One could say that Dan Jennings is as big and strong as a mountain itself, so it’s only fitting to continue his basketball career he chose the most suitable place…West Virginia University, home of the Mountaineers.  Morgantown is where he’ll call home in 2009, and Coach Bob Huggins couldn’t be more pleased.

Jennings is a 6’8, 240-pound lefty from New Brighton, N.Y. on Staten Island. His stock has been rising all summer as his Gaucho team has been winning tournaments all over the country.

When speaking on the West Virginia’s Head Coach, Jennings said “Coach Huggins has a reputation for getting players to The League.  Look at Joe Alexander--I never even heard of Joe Alexander until this year.  He blew up under Coach Huggins.  That’s the reason I’m coming to West Virginia.”

A few other schools that courted and offered to Dan included; Pittsburgh, Marquette, DePaul, Memphis, USF, Oklahoma State, Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. Johns.

Jennings has high hopes for WVU in ‘09 and states, “West Virginia--we are on the rise this year, the next year, and the next couple of years.  We’re about to start a whole revolution.”  It seems a storm is coming to the Big East Conference in ‘09, with one of New York’s finest basketball sons at the helm.

At the GBOA East Regional the NY Panthers had a great showing going 3 – 1 losing to eventual runner –up, New Heights 17.  One of the floor generals for Panthers at the regional and this past summer has been versatile Bronx point guard Rashawn Stores.  With steady and consistent play during the GBOA tourney, it’s easy to see why colleges are taking considerable interest in his talents.

At 6’0 with a high basketball I.Q., Stores uses his smarts, creativity and calming demeanor to orchestrate the offense and be leader on defense for a Panther team that is currently ranked #4 in NYC’s entire talented AAU crop.

Stores, who is a team player, says “I like to score but I like to get teammates involved.”  Both of which are qualities held in high regard among college coaches.  Schools like Marist University and Manhattan have already recognized Rashawn’s talents, with the latter offering him a scholarship.  

Having just come back from an unofficial visit to Drexel University, Rashawn still has the rest of the AAU summer to finish up.  Although he has no intention on slowing down his progression and development of his game.  “Right now I’m working on my athleticism,” he says. 

Stores is looking forward to a successful senior season at All Hallows High School in the Bronx and seeks to capture a championship.

Revival literally means to be restored to life, strength or an awakening; and this is exactly what Rutgers University head Men’s Basketball coach Fred Hill is aiming to accomplish. What better way to do this by vying for the talents of GBOA East standout and NY Panther star Kevin Parrom.

Parrom is a 6’6, 200 pound NYC basketball sensation whose terrific performance at the GBOA East regional, as well as other summer tournaments, has not only Rutgers attention but a slew of other colleges focused on making Kevin part of their program.

Rutgers is very close to Parrom’s New York home, thus gaining his attention immediately as a possible college destination.  Although Kevin doesn’t mind going away for school, if he feels more comfortable digs at a school outside the Empire State then he’ll go away.

“When I was younger I always felt like I wanted to stay close to home because I thought I would get homesick.  Now that I’m getting older, I just want to find a college that fits me,” Parrom stated.    

From Kevin’s outstanding GBOA East play and his tireless work ethic throughout the summer, I’m sure coach Hill is anxiously awaiting August, when Kevin will cut his list of fifteen offers down to a few.  His current talents and potential is something we’re looking forward to seeing at the Challenge of Champions in Chicago and what Coach Fred Hill would love to see in a Scarlet Knights uniform in 2009.  

Team Philly standout and GBOA East 1st teamer Maalik Wayns is somewhat of a patriot.  He embodies the qualities American sports fans hold in high regard: toughness, resilience and a desire to win.  All of these make him a perfect candidate to don the U.S.A. national jersey and compete in the U-18 FIBA World Championships. 

Wayns is from Philadelphia and at 6’1, being a tough ball player is a staple and necessity in order to excel.  “Philadelphia guards play hard,” Maalik says and his play fits that bill entirely. The U.S. U-18 coach Bob McKillop feels the same way about Maalik’s skills, “He has bought into the concept that a point guard gets us into the offense…his decision-making is impeccable.”

Maalik has already committed to playing ball for Villanova but will have one more year of high school to complete an already stellar H.S. career.  As a junior at Roman Catholic in Philadelphia he averaged 24 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds a game.  His all around game was impressive enough to earn him All GBOA 1st Team honors at the East Regional back in May. 

But scoring isn’t a priority on Maalik’s mind on the national team.  It’s all about defense and coach McKillop agrees stating, “It is a learning process that you need to not just guard your man but you have to be able to defend all five players.”  This is a practice that Maalik is no stranger to.  “Everybody where I come from can play defense…guarding your man and locking him down, that’s what’s important,” he stated.

The U-18 team will play at the FIBA Americas Championship beginning July 14 in Argentina. A fourth place finish or better will give them a berth in next years World Championship in New Zealand.