Good Riddance: The Marbury Effect

Sports Illustrated has reported that Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks have reached an agreement on a contract buyout, making the Brookyln native a free agent. Marbury is expected to sign with the defending world-champion Boston Celtics later this week. We at Gator Nation would like to say good riddance to Marbury, whose teams have a history of becoming exponentially better once he is off of their roster. Let's take a look at "The Marbury Effect".

1999

• Stephon Marbury forces his way out of Minnesotta and into America's armpit--New Jersey, on the way passing up the chance to play with a young Kevin Garnett. The Timberwolves finish one spot from making the playoffs.

2000

• The Timberwolves, without Marbury, earn the 6th seed in the tough Western Conference.
• The Nets, under Marbury's "leadership", finish the season with an abysmal record of 31-49.
  

2001

• Marbury is traded from the Nets to the Suns in exchange for Jason Kidd.
• Nets' record with Marbury at the helm: 26-56
• Suns' record with J-Kidd running the show: 51-31

2002

• Jason Kidd leads the Nets from a league-wide joke to the first overall seed in the east with a record of 52-30. New Jersey wins the Eastern Conference Championship.
• With Marbury playing in Phoenix, the Suns fail to reach the postseason and finish with a lousy record of 36-46.

2004

• New York acquires Marbury from Phoenix in a then blockbuster deal.
• The trade allows Phoenix to free up cap space to sign Steve Nash, who eventually goes on to win two league MVP trophies and lead the Suns to a Western Conference Finals appearance.
• New York reaches the playoffs as the seventh seed only to be trounced by Jason Kidd's Nets.
  

2004-2008

• The Knicks become the laughingstock of the league.
• Marbury, interestingly enough, claims to be the best point guard in the NBA in a post-practice interview.
• Marbury launches his own shoe brand entitled, "Starbury".
• Marbury idiotically tattoos the "Starbury" logo on his larger-than-life head.
• Marbury is exiled by new GM Donnie Walsh.

2009

• The Knicks buy out Marbury's contract, he is expected to sign with the Celtics.

Predictions for the Future

• Upon Marbury's arrival in Boston, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo will lose their powers, ala Space Jam.
• Due to these absences Brian "Hot-Head" Scalabrine is put into Doc Rivers' starting lineup.
• Without a point guard, Danny Ainge decides to step down from his managerial office and insert himself into the starting lineup. Without anyone to look over the franchise, Ainge hands the important task of Celtics' GM to the best man available- Isiah Thomas.
• Thomas trades the entire Boston roster for Jerome James, Tim Thomas, Renaldo Balkman, and Anucha Browne Sanders.
• The Celtics suffer a historic collapse and fail to reach the playoffs, with the lone bright spot being Browne Sanders' three point shooting.

Good luck Boston, you're going to need it.

Good Riddance

Donnie Walsh continued to clean up Isiah Thomas' mess this week, trading away perennial scrubs Jerome James, Tim Thomas, Anthony Roberson, and Malik Rose in exchange for Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox. This prompted me to share a humorous website dedicated, well, not so much a dedication but rather a full frontal bashing of Larry Hughes.

It looks like we could have another headcase coming to the Garden. If Stephon Marbury were to ever see the floor again, him and Hughes could have quite a contest to see who has the bigger ego.

Five Minutes With the Big 5-0

In less than a week, Terrick "The Big 5-0" Waiters will face the tough test of shutting down B.C.A. big man Onyema Utti in the biggest basketball game in LMU history. Waiters was arguably the Gators' most valuable player this season, averaging 13 points and 16 rebounds per game. We spent a little time with this LMU standout to reflect on his stellar season, find out how he proves doubters wrong, and the impact that fans play on games.

Terrick Waiters: Vital Statistics

• Ranked 13th in all PSAL divisions in rebounding.
• Led Manhattan-B3 in total defensive rebounds.
• Ranked 10th in Manhattan-B3 in scoring

GN: Where would you rate yourself as a rebounder in the B-Division?

Terrick "The Big 5-0" Waiters: Is that really a question? I am number one and will always be number one. No one has the will to go snatch boards like I do. It is a craft I have made look good, especially for all of my undersized big men.

