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Sammy Hunter posted this on his Instagram. Love to see them all still connected like this!

Eric can sit with his parents and watch Evan play in March Madness. Cincinnati season will be over by then.

Mahaffey-Akron Fantasy Camp was 2025-26. At UC, Eric is likely pulling in a minimum of $400,000 more than the Zips best offer. Eric and his fat wallet can hook up with big bro' at mom and dad's at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Evan would be pretty huge to have for his leadership in transitioning from Groce to Ford. I think MMK and Halligan will be, too, but Evan seems like he'd be in a better position to lead. His defense and energy on the court would set the tone for the rest of the team. I really hope this happens.

I agree. Joe took over a well-funded juggernaut when he accepted the Zips job. 13-35 should have been 35-13. The practices we couldn’t hold last season should have kept the team fresh. Instead we struggled in the red zone. i think the Zips lead the MAC in NIL funds, and student body support. That alone’s gotta be worth 2-3 wins this year? Joe’s had every possible advantage known to man after taking over for Tom Arth. I can’t believe the team hasn’t improved every year since he’s been HC. Oh wait…it has.

11 points and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes!

Travelled to Lansing, MI Monday afternoon and was treated to a first half show by Jack Roman and Remi Agunbiade. Wish I could find video to share.

I don't think many, outside of top 25, have rankings out for college basketball yet. Bart Torvik is probably one of the few reputable ones that has their rankings out currently and he has Akron at #114. That would place them 2nd in the MAC behind Miami, who sits at #101. Toledo is 3rd at #135. Either way I wouldn't put much weight into preseason rankings. With roster turnover it becomes nearly impossible to project once you get past the top dozen or so teams. Preseason rankings were always kind of dumb, but in this day and age of teams turning over entire rosters in 1 offseason they're pretty pointless. Not going to lose sleep over them.

I don't believe that this achievement has been posted on the board over 25,000 minutes !!! wow !!! Congratulations, Aodhan https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1362147

Back in the game!

As body bag games go, this year's aren't bad. Will also help if they can ditch the Tuesday games to get better crowds at home for the entire season.

This seemed like the best thread in which to place this. Thomas O'Rourke has been selected to participate at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games (https://jcc2026.org/en) for the Dominican Republic... https://www.fedofutbol.do/seleccion-dominicana-anuncio-convocatoria-femenina-y-masculina-para-centroamericanos-y-del-caribe-2026/ English translation of the key points from that website... The Dominican National Football Team announced the rosters of players who will represent the Dominican Republic at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, for both the women's and men's teams. On the men's side, the roster consists of 11 players developed within the domestic league—though four of them currently play abroad—and nine based outside the country who have previously participated in youth national team programs, with some even having received call-ups to the senior squad. It is worth noting that, as this falls outside the official FIFA international window, some players did not receive permission from their clubs to participate in the event. The men's squad will gather for a training camp starting July 14 at the Dominican Football Federation's High-Performance Center, remaining there until July 28, when they must join the competition. Dominican Men's National Football Team for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games: Midfielders: Thomas O’Rourke (Akron Zips – USA), Yordy Álvarez (Real Tomayapo – Bolivia), Sergio Cuello (CYD Leonesa – España), Lucas Bretón (Málaga CF – España), Cristian Ciccone (UDC Txantrea – España), Adrián García Jaquez (CD Leganés – España) y Nicolás Cruz (Cibao FC – RD). Per AI: At the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, football (soccer) does not offer direct qualification spots to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Instead, the tournament acts as a major developmental milestone and seeding platform for regional national programs. While the matches themselves do not punch a direct ticket to LA28, they impact the international soccer landscape in several specific ways: 1. Seeding for the Direct Olympic Pathway CONCACAF (the governing body for North, Central America, and the Caribbean) uses separate under-20 (U-20) tournaments to determine direct Olympic qualification. However, the team rosters built, tested, and scouted during Santo Domingo 2026 form the core talent pool for the upcoming CONCACAF Men's and Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Yes.

Pretty cool that we have 4 former Zips playing ball in the NBA right now!

Let's help Enruque fill up his camp. Your kids, grand kids, neighborhood ballers all would enjoy the experience in the practice facility. If you haven't seen the practice facility your self, here is your chance when you drop them off at camp.

I had to click on his bio to see if the birthdate was 198* to make sure I was thinking of the correct Eric Gordon haha.

i know i was jumping the gun when i said "camp". i should have said the whole team will be reporting. im pretty sure all the incoming freshman should be there for Mondays practice and the whole team start working out together before camp. im easily excited so i get excited over little baby steps

Plus even Eric is probably surprised Evan had a chance to play another year lol

You say that as though Cincy is a bottom feeder P4 program like Boston College. Cincy is adequately funded for basketball and Calhoun has exceeded expectations everywhere he's been. There's a very good chance Cincy makes the tournament. Possibly makes it past the first round as well.

Akron posted some photos showcasing Evan practicing. Awesome to see him out there. Wonder what the "experts" think of Akron now that he's back and there's familiar experience on the roster. Are we still middle of the road in the preseason rankings or did we jump up? I think we would've been ok in terms of leadership/culture without Evan because the HC was promoted from the existing culture, but having Evan certainly completely fills - if not overfills - the culture/leadership bucket. The MAC has to be pissed. Hopefully blood isn't thicker than intelligence. Turning down the type of money Eric got would be Kent level stupid.

Yes, this. Most of my worries with Groce leaving, and Evan and Sharron was not having that link to the previous groups. Like I feel it's been passed down from LCJ to Ali Ali, X, Enrique etc to Tavari and Sharron and then.. who's the "leader" this year? I think Evan playing this year answers that question. Not so worried about talent in and out in the portal day and age but leadership and culture is very important, imo.

Dove for the ball and an opposing player accidentally came down on him and slammed his face into the hardwood. Looked like a gash above his eye.

Yeah, we could go 1-3 to start… but give me this ooc every year. This is the kind that you could go 3-1 with.

The paperwork on Evan is ready to go if he's granted the ability to play by the NCAA or the court.

Only BG is "legit."

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2026/07/09/enrique-freeman-basketball-camp-akron-zips-minnesota-timberwolves/90863917007/

Lyles made the hightlight reel with a nice spin move and dunk in the paint. https://www.nba.com/game/det-vs-phi-1522600003?watchRecap=true

Went to watch Freeman and the 76ers were playing in summer league and next thing I hear is Amani Lyles for 2 on a nice spiin move. He looks good in a sixer uniform.

6+ wins once after being 13-35 doesn't deserve an extension.

Mr. Laryea is having quite the year. 😁

Congratulations to Richie Laryea he has been selected to the MLS all star team https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-defender-richie-laryea-selected-to-the-2026-mls-all-star-game

Great picture. I have a recollection of Sammy having an amazing game at the JAR and then we learned post game that his parents were in attendance. I think the chatter on the board was that we wanted to take up a collection to get his parents to more games. (LOL).

Congratulations to Emil. USL Team of the week. https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1363464 F – Emil Jääskeläinen, Sporting Club Jacksonville: The Finnish forward recorded a goal and assist, including a late game-tying goal in Jacksonville’s 2-2 draw against Loudoun United last Friday night, while also winning 9 of 23 aerial duels and making a pair of recoveries.

Nate Johnson made his Summer League debut with OKC yesterday. He played 7 minutes and committed 3 fouls...no other stats recorded. They play again tonight at 9 PM.

Garvin Clarke is also on the Bahamas team, which is stacked btw. Edgecombe, Hield, and Eric Gordon in addition to the 2 former Akron players. Enrique's squad handled them with ease.

Strongly disagree on Quaker being torn down. The building is cool and the renovations are exciting.

I believe his college career is over unless the NCAA changes their most recent ruling on eligibility.

Enrique Freeman and Sammy Hunter are currently playing each other in FIBA qualifiers. Nate Johnson is playing for OKC in the Sunmer League.

I can't wait for camp to open up next week !!! Right now we are tied for first in the MAC... I don't know how long that will last but I can enter the season cautiously optimistic.... I hope the qb can bring back his Albany numbers....

Not sure where you got your info but other than Gobert and McDaniels the rest of the PF and C players are a bunch of youngsters and journeyman types.