SB Nation - Brandon Robinson

Austin Toros Draft Day

Wayne Vore (ATS) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:58:20 -0000

The D-League draft is Thursday night and the Toros are hosting a draft party at the Hyatt in Austin. The party starts at 6:00.

Some of the Toros roster is already set. To almost no one's surprise, Curtis Jerrells is on the squad.

Draft Express (as always, the greatest) had the lowdown on the squad. All the other teams are listed. You should check it out. There are some interesting names.

Here are the current roster guys for the Toros:

Justin Bowen (Veteran) - Returning player
Ryan Bright (Veteran) - Returning player
Fred Gibson (Veteran) - Returning player
Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson (Veteran) - Returning player
Dwayne Jones (Veteran) - Returning player
Jason Parker (Veteran) - Returning player
Curtis Jerrells (Rookie) - Allocation player
Roderick Riley (Veteran) - Allocation player
Jawan Bailey (Rookie) - Local tryout player

The drafted players will round out the roster. The Toros have the 6th pick in the draft. It's a serpentine draft so they'll have something like the 10th pick in the second round.

Here are the players in the draft pool. Donnell Taylor and Alonso Gee were on the Spurs summer league roster.

- - NAME COLLEGE POS HT WT
    - DeAngelo Alexander Charlotte SG 6-4 203
    - Rodney Alexander Oklahoma City SF 6-7 225
    - Ronald Allen Cincinnati F/C 6-10 237
    - Shagari Alleyne Kentucky C 7-3 270
    - Alade Aminu Georgia Tech PF 6-10 235
    - Antonio Anderson Memphis G/F 6-6 215
    - Rashad Anderson Connecticut G/F 6-5 225
    - C.J. Anderson Xavier G/F 6-6 215
    - Eddie Ard Lipscomb G/F 6-5 195
    - Craig Austrie Connecticut PG 6-2 185
    - Christopher Ayer Loyola Marymount C 6-10 230
    - John Barber Youngstown State G/F 6-6 220
    - Sean Barnette Wingate G/F 6-5 220
    - Mike Battle Florida G 6-4 195
    - Brayden Billbe American C 6-10 235
    - Justin Billingslea Georgia State F/C 6-8 240
    - Jimmy Binnie Dayton F 6-7 225
    - Tony Bobbitt Cincinnati SG 6-4 205
    - James Booyer IUPU-Indianapolis PF 6-8 220
    - Jordan Brady Utah Valley State SF 6-6 210
    - Ira Brown Gonzaga SF 6-4 220
    - Cecil Brown UC Santa Barbara SG 6-4 190
    - John Bryant Santa Clara C 6-11 300
    - Joe Buck USC PF 6-7 245
    - J'Nathan Bullock Cleveland State SF 6-5 235
    - Kenny Burkes CW Post PG 6-0 185
    - Draelon Burns DePaul SG 6-4 200
    - Tim Bush Baylor PF 6-6 240
    - Rashid Byrd E. Oklahoma JC C 7-0 230
    - Pete Campbell Butler F 6-7 220
    - Geno Carlisle California SG 6-3 200
    - Garrison Carr American PG 5-11 180
    - Pat Carroll St. Joseph's SG 6-4 200
    - David Carson IPFW SF 6-6 215
    - D'Lancy Carter St. Bonaventure C 6-10 257
    - Russell Carter Notre Dame SG 6-4 200
    - Matt Clement Maine Maritime AcademyF 6-7 230
    - Lewis Clinch Georgia Tech SG 6-3 195
    - Kris Collins New Mexico G 6-2 190
    - Darren Cooper Portland G 6-3 195
    - Jamelle Cornley Penn State SF 6-5 215
    - Anthony Cox Farmingdale PF 6-9 225
    - James Cripe Dayton C 7-0 250
    - T.J. Cummings UCLA PF 6-9 225
    - JamesOn Curry Oklahoma St. PG 6-3 195
    - Joe Darger UNLV F 6-7 225
    - Lorenzo Davis Fort Valley State C 6-10 230
    - Chris Davis Southern SG 6-3 190
    - Jeral Davis Talladega College C 7-1 225
    - Kenny Dawkins Lamar PG 5-9 175
    - Ulises De La Vega Barry University G 6-1 195
    - Ryan Diggs W. Washington PG 6-1 180
    - Marcus Dove Oklahoma State F 6-9 225
    - Ramon Dyer Houston F 6-7 225
    - Damarcus Ellis Robert Morris PG 6-1 190
    - Jamarcus Ellis Indiana SG 6-4 200
    - Gary Ervin Arkansas PG 5-10 180
    - Brian Evans Texas A&M Corpus ChristiPG 6-0 180
    - Desmon Farmer USC SG 6-5 210
    - Patrick Fields Baylor SG 6-4 200
    - Jeremiah Fort Texas Southern F 6-7 210
    - Martane Freeman Colorado F 6-7 210
    - Travis Gabbidon UTSA SF 6-7 225
    - Cheyne Gadson Oklahoma State PG 6-2 200
    - Sundiata Gaines Georgia PG 6-1 195
    - Reece Gaines Louisville G/F 6-5 210
