Recruiting – Page 90 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Tyus Jones Likley to Sign in November

Posted on July 22, 2013July 24, 2013 by David Shama

Tyus Jones‘ mom told Sports Headliners yesterday she expects her son to make his official college commitment in November. Debbie Jones also said during the telephone interview her son Tre Jones, an eighth grader next school year, hopes to play on the Apple Valley High School varsity team with Tyus.

Tyus, a nationally recruited point guard who is among the most sought after Minnesota preps ever, could verbally commit to a college now but that won’t happen. The family plans official visits to colleges including possibly Minnesota in August, September and October before a decision is made. Debbie said reports Tyus was ready to commit verbally to the Gophers early last spring weren’t accurate. “He wasn’t going to commit anywhere until he made his official visits and got on campuses,” Debbie said.

High school seniors can sign National Letters of Intent with colleges in November, or they can wait until the following spring for a second period of signing dates. Asked if Tyus will sign in November, his mom said: “I think so.”

Tyus and his friend Jahlil Okafor, a center from Whitney High in Chicago, are rated the No. 2 and No. 1 players in the national prep class of 2014 by Rivals.com. Debbie confirmed it’s likely the two will attend college together. Not only have Tyus and Okafor had discussions, but Debbie has talked with Okafor’s father, Chuck Okafor, too.

Tre is a gifted athlete and basketball player like Tyus. Tre is 5-9 and has grown at least five inches since last summer. Debbie is looking into the possibility of Tre joining the Apple Valley varsity and having a memorable experience of playing with Tyus for one season. “I know it would be great,” she said.

Among the biggest fans of Tyus and Tre is Debbie’s dad, Dennis Deutsch. For some time he’s had multiple health issues and most recently was diagnosed with cancer and then had a heart attack. “He’s a battler,” said Debbie about her father who has been out of the hospital for awhile.

Worth Noting

The Big Ten Network will offer extensive coverage of the conference’s football media days in Chicago including five hours on Wednesday featuring remarks by the league’s 12 head coaches. Programming starts at 10 a.m. Minneapolis time. Press conferences will re-air beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Each coach brings players from his team. Representing the Gophers will be defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, running back Donnell Kirkwood and safety Brock Vereen. Hageman is on the watch lists of candidates for the Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

The Gophers athletic department is pitching several different season ticket packages involving football, men’s basketball and men’s hockey to University of Minnesota students. Three of the packages have sold out, totaling 1,155 tickets. Student football season tickets sold as of July 18 totaled 1,281 compared with 776 on the same date last year.

University of Minnesota regent Dave Larson and others interested in Gophers athletics will meet with athletic director Norwood Teague a week from today to learn more about the Facilities Needs Assessment and Plan. Phase One comes with an estimated cost of $190 million, all of it to be privately funded.

Isaiah Whitehead from Brooklyn and Ja’Quan Newton from Philadelphia, who are Rivals.com top 50 players in the class of 2014, are interested in attending college together and the Gophers are one of only four schools to have offered scholarships to the two guards, according to a July 16 story on Collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com.

S.I.com is previewing the NFL’s divisions this month and in a July 10 analysis about the NFC North predicted the Vikings could be a playoff team for a second consecutive season. “They are capable of another run this season, but the margin for error is slim,” wrote Chris Burke.

His opinion is that for the Vikings to become Super Bowl contenders, Adrian Peterson will need plenty of help including from quarterback Christian Ponder who has the resources to succeed in his third season. The team became better in the offseason at wide receiver with the additions of veteran Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson, but worse at cornerback with veteran Antoine Winfield joining the Seahawks. Jennings’ departure from Green Bay is viewed as a weakness for the Packers. Vikings’ second year safety Harrison Smith is likely to be the team’s breakout player.

