Willard Goes Down South

Snap prediction: This kid will not go to the NBA.

*****
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Spartans' Cunningham decides on Holy Cross
Standout forward sees potential road to NBA

By Jason Smith

October 20, 2004

Bucking a recent trend of White Station basketball players flocking to Ivy League schools, senior forward Colin Cunningham committed to Patriot League member Holy Cross Tuesday over Princeton and Cornell.

Cunningham, a 6-7, 195-pound wing guard who developed into a consistent scoring threat last season during the Spartans' run to a third consecutive Class AAA boys state basketball title, said he chose Holy Cross over Ivy League schools Princeton and Cornell because of head coach Ralph Willard's commitment to building the Crusaders into a basketball power.

Willard, the former Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh coach, is 89-61 with three NCAA Tournament appearances in five seasons at Holy Cross.

"Basketball-wise they can develop me into the player I want to be," Cunningham said. "I still have that dream of going pro, and Ralph Willard has great connections in the NBA and all over the world."

First-year White Station head coach William Warren called Cunningham a fierce competitor who brings a variety of skills to the table.

"(The Crusaders) are getting a really good-shooting wingman who, for his size, is a really good passer and good ballhandler," Warren said. "He's always working on his game, wanting to improve it. When he first got here, we didn't know he was going to get this good."

Last season White Station sent big man Jonathan Ball to Dartmouth and center Taylor Schall to Yale. Former Spartan Leon Pattman, a 2003 graduate, is also at Dartmouth.
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