    - Mike Gansey West Virginia SG 6-4 190
    - Alonzo Gee Alabama SF 6-6 220
    - Brock Gillespie Rice PG 6-0 180
    - Mickell Gladness Alabama A&M C 6-11 230
    - Kevin Goffney Chattanooga SF 6-6 220
    - Leemire Goldwire Charlotte PG 5-11 190
    - Anthony Goods Stanford SG 6-3 195
    - Louis Graham Georgia Southern PF 6-8 220
    - Joel Green Rider F 6-8 210
    - Orien Greene Louisiana-Lafayette PG 6-4 210
    - Quemont Greer DePaul PF 6-7 240
    - Harold Griffin Lee F 6-7 245
    - D'Mond Grismore Hutson-Tillotson
    - Erek Hansen Iowa C 6-11 230
    - Haron Hargrave Sacramento State PG 6-0 180
    - Paul Harris Syracuse SF 6-6 225
    - Jeff Hawkins Kansas PG 5-11 180
    - Shawn Hawkins Long Beach State SF 6-5 220
    - Christopher Hayes Detroit-Mercy PF 6-8 225
    - Russell Hicks Florida International C 7-0 245
    - Delonte Holland DePaul SF 6-7 220
    - Travis Holmes VMI SG 6-4 195
    - Antoine Hood Air Force PG 6-4 185
    - Lance Hurdle Miami (FL) PG 6-1 183
    - Elijah Ingram New Mexico State PG 6-1 185
    - Deveon Jenkins Jarvis Christian SG 6-4 210
    - Josh Jenkins Cal. State Northridge PG 5-10 190
    - Paul Johnson La Salle SF 6-5 215
    - Jermaine Johnson Charleston PF 6-7 245
    - Perrin Johnson Louisville SF 6-6 215
    - Mitchell Johnson Jarvis Christian SF 6-5
    - Brandon Jones Amherst College SF 6-6 205
    - LeVonn Jordan Elon SF 6-6 210
    - Jeremy Kelly TN-Martin PG 6-4 195
    - Yaroslav Korolev Russia G/F 6-8 225
    - Brian Kortovich Cuyahoga PG 6-1
    - Alain LaRoche North Florida SF 6-6 205
    - Darnell Lazare LSU PF 6-8 240
    - Adam Liberty Oral Roberts PG 6-1 190
    - Cornell Littlejohn Cascade College G 6-1 165
    - Damien Lolar West Texas A&M G/F 6-4 225
    - Ivan Lombard-Jackson Livingston College
    - Casey Love Robert Morris PF 6-8 245
    - Chris Lowe Massachusetts PG 6-0 180
    - Harry Lum Florida International SG 6-2 210
    - Terry Martin LSU SG 6-5 200
    - J.C. Mathis Michigan PF 6-8 225
    - David McClure Duke SF 6-6 205
    - Adam McCoy North Texas SG 6-4
    - Stephen McDowell Chattanooga PG 6-1 190
    - Scooter McFadgon Tennessee SG 6-5 210
    - Bryson McKenzie Northern Illinois C 6-11 240
    - Lawrence McKenzie Minnesota G 6-2 190
    - Derrick Mercer American PG 5-9 170
    - Jonathan Meriweather Park Univ. F 6-7 210
    - Nate Miles Southern Idaho JC G/F 6-7 200
    - Corey Minnifield Illinois-Chicago F 6-8 220
    - Carl Mitchell Northern Kentucky SF 6-8 225
    - Nicholas Moore Evergreen State CollegeF 6-7 198
    - Christopher Moore Virginia Union PF 6-8 235
    - Raheem Moss Cleveland State SF 6-4 220
    - Moustafa N'Doye Senegal C 6-11 230
    - Jared Newson Tennessee Martin G/F 6-4 210
    - Augustine Okosun Northwood University C 6-10 230
    - Kenan Oliver Central Missouri 6-7 205
    - Vince Oliver Cal. Davis SG 6-3 190
    - Kevin Owens Monmouth C 6-10 240
    - Tim Parham Maryland-Eastern ShorePF 6-8 240
    - Charlie Parker Millersville SG 6-3 195
    - Fred Peete New Mexico G 6-4
    - Reggie Peyton Christian Brothers G
    - Travis Pinick Yale SF 6-6 210
    - Robert Porter Univ. of Phoenix G 6-2 190
    - Rashaad Powell Idaho SF 6-6 210
    - Carlos Powell South Carolina SF 6-7 225
    - Haminn Quaintance Kent State PF 6-7 195
    - A.J. Ratliff Indiana SG 6-3 195
    - Ray Reese Tulsa G/F 6-5 210
    - Jason Richards Davidson PG 6-2 195
    - Tony Roberts Hope International UniversitySG 6-2 190
    - Brandon Robinson Cal. Baptist SG 6-3 187
    - Andres Sandoval Dayton PG 6-3 195
    - Melvin Scott North Carolina PG 6-1 185
    - Dwayne Shackleford USC PG 5-11 178
    - Mustafa Shakur &nb

2nd Quarter Shaddy

Stop-n-Pop — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:24:33 -0000

I'll keep this one short because the Stop-n-Pop household is preparing for a move and my honey-do list is growing by the minute. Let's start with an interesting quote from Randy Foye in this morning's Strib:

Roy scored the eventual winning points on a forced shot over, coincidentally enough, Randy Foye with 31. 9 seconds remaining.