In 2015 the Vikings can celebrate 50 years of training camps in Mankato. The team opens its 48^thconsecutive Mankato camp on Thursday at Mankato State University. Among NFL teams, only the Packers have more training camp longevity at the same location. The Packers are working on 56 years at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

The latest issue of Sports Illustrated offers a MLB mid-season “re-forecast,” and predictions include a 69-93 final record for the Twins, finishing ahead of only the White Sox (65-97) in the AL Central. If correct, that will follow Twins records of 63-99 in 2011 and 66-96 in 2012. The magazine predicts the Cardinals over the Rangers in six games in the World Series.

Scott Diamond, the Twins’ starter and losing pitcher in yesterday’s game against the Indians, gave up six runs (five earned) in four and two-thirds innings. It was the fifth time this season he has allowed six runs or more. Yesterday was the third consecutive start Diamond, 5-9 record with a 5.53 ERA this season, has lasted less than five innings.

Sports Headliners reader Dan Hennen made a trip to Cedar Rapids to see the Twins’ Class A affiliate Kernels team. He compared the stadium atmosphere to a Saint Paul Saints entertainment experience including postgame fireworks. Tip for foodies: the stadium’s pork tenderloin sandwich is a winner. Hennen and family included a stop in Dyersville, Iowa to visit the Field of Dreams attraction. Picture taking in the “knee-high corn,” per Hennen’s e-mail.

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U Looks at Sand Volleyball Program

Posted on June 21, 2013June 22, 2013 by David Shama

The Gophers are showing interest in possibly adding sand volleyball to the roster of intercollegiate sports. “We’ve just had general discussions with the administration,” Gophers indoor volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon told Sports Headliners yesterday.

Although it is an Olympic sport, only 34 American colleges have “verified their commitment” to sand volleyball, according to Collegesand.org. The website said 40 programs are necessary to make sand volleyball a “championship sport.” The NCAA has given the activity emerging sport status.

Nebraska started a sand volleyball program this year and is the only Big Ten school competing in the sport. The Huskers’ schedule was limited to the month of March and included only road matches with opponents such as Florida State, Pepperdine and UCLA.

Nebraska, like Minnesota, has a winning tradition and strong fan support in women’s indoor volleyball. The Huskers and Gophers tied for second place in volleyball in the Big Ten last year with 15-5 records. Nebraska averaged 4,287 fans per home match, second best in the nation. The Gophers, who nearly qualified for the NCAA Final Four Tournament, averaged a national third best 3,316 fans at home.

Various factors about college sand volleyball are likely of interest to Gophers athletic department leaders as they contemplate bringing the sport to campus. To field a team the Gophers could use some of the same players from the indoor team that competes in the fall. College sand volleyball requires more minimal personnel with two players from each side competing against one another (indoor volleyball uses six players per side on the court).

Having a sand volleyball team might mean a recruiting advantage for the Gophers because they could offer competitive playing time to players beyond the indoor volleyball schedule. That factor would be particularly helpful while recruiting in a state like California where so many teenagers play sand volleyball.

At Nebraska indoor coach John Cook is also coaching the sand volleyball team. The Gophers’ sand volleyball coach would almost certainly be McCutcheon, a former men’s and women’s Olympic coach and a world renowned volleyball authority.

The athletic department is in the process of developing a master plan for athletic facilities and the review could include a potential outdoor sand volleyball court. That wouldn’t be a costly expense and fits into the economy of the sport involving scholarships, coaching and a limited schedule.

Sand volleyball here might eventually have revenue producing potential if late spring matches were offered. The indoor Gophers volleyball team with its average of 3,316 drew more fans than women’s basketball, 3,277.

While nothing is for sure yet about the future of sand volleyball at Minnesota, McCutheon sounded optimistic about how it could fit in here. “I think it could be very successful given that it’s such a strong sport in the state,” McCutcheon said.

The athletic department presently has 25 intercollegiate sports. Like other schools the Gophers are mandated by federal law to provide equal opportunities for men and women. The addition of sand volleyball would add to the list of women’s offerings at Minnesota that now includes basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, softball, soccer, swimming-diving, tennis, track and field, and indoor volleyball.

