The Garvin Hunt Story

After La Salle announced in early April that Devon White would not return to use his final year of eligibility, it was assumed that Coach John Giannini would be signing a big man during the spring signing period.  The Explorer coaching staff looked at a number of prospects, including grad student transfer Kore White from Florida Atlantic, juco transfer Keith Coleman, and schoolboy prospects Mike Aaman and Donovon Jack among others.  All four chose to go elsewhere so by mid-May, it looked like La Salle would go into the 2012-13 season with a frontline consisting of sophomore big men Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack along with freshmen Rohan Brown and Jermaine Davis.

But then in early June, the Explorers 2012-13 roster was posted on the school's athletic website and to the surprise of many, included on the roster was 6'10" Garvin Hunt, a transfer from the University of Pennsylvania.  Since then, there has been much speculation as to how Hunt ended up at La Salle and what his role on the 2012-13 La Salle squad was expected to be. 

Check out this excellent article by Jeff Goodman of CBS College Sports as he gets answers to many of the questions about Garvin and his journey that has led him to La Salle for one more chance at college basketball.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/20092925/garvin-hunt-gets-a-second-chance-at-hoops

Full A10 Schedule With TV Games Is Out !

The Atlantic 10 posted their full men's basketball conference schedule, including TV dates, earlier today.  More TV dates are sure to be added as member schools negotiate broadcast rights with local affiliates.  Below is La Salle's conference schedule:

• Wednesday January 9th - @ Charlotte
• Saturday January 12th - Richmond
• Wednesday January 16th - Dayton (Fox Sports Ohio)
• Saturday January 19th - @ Xavier (CBSSN-Regional)
• Wednesday January 23rd - Butler
• Saturday January 26th - @ VCU (CBSSN)
• Wednesday January 30th - UMass
• Saturday February 2nd - @ George Washington
• Saturday February 9th - Fordham
• Wednesday February 13th - @ St.Bonaventure
• Saturday February 16th - St. Joe's (NBCSN)
• Thursday February 21st - @ Temple (CBSSN)
• Sunday February 24th - @ Rhode Island (CSN)
• Saturday March 2nd - Duquesne
• Wednesday March 6th - George Washington
• Saturday March 9th - @ St. Louis (NBCSN)

http://www.atlantic10.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/090612aab.html

ESPN & SI Give Galloway & Wright Some Preseason Hype

Recent online articles on the ESPN and Sports Illustrated sites have singled out La Salle senior guard Ramon Galloway and sophomore power forward Jerrell Wright.

Galloway's high-flying act has gotten him recognition as one of the top dunkers in college basketball.  His reverse slam against Minnesota in the NIT was ranked the second best dunk of the 2011-12 season.  Check out these articles by ESPN's Myron Medcalf with quotes from Ramon and Coach John Giannini.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/62440/rising-literally-stars-in-2012-13

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8274224/dunks-provide-thrills-players-concerns-coaches-college-basketball

After an impressive and efficient freshman season, Wright is being touted by SI.com's Luke Winn as the third most likely sophomore to have a breakout season.  Check out his article.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/luke_winn/09/04/NCAA-basketball-sophomore-breakout/index.html

Khalid Lewis Transfer Becomes Official

As reported back on July 10th by various recruiting outlets, the news became official this past Monday as La Salle announced the transfer of 6'3", 185 pound guard Khalid Lewis from the University of Delaware.  Lewis will sit out the required 2012-13 transfer year and will have 3 years of eligibility left at La Salle. 

http://goexplorers.com/news/2012/8/27/MBB_0827124330.aspx?path=mbball

http://cityofbasketballlove.com/2012/08/john-giannini-talks-about-his-latest-transfer/

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/la_salle/20120828_Lewis_transferring_from_Delaware_to_La_Salle.html

http://explorerbasketball.blogspot.com/2012/07/explorers-land-delaware-transfer-khalid.html

Atlantic Ten Publishes 2012-13 Men's Basketball Prospectus

The Atlantic Ten posted the 2012-12 Men's Basketball prospectus on their official website today. 

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/prospectus/prospectus.pdf

2012-13 OOC Schedule Finalized

La Salle men's basketball coach Dr.John Giannini announced the Explorer's 2012-13 out of conference schedule today.  Highlights include the beginning of multi-game series against BCS opponents Miami and Penn State and mid-major powers Iona and Siena.  The Explorers open the season against CAA title-contender Delaware during La Salle's Homecoming festivities on November 10th, play Villanova and Penn at Gola Arena in Big Five action, and go on the road to face 2011-12 NIT participant Bucknell.  The full OOC schedule can be found in the below link.  The A10 schedule should be published sometime in early to mid September.

