A New UM Basketball Star In The Making?

The Hurricanes basketball team has been holding some informal scrimmages this summer, and the word on the street is that 5 star, 6"6 small forward DeQuan Jones out of Marietta, Georgia has been all sorts of impressive. Scout.com's 5th-rated small forward in the Class of 2008 is already the most athletic player on the Hurricanes roster as a true freshman. If you don't believe me, just enter his name on YouTube. Think a young Josh Smith - someone who does not care if he has to take off from the free throw line to throw down a monstrous dunk over an opponent in his way. Jones is explosive and penetrates to the basket with abandon. There are even rumblings about DeQuan working his way into the starting lineup this season - and this on a team with all of its starters returning and a pre-season #8 ranking according to ESPN's Andy Katz. If Jones doesn't get Canes basketball fans excited, maybe fellow freshman Reggie Johnson will - the 4-star center (measuring in at almost 300 lbs.) breaks backboards.

Early July Heat Tidbits

* It wasn't quite that big a scare after all. After being accidentally elbowed in the chest during his first Heat practice, Michael Beasley received a diagnosis of a fractured sternum, but doctors say that he will be able to play all of the summer league games this week in Orlando, the first spotlighting a matchup of #1 (Derrick Rose) and #2 (Beasley) as the Bulls take on the Heat on Monday. Beasley will wear a protective vest underneath his Heat summer league jersey and said, with characteristic bravado, "I'm going to play until my chest caves in." I like him already.

* Everyone is eagerly awaiting 2010, not because there's a temporary moratorium on estate taxes (well, maybe for some tax law geeks and the soon-to-inherit), but because that's when Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and a host of other gems become available free agents. The Heat appears to be saving for that year as well - they obviously want to be in a position to retain Flash. So as far as the Heat's free agent options are concerned, then, they're just looking to use as much of the $6 million mid-level exception as they can.

* Some names being thrown out as options - Portland forward James Jones (former Miami Hurricane sharp-shooter and shot-blocker extraordinaire), Pacers center David Harrison, former #1 pick and current bust Kwame Brown, Nets center Nenad Kristic, and Golden State center Patrick O'Bryant. Color me unimpressed with the viable options.

* One intriguing option is Golden State guard Monta Ellis. Ellis appears interested in becoming a member of the Heat, and the Heat seem to be reciprocating. Two problems with that scenario, however: (1) the Warriors are desperate to keep Ellis, especially after Baron Davis departed so unceremoniously to the Clippers and (2) Ellis comes with a price tag, and he isn't even a true point guard, the real "need" position for the Heat.

* Summer league notes: St. Joe's rookie forward Pat Calathes has had a few strong days of scrimmaging, and there's speculation he may make the Heat regular season roster as a 3-point specialist; former Miami Hurricane center Anthony King (projected to be a power forward at the next level) has earned himself a place among the Heat summer leaguers in Orlando. King is an extreme longshot to make the Heat roster, given the logjam at power forward and his limited offensive skill set.

Canes Basketball Gets Big Man Out of Michigan

The Miami Hurricanes basketball team landed their first oral commitment for the 2009 class in 6-8 power forward Donnavan Kirk out of Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Country Day School also produced NBA stars Chris Webber and Shane Battier). Kirk is a four-star player according to rivals.com (who rates him as the 21st-ranked power forward in his class), and is a consensus top 100 player. Michigan State, Iowa, and USC offered Kirk before he chose the Canes today. The word on the streets is that Kirk finishes strongly around the basket and is a strong post presence, in addition to being a superb athlete and free-throw shooter for a big.

Next on the Canes 2009 basketball wish list - point guard phenom Kenny Boynton out of Plantation. Boynton appears to like Duke and UF, so the Canes are considered longshots, but one can wish, eh?

Jack McClinton Coming Back!

At the risk of sounding like a hopeless Pollyanna, I find it my duty to report yet more good news from the Hurricanes Basketball world - team star and clutch perfomer extraordinaire Jack McClinton has informed Coach Frank Haith, and the Miami Herald, that he will return for his senior season with the Canes. Mr. 1st-team All-ACC is the main reason that many, like ESPN's Andy Katz, are slating the Canes to start in the pre-season top 20. McClinton led the ACC in 3-point shooting and free throw shooting for the past two seasons. He's dominated 3-point and free throw shooting for 2 years...in the ACC! Although he could certainly use the money (best friend Dorrell Wright laughs at the sounds emanating from McClinton's old, rickety car), Jack cares more about taking this Hurricanes team farther than any Miami Hurricanes team in the school's history. He's a competitor in the tradition of Flash, MJ, and Kobe, and the Hurricanes should place no limits on their ambitions for next season.

