Jump to content

4 Utep Bb Leave Team...possible Transfers?

OldTimer

By OldTimer
in Mean Green Basketball

 Share

Recommended Posts

OldTimer Newbie

OldTimer

Posted
Posted

Malik Alvin..freshman set school record with assists and steals

Maurice thomas 6-8 post

Dale Vanwright 6-6 power forward

Frankin ? 7 foot RS Freshman made 55 % of shots

Is the coach at UTEP new ? he is bringing in 6 new freshmen recruits.

El Paso Times article source of postingCoach announces that four players will leave

By Bill Knight / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 05/30/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

UTEP head basketball coach Tony Barbee said Tuesday that four members of last season's team will not return in the fall.

"There will be four student-athletes not returning from this past season's roster -- Malik Alvin, Franklin Jones, Maurice Thomas and Dale Vanwright," Barbee said. "I want all my players to share my vision of what a student-athlete should be -- academically, athletically and socially. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors."

Alvin, Thomas and Vanwright were frequent starters last season. Jones, a 7-foot freshman, redshirted last season.

Alvin, a sophomore-to-be from Philadelphia, started 20 of 31 games last season, averaging 8.0 points per game. The 6-foot point guard led the team in assists with 137 and in turnovers with 98. Thomas, a 6-8 junior-to-be from Philadelphia, started 20 of the 30 games in which he played and averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. Vanwright, a 6-foot-6 sophomore-to-be from Houston, started 14 of the 21 games in which he played and averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Barbee

Link to comment
Share on other sites
greenminer Grand Master

greenminer

Posted
Posted

For what it's worth, I'm a huge fan of Miner bball and saw last year's team in person 2-3 times, including the Memphis and TTech games. Barbee is going into his second year as head coach and, agree or disagree, he's cleaning house. It's no secret he's got an agressive "my way or the highway" approach to the team. After the last game of the season he pulled the team aside and said in a nutshell, he wasn't pleased and would be cleaning house, saying leave now if you're not with me. He purposely over-recruited, probably because he knew which players were leaving. For those that aren't subscribers, here is the EP Times article on the transfers. My synopsis:

Malik

positives: is one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen as a freshman. He not only got used to the speed of the college game but at times showed he is above it. He's got a lightning bolt in his rear end (a Haskins quote), moves up and down the court very naturally (something that would work great for JJ) and sees the floor/passes extremely well. When he decides to take over, he can penetrate and score.

negatives: can get out of control. Personally, it seems like his body is ahead of his mind and he doesn't know how to use it sometimes. Can get into a turnover spree and seem out-of-sync.

overall: if this kid can "get it" (for lack of a better term) he could be the best point I've ever seen play in college, with the exception of Fili Rivera the great UTEP alumn of two seasons ago. But they're apples and oranges. Malik has fantastic size, a d-1 build, and great vision. Just needs the right coach.

Vanwright:

positives: even moreso than Malik, has all the physical tools to play at a high D1 level. Body is already physically able to play most anywhere, incredible shooting touch, can hit the midrange and 3 very well. Unlike Malik, his head seems on straight and seems very emotionally controlled/stable out there. Good for some rebounds, too.

negatives: the only thing I can really hold against this guy is consistency. Some nights he just seemed to disappear.

overall: I really liked this kid. Hate to see him go but if NT picks'm up, great!

Thomas:

just overall: pretty big guy, has shown constant improvement over his career. I didn't like him as a fresh, but I can't deny that his shot and work ethic has improved tremendously since his first year where he seem lazy and disinterested. I can't really recall any flash or pizazz about this guy (sorry, vague I know), but all that means is that he is taking care of the ball and doing his job.

Jones:

positives: BIG BIG BIG. Looks like an NBA guy already. Not fat. Remember how everyone was waiting for Oden to come out and admit he's 31? Same with Jones...

negative: game shape. He never played a minute because he wasn't physically ready.

overall: I can't offer any insight on his game because he never got PT. Barbee only said he was waiting for Jones to get into game shape before he put him on the floor.

