HH

Monday, May 17, 2010 (HoopScoop) It looks like Lamar head coach Steve Roccaforte, who previously worked as an assistant coach for John Calipari at the University of Memphis, is a chip off the old block as he and his staff have landed what appears to be an entire team.  We're talking about 10 players in a recruiting class that is now ranked #9 on our  list of the    Top Recruiting Classes To-Date for the Class of 2010.  The latest addition is 6'1 Michael James from Eastern Arizona (JC) AZ.  And he might just be the best of the bunch.  James is a true combo guard, which means he is capable of playing either guard spot equally well.  However, James had to carry the load on his junior college team and, as a result, put up prolific numbers to the tune of 25.9 ppg, 3.9 agp, and 1.8. spg this past season.  And James isn't the only player in this recruiting class who can light up a scoreboard.  Did you know that 6'2 Devon Lamb from Southwestern Christian (JC) TX, who was named a Second Team  NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Division I All-American and averaged 27.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, and 5.6 apg, finish first in scoring and 13th leading rebounding in the junior college ranks and 6'6 Brandon Davis from Southwestern Christian (JC) TX, who averaged 20.8  ppg and 5.7 apg and shot 111-232 (47.%) from beyond the arc, finished ranked #15 in the nation in scoring and fifth in the nation in 3-point shooting?  There also is   6'1 Tremell Adams from South Suburban (JC) IL, who was named the Region IV Player-of-the-Year and a First Team All-American in the Division II junior college ranks and averaged 22.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 3.3 apg and shot 74-197 (38%) from behind the arc, and 6'5 Vincenzo Nelson from Itawamba (JC) MS, who was his team's leading scorer and rebounder and 12.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg and also  took home game MVP honors in the Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game with 15 points and 12 rebounds.  In other words, it looks like Roccaforte is stockpiling the kind of firepower and scoring necessary to do his former boss and mentor (Billy Tubbs) proud, as the Cardinals have the potential to average over 100 ppg next season.  And, if that weren't enough, Lamar also has four in-state high school players in 6'1  Tre Lynch from Lancaster (H.S.) TX, 6'8 Michale Kyser from Lancaster (H.S.) TX, 6'4 Demetris Smith from Pflugerville (H.S.) TX, and 6'7 Darius Harris from Port Arthur (Memorial) TX and an undersized  junior college big man in 6'7 Orlando Brazier from California Community (JC) CA in this year's recruiting class.