Here is the promised update to the state of Bradley basketball now that the regular signing period for 2010-2011 season has begun. Bradley has, thus far, received one Letter of Intent (on the first day of the signing period) from shooting guard Walter Lemon as expected. I hear some rumblings that this kid is very very good, but I'm going to try to keep any personal excitement in check for two reasons. One: Bradley is absolutely stacked with good Senior guards (Maniscalco, Warren, and Dodie Dunson) this upcoming season, so even a very good freshman may have trouble getting time. The other reason is that I have a tendency to get overexcited in the off-season every year and it makes the summer feel interminably longer. For what it's worth, Lemon has been getting some good press in the summer all-star season... On the other hand, the only video I found was a YouTube video where he kinda tin cups a dunk he can't make, over and over. Seems like the kind of thing you'd just edit out of your workout video. Scouting information out there indicates he's a plus jumper with a strong mid-range game.
There was some other significant news this last week as Bradley filled the coaching position left vacant by Eric Buescher by hiring an assistant from Army's basketball program named Jim Platt (profile at Army's website). I'm not the kind of basketball fan who knows really anything about the coaching community, but this seems like a very solid hire. Coach Platt has 30+ years of coaching experience, with some of it as a head coach. His head coaching record is nothing too impressive with his time split between two schools: Arkansas - Little Rock and Charleston Southern. However, he has a reputation as a very strong defensive mind and teacher as well as kind of a hard-ass taskmaster. I think the consensus among Bradley fans is that both aspects of the program have been a little soft ever since Chuck Buescher (Eric's dad and Peoria coaching legend) retired. I'm excited about the hire, and I hope Coach Les and the players embrace what Coach Platt has to offer.
Bradley still has two open scholarships for 2010-2011. There's a rumor about a player that kind of feels like the worst kept secret in Peoria as I'm pretty sure everyone's heard it. As yet, the player in question hasn't signed, so here's to hoping he does. Bradley also recently offered a 7-footer from Wisconsin named Ben Mills, and you can never have to many 7-footers around. Mills was originally committed to Boise State but asked for and was granted a release when they got rid of their head coach. I would expect Bradley to fill at least one of the open scholarships, but if Wilkins doesn't take the final schollie they may hold it open for the following season.
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