Ra’Shad James has decided to leave Iona. That had been a rumor during the season, that the White Plains grad was unhappy with his role with the Gaels. It appears there was some truth to it.
The explosive James recently visited Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Fla., and it is the leader for his services. As an NAIA school, James could play immediately without having to sit out next season.
Northwood University is the alma mater of Port Chester’s Melvin Calhoun and Lincoln’s Lester Hunte. James would have the opportunity to play for former Villanova coach Rollie Massimimo.
James originally played at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas before transferring into Iona two years ago. He sat out the 2010-11 season before joining the Gaels for their 2011-12 campaign, which ended in the NCAA Tournament.
A few other notes:
• Dustin Hogue has attracted interest from a host of Division I programs, including Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, Arkansas, Wichita State, Oklahoma and others. The 6-foot-6 former Lincoln star left Yonkers after the 2009-10 season. He played prep school ball the following year and then played as a freshman at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa and averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
• Thomas Fleming plans to play basketball at Chaminade, a Division II school in Honolulu. The Dobbs Ferry senior will join the school that once became famous for pulling off perhaps the greatest upset in NCAA history. Chaminade beat No. 1 Virginia and Ralph Sampson in 1982. The school hosts the prestigious Maui Classic every year, meaning the team has opportunities to face major Division I programs. Next year’s field includes UNC and Texas.
• Iona Prep announced a few days ago where linemen Kameron Tedder and Matt Carroll will play their college football. Tedder, a defensive end who was Super 11 as a senior, has committed to Southern Connecticut. Carroll, a guard, chose C.W. Post.
• My colleague Vince Mercogliano reported earlier this week that Harrison QB Vin Nicita had surgery to repair his meniscus. However, the surgery is minor. Nicita, a baseball player, hopes he can play designated hitter come playoff time. If that’s the case, he should be fine for football camps this spring and summer.
24 Comments
What a shock , Rashad leaving Iona, he should have stayed at STAC..
i heard tedder had an offer from sacred heart, is that true? i couldnt say no to the pioneers
Ugh, bad move by Rashad. It isn’t all about playing. Iona is a great school that would prepare him for life after hoops. Who gives some of these kids advice? I know you want to play but that isn’t the be all, end all. smh
To many wannabe’s that have no clue about basketball try to get involved with these kids and give them direction, they feel the need to make themselve’s feel important like they are some sort of leon rose. It is very sad.
It also doesn’t help that every basketball player these days thinks they are division 1 player.
Get the best college education you can to set yourself up for the real world, not for sports!
I agree… Iona gave him a shot, free education and he is leaving because he thinks he is better than what he is.. Iona just made it to the NCAA tournament and lost 5 seniors in the process. So with this year coming up he would have had the chance to play..
Basketball/ Just a Fan,
You guys hit the nail on the head. Glad to see they’re some quality mentors left here.
This is why I will teach my children to think for themselves if something should happen to me or my mother…
Maybe Rashad did think for himself. I wish him the best, something deeper has to be going on here b/c he PLAYED in the NCAA Tourney Game!!! Who passes another shot at that up?!
Iona is close to home, but far enough to grow and develop himself into who he wants to be. All this transferring, I wonder what kind of degree he’ll walk away with? Not trying to be insensitive but he and his family should be asking themselves these questions as they make these decisions.
their mother*
CONGRATS
TO ALL THE PLAYERS!!.. GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE!!....
States the degree part is secondary. That’s the problem. You also have to remember that kids like this will choose the opportunity to play in Saudi Arabia as oppose to getting the degree and hitting the working world.
Update on your boy at St. Augustine?
HRs,
You’re so right, sometimes overseas ball *[for some]* isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be. Since you bounced from school to school, you probably didn’t try to learn about the culture of the world to try to transition into a totally new environment. If you can play ball and get paid, do your thing—we’re all flesh and bones and hence, fragile so that paper is what they can’t take from you.
He seemed receptive to staying for his senior year. He just might have some problems beyond his control that curtail it. I wish the best for him and hope to come out of my hoops retirement and play ball against him this summer.
HRs,
What can you tell me about”boogie”from long island,I here she can ball.(freshmen)
Sidenote, interested to see how Hogue does… If he can get to OK with Cousins that’ll be a treat…
Haywood,
Do you think Cousins can play the 1 at the next level?
STATESMAN,
I THINK TIME WILL TELL,IF HE WAS ON THE KNICKS,HELL NO,LLOOLL
Haywood,
No doubt, I think he can develop himself into a Shumpert type combo guard if/when he bulks up… Not saying he’s going to the league, just a comparison… Hey, the way B-Diddy plays soem nights, I’ll take Cousins, lol
STATESMAN.
I JUST HOPE HE DOES NOT GET HOME SICK,UNLESS HE COMES TO IONA
Wood is that the girl from St. Ants? If it is , that girl is nasty. I saw her play a few times on TV. She is lightning quick and has an amazing handle. I don’t really follow hoops but girls like her, Chong, etc are a pleasure to watch.
’
I hope everything works out for him! Hoops retirement, football retirement…your too young to use the word retirement period!
HRs,
Had to put it all on hold to take care of my dad and put myself in a position to hit the ground running upon graduation. Just doing my part to support all of your fine efforts. I hope it works out for him too, always have had a world of potential.
Wood,
If he did come back to Iona, I hope Mr. Marshall is there welcoming him with open arms!
The James news came out a few weeks ago. I realize he did not get the PT he wanted this year but there was a complete log-jam in the back court (Momo Jones transferring to Iona cut into his potential playing time). He did still play 10 minutes in a NCAA tournament game scoring 7 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. He would of likely saw a lot more minutes this season with all the new faces.
What is the story with Marshall? Iona offered him last year…..
Can we get some investigative journalism going on for some AAU season updates? Been a ton of tourneys and I know local talent have to be playing in them.
anyone check out the all state squads yet? overall, great local representation. It’s especially nice to see an under rated player like Justin Nolan (Tuckahoe) get second team and Sky get his props…I have to say, however, it’s getting kind on strange with all the kudos the kid from Croton gets… he wouldn’t have started on Albertus, Woodlands, Dobbs, Tuckahoe yet he makes All State and gets Con Ed award because his dad is the coach and his stats get bloated. If the top 50 kids in Section One played pick up, he wouldn’t even get chosen. Something wrong with daddyball (his father is the coach) making its way up to this level. The junior on Magnus this year, Sullivan, is much better than him. Kids like Bowers, Sullivan, Ritch get no kudos but someone who takes unlimited shots and stays in the game at garbage time getting such notoriety is in poor taste. Con Ed, All Section, All State for a below average player is flat out wrong. Don’t want to get negative, but the manipulators need to be exposed. Coach… we’ll be watching next year.
Where can i look at the all state teams?
Baller:
Class AA and A
http://www.roadtoglensfalls.com/reference/all-state-2012-large.shtml
Class B, C and D
http://www.roadtoglensfalls.com/reference/all-state-2012-small.shtml
Josh:
I’ll e-mail you my paypal account so that you can deposit my fee.
Still crickets on any AAU updates. Where’s haywood when you need him, lol.
joe clinton from pearl river recently committed to play at dominican for his father over oswego and hartwick..will probably redshirt next year because of outstanding returning senior class