On The Horizon

Jim Squire

News and notes from IndyBall Shootout--The Indy Star

* Got a look at Eron Gordon, the incoming North Central freshman guard and youngest brother of Eric Gordon Jr., the former North Central/Indiana star currently playing the NBA. The 6-1 Gordon, playing up a grade level with the Eric Gordon Central Stars 15s, had 32 points in a blowout win. While of the offensive production seemed to come easy, so did his ability get his teammates involved and spread the wealth. Gordon, who is receiving interest from Butler, Indiana and Purdue, among others, will face unreasonable expectations because of his brother, but doesn’t seem fazed in the least. I’d expect him to be a difference-maker from Day One at North Central.
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* It’s hard not to appreciate the toughness of Kokomo’s Tayler Persons, who plays the point for the Eric Gordon 16s. The 6-1 Persons said he is receiving college interest from Indiana State and Loyola (Ill.) and has also heard from Georgia State and IUPUI. Persons isn’t flashy but is about as hard-nosed as they come.

* Mooreville’s Jacob Johnson is probably a bit under-the-radar at this point, but college coaches are starting to find out about the 6-6 left-handed rising junior. Johnson said Valparaiso, Evansville, Indiana State, Butler, Xavier and Purdue have been in contact and he hopes to visit Butler and Valparaiso this spring. The college interest is all relatively new for Johnson, who averaged 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds as a sophomore. Didn’t get to see him shoot much from the perimeter, but very athletic.

* Sean Sellers, a 6-6 rising junior, said he’s hearing more from Evansville and Indiana State, as well as Butler, Michigan and Dayton. He said he hopes to attend the Butler elite camp, but it may conflict with the state track meet, as he competes in the high jump. … His high school teammate, 6-3 guard Bryant McIntosh is gaining interest from Ball State and Indiana State, as coaches from both schools plan to see him the coming week.

* Chandler White, a strong 6-2 rising sophomore guard from Fort Wayne Carroll, has had coaches from several schools in to see him, including Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Butler and Xavier. He’s visited Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State for games. White, who is playing for Indiana Elite/Team Indiana 15s, said Indiana and Michigan have been after him the hardest to this point. He doesn’t yet have an offer.

* Grant Weatherford, a 6-foot rising sophomore guard from Hamilton Heights, is getting some early Division I interest. He is also playing with Indiana Elite/Team Indiana, a team loaded with guards. Joining him the backcourt is Sean McGee Jr., a 5-10 point guard from Fort Wayne North Side. Butler, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue have sent coaches to see McGee and he’s also been to Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue and Xavier. McGee, who doesn’t yet have any offers, said Indiana and Michigan State are his favorite schools to this point.
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* Sean Sellers, a 6-6 rising junior, said he’s hearing more from Evansville and Indiana State, as well as Butler, Michigan and Dayton. He said he hopes to attend the Butler elite camp, but it may conflict with the state track meet, as he competes in the high jump. … His high school teammate, 6-3 guard Bryant McIntosh is gaining interest from Ball State and Indiana State, as coaches from both schools plan to see him the coming week.

* Chandler White, a strong 6-2 rising sophomore guard from Fort Wayne Carroll, has had coaches from several schools in to see him, including Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Butler and Xavier. He’s visited Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State for games. White, who is playing for Indiana Elite/Team Indiana 15s, said Indiana and Michigan have been after him the hardest to this point. He doesn’t yet have an offer.

* Grant Weatherford, a 6-foot rising sophomore guard from Hamilton Heights, is getting some early Division I interest. He is also playing with Indiana Elite/Team Indiana, a team loaded with guards. Joining him the backcourt is Sean McGee Jr., a 5-10 point guard from Fort Wayne North Side. Butler, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue have sent coaches to see McGee and he’s also been to Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue and Xavier. McGee, who doesn’t yet have any offers, said Indiana and Michigan State are his favorite schools to this point.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Michael Orris granted release from Illini--The NWI Times

Among the schools showing interest are Kansas State, where Weber is now the head coach, Pitt, Boston College, Missouri State, Valparaiso and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Orris' high school teammate Greg Mays is a freshman at UW-Green Bay.

College Hoops Top 25 For 2012-2013 [Amended to Reflect Recruits/NBA Decisions]--The Big Lead

18. Butler (22-15, NIT). Top four scorers back plus high-impact transfer in Clarke.

Ball Don't Lie
Delonte West sticks his finger in Gordon Hayward’s ear, gets T’d up, is matter-of-fact about it (VIDEO)--Ball Don't Lie
Utah Jazz-Dallas Mavericks: Instant Analysis--Deseret News

An NBA first: In the annals of recorded NBA lore, it is doubtful that a player has ever put his finger in an opponent’s ear during a dead ball. Well, that changed Monday night.

In the second quarter, Mavs guard Delonte West did just that, angrily poking a digit into Gordon Hayward’s ear. The former had fouled the latter, and as the whistle was called, West waltzed over, taunting the Utah Jazz sophomore. Before anyone knew it, he put his finger in Hayward’s ear.

He was given a technical and while Hayward missed the free throw, it was the Jazz guard who had the last laugh. Hayward’s 24 points, five assists and four rebounds were seemingly spurred on by the disrespectful action by West.
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Devin Harris led the triple charge, hitting a game-high 5-12 from downtown against the team that drafted him. Backcourt partner Gordon Hayward was more efficient, nailing 4 of 6. Carroll, Jamaal Tinsley and Blake Ahearn each hit one, with Ahearn scoring his first points in a Jazz uniform.

