Cougs Announce Additions

From the CofC Sports Official Web-Site:
"College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins announced Wednesday the signing of point guard Quasim Pugh and forward Matt Sundberg to national letters of intent for the 2008-09 season.
Pugh (5-11, 165) is from St. Thomas More High School in Oakdale, Conn., while Sundberg (6-6, 185) prepped at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga.
“We are excited about these two young men coming to the College of Charleston," The will definitely make our team better," said Cremins, whose teams plays at Fordham at 1:00 on Saturday. “Quasim is a very exciting point guard from New York City who can handle and push the ball up the court. He plays with a lot of energy and is a tremendous passer. He is also coached by Jere Quinn, one of the highly regarded coaches in the country.“Matt is a very athletic wing player and an excellent shooter. He is versatile and can play three positions. Matt knows how to play and will help our team with his perimeter shooting.”

Cougars sign TCC stand-out!

Original post on April 1, 2007: Jamestown (Berkeley County) native and Tallahassee Community College standout, Dustin Scott signed with the College of Charleston as a Junior College transfer on Thursday at 3:30 pm. It has long been college basketball lore about Frank McGuire's pipeline to the Catholic School in New York City, but now it seems that the College of Charleston might have a similar pipeline to TCC, as Scott becomes the 3rd TCC player to don a Cougar uniform. Bernard Jackson who played for the Cougs from 2002-2005 and Marcus Johnson who played for the Cougs from 2003-2004, were both former TCC standouts. Look for Cremins to throw Scott into the mix as a starter this season as a forward.

As a freshman, Scott averaged 13.5-points and 8.5-boards per game, shooting 54% from the field. He continued his course of excellence in his sophomore year scoring 14-points and 8-boards per game, shooting 47% from the field. Scott leaves TCC with the all-time rebounding title, grabbing 534-rebounds in his 2-years playing for the Eagles.

Many of the bigs (i.e. Florida, Rocky Top and "Slick Rick" from Louisville) have courted Scott, but he decided after visiting the College that he wanted to play for the legendary Coach, Bobby Cremins. A very wise decision Mr. Scott.

Antwaine Wiggins signs with the College of Charleston

Original post on April 14, 2007
Antwaine Wiggins a three-star prospect as ranked by Scout.com signed with the College of Charleston Cougars on the 13th of April (Knoxville News). Wiggins averaged 26.3 points and 11 boards last season for Greeneville (Tenn) High and will be utilized as a shooting-forward-to hopefully fill the shoes of David Lawrence. And at 6-7, 180 lbs. Wiggins appears to be at least the right size (5 pounds lighter than D.L.) to fill those shoes. The hub-bub on George Street is that Wiggins will be a starter at small-forward as a true freshman this season. (Photo courtesy of Scouts.com)

Deal-Maker
What gave the College of Charleston the edge over App State as Wiggins choice to play basketball? Coach Cremins is your answer; said Antwaine, “He’s been through a lot and he’s like one of the greatest coaches ever and I thought it would be a privilege to play for someone with that prestige.” We've said a million-times, Coach Cremins is a recruiting-road-warrior.

The Coll of Charleston gets a verbal commitment from Sundberg for 2008

Harrison High School standout, Matt Sundberg made a verbal commitment on July 30, 2007 to come to the College after his senior year of high school 2008. Sundberg is a 6-6, 175 pound small forward from Kennesaw, Georgia, who plays with the AAU Atlanta Celtics (White) and the Inter strength (black) traveling teams in Georgia Under-17 squads.

Press
Rivals.com evaluation of Matt: "The 6-foot-5 wing from Harrison High School can stroke it from the wing but his understanding of the game makes his team better and helps the offense flow. He'll be a name to follow throughout the July period."

Youth Prep Star evaluated Sundberg as a "talented shooter who runs the court well".

Sundberg cited his decision to come to Charleston as an "existing relationship with one of the assistant coaches"; he was also recruited by Georgia, Western Kentucky and the Univ. of South Carolina
(Photo credits: UGA.Rivals.com)

Donovan Monroe signs with the Cougars!

