As you've seen, I've started the series of Senior Farewells to our four graduating seniors - Shane Clark (whose first three years are already chronicled), Dante Cunningham, Frank Tchuisi, and Dwayne Anderson. Cunningham, according to a consensus of mock NBA drafts, is likely to be a high-to-middle second round selection, in late June.
For a superb look at Dante Cunningham, as he prepares for his new life in the NBA, take a look at Nova Notebook on Villanova.com, the official site of Villanova athletics... this was published earlier today, Tuesday, May 5...
I think this was a great article, particularly because it accurately notes that Cunningham was not expected - at least by recruiting analysts - to be a star player at Villanova. However, I speculate that Jay Wright and the coaching staff may have seen a potential star in Cunningham all along... Cunningham's new status as near-certain NBA draft pick represents one of the most impressive player developments in the history of Villanova Wildcats basketball... and it really was a great recruiting decision by Wright and the staff to land him and bring him here...
Here are some key excerpts from the article, written by director of media relations Mike Sheridan...
The fine site VUHoops.com also has its thoughts on the article...One month has passed since Villanova returned from the Final Four and the careers of Cunningham and classmates Dwayne Anderson, Shane Clark, and Frank Tchuisi officially entered the homestretch. As seniors headed for graduation later this month, they are still a part of the basketball family. They remain a presence on campus in class rooms and at the Davis Center.
...When he came to Villanova in 2006, he was an unheralded prospect from Silver Spring, Md. Though he had enjoyed a superb senior season at Potomac High School, earning Washington Post Player of the Year honors, his was hardly a ballyhooed arrival...
As a senior, he blossomed, earning Most Improved Player honors in the BIG EAST while averaging 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per outing for a group that led the Wildcats back to the Final Four for the first time since 1985. Along the way, he also took what he learned from the likes of Randy Foye, Allan Ray, [Curtis] Sumpter, and Mike Nardi to become a complete vocal leader...With the passage of a few weeks since the season ended in Detroit, Cunningham and friends have had a few moments to finally peer back at what they accomplished. They know there is now a new standard in place for victories by a single Villanova class (102) that belongs to them. It's a fact that has been brought to the attention of their younger peers - "I think they'll have to go like 38-0 to catch us" quips Cunningham - and will remain a source of honor for the soon to be alums...
Of course, check back for the latest posts in the series, in which I'll be looking back at the Villanova tenures of each of the four departing Wildcats...
There are two ways you can contact Villanova Viewpoint. One is by commenting on this blog. Comments are encouraged, and will always be answered. Also, you can e-mail villanova.viewpoint@yahoo.com (Important note: This is a different e-mail address than before. Please use this new one.)
No comments:
Post a Comment