Caleb Porter

What do you know, Caleb Porter is on the Akron Press Club (channel 23 Time Warner Stark Co.).

He's talking about the sort of character traits he looks for in players and tries to instill in his players. Cool stuff.

Just thought you would want to know.

Team Shop IS OPEN!

The Team Shop is open! It's well done. Good selection of Zips gear. They've also got newer (not replica) football & basketball uni's to go along w/ the ALMOST replica soccer jerseys.

I bought 2 Champion t-shirts. They're buy-one-get-one-half-off. It didn't matter. I just wanted to drop some $$ in the place.

One nice touch I noted was of the two large posters hanging behind the register are pics of hometown Zips - Bryan Williams & John Mackey.

Pumped for tomorrow!

Go Zips!

Stark/Summit All-Star Classic

I went to the annual (22nd annual?) Stark/Summit Rotary Club All-Star Classic @ Malone last night. Summit beat Stark 140-111. Saw some very good players.

Charles Hearn (Kenmore) - only scored 10 points; wasn't hitting from the outside. But he's a natural baller.
Monte Woods (East) - 6'4" guard who is more explosive than any guard currently on our roster. Can hit from the outside, handle the ball & drive to the hoop.
Elvin Butler (East) - 6'1" guard. Again, more explosive than any of our D-1 college guards. Unacceptable in my opinion.
Jacob North (Barberton) - This guy has an absolutely SICK outside shot. He is a Steve McNees type of player (not as quick as Steve). He's going to Toledo on a baseball scholly. Jacob was named Summit MVP (the award could have gone to a number of players but someone had to win it). He finished w/ 22 points & hit 6 3-pointers, one of which was closer to half court than the 3-point arc (and this was with proper shooting form. Quite crazy.)
Jon Harris (Twinsburg) - for the life of me I can't figure out why we weren't ALL OVER this guy! He's 6'8" and smooth! Can handle the ball, fly out of the rafters and stop and pop from the 3!!! Best player on the floor IMHO (though, of course, all-star games aren't the best venue for rating talent) He's going to Miami for b-ball.
Cameron Black (Roosevelt) - Okay, here's another instance where I'm going to just have to blindly trust KD. I know Cameron wanted to be a Zip, but we chose to give our schollies to other players (Cameron's going to BGSU). Cameron looked excellent. He's a good 6'8" and can handle the ball - he repeatedly brought the ball up the floor on fast breaks! He's got good post moves to boot. Negatives would be that he's not a great outside shooter and is not the most explosive player. Kinda reminds me of a typical UA forward, skilled but not explosive. So I hope that's why KD wanted to bring in the much more athletic Josh Egner.
Josh Egner (Jackson) - Though I thought both Jon Harris and Cameron Black looked like more dangerous players, Josh was the most explosive player on the floor. Hit a 3 to boot. Has the potential to be great; or might just disappear on offense - sometimes it seems like if he can't simply dunk the ball he can't do much. Idk, first time I've seen him play (other than STO state championship game.)
Storm Sanders (GlenOak) - can really handle the ball and penetrate to the basket. Liked to penetrate & then kick the ball out. Was kind of a natural ball hog, but he's obviously used to being "the man" but was struggling w/ his outside shot last night. Though he took a couple 3's from about 6 feet behind the arc.
Isaiah Elliot (McKinley) - I only list him because he was named Stark MVP & ended up w/ 22 points. But quite honestly, as compared to much of the other talent on the floor last night he's not much to write home about. He's going to Malone & I'm sure will have a very fine career there.

From watching one all-star game (this & $1 will get you a cup of coffee) I would rank the players thusly:
Backcourt:
1. Montazine Woods (East)
2. Jacob North (Barberton)
3. Charles Hearn (Kenmore)
4. Elvin Butler (East)
5. Storm Sanders (GlenOak)

Frontcourt:
1. Jon Harris (Twinsburg)
2. Cameron Black (Roosevelt)
3. Josh Egner (Jackson)

All the players were very, very good and the game was a lot of fun to watch. You could tell all the players were having a really great time, which is what it was all about. All of their parents should be proud.

P.s. For some reason Henniger didn't play.

Adrian Payne

If anyone is curious, former Zips recruit Adrian Payne - who signed with Michigan State - is playing on STO right now. He's #33 in blue (Dayton Jefferson). He just scored the 1st 2 points of the game.

Trouble w/ GoZips.com feed?

Is it just my computer, or is anyone else having trouble getting Coach RI's press conference on GoZips.com?