Original post on April 2, 2007
Fork Union point-guard, Donovan Monroe committed to the College of Charleston for next season (ESPN Briefing Room). The ex-Parkwood basketball player, Charlotte Royals (AAU Team) and Waxhaw, N.C. native was courted by Virginia Tech, St. John’s and UNC-Wilmington among others. More than likely, the offer from V-tech came after Fork Union’s basketball team defeated the Hokies in two straight games last November. Monroe first landed on my radar back in February, when Coach Cremins (see: “Coach Cremins is a recruiting road warrior”) made a morning trip to watch Fork Union play UNC’s Junior Varsity Squad, Donovan Monroe scored 17-points during the game handing the Tarheels JV-Squad their first loss of the season.

Scout.com lists (Monroe) the 6’2; 180-lb combo-guard as a "talented scorer and mid-range offensive weapon, with areas of improvement regarding his ball-handling skills and on the defensive-side of the ball, as well as consistency". (I always love it when they mention how key a player is and how dependable they are with dropping “big-game” buckets, but then note “consistency” as a weakness.) Especially because Monroe was the only consistent player (read: offensive-threat: hitting from the perimeter, dropping baskets with his left hand in the paint and driving to the basket against a 2-3 Zone) on the Fork Union squad. Assuming Monroe’s main improvements are needed on the defensive-side of the ball is quite fortuitous for Donovan because the Factory on George Street turns out defensive-machines every year. Welcome aboard Mr. Monroe!

Apprehension on posting the College of Charleston Basketball Recruits

I know the Maroon Nation has been dying to know who we have to fill the shoes of the four seniors who left this past season and I had eight posts from this past spring to put up on the board, but it was brought to my attention by fellow CofC Sports Fan Jamie Mellen, that in the game of recruitment, it is sometimes not the best thing to "tip your hand" so other teams know your strategy. And then I had a call from Rob Going who noted from a lawyer's stand-point that nothing is set in stone. To which I replied, everything is set in stone once you sign on the dotted-line; to which my buddy, third-year-law-student and fellow CofC Sports Fan Rob Going told me, "Not necessarily, you can post it, but you will look like an idiot when the kids don't show."

I hung-up with the conversation thinking Rob doesn't known anything, blast these law students, blah-blah-blah, then I picked up the paper to read that a young man named Tim Sexton, who had signed with the College to play baseball, decided last week to go ahead and play for the Los Angeles Dodgers instead, where of course, he will join former Coll of Charleston catcher, Alex Garabedian.

Dilemma? Yes, but I didn't spend 4-years at the College tripping over the bricks on our campus side-walks to have this be the first time I look like an idiot (for more idiot evidence see: Photo of Jed Trabert and Jamie Mellen before the So-Con Tourney). I am going back in and publishing the recruits and I will copy those posts over the next couple of days. After of course, I double-check to make sure none of these guys backed out.

Cougs sign Jeremy Simmons from Tucker High School (Tucker, Ga.)

Original post on April 9, 2007: The College of Charleston Cougars basketball team added depth to the roster in the power-forward position with the addition of Jeremy Simmons from Tucker High School (Tucker, Georgia). Simmons (6-7, 225) is ranked 17th among recruits in the state of Georgia and he was a major reason (especially his nasty dunk in the 4th quarter) the Tucker Tigers were able to defeat their Dekalb County rivals, Columbia High School for the Class 4A Championship in the state of Georgia. Simmons was also being recruited by Providence, Tulane, Ball State and even Vandy was looking at this young man. (Photo credits: Rivals.com)

The experience young Jeremy had in high school, coming from a team that had lost eight-seniors and four-starters last year and lost to Columbia twice during the regular season, to winning the state championship in their division (last March) as well as ending the Columbia Eagles 51-game-win-streak is of David and Goliath proportions. I just hope he can continue his development and carry this moxie onto the court for the Cougars.

Matt Sundberg makes a verbal commitment to play for the College of Charleston

Harrison High School standout, Matt Sundberg made a verbal commitment on July 30, 2007 to come to the College after his senior year of high school 2008. Sundberg is a 6-6, 175 pound small forward from Kennesaw, Georgia, who plays with the AAU Atlanta Celtics (White) and the Inter strength (black) traveling teams in Georgia Under-17 squads.

Press
Rivals.com evaluation of Matt: "The 6-foot-5 wing from Harrison High School can stroke it from the wing but his understanding of the game makes his team better and helps the offense flow. He'll be a name to follow throughout the July period."

Youth Prep Star evaluated Sundberg as a "talented shooter who runs the court well".

