I 12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 14, 2002 Cagers ink three recruits in early signing period By Seth Klempner Daily Sports Writer Short of "Selection Sunday," yesterday was the most important day in the life of a college basketball coach. It was the nation- al letter of intent signing day, the day that coaches can formally ink incoming fresh- men for the next year and can stop worry- ing if the verbal commitment their player made will hold up. The days leading up to yesterday had been particularly hectic for Michigan coach Tommy Amaker, who had to contend with the fear of sanctions scaring away his potential signees. But after calling them in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the self-imposed sanctions, Amaker had assured them that there would be scholar- ships available. "We are excited to have three high cal- iber student-athletes join the Michigan basketball program," Amaker said. "All three young men are quality people and exceptional student-athletes. We think they will have a very promising future here at Michigan." Amaker has followed up his first impres- sive recruiting class with an equally talent- ed second effort. All three of his incoming freshman are ranked in the top 100 by sev- eral recruiting analysts and the class is con- sidered in the top 10 nationally. The star of this recruiting class is 6-foot- 3 shooting guard Dion Harris. Coming out of Detroit Redford High School, Harris is Amaker's first top-20 Michigan recruit and is considered to be the first step toward Amaker being able to even the playing field for in-state recruits with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Harris is ranked as the nation's No. 16 player on Rivals.com and averaged 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and four assists last year. Joining Harris is Brent Petway, a 6-foot- 8 forward from McDonough, Ga. Ranked No. 87 by Rivals.com, Petway received a great deal of national attention after his stellar performance for his AAU team this summer. He averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game last year. Rounding out the 2003-04 freshmen class is 6-foot-11 center Courtney Sims. Sims, who committed to Michigan this September, was the last member of the class to join the Wolverines. He averaged 18.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 7.9 blocks per game last season. What makes Sims unique is that he only started playing organized basketball four years ago, and the Boston native also won the Youth Games Nationals for tennis three times. "I think they've brought in good players, their problems are pretty much fixed," HoopScoop analyst Clark Francis said. "They've got Daniel Horton, they've got Dion Harris - they're pretty well stocked. I think they're in great shape, I think they're a year or two away from turning the corner and being a great team in college basketball." J.C. Mathis will also be making his pre- miere with the Wolverines next season. A transfer from Virginia, Mathis is able to practice with Michigan this year and help some of the younger post players with their adjustment to the college game. While the letter of intent is a legal con- tract between the players and Michigan, binding them to attend next year, the signees would be able to transfer to another school without penalty if Michigan were to be hit with further sanctions by the NCAA. I I DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Tommy Amaker locked up his second straight impressive class of recruits, despite self-imposed sanctions on the Michigan program. I iiiiiiiii Road to Final Four begins tonight NEW YORK (AP) - While most head coaches arrive on the court after their teams have begun their warmups, Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson wants to be there from the start. The third-ranked Sooners return four starters from a team that reached the Final Four last season, but it's the new guys Samp- * son wants to see even before they start their career tonight against No. 8 Alabama in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden. "Two of our top seven are true fresh- men and I'm not sure how it will be for kids from Stroud and Midwest City, what it will be like trotting down that tunnel in New York, on national TV, against No. 8 Alabama," he said refer- ring to in-state recruits Kevin Bookout and DeAngelo Alexander. "I would like to be in front of them to watch their eyes as they take the court." It could also be fun to watch Samp- son's face before the nightcap of the opening doubleheader. "I've got butterflies," he admitted about his first time coaching in what is called "The World's Most Famous Arena." "There's very few venues as a coach that you sit there and say 'I'd like to take a team there and play.' But Madison Square Garden is a little bit special. That's a place where every- body would like to go at least once in their career. I'm tickled to death our kids are getting to play there. I'd be more tickled if they win." The Top Ten matchup follows Syra- cuse against Memphis, while tomorrow night's doubleheader has Villanova against No. 18 Marquette and No. 4 Texas meeting No. 16 Georgia. The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic has a different format because of the NCAA's changes con- cerning exempt games. Instead of a four-team tournament, there will be the four games with no champion crowned. "I'd rather have the tournament atmosphere if the games are exempt," Georgia coach Jim Harrick said. "If they're not exempt, then it's not feasi- ble to have the tournament concept." Teams used to be allowed to play in a multi-game event and count it as one game against its season allotment. The NCAA has ruled teams may only play in two exempt events in a four-year period so tournaments such as this and early seasons staples like the Maui Invitational, Preseason NIT and Great Alaska Shootout have had to scramble as far as their fields are concerned. A judge is reviewing a suit by the exempt events that hopes to restore the situa- tion to the way it was. "I'm tremendously disappointed, all coaches are,' Syracuse's Jim Boeheim said. "The tournament format got more people involved and excited. The exempt events in November have been great for college basketball. I don't think there's any benefit for losing these exempt events." The games will be the debut of some highly regarded freshmen. CarmelosAnthony, who Boeheim said reminds him of former Syracuse star Billy Owens as a freshman, will make his debut in tonight's opener and Memphis coach John Calipari paid him quite a compliment. "I told our kids that we have to understand this kid can embarrass you," said Calipari, whose team won the NIT at Madison Square Garden in March but then lost freshman.Dajuan Wagner to the NBA. "We'll pick straws 44 Work. . Leisure. Work. I. Leisure. Work. euWhy nothaveb FORTUNE What does a job at Ernst & Young give you? The best of both worlds. After all, 100 BEST the focus of our business has always been its people, and we are devoted to helping COMPANIES E TO WORK FOR N them realize their career goals while encouraging their personal aspirations. The result is you'll be challenged, but you'll also be rewarded. Maybe that's why we've been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For," four years in a row. So why not bounce on over and see for yourself? I I I I A