Worth Noting

East Ridge High School center J.C. Hassenauer, who has verbally committed to Alabama, can become the second Minnesota native ever to play football for the Crimson Tide, according to an Internet story Tuesday by Andrew Gribble on Al.com. Guard William Buckler from St. Paul played for Alabama in the 1920s.

Mark Dienhart, the former Gophers athletic director and more recently executive vice president and chief operating officer for St. Thomas, will now lead Best Buy founder Richard Schulze’s family foundation starting in July.

Former Gophers ticket manager Tom Swain and his wife Arlene had their 66^th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier after being asked about starting third-year quarterback Christian Ponder’s accuracy: “I think he’s much better. He’s worked his tail off trying to improve his accuracy. Our coaches have put him through a bunch of different drills and through his hard work I think he’s improved in that area. Now we’ve got some things we’ve got to get done in training camp, but he’s put in the work to improve and we are seeing it.”

Ex-Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton is 6-foot and played at about 190 pounds. In the June 17 issue of Sports Illustrated Tarkenton recalled trying to block 6-5, 272-pound Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones who was built like concrete and passed away earlier this month. “He just broke up laughing,” Tarkenton told the magazine.

The Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game will be played Saturday, June 30 at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud. This coming Sunday 93 players and 16 coaches report to training camp at St. John’s University in Collegeville.

The Timberwolves and the city of Minneapolis hope to soon finalize a $100 million deal to renovate Target Center. Both parties will be involved with financing on the project to further modernize the arena that opened in 1990. The original cost of the building was $104 million.

Look for the Timberwolves to build a new practice facility at a site to be determined. The project would include naming rights. The team now practices at Target Center.

In its mock draft NBAdraftnet.net predicts the Wolves will choose shooting guards Kentavious Coldwell-Pope and Ricardo Ledo with their No. 9 and 26 first round picks in next week’s NBA draft. Former Gophers forwards Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams will be selected on the second round, with Mbawke going to the Grizzlies at No. 41 and Williams to the Suns at No. 57.

The Wolves host a workout session for potential NBA draft choices at Target Center today and among the players will be former Gophers center Colton Iverson who finished his college career at Colorado State. NBAdraft.net predicts Iverson will be drafted by the Magic at No. 51 in the second round.

TV commentator Bert Blyleven, who was born in the Netherlands, joking on Wednesday night’s Twins-White Sox game: “Not Dutch. Not much.”

Joe Mauer had his ninth three-hit game this season against the White Sox in the Twins’ 8-4 win yesterday at Target Field. Mauer is batting .424 in eight games against the White Sox this year.

The No. 4 best workplace among Minnesota large companies is the Minnesota Twins, according to a special section in last Sunday’s Star Tribune.

Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton announced that Rachel Banham, one of the two top sophomore scorers in the NCAA last season with a 20.7 average, had successful patellar tendonitis surgery.

Cynopsis.com reported on Wednesday that last Monday’s Bruins-Blackhawks game was the most watched NHL game ever on the NBC Sports Network and had the most viewers of any Stanley Cup Finals game on cable TV in 11 years.

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Budget Didn’t Stop Retractable Roof

Posted on June 19, 2013June 19, 2013 by David Shama

Vikings notes from Winter Park:

Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners it wasn’t the extra cost of a retractable roof that resulted in a final decision to make the new Vikings stadium a fixed-roof facility. Estimates are a retractable roof would have added $25 to $50 million to the $975 million stadium cost but Bagley, the Vikings’ stadium drive leader for years, said the design that includes the largest pivoting glass doors in the world and other features allowing light into the facility are the right fit for this climate and gameday experience.

While Bagley didn’t offer specifics, he indicated the extra funding for a retractable roof was doable but he believes the new downtown stadium with its present design will be the “best in the NFL” when it opens in 2016. The doors will open to the outside plaza, and combined with windows and the partially transparent roof, there will be an outdoor feel to an indoor building.

