Grant Finalizes coaching staff

[VCUBeatsduke]

Poor Tony.

TUSCALOOSA - Nearly a month from the day he was hired, Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant has finalized his staff.

John Brannen, Antoine Pettway and Dan Hipsher will be the bench coaches, while Tony Pujol is likely slated to serve in an administrative role. An announcement could come as early as today, according to a source with knowledge of the plans.

The group includes two former VCU assistants, one familiar face for Crimson Tide fans, and a name from Grant's past. Grant's staff will also likely include more support personnel.

Pettway, the only holdover from the original staff of former coach Mark Gottfried, is also a former Crimson Tide player and fan favorite. Grant reunites himself with Brannen and Pujol, both former Rams coaches. In Hipsher, he hired his old mentor.

Grant, who was hired on March 27, was not available for comment Friday night. He has had some members of his staff on the road recruiting, though he recently declined to confirm their additions one at a time.

 

[VCUBeatsduke]

Also, Grant lost his PG. Too bad we did not recruit him...

Schaumburg (Ill.) High School point guard Cully Payne officially committed to the Iowa men’s basketball program tonight.

“I’m excited and I’m ready to help turn the program around,” Payne said. “Coach (Todd) Lickliter has got the program headed in the right direction.”

Payne, a 6-foot point guard, originally committed to DePaul as an eighth-grader, but re-opened the recruiting process before his senior year. He then signed a letter of intent to play for Alabama, but when Coach Mark Gottfried resigned this year, Payne obtained a scholarship release. He immediately was interested in Iowa, and the feeling was mutual.

“They were definitely on my radar,” Payne said. “We were joking tonight with Coach Lickliter that I was supposed to go to the elite camp there, but then the flood came. I guess it just really meant I was supposed to be a Hawkeye. They’ve been my No. 1 since (being released from Alabama).”

Payne toured Iowa City during a campus visit last week, but Iowa officials could not contact him from 12:01 p.m. last Thursday through 12:01 p.m. today. The NCAA imposed a week-long recruiting dead period wrapped around the Final Four.

Payne said he thought Iowa was the right fit, but wanted to his family to meet Lickliter to make sure. Lickliter visited Payne in his home today, and Payne gave Lickliter his verbal commitment.

Since his release from Alabama, Payne was recruited by Iowa’s fan base as well. He said he’s received several e-mails and calls from Iowa’s fan encouraging him to attend the school. His girlfriend’s older sister is an Iowa graduate, and that also pushed him toward the school.

“I’m real excited,” he said. “I haven’t heard one negative thing said about Iowa.”

Payne scored 22 points and averaged five assists last year before injuring his back midway through the season. He said his style of play is similar to that of perennial NBA all-star Steve Nash. He said he can score but “it really depends on the situation.”

“I’m definitely a true point guard, someone who can really run the show and get guys involved in the offense,” he said.

Payne is the fourth recruit in Iowa’s 2009 class. Last fall, Sioux City Heelan center Brennan Cougill and Dubuque Wahlert guard/forward Eric May signed letters of intent to Iowa. Last month, Vincennes Junior College forward Devon Archie committed to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa can offer three more scholarships after four players — guards Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson, Jermain Davis and forward David Palmer — left the Iowa men’s basketball program last month. It’s likely Iowa will offer only two, however. Chipola (Fla.) Junior College guard Malcolm Armstead and teammate Torye Pelham plan to visit Iowa on April 17.

Payne and Archie will sign official letters of intent April 15, the first allowable spring date under NCAA rules. Coaches cannot comment about players until they sign letters of intent.

 

[rammed]

again, true colors showing

 

[districtballer]

Poor Tony.

TUSCALOOSA - Nearly a month from the day he was hired, Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant has finalized his staff.

John Brannen, Antoine Pettway and Dan Hipsher will be the bench coaches, while Tony Pujol is likely slated to serve in an administrative role. An announcement could come as early as today, according to a source with knowledge of the plans.

The group includes two former VCU assistants, one familiar face for Crimson Tide fans, and a name from Grant's past. Grant's staff will also likely include more support personnel.

Pettway, the only holdover from the original staff of former coach Mark Gottfried, is also a former Crimson Tide player and fan favorite. Grant reunites himself with Brannen and Pujol, both former Rams coaches. In Hipsher, he hired his old mentor.

Grant, who was hired on March 27, was not available for comment Friday night. He has had some members of his staff on the road recruiting, though he recently declined to confirm their additions one at a time.

What about Allen Edwards?

 

[wavevcu]

Allen is out in the cold...he was hoping for the last spot on vcu's staff but that went to bill courtney. when i spoke w/allan a couple of weeks ago he really had no other prospects...there just are not very many jobs open...he wasn't sure what he was going to do if he didn't get brought back by coach smart...too bad...he's a great guy.

