Dominican Republic NT

[Ciscorlie Horford]

Pitino Out, Calipari In

Pitino Out, Calipari In?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach John Calipari is mulling a chance to coach the Dominican Republic national team.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino will not coach the Puerto Rico national team due to scheduling conflicts between the two responsibilities, the university announced Wednesday.

Last last year, Pitino announced he would coach Puerto Rico through this year's FIBA Tournament of the Americas, with the goal of qualifying the team for the 2012 London Games.

Menawhile, Calipari posted on his website Tuesday that he has been approached by Dominican officials about taking over the team in hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
"My question to the Dominican Basketball Federation was, why are you calling me?" Calipari posted. "Their response was, they liked what we are doing in China, including coaching their coaches and being involved in promoting grassroots basketball."
Calipari says he would spend about six weeks with the team from August through mid-September, preparing it for the Tournament of the Americas.
The team would practice at Kentucky's Joe Craft Center before the tournament, which will be held in Brazil. The Dominican Republic has never qualified for the Olympics in men's basketball.
Calipari says he would also help train Dominican coaches. He has a similar relationship with coaches in China. He gave no timetable on his decision.
The 2009 Dominican Republic team that competed in the FIBA Americas championships included several NBA players, including Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford and Sacramento Kings swingman Francisco Garcia. The team finished fifth in the tournament with a 4-4 record.
Calipari wouldn't be the first big-time American coach to lead a foreign squad.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino is scheduled to coach the Puerto Rican national team in the same tournament this fall, though Pitino said Tuesday there's a chance the deal could fall through because NCAA rules would prevent the Cardinals from playing a series of exhibitions against the team.
Former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson unsuccessfully tried to get Mexico into the 2008 Olympics, and longtime NBA coach Del Harris led China to an eighth-place finish in the 2004 Olympics

The second quote comes from the Domincian Rep. federation.

Business Report NAJRI hired John Calipari.

Eduardo Najri, general manager of the national basketball team, said through a press release is in advanced negotiations to hire as head of the Dominican team will participate in the Pre-Olympic Silver Sea, to be held in August this year , the renowned U.S. coach John Calipari.

"We are very close to reaching an agreement with this outstanding technical and within hours we hope to make an official announcement," said Najri.

He added that "we consider the hiring of Calipari, because of their proven ability and after weighting their contributions to basketball, within which the work is developed in the Republic of China, where he contributed greatly to the development of this discipline to the conclusion clinics, camps and exhibitions.

He said: "We are excited because we know that eventually we signed to Calipari, it will be ready to contribute to the training of our coaches and to help advance the Dominican basketball from the youth level."

Najri stressed that "upon completion of negotiations with Cal coach, the team from the University of Kentucky will inherit 10 million followers and fans will have a more to follow."

Calipari this year became the second coach of the NCAA lead three different teams to the Final Four, when he led the representative of the University of Kentucky to the event's elite American college basketball.

The other two teams that Calipari was prior to the Final Four were selected from the universities of Massachusetts in 1996 and Memphis in 2008.

The experienced men's basketball went for 3 seasons, from 1996 to 1999 at the New Jersey Nets in the NBA.

Calipari began his coaching career in 1982 when he served as assistant director and from 1988 worked as head coach.

[CKR13]

Also, another article from Kentucky.com

Calipari considering coaching Dominican team, too

[Ciscorlie Horford]

it's official now, John Calipari is the new coach of the Dominican Rep.national team

Also, another article from Kentucky.com

Calipari considering coaching Dominican team, too

Espn-Deportes, is reporting that Calapari has agreed to terms with the dominican Federation.

The Dominican team will train with The University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, in Kentucky

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news...bas&type=story

[Mojado]

He got a point.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/04/28/source-calipari-would-be-crazy-to-coach-the-dr/

Would Ariza be counting against the import rule, since he does not own a Dominican passport?

[Ciscorlie Horford]

He got a point.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/04/28/source-calipari-would-be-crazy-to-coach-the-dr/

Would Ariza be counting against the import rule, since he does not own a Dominican passport?

yeah a lot of tha is true ( and a lot of that isn't) exepct that we already changed administration. So does games that gabve the Dominican federation a bad reputation are gone.

http://basketdominicano.blogspot.com...casi.html#more

http://basketdominicano.blogspot.com...dres.html#more

you should inform yourslef before you start making accusations like thata without base unless you want to look like a fool which I'm shure you don't.

[Mojado]

I informed myself. Seems like he is from the Turks & Caicos.

http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=159

Stephen Jackson would be a nice add, if the federation can pay him.

[Ciscorlie Horford]

I informed myself. Seems like he is from the Turks & Caicos.

http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=159

Stephen Jackson would be a nice add, if the federation can pay him.

