It needs a 6-foot-6 kid who is a rebounding fiend to somehow materialize in the school hallways.
With Mike Springs (point guard), Colin Nickerson (shooting guard) and Jereme Richmond (small forward), the pieces of the Bulldog puzzle that's missing is a big man in the middle who can defend opposing centers as well as get the ball off the glass to start the break.
Is there NOBODY in a school of 4,000 who's 6-6 and can play basketball?
You would think that the opportunity to play with Richmond would attract some big player to the Dog Pound. Here's hoping that happens.
Waukegan doesn't have a lot of 6'6 guys walking around but we do have some talent. Here is some hope for the future.
Mike Springs -soph Pg
Colin Nickerson -jr sf
Jereme Richmond - pf at 6'6 and growing he can play four.
Steven Claibourne - sr 6'4 Lefty
Then you have two youngsters who can help at the sg.
Aaron Johnson - fr (leading scorer from the sophomore team)
Akeem Springs - 6'1 (incoming Freshman leading on the Rising Stars 14U Gold Team)
I would rather have 7 or 8 guys at 6 foot playing solid team ball than a couple of 6'6" guys trying to do all by themselves...and make your free throws.
One preferably that does not get in trouble, listens to his parents, the teachers, the coaches, does his homework and gets good grades.
One preferably that does not get in trouble, listens to his parents, the teachers, the coaches, does his homework and gets good grades.
Waukegan does not "need" another 6 foot something player on the roster to be succesful. It might be something we all want to see but not something we are going to get. They never have been a tall team in the 10 plus years I've been a fan. And I've seen talent come in and out of here year after year. It's what we've seen done wth the talent that has kept the program from going to the next level. Lately it's what has got EVREYBODY up on Bulldog hoops.
1.Wheteher he plays like it or not Jereme Richmond is the #1 player in the class of 2010. Past players of his caliber like Lebron James (2003),Dewight Howard (2004), and Greg Oden (2005) to name a few were household names by the time they started playing high school ball. Paths are made for these guys to follow to millions in the NBA. Now there's still that one in a billion chance that any kid makes it to the NBA but let's just say that Richmonds chances are not on the same scale as other prep players. Politics? Let me also be the first to tell you basketball in this area will never be the same. ESPN could telecast a game between a Waukegan and Zion and you're talking the best team in Illinois playing the best junior in the nation. Division 1, 2, and 3 college scouts will definintly be regulars at the Dawg pound march of next year. NBA scouts or even over sea Europe leagues from all over could show up. Wishful thinking that they fall in love with our distinctive player introduction that we have at all home games and just stick around for every home games and be regulars at the Dawg pound too.
I think that Waukegan need to play in a fast tempo style because we have the players for it