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Rutgers Close to Selecting Their Next Basketball Coach

Rutgers has narrowed down the search for their next head basketball coach to three candidates.

Fran Fraschilla, former head coach at St. John's, New Mexico, and Manhattan would be leaving a commentary gig at ESPN to take over at Rutgers. However, Fran has proven that he can succeed in the Tri-State area. He took both St. John's and Manhattan to the NCAAs as the head man.

Boston College fired head coach Al Skinner after more than a decade with the program, now Skinner is a finalist for the Rutgers job. Skinner has a recruiting base established in the Northeast, and would be able to assume the same recruiting practices that he established at BC.

Robert Morris head coach Mike Fox (pictured to the right) is the up and coming candidate, but is also the front runner to get the job. Fox's salary request would be no where near the amount that Rutgers would have to pay more established coaches Skinner and Franschilla. As school's make budget cuts across the country, Fox would be the ideal cost effective candidate. His stock sky-rocketed this season when RMU ran through the Northeast Conference, and scared the hell out of Villanova in the first round of the tournament. Fox was also a candidate for the Seton Hall job. It was said that the Pirates may have backed off of Fox because of his fiery personality on the sidelines. The Hall fired previous coach Bobby Gonzalez, partially, due to his conduct and attitude.

Big Time Talent Arriving to Small Time Campuses

Some of the country's top high school players will be playing their college basketball in some very interesting places next year.

This group in particular will be making a lot of noise during their freshman year...just not where you would expect them to.

[#17 ESPNU100] Ray McCallum Jr., Guard (Committed to Detroit) - McCallum's decision to play for a middle of the road Horizon League team makes a lot more sense when you consider that his father is the head coach at Detroit-Mercy. McCallum (pictured to the right) considered big time programs, but ultimately decided to become the first McDonald's All-American to ever sign with the Titans. McCallum will be judged by his performance against one team -- the Butler Bulldogs.  

[#33 ESPNU100] Trey Zeigler, Guard (Committed to Central Michigan) - When the Mount Pleasant, MI combo guard decided that he wanted to stay close to home, Michigan and Michigan State had to be considered the front runners to sign Zeigler. Unfortunately for the Wolves and for Sparty, they couldn't win the location battle with Central Michigan, which is located in (you guessed it...) Mt. Pleasant, MI. It also helps that like McCallum, Ziegler's dad is the coach at CMU.

[#58 ESPNU100] Dominique Ferguson (Committed to FIU) - When Isiah Thomas became the coach at FIU, he hoped to bring recruits like Ferguson to FIU. Ferguson is clearly enamored with Thomas' NBA pedigree and his influence at the next level. Zeke's glittering professional record was enough to get Ferguson on board, when he could have went on to bigger and better things besides the Sun Belt Conference.

[#71 ESPNU100] Juwan Staten (Committed to Dayton) - Super recruiter Thad Matta can't sign everyone to play at Ohio State. That's how a top 100 prospect who wants to stay local slips to Dayton. The defending NIT champs will be glad to have another impact player joining their push to make the big tournament in 2011.

[#100 ESPNU100] Alex Kirk (Committed to New Mexico) - When the Lobos managed to keep Steve Alford on campus for another year, they ensured that they would be welcoming a top ten position prospect at center. Kirk will be asked to come in and provide the Lobos with a legitimate post presence, as Alford tries to keep the Lobos competitive after losing all-league player Darrington Hobson to the NBA Draft.

NCAA Names A New President

ESPN has confirmed that the NCAA has named University of Washington President Mark A. Emmert as their next president.

Why is this important? 

Emmert has been said to be a strong proponent of bringing a playoff system to college football, which makes him a possible messiah to college football fans who have clamored for an end to the current BCS system.

The BCS has a long term contract with the NCAA, so no changes are emminent, but their will be genuine buzz surrounding this topic all summer.

Stay tuned for additional information about Emmert and the potential changes that could arise from his hiring.