GN: Speaking of which, some say you are too short for your position, what would you say to these doubters?

5-0: My game is about proving to them that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight and the size in the dog. I have the most heart out of anyone in the PSAL.

GN: If you were to nominate an MVP (besides yourself) from the Gators, who would you choose?

5-0: Shane Richards, without a doubt, a freshman who held his own. He proved me wrong because I doubted him heavily coming into the season.

GN: It is do or die time with the playoffs coming up after vacation. Any concerns coming off a loss right before your biggest game of the season?

5-0: We might play lazy because our practices have been terrible. Also, some people on the team still lack heart and act like they are afraid to show it even after they have played 16 games.

GN: Throughout the years, LMU basketball has not had a strong following in school, but this year has been much different with the emergence of senior students supporting the team. How much of an impact does the crowd have on games?

5-0: I love the crowd, they show love. It gets me going or should I say it gets the team going, especially when we see the chest paint. It makes us feel appreciated for our hard work.

Getting to Know Captain Album

As Captain Sam Album prepares his Gators for what should be their toughest test of the season, Gator Nation gives you a small glimpse into his life.

Name: Sam Album

Date of Birth: 4/2/92

Graduating Class: 2010

Favorite TV Show: One Tree Hill

Favorite Movie: A Bronx Tale

Favorite Music: Anything that makes my body move.

Favorite Quote: "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent."

College Plans: Applying to Keller School of Business at Indiana University

First thoughts after being named Captain: I was shocked because there has never been a Junior Captain in LMU basketball history.

Why I wear number 0: Individuality, I feel like it sets me aside from everyone else.

Note: In the regular season, Album averaged 10 points a game, with a game-high of 20 points on two separate occasions.

PSAL Playoff Brackets Released

The 2009 PSAL Basketball Playoff brackets were released today, and after a 13-3 regular season, the LMU Gators earned a 7th seed in the tournament. In the first round they will face the Bobcats from Brooklyn College Academy on Tuesday, February 24th, at 5:00 PM. All fans please come and show your support for the Gators as they begin their quest for a B-Division championship. The first row of bleachers will be reserved for "The Gator City Dancers", who consist of 15 chest painters.

Another notable storyline is that LMU has a potential quarterfinal matchup against B-Division powerhouse JKO.

Brooklyn College Academy Scouting Report

Division: Brooklyn B West

Record: 10-6 (3rd Place Finish)

Leading Scorers: Onyema Utti-18.36 PPG, Keyon Aigle- 13.5 PPG, Phillip Tarik- 10 PPG

Leading Rebounders: Onyema Utti- 16 RBG, Jamaal James- 13 RBG

Assists Leaders: Keyon Aigle- 8.19 APG, Phillip Tarik- 7.13 APG

Notes: It appears as if the B.C.A. Bobcats' offensive system involves their two guards, Phillip Tarik and Keyon Aigle, both running the show. Tarik and Aigle average a combined 15 assists per game. The key matchup in this first-round contest will be if Terrick Waiters can neutralize B.C.A. big man Onyema Utti who had great success both scoring and rebounding in a tough Brookyln division. In addition, LMU will need Karim Obaid to step up on the boards, as the Bobcats have another great rebounder besides Utti in Jamaal James.

2009 NFL Mock Draft

With the 2009 NFL Draft coming up in just a few months, Gator Nation's NFL analyst Max Davis predicts how the first round will play out.

