Raider News
Aug 13, 2009 18:12:36 GMT -5
Post by Raider Rowdies on Aug 13, 2009 18:12:36 GMT -5
Plenty of talent in Miami Valley
By Marc Katz
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FAIRBORN — John Goldsberry left town today to pick up his stuff in Charlotte (where his wife’s family lives) and head back to Germany on Sunday, where he has been a professional basketball player for three years.
While he visited his home town of Dayton, Goldsberry visited not only family (his father, Frank, the former Chaminade-Julienne coach, works with the women’s basketball team at UD), but his former coaches at Wright State.
No, Goldsberry didn’t play at WSU. The Vandalia Butler grad played at North Carolina-Wilmington, where he was coached by Brad Brownell, the current WSU coach.
“If you want to be a better basketball player, there’s no better place to go than Wright State (where Brownell is),” Goldsberry said. “I think they will have a good team this year. While I was home, I played with their guys and they’re talented.”
Goldsberry played at NC-Wilmington four years, through 2006, and has been overseas in Germany ever since, with three different teams. Last season, he was limited to 19 games after needing micro-fracture surgery on his knee, similar to what current WSU center Ronnie Thomas has had.
“I’m just taking it a year at a time,” Goldsberry said.
Brownell was certainly happy to see him,a nd has come full cycle, receiving a commitment from Butler’s A.J. Pacher this week.
“It’s fun to watch him (Goldsberry) come back,” Brownell said. “It’s hard in college. Sometimes, a coach can be very demanding with a player, and all players don’t appreciate what they’re working on and trying to do. The player will be mad at the coach, and the coach will be mad at the player.
“John had a great experience in college. And I went to his wedding two years ago. He comes back, and it’s neat.”
Brownell said he always knew there were plenty of good basketball players in the Dayton area.
“First of all, there is a good basketball tradition here,” Brownell said. “Basketball is important to a lot of people in this area. Both UD and WSU have had good programs over the years. Wright State had some very good teams in Division II, and won the National Championship.
“I think that helps high schools to see that. I also think there are a lot of good high school coaches in this area who work at it. The players are better taught and better prepared.
“High school sports are well thought of and covered. It means something if you’re a good player on a good team.”
Look for Brownell to continue hunting for players such as Goldsberry and Pacher.
www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2009/08/13/plenty_of_talent_in_miami_vall.html
By Marc Katz
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FAIRBORN — John Goldsberry left town today to pick up his stuff in Charlotte (where his wife’s family lives) and head back to Germany on Sunday, where he has been a professional basketball player for three years.
While he visited his home town of Dayton, Goldsberry visited not only family (his father, Frank, the former Chaminade-Julienne coach, works with the women’s basketball team at UD), but his former coaches at Wright State.
No, Goldsberry didn’t play at WSU. The Vandalia Butler grad played at North Carolina-Wilmington, where he was coached by Brad Brownell, the current WSU coach.
“If you want to be a better basketball player, there’s no better place to go than Wright State (where Brownell is),” Goldsberry said. “I think they will have a good team this year. While I was home, I played with their guys and they’re talented.”
Goldsberry played at NC-Wilmington four years, through 2006, and has been overseas in Germany ever since, with three different teams. Last season, he was limited to 19 games after needing micro-fracture surgery on his knee, similar to what current WSU center Ronnie Thomas has had.
“I’m just taking it a year at a time,” Goldsberry said.
Brownell was certainly happy to see him,a nd has come full cycle, receiving a commitment from Butler’s A.J. Pacher this week.
“It’s fun to watch him (Goldsberry) come back,” Brownell said. “It’s hard in college. Sometimes, a coach can be very demanding with a player, and all players don’t appreciate what they’re working on and trying to do. The player will be mad at the coach, and the coach will be mad at the player.
“John had a great experience in college. And I went to his wedding two years ago. He comes back, and it’s neat.”
Brownell said he always knew there were plenty of good basketball players in the Dayton area.
“First of all, there is a good basketball tradition here,” Brownell said. “Basketball is important to a lot of people in this area. Both UD and WSU have had good programs over the years. Wright State had some very good teams in Division II, and won the National Championship.
“I think that helps high schools to see that. I also think there are a lot of good high school coaches in this area who work at it. The players are better taught and better prepared.
“High school sports are well thought of and covered. It means something if you’re a good player on a good team.”
Look for Brownell to continue hunting for players such as Goldsberry and Pacher.
www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2009/08/13/plenty_of_talent_in_miami_vall.html