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Post by catfanatic on May 4, 2021 8:05:14 GMT -6
Sunrise Christian Academy where Bankhead was HC for 2 years is not just any high school basketball team. This is a premier basketball "factory" in the US. Think IMG in Florida for football or Oak Hill in Virginia for basketball. Sunrise has had 73 D-1 players in the past 10 years including college player of the year at Oklahoma, Buddy Hield several years ago. This school plays elite basketball and is invited to the best national tourneys each year. It was one of the first "high school" programs to actively recruit in Africa. My understanding is that Bankhead was a primary contact for African players who wanted to play college ball in the US. When he went to UNCG he used those ties to recruit several international players for that program. If indeed we (ACU) can become part of the Sunrise pipeline, our recruiting has just been raised several rungs on the ladder of D-1 basketball. An article I read about Sunrise recently said they receive 25-30 emails per month from elite players wanting to come to Sunrise to study and play basketball. Since Sunrise is in a suburb of Wichita (Bel Aire, KS) (where I lived for 25 years) I have followed the growth of the school for a long time. This is a great hire for us. Huge hire! Agree with the Sunrise Christian connection’s importance, however, I’m as impressed by his Gonzaga connections. In reading a little le of what’s available online, he’s a Walla Walla, WA, native who played for Mark Few. More importantly and knowing our “defense first” and “does he play hard” mentality built by Joe and Brette, it sounds a lot like what my reading defined as “the Gonzaga Way”. So, he reads like a great hire, not only because of his recruiting prowess but, because he will be a great culture fit that brings some credibility from the “been there, done that” perspective. In particular, he was recruited to Gonzaga after Mark Few’s first season as head coach and was a four-year letterman on four NCAA tournament teams. While admittedly uncomfortable with the relative quiet since the excitement around Brette’s hiring, I’m very encouraged by his first head coaching hire! |
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Post by wildcatter on May 4, 2021 11:27:59 GMT -6
I would have to think he’s got some west coast ties. He was at San Diego for a few years as well, with us playing a lot more towards the west coast, that might can help recruiting there as well. Sounds like a great background and great addition. I’m guessing Bostic and Trilli are currently sticking around? I wonder what everyone’s role will be.
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Post by wildcat1997 on May 4, 2021 11:50:10 GMT -6
I wonder if Bankhead is being brought on as Associate HC. His resume is really good so I’d be surprised if he was just being brought on as another run of the mill assistant. He could be to Brette Tanner what Tanner was to Golding.
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Post by catfanatic on May 4, 2021 13:26:06 GMT -6
I wonder if Bankhead is being brought on as Associate HC. His resume is really good so I’d be surprised if he was just being brought on as another run of the mill assistant. He could be to Brette Tanner what Tanner was to Golding. Agreed! This dude’s gonna be a HC, again and soon. |
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Post by houstoncat on May 13, 2021 12:41:34 GMT -6
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Post by SportsWizard15 on May 14, 2021 18:15:00 GMT -6
here is the purposed WAC Basketball Schedule for next season Attachments:
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Post by bucfan on May 14, 2021 20:12:09 GMT -6
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Post by houstoncat on May 14, 2021 23:11:18 GMT -6
what could this mean?
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Post by SportsWizard15 on May 15, 2021 1:28:37 GMT -6
Either very good recruit coming in to play center or Kohl just came out of retirement. |
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on May 15, 2021 8:13:47 GMT -6
here is the purposed WAC Basketball Schedule for next season We play both teams that should be favorites in the Western Division, GCU and NMSU, away next year. Presumably we will get them both at home the following year? |
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Post by bucfan on May 21, 2021 18:58:44 GMT -6
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Post by acutrackfan on Jun 10, 2021 11:39:58 GMT -6
Perfect situation for Payton. Last year, Coach Tanner said that no one ever worked harder than Payton. He was the perfect walkon kid at ACU -- a kid with some potential who wants to take a shot at a D-1 school. UMHB should be a perfect fit -- the press release says that he will have a great chance of starting for the Crusaders. Best wishes to Payton. |
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Post by bogeyman on Jun 16, 2021 9:30:26 GMT -6
Really nice media summary of this past year on ACU sports website.
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