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Sidney Lowe II, son of the NC State basketball coach Sidney Lowe will plead guilty to 12 accounts that he committed back in March of 2007. The official statement is:

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The son of North Carolina State basketball coach Sidney Lowe plans to plead guilty to a dozen charges connected to a March 2007 home invasion.

Greensboro attorney Locke Clifford said 23-year-old Sidney Lowe II will plead guilty Monday afternoon to six counts each of robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping.

Clifford said Lowe II will also issue an Alford plea on a conspiracy to commit armed robbery charge for a shooting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. That plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges evidence could convict him.

Clifford said Lowe II is expected to be sentenced during Monday’s hearing.

Brian Martin, 20, will also be in court to face his own charges in connection with the shooting.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

First of all, before his dad became a high paying, well hated college basketball coach, he worked as an asisstant coach for the Detroit Pistons. In otherwords: they had money. Why in the world would Lowe II be tempted to partake in such crimes? No one really understands, but there was no need for the money I’m sure. There is really only one true explantion: Sidney Lowe didn’t give him a propper childhood.

These are all assumptions, of course, but imagine living your childhood with your father gone 90% of the time. The NBA season lasts longer than the college season, but college coaches work year round on recruiting trips and hitting the books. I feel sympathy for the family . . . and I really hope Lowe wears a red blazer to the court hearings.

ESPN has just announced the 20 finalists for titletown USA. They include Boston; Green Bay, Wis.; Louisville, Ky.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Detroit; Williamsport, Pa.; New York; Los Angeles; Columbus, Ohio; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; San Francisco; Pittsburgh; Valdosta, Ga.; Massillon, Ohio; Parkersburg, W. Va.; Palo Alto, Calif.; Lawrence, Kan. and Chicago. Out of all these, the clear winner is LA.

As much as I hate to say it, LA has the Lakers, Raiders, UCLA, USC, Galazy, etc . . . way too many titles between them all to count. Sencond place would have to be Boston, with the Celtics, BC, BoSox, Patriots, and many more.

If it were college town, Chapel Hill would win by far. Between the women’s soccer dynasty, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, football heritage, no other school could compete.

There is much talk with the upcoming 2008 NBA draft over which player is the best and has the most potential. Without a doubt, most teams are looking to increase their overall success by drafting players that have proven themselves in camps or in their college careers. However, one thing that has failed to be covered in any of the pre-draft discussion is the marketability of each of the top 10 prospects. Marketability is a key factor in these draft prospects, as a player that grabs the public attention can be the difference between a sold out season and empty lower levels. Take for instance man-child Greg Oden of Portland and Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks. Although they were both great big men and overall #1 picks, the sky is limitless for Oden, who is arguably the NBA’s next big man superstar while Bogut is still trying to make a name for himself. While it is hard to determine which of the prospects will be the next Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, or Kobe Bryant in terms of becoming the face of a franchise, I believe I have devised a rather simple approach to making an estimate.

Facebook and Youtube, yes the social networks that have captivated our lives for years have often been ignored by the scouts and media. But with the new NBA draft age limit, I argue that Facebook should take on a new role in evaluating the player’s marketability. While attending college, the players strive to make a name for them both nationally and within the university. Their successes at doing so will ultimately mean two things: lots of publicity and lots of friends. Requesting a player to be your friend on Facebook requires both time and effort (though not a lot of it). But the more friends the player has on facebook, the better received they are in the university and the public eye. A player that is beloved by both of those will bring in big money and attention to the school.

Take for instance National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough. Prior to the 2007-2008 season, Hansbrough had merely 331 facebook friends, 192 groups, and only 137 Youtube videos. After this remarkable season, he now boasts 609 friends, 395 groups, and 258 videos nationally. Hansbrough’s popularity might not help him transition into the NBA physically, but you had better believe his fans will divert their allegiance to the team that picks him up in the 2009 draft.

