Looks like recruiting is finalized

[Patch]

October 24, 2005

Albany adds juco combo guard...

By Van Coleman van@hoopmasters.com

 

Will Brown and his staff at Albany added their fourth and final recruit of the fall in 6-3 juco combo Michael Knight...

 

According to a source close to the program, 6-3 185-pound Michael Knight from St. Petersburg CC, FL is headed to Albany.

 

Knight who is a former FutureStars camper and Iowa resident, transferrd as a sophomore in high school to Seattle Prep in Washington, then signed with MD Baltimore County out of high school before transferring to St. Petersburg CC.

 

Knight is an athletic combo with point guard skills who can really knock down the perimeter jump shot. He has size and quickness to make an immediate impact at Albany.

 

He chose Albany over interest from Florida Atlantic, Florida A&M, Santa Clara, Samford, Florida International, and St. Bonaventure.

 

_____________________________________________________________________

He should have 2 years eligibility

[statefan]

Did he play at UMBC?

[pool man]

Based on stats he averaged 4 or 5 ppg for UMBC with a couple of starts, was Rookie of the Week one week, and supposedly was highly recruited out of high school. Saw that Boston University and Vermont offered him out of high school.

[statefan]

According to the box scores on out website's archives, he played in both games against us last year.

[Patch]

Evidently there were some type of problems at UMBC, after last season 4 underclassmen left the team.

 

When Knight got the opportunity early. he was good enough to make Rookie of the Week in the AE.

 

By the way before he moved from Iowa to Seattle he played with and against Lillis and Wilson who both know him. Knight was a very highly regarded young player in Iowa and had a very successful HS career in Seattle.

[pool man]

scouthoops.com and rivals has info on Knight in the database/prospect search section. Several articles.

 

Great that he know Brent Wilson and LIllis. Let's hope he's as good!

[reeder]

My first thought was why did he leave UMBC? But then I read the UMBC media guide from last year - seems like a good kid, good player in HS...

 

Wonder if the coach ran him out - strange for 4 kids to leave.

 

Anyway, I wonder if he will have 3 years remaining. He could probably sit out this year in JC and have three left for Albany.

 

Also, Brown still needs a PG - guess that'll be addressed next year.

[Patch]

Knight was said to have PG skills and I think we'll know by the end of this season about Lillis and if he has PG skills.

[pool man]

Any other interesting articles or info on KNight?? Isn't he a point guard??

[B9j2j6s]

I'm not surprised that so many players left UMBC I remember being at Senior day when we played them last year. The coach is intimidating to say the least. Glad we finished our recruiting I think we have a solid cast of incoming freshman and jc transfer. Now lets focus on the season whos ready to see the McGill tune up game?

[Dane Pound]

This is kind of surprise to me anyway. UMBC has actually brought in some really good recruits over the past few years but haven't been able to hold on to them. Brown certainly must have seen something he like last year. It'd would be great if he could redshirt to retain his eligibility but from their website it sounds like his juco team expects a lot of scoring from him this year.

[Patch]

From Juco Junction.....

 

October 25, 2005

St. Pete guard headed to Albany

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Gabe DeArmond

JucoJunction.com Editor

 

St. Petersburg combo guard Michael Knight transferred to the Titans' program from University of Maryland-Baltimore County. He will be headed back east next season.

 

 

"He decided Albany was his school of choice," said coach Earnest Crumbley. "He was up there on a visit in September."

 

Knight held offers from Samford, Bethune Cookman, Santa Clara, Florida Atlantic, Florida A&M and Florida International. South Florida and Auburn also made a push late, but Knight spurned those schools for Albany. Albany will be getting one of the better shooters in the Sunshine State.

 

"He really strokes the basketball," said Crumbley. "He has unlimited range. 29 feet is a layup to him."

 

Knight is a true combo guard, but will play mostly at the two for St. Pete.

 

"We run up and down the floor," Crumbley said. "When he can make open jump shots, our post guys become very available."

 

Knight played three years at Seattle Prep, WA. He was All Metro as a junior and senior. He was a McDonalds All American nominee. He was the leading scorer as a senior(16.3 ppg) for an AAU team that had Martell Webster(NBA), Spencer Hawes(Washington), and Chad Troyer(Miami of Ohio) on the roster.

 

Knight will have three years to play two at Albany.

[Dane Pound]

From Juco Junction.....

 

October 25, 2005

St. Pete guard headed to Albany

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"He really strokes the basketball," said Crumbley. "He has unlimited range. 29 feet is a layup to him."

 

That description could probably used for Jon Iati as well. Sounds like Knight's talent went mostly unexplored at UMBC as there were a lot of schools offering him after the JUCO camp.

 

If things fall into place this should make for an experienced backcourt for the next couple of years.

Next year:

Jamar, Siggers, CJ all seniors

Iati, Lillis, Knight, Bauman juniors

 

The following year:

Iati, Lillis, Knight and Bauman will all be seniors.

Edited October 26, 2005 by Dane Pound