#	Team	Player/ Position/ College	Expert Analysis
1	Detroit Lions	Matthew Stafford/ QB/ Georgia	Following the worst season in NFL history the Lions have more than enough holes to fill. They may as well start with most important position on the field and Stafford is the best QB in the draft.
2	St. Louis Rams	Andre Smith/ OT/ Alabama	340 pounds of pure muscle mixed with quick feet and excellent hands makes Smith, the 2009 Outland Trophy winner for the best lineman in college football, the future replacement of the aging Orlando Pace.
3	Kansas City Chiefs	Michael Oher/ OT/ Ole Miss	The Chiefs drafted LG Brandon Albert last year in the first round and if they have the chance to pair him with Oher next season then Kansas City could have one of the best offensive lines in football for many years to come.
4	Seattle Seahawks	Michael Crabtree/ WR/ Texas Tech	The Seahawks had one of the leagues worst passing attacks last year and Crabtree is the obvious fit. Maybe the best all-around player in the draft, Crabtree will make an immediate impact.
5	Cleveland Browns	Aaron Curry/ OLB/ Wake Forest	Hands down the best defensive prospect in the draft, Aaron Curry dominated opponents last season, something the Browns struggled to do.
6	Cincinnati Bengals	Eugene Monroe/ OT/ Virginia	The Chiefs or Rams could possibly take Monroe over Oher or Smith. I expect the Bengals to snatch up whichever one of these three OT’s is left on the board.
7	Oakland Raiders	Malcolm Jenkins/ CB/ Ohio State	The possibility of Malcolm Jenkins playing across the field from arguably the best corner in the game, Nnamdi Asomugha, will raise Jay Cutler’s blood pressure and make Phillip Rivers wish he was home for a long time to come.
8	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jeremy Maclin/ WR/ Missouri	Watch for the Jaguars to trade this pick: they don’t have that one pressing need they have to fill with this pick and teams who need a QB will be looking to trade up for Mark Sanchez. If they do hold this pick, Maclin is the deep threat the Jags have been lacking.
9	Green Bay Packers	Brian Orakpo/ DE/ Texas	Orakpo is high-energy guy whose motor never seems to stop, unless he’s hurt which happens too often. When healthy though, he can be a force on D.
10	San Francisco 49ers	B.J. Raji/ DT/ Boston College	The Niners are notoriously bad at stopping the run and Raji is a big nose tackle who can help plug that hole.
11	Buffalo Bills	Vontae Davis/ CB/ Illinois	A physical freak for the cornerback position, Davis’s stock will rise at the combine and the Bills will be very happy if he is sitting here at pick eleven.
12	Denver Broncos	Ray Maualuga/ ILB/ USC	The Broncos linebackers are old and slow and Denver needs a guy like Maualuga to change that.
13	Washington Redskins	Evertte Brown/ DE/ Florida State	Jason Taylor hasn’t worked out as well as the Skins may have hoped and they still are weak on the D-line. Brown is a very talented player who can make a difference.
14	New Orleans Saints	Michael Johnson/ DE/ Georgia Tech	While the Saints have a Super Bowl caliber offense, the defense is annually one of the worst in football. Michael Johnson is a big 6’ 7” end with power.
15	Houston Texans	Jason Smith/ OT/ Baylor	Throughout the Texans young history, the O-line has been their Achilles heel. Jason Smith clearly seems like the fourth-best OT in this draft and the Texans should be happy to have him.
16	San Diego Chargers	Chris Wells/ RB/ Ohio State	If Maualuga is still here the Chargers might have to jump on him but I don’t think he’ll be on the board at 16. LT is in the final stretch of his career and Darren Sproles cannot be an every-down back; “Beanie” Wells is a special player that will make a dangerous 1-2 combo with Sproles.
17	New York Jets	Mark Sanchez/ QB/ USC	There is a very good chance that the Jets will have to trade up to get him, but because teams 4 through 16 don’t need a QB there’s a very realistic possibility of Sanchez falling into the Jets’ laps at 17.
18	Chicago Bears	Percy Harvin/ WR/ Florida	He is not the same player as Devin Hester. Harvin is a much more polished receiver coming out of college and will be ready to make an immediate impact. Also, just imagine the speed of Hester and Harvin lined up alongside each other and dream of the possibilities.
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Brian Cushing/ OLB/ USC	OLB might not be the Bucs most pressing need but Cushing is way too good to pass up this late.
20	Detroit Lions	Tyson Jackson/ DE/ LSU	The Lions are weak at, well, everywhere, which means start at the core. Jackson will help an abysmal pass rush.
21	Philadelphia Eagles	Aaron Maybin/ DE/ Penn State	Andy Reid has a history of only drafting lineman early in the draft so I expect him to take the best one available on either side of the ball. In this situation, it’s Maybin.
22	Minnesota Vikings	William Moore/ S/ Missouri	With Darren Sharper nearing the end of his career, the Vikings need to add a guy like Moore to sure up an already vulnerable pass defense.
23	New England Patriots	Knowshon Moreno/ RB/ Georgia	The Lawrence Maroney era appears finished in New England and Moreno is an every-down back that could create havoc working with Brady and co.
24	Atlanta Falcons	Darrius Heyward-Bey/ WR/ Maryland	Matt Ryan doesn’t have any real weapons after Roddy White and Heyward-Bey would provide a very formidable 1-2 WR core for the best young QB in the game.
25	Miami Dolphins	Fili Moala/ DT/ USC	The Fins front seven was very good last year but they aren’t young; to avoid a rebuilding period they need to incorporate young linemen.
26	Baltimore Ravens	Brandon Pettigrew/ TE/ Oklahoma State	The Ravens do have TE Todd Heap but he’s not getting any younger… or healthier apparently. Pettigrew is both a solid receiver and blocker, something you have to be if you want to be a Raven.
27	Indianapolis Colts	Larry English/ DE/ Northern Illinois	Larry English could fly under the radar coming from Northern Illinois but don’t expect the Colts not to notice the oversized DE/ DT hybrid.
28	Philadelphia Eagles	James Laurinaitis/ ILB/ Ohio State	Laurinaitis fits in very well with the Eagles blitz schemes and will be a big help in run stopping too. He can bring a young energy to an aging team that must feel like they just missed their best opportunity to get back to the big game.
29	New York Giants	Hakeem Nicks/ WR/ North Carolina	Amani Toomer has said that he doesn’t expect to be a Giant next year and Plaxico Burress, well, let’s just call him unreliable. Most draft classes would never allow Nicks to fall this far but the Giants benefit from a stacked class.
30	Tennessee Titans	Alphonso Smith/ CB/ Wake Forest	The Titans still need to replace Pacman at CB #2 and Smith has the elite speed to fill that position.
31	Arizona Cardinals	Lesean McCoy/ RB/ Pittsburgh	McCoy is an outstanding young back with unlimited potential. He flew under the radar on a sub-par Pitt Panther team last season and could absolutely explode on a team with Warner and Fitzgerald.
32	Pittsburgh Steelers	Duke Robinson/ OG/ Oklahoma	It is very rare for a Super Bowl champion to have a weak offensive line but that was the case this year with the Steelers. Look for the Steelers to fill that hole with the top Guard in the draft.