Canes Basketball Adds 'Nova Transfer

The future continues to look brighter for the Miami Hurricanes basketball program. The Canes had one last scholarship available for next season, and decided to give it to Malcolm Grant, a 6"1 point guard transfer from Villanova University, according to canesport.com. Grant played sparingly last season for the Wildcats as a freshman, but the minutes he did play he led the team in 3 point percentage (46.6%) and exhibited solid if unspectacular play. The reason for Grant's transfer was a loaded 'Nova backcourt. The consensus about Mr. Grant is that he lacks blazing speed and flash, but is a steady ball-handler/distributor and 3 point specialist. Grant will need to sit out the 2008-2009 season, and will begin play in 2009 as a redshirt sophomore. The Canes will be replacing senior point guard Lance Hurdle, so Grant will compete with sophomore Eddie Rios for the starting spot then. Grant was the 25th rated high school point guard in 2007 according to rivals.com.

In other news, the Hurricane baseball team completed a sweep of 10th-ranked Georgia Tech this weekend in Atlanta. Blake Tekotte was the star of the series, going 7 for 10 with 3 home runs ant 8 RBI's. Georgia Tech was playing with heavy hearts after the unexpected death of junior pitcher Michael Hutts. The Canes improve to 29-3 (14-1 in ACC) and are ranked 1st by USA Today and Baseball America.

Hurricane Uprising

Through mad strokes in a keyboard, the resident Miami Hurricane fanatic proclaims his presence on THE South Florida Fan Blog. 'Tis a pleasure to join the family. Let's get started...

Despite recent football woes (and football is king, still, no matter what anybody tells you), the University of Miami has much to be proud of recently. Besides the Panthers near-playoff run and the Marlins early success, there have been precious few South Florida sports stories to relish. One of them was the emergence of the Hurricane basketball team, which was an extra minute of basketball away from stunning Texas and moving on to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. ESPN's college basketball insider, Andy Katz, looking at what's coming back next year (The ever-so-clutch Jack McClinton, the silky-smooth James Dews, the inconsistent-but-promising Dwayne Collins, and a bevy of exciting newcomers including the high-flying Daquan Jones), even had the Hurricanes #12 on his early pre-season top-25. And the architect behind this resurgence, head coach Frank Haith, has been locked up for another 5 years, so sunny skies ahead for Hurricanes basketball.

Don't look now, but the baseball team is #1 in the nation. Despite a humbling loss to FAU, all signs point to this being a dynamic and special team that will make noise in Omaha. I'm none too concerned about the loss to FAU. In baseball, bats go eerily silent, pitching falters, and losses happen. Consider the in the bigs you can lose 70 times and still prove yourself the best at the end. Jemile Weeks, Yonder Alonso, Blake Tekotte, and Eric Erickson providing quality experience, I'm predicting championship glory when it's all said and done. And that prediction has nothing whatsoever to do with my innate biases. Well, maybe it has everything to do with them. But at least the writers of Baseball America won't be putting up too vehement an opposition.

So, two reasons to be at least somewhat geeked about South Florida sports have something to do with the boys in orange and green. Obnoxious optimism about Hurricane football to come...

Can Miami Make a Run in the Big Dance?

I think so.

The #7 Miami Hurricanes defeated the #10 Saint Mary's Gaels 78-64 in Little Rock, AR today in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Miami continues to fulfill and exceed expectations with their recent play. Dazzling and versatile scorer Jack McClinton cashed in a whopping 38 points and 10 straight at the beginning of the 2nd half to drive Miami back from a 32-27 halftime defecit.

Next up is a difficult game against #2 Texas on Sunday. But if McClinton can keep up his hot shooting, Miami can certainly pull of the upset. The key is for Miami to get out to a good start and try to hang tight to the end. If its close in the final minutes, I give advantage -Canes. Over the years it has been dynamic scorers that lead unlikely teams far in the tournament. Miami has that guy and perhaps they can make it far, ideally the final four. Since the South bracket is weak with the best teams being #1 Memphis, #3 Stanford, and#4 Pittsburgh (maybe #5 Michigan State), Miami has just as good a chance as anyone.

Hurricanes Need More Open Water...But...

On Friday, the University of Miami Hurricanes will begin their pursuit of an NCAA Basketball championship in the granddaddy of all tournaments. Their chances of winning the whole shebang are slim, surely, but their road may not be as fettered as some others in similar predicament.

Throughout the year, the 'Canes have shown an ability to beat top teams (Duke, for example). They'll need that magic to come in spades here.

They should beat #10-seed St. Mary's in the first round. It's the second game, likely against #2-seed Texas, that will be their most difficult stumbling block. If they can somehow escape that game, the path gets a lot friendlier.

I like Miami's chances against any of Marquette, Kentucky, Stanford, or Cornell (don't count out Cornell, a team far better than its 14th seed ranking), and by my estimation, they won't be playing Memphis for the Houston finals. Memphis benefited from an exorbitantly soft Conference USA schedule. I expect them to fall in the Sweet 16 to Pittsburgh or Michigan State.

Once in the Final Four, anything can happen (and anyone can be there). So is it likely the Hurricanes will take the cake? No, but is it possible? I say yes.