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

Personally, I'd like - no, love - to see Vanwright and Malik come in. Those are guys that could fit into JJ's system and really wow some people here. They are class acts and never got into any trouble while at UTEP. Jones is someone I think I'd like to see play. Thomas I wouldn't miss, but he's a good kid who's demonstrated a great work ethic, improvement, and class while at UTEP...something any coach loves to see.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Tell a friend

    Love GoMeanGreen.com? Tell a friend!

  • What's going on Mean Green?

    1. 0

      How Mean Green softball is shaping up in 2025 and beyond

      In my relatively short time as a Mean Green fan, I don't think I've seen a team so carried by seniors. This weekend's series was the last three games at Lovelace for 10 Mean Green seniors, and all but one (Truitt) was either an everyday starter or saw significant playing time. Here's who will be returning barring any transfers. All classifications are what they will be in 2025. Likely starters (in my opinion) Rylee Nicholson (SR) - UT Cierra Simon (SR) - SS Madison Conley (SO) - UT Tatum Sparks (JR) - UT Elizabeth Moffitt (SO) - C Jodie Epperson (JR) - OF Returning Pitching Staff Skylar Savage (SR) Mackenzie Childers (JR) Kayleigh Smith (SO) Returning, but will they play? Mikaela Olguin (JR) - OF Emma Grahmann (SR) - IF Blayze McNemar (SO or RS-F?) - OF Maci George (SO or RS-F?) - IF There doesn't appear to be a website to find commits for softball, so through social media, here are the incoming freshmen I have found: Katy Brock, OF, Mabank Shelby Buffington, P, Franklin Page (Tennessee) Rylie Harris, C, Forney Gracie Mahoney, P, Macomb Dakota (Michigan) - another 6 footer, like Skylar Ausha Moore, IF, Carl Albert HS (Midwest City, OK) Taylor Platt, OF, Argyle Committed Inbound Freshmen for 2026 Eva Daniels, IF, Forney Laila Nobles, IF, Pearland Addie Perry, UT/C, Aledo Love the Metroplex talent we are bringing in. Forney's currently the #1 team in the state. But looks like we still have a handful of spots to fill next year. Going to need to improve the hitting and power. Maybe we can land some home run threats in the portal who want to get closer to home. I'll post stories and highlights of the commits shortly.
      Matt from A700 in Mean Green Athletics
    2. 23

      Former Drake Guard Atin Wright commits to North Texas

      Hopefully after a few more years we will all be more accepting of heartbreak. I got used to it in high school.
      • 1
      • Sad
      Matt from A700 in Mean Green Basketball
    3. 23

      Former Drake Guard Atin Wright commits to North Texas

      Yes, foolish us fans for thinking players are here in the program and loyal to the school.
      • 1
      • Upvote
      NT80 in Mean Green Basketball
    4. 23

      Former Drake Guard Atin Wright commits to North Texas

      It's easier for us to say it's fun since we're not the ones who have to recruit an entire new team every year, but it's honestly exciting to see how the new team is built. The max exodi of beloved players sucks, but in this new age losing guys like TP, Drez, Rubin and Aaron doesn't have to mean a several-year rebuild. Now we can "retool" and even get better. I think this year was more of a gut punch because it felt to me and many others that Rubin and Aaron were Mean Green for life. They've been the constant leaders throughout the past turnover. But even healthy we weren't the most talented team in the conference. And I trust Hodge. The past seven years Grant and Hodge have run a clean program and as much as I love the guys who have played for us, I trust Hodge and Forte will continue recruiting players who will be good representatives of the university, even if only for a year. I also agree we need two more PF's - at least one who can space the floor shooting 3's. Assuming we have at least three scholarships left, so assume we'll see another guard. I'd like to see us bring on one guy who's averaged 18PPG or more. Doesn't matter which position though it'd be a nice changeup for it to be a high scoring big man.
      • 3
      • Upvote
      Matt from A700 in Mean Green Basketball
    5. 7

      The last home games of the 2023-24 school year

      Weather has become a factor in a lot of games this season. Wet spring has really made this softball season pleasant. Feel like we had several 90+ degree games last season.
      • 1
      • Upvote
      Matt from A700 in Mean Green Football

  • Popular Contributors

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      15,379
    • Most Online
      1,865
    KeithSHU
    Newest Member
    KeithSHU
    Joined

WE BELIEVE IN THE MEAN GREEN!

News

Recruiting

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Please review our full Privacy Policy before using our site.