years of eligibility with the Mount. He will arrive on campus in the next few weeks and begin classes in January. He will be eligible at the completion of the fall semester next year. This year's fall semester has already been completed. Therefore, if the Mount had any midseason transfers this year they would be eligible starting with the game on Sunday at Penn State. Marshall transfer Chris Martin will be eligible to play at the start of next season.

Smeathers averaged 15 points a game during his senior season at Center Grove. He chose home state Butler over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, Indiana State, Miami (Oh) and William & Mary in 2010. You may recall that Mount head coach and assistant Ben Wilkins were both on the Tribe staff then. So it can be assumed that the two of them participated in the recruitment of Smeathers at that time. The IndyStar reported today that Smeathers chose the Mount over IUPUI this time around.

The wing's top ability coming out of high school was his ability to shoot the ball from the deep. He twice knocked down 7 three pointers in a high school game. He played in the Indiana Kentucky All-Star summer series after his senior year. He led Indiana to a win in the first game of the series scoring a game-high 21 points.

With the addition of Smeathers, the Mount will have 7 new faces on its roster when the NEC begins play next January. But both Smeathers and Martin are older players having spent two years at other schools before transferring.

The other interesting fact about the roster next year is that it will feature 10 players 6-6 or better. If Kristijan Krajina is granted a sixth year of eligibility for his medical hardship, that number will increase to 11. Certainly far more on the roster than I ever remember.

The Mount is back in action on Sunday at 2pm at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions. Several of Penn State's head coach Pat Chambers 11 siblings attended Mt. St. Mary's and his father is a lifelong friend of legendary Mount coach Jim Phelan.

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Robinson has huge night; Finishes with 42

Ever since Junior Robinson committed to Mt. St. Mary's early last summer, there has been a buzz around him. Internet recruiting sites lit up about his ability - and how it might translate on the next level. Robinson had some great performances during the AAU summer tour and that carried over to the high school scene last night.

The Mount signee dropped 42 in a 95-84 Eastern Alamance win over Graham. The article below gives us an idea of how Junior can score. From the sound of it, it's just about anyway. Last night he drove to the hoop, knocked down three-pointers and mid range jumpers in an fast tempo attack, that hopefully is getting him ready for Mayhem next season.

Robinson is part of a five-person class that the Mount has signed for the 2014-15 season. Others include Fishburne Academy's Chris Wray and Mo Sallah, Gaston Day (NC)'s Troy Henderson and Randallstown's Chris Manning.

Story from Times News


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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Varsity Q & A with Randallstown forward Chris Manning - Baltimore Sun

Mount signee Chris Manning primed for big senior season at Randallstown High School.

Varsity Q & A with Randallstown forward Chris Manning - Baltimore Sun:

'via Blog this'

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ESPN's Reggie Rankin on Mount Signee Mo Sallah

Here are a few players who impressed during the event. 

Mo Sallah (Waynesboro, Va./Fishburne Military School)
2014, Power Forward, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, Committed to Mount St. Mary’s 


Sallah is a long, athletic and active forward who runs the floor well. He can finish on the break and rebounds on both ends of the floor. He blocks shots and has good touch in the lane out to 15-17 feet. He will need to add strength but has excellent upside and has the motor and tools to be an immediate contributor at Mount St. Mary’s. 

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Professional Mounties

Shawn Atupem is in his third professional season, his second in Finland. After starting the season in Iceland, Atupem has played the last eight games with Salon Vilpas in the Finnish League. He's averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Vikings. Salon Vilpas currently sits in 8th place.

Atupem had 14 points in a 90-84 loss to Kouvot on Friday.

Raven Barber is having a successful first season in the Canadian NBL with the Halifax Rainmen. Barber is averaging 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds after being selected third overall.

Halifax has recently named former Chicago Bull sharpshooter Craig Hodges Head Coach.

Kelly Beidler is having a successful debut season in Austria for Wels. The fourth year pro moved from Germany to Austria this season. He has averaged 11 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1 block per game. He ranks 3rd in the Bundesliga in blocked shots and 7th in rebounds.

Meanwhile, Danny Thompson is averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds through a 3-0 start for the Bay Area Shuckers of the APBL. He leads the team with 10 blocks. Bay Area returns to action Saturday versus the NoVA Hawks.

Mychal Kearse continues to play with Al Karkh in the Iraqi Professional League. Al Karkh is 3-1 but more information is unavailable.

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Saturday, December 07, 2013

The Catholic Clash

Let's be honest, the start of the season hasn't been anything like we expected. But a game against Loyola always brings out the best. So let's hope today is the start of something.

The start of something just like it was back in 2007-08 when the Mount looked about as bad as could be in the game before the Loyola showdown. A 66-45 pounding from American was the precursor to the Mount's double-digit win Saturday afternoon win over Loyola. That sparked a 6-game winning streak and gave the team that gave the team momentum headed to the conference season. Eventually it all came together for that squad. The season ended with the last NCAA tournament appearance for the school.

Minus the injury to Kristijan Krajina this is still the team that most of us thought would perform at high levels this season. And there's no doubt that the level has not lived up to those expectations. And for 36 minutes against, the struggles offensively were as bad as they've been.

But I woke up this morning feeling that today is the day. Today's the day, this team starts it's run.

It's that rivalry game that matters each and every year.

This year, like December 2007, it matters a little more.

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