Elgin-Taylor and Watson in, still questions with Phillips

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Colin O'Keefe
On Friday, I wrote that Lloyd Phillips and Sean Watson were in as Griz recruits and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor still needed to get some paperwork figured out. Well, I was wrong.
Tinkle announced Friday that junior college transfers Sean Watson and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor would join the Griz for the 2007-08 season. They join prep recruits Derek Selvig of Glendive and Brian Qvale of Williston, N.D., in the 2007 recruiting class. Selvig and Qvale signed last November.

Tinkle said the Griz have one more scholarship to give and “we have a guy that we're trying to work all the paperwork out with.” Jucojunction.com reports that player is 5-10 point guard Lloyd Phillips of Allen County (Kan.) Community College.
Tinks on Watson:
“He handles the ball, he's athletic, can shoot it and score,” said Tinkle, who added that Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, St. John's and Texas Tech were some of the other schools recruiting Watson. “When I saw him play I thought what a great defender. He keeps his man in front of him.”
Info on Elgin-Taylor:
Elgin-Taylor is a 6-1 point guard who averaged 13 points and 5.5 assists for Irvine (Calif.) Valley College last season. He was named first team all-conference.

“He can play both guard positions,” Tinkle said. “He's a quarterback who runs the team. He's a very, very tough-nosed defender, just a tough-minded point guard who runs your team and sets the tone defensively.”
It's looking good so far. Tinks says it best later in this article, "It looks like a talented group. The challenge will be getting them to gel." Just like last year, this year's team looks phenomenal on paper but it doesn't mean a thing if they don't fill their potential and gel as a team.
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Finally, some news on Griz basketball

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Colin O'Keefe
An official announcement is expected to be made later today but Wayne Tinkle spoke last night in Great Falls about the class of incoming recruits.
"We've signed a couple of junior-college players, one from Texas and one from Kansas, who I think will really help us in the backcourt," Tinkle said. "Along with the high school kids we signed in the fall, it really is shaping up to be a pretty darn good class."

"One kid's a 6-1 combo guard. The other kid's a 6-3, 6-4 wing who will add a lot of toughness and athleticism. Both are highly touted players," Tinkle said. "Then we've got a third kid who we've got to go through the process and finish the paperwork on who I think will really add to the class as well. We're pretty excited and looking forward to it."
Well, this is kind of what we expected. I'm almost certain the first two players are Lloyd Phillips and Sean Watson with the third questionable kid being Ceylon Elgin-Taylor. Phillips is listed at 5-10 and is more of a strong shooting speedster than a combo guard. He's closer to a pure point than people like Zach Graves and Matt Martin.

There was also news on the upcoming schedule:
"We're looking to go over and play Gonzaga in Spokane and it looks like we'll be in a tournament with Washington State in Spokane also," he said. "Air Force and Mississippi Valley will be there.

"We open up with Colorado State in Missoula. So we're going to be challenged the first couple of weeks out of the game, but that's the way we wanted it."
The games against Gonzaga and Wazzu in Spokane were expected but it's good to hear about some other teams. I love that we now know who we'll be opening with. It makes hoops season seem just a little bit closer.
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Wayne Tinkle on basketball recruits

Posted on May 21, 2007 by Colin O'Keefe
It's been known for a bit that the Griz coaching staff knocked down three recruits — Sean Watson, Lloyd Phillips and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor — during the spring signing period. What hasn't been known is when the coaching staff was planning on making an official announcement. Here's what head coach Wayne Tinkle had to say on the matter:
We will be releasing the names of our signees in the coming days.  Not trying to hold out on anyone, just making sure that all of the paperwork etc is correct!  It should prove to be one of our better classes in some time!  Thats on paper anyways...they still have to get here and perform both in the classroom and on the court!
Well there you go. He sounds pretty enthusiastic.
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Interview with Griz commit Sean Watson

Posted on May 7, 2007 by Colin O'Keefe
Because I'm not gone for the summer, actually write about sports and don't sell Hondas — Pat, I don't want the damn Trucoat — here's an interview with future Griz Sean Watson. Sean played his JC ball at Howard College in Texas where the 6'5" 185 lb guard averaged 13.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg while  shooting 58.6 % from the field.

Grizzoulian: First off, why UM and which one of these factors was the biggest in your decision to become a Griz: the city of Missoula, the coaching staff, or the players?

Sean: well to be honest the players and coaches had alot to do with my decision all the guys were easy to get along with an the coaches were really straight up with me. one of the players that i bonded with really well was cam rundles he was my host on the visit and we basically jus became cool ever since

Grizzoulian: What do you think of your future teammates and the things they've accomplished in the past couple years? Where do you see this team going with you a part of it?

Sean: well the players seem like they are all winners an thats what i want to be apart of they won what about 17 games but they got a couple nice wins like for example the win over minnesota was a good win for the griz basketball.....i think with an addition of me on the team we should do really well because i am a winner and so are all the other guys so i see us having a very successful season coming up

Grizzoulian: What do you think of the players and coaches you've met so far and what do you think your role will be as a Griz?
Sean: the players and coaches i have met so far were all nice guys they were easy to get along with and they were really honest with me so thats all u can really ask for

Grizzoulian: Do you have any specific goals for the upcoming years?

Sean: yes i do my goal this year is to win the conference and get to the tournament and from there we will take it one step at a time

Thanks again to Sean and I wish him luck in his future as a Griz.
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