Navy Recruits a Player That Doesn't Suck

Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
April 11, 2004 Sunday 4X EDITION
SECTION: C; Pg. 14
LENGTH: 679 words

NOTHING TRIVIAL ABOUT GRIZZLY STAR;
Navy-bound Falkenberg sparked Wadsworth to 57 wins in three seasons;
PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By Tom Gaffney; Beacon Journal staff writer

Ben Falkenberg welcomes being the answer to a trivia question, even one with such a limited geographical scope.

Who succeeded three-time winner LeBron James as the 2004 Beacon Journal Boys Basketball Player of the Year?

That would be Falkenberg, a three-year starter at point guard for Wadsworth, a Naval Academy recruit and a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division I.

''It's something neat to follow him after all he has done. It's something I will always remember,'' said Falkenberg, a 5-foot-11 senior. ''It was better to follow him than to be with him (the same year).''

Falkenberg forged a storied career of his own, helping the Grizzlies compile a 57-10 record over three seasons. In 2003-04, he averaged 21.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2 steals as Wadsworth won the Suburban League for the second consecutive year and advanced to the Copley District final before being eliminated.

Falkenberg, a member of the National Honor Society, was named Northeast Ohio-Inland District Co-Player of the Year in Division I with Bret Wackerly of North Canton. He also was selected senior player of the year by the Greater Akron Basketball Coaches Association.

''He is really special,'' said Wadsworth coach John Martin, whose club finished 20-3 and 10th in the final Ohio Associated Press Division I state poll. ''He is a very gifted young man. He has this passion to take everything he does to the highest level and basketball is part of that.''

Falkenberg's best performance came March 6 in a Copley sectional final against Hudson, which is considered an excellent defensive club. Falkenberg scored a school-record 46 points in an 80-63 victory for the Grizzlies.

''We tried to do all kinds of different things to keep the ball away from him. If we made even a small mistake, he exploited it,'' Explorers coach Wayne Watts said. ''He played the game the way you hope your point guard would play it.

''You can tell he is a student of the game. He would be fun to play with. He can score but he also knows how to include his teammates.''

Falkenberg will forever be remembered at Wadsworth for his scoring and shooting exploits. His final point total of 1,031 is third on Wadsworth's all-time list, behind only Bob Lyren (1,203) and Doug Bell (1,193). In addition, he shot 48.3 percent (67-of-139) from behind the 3-point arc and 89.4 percent from the foul line. Those figures placed him in the top four in the state in both categories.

That would come as a surprise from six years ago when he thought of himself as one of the poorer shooters on the Wadsworth middle school team. Hard work that included taking 500 shots a day in the off-season changed that.

''I couldn't shoot and I knew I had to do something about it,'' he said about his early troubles. ''My dad helped me. We watched videotape. I changed my shot as a freshman, working on repetition.

''I tried to shoot the exact same way. I want the ball to leave my hand the same way every time.''

Despite his individual exploits, Falkenberg said he will remember the success of his teams -- on and off the court -- more than anything else. The Grizzlies put together a 20-0 regular season in 2002-03 and the 20-3 mark in 2003-04 marked the first back-to-back 20-victory seasons in the history of Medina County boys basketball.

''Winning and having fun,'' Falkenberg said when asked about his fondest memory. ''Our team, the players, the coaches it was a great time.''

Falkenberg committed to the Naval Academy six months ago and has not changed his mind despite an unexpected change of head coaches. Don DeVoe resigned and was replaced in late March by ex-Villanova assistant Billy Lange.

Falkenberg said Lange called him the day he was hired and told him to be prepared to contend for a starting spot at point guard next season.

''It (Navy) fits him to a 'T.' It's a win for Navy and a win for Ben,'' Martin said. ''It is one of the most prestigious academic schools in the country. I can see him as a future officer in the Navy.''

As well as an answer to a trivia question for future generations.  @ 1:58 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard

  AU signs a 3, Fingleton was Never Meant to Be

While things may be slow out there in PL land, there have been a few interesting moves lately.