So according to these two sources, who are the top 10 most marketable players in the 2008 NBA draft? Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard to calculate. There was a remarkable correlation between the number of Facebook friends and groups with the number of Youtube videos. More emphasis was given to Facebook groups and Youtube, since they rely on others to make the content instead of the busy athletes. Some athletes are selective in their friend requests, while some accept everyone. This was taken into account. Falling in at the bottom of the list were the two of three players that had no Facebook profiles, and merely 200 Youtube videos combined. (images courtesy of NBA Draft .net

10. Russell Westbrook: G UCLA

While Westbrook might be an efficient little speedster, he sure isn’t getting much national attention. Although there is potential for him to pull a Chris Paul or Tayshaun Prince and emerge from nowhere, it’s doubtful he will bring a club fame anytime soon.

Facebook Friends: None
Groups: 1
Youtube Videos: 60

9. DeAndre Jordan: C Texas A&M
Jordan was a close call because he has so many Facebook friends. However, his stats were lacking in exposure through user created groups and Youtube videos. If people aren’t willing to make the big man groups and post his videos, then that could give you a clue about the type of exposure he will bring to a NBA team.

Facebook Friends: 932
Groups: 9
Youtube Videos: 31

8. Eric Gordon: SG Indiana
Eric Gordon is a solid player with lots of exposure at a great basketball school. While he has a sweet stroke and has brought Indiana great guard play, he’s unlikely to be the next big name in sports. The investments on Gordon will bring a nice shot, but not much attention. He only has 30 videos for crying out loud!

Facebook Friends: None
Groups: 5
Youtube Videos: 113

7. DJ Augustin: PG Texas
It was a tough decision between numbers 6 and 7, but Augustin found himself on the latter end. While Augustin boasted great numbers and Ty Lawson-esque quickness, he still lacked a lot of the national media attention. I can foresee DJ becoming a breakout star in the coming years, but he will likely be a simple role player for the time being.

Facebook Friends: 281
Groups: 12
Videos: 80

6. Jerryd Bayless: G Arizona
Like his counterpart, Augustin, Bayless finds himself in a battle in what seems to be a draft all about the little guys. Playing under Herb in Arizona, Bayless was the star on a decent division one team. When the media or announcers brought up a point about Arizona, the name Bayless was usually mentioned. As ‘big man’ on campus, the students and community grew attached. He might not have the largest fan base, but with him comes the attention and fandom of Arizona. He also had the most friends in this list, which says something about his character and public image.

Facebook Friends: 1,702
Groups: 5
Youtube Videos: 60

5. Kevin Love: C UCLA
Love was a NPOY contender, and was the only big man in the country mentioned in the ranks of Tyler Hansbrough or Michael Beasley. However, Love finds himself in the lower tier of the top 5 players in this draft. Love made some amazing plays, proved himself as a ‘hybrid’ big man, and led UCLA to the Final Four in San Antonio (watching him play there was phenomenal). However, Love is just that, a big man. His season consisted of the regular post-up, outside shot routine. It got quite boring to watch, and all of his dunks were pretty mediocre unlike the athletic Hansbrough or Beasley dunks. It will take Love a while to lose some weight and establish himself as a predominate NBA big man, but I have no doubt he will do so in time.

Facebook Friends: 100
Groups: 11
Youtube Videos: 411

4. Derrick Rose: G Memphis
Rose is the type of guard that brings the flare to the game of basketball. He’s an all around versatile guard with arguably more athleticism than anyone in this draft. His Tiger fan base loves him as he will be the largest name to come out of this school since Penny Hardaway. Can you see any resemblance in their style of play? Perhaps some Air Derrick’s can come out of his future NBA career.

Facebook Friends: 1,459
Groups: 56
Youtube Videos: 423

3. Brook Lopez: C Standford
Although not as heralded as the other big men, there is something special about Lopez. He boasts more videos than anyone on this list because he completes spectacular plays. From a sharp shot to monsterous athletic dunks, Lopez has tons of potential in becoming a team’s next superstar. Although not high in real draft status, this man has unlimited upside in marketability. Take my word, he will be an impact player next year and will outshine most the players on this list.

Facebook Friends: 1,244
Groups: 10
Youtube Videos: 773

2. OJ Mayo: G USC
In all my years of college basketball, I cannot think of any player as self conceded as OJ Mayo. The kid recruited himself to play ball, then told the coach not to “worry about recruiting” because he was going to take care of it himself. Not only this, Mayo set his sites on Southern California to “increase his marketability”. Well, it worked. The high school player that was ejected to a standing ovation in his final game is finally in the national media, and not in the good way. Mayo is the player on this list that will capture the media’s attention through mishaps and Artest-like explosions.

