LINKS: Could Sixers Job Go to Wright, Howard, or Ewing?

So the head coaching position for the Philadelphia 76ers appears to opening up soon and a few names appearing on interview lists may effect college recruiting and BIG EAST basketball.

Villanova’s Jay Wright has been mentioned as a candidate for years, and is likely a top choice by Sixers ownership and fans, but the upside for him is not readily apparent. Villanova supporters think he’s “too smart” to leave and usually point to Wright turning down “double his salary” to coach at UCLA as the main indication he’s staying put. NBA analysts tend to align more with the idea that the Sixers’ current talent is too divergent from Wright’s desired 4-out-shoot-em-up strategy. Dana O’Neill squashed the rumor when the Knick’s job was floated.

Another whispered name that has intrigued Georgetown fans has been Michigan’s Juwan Howard. Juwan Howard has similar assistant coaching experience to Ewing and is a bit younger.

Taking the wind out of those blue sails with Howard coaching in Philadelphia might derive some solid schadenfreude, but could free up a recruit or two from their commitments. Specifically, Howard has been recruiting hard and was able to lure away a couple Georgetown recruits, including 2020 F Terrance Williams and 2021 PG Frankie Collins. Howard has since affirmed that he is not leaving Michigan, but you never know...

Of course, with the Sixers having one of the premier big men in the league in Joel Embiid, the coaching conversations have mentioned hiring Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing as a possibility. Ewing has often spoke fondly of Embiid (and also exclaimed he needs to keep his butt away from the arc and back on the block).

Embiid’s issues such as accountability and showing up in shape would likely be mitigated if an accomplished big man like Ewing or Howard led the team.

Also, did we know that Ewing was apparently interviewed on TV before every game as Associate Head Coach of the Hornets? Of course that is NBA and this is college, but it indicates a continuing media reluctance of Georgetown may potentially be overcome with Ewing.

Here are the links:

Big East athletic directors mull college basketball bubble ideas | NYPOST

The league has discussed a number of options relating to a bubble, such as including men’s and women’s basketball in one bubble with all 22 teams, two separate bubbles broken down by two regions and separating men’s and women’s basketball, sources said. Fox has been approached to gauge its interest. The idea of a bubble has received “very strong” support, one source said, though it will ultimately come down to what the league’s presidents decide.

One location that has been discussed is Omaha, Neb., with Creighton serving as the host because of its ample facilities that included two on-campus practice facilities, two large hotels located right next to the team’s arena, the CHI Health Center, that is attached to a convention center that could be used for additional practice courts.

Dear Kobe | Allen Iverson for The Players’ Tribune

The first time I saw you going up against Black Jesus, when you were 18 years old, I knew you were a killer. That’s when I realized you were going to be a legend in this game. You were going hard at Mike that night. No fear whatsoever. I mean, I knew from passing you in traffic over the years that you were a dog. But when I saw you going at Black Jesus like that?

That’s when I knew you were a kindred spirit.

We might have grown up in different circumstances, but when I saw you on the court, and how hard you were going, I knew we were raised with the same mentality. I wasn’t tall — but in my mind, I was going to be a giant out there every single night. You were 6′ 6″, and could’ve scored in your sleep. But that wasn’t enough. You were trying to be the best that ever did it.

REPORTS: UCONN ASSISTANT KENYA HUNTER HEADING TO IU | Hoosier Sports Report

Hunter, who played point guard at Duquesne — where he later coached from 1998-2000 — has a track record of coaching success. He helped UConn land two consecutive top 20 recruiting classes. At Georgetown, he primarily coached big men and mentored future pros in Roy Hibbert, Greg Monroe, and Otto Porter...

A native of Arlington, Va., Hunter is considered to have strong recruiting connections on the East Coast. He was recently the point person in UConn’s recruitment of four-star shooting guard Jordan Hawkins, a product of DeMatha Catholic in the Washington D.C. area and the No. 49 player in the 2021 class.

IU Basketball: Kenya Hunter appears to bring more than one could have realistically hoped for | The Daily Hoosier

It’s worth noting that Hunter hails from the Washington D.C. metro area and has proven ties there. That is relevant now because top Indiana class of 2021 guard target Aminu Mohammed is originally from the area and plays AAU basketball for the Virginia based Boo Williams program.

Frankie Collins, who chose Michigan over KU, now recruiting other prospects to UM | Kansas City Star

Blue-chip point guard Frankie Collins, who as recruiting analysts expected verbally committed to Michigan over Kansas, Auburn, Georgetown, USC and others...

“They (Michigan coaches) started recruiting me at the beginning of my junior year and then they watched me play in December,” Collins told The Michigan Insider. “Ever since then we have been in touch all during the quarantine. Also, me and Juwan Howard (UM coach) have a relationship since I was in the fourth grade and I would always play against his son (Jace). We have a couple of pictures together as well. He was kind of there for the growth of my development and now that he got the job at Michigan he began to recruit me.”

Allen starts his pro career at Final Spor - Jul 13, 2020 | Eurobasket

Final Spor Genclik Bursa (TBL) added to their roster American guard Terrell Allen (190-82kg). Allen just graduated from Georgetown (NCAA). In 31 games he had 9.8ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.1apg and 1.3spg last season.

As mentioned above Allen is just out of the college and it will be his first season as a pro.

Jeff Green’s Ninth Life May Be His Best | The Ringer

In 11 games in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World, Green is excelling, with averages of 15.9 points and 2.3 assists while shooting 75 percent in the restricted area and 37.8 percent from 3. He’s played really good defense, too...

“When you come into the NBA, people always have an opinion about what you should be or how you should pan out. When their vision of you doesn’t pan out to be what they expected, they say you’re a bust or something’s wrong. That’s always been the case in my career,” Green said. “I haven’t been what people say I could be. But now being in the league for 12 years, about triple the average years is in the NBA, I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of establishing myself in this league. I just have to do my part to have that career continue. I’m not concerned about what people say, I just try to be the best version of what I am.”

Crystal Ball confidence change for Ryan Mutombo | Brian Snow for 247 Sports

Four-star prospect Ryan Mutombo is the son of Hoya great Dikembe Mutombo, and he is the No. 64 ranked prospect in the industry generated 247Sports Composite Ranking for the class of 2021.

At 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Mutombo is a center who has really improved over the last 12 months, and that led to a significant high-major recruiting battle.