Utah Jazz quintet logs strong performance to hold off Mavericks--Deseret News
Big win vs. 'Big D': Utah Jazz hang on to beat Mavericks in triple overtime--Deseret News

And Gordon Hayward had clutch plays while scoring 24 points with five assists and four boards.
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Setting the tone for a weird and wild game, West stuck his finger in Hayward's ear after getting called for a foul on the Jazz shooting guard. West was given a technical — somehow avoiding getting tossed for the bizarre act — and Utah got the last laugh.

West's explanation?

"(Hayward) had some lint in his hair. I was just trying to get it out for him," West said. "I was giving him a wet willy. That's all. We are two warriors. We're out here battling on the battlefield."

Jazz notebook: A straight-forward scenario for reaching playoffs--Deseret News

"We realize how big of a game it is (tonight). We've just got to go out there and execute the game plan and not have any mental lapses," Jazz shooting guard Gordon Hayward said. "We realize a loss here or there could mean that we go home early, and none of us want that."

Utah Jazz: Hayward keeps his head during pursuit of playoffs--Deseret News
Rock On: Why not rename the Marriott Center?--Deseret News

AN EAR FULL

Remember the '60s phrase, "Stick it in your ear!"

Delonte West does.

Apparently upset about being called for a foul against the Jazz on Monday, the Dallas guard jammed his index finger into Gordon Hayward's ear.

West's explanation: "He just had some lint in his hair. I was trying to get it out for him. I was giving him a wet willy. That's all. We are two warriors. We're out here battling on the battlefield."

Same thing the Duke of Wellington did to Napoleon, right?

Or maybe West has just been watching too many "Three Stooges" trailers.

Al Jefferson lifts Utah Jazz to 3OT win over Dallas Mavericks--Salt Lake Tribune

With the Jazz’s playoff hopes wavering, Utah relied on everyone from Gordon Hayward and Devin Harris to Carroll to pull out a win clearly worthy of a team clawing for a postseason spot.

Jamaal Tinsley approaches career assists milestone--Salt Lake Tribune

"Wet willy" aftermath

The morning after Delonte West stuck a finger in his ear during Utah’s 123-121 triple-overtime win over Dallas, Gordon Hayward admitted his first instinct was to confront the Mavs’ veteran guard.

Instead, he walked away.

"You have to keep your composure more than getting into a fight or anything like that," Hayward said.

The incident began when West fouled Hayward as the two ran up the floor. West kept talking to Hayward and, at one point, stuck a finger in his ear.

After reviewing the play on TV, the officials gave West a technical foul but, strangely perhaps, did not eject him for an incident that could have triggered something worse.

Said Hayward, "He bumped me and it’s like, ‘O.K., he’s obviously frustrated.’ Then, when he did the second [thing], it’s like, ‘Man, we’ve got him right where we want him.’"

According to Hayward, the Jazz "got the last laugh" by beating the Mavericks.

West could be facing disciplinary action by the NBA, which Hayward’s teammates criticized.

" ... I thought it was childish," Jeremy Evans said. "But, as far as Gordon, I thought he was really strong — keeping his composure. A lot of guys really can’t do that."

Said rookie Alec Burks: "There’s no call for that. I mean, we’re all grown men. You can’t challenge somebody’s manhood out there like that. I didn’t like that at all."

Asked if he’s ever seen anything like it, Burks said, "In pick-up ball, it happens a lot. But we’re out here playing a game and we get paid for it. There ain’t no need for that."

Jazz notes: Blake Ahearn hoping for second contract with Utah--Salt Lake Tribune

Soft crime

The NBA announced Wednesday it fined Dallas guard Delonte West $25,000 for a physical taunt of Jazz forward Gordon Hayward during Utah’s 123-121 triple-overtime home victory Monday.

West intentionally stuck a finger in Hayward’s ear during the game and received a technical foul.

"He bumped me and it’s, ‘OK, he’s obviously frustrated,’ " Hayward said Tuesday. "Then when he did the second one, it’s like, ‘Man, we’ve got him right where we want him.’ … We got the last laugh with the win."

Wizards vs. Bulls: Kevin Seraphin, John Wall lead upset of team with NBA’s best record--Washington Post

Kevin Seraphin, Maurice Evans, Brian Cook and Shelvin Mack refused to let their team give in, and the Wizards battled on both ends, getting two defensive stops in the final seconds to escape with one of their grittiest wins of the season.
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Chicago took a 68-57 lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter when guard Richard Hamilton (22 points) made a baseline jumper and Seraphin fouled Bulls reserve Omer Asik, who made the free throw to complete the odd three-point play. But Seraphin started a 13-0 run by converting a three-point play on the other end. Cook tied the score with a three-pointer and Mack followed with a driving layup to give the Wizards a 70-68 lead.

Go finger: Hayward, Jazz stay alive--Indy Star Butler Insider
Recruiting strategy: Leave one open?--Indy Star Butler Insider

LeBron James introduces rookie Norris Cole to Jay-Z after a Heat win (VIDEO)--Ball Don't Lie
Resting players will be priority for Miami Heat for remaining games--Miami Herald

Playing time

Rookies will likely get more opportunities like Terrel Harris did against the Nets.

In his first career start, Harris played 23 minutes at the shooting guard spot and finished with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, two assists and one turnover.

Norris Cole has struggled to recapture his early season form. Cole played several minutes in the fourth quarter Monday and finished with nine points.

Press Release: Josh Ivory Signs With Cleveland State--Cleveland State Hoops
Report: Cleveland State Offers Midland College's Majok--Cleveland State Hoops

Detroit Mercy's Ray McCallum earns national Jesuit honor--The Detroit Free Press
McCallum Named to National All-Jesuit Team--detroittitans.com

Guards Joey Miller, Jay Parker Join UIC Basketball as Transfers--uicflames.com

Women's Basketball Celebrates Historic Season at Awards Banquet--uicflames.com

Loyola Recruits Have Outstanding 2011-12 Seasons--LoyolaRamblers.com