Vito's Mean Green Blog

NT03 · March 30, 2008

FORMER PLAYER BLOWING UP THE RECRUITING SCENE

It's really too bad when you look back on it, but one of the best players to ever suit up for the Mean Green -- at least in practice -- is blowing up on the recruiting scene.

Yes, I am talking about Roderick Flemings.

For those of you new to UNT hoops, Flemings was one of the top recruits in the country when he played for DeSoto, committed to Oklahoma State, left the program after a short time and transferred to UNT. Flemings didn't meet academic standards and ended up at Weatherford JC. He averaged 20.7 points and 11.7 rebounds a game and, perhaps most importantly, shot 34.9 percent from 3-point range last season. The knock on the 6-7 forward as a player was that he would have to learn to play on the perimeter in college. Shooting 35 percent from the arc isn't all that great, but it shows that Flemings is improving.

The big boys of college hoops have noticed. According to Rivals.com, UConn, Georgetown, Kentucky, West Virginia and Arkansas have all offered Flemings a scholarship and another chance.

It was tough to see Flemings go, but you have to give UNT head coach Johnny Jones credit for sticking to his principles. Players at UNT keep up their end of the bargain academically and nearly all of them graduate by the time they are done with their careers. Even if they don't graduate, they are on track to in short order.

Flemings didn't hold up his end of the bargain, but appears as if he will get another chance with one of the top programs in the country after leaving Weatherford. He has already set up a visit to UConn.

It's too bad. I am sure a lot of UNT fans will wonder what could have been if Flemings had made the grade.

Post your thoughts on the blog. Just how good would UNT have been with Flemings in the lineup last season?

Posted by Brett Vito at 3:06 PM | Permalink

NT03 · March 30, 2008

While I'd be the 1st to want him in a Mean Green uni , you have to wonder what's going on in the head of that young man as he will going on his 4th year with his 4th different college

Censored by Laurie · March 31, 2008

I may have to make a drive up to Storrs soon and see if I can't do a little recruiting. I still question his head, but with Babb off the board and Russell seemingly not in the picture we could use him.

NT80 · March 31, 2008

The knock on the 6-7 forward as a player was that he would have to learn to play on the perimeter in college. Shooting 35 percent from the arc isn't all that great, but it shows that Flemings is improving.
Posted by Brett Vito at 3:06 PM | Permalink

Why does he have to play the perimeter at 6-7 and averaging 20+ points? :blink: If we helped place him at Weatherford, then he owes us!!

Edited March 31, 2008 by NT80

Censored by Laurie · March 31, 2008

Why does he have to play the perimeter at 6-7 and averaging 20+ points? If we helped place him at Weatherford, then he owes us!!

Because he's a wing...not a post...he's 6'7" 215...thats not even a post in the SWAC

flyeater · March 31, 2008

Saw this a while back in the paper here...looks like Johnny really wants this kid back, according to Weatherford's coach. Too bad.

Posted on Fri, Feb. 8, 2008

Small Colleges Notes

By TROY PHILLIPS

tphillips@star-telegram.com

The Fort Worth area isn’t Kansas or west Texas when it comes to junior-college basketball, so a program like Weatherford College crawls under the radar.

Otherwise, crawling isn’t Weatherford’s style. With the immediate area is thin on two-year college hoops offerings, WC has kept a high standard that still continues.

WC’s women (15-4, 7-1) sit second in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference behind McLennan (8-0). They won the program’s ninth conference title (15-1) last year and advanced to the regional semifinals, as well as giving coach Bob McKinley his 700th career victory at the school.

The Coyote men are 19-4 and just fell to 7-1 in conference after a 16-game winning streak. It’s a bounce-back year for the Coyotes, an atypical sub-.500 the past two seasons and a no-show at the regional tournament.

From 1998-2002, WC’s men won four conference titles and have five overall. The 1999 team went 34-3 and finished third in the nation.

“Injuries and discipline problems,” said Osina, describing what befell his top scorers the last two seasons. “We turned average. I thought we’d have another good team, then last summer, up pops Roderick Flemings. On Aug. 8, we became a better team, and me a better coach.”

