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3C SPORTS/t!C|jc Charlotte ^o«t Thursday, May 31,2007 For the Week of May 22 - 28, 2007 SEEKING THE NEXT LEVEL FAMU HOOPS COACH ARRESTED; B-CU, PRAIRIE VIEW IN BASEBALL PLAYOFFS JSU Sports ptioto HOPING TO SCORE: High-scoring Jackson State guard Trey Johnson will be looking to impress at this week's NBA Draft Camp. UNDER THE BANNER WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BUCK COLLEGE SPORTS FAMU COACH ARRESTED: wda A&M men's basketball Coach Mike Gillespie Sr. is facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly stalking a woman. Several Florida newspapers report ed the 56-year-old Gillespie was arrested Friday morning by Leon County (Fla.) police, who said a woman filed the complaint against him. The Tallahassee Democrat reported he was released from jail on $1,000 bail on the condition he wear a GPS tracking system and stay away from the woman. Gillespie's attorney, Tim Jansen, said "Our position is it didn't hap pen. We would've gone in and told them it didn't happen. My client AP Photo wasn't given an opportunity to even GILLESPIE: With ankle come and tell his side of the story." monitoring device. woman said she and Gillespie dated from September 2004 to March 2005, and she has called police on numerous occasions complaining of stalking dating back to 2005. The newspaper also said police warned Gillespie to stop his behavior in 2005 after the woman made her original accusations. The police warned Gillespie again in March 2007 after she made more accusations. Neither he nor school officials have commented. Gillespie is married and has two adult children. His son, Mike Gillespie Jr., is his top assistant. TSU COACH ON NABC BOARD: Tennessee State head men's basketball coach Cy Alexander and Lorenzo Roraar of the University of Washington have been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Alexander and Romar fill positions on the board pre viously held by outgoing pres ident Oliver Purnell of Clemson University and Dick Davey of Santa Clara University. Alexander is in his fifth year as head coach at Tennessee State after 16 sea sons at South Carolina State. NABC Photo Ai evAAinco His tcams have an overall 20- ALEXANDER: 20-year veteran earns spot on record of 323-270. coaches’ board, Alexander, who has a B.S. degree from Catawba and a M.S. degree from Howard, turned the South Carolina State program around after taking over in 1987. He led the Bulldogs to five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament titles and his team finished in the top two in the conference in every season except 1991. The Tigers also earned five berths in the NCAA tournament. The Winston-Salem, native was named MEAC Coach of the Year three times. Alexander is a member of the Black Coaches Association, and serves on the NABC Recruiting Committee and on the NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional Advisory Committee. JSU’S JOHNSON EYES DRAFT: According to ESPN NBA analyst Chad Ford, Jackson State's prolific 6-5 shooting guard Trey Johnson may sneak into the first round of the June 28 NBA Draft if he plays well at this week's pre-draft camp in Orlando. According to Ford, ' Johnson may have the most inter esting story of any player in the draft." Johnson, draft ed by Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royais out of high school, "has NBA three-point range and a smooth midrange jumper. He's a good, but not great athlete, who uses angles and strength to get to the basket. The knock on him is that he takes lots of bad shots and puts up big numbers on bad teams. However. Johnson has played against some of the bet ter teams in college basketball and played well. He scored 36 against Alabama, 32 against Georgia Tech, 27 against Illinois, 32 against Memphis and 25 against Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Given that he was the only good player on his team, that's impressive. Johnson, who finished second in scoring in Div. I this season (27,1 ppg.), "has a lot of interest from NBA teams," according to Ford. BCSP Notes Former FAMU, NBA star pegged for Alaska job Qemon (Qem) Johnson, former Florida A&M basketball great and a member of the 1982- 83 Philadelphia 76ers team