Gators Fall on Senior Day: Game Report by Louie Dane

The evening began much like many other game nights for the 2008-2009 LMU Gators Varsity Basketball team. The players ran lay-up lines, ran pre-game drills, and prepared mentally for their final regular season home game before the much awaited PSAL playoffs. Only today's game would be a new experience for eight of the Gators. Seniors Adam Leventhal, Terrick Waiters, Nelson Vergara, Travis Winograd, Sam Becker, James Peterson, Karim Obaid, and Emilio Ramos were honored by Master of Ceremonies Alan Duffy minutes before the opening tip. It was quite an emotional night for many of these seniors, who will forever cherish their opportunity to represent their school on the court.

"Some of the best days of my life were game days," says Leventhal, a four-year Varsity athlete. "Being able to play with my friends and classmates was a great experience. My first two years were kind of a disappointment, but as an upperclassmen we really turned some heads. I'm glad we could have made such a difference when we got our shot."

Two sub-.500 seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07 set up the Gators two-year run as the Cinderella of the Manhattan B Division of PSAL Basketball. Last season, under coach Carmine Giovino, the Gators accomplished the best record in school history, posting 9 victories before falling in their first post-season opportunity to Aviation High School. Last season's success was believed to be short lived after the September departure of the Gator coach, but this year's class of leaders did not want to buy in to the theory. Newly hired gym teacher and basketball coach Ben Newman took a team with an established identity and made them hungry for more.

This season's 13-3 mark not only eclipsed last season's success, but has guaranteed the Gators a first-round home playoff game. After yesterday's game against Coalition for Social Change, many fans left the gymnasium believing that the Gators are capable of a different result.

