Off The Glass

Rubio watch: Early signs point to Sessions remaining in Minnesota

MCT file photo

According to the Pioneer Press (Twincities.com), Spanish standout Ricky Rubio likely will not join the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer or be traded to another NBA team.

According to the report, the T'Wolves likely will let Rubio, whom they drafted in 2009 and hold the NBA rights to, finish out his contract and land with the team in 2011.

That could make this offseason a little less stress-filled for Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions, who was the backup point guard for Minnesota behind rookie Jonny Flynn this past season. Rumor has been that if Rubio, also a point guard, came over this summer, Sessions likely would be traded. Now, Sessions, who signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the team last summer, could head into his second season with the team with hopes of claiming the starting point guard position. He said last month the team had indicated the position will be up for grabs this fall.

But still, nothing is set in stone. Minnesota does have the fourth pick in the NBA draft, but most mock draft boards don't have the T'Wolves taking a point guard, which seems unlikely anyway.

Pioneer Press' report  

Q&A: North Myrtle Beach's Matthew Kyle, back from stint in Tunisia

     submitted photo                                              

Mr. Kyle playing in Tunisia.

There has never been any denying how smart North Myrtle Beach High School graduate Matthew Kyle is. His college basketball experience was at Yale (enough said). One mention to former Myrtle Beach assistant coach Clifford Butler resulted in him saying "It's crazy how smart he is." But there's much, much more. Kyle is a heck of a basketball player. And after a stint in the Ivy League, Kyle decided to go pro overseas despite having a degree from one of the world's most prestigious universities. He landed in Africa this past season.

More on what he's been up to, in his own words:

Q | Just give me a little background of how you went from finishing up at Yale and ending up overseas playing ball? Was that the original plan? Or were you planning on stopping playing and getting another kind of job?

Matthew | When [Yale coach James] Jones first came into my home when I was a senior at North Myrtle Beach High School, he told me that I would have a chance to play basketball at the highest level as well as a chance to play after school.  So the answer is yes, I always wanted to play professionally after Yale, that was the original plan.  I went to Yale because you never know what life will throw at you and if I was injured I would be able to use my education to set me up for the rest of my life.

Q | Why Tunisia? And what is it like there? Any personal experiences you remember that stick out?

Matthew| Honestly, Tunisia was not my choice.  I had fired my agent last summer after the season because I felt like going to a bigger agency would help my credibility.  I signed on with Court Side, but last summer was the most terrible year for overseas basketball and even after going to their camp in Las Vegas - nothing really was coming through.  I told them I couldn't wait for them anymore and I went back to my old agent.  In the final days of summer he found me a job in Tunisia and I wanted to keep playing so I took it.  The experience there was overall good but rocky in the end because of managerial problems with the team that trickled down to the players.  [I] made some lifelong friends and will go back to Tunisia again ... just not to play basketball. One experience that sticks out in my mind was when I was invited to my friend's house for a celebration they called Eid Al-Adha or "The Festival of Celebration" where I witnessed the sacrifice of a sheep ... it blew my mind but was as natural as colored eggs on Easter.

Q | Reflect a little bit on your season. What were some memorable moments or any that you learned a lot from moving forward?

Matthew | The season started off with a bang because I got over there and we were already five or so games into the season.  I was on a 10-day tryout and my first game was within that tryout period.  It was against the only undefeated team in Tunisia and [we] ended up winning.  I swear if we lost that game I would have been sent home.  I learned more about how to protect yourself when things go awry.  Complications with the contract are always a big deal with players but I feel I know enough now to do all I can do to protect myself from being ripped off.  The team gave me what I expected them to give me but not all they owed me.

Q | How did your prep playing on the Grand Strand prepare you for this? I know playing AAU ball with some great players and a great coaching staff probably made an impact. Tell me a little about that.

Matthew | Well I was coached in the summer by a coach who put us in the position to succeed doing what we do best.  Not a strict structure of play, just more like a professional team would be run.  In college we were much more controlled in terms of what we could do and now that I am playing professionally it's back to pushing the boundaries and doing more.  It's more like [longtime Socastee coach and current New York Knicks assistant] coach D'Antoni ran things back in high school.  Playing with my AAU team was a tremendous honor and a great experience ... It is crazy how many of us are still playing.

Q | What's next for you?

Matthew | I will be here in North Myrtle Beach for the summer, training and playing ball.  I hope to get into a much better league and get a hefty raise next season ... maybe Japan.  Tunisia as a country just isn't as developed as I would like ... I need a change.