American picked up 6'5" Travis Lay from Bethesda, MD. You can read more about him here. He was apparently getting interest from W&M (from whom Jeff Jones stole Andre Ingram), Ball State, Pennsylvania, and others. This is in addition to Coleman LeClair, the 6'9" player from Brewster Academy.

Fingleton Bails
The other roster move is that Neil Fingleton is transferring to Professor X's academy for Gifted Students and is leaving Holy Cross. What does this mean for the team? Not a damn thing. The guy was all but useless on the court, despite what some delusional HC fans may have told you. Here's the story:

SUNDAY TELEGRAM (Massachusetts)
May 23, 2004 Sunday, ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D2

Fingleton won't play again for Holy Cross;
7-foot-6 British native will get his degree

Jennifer Toland; TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

DATELINE: WORCESTER

- Neil Fingleton will finish course requirements for his degree this summer and forego his final year of eligibility with the Holy Cross men's basketball team.

''I had a good time at Holy Cross,'' Fingleton said last night. ''I'll be getting a great degree from a great school and it's something I'll have for the rest of my life. I promised my mom I would get my degree, so that was the main thing.''

After Fingleton completes two summer courses at Clark University and receives his bachelor's degree in history from HC, he will return home to Durham, England. He eventually hopes to play professionally. In late July, he plans to attend a two-week tryout camp in Greece.

Fingleton said he started thinking about finishing school early around Christmas time. It was at that time he reinjured his back and learned his father was ill. Fingleton went home to England following first-semester exams in December to be with his father. He had planned to be away from the team for an indefinite amount of time, but returned two weeks later.

''(His graduating early) is something Coach (Ralph) Willard and I have been discussing with Neil since early in the year, and we understand and support his decision,'' Holy Cross director of athletics Dick Regan said. ''He's a great kid, and I hope things work out well for him.''

The 7-foot-6 Fingleton, the tallest player in Holy Cross history, appeared in 33 games for the Crusaders over the last two seasons after transferring from North Carolina in January 2002.

Fingleton averaged 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 21 games during the 2002-03 season. Willard said before the 2003-04 season that Fingleton had made progress in his game during the offseason and preseason, but shoulder, ankle and back injuries, as well as a bout with the flu, limited Fingleton to 12 games. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds, and didn't play in HC's last 10 games.

''Basketball was a little disappointing,'' Fingleton said. ''My first year I played behind Patrick Whearty, who had a great year, and then last year when I was getting ready for a good year myself, I got hurt. But you can't look back.''

As for the scholarship that becomes available with Fingleton's departure, Regan said, ''In all likelihood, we will be with one less player, but there's always the possibility of getting a transfer. At this point, it's almost too late to bring in a freshman.''

Fingleton came to the United States by himself when he was 16 and played for J.P. Ricciardi at Holy Name High for three years. Fingleton lived in Worcester with Phil and Meg Giarusso, friends of Ricciardi. Fingleton took on almost icon status while in high school and brought national attention to Holy Name when he was named a McDonald's All-American.

Holy Cross was one of Fingleton's original suitors when he was coming out of Holy Name, but he opted to go to North Carolina.

Following back surgery in the summer of 2000, Fingleton red-shirted his freshman year at UNC. He played in one game for the Tar Heels the following season. It was clear from the beginning that Fingleton, who was recruited by former North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge, wasn't in the plans of Matt Doherty, who succeeded Guthridge.

Coming back to Worcester, which became his adopted hometown, seemed the natural option when Fingleton decided to leave North Carolina. He developed many close friendships in the area while in high school, as well as the support of a large group of fans. He continued to be a spectacle and fan favorite in the few games he played at the Hart Center.

Fingleton is currently living with best friend and former Holy Name teammate Dave McNamara, who recently finished up a fine career at Clark.

''I met a ton of great people in Worcester,'' Fingleton said. ''I have so many friends here. It's been really excellent.''

GRAPHIC: PHOTO; FILE PHOTO ; Neil Fingleton will no longer be defending the lane for the Holy Cross basketball team.  @ 1:51 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard

  Here's a soft, touchy feely, profile of Jeff Jones from the AU student newspaper.  @ 9:55 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard