Stith Returns to Carolina for Duke Game
NEW YORK -- One day in the
NEW YORK -- One day in the
One of Jared Grasso’s first orders of business after taking over as the interim basketball coach at Fordham University Thursday was to meet with disgruntled point guard Jio Fontan.
Grasso, 29, met with Fontan for about an hour Friday afternoon to discuss his future and hopes the former St. Anthony star returns to practice Friday afternoon. The team faces Bowling Green Saturday at Rose Hill Gym in Grasso’s first game since replacing the fired Dereck Whittenburg.
“I had a good talk with him this [Friday] afternoon. I told him how I felt about him,” Grasso said of Fontan in his first interview since taking over.
“I told him I’d love to have him here and he’s going to have to make a decision for himself.”
Fontan, a sophomore who led the team as a freshman in scoring (15.3 ppg) and assists (132), this week declared that he was leaving the team and would depart the school after this semester. If he transfers, he wouldn’t be eligible to play at another Division 1 school utnil Dec. 2010.
Jorge Fontan, Jio’s father, had no comment and said he needed to meet with his son. Jorge and Grasso also spoke by phone Friday.
Chaz Cervino was in a math class
Seton Hall announced that junior guard Keon Lawrence will be activated from suspension and will return to the basketball team Dec. 19 when the Pirates host Temple University.
I know I originally reported he would be back Nov. 28 against LIU and I was mistaken.
Lawrence was suspended indefinitely on Nov. 9 following his involvement in a car accident on the Garden State Parkway. He has completed the University’s disciplinary process. His activation comes with necessary conditions and sanctions that may not be disclosed by the University under student privacy laws.
“Mr. Lawrence is also subject to an external legal process, which will determine the outcome of the motor vehicle citations he received,” said Law School Dean Patrick E. Hobbs, who is overseeing the Department of Athletics this year. “Athletics Director Joe Quinlan and I have decided to allow Mr. Lawrence to return to the men’s basketball team. Upon the conclusion of the external legal process, the University will decide whether any additional sanction is required.”
Fordham coach Dereck Whittenburg was fired Thursday afternoon and assistant Jared Grasso will replace him on an interim basis.
“We have great respect for Dereck as a coach and person, and appreciate his contribution to Fordham, his integrity and his dedication to the student athletes,” said Fordham AD Frank McLaughlin. “We wish him and his family well.
“This was a difficult decision, but we felt that we needed a new direction for the basketball program at this time. It’s a priority of the University to have a successful program in the competitive Atlantic 10 Conference.”
Maurice Harkless, a 6-foot-7 junior wing from Forest Hills High School, will announce his college choice Dec. 9 on SNY.tv.
Harkless is currently considering Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Louisville, UConn, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Providence, Arizona, Florida State, Hofstra, Villanova, and Rutgers.
He has not committed to UConn, despite a published report to the contrary.
“Maurice Harkless is still narrowing down his college choices,” said Nathan Blue, his AAU coach. “Any talk of him being committed is premature. I, along with his high school coach and mother, will be making sure he’s comfortable about what school he chooses on Wednesday on SNY.”
In the end, JayVaughn Pinkston went with
