Marist rival looking at Kansas forward

Quintrell Thomas, a 6-foot-8 power forward, is exploring transfer options. Heading his list is Marist foe Siena.
According to the Times Union's Pete Iorizzo, Thomas will visit Siena and UNLV. While Thomas did not factor much into the Jayhawks rotation, the freshman was considered an elite player coming out of high school.
Kansas also looks to lose guard Tyrone Appleton.
Both players want a larger role in college basketball than they currently have at Kansas.
"During our season-ending meetings, Tyrone and Quintrell discussed their roles with me and have expressed their interest to transfer," Bill Self said on the team's website. "They have chosen to attend a university where they can have expanded roles."

Thomas would provide an excellent response to Marist's recuitment of Casiem Drummond in the 2010-11 season.

Siena coach inks extension

Siena head coach Fran McCaffery signed an eight year extension today. The deal is intended to keep McCaffery around through the 2016-17 season.
The former Notre Dame assistant has led Siena to the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons. In both tournament appearances, the Saints have registered a first-round upset. Siena blew out Vanderbilt two years ago and upended Ohio State this past March.
While Siena fans and pundits are probably thrilled about the news, the deal is not as significant as it might seem. Although many want to think McCaffery will stay around to turn Siena into the Gonzaga of the East, he will most assuredly leave well before 2016. Before Chuck Martin became the Marist head coach, previous coach Matt Brady had signed a four-year extension. Brady did not even leave for a more desirable job by going to James Madison. When I spoke to Marist AD Tim Murray last year regarding Brady's departure, he was pretty surprised at the move and the new school.
McCaffery will not leave for any old job, however. He will wait for an offer from a major program like Notre Dame or Villanova (providing Jay Wright earns a promotion in the coming years). After this coming year, Edwin Ubiles, Ronald Moore, and Alex Franklin will graduate. My bet is McCaffery leaves after next season. The program will need to be completely rebuilt. McCaffery could easily pull a Brady, leaving one year after an extension. This is a business, after all.

Devezin won't return next year

According to the MAAC and the Poughkeepsie Journal, Marist star point guard David Devezin was denied his request for a medical red-shirt dating back to his freshman season at Texas A&M. Devezin's short but successful career as a Red Fox is over.
Devezin appeared in three games for Texas A&M as a freshman before breaking his foot. Upon transferring, it was understood that Devezin was a medical redshirt. The MAAC shot that down, however.
Devezin's loss leaves Marist with a crater at the point guard position. While R.J. Hall is more than capable of starting, Devezin's depth and experience would have been critical with juniors Daye Kaba and Casiem Drummond receiving eligibility.
Hall will start next season and will likely be backed up by one of Chuck Martin's three recruits. Sam Prescott and Candon Rusin are both listed as shooting guards coming out of high school, but Martin will likely be forced to develop one as a No. 1.
With Devezin's departure, Marist will be without its top two scorers next season. Ryan Schneider and Devezin will both leave as seniors. R.J. Hall, a MAAC all-rookie selection, is the next highest scorer.
Other notes
Matt Brady recruit Lawrence Williams will not return to the Marist team next season, per the Poughkeepsie Journal.
While a specific reason was not given, head coach Chuck Martin stated that Williams was not a good fit for the program and believed a fresh start would benefit the Paramus Catholic product.
Williams' stamina and style of play did not seem to be a good fit for the uptempo Marist dribble-drive. While it is not clear if Williams' midseason suspension had anything to do with his departure, his athleticism did not seem to fit the mold Marist was looking for.
Without Williams and Casiem Drummond not eligible to play until the 2010 spring semester, Marist will likely start the season with Korey Bauer and Alex Vouyoukas at the No. 4 and 5 spots. It is also possible that Chuck Martin could go with a smaller lineup and start freshman Anell Alexis at the No. 4 position. Alexis is a 6-foot-6 small forward according to Scouts, Inc. However, Marist played with a 6-foot-6 Williams and 6-foot-7 Schneider at the No. 4 position last year.

Jordan impressing in NBDL

It looks like Jared Jordan made the right decision staying in the States.
Although the Marist star played overseas in Lithuania last season, he passed on the money to stay and play in the NBA's developmental league. So far so good.
In last night's 121-114 loss to the Reno Bighorns, Jordan poured in 21 points while dishing out five assists in 34 minutes of game action. Jordan has had an impressive campaign with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He's started 26 of 33 games and averages nearly a double-double. Jordan scores 10.2 ppg and notches 8.7 apg. His assist-to-turnover ratio is close to 4-1.
While Jordan won't latch on with a team this season, he is sure to get an invite to training camp with some team prior to the 2009-10 season. NBA teams also have a resume to attach to the player. Jordan played sparingly in Lithuania, a common problem facing young players venturing overseas. High school star Brandon Jennings passed on college to play internationally for one season prior to entering the NBA Draft and the decision looks foolish. Jennings has played in limited minutes and struggled while in the game. Nevertheless, he is still considered by many a Top 5 pick in this year's draft.
Jordan impressed the Hornets' brass while spending training camp with New Orleans prior to this season, but the team opted to keep two roster spaces open rather than keeping Jordan and big-man Courtney Sims.

Jay Gavin given a dose of karma

A year after Jay Gavin transferred to Virginia Commonwealth due to head coach Matt Brady's departure, another coach has left the former MAAC rookie of the year.
Given the opportunity to stick around and play for Chuck Martin, Gavin chose to join VCU, another school that heavily recruited him.
Well VCU head coach Anthony Grant has pulled a Matt Brady, leaving Gavin to adjust to another head coach and most likely, a step back for the program. Grant, a one-time assistant with Florida's Billy Donovan, accepted the head coaching position at the University of Alabama.
Gavin will become eligible to join the Rams' active roster next season after serving his mandated redshirt season following his transfer. While Gavin gets to join a team that has gone to the NCAA Tournament two years in a row, he will become a part of a team in flux. Gavin will experience what last year's Red Foxes had to endure.
In addition, Gavin will miss the opportunity to play with two major conference transfers joining the Red Foxes next season. Swingman and Boston College transfer Daye Kaba (right) becomes eligible for the start of the 2009 season while Villanova transfer Casiem Drummond (above) will become eligible for the start of conference play. The players transferred from the ACC and Big East, respectively, and bring the kinf od size and bulk that Chuck Martin emphasized the team needed following a home loss to Rider.