...

"That's why he's a great player," Foye said. "Didn't let him get to the basket, made him take a tough shot. And he made it anyway."

This is a frustrating quote for a couple of reasons. First, it continues a troubling string of quotes from Foye that show him to be somewhat detached from basketball reality. While his earlier quotes dealing with his thoughts on playing the point could also be chalked up to a matter of pride, this quote speaks to...well, I'm not exactly sure. Brandon Roy is a tremendous player. He has all the tools you would like to see in a top-flight end-of-the-game superstar. One of his trademark end-of-game moves--the one he also happens to really, really like--is a mid-range fade away jumper. Against the shorter Foye, I'd be willing to bet that Roy got exactly the shot he wanted. He didn't get to the basket because he didn't want to go there. Nor did he have to with Foye's trademark matador defense.

This observation was shared with the Blazers' TV crew in real time.

Did you know that Corey Brewer did not see the court in the 4th quarter? The best man defender on the squad watched Roy nail his fade away shot from the bench; last seeing the court with under 3 minutes to go in the 3rd. The team's other lengthy wing defender, Rodney Carney, was also on the bench. He received zero burn out in Portland. Both of these gentlemen had to watch Foye and Mike Miller, the team's worst perimeter defenders, try and run down Roy when the clock was winding down.

Getting around to Rashad McCants, I'm pretty sure we're watching his last year in the cold, cold north. During the 2nd period Shaddy quickly showed the world that he was ready to go with his one-against-the-world solo offense and while it didn't look pretty in real-time (with push offs, offensive fouls, and drives to nowhere), he ended the quarter with 13 points on 5-8 shooting while the Wolves played the Blazers even. He did so while being surrounded, for the most part, by Foye, Mark Madsen, Craig Smith, and Ryan Gomes. For reasons that can't quite be explained by the naked eye, Shaddy didn't see the court again until 2:10 left in the 3rd. I'm guessing that his lack of playing time has something to do with defense, but with the defensive performances exhibited by Foye and Miller, there probably is something else.

Speaking of the Wolves' bench, our excellent sister site Blazer's Edge had some interesting things to say about last night's game:

Other than that, it is truly remarkable the number of scrubs that are on Minnesota's roster. That's really a testament to Kevin McHale's diligent effort. Every time Randy Whitman digs deep to get 4 points in 19 minutes from Ryan Gomes or motivates Corey Broomstick Brewer to 5 points in 17 minutes, McHale should be right there next to him, ready to share the standing ovation.

Truer words have never been written. I also think "Broomstick Brewer" is going to stick. I'll flesh it out in a later post but I'm beginning to notice something with this team I'm going to call the Love Effect. The Love Effect is something that happens to losing teams when an honest-to-god good player shows up and proves that your existing players--guys who "thrived" on a 22 win squad--really don't appear to be worth a roster spot. Within the span of 6 games, the Rhino and Ryan Gomes have been rendered nearly meaningless by the rookie from UCLA. Even Mark Madsen's limited burn made these 2 mini-4 reserve forwards look irrelevant.

Blazer's Edge wasn't done with their accute observations

Congratulations Randy Wittman. You are now officially the "coach that most overcoaches a crappy team." Marc Iavaroni is disappointed to give up the title but he understands that you earned it tonight by coming off the bench and onto the court at least 5 feet to literally push Mike Miller towards the hoop for an offensive rebound. Again, congratulations.

Wrapping it up with bullet points:

Jerryd Bayless is off to a Randy Foye-esque start to his career. After winning top honors in the Summer League, Bayless has found himself planted on the bench.
Heading down the stretch, the Wolves did something amazing: they ran a 2 man game between Miller and Big Al on the same side of the court and it worked like gangbusters. Imagine my surprise when one of the league's dominant post scorers set up on the same side of the court as one of the league's most dominant 3 point shooters. This little revelation took until the 4th quarter of game #6. Even one of the Blazer's announcers expressed shock by saying "With Miller on the same side as Jefferson, why wouldn't you try that every time? It's smart basketball; it took them long enough."
The Wolves do not need to be running a 10 man rotation. Seriously, they don't have 10 players that belong on the court. If I ruled the world and I was their fantasy coach, I settle the Shaddy/Foye Death Match once and for all and run with Bassy, Miller, Brewer, Love, and Jefferson with McCants, Gomes, and Madsen off the bench. When pressed for 1 or 2 extra bodies, Carney and Smith get the call. And yes, Bassy is the only point on the roster. Shaddy gets to run the 2nd unit.
I can't imagine how much of a different player Shaddy would be if he had Foye's slack at the lead guard and Miller's slack on defense.

That's about all for today folks. It's time to install some carpet. Until later.