IPRB has confirmed that Rick Pitino is seriously considering coaching the Puerto Rico National Team. Clearly, Pitino has the experience to help this team make the Olympics. The team has failed to meet expectations given its talent level and Pitino known for discipline could be exactly what the doctor ordered. There is a strong anti-American contingent within the Puerto Rican community so it will be interesting to see how the public at large reacts to this should Pitino agree to move forward and enter into negotiations with the PR Basketball Federation.
Word out of Louisville is that Pitino would need to get permission from the University and that the school wants Pitino focused on getting Louisville back in the top 20. The school has invested a lot in Rick and does not want anything to distract him although many within the athletic department think this could help with reruiting.
Said a source within the athletic department who asked to not be identified, "We have all seen what coaching an Olympic Team has done for Duke and Coach K. There is no much talent outside of the USA and with 10 current players from the Caribbean in the NBA that part of the world is rich in talent and could be a recruiting gold mine for us."
Word is that is deal is imminent and could be completed before the end of the year. If Pitino were to do this it would make sense for him to get it announced before the start of Big East Conference play.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Francisco "Furro" Lopez Back From Injury and Looking Good
Francisco "Furro" Lopez is determined to play college basketball and is doing everything he can to make his dream a reality. Lopez is a senior PG at La Salle High School in Miami, Florida. After a strong showing on the summer circuit with AAU team Gold Coast, Lopez suffered a serious hand/wrist injury and then caught a serious case of the flu delaying his return to the court.
This weekend his La Salle team played in the A Rod Classic and Furro has two very solid games with the team going 1-1 in the event. In the first game against Sagemont, Lopez scored 18 points in a big win. In the second game, Lopez scored 19 points and had 3 assists in a loss to Columbus.
Recruiting insiders have questioned his size but not his heart. A South Florida basketball recruiting insider," Lopez is the type of kid who will play his heart out and do the little things to help you win. He can score the ball and is a natural SG who will need to make the transition to the PG position if he is going to have a chance to at playing Division 1 college ball."
Lopez is also getting lots of looks from Division 2 and 3 schools but believes he can play Division 1. He will need to keep putting up big numbers and show both coaches and scouts that he can get his teammates more involved, play lock down defense and continue to show his leaderships skills.
This weekend his La Salle team played in the A Rod Classic and Furro has two very solid games with the team going 1-1 in the event. In the first game against Sagemont, Lopez scored 18 points in a big win. In the second game, Lopez scored 19 points and had 3 assists in a loss to Columbus.
Recruiting insiders have questioned his size but not his heart. A South Florida basketball recruiting insider," Lopez is the type of kid who will play his heart out and do the little things to help you win. He can score the ball and is a natural SG who will need to make the transition to the PG position if he is going to have a chance to at playing Division 1 college ball."
Lopez is also getting lots of looks from Division 2 and 3 schools but believes he can play Division 1. He will need to keep putting up big numbers and show both coaches and scouts that he can get his teammates more involved, play lock down defense and continue to show his leaderships skills.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Jerron Love Wants To Represent Puerto Rico
Those of us who follow elite youth teams and players have known about Jerron Love for a minute now. The Youtube sensation has had basketball insiders and bloggers talking and writing about him for years. IPRB was able to confirm through Senior Advisor to the President of Puerto Rico's Basketball Federation, Todd Washington, that Love is half Puerto Rican ( his mother is Puerto Rican).
Washington said, "I met with Jerron's father while I was in NYC this week and they are interested in having him represent Puerto Rico and hopefully playing on a team next summer. The kid is a game changer who could come in and probably start for the 16U National Team. He's that good!"
IPRB talked to several NYC AAU coaches who confirmed that Love has all the tools to be one of the greats! He is a fierce competitor, loves the game, understands that there are no shortcuts to success and has a strong family led by his father. He could be a great addition to the PR National Team program.
See some Jerron Highlights: Check out the limited edition Nike Hyperfuse he's rocking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2i9WglGoSs&feature=player_embedded
Washington said, "I met with Jerron's father while I was in NYC this week and they are interested in having him represent Puerto Rico and hopefully playing on a team next summer. The kid is a game changer who could come in and probably start for the 16U National Team. He's that good!"
IPRB talked to several NYC AAU coaches who confirmed that Love has all the tools to be one of the greats! He is a fierce competitor, loves the game, understands that there are no shortcuts to success and has a strong family led by his father. He could be a great addition to the PR National Team program.