Sundberg was recruited by Georgia, Univ. of South Carolina
(Photo credits: UGA.Rivals.com)

Antwaine Wiggins signs with the Cougars

Antwaine Wiggins a three-star prospect as ranked by Scout.com signed with the College of Charleston Cougars on the 13th of April (Knoxville News). Wiggins averaged 26.3 points and 11 boards last season for Greeneville (Tenn) High and will be utilized as a shooting-forward-to hopefully fill the shoes of David Lawrence. And at 6-7, 180 lbs. Wiggins appears to be at least the right size (5 pounds lighter than D.L.) to fill those shoes. (Photo courtesy of Scouts.com)

Deal-Maker
What gave the College of Charleston the edge over App State as Wiggins choice to play basketball? Coach Cremins is your answer; said Antwaine, “He’s been through a lot and he’s like one of the greatest coaches ever and I thought it would be a privilege to play for someone with that prestige.” We've said a million-times, Coach Cremins is a recruiting-road-warrior.

Jeremy Simmons signs with the College!

The College of Charleston Cougars basketball team added depth to the roster in the power-forward position with the addition of Jeremy Simmons from Tucker High School (Tucker, Georgia). Simmons (6-7, 225) is ranked 17th among recruits in the state of Georgia and he was a major reason (especially his nasty dunk in the 4th quarter) the Tucker Tigers were able to defeat their Dekalb County rivals, Columbia High School for the Class 4A Championship in the state of Georgia. Simmons was also being recruited by Providence, Tulane, Ball State and even Vandy was looking at this young man. (Photo credits: Rivals.com)

The experience young Jeremy had in high school, coming from a team that had lost eight-seniors and four-starters last year and lost to Columbia twice during the regular season, to winning the state championship in their division (last March) as well as ending the Columbia Eagles 51-game-win-streak is of David and Goliath proportions. I just hope he can continue his development and carry this moxie onto the court for the Cougars.

Donovan Monroe commits to the College of Charleston-Cougar basketball is reloading!

Fork Union point-guard, Donovan Monroe committed to the College of Charleston for next season (ESPN Briefing Room). The ex-Parkwood basketball player, Charlotte Royals (AAU Team) and Waxhaw, N.C. native was courted by Virginia Tech, St. John’s and UNC-Wilmington among others. More than likely, the offer from V-tech came after Fork Union’s basketball team defeated the Hokies in two straight games last November. Monroe first landed on my radar back in February, when Coach Cremins (see: “Coach Cremins is a recruiting road warrior”) made a morning trip to watch Fork Union play UNC’s Junior Varsity Squad, Donovan Monroe scored 17-points during the game handing the Tarheels JV-Squad their first loss of the season.

Scout.com lists (Monroe) the 6’2; 180-lb combo-guard as a "talented scorer and mid-range offensive weapon, with areas of improvement regarding his ball-handling skills and on the defensive-side of the ball, as well as consistency". (I always love it when they mention how key a player is and how dependable they are with dropping “big-game” buckets, but then note “consistency” as a weakness.) Especially because Monroe was the only consistent player (read: offensive-threat: hitting from the perimeter, dropping baskets with his left hand in the paint and driving to the basket against a 2-3 Zone) on the Fork Union squad. Assuming Monroe’s main improvements are needed on the defensive-side of the ball is quite fortuitous for Donovan because the Factory on George Street turns out defensive-machines every year. Welcome aboard Mr. Monroe!

Update: Click here for the Post & Courier’s coverage by Jeff Hartsell

Dustin Scott Comes Home!

Jamestown (Berkeley County) native and Tallahassee Community College standout, Dustin Scott signed with the College of Charleston as a Junior College transfer on Thursday at 3:30 pm. It has long been college basketball lore about Frank McGuire's pipeline to the Catholic School in New York City, but now it seems that the College of Charleston might have a similar pipeline to TCC, as Scott becomes the 3rd TCC player to don a Cougar uniform. Bernard Jackson who played for the Cougs from 2002-2005 and Marcus Johnson who played for the Cougs from 2003-2004, were both former TCC standouts.

As a freshman, Scott averaged 13.5-points and 8.5-boards per game, shooting 54% from the field. He continued his course of excellence in his sophomore year scoring 14-points and 8-boards per game, shooting 47% from the field. Scott leaves TCC with the all-time rebounding title, grabbing 534-rebounds in his 2-years playing for the Eagles.

Many of the bigs (i.e. Florida, Rocky Top and "Slick Rick" from Louisville) have courted Scott, but he decided after visiting the College that he wanted to play for the legendary Coach, Bobby Cremins. A very wise decision Mr. Scott.