An opening tip mishap left many players and fans caught off-guard wondering why LMU Forward Nelson Vergara was dropping easy lay-ups into his own team's basket. Says Vergara, "My adrenaline was rushing and as soon as I saw Terrick win the tip, I jumped at the chance to put some points on the board. It may not have been for the right team, but at least I looked good doing it." Having not adequately pointed out each team's baskets, the referees called a restart, and Vergara's bucket was taken off Coalition's score sheet. It was an omen for a night where the refs would have a bigger impact on the game's outcome than any of the players could have expected.

Vergara's first quarter contribution of 4 points, along with junior Sam Album's 12-point run in the second gave the Gators a 4-point cushio n at halftime after a sloppy half of basketball. In the third quarter, freshman stud Shane Richards and senior playmaker Karim Obaid electrified the home crowd with outstanding displays of athleticism in strong drives the basket. Richards added a few three pointers along the way, but poor defensive efforts by the Gators in the fourth quarter failed to neutralize Panthers big-man Brandon Pichardo in the post. Point Guard Porforio Lizardo gave the Gators' man-to-man scheme problems with high-flying moves on drives.

The real story of the game, however, was the missed free throws by the Gators in the final minutes of the game. Junior Guard C assius Naylor hit a clutch three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining, but a combined five missed opportunities from the charity stripe left the game tied with less than

10 seconds left. Coalition's Christopher Batista found the open look from three-point range in transition and nailed the bucket as the final horn sounded. Gators Center Terrick Waiters sat in a

mazement at center court afterward, staring up at the score board, which read 70-67, Panthers.

Even with the poor end to a stellar regular season, the Gators have a lot to look forward to in their second straight post-season appearance. A strong contingence of leaders on the team are more eager than ever to rebound from the disappointment. Waiters, who averaged a double-double in points and rebounds over his four years as a Varsity starter, will definitely want to make up for his missed opportunities down the stretch in a game that truly matters. This is a man that wants the ball when the game is on the line. Watch him, and the Gators. This is sure to be a season to remember.

Photos provided by Lindsay Kent

Gators Fall on Senior Day

The LMU Gators suffered a devastating loss today to the hands of the Panthers from the Coalition for Social Change. Making their first career starts were Seniors Nelson Vergara and Travis Winograd, who had been serving as the team managers for the majority of the season until the LMU roster slowly depleted because of injuries and other problems. Vergara finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds and Winograd was held scoreless.

Final Score: 67-70

Player of the Game: Terrick Waiters- 21 points, 29 rebounds

More details to follow...

Becker Will Return for Playoffs

Point Guard Sam Becker will be out for two weeks due to an injury he suffered to his right forearm in last Friday's game against Graphics. Luckily, the injury came at the right time, as Becker will only miss one game and the Gators have already clinched the division. He will have all of break to rest and will be able to play in LMU's first-round playoff contest.

Issue 2 Sneak Preview

Here's what to expect in the upcoming issue of Gator Nation:

• Debate: Should the NHL allow fighting
• The Alex Rodriguez Steroid Scandal
• Editorial: Why Major League Baseball will never recover from its infamous steroid era
• NFL Season Wrap-Up
• World Baseball Classic and Spring Training coverage

And much, much more...

2008-2009 Division Champions!

The 2008-2009 LMU Gators clinched the Manhattan B-3 division today with a decisive 13 point victory over the HS for Math, Science, and Engineering. Unable to play was defensive stopper and starting Point Guard Sam Becker, who suffered an injury to his right forearm in Friday's loss to Graphics. Stepping up in his absence was junior Cassius Naylor, who contributed 6 assists.

Terrick "The Big 5-0" Waiters was a monster on the boards, hauling in 19 rebounds and adding 10 points for yet another double-double. Although ecstatic with a division title, Waiters remains hungry--"I can't believe it. I never thought I would see this day come. Winning the division is good, but it is not good enough for the 5-0." With just one game left before the Gators begin their journey to a B division Championship, questions remain if they can be the same successful team without Sam Becker. Waiters acknowledges Becker's skills but remains positive as the Gators' remarkable regular season comes to a close--"Sam is a hell of a player. We are going to miss his defensive pressure and his ability to expose weak guards, but this is just a little adversity that the team has to overcome. This means that the next man will have to fill Sam's shoes until he gets back."