that captured the National Basketball Association championship, has been named interim head coach for the University of Alaska men's basketball team. Forrest Karr, director of athletics for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, made the announcement of his decision to hire Johnson, following the recent resignation of former coach Frank Ostanik. "Coach Johnson brings exceptional qualifica tions and experiences that will make him a valu able asset to the University and the greater Fairbanks community," he said. An astute scholar off the court, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master's Degree in Sports Management at Florida A&M where as a collegiate player. The 6-foot-IO center laced up his sneakers for the Rattlers from 1974-1978. "He understands that the term student-ath lete places student first for a reason," said Karr. "He has a deep-rooted commitment to academ ics." Johnson is a member of the Florida A&M Athletics Hall of Fame and still holds several Rattlers records, including most rebounds in a game (25), a season (412) and a career (1,494). He is also 14th overall for career scoring with 1,381 points in 109 games. Pat Williams, senior vice president for the Orlando Magic and an acquaintance of Johnson's for almost 25 years, was happy to hear of Johnson's coaching opportunity. "1 value him as a basketball man, a friend and an associate for many, many years," Williams said. "He is a man of high character and I'm very confident he will be a successful coach. I'm real ly pleased to hear that he's getting this opportu nity and I feel he will be a man that will make great contributions to the school and the com munity. He is a good man and will do a terrific job." • Johnson brings over 25 years of basketball experience to the program, with 15 years of professional playing experience that includes a 10 year stint in the NBA from 1978-88 and a five-year stretch overseas in the Italian ^ofessional League (1988-93). Taken in the second round and 22nd overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 1978 NBA draft, Johnson played in 761 professional games with four different teams. After a year in Portland, he switched clubs in favor of the Indiana Paeers for four seasons. Late in the 1982-83 season, he moved to the Philadelphia 76ers where he cen tered the team, which included "Dr. J" (Julius Erving) and that year's league MVP Moses Malone. Johnson and the 76ers went on to capture the NBA championship that season, the third and most recent title in franchise history. Williams was the general manager for the 76ers during the championship season and was the one who made the trade that brought Johnson to Philadelphia in 1983. "Clem played a big role in our winning a championship that year, the NBA title," he said. "He is very capable, knows the game, played the game and has a world of experience." Johnson stayed in Philadelphia for three sea sons before closing out his NBA career with a two- year stretch with the Seattle Supersonlcs that ended in 1988. Following his NBA career, Johnson opted to play internationally in Italy where he made sever al contacts that he utilizes today. Johnson's son, Chad, who played Division I basketball and grad uated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002, will be attending a professional team camp in Italy next month. "He has contacts that will help our players ' receive opportunities after col lege," said Karr. "He is running a camp in Florida this weekend with the purpose of putting international scouts in contact with former NCAA players that have exhausted intercollegiate eligibility." After retiring from his playing days, Johnson opted to pursue other opportunities in the sport and began his young coaching career at the high school level. He coached at two high schools in Florida over an eight-year span, compiling a high school JOHNSON: Takes his' first'lob tad coaching record of 184-60. at the collegiate level at Collectively he led his teams to Division IIAIaska-Fairbanks. three high school Sweet 16 or better appearances and seven district championship titles. In 2004, he was named the Big Bend Regional Coach of the Year after guiding East Gadsden High School to a 27-4 season (2003-04). He has also