I see, so you've got no argoumnet so you decide to change the subject to Ariza's.

you know exactly what I was referring to when I said imforned yourself. You said that the Dominicna Federation had no money yet is now being administer by one of the richest families in the world. You also said they had a bad reputation even though those peopel that gave it a bad rep. are gone too (fired or replaced). I was't talking about Ariza and you now it. Besides, Dominicans don't that vende-patria anyway, it's the Federation that has alwasy wanted him to play.

Stephen Jackson would be a nice add, if the federation can pay him.

I again I better inform yourself befor you talk: I know that [paying people to play is common practice in Mexico in all sports ans also in others Latin countries too like in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, butThe Dominican federation generally only pays for the insurances, plane ticket, hotel & food, and the coaching staff. And for your infromation, the NBA'ers were the ones who paid for everthing back in FIBA Americas 2009, Al Horford paid pretty much every expence of the team, he paid for his own insurance, and plain ticket for the whole team. The coahing staff was paind with money from the government.

SO unlesss you are implying that the NBA players are gong to pay Jackson to play, you most be dreaming. Just becuase you frderation work that way does not mean that all feds do.

[Mojado]

I see, so you've got no argoumnet so you decide to change the subject to Ariza's.

you know exactly what I was referring to when I said imforned yourself. You said that the Dominicna Federation had no money yet is now being administer by one of the richest families in the world. You also said they had a bad reputation even though those peopel that gave it a bad rep. are gone too (fired or replaced). I was't talking about Ariza and you now it. Besides, Dominicans don't that vende-patria anyway, it's the Federation that has alwasy wanted him to play.


I again I better inform yourself befor you talk: I know that [paying people to play is common practice in Mexico in all sports ans also in others Latin countries too like in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, butThe Dominican federation generally only pays for the insurances, plane ticket, hotel & food, and the coaching staff. And for your infromation, the NBA'ers were the ones who paid for everthing back in FIBA Americas 2009, Al Horford paid pretty much every expence of the team, he paid for his own insurance, and plain ticket for the whole team. The coahing staff was paind with money from the government.

SO unlesss you are implying that the NBA players are gong to pay Jackson to play, you most be dreaming. Just becuase you frderation work that way does not mean that all feds do.

1. I never change anything. I just wrote, that the article shared some light on the bad reputation, that the Dominican basketball federation had, due to the bad organizing back then.
2. I dont talk, I write.
3. Paying national-team players is a common practice around the globe. I honestly dont care who paid your country's players and I dont care who paid the ones in Mexico.
4. I'm implying nothing - All I wrote was,that he would be nice fit - Not more.
5. My federation? Maybe I'm not Mexican? Maybe I'm Brazilian or from Guam? Do you know how all feds do their work? Who does that really?
6. Learn how to write in english or use spellcheck

[Ciscorlie Horford]

http://www.coachcal.com/2011/05/05/c...national-team/

[Ciscorlie Horford]

Sammy Mejia MVP of Pro A (Frech Division 1 League)

The Dominican Shooting guard Sammy Mejia was declared MVP
of the 2010-2011 Frenmch division one season (Pro A), beocming 2nd Dominican to ever being named MVP in a European League, Chicho Sibilio being the other.

L'ailier dominicain Sammy Mejia (28 ans) a été élu meilleur joueur étranger de Pro A, samedi lors de la remise des Trophées de la Ligue à l'hôtel Westin Paris-Vendôme.
Impressionnant en Euroligue et en Pro A (18pts, 5,1rbds, 4pds en moyenne en 30 matchs de saison régulière de Pro A), le Dominicain Sammy Mejia a logiquement été élu meilleur joueur de Pro A samedi. Successeur au palmarès de son compatriote Ricardo Greer, Mejia a devancé le Nancéien Tremmel Darden et le Chalonnais Blake Schilb.

http://www.sport365.fr/basket-hand-v...etranger.shtml

http://www.basketnews.net/asp.net/ma....aspx?id=11313

The Dominican Guard will not be with the team, this summer beacuse he and his wife asre expecting a baby, Leaving a hoel in the shooting guard possition for the Dominican National Team, spot which now would most likely be filled by Ex-NBA player and All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year in the NCAA Luis Flores. However, Mejia comfirned that he will be present in the Olympics or Olympics qualifier if the team make it that far.

[Ciscorlie Horford]

Del Harris to be part of the coaching staff of the Dominixcna National Team

Del Harris named Assitant coach of the Dominican national team by team Dominican Republic coach John Calipar.



Del Harris has in his resume serving as an NBA head coach for the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers. Harris led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in the 1981 season, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics four games to two. in 1994 Harris became head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, winning NBA Coach of the Year honors in '94-'95.

