Art Alvarez answered the phone Thursday, even though he was already on the other line.
The caller? Florida coach Billy Donovan.
The presumed subject? Freddy Asprilla, a 6-foot-10 center who was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in March after averaging 14 points and 9.3 rebounds at Florida International.
Because FIU fired Sergio Ruoco – who was the reason Asprilla, who originally committed to Miami but didn’t have a sufficient SAT score, attended the school in the first place – the center is looking for a new home.
“Everybody in America has inquired about him,” Alvarez said.
But because Alvarez, who says he is Asprilla’s legal guardian as well as his AAU coach, is tight with Kan-sas State coach Frank Martin, there is a strong chance Asprilla will end up in Manhattan, following a path already forged by Luis Colon and Denis Clemente.
“He’s a stud,” Alvarez said. “Frank knows about him and wants him bad.”
New FIU coach Isiah Thomas hasn’t granted Asprilla his release, hoping the big man can be persuaded to stick around Miami. But Alvarez said Asprilla has already withdrawn from the university and he’s currently visiting his parents and vacationing in his native Colombia.
“If he’s not granted his release, we’ll go to the appeal process,” Alvarez said. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll go the junior college route for a year and decide whether or not to play.
“Either way, the kid is gone.”
He’d be eligible in 2010. If he redshirted somewhere for the 2009-10, Asprilla would have three years of eligibility. According to Alvarez, he’d be well worth the wait.
“He’s a proven commodity,” Alvarez said. “He has the best footwork and the best hands you’ve ever seen. He’s on everyone’s radar.”
Let’s be clear – Alvarez is prone to gush, no stranger to hyperbole.
But he was dead on in his assessment on Clemente – more on him later – and he readily admits his willingness to assist Martin, whom he calls his “little brother.”
“We’ll try to feed Frank a couple more pieces of the puzzle,” Alvarez said. “He’s done a great job with Denis and Luis. I think Freddy is a good possibility.”
ALSO…
Alvarez visited Manhattan during basketball season in support of Martin but also Clemente. Asked if everything is “OK” with the Wildcats’ star guard, Alvarez said,“Oh, he’s fine. Denis just gets bored sometimes.”
The coach said Clemente had just received word that he would be participating as a college instructor at one of Nike’s prestigious Skills Academies – Alvarez said it was Amare Stoudemire’s camp, but the Phoenix Sun’s camp is for big men. Utah’s Deron Williams runs the camp for point guards.
10 Comments
Hey Jeff……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….good work.
jeffrey, the (sporadic) effort is appreciated.
i wonder if anyone at dca wants to talk about quinn cook.
thanks for the effort jmart, but Brian Gates is already on this story. Maybe next time you can give us some real news.
I love sys’s comments to Jeff’s stuff. Pretty great hoops EMAW with that guy. Pretty great.
QFT aseiwert.
Jeff should do more stories about football offers to lightly recruited future 2-stars. Those are pure gold.
Is the Eagle cutting its budgets THAT much? Dude, where have you been. Nice article on the spring game, but I was hoping full blog coverage as well.
There are million things you could detail: the 4-2-5, the impressive play of the D-line, Carson certainly seemed comfortable, and how about Jarrell Childs. Not too mention all those DBs PLUS Dold! C’mon, dude. Don’t be afraid to just put it out there like you see it. Don’t hold it all in. I’ve been checking this blog everyday since about two weeks before the spring game.
The idea of a blog is write down the stuff the Eagle won’t carry. There should be way more here than you are actually publishing in the Eagle. And if you actually write something that all of us thousands and thousands and thousands of K-State fans want to read, maybe the Eagle could pick up more advertising bucks$$$$$$$$. And then you could get a raise!!!!! AND WRITE MORE!!!!
Phenomenal work as always. Thanks for making the calls.
Other things I want to know:
-sys’ idea
-Chris harper and next year’s qb search
-The running back from Manhattan, Campbell or something
-AD search
Jeff, don’t let these hyenas get to you. If you force it the product suffers. You have to let it come to you. Other zen stuff probably as well.
Who do I gotta @#%& to get any kinda update on the KSU AD search?
I’d like to know who Lew Perkin’s next victim will be.
Good site, admin.