Facebook Friends: 1,241
Groups: 59
Youtube Videos: 405

1. Michael Beasley: F Kansas State
Beasley was a NPOY contender from Kansas State, although I doubt he needs any introduction. From his high school days, to the recruiting process, to his one year at Kansas State, Beasley has been all over the national media. He is the type of big man that all teams drool over. Not only does his game speak, he also attracts lots of cameras and attention. Highlights galore for Beasley next year, and I would not doubt it if you see him hanging on your kid’s wall within a couple of years.

Facebook Friends: 151
Groups: 88
Youtube Videos: 582

Meet Hunter McClintock, a 6′3” all-state point guard from Raleigh, North Carolina. He is not your regular point guard, because in a state known for their basketball . . . he ranks 2nd in the history of NC for completed three pointers. He also averages 27 ppg, 8 assists, and has handles like none other.

Here is a video of him breaking anckles:

Believe it or not, this kid hasn’t even been offered a scholarship to play college basketball yet. Kentucky has shown some interest, but overall this kid has flown under the radar. Remember Curry that played for Davidson during the NCAA tourney? My point exactly. Whoever get this kid will be getting a steal.

After much research and many hours of debate, I am proud to present the best dunks in the history of men’s division 1 college basketball. All factors were taken into account to make the list: the situation, power, distance, hang time, type of dunk, presence of defender, and athleticism. There is no denying that this list is the true list of the most memorable and best dunks in college basketball to date.

10. UNC vs Duke 1995: The Jerry Stackhouse “Donkey Kong” Dunk

These rivals clash twice a year, producing some of the greatest finishes in college basketball. This 1995 thriller was nothing less, when the two teams battled through two overtimes. In what Rasheed Wallace deemed “the Donkey Kong Dunk”, UNC’s Jerry Stackhouse powers over 14 feet of Duke post player, while fouled twice, and still manages the reverse slam. Just listen to the excitement in Dickie V’s voice. Note he nearly jumped from the opposite block.

9. Louisville vs. Florida St. 1989: Everick Sullivan’s “Masterpiece”

Sullivan was most noted in this game for hitting a 3 in overtime at the buzzer to give Louisville the win. However, this dunk has been largely forgotten throughout the years. Sullivan manages to take off from the block, spin in midair, and complete a 180 slam while being fouled. The athleticism required to pull off this move is simply unbelievable.

8. Georgia Tech vs. NC State 2007: Isma’il Muhammad Climbs NC State

When Muhammad cleared Engin Atsur in midair during this game, one could only think about the Vince Carter dunk during the Sydney Olympics. It’s rare to see a player completely clear the defender (Deron Washington did in a lay up over Greg Paulus), but Isma’il is the only one I can remember in this decade to actually dunk it.

7. Cincinnati 1999 – The Melvin Levett “Superman” Put-Back

What’s better than jumping over a defender? How about jumping over your own player. Melvin Levette did just this in the 1999 NCAA tourney as he managed to clear his own player while rising 3 ft above the rim for a put-back dunk. Truly, this is one of the greatest put-backs in NCAA basketball history.

6. UNLV vs. Pacific – The Jarvis Basnight Hurdle

Just as good as Isma’il’s dunk, but nearly 20 years earlier and during the NCAA tournament. This dunk seems to last for ever as Jarvis launches himself within 2 feet of the freethrow line, cocks the ball back, and tomahawks it over the Pacific defender . . . while cleanly clearing him.

5. UCLA – The Baron Davis Behind the Back Fake and Dunk

Sometimes the dunk isn’t what makes the play. In this case, Baron Davis proves to us why the moments preceding the dunk are sometimes what makes the play beautiful. Just like the Jordan fake out of two defenders before dunking over Ewing, this is special simply because of the move. Just watch as Davis snaps the defender’s ankles.

4. NC State vs. Houston 1983 – The Larenzo Charles Dunk

Admittedly, this dunk is hideous. There is no flare to it, no hanging on the rim, but lots . . . and lots of celebration. If I were to make a list of the best dunks in college basketball, I would be a moron to leave this dunk out. Why? Because by dunking Derreck Whittenburg’s desperation shot, the “Cardiac Kids” won themselves a national championship. Maybe that’s why he strayed from the windmill or reverse dunk.

