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In April 2012, a man by the name of Jeff Culver changed the course of White's life. Culver had previously recruited the guard to an NAIA school, Johnson & Wales, and had then become the head coach at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, a Division II program. And he asked White to join him. But there was a catch: Culver's offer came late in the recruiting process, so all he could give White was a partial scholarship with a $3,000 room stipend toward housing; White and his father took out a $17,000 loan to cover the rest. White wore No. 14, a reference to all the schools in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference that didn't recruit him, and, before games, he'd remind himself why he wore it: "They said I wasn't good enough."
Former Illinois star and NBA player Dee Brown is the new coach at Roosevelt University in Chicago, the NAIA school announced Monday.
Bryan Kalbrosky: One NBA scout told me the G League Elite Camp participant most likely to get drafted is EJ Onu. The 6'11 big man (7-foot-8 wingspan) won the NAIA national title with 16.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 bpg (!) while shooting 40% (!) on 3.9 3PA. Other participants: https://bit.ly/3vuN8EZ
Chris Grenham: NAIA All-American EJ Onu is among the prospects working out for the Celtics this week, according to a source. At 6’11” with a 7’6” wingspan, Onu led Shawnee State to a National Championship this past season. His athleticism will intrigue NBA front offices.
Anderson, 50, has returned to the Beach Ball this year for the first time since he was a player 1988 in another role. He is in his third season as the coach of historically black Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, which competes at the NAIA level. “I had some great times at the Beach Ball Classic. This is my first time here [since 1988],” he said. “It’s kind of strange because now I”m coaching and I’m looking at players to get, knowing I had success here in the tournament. It’s just interesting and great being back in South Carolina.”
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Rodman was a three-time NAIA All-American at Southeastern from 1983-86. He averaged 25.7 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. Rodman still holds the school’s career rebounding record by a margin of 477. “Dennis came along, and superhuman is about the only way I can explain this guy’s ability,” said Kenny Chaffin, a forward at Southeastern from 1982-86. “He could just do some things that were not explainable. I mean, that’s why the crowds came.”
Tim MacMahon: Former Mavericks forward Josh Howard will coach the new men’s basketball program at University of North Texas at Dallas, the school announced. The program plans to play in the NAIA next season. Howard had a 49-49 record at Piedmont International University the last four seasons.
Four decades’ worth of NBA memorabilia fill his office, telling the story of McKinney’s seven years as a journeyman point guard and 33 seasons as a front-office executive. These days, though, the 64-year-old has more important things to talk about. Two years ago, McKinney left the NBA behind. The man who once scouted an NAIA player named Scottie Pippen and who served as the first general manager in the history of the Minnesota Timberwolves is now mayor of his small hometown. “There’s two things I said I’d never do in life,” McKinney says. “I’d never get into politics, and I’d never move back to Zion. And look where I am.”
The message was obvious: Stevens was down on most of his regulars. He confirmed as much by questioning the Celtics’ spirit during his postgame press conference. Stevens referenced a phrase an old friend, a former NAIA coach, liked to use frequently. “The game honors toughness,” Stevens said. “And boy, is that true. You see that. You see that over and over.”
Abdul Jeelani, the talented, but troubled local basketball standout who was inducted into the Racine County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, died Wednesday night at the age of 62. Jameel Ghuari, a friend of the family and former teammate of Jeelani’s at Park High School and UW-Parkside, confirmed Jeelani’s passing late Wednesday night. Jeelani passed away at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital. Jeelani, who was born Gary Cole Feb. 10, 1954 in Bells, Tennessee, was a 6-foot-8 forward. He graduated from Park High School in 1972 and went on to earn NAIA All-America honors at Parkside in 1975 and ‘76.
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Like most kids growing up in Brazil, Felipe Eichenberger gravitated toward soccer as his sport of choice. By age 12, genetics forced him to go in a different direction. “I was too big,” he said. “I was growing up too fast and my coordination wasn’t good enough against faster guys. I was like, ‘I’ve got to change sports.’ ” The transition to basketball proved to be a good one for Eichenberger, who is entering his fourth season as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Denver Nuggets. He earned a scholarship at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and enjoyed four productive years at the NAIA level.
A college basketball player who won $20,000 by hitting a half-court shot in a promotion at an Oklahoma City Thunder game can keep the money for use as a scholarship, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Tuesday. Cameron Rodriguez nailed the shot Nov. 18 during the Thunder's game against the Denver Nuggets. The jubilation was short-lived after the NAIA informed Rodriguez that if he kept the money, he would lose his amateur status at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.
An Oklahoma City Thunder fan who won $20,000 by hitting a half-court shot may have to forfeit all his winnings. The reason: He wants to keep his NAIA eligibility. Cameron Rodriguez sunk a half-court shot at halftime of the Thunder game on November 18, and grabbed headlines as he was the fourth Thunder fan to hit the halftime shot since March. (Two more fans have hit shots since then.) But because Rodriguez is on the basketball team at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, Rodriguez is not allowed to make money off his athletic ability, per NAIA rules.
For over a quarter-century, Scott Fields has been perfecting his coaching craft at various levels. Fields has traveled the world, and taught players of all skills levels and backgrounds, the game which he loves so much. After coaching at the International, Division I, Division II, Junior College, NAIA, ABA, CBA, NBL, and NBA Summer League levels, Fields is focused on bringing his talents to the NBA Development League. "I'm very interested in coaching at the NBA D-League level. I've consulted with Keith Smart, Brian Gates, and Nick Nurse, all of whom are close friends. It would be a tremendous opportunity for me to grow, and learn new philosophies in an affiliate system." Fields said.
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