With a retractable roof, the roof would be closed on many game days because of rain, snow, cold winds and temperatures. Games in late fall and early winter would almost certainly necessitate having the roof closed.

Regardless of weather, fans will have a consistent gameday experience in the climate-controlled facility. That experience will not only include natural light, but also the latest technology such as HD video boards and seating proximity to the field that will equal or surpass any facility in the NFL, according to Bagley. “We may also have a family section that could be alcohol-free,” he said.

Bagley also said the team’s September 29 regular season game in London against the Steelers will be a sellout in 84,000-seat Wembley Stadium. He expects thousands of Vikings season ticket holders to attend the game. The Vikings will send veteran defensive linemen Jared Allen and Kevin Williams to London in late July to promote the game.

Williams, who will be 34 on August 16, was asked about his future with the team after his contract ends following this season. “I would like to stay here (with the Vikings),” he said. “You always want to stay where you’re drafted at, but I know it’s a business and things happen, so just looking to having a good year and whatever happens, happens.”

He was noncommittal when asked if he will accept less money on his new contract. “We’ll see how the season goes. …”

Defensive tackle Shariff Floyd, the team’s first draft choice this year, could some day replace Williams. As the team practices this month, what advice does Williams have for Floyd?

“Pay attention. You got a lot of older guys in front of you that have done this…played the game. Soak it up. Enjoy it while you can and try to use it.”

Safety Harrison Smith had an outstanding rookie season but last year wasn’t without challenges for him. At times the demanding transition from college to pro football left him fatigued.

“I seriously thought I hit the rookie wall before the season started,” he said. “You just have to keep going and just keep working every day. There’s no way around it. You’re gonna deal with it. I am glad to kind of have that year past me.”

Worth Noting

Apple Valley’s Tyus Jones and Chicago’s Jahlil Okafor are likely to attend the same college and they have mostly similar schools under consideration, but not identical ones. This spring Jones’ mother, Debbie Jones, told Sports Headliners her son is considering Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State. Okafor’s schools are Arizona, Baylor, Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Choosing a school outside the Big Ten could relieve hometown and home state pressure on both Jones and Okafor who are such good friends it will be a surprise if they don’t play together as freshmen in college a year from this fall. Baylor is a good guess for a “dark horse” to land the two prep basketball superstars. Baylor director of player development Jared Nuness is a distant cousin of Jones.

Angel Morales, Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano, the three Twins prospects promoted last week from Class A Fort Myers to Class AA New Britain, have now played several games for the Rock Cats. Center fielder Morales is hitting .095 in six games, second baseman Rosario is at .313 in five games and third baseman Sano is batting .067.

The Twins opened a three game series against the White Sox last night by beating Chicago 7-5. Glen Perkins earned his 17^th save of the season, setting a career high after last year’s 16. The Twins have lost three of their last four series.

Brian Dozier ranks second among MLB second basemen in double plays with 51. Shortstop Pedro Florimon is third among MLB shortstops with 48 double plays. As a team the Twins lead in double plays with 81.

WCCO Radio “Sports Huddle” co-host and public relations executive Dave Mona was honored by his company, Weber Shandwick, at a Mall of America retirement party last night at the Mall of America. Among the guests was Mona’s radio co-host Sid Hartman. Mona formally retires from Weber Shandwick on July 1, although he will still do some work for the company.

The highest paid public employees in 40 of 50 states are coaches, according to a May 9 graphic by Deadspin.com. Included among the 40 states is Minnesota where Gopher football coach Jerry Kill and basketball coach Richard Pitino each reportedly earn base compensation of $1.2 million.

St. Thomas finished No. 9 nationally in the final Division III Learfield Sports Director’s Cup standings for school year 2012-2013. Other MIAC schools in the top 50 are Gustavus Adolphus at No. 36 and St. Olaf, No. 45. Concordia, Carleton and Saint John’s also placed in the first 100.

The 13-member MIAC is one of only three conferences to have 11 schools in the final standings. The Learfield standings measure each institution’s combined performance at national championship tournaments and events.

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