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Mark Warkentien (1953-2022)
Former NBA Executive of the Year Mark Warkentien died Friday at the age of 69. He graduated from my beloved Cal State Fullerton in 1976 and spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the legendary Bobby Dye's staff in 1978-79 and 1979-80 before moving to UNLV to work closely alongside Jerry Tarkanian throughout the Tark-led glory days for the Runnin’ Rebels.
Billie Moore was the first-ever coach of the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team and the first coach in the women's game to win national collegiate titles at two different schools, breaking through at my beloved Cal State Fullerton and later winning at UCLA as well. Moore died this week at 79 after a difficult battle with a cancer of plasma cells (multiple myeloma) that hampers the body's immune response. I never met Coach Moore but I know she was revered by her players ... especially the Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Wilkes, the younger brother of former UCLA and NBA player James Wilkes, was teammates with Robertson at Dorsey before they both graduated in 1980. After that, however, they followed different career paths. While Robertson went into banking, Wilkes continued playing in college, spending his freshman year at Colorado before finishing his college career at Cal State Fullerton. He averaged about three points per game over three seasons.
The Los Angeles Lakers have worked out Cal State Fullerton guard Tre’ Coggins as they continue to prepare for the 2017 NBA Draft. The Lakers are one of several teams to show interest in Coggins, including the Utah Jazz, a source with knowledge of the situation told Silver Screen and Roll.
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Robert Morales: Former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak in the house at Cal State Fullerton, where his son Max's UCSB Gauchos will take on @FullertonHoops #BigWest
The Warriors are holding a free agent mini-camp June 23-24 for 16 players, including seven with NBA experience. Here’s the list: Bobby Brown – Cal State Fullerton – Dongguan Century (China); Will Cherry – Montana – Canton Charge (D-League); Patrick Christopher – Cal – Iowa Energy (D-League); Ramon Galloway – La Salle – Fraport Skyliners (Germany); Tyler Honeycutt – UCLA – ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne (France); Edwin Jackson – ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne (France); Armon Johnson – Nevada – Blancos De Rueda (Spain); DeAndre Liggins – Kentucky – Sioux Falls Skyforce (D-League); Vernon Macklin – Florida – Liaoning Jiebao (China); Sean May – North Carolina – Paris-Levallois Basket (France); Mickey McConnell – Saint Mary’s – Texas Legends (D-League); James Nunnally – UC Santa Barbara – Cangrejeros De Santurce (Puerto Rico); John Shurna – Northwestern – FIATC Joventut Badalona (Spain); Jamie Skeen – VCU – Humacao (Puerto Rico); Christian Watford – Indiana – Hapoel Eilat (Israel); Michael Watt – Buffalo – Ironi Nes-Ziona (Israel).
Marc Stein: Hearing CS Fullerton's own Bobby Brown, Euroleague sensation last season w/Siena, has agreed to sign deal in China w/Aug. 15 NBA out clause
Sources told ESPN.com that the Mavs on Thursday will sign Josh Akognon to a 10-day deal. The high-scoring sharpshooter from Cal State Fullerton went to training camp with the Mavs but ended up returning to China to play for Liaoning when he was Dallas' final cut before opening-night rosters were finalized.
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Word is that Dallas made a determined push this spring to try extricate speedy point guard Bobby Brown of Cal State Fullerton fame from his Italian team Montepaschi Siena, but the price was too high to get the 28-year-old during the season. Brown has been one of the best players in Europe in 2012-13 and, after stints with the Kings, Wolves, Clippers and Hornets, is expected to return to the NBA next season with several teams interested.
Though he’d shown the ability to make 3-pointers and his hustle was off the charts, Josh Akognon has been waived by the Mavericks, bringing their roster down to the maximum 15 players. Akognon, out of Cal State-Fullerton, had played in China last season.
“He walked into the locker room the first day, I was listening to music, it was pretty loud and Jeremy recognized it,’’ former Cal State Fullerton star Josh Akognon told The Post by phone from Dongguan. “It was [Christian rappers] Lecrae and Thi’sl. ... He said, ‘You’re a Christian?’ He sat down and we started talking. Then we started talking about basketball and what is our plan. “I’m a shooter,’’ Akognon said. “I’ll take 25 shots if that’s what my coach wants. He asked me what happens if I miss a lot and my team loses? He was afraid if he took two shots and missed one, he’d get pulled. I said, ‘You take thousands of shots over the summer. You know you can make them. Don’t stop when the lights come on.’ ’’
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