 

[districtballer]

Allen is out in the cold...he was hoping for the last spot on vcu's staff but that went to bill courtney. when i spoke w/allan a couple of weeks ago he really had no other prospects...there just are not very many jobs open...he wasn't sure what he was going to do if he didn't get brought back by coach smart...too bad...he's a great guy.

Oh man...I guess Edwards is just collateral damage from Grant's departure? You'd think Grant would take him on in some capacity at Alabama.

 

[ram4life]

I spent several years teaching at the University of Iowa. The word I have is that Coach Lickliter will make significant improvements in the program there. Cully Payne will be a good asset. Iowa loves their basketball, so the change there should be good for everyone.

P.S. What is that little sign next to my handle?

 

[chrisbrower]

allen has picked up a lot of good contacts along the way from playing and coaching. I know Towson coach Pat Kennedy thinks a lot of him, Kennedy coached his older brother Doug who stared at FSU. He's under the Pitino/Tubby Smith tree also so I don't think he'll be out of a job long.

 

[Rambunctious]

I guess Grant thought the coaching staff that brought him 5 out of 6 championships at VCU wouldn't be good enough at Alabama. Maybe Pujol's temper at the ODU game, when he went after a fan in some capacity, cost him a shot?

Have to say, Grant's pursuit of the big $ has impacted A LOT of people. I wonder if he gives a crap?

 

[BigE]

 

[VCUBeatsduke]

Sorry - I posted the topic here because it had so many former VCU coaches associated with it...

I do find it strange that Tony's stock has dropped so much....I honestly do not think it has anything to do with the ODU game. I have heard Tony speak and thought he was definately highly respected by all - mostly the players.

Didn't Tony recruit Larry?

VCUBeatsduke

 

[districtballer]

Sorry - I posted the topic here because it had so many former VCU coaches associated with it...

I do find it strange that Tony's stock has dropped so much....I honestly do not think it has anything to do with the ODU game. I have heard Tony speak and thought he was definately highly respected by all - mostly the players.

Didn't Tony recruit Larry?

VCUBeatsduke

Yes, Tony headed up Larry's recruitment.

 

[fmrick]

Also, Grant lost his PG. Too bad we did not recruit him...

Schaumburg (Ill.) High School point guard Cully Payne officially committed to the Iowa men’s basketball program tonight.

“I’m excited and I’m ready to help turn the program around,” Payne said. “Coach (Todd) Lickliter has got the program headed in the right direction.”

Payne, a 6-foot point guard, originally committed to DePaul as an eighth-grader, but re-opened the recruiting process before his senior year. He then signed a letter of intent to play for Alabama, but when Coach Mark Gottfried resigned this year, Payne obtained a scholarship release. He immediately was interested in Iowa, and the feeling was mutual.

“They were definitely on my radar,” Payne said. “We were joking tonight with Coach Lickliter that I was supposed to go to the elite camp there, but then the flood came. I guess it just really meant I was supposed to be a Hawkeye. They’ve been my No. 1 since (being released from Alabama).”

Payne toured Iowa City during a campus visit last week, but Iowa officials could not contact him from 12:01 p.m. last Thursday through 12:01 p.m. today. The NCAA imposed a week-long recruiting dead period wrapped around the Final Four.

Payne said he thought Iowa was the right fit, but wanted to his family to meet Lickliter to make sure. Lickliter visited Payne in his home today, and Payne gave Lickliter his verbal commitment.

Since his release from Alabama, Payne was recruited by Iowa’s fan base as well. He said he’s received several e-mails and calls from Iowa’s fan encouraging him to attend the school. His girlfriend’s older sister is an Iowa graduate, and that also pushed him toward the school.

“I’m real excited,” he said. “I haven’t heard one negative thing said about Iowa.”

Payne scored 22 points and averaged five assists last year before injuring his back midway through the season. He said his style of play is similar to that of perennial NBA all-star Steve Nash. He said he can score but “it really depends on the situation.”

“I’m definitely a true point guard, someone who can really run the show and get guys involved in the offense,” he said.

Payne is the fourth recruit in Iowa’s 2009 class. Last fall, Sioux City Heelan center Brennan Cougill and Dubuque Wahlert guard/forward Eric May signed letters of intent to Iowa. Last month, Vincennes Junior College forward Devon Archie committed to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa can offer three more scholarships after four players — guards Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson, Jermain Davis and forward David Palmer — left the Iowa men’s basketball program last month. It’s likely Iowa will offer only two, however. Chipola (Fla.) Junior College guard Malcolm Armstead and teammate Torye Pelham plan to visit Iowa on April 17.

Payne and Archie will sign official letters of intent April 15, the first allowable spring date under NCAA rules. Coaches cannot comment about players until they sign letters of intent.

And what was NU just put on probation for??

 

[chrisbrower]

Looks like a violation to me