Shane Richards: Born Ready

This coming Wednesday will be the LMU Gators' first ever Senior Day, where graduating players from the class of 2009 will be honored in front of their home crowd. But another reason fans will be filling up the seats is to see a Freshman play. Averaging 16 points per game in his first season with the Gators, Shane Richards has lived up to the hype, becoming LMU's number one option on offense. About a year ago today, Richards was an utterly dominant force in Middle School, leading Lab to a city championship. Here is an article that appeared in Gator Nation at the beginning of 2008.

The clock dwindled down in LAB’s semi-final basketball game against I.S. 89, Shane Richards gathered and controlled the ball in his hands with just seven seconds remaining. With the score tied, Richards calmly dribbled past half-court and smoothly crossed over to his left hand at the foul line. Just getting enough space to edge by the 89 defender, Richards took a leaning, one-handed floater towards the basket that swished through the net with just one second remaining on the game clock. As 89’s desperation heave fell short of the basket, LAB middle school students stormed the court, mobbing the Gator team and Richards, whose last second shot eventually led to a MS Basketball Championship.

In a long line of 8th grade phenoms, Shane Richards will be the first to test the waters of LMU Varsity basketball. In 2002-2003, Danny Leventhal (Brother of current LAB SG Adam Leventhal) single-handedly led the Gators to the semifinals, putting up ridiculous statistics throughout the season before being accepted into the Bronx HS of Science. This spring, Leventhal will attempt to walk on to the SUNY Geneseo basketball team. During the 2004-2005 season, Nolan Becker anchored a strong supporting cast all the way to the semifinals against Wagner. After blowing a 12 point, the Gators suffered a heartbreaking loss and had their season end in disappointing fashion. In addition, Becker’s career with the Gators finished, as he enrolled in Stuyvesant, where he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds a game as a junior for the Runnin’ Rebels. Most recently, David Henriquez starred with Shane Richards on the 2006-2007 developmental middle school team. Henriquez, like Danny Leventhal, took his versatile game to the Bronx HS of Science, and averaged nearly 14 points a game for their junior varsity team.

Unlike previous middle school basketball stars, Richards will attempt to make the gargantuan leap to LMU varsity basketball. At 6’1”, he plays point guard for the Shaun Hicks’ coached Gators. With the ability to blow by defenders, in addition to an ultra-consistent jump shot, it is no surprise that a lot of people will be watching his progress as he makes his journey to high school. However, playing on the varsity team will be a period of adjustment for Richards, as Karim Obaid, SG of the LMU Gators explains, “He’ll be a great spot-up shooter, and will bring good team chemistry. But he needs to work on his aggressiveness and ball handling if he wants to continue to play point guard.” Rumor has it that Richards will in fact have to play shooting guard, junior Sam Becker will likely be the starting point guard for next season due to his feisty defensive intensity. PG/SG Little Pagoada believes that Richards will play small forward, but will have a difficult time getting minutes, “Shane will probably play the 3 position because he is tall and can shoot, he should have a great impact on the team because of his height and skill level, but it will be tough for him to get minutes because Coach Carmine doesn’t like playing underclassmen.” For Richards, the journey to success on Varsity will be difficult, but for Lab’s first home-grown freshmen phenom, maybe Coach Giovino will make an exception to his rules. Who knows? In four years, Richards could be hitting another game-winning shot, this time with a lot more on the line.

LMU Gators: Varsity Basketball Roster

The 2008-2009 Gators have proven to the rest of Manhattan that they are a major force to be reckoned with come the B-Division playoffs. They currently stand atop their division with an astounding record of 12-1. Here is a look at their roster, with a complete scouting report of each player.

Note: This article was written prior to the season. De to technical difficulties, the first issue of Gator Nation was not released to the public. We will be constantly updating on the team’s progress so make sure to check out the blog.

