az730.htm

SoCalHoops Tournament News

Some Additional Thoughts From Mr. Norley
On The Arizona Stars--(July 30, 1998)

Yesterday, we posted the rosters for the Arizona Stars I, II and III teams. As we said, we're pretty certain that the No. I team will be the one making its way down to San Diego today through Sunday for the Nike National Championships to be played at the USIU SportCenter.

Well, apparently the Norley family is an equal opportunity correspondent. We're pretty sure that if you follow the summer game, you've also been reading the reports that Jerry Norley has been sending to WestCoastHoops.com from the BCI Championship in Arizona. We know that we have, and we appreciate all of his fine efforts.

This afternoon, Mr. Norley (either Jerry or Kirk) e-mailed us some thoughts about the Arizona Stars, and who he thought would likely be coming to San Deigo, and who he thought should be coming. This was sent as two separate e-mails, but we've combined it as one:

Josh Wallace played for the AZ STARS in the BCI tourney...Wallace had a problem with one of the AZ HEAT coaches and jumped ship...(I talked to his grandpa) It was his first tourney with the STARS and he seemed out of it but was starting to pick up his play towards the end of the tourney. The STARS could definitely use a big kid, Greg Ethington or Rick Luenberg from GILBERT HIGH would fit in nicely or even DARYL ISAAC the Junior kid on their SUPER SOPHS TEAM...Their trio of Donnell Knight, Hakim Rasul and Tommie Smith is as talented and exciting as any group of kids you'll see, however, the team as a whole can get very sloppy, their defense is terrible (they do have some amazing shot blocks)and they don't have a STRONG BIG MAN inside who can score or who can intimidate/rebound consistently.

Also, during the BCI tourney, they didn't use a press when it was definitely warranted. They could have gone much further with a simple trapping full court press, which the better teams in the BCI tourney used...but not the stars...FYI

If I was running the Stars, and I couldn't get Rick Luenberg or Greg Ethington to play...I would pick the following kids from their rosters to play next week..bc they are going to need them if they don't want to get embarrassed by some of the better teams...

RYAN WALCOTT this kid would help add depth at the guard position...smooth ballhandler, nice shot and size would help out greatly against the pressing teams like NYC CHURCH..

DARYL ISAAC 7 footer would add an inside presence, blocking shots, some scoring that they need...sure he's skinny, but he's 7 ft and he's active...

ARTHUR DANIELS This kid is tough inside, hard nosed, and wasn't intimidated by the New York kids when they played...Definitely a rebounder, role player type that the STARS need...Their other inside guys are too interested in trying to get blocked shots and not enough of playing solid D and rebounding...

Just some thoughts if I ruled the world

Ok. You might get our vote. And thanks.