subscriber servicessubscribecontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Nov 09 2009 

Published: July 16, 2008 01:12 am    print this story  

COLUMN: Jam Fest a sight to behold

By Mike Bowen
Times West Virginian

The collection of basketball talent seen at Fairmont State University is rarely assembled under one roof.

I’ve not been to too many large AAU tournaments, but if you missed the Triple S Harley-Davidson/Buell Hoop Groop Jam Fest at FSU Monday and Tuesday, then you missed some spectacular hoops action.

And if you were there, then you still might have missed some spectacular hoops action.

There were so many basketball games going on over the course of the tournament that it was easy to miss a contest if you weren’t paying attention.

With seven courts going, there was enough action for any one.

While most of the college coaches were in Morgantown to take in the 17-U division of the tournament, Fairmont hosted its fair share of NCAA guys.

From Duquesne head coach and Fairmont native Ron Everhart to West Virginia University assistants to coaches from national champion Kansas and beyond, plenty of coaches were here to watch the stars of tomorrow.

Teams from as far away as Canada came to Fairmont to take part in the tournament. Players who will eventually end up on Division-I rosters played at Joe Retton Arena in front of FSU head coach Tim Murphy.

That’s who could benefit the most out of this tournament, being played for the first time in Fairmont.

Murphy just got a free recruiting visit by hundreds of potential prospects without having to do anything but watch.

Outside of the state, stereotypes still exist.

Whether they be on a T-shirt from some trendy fashion store or spewed out of the mouth of a politician, West Virginia gets a bad rap most of the time from people who have no idea what they are talking about.

So now all these players get firsthand look at the facilities and communities available to them in West Virginia.

As Triple S’s Cliff Sutherland said before the tournament, it’s a lot easier to call a recruit in Los Angeles who’s seen Fairmont State already than someone who hasn’t.

Don’t forget word of mouth.

These players go home to their high school teams and pass along their experiences here in West Virginia. More players gain interest, and schools like Fairmont State and West Virginia University benefit.

And the quality of players here was spectacular.

From Nick Kellogg, the son of CBS NCAA hoops analyst Clark Kellogg, obliterating opponents off the dribble to the six-man Team Kobe jumping out of Colebank Hall against the West Virginia Mohigans, the athletes on display were awe inspiring at times.

So whether the teams won or lost or a recruit decides to come back to West Virginia to continue his hoops career at the next level, each and every player, from Hedgesville to Canada and all points in between, will remember this trip to Fairmont.

And that is more valuable to Murphy and Fairmont State than any phone call, letter or text message they can offer.

E-mail Mike Bowen at mbowen@timeswv.com.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Drivers
Driver Wanted

AIRGAS MID AMERICA,
a leading distributor of
industrial, medical, &
specialty ga
...>MORE

Mountain State Physical Therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPIST Mountain State Physical Therapy is now accepting applications for a Full Time Staff Physical Therapis...>MORE

West Virginia University Hospitals (
TRUCK DRIVER
West Virginia University Hospitals (WVUH) – United Linen Services has a full-time position open for a
...>MORE

HRDE
Resident Manager
Position Available
Morgantown, WV
Immediate opening for Resident Manager of 122-Unit,
...>MORE

HOSPICE AIDE - FT
Tender Loving Care

Recruiting now for the
following position in our
ANMOORE hospice agency:
...>MORE

MEn & Women
SPORTS MINDED
SALES
MEN & WOMEN
 
Rapidly growing company, representing a national sales organizatio
...>MORE

Safety & helath Inspector Screening
COAL MINE
SAFETY AND HEALTH
INSPECTOR
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
SCREENING

7:00AM

Nov
...>MORE

Safety & Health Inspector Screening
COAL MINE SAFETY
& HEALTH
INSPECTOR
FEDERAL
EMPLOYMENT
SCREENING

7:00AM

...>MORE

Hildebrandt Learning Centers at WVU Child Lrng. Cntr,
FOOD SERVICE STAFF Hildebrandt Learning Centers at West Virginia University Child Learning Center, Morgantown, WV, has a...>MORE

Tow Truck Driver
Tow truck dri vers needed Full Time. Apply at Marks Sunoco & Towing, 2395 WhiteHall Blvd.
WhiteHall WV 366-5765
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index