Name	Comments	Player Comparison
PG Sam Becker	Entering his fourth year on varsity, Becker looks to be the teams’ staring point guard. Equipped with blazing speed and exceptional defensive abilities, he should make a huge impact on the court.	Gary Payton
PF Terrick Waiters	Waiters is an absolute monster on the boards despite his small size for a big man. He has the potential to get a double-double in every game this year.	Zach Randolph
SG Karim Obaid	Obaid has developed a ridiculous ability to handle the basketball due to his years playing street-ball. If he can play to his strengths and attack the basket rather than settle for a jump-shot, he could average nearly twenty points a game.	Jamal Crawford
PF Eddie Zheng	Stocked with a plethora of offensive moves on the low block, Zheng dominates his opponents in the post. He is also versatile enough to play the wing.	Yi Jianlian
SF Shane Richards	The MVP of Lab’s middle school team last year, Richards will make the quantum leap to varsity. However, this should not be a problem for him, as he knows how to utilize his deadly jump-shot.	Adam Morrison
SG Sam Album	Album comes into the season as the team’s most improved player. He is no longer just a spot up shooter, and has developed ways to get by defenders in order to score points and get to the line—where he rarely misses.	Mike Miller
SG Adam Leventhal	Leventhal looks to be coach Newman’s three point specialist in his offensive system. He can use his deceptive quickness and strength to shake off defenders.	Jason Kapono
PF James Peterson	Using superior strength, Peterson simply overpowers his opponents on his way to the basket. In addition, he has a deft touch from mid-range.	Mike Sweetney
PG Cassius Naylor	A new addition to the team, Naylor will most likely come off the bench for the Gators. He is a smart player with a good jump shot and rarely turns the ball over.	Rajon Rondo
SF David Bischof	Bischof is another big body for the Gators. He uses his power to defend taller players and is adept in rebounding.	Nick Collison
PF/C Bene French	Nicknamed “Raw” due to his sheer athleticism, French does not adhere to the rules of gravity, soaring over opponents for rebounds. With a bit of coaching and experience, “Raw” could become a terror on the court.	DJ Mbenga
SF Amiyr Holland	Holland is an utter beast on the court, and will outwork anyone for the basketball. He has perfected his step back jump shot and looks to be the team’s first or second option off the bench.	Renaldo Balkman
SG/SF Emilio Ramos	A surprise addition to the team, Ramos has a good handle for his size and can be a lockdown defender at times.	Raja Bell

Emilio Ramos: Fan of the Month (December)

The following interview was conducted by Lucas Brody in early December.

The 2008 season was a rough one for the LMU Varsity boys’ soccer team, who finished with a disappointing record of 2-8-2. This was a major step back from the usually successful program led by Coach Steve Gleit. Despite the team’s struggles, senior Emilio Ramos always showed his full-fledged support for the Gators, cheering through difficult circumstances and riling up the squad when necessary. Because of his admirable passion and school spirit, Emilio has been named Gator Nation’s fan of the month.

GN: Why did you continue to attend soccer games even though the Gators had been eliminated from the playoffs?

Emilio: I continued to go to the games because they are fun to watch. All of my friends are on the team so I had to come and show them my support.

GN: Do you think your presence at games had an effect on players’ performances?

Emilio: I think that the players may have gotten a certain sense of motivation when they hear my voice or other fans screaming and cheering for them on the sidelines.

GN: You recently made the Varsity basketball team, do you expect people to show you the same support that you have exerted towards the soccer team?

Emilio: Yes, I know I can always count on my boys to come to my games and show their support for the basketball team just as I did for the soccer team.

GN: Who is your favorite student-athlete to cheer for from school? Why?

Emilio: My favorite student-athlete would have to be Adam Leventhal. He shows the motivation, drive, and talent on the basketball court that I have been searching for my whole life. He is a leader both on and off the court.

GN: What do you like more? Playing sports or being a fan?

Emilio: I like playing sports more than being a fan because when I am on a team I can be a player and a fan at the same time.

Note: When this interview was conducted, Emilio had just made the basketball team as a surprise addition to the roster. As of February he has proven his doubters wrong, and has inspired the team with his energetic play and passion both off of the bench and even as a starter. In LMU's pivotal victory against the Silverhawks from Manhattan Village Academy in January, Ramos contributed 8 points and 8 rebounds including two clutch free throws to clinch a Gator victory.