served as the bench boss for two semi-professional teams, the Jacksonville Wave and the Florida Thrill, guiding the ThrlD to a reg ular season championship and amassing a 16-2 coaching record. "demon has received many individual acco lades," Karr said, "but more importantly, each team he has coached has been successful." In 2006, Johnson participated in an Intemship with the Atlanta Hawks gaining valu able operations experience in the 2006 NBA draft, player practices, the Utah Summer League, ticket sales and marketing of Philips Arena. "demon has been involved with playing and coaching basketball at high levels and has shown a pattern of success," Karr said. "He has a proven track record of developing young men into pro ductive members of society." "Parents need assurance that their sons are in good hands, demon has an engaging personality and is excited to contact the families of our cur rent and prospective student-athletes." Spring Sports Round-Up Prairie View, Bethune-Cookman head to Division I baseball playoffs MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman and SWAC titleist Prairie View A&M head into the posteseason playoffs this week looking to earn a spot in the 61st Division I Men's College Baseball World Series. B-CU, led by head coach Mervyl Melendez, is headed to Tallahassee, Fi., to face Florida State at 7 p.ra, on Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium on the campus of FSU. The Seminoles come into the tournament ranked third nationally, as well as earning one of eight top overall seeds (sixth). The Seminoles were defeated by ACC. runner-up Wake Forest last weekend in Jacksonville during the ACC Tournament. Mississippi State and Stetson both earned at-large bids to the regional as well. Only B- MELENDEZ CU is serving as an automatic bid via the MEAC Tournament crown. This marks the third time in B-CU baseball history that the Wildcats will be taking the trip over to the state capital of Tallahassee. The 'Cats faced Florida State back in 2004, 2001 and 2000 in the opening round of the Tallahassee Regional in each of the aforementioned seasons. They lost all three contests., PVAM will face Rice, Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the first round of the Houston Regional. The Panthers, under fourth-year coach Michael Robinson, are making their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament thanks to winning the SWAC Tournament. Rice is making its 13th consecutive appearance and is hosting a region al for the sixth time in the last seven years. The Owls captured both the Conference USA regular season and post-season tourna ment titles. TCU (46-12), champions of the Mountain West and the second seed in the regional, takes on #3 seed Baylor (34-25) who was the runner-up in the Big XII Tournament in the other half of the regional bracket. Thirty Division 1 conferences received an automatic berth in the field of 64, along with 34 at-large selections. The 61st Men's College World Series begins play Friday, June 15, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. PRENDERGAST Lincoln women take fifth straight NCAA Division II Track and Field title The women of Lincoln (Mo.) successfully defended their team title at the 2007 NCAA Division 11 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Johnson C. Smith’s Irwin Belk Complex. Lincoln's women scored 82.5 points and have not lost an outdoor title since capturing their first championship five years ago. This year Davita Prendergast got wins in the 200ra and 400m dash while Carla Thomas picked up a first in the 400m hurdles and second in the lOOm hurdles. They also ran legs on the winning 4x400 meter relay team which set a new meet record, Prendergast was the defending champion in the 400m and finished just .02 seconds short of setting a new meet record. St. Augustine's (68 pts) placed third, just one point behind Abilene Christian. Albany State scored 36 points to fin ish sixth. N.C. Central (8 pts., 31st), Bowie State-{5, 40th) and Benedict (4, 46th) also placed. In the men's competition, St. Aug's (73 points) and Morehouse (68 points) finished second and third behind Abilene Christian, who earned their sixth consecutive outdoor title. NCCU (31 points, sev enth), Lincoln (19, 12th), Albany State (15, 14th) and Fort Valley State (14,16th) also got on the scoreboard. After winning the long jump on Thursday, St. Augustine's Kwonya Ferguson took the triple jump title on Friday. St. Aug's Barbara Pierre won the women's 100m dash and ran the first leg of the winning 4xl00m relay team. Ferguson ran the anchor leg. Morehouse senior Randall Flimmons won the men’s long jump. St. Aug sprinters Kendall Stevens and Philippe DeRosler success fully defended their titles. Stevens repeated as the 100m dash cham pion while DeRosier won the 200m dash for the second consecutive year. DeRosier ran the second leg and Stevens anchored the Falcons' winning 4xl00m relay team. Lincoln's Decosma Wright also repeated as men's 110m hurdles champion. N.C. Central's Hakeem Mohammad took the tile in the 400m dash and Morehouse's Damian Prince won the 400m hurdles. Prince also anchored Morehouse's winning 4x400m relay team. BLACK COLLEGE D2 TRACK AND FIELD ALL-AMERICANS (By Event) LONG JUMP ’-Kwonya Ferguson - St Augustine's Jana Mrozkova - Albany State TRIPLE JUMP ■-Kwonya Ferguson - St Augustine’s Jessica Mills - NC Central Jana Mrozkova - Albany Slate Candice Camp -Albany State Kerry-Ann Robinson - Lincoln HIGH JUMP Noloya Thompson - Lincoln 100 METER DASH ■-Barbara Pierre - St Augustine's Jasmine Peck • Albany State Nandelte Cameron - Lincoln Karen Robinson - Lincoln Estella Moore Albany State Camile Gray - St Augustine's 200 METER DASH ■-Davila Prendergast - Lincoln Jasmine Peck - Albany State Nandelle Cameron - Lincoln Barbara Pierre - St Augustine’s Johnsie Liles - St Augustine's Jennifer Geter • Bowie State • 400 METER DASH •-Davila Prendergast - Lincoln Johnsie Liles - St Augustine's Erica Young - St Augustine's Monique Robinson - Lincoln 800 METER RUN Meleshia Spencer - Lincdr 100 METER HURDLES Caria Thomas - Lincoln Marquita Davis - St Augustine's Lindsay Colclough - Benedict 4x100 METER RELAY *-Sl Augustine's (Pierre, Liles, Gray, Ferguson) Lincoln (K.Robinson, C.Thomas, J. Powell, N, Cameron) Albany Slate (C. Camp, R. Griffin, E. Moore, J.Peck) Bowie State (B.Brady, D.Parrish, J.r Geter, S. Clay) 4X400 METER RELAY ■-Lincoln (M. Robinson, 0.Prendergast, M. Spencer, C. Thomas) St Augustine's (£. Young, A. George, M. Rowe, J. Liles) Bowie Slate (R. Alleyne, S. Clay, P. Buie, J. Geter) NCAA All-Americans are the top eight finishers in each event LONG JUMP ’•Randall Flimmons - Morehouse Evan Flax - Morehouse HIGH JUMP Keith Moffall - Morehouse Joseph Kindred - St Augustine's Evan Flax - Morehouse Michael Jackson ■ SI Augustine's DECATHLON Pierre Brown - Fort \^lley Slate TRIPLE JUMP Andre Tillman - St Augustine's Jamal Cumberbalch - St Augustine's Randall Flimmons - Morehouse Evan Flax • Morehouse 100 METER DASH •-Kendall Stevens - St Augustine's Philippe DeRosier - St Augustine's Marquis Horn - Morehouse Rodney Coley - Albany Stale Xavier Hair - Fort Valley St Sharif Nash - St Augustine's 200 METER DASH ’-Philippe DeRosier - St Augustine's Marquis Horn - Morehouse Rodney Coley - Albany Stale Maurice Gailey - NC Central Kendall Stevens - St Augustine's Karjaun Williams - NC Central Antoine Thomas - Albany Stale 800 METER RUN Brandon Jones - NC Central Karjaun Williams - NC Central 110 METER HURDLES ■-Decosma Wright - Lincoln Pete Smith - Lincoln Dior Lowy - St Augustine's Steven Jackson • Fort Valley St 400 METER HURDLES ■-Damian Prince - Morehouse Alvin Miles - St Augustine's Jermaine Baker - SI Augustine's 4X100 METER RELAY *-St Augustine's (D. Boone, P. DeRosier, S. Nash, K. Stevens) Fort Valley State (S. Jackson, X. Hair, M. Andreevs, J. Mosley) NC Central (C. Davis, H. Mohammad, R. Whitfield, M. Gailey) Morehouse (B. Morgan, D. Prince, B. Hartley, M. Horn) Lincoln (F. Mitchell, D. Wright, R. Richards, P. Smith) 4X400 METER RELAY ■-Morehouse (M. Horn, B. Hartley, C. Oayson, D. Prince) Albany Slate (C. Adeshina, R. Coley, A. Thomas, M. Donald) St Augustine's (A. Thompson, T. Riley, S. Nash, B. Gomez) NC Central (K. Williams, B. Hope, S. Muhammad, Br. Jones) ■•National Champion © AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XIII, No. 44
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 31, 2007, edition 1
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