See some Jerron Highlights: Check out the limited edition Nike Hyperfuse he's rocking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2i9WglGoSs&feature=player_embedded
Introducing Abdiel Badilo
IPRB has gotten several calls from our people in Mayaguez about Abdiel Badilo. The 6'5 junior from Colegio San Benito is not only a fantastic players but an honor roll student who has several elite prep schools interested in him. Todd Washington and his program PR Playmakers have offered to help Badilo and his family put a program and strategy in place help him secure a scholarship. We will be interviewing him this weekend and will be able to share more about who many think is the next great swing man to come out of PR.
Recruiting News
Carmelo Betancourt has gotten recent visits from St Francis which is where Danny Santiago went to school as well as Northeastern and UCF. The staff at Northeastern sees Carmelo be a similar players in style and stature to JJ Barea. Betancourt must decide if he wants to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond.
Gary Browne Ramirez is getting some serious looks from ACC and BIg East schools including, Boston Collge, West Virginia and Miami.
Fransico "Furro" Lopez who is a senior PG at La Salle in Miami is getting looks from several Division 2 Schools including Holy Family University (PA).
Gary Browne Ramirez is getting some serious looks from ACC and BIg East schools including, Boston Collge, West Virginia and Miami.
Fransico "Furro" Lopez who is a senior PG at La Salle in Miami is getting looks from several Division 2 Schools including Holy Family University (PA).
Garcia Going To Europe
After a sub par performance against Kansas @ the Jimmy V Classic om Tuesday, rumors have been flyig that Angel Garcia is getting pressure from those close to him that he should drop out of school and go to Spain to play professionally. Garcia looked a step slow and lacked the confidence we are accustomed to seeing from him. IPRB is a big Angel Garcia fan and we will always support him regardless of his successes or failures because he is a good person but leaving school is the worse thing he can do.
IPRB spoke to a source close to the program who said, " Angel may drop out of school at the end of the semester and go to Spain. Angel has so much potential but he needs to spend more time working on his post game and studying film. The coaching staff really wants to help the kid and he could be the "x factor" for this team!"
Both Ricky Sanchez and Peter John Ramos went that route and some would argue that it really backfired and hurt their development and future playing professionally at the highest level.
There is no better place to develop your game than playing in a top 20 program. Angel would be smart to reconsider leaving and buckle down.
IPRB spoke to a source close to the program who said, " Angel may drop out of school at the end of the semester and go to Spain. Angel has so much potential but he needs to spend more time working on his post game and studying film. The coaching staff really wants to help the kid and he could be the "x factor" for this team!"
Both Ricky Sanchez and Peter John Ramos went that route and some would argue that it really backfired and hurt their development and future playing professionally at the highest level.
There is no better place to develop your game than playing in a top 20 program. Angel would be smart to reconsider leaving and buckle down.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Angel Garcia Live and Direct Part II
When you talk about the future of PR basketball a lot of names come to mind, Clemente, Rosario, Betancourt, Diaz, Davila,Browne, Napier, Fontan and Cintron to name a few but one name rings the bell and that is Angel "Pee Wee" Garcia. The 6'11 University of Memphis power forward is healthy, focused and ready for showtime! Memphis plays Kansas in game one of the Jimmy V Classic tomorrow at Madison Square Garden. Game 2 is Syracuse vs Michigan State.
Its been a long road back for Garcia who has had to deal with a major knee injury and rehab, working for the last two years to get healthy. IPRB spoke to Garcia tonight as he prepared for a late team meal. "I'm really excited man. My knee feels great and I am ready", said Garcia.
IPRB saw Garcia last spring at a Memphis practice as he worked to develop his upper body. The thing people are going to be surprised to see is how big he got! Garcia spent a lot of time working his upper body and strengthening his legs. He has all the tools to be the next big player out of PR. The lights are on and its Garcia time!
Tomorrow at 7pm EST, that's 8pm Puerto Rico time on ESPN! Must see TV!
Its been a long road back for Garcia who has had to deal with a major knee injury and rehab, working for the last two years to get healthy. IPRB spoke to Garcia tonight as he prepared for a late team meal. "I'm really excited man. My knee feels great and I am ready", said Garcia.
IPRB saw Garcia last spring at a Memphis practice as he worked to develop his upper body. The thing people are going to be surprised to see is how big he got! Garcia spent a lot of time working his upper body and strengthening his legs. He has all the tools to be the next big player out of PR. The lights are on and its Garcia time!
Tomorrow at 7pm EST, that's 8pm Puerto Rico time on ESPN! Must see TV!
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