• Friday November 2nd - Carleton University (exhibition)
• Saturday November 10th - Delaware (Homecoming)
• Sunday November 18th - Central Connecticut State
• Tuesday November 20th - @ Hartford
• Sunday November 25th - Villanova (CBSSN)
• Thursday November 29th - @ Rider
• Wednesday December 5th - Penn State (@ the Palestra) (NBC SN)
• Saturday December 8th - @ Northeastern
• Saturday December 15th - @ Bucknell
• Thursday December 20th - Iona
• Saturday December 22nd - Sacred Heart
• Saturday December 29th - @ Siena (TCN)
• Wednesday January 2nd - @ Miami (Fox Sports South)
• Saturday January 5th - Penn

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/8/20/MBB_0820124957.aspx?path=mbball

http://cityofbasketballlove.com/2012/08/la-salle-releases-2012-13-non-conference-schedule/

La Salle Gets Commitment From 2013 Point Guard Amar Stukes

La Salle has landed 2013 priority point guard recruit Amar Stukes.  The news was broken by various recruiting websites this past Wednesday.  The 6'2", 165 pound Stukes, from La Salle College High School of the Philadelphia Catholic League, picked the Explorers over offers from Drexel, George Mason, Fairfield, and Binghamton.  The La Salle coaching staff targeted Amar early on, offering him a scholarship after the conclusion of his sophomore year, and their persistence has paid off.  Stukes will be groomed to be the replacement for current La Salle point guard Tyreek Duren after he graduates in 2014.  Even with the graduation of Duren and current La Salle juniors Sam Mills, Tyrone Garland, and Taylor Dunn in 2014, having an experienced Stukes on the roster will bolster an already strong 2014-15 backcourt along with D.J. Peterson and recent Delaware transfer Khalid Lewis.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/la_salle/20120816_Stukes_goes_from_La_Salle_High_to_university.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/la_salle/20120816_La_Salle_gets_commitment_from_Stukes_in_hoops.html

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/17/la-salle-lands-a-point-guard-in-philadelphia-product-amar-stukes/

http://cityofbasketballlove.com/2012/08/la-salle-colleges-amar-stukes-commits-to-la-salle/

Explorers Land Delaware transfer Khalid Lewis

 

 According to The Recruit Scoop and various other recruiting websites, Khalid Lewis, a 6'3", 185 pound guard from the University of Delaware, will be transferring to La Salle.  Lewis, a Trenton, NJ native who played his high school ball at Trenton Catholic Academy, will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the required 2012-13 transfer year.  He was a recruiting target of the La Salle coaching staff coming out of TCA but they did not let him get away the second time around.

 

Khalid had a fine freshman year at Delaware, starting all 32 games at the point while averaging 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the 18-14 Blue Hens, who advanced to the postseason, playing in the College Invitational Tournament.  Lewis is a lockdown defender and had a solid 1.3 assist to turnover ratio (83 assists versus 63 turnovers).  He should be able to step into the 2013-14 guard rotation, replacing Ramon Galloway who will graduate in 2013.

 

http://cityofbasketballlove.com/2012/07/khalid-lewis-another-transfer-for-la-salle/ 

 

http://www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/news/Khalid-Lewis-transfers-from-UD-to-La-Sal?blockID=738142



Terrence Stewart Leaves La Salle To Become Head Coach At Immaculata

La Salle men's basketball video coordinator Terrence Stewart is leaving the program to become the new head coach at Immaculata Univesity.  Stewart was a member of the coaching staff for the last three seasons after a twelve year professional career overseas.  Terrence played his college ball at Rowan University for John Giannini, winning the 1996 NCAA Division 3 Final Four MVP Award while leading Rowan to the Division 3 national championship.

Congratulations and best wishes to Terrence at Immaculata.  No word on who is in line to replace Terrence at La Salle.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/7/11/MBB_0711124713.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.gomightymacs.com/news/2012/7/10/MBB_0710124518.aspx

Explorers 2012-12 Atlantic Ten Opponents Finalized

The Atlantic Ten announced their 2012-13 men's basketball matchups today.  With the additions of VCU and Butler to the conference, it was unclear if the league would stick with a sixteen game league schedule but they ultimately decided to stand pat.  Each team will play one opposing league member twice and everyone else once.  LaSalle's partner in the new format will be George Washington.

http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/6/5/MBB_0605122704.aspx?path=mbball

http://www.atlantic10.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060512aaa.html