NCAA News, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball

Former Top 10 prospect Brandon Jennings signed with the Italian professional team, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma on Wednesday.  Jennings had alluded to possibly signing with a European professional team after multiple attempts to pass the SAT had not made him eligible.   The top point guard in his class, Jennings had originally committed with Arizona, but throughout the recruiting process was never academically eligible. 

The deal will be in the two to three year range and will include an option for Jennings to leave if the NBA Drafts in 2009.   Pallacanestro Virtus Roma is considered a middle of the pack team in the Italian Pro League.  Jennings will prove to be an experiment in how High School Basketball blue chips consider the European leagues during the recruiting proccess.  If successful, Jennings may have ushered in the era of young talent jumping the NCAA ship for European currency. 

On Wednesday Tennessee insured that their football and basketball programs would have a strong figure at the head coaching position at least through 2014.  That is the year they signed both football coach Phillip Fulmer and basketball coach Bruce Pearl until.

Fulmer’s deal includes an average salary of around $3 million with incentives for winning National and SEC Championships.  If he wins an SEC Championship he will recieve a $350,000 raise.  If he wins a National Championship he will recieve an $850,000 raise.  The deal also includes a yearly $100,000 raise for every year he remains head coach of the Volunteers.  Other incentives on the deal include a $350,000 BCS Bowl bonus, a $1,000,000 bonus for reaching his 20th year with the school, and added years on the contract for every 8 win season he produces.

Bruce Pearl’s contract was upgraded making his average salary $2.3 Million.  The deal includes a $250,000 bonus for retaining the position, and a straight up $1.5 million bonus.  In order to protect themselves from NBA teams, Tennessee also added a buyout clause.  If Pearl were to leave the team within the next five years he would owe $2.5 million, which would decrease each year to an end total of $1 million.

Tennessee looked to secure their basketball and football programs with these deals.  With Phillip Fulmer’s impressive .766 winning percentage and Bruce Pearl’s ability to bring the Tennessee Basketball Program to the national forefront, it indeed looks like they have secured a bright future through 2014.

One of the most notorious mascots in NCAA history passed away on Friday.  The nine year old University of Georgia Bulldog, Uga VI, died of congestive heart failure in Savannah.  The Georgia mascot had been known for notorious acts of violence against rival players as is apparent in the infamous video of the mascot biting an Auburn player during a football. 

Uga VI became the Georgia mascot in 1999, replacing his father Uga V.  Uga VI’s reign has been the most successful of any Uga before him.   During his reign Georgia has been to 3 BCS bowls, had the best winning percentage than any other time in Georgia’s history, and Uga has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Uga will be buried on Georgia’s field with his predecessors.   Decision on the next Uga has not been made yet.

The 2008 NBA Draft went about as expected with Memphis star PG Derrick Rose going #1 to the Chicago Bulls.  Double double extradionair, Kansas State’s Micheal Beasley went next as anticipated to the Miami Heat.  The Timberwolves then took star USC guard O.J. Mayo at #3.  All seemed to be going as expected even when Memphis took UCLA big man Kevin Love a little early at 5.  Then the blockbuster deal went down.  Memphis traded with Minnesota the rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins, for the rights to O.J. Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antione Walker, and Greg Buckner.  It seems Minnesota wanted Love all along, and they get a 3 point threat in Miller.   Below is the 1st round results of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery Picks.

1.  Chicago- Derrick Rose: Memphis

2.  Miami -  Michael Beasley: Kansas State

3.  Memphis- O.J. Mayo: USC

4.  Seattle- Russel Westbrook: UCLA

5.  Minnesota- Kevin Love: UCLA

6.  New York-  Danilo Gallinari: Italy

7.  LA Clippers- Eric Gordon: Indiana

8.  Milwaukee- Joe Alexander: West Virginia

9.  Charlotte-  D.J. Augustin: Texas

10.  New Jersey- Brook Lopez: Stanford

11.  Portland- Jerryd Bayless: Arizona

12.  Sacramento- Jason Thompson: Rider

13.  Indiana- Brandon Rush: Kansas

14. Golden St.- Anthony Randolph: LSU

15. Pheonix- Robin Lopez: Stanford

16. Philadelphia- Marquis Speights: Florida

The 2008 Recruiting Class, to no one’s surprise, saw three of this year’s Final Four Teams grab Top 10 classes in UCLA , Kansas , and North Carolina . One surprising Top 10 class however was the Florida State Seminoles’ class.

FSU Coach Leonard Hamilton nabbed Top 25 Recruit Chris Singleton PF, and Top 100 Xavier Gibson in addition to 4 other backcourt players to give Florida State one of it’s most impressive recruiting classes ever.

UCLA signed McDonald’s All-American PG Jrue Holliday, in addition to Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee to bolster their backcourt for the 2008 Season. PF Drew Gordon also gives the Bruins some frontcourt relief after losing star center Kevin Love.

UF’s Billy Donovan also grabbed frontcourt help with Top prospects in Eloy Vargas and Kenneth Kadji. Donovan is also looking to replace NBA talent as PF Maurice Speights is likely headed to the draft amid rumors of possible academic ineligibility.

North Carolina added an immediate impact player in 7′1” prospect Tyler Zeller. In addition the Tarheel’s signed PF Ed Davis. North Carolina was also able to grab McDonald’s All-American PG Larry Drew. With Player of the Year Tyler Hansborough returning the Tarheels will be an early favorite in both the NCAA and ACC.

The Kansas Jayhawks also grabbed a top Class after landing their first National Championship in over 20 years. The Jayhawks added top PF Quintrell Thomas and SG Travis Releford. Kansas also nabbed top PG Tyshawn Taylor after he was released from his commitment to Marquette.