His International experience include: being an assistant coach under Rudy Tomjanovich with the US national team and serving as coach of the Chinese national men's team, where he coached NBA All-Star center Yao Ming and led China to a surprising upset victory over Serbia and Montenegro in the 2004 Athens Olympic basketball tournament.

other members of the Dominican National team coaching staff will include:


*Dominican coach Orlando Antigua
who became the first Hispanic and the first caucasian to play for the Harlem Globetrotters in 52 years when he signed in 1995. After his retirement from playing professional basketball he was named an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Memphis Tigers, and most recently, the Kentucky Wildcats.
In 1998, Antigua played for the National Basketball Team of the Dominican Republic which came close to representing the country in the Olympics and World championships . The team, however fell short in the qualifications. Among his teammates was NBA player Felipe López. Antigua was named one of the nation's top-100 most influential Hispanic Americans by Hispanic Business magazine.

*Ex-NBA player Felipe López
Once called the next Jordan, Coming out of High School López was he No. 1 ranked recruit in the country. He was selected as New York State Mr. Basketball and also named a McDonald's All-American and took MVP honors at the 1994 McDonald's All-American Game.Unrealistic expectations hounded López from the start, beginning with an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he even played one college game. López still finished his freshman season for the newly named St. John's Red Storm by averaging 17.8 points per game, earning a spot on the All-Big East Rookie Team and All-Big East Third Team He finished his career with 1,927 points, placing him third all-time in St. John's history behind former Johnnies' greats Chris Mullin and Malik Sealy and sixth in Big East history with 1,222 conference points, while also ranking seventh all time in steals, 14th in assists, and 20th in rebounds. He also holds the St. John's record for most three-pointers made in a single season (60) and in a career (148). Lopez was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 24th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft but beccuase of constant knee problems would go on to playe in only four seasons in the NBA.

*Rod Strickland
Strickland was formerly the director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis. Strickland became a college star at DePaul University where he was a First Team All-American after averaging 20.0 points and 7.8 assists. he helped lead the Blue Demons to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1985–88, including Sweet Sixteen showings in 1986 and 1987. In 1999 Strickland was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Strickland had the best season of his career as he averaged 17.8 ppg and a league leading 10.5 apg. During the year, Strickland also became only the 25th player in NBA history to record 10,000 points and 5,000 assists. He was selected to the All-NBA second team.

[Ciscorlie Horford]

najri announces warm-ups against graduates from the universities of kentucky and menphis.

The new general manager of the national basketball team eduardo najri, said yesterday in the radial space "alberto rodriguez in sports" that is broadcasts through 92.1 hits fm from 12 to 1pm, that the dominican team would face in scrimmages to a group comprised of graduates of the kentucky university who currently play in the nba.

Players like derrick rose, eric bledsoe, demarcus cousins, ,jodie meeks, daniel orton, patrick patterson, tayshaun prince, rajon rondo, and john wall will be there" said the executive of the national team.

[Ciscorlie Horford]

Edgar Sosa finally on the Nationla team Bandwagon after bailing on the DR for years

"I'm the starting point guard only on paper"

FOR SATOSKY TERRERO GALARZA, "El Caribe New paper"
JUNE 21, 2011 12:00 AM

Edgar Sosa (New York, 1988) remained little more than five years waiting for this moment. This summer finally have the opportunity to wear the shirt of the Dominican team basketball.

The playmaker is ready and aware of the challenge ahead. Playing for the national team at last for the first time will be the culmination of a dream.

His athleticism and physical development as a point guard, his vision, among other benefits, suggests to many that the remarkable hole that the national team has had in the playmaking position is clogged.

Finally someone to fill the expectations of the Dominicans showed up. Edgar, however, is not cocky. "I'm the starting point guard only on paper," said the 23 year old point guard during an interview on the Morning Sports is broacast from Mondays to Fridays on CDN Radio, 92.5 FM. "I know everyone wants me to be the starting point guard, but (John) Calipari has the last word. There will be a month of training that will tell if I will be the starting point guard, "he said.

Sosa announced that the competition for the position will be difficult and believes that players like Manny Quezada, Jose Olivero and Ronald Ramon have everything they need to be the point guards of the Quisqueyean squad.

A starter or not, the Dominican is quite clear. "I have been waiting for six years for this moment. Playing to in a college or university for the United States is nothing compared to playing for your country, "snapped the graduate of Louisville. "This will be the best team I have ever played for. I'm very happy and proud for the opportunity presented to me, I will give everything not to disappoint anyone. I will do my best. "

With the NBA players, Edgar will be with the Dominican team that will play the Olympic qualifiers in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from August 30 to September 11, the tournament gives two tickets to the Olympics in 2012.