Sitting in at the last regular season Bobby Cremins Show

I stopped by George's Sports Bar tonight for the last regular season Coach Bobby Cremins Show. Coach was joined by the "voice of the Cougar Sports" Tony Ciuffo for the last time this season to talk about the upcoming game against the Citadel tomorrow night and Saturday's game against Georgia Southern. Coach knows that both teams will be prepared for the Cougars and is still making the guys take one game at a time.

But FYI for the Maroon Nation, the Cougars will get the 5th-seed for the SoCon Tournament at the North-Charleston Coliseum, playing next Thursday at 9:30 pm. Tony reminded everyone to give Josh Bryson at the Cougars ticket office a call for tickets so you can sit with other members of the Maroon Nation behind the bench. Coach seemed stoked about our chances in the SoCon Tournament, stating, "Everyone expects a Davidson vs. App. State final, but that just might not be the case."

As you all know, Coach Cremins is always recruiting whenever the NCAA allows it. Although Coach Cremins is not permitted to talk about who we have in regards to signing for next year, (sorry Coach to drop the ball on mentioning Andrew) he did mention that this will be an important recruiting class and that he plans on signing 6-players for next year. As Coach said, "We missed out on an entire recruiting class last year, and that makes this year so important."

Coach Cremins did ask that everyone arrive early for tomorrow night's game against the Citadel because it is Senior Night, and the guys: David, Dontaye, Phillip, and Renardo will be recognized immediately after the National Anthem. Recognition they truly deserve.

Cougars sign Andrew Goudelock

Head Coach of the College of Charleston, Bobby Cremins signed Andrew Goudelock, a 6-foot-1, 165-lb. combination shooting and point-guard averaging 25-ppg in the regular season and 42-ppg in the R6-4A Tourney for Stone Mountain (Georgia) High School and leading Dekalb County in scoring, last weekend.

In the Regional 6A-AAAA Tournament at Miller Grove, Goudelock shot lights-out, scoring 12-points, 5 baskets from behind the arc, against St. Pius X, leading the Pirates to a 72-42 victory in the opening round of the Region 6-AAAA Tournament. Although Stone Mountain High lost to Tucker 78-79; Goudelock scored 39-points (then a career-high), in their final game before the region tourney, the Pirates shook off whatever jitters they had and took a No. 3 seed in sub-region A. The Pirates would win both of their regional games in the R6-4A Tourney with Goudelock “the Stone Mountain Sharpshooter” besting every player in the Dekalb County network in the post-season. On February 9^th, Goudelock raised the bar on his career-stats, scoring a new career-high of 47-points, in the 92--68 win over Lakeside, but the second round of the Region 6-4A tournament would prove a more modest score for the Pirates and Lakeside rematch; the Pirates won 73-41 and positioned the Pirates to clean-up as they moved forward in the State Tournament. Last Friday, Stone Mountain lost to the defending 2006, 6A-AAAA Champs, the Columbia Eagles 63-67 in the semi-finals of the Tournament. The Pirates did win the 3^rd Place game of the Tournament against Mays the following day, winning 70-51.

Goudelock’s scoring in the State Tournament:

February 13^th, Stone Mountain against St. Pius X, Pirates won 72-42. Goudelock scored 22-points

February 15^th, Stone Mountain against Lakeside, Pirates won 73-41. Goudelock scored 12-points

February 16^th, Stone Mountain against Columbia, Pirates lost 63-67. Goudelock scored 17-points

February 17^th, Stone Mountain against Mays, Pirates won 70-51. Goudelock scored 23-points

Goudelock is a superb and competitive offensive player. He has quick feet and pulls the trigger on his shots even faster. A special note for those of you unfamiliar with Stone Mountain basketball is that Goudelock is accomplishing all of these accolades on the Court while sharing the hoop with All-Tournament Player Ray Brown and Virginia Tech recruit Terrell Bell. But, this isn’t the T. Bell show; we are talking about Andrew Goudelock and besides, he is a more rounded player than Bell. Look for Andrew to develop more on the defensive side of the ball after coming to the College of Charleston, as Cremins will help transfer the speed Andrew has on offense to defense as well, producing a more balanced and competitive player-possibly moving to the next level after his stint at the College. Andrew’s AAU Team is the Atlanta Celtics. Goudelock chose the College because of Cremins’ system of play. We look forward to seeing Andrew next year to help us fill the void that Dontaye will be leaving behind.