Marion Jones' WNBA debut with Tulsa Shock anything but eventful

AP photo

Disgraced track star Marion Jones' WNBA debut as a member of the Tulsa Shock was pretty uneventful on Saturday. She played - three minutes - but the only stat she accumulated was a foul.

It's extremely early, one game, but her post-jail trial with the former Detroit franchise is nothing to write home about yet.

But I'm rooting for her. A lot of people aren't rooting for those who used performance-enhancers to get to the top. And that's why she was in jail. And that's why she is "disgraced" and no longer has her Olympic gold status. And that's why there are few reasons to root for "cheaters."

But she only harmed herself and did her time. She proved, apparently to the Shock, that she can be an asset to the team after having played hoops at the University of North Carolina before giving it up for track. Redemption.

Jones may never be a star in the WNBA, and based what I've checked - I know, the WNBA doesn't get a lot of press anyway - the circus around her has been limited and the stories are probably over unless she does something great. Good.

Let her start at Square 1. And if she becomes a great player, give her credit. If not, she may fade away or be just a clapping teammate on the sidelines - which mean more to teams than you would think.

But the fact she's trying again means something. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption.

LeBron sweepstakes begins: Remember what D'Antoni said?

AP photo

The LeBron James sweepstakes officially began Thursday night when the Cavaliers were ousted from the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Boston Celtics in six games.

New York has long been rumored to be a potential spot where James, a free agent this summer, will land.

Last summer, I spoke with longtime Socastee coach and now New York Knicks assistant coach Dan D'Antoni and here's what he said about the team's salary situation:

"I think [GM] Donnie [Walsh] did a great job getting our salary structure in line for the end of this year if we need more," D'Antoni said then. "These guys might show us they can get right to it too. The financial ability is there [either way].''

The 2009-10 Knicks definitely showed the franchise needs more - and will pursue it this offseason. The team finished 29-53 despite adding the likes of Tracy McGrady at the trade deadline with hopes of making a push for the playoffs.

In my mind, it seems hard to believe at this point James will return to Cleveland. An exit in the conference semifinals was far from what this team expected to be - and should've been - capable of. I can't picture the Cavaliers being able to put a better cast around James, or a better coach.

So does he land with the New York, where Dan's brother is the head coach? Time will tell.

Either way, it should be an interesting offseason for the D'Antonis.

Myrtle Beach's Hemingway to hold camp at Socastee this weekend

Photo by Steve Jessmore, sjessmore@thesunnews.com

Former Myrtle Beach High School standout Akeem Hemingway, who played professionally in Mexico earlier this year, is holding a youth basketball camp at Socastee High School on Saturday and Sunday.

The camp is for ages up to 12 and will focus on fundamentals from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both days. Cost is $40 for the two-day camp.

Hemingway recently held his inaugural "Shooting For Success" shooting clinic at Myrtle Beach High School, and said he plans on doing both sessions annually. Hemingway's brother, Darius, who is at Connor State Community College, and former Coastal Carolina standout E.J. Gallup, who has played professionally overseas for several years, will be on hand to help out with the camp.

"It's the beginning of something great for those guys, because they see you doing it and they look up to you ... just helping them believe and get started if they really want to get into sports," Hemingway said of the camp.

For more information, contact Hemingway at 843-602-7071.

YouTube videos of area's Matthew Kyle, Jabyron Wilson overseas

Below are links to YouTube videos featuring North Myrtle Beach High grad Matthew Kyle, who played pro ball this past season in Tunisia, and Lake City High grad Jabyron Wilson, who has been playing this season in Portugal:

Matthew Kyle (Tunisia)

2009-10 higlights

Jabyron Wilson (Portugal)

Dunks, fadeaways, etc. (1)

Dunks, fadeaways, etc. (2)

Dunking over two players

Pumping iron in weight room

 

 

 

NBA.com's season review on Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions

The Associated Press photo

NBA.com, or more specifically the Minnesota Timberwolves' site affiliated with NBA.com, recently did its season review of Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions.

Sessions signed with the Timberwolves last summer as an unrestricted free agent and played primarily in a backup role to rookie Jonny Flynn during the 2009-10 season.

Here's the link: Sessions: Second Point

A love story: Coastal Carolina hoopster, volleyballer tie the knot

Coastal Carolina basketball alum Anthony Susnjara and Chanticleers volleyball alum Jennifer Hampton were married on Sunday in Newport Beach, Calif.

Susjnara, who had been playing professional basketball in his native Australia for several years, has put down the basketball professionally and is now settling down with Hampton, perhaps the most accomplished setter in Coastal Carolina history.

They're been together since college and are both really good people. Congrats!