Daily Archives: Sept. 7, 2012

Hoops recruiting update: Matt Atewe says ‘Kansas State has come at me the hardest’

Sept. 7, 20124:23 p.m.

When we first introduced you to Matt Atewe last week, his coach at Notre Dame Prep said he had eight standing scholarship offers from Division I basketball programs. Not bad, but Atewe says that number is a little low.

When I spoke with the 6-foot-9 Canadian power forward Friday afternoon he said he has 20 offers to choose from.

“I have no favorites, but the schools recruiting me hardest are Kansas State, Dayton, Memphis, St. Bonaventure, Marshall and a few others,” Atewe said. “Kansas State has come at me the hardest.”

For that reason, Atewe will make his first official visit to K-State on Sept. 14 and take in the North Texas football game a day later.

He isn’t sure what to expect from the trip, which will begin by boarding a plane in Massachusetts, where he attends prep school and plays for coach Ryan Hurd. But K-State assistant coach Chester Frazier, who once attended Notre Dame Prep and played for Hurd, has told him plenty of good things about Manhattan.

“He is really cool,” Atewe said of Frazier. “He is able to connect to you, because he is someone who has been through it all. He played in college, he played in the pros and now he’s a college coach. He’s a good coach to talk to.”
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off

The Royal Sampler: Football predictions, Texas A&M tries to pull a fast one and links

Sept. 7, 20122:20 p.m.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The most famous tackle of Tre Walker’s football career. Looking back, it’s hard to believe this play was originally ruled a Miami touchdown.

PREDICTIONS
Winners in bold
Iowa State at Iowa: The Cyclones shocked Iowa last year in Ames. I doubt that happens again, though Iowa State will keep the game close. This will go down as the Big 12′s first loss of the year.

Oklahoma State at Arizona: The Wildcats are pretty pissed about the beatings the Cowboys have handed them in recent matter. Doesn’t matter, Oklahoma State wins again.

Rice at Kansas: The Jayhawks didn’t look great in their opener, but they looked better than Rice.

Florida A&M at Oklahoma: No FCS school has a chance against the Sooners.

Grambling State at TCU: Let me think? Uh, TCU.

New Mexico at Texas: Lobos are better than last year, but the Longhorns will roll at home.

Texas Tech at Texas State: Dennis Franchione guided the Bobcats to an epic win at Houston last week, and a record crowd should turn out for this one in San Marcos. Still, I think the Red Raiders escape with victory. Too bad it won’t be on TV.

Miami at Kansas State: The Wildcats won a thrilling game over the Hurricanes last year, and the rematch could be just as exciting. Both teams had problems defending the pass last week, and that could lead to plenty of points. But both offenses like to run the ball. Duke Johnson and John Hubert are coming off huge games.

I think run defense could be the difference in the game, so I’m predicting K-State to win because of Arthur Brown. Playing at home will also give the Wildcats an edge. K-State 33, Miami 28.
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football, The Royal Sampler | Comments Off

Catching up with Alex Etherington

Sept. 7, 20121:32 p.m.

Alex Etherington has never had any doubts about his decision to commit to Kansas State after taking an unofficial visit to Manhattan earlier this summer, but if he did they would have been put to rest during a recent phone call with associate head coach Chris Lowery.

Etherington, a 6-foot-5 small forward from Indiana and the first Wildcats commit for the class of 2013, asked Lowery what he wanted him to focus on during his senior year of high school.

“He wants me to worry about winning,” Etherington said in a phone interview. “He told me just to do whatever I can to help my team win and not be worried about putting up big numbers or being recruited. I’m going to Kansas State. I don’t have to worry about recruiting. I can just play.”

What a relief that must be.

After talking to coaches from Xavier, Boston College, New Mexico and St. John’s, Etherington now doesn’t receive calls from college coaches other than the ones he will play for next year. Other than the occasional recruiting letter he finds in his mail box, his recruitment process is over.

Well, almost. The final step will come when he returns to Manhattan on Sept. 14 for his official visit. He will tour campus with Canadian power forward Matt Atewe, who K-State assistant Chester Frazier is recruiting, and see things for the second time. But the trip will be different.

“I’m looking forward to going to a football game,” Etherington said. “When I was there, students weren’t on campus. I saw pretty much all the campus, the locker rooms, the new practice facility and all that. But it will be different with students around. I want to see the game-day atmosphere there. I’ve seen some pictures, so I am expecting it to be pretty fun.”
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By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Basketball | Comments Off