Flemings, a forward from DeSoto, played at Oklahoma State before transferring to North Texas in 2006. He didn’t qualify academically to play for UNT this season.

Osina got another big scorer to go with Edvinas Ruzgas, a 6-6 Lithuanian who played high school ball in Virginia. Flemings (20.6 points per game) and Ruzgas (20.2) rank 1-2 in the league in scoring.

Flemings had 29 points and 16 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss at Temple. Ruzgas scored 44 on Saturday against Grayson County.

Weaning himself off a 3-point shot dependency, Ruzgas has rounded into a Division I prospect but is yet to commit to a college (Penn State inquired this week). Flemings could be headed back to UNT, Osina said, but he needs to “hit the books” and get his associate’s degree.

“[uNT] is very interested in trying to get him back,” Osina said, adding that UNT steered Flemings to Weatherford. “He’s got academic issues to take care of.”

Until both players know what’s next, Osina will enjoy being a better coach.

Briefly

■ Weatherford College’s baseball team is 4-0 after freshman Paul Montalbano threw a no-hitter Tuesday to beat Northeast Texas Community College 11-0. Last week, Steven Sultzbaugh became the first WC player to hit for the cycle.

■ Area athletes are piling up women’s basketball player-of-the-week awards in the Lone Star Conference south division. Abilene Christian forward Kristee Davidson (Fort Worth Christian) won this week after averaging 21.5 points in two games. West Texas A&M guard Courtney Lee (Kennedale) won the previous two weeks.

Troy Phillips, (817) 390-7760

Quoner · March 31, 2008

Area athletes are piling up women’s basketball player-of-the-week awards in the Lone Star Conference south division. Abilene Christian forward Kristee Davidson (Fort Worth Christian) won this week after averaging 21.5 points in two games. West Texas A&M guard Courtney Lee (Kennedale) won the previous two weeks.

Is there anything he can't do?

flyeater · March 31, 2008

Is there anything he can't do?

Apparently he threw a no-hitter, too.

NT80 · March 31, 2008

Because he's a wing...not a post...he's 6'7" 215...thats not even a post in the SWAC

Never said as post. Vito said he needs to become a "perimeter" player which to me implies guard. 6-7 is not a guard in college. Forward, wing, whatever = yes. Vito used the term perimeter = no.

Edited March 31, 2008 by NT80

CMJ · March 31, 2008

"perimeter" to me implies guards. 6-7 is not a guard in college. Forward, wing, whatever = yes. Vito used the term perimeter = no.

There are guards that big. Not many, but they exist. Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis comes to mind.

Hell Michael Jordan was 6'6.

Edited March 31, 2008 by CMJ

NTPhiKap99 · March 31, 2008

If you look at the current highschool recruits the average hight of shooting guards is about 6'4" and small forwards is 6'7". Fleming was 6'5" SF out of highschool and like most has put on a couple inches over the past three years. 6'5"-6'8" is a swing man it just depends on his style of play rather he becomes a 2 or a 3.

Edited March 31, 2008 by NTPhiKap99

Censored by Laurie · March 31, 2008

Never said as post. Vito said he needs to become a "perimeter" player which to me implies guard. 6-7 is not a guard in college. Forward, wing, whatever = yes. Vito used the term perimeter = no.

It is probably spliting hairs...but Rod is a 3, small forward...which, to me and I would have to say JJ based upon past lineups is a "perimeter" position...Roderick isn't going to go grab a block, back to the basket and score many of his points that way. He's a slasher...and what makes a slasher go from difficult to defend to damn near impossible is atleast the threat of an outside shot. If Roderick is shooting the 3 between 25 and 35 percent defenders will stay 3 or 4 feet off of him and dare him to shoot it...but if hes a 40 or 45 percent shooter, teams have to respect that, he will be defended closer, making it easier to slash and attack the hoop.

All that said, I can't recal JJ every really starting a legit 3. Rich Young was probably the closest.