It is precisely this tournament which also will be attended by the cream of the crop of basketball in America, including point guards Carlos Arroyo (Boston Celtics) Jose Juan Barea (Dallas Mavericks), Leandro Barbosa (Toronto Raptors), Marcelo Huertas (Saski Baskonia, ACB) and Pablo Prigioni (Madrid , ACB), all of which the young Dominican who will have a responsibility to face against. Maybe those are scarest names at the point guard.

But for Sosa, who is coming off his first professional experience as Angelico Biella (14.1 ppg and 4.5 apg in over 20 minutes), is nothing but a golden career opportunity. "I have nothing to lose, they do have to lose, I am not an NBA player, they are the NBA's, "said point guard 6'2 tall. "I will go to those games to give as much as possible."

When playing against them I am seeing a chance for me to know where I am as a player, I have no pressure, "he said.

The opinions of Edgar

On Francisco Garcia:
"Francisco has done too much for me. he is like a brother, sometimes like a father. He lifts me up when I'm down, he makes me wanna fight harder. I don't know where would have been had it not been for him. "

Sosa likes the clutch:
I like to get the ball when it comes to good. I think you spend two to three hours in the gym and hard working every day for moments like these. I think the real players are come out of the shawdows when there are only ten seconds and the game is tied.

The basketball in Italy:
"The good thing is that you play against players who are much older than you, so that as a young one, you don't get tier like they do, the bad is that they know more than you, they play with your mind, so you have to be strong-minded ".

Calipari is doing well in Dominican

Edgar joins the long list of Dominican players who welcomed the hiring of John Calipari as the leader of the national team. "Calipari is one of the best coaches out there," said Sosa, who lasted four years under the tutelage of another renowned technical, Rick Pitino. "Not many people do the things he does.

He brings out the best players and makes players want to play harderfor him. "There are some players who only do one single thing well but he still puts them in a position for them to be the best you can be."

Calipari during a press conference in which he was presented, stressed the idea of going to Argentina as a team. Edgar too. "I heard that in other dominican national teams there have been some division and beef internally among the players. My dream is that we play as a team," he said. "If that happens we canbeat anybody."

[J-Mart]

Point Guards
Ronald Ramon
Luis Flores
Edgar Sosa
Andy Williams

Shooting Guard/Small Forwards
Francisco García
Charlie Villanueva
Kelvin Pena
Wernel Díaz
Juan Pablo Montas
Melvin Richardson
Joan Vallejo

Power Forwards/Centers
Al Horford
Jack Michael Martinez
Luis Martinez
Eulis Baez
Manuel Guzman
Santo Martínez
Jean Carlos Acosta

[Ciscorlie Horford]

Point Guards
Ronald Ramon
Luis Flores
Edgar Sosa
Andy Williams

Shooting Guard/Small Forwards
Francisco García
Charlie Villanueva
Kelvin Pena
Wernel Díaz
Juan Pablo Montas
Melvin Richardson
Joan Vallejo

Power Forwards/Centers
Al Horford
Jack Michael Martinez
Luis Martinez
Eulis Baez
Manuel Guzman
Santo Martínez
Jean Carlos Acosta

that's not the list, this list was made by some uninformed Argentinian media.
They took the names from an article from basketdominicano.com which is not an official website affiliated to the Dominican federation, it actually is not even a website at all is just a blog of some fan called Jordan Olivo.

They just copy and pasted the names and arranged them into guards, forwards, etc.

The article I talking about was about a list players that were invited to a mini-camp in the City of Santo Domingo a couple of weeks ago. the exact list was:
Wernel Díaz
Juan Pablo Montas
Melvin Richardson
Joan Vallejo
Andy Williams
Manuel Guzman
Santo Martínez
Luis Martinez
Jean Carlos Acosta
and Juam Pablo Montas

this mini-camp was so the Coaches (Dell Harris was directing the training) could see these players closely and from there they were going to decide whether they would invite some of them to the actual "PRE"-team, so I guess you could called this a PRE-pre-Team or the Pre-team of the Pre-Team. or a Pre team for the last couple of spots on the official Pre-team.

the Argentinian website also included the names of Ronald Ramon, Luis Flores
Edgar Sosa, Francisco García, Charlie Villanueva, Kelvin Pena, Al Horford, Jack Michael Martinez, Eulis Baez into their list becuase the article I'm talking about on basketdominicano.com also stated that these players beforementioned were going to be almost certainly invited to the actual official Pre team.

I'm not sure I explained myself clearly but basically what I'm saying is that is not the list and that the federation has not yet release the official list of players invited to tryout for the national team.

Note:and when I say Pre-team I am talking about the Preseleccion, but I don't know how to traslate that into English, becouse in Spanish the national teams are called selecciones but you can't really called a national team a selection in English it does not make sense.