3. Kentucky vs. Mississippi State – Minnifield Goes Airborne

This dunk is often overlooked and many people have never seen it. However, the hang time and body control displayed by Dirk Minnifield during this dunk are unlike anything I have ever seen. After he launches from outside the lane, his knees and feet are level with the defender’s eyes. His vertical must be off the charts, because although science says no man can hang in the air for more than 1 second, I swear I think he defied the laws of gravity.

2. Pittsburgh vs. Providence 1988 – “The Night the House Came Down”

Ferocious beauty. Those are the only words I can think of to describe this dunk. Pittsburgh’s Jerome Lane places himself into the college history books with this dunk. He jumps from outside the block, posterizes a defender, and manages to shatter the backboard. Nothing else can really be said about this dunk, it’s simply that amazing.

1. UNC vs. Maryland 1984 – Air Jordan is Born

With only 10 seconds to go in the game, UNC’s Michael Jordan gave us a glimpse of things to come in the NBA. His hang time, the distance, and the “rock the baby” while the legs were splitting all make this dunk the best in college history. If you can deny its beauty, then you obviously are not a college basketball fan.

Did I leave any out? Let the debate begin.

Mullet guy = lame but tolerable.

Viking guy = cool if he were a real viking.

Patrick “Speedo guy” King = An abomination of the sports gods.

I’ve heard reports of the general jackassery of some Utah Jazz fans before, but the latest couple of incidents are just too much. A bit of background first: Derek Fisher was a playoff hero last season for the Jazz. His infant daughter had just been diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer. Fisher went to be with his daughter during her emergency surgery in New York. When the Fishers landed back in Utah, the Jazz were in the middle of a playoff game, and both other point guards were in trouble (one with fouls, the other with an injury). He rushed back to the stadium and made it into the game in the third quarter, making a much needed impact defensively.

And oh, yeah, he also iced the game in overtime.

Why the backstory? Well, Fisher was granted a release from the Jazz after last season so that he could live closer to the specialists that could help his daughter. It was a classy move all around. Fisher ended up with the Lakers and as luck would have it, the Lakers would play the Jazz in the 2008 Playoffs. You’d expect a warm homecoming for Fisher in Utah, right? Wrong. Here’s the story, via Bleacher Report:

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Leading 2-0, the Lakers arrived in Salt Lake City on May 9 and as they took the court, boos filled the stadium for Derek Fisher. Had they forgotten everything he had done for their team? Did they realize why he had to leave and what he was going through? But this story doesn’t end there.

Utah won Game Three, but in Game Four, things got worse.

As Derek Fisher went to the line to shoot free throw after a technical foul, a fan behind the basket covered his right eye and began screaming at the Lakers’ point guard.
———-

Seriously? On the list of crappy things to do to another human being, “taunting him about his young daughter’s rare eye cancer” has to be near the top.

Here’s a question: what can anyone do about this kind of behavior? Clemson University dealt with it a few years ago when certain fans yelled ethnic slurs during baseball games. Clemson ended up posting letters around the stadium asking fans to represent the university with class, and it seemed to have a positive effect.

Another possible solution is a bit more direct. If you’re in the stands and hear someone yelling racial slurs or just being a jackass in general, tell him to shut up. That goes double for fans of your own team, since they’re making you look bad by extension. Maybe if more fans have this attitude, the jerks of the world won’t consider sports arenas acceptable venues in which to show out.

Childhood prodigies come and go throughout the media, however, these four children are the real deal. If they have not received professional offers yet, they surely will in the coming future. It is hard for children to stand out in team sports, but hard work and determination will get the attention of scouts and the media. These are the top child athletes of the world:

BASKETBALL and TRACK:

Jashaun Agosto is an 11 year old child that is simply unbelievable. Not only does he complete 200 push ups, 200 sit ups, and 150 squats every night before bed, but he also runs a sub 4:50 mile and practices basketball 4 hours a day, seven days a week. This 5th grader competes against older opponents and is completely self motivated. He is easily the youngest child prospect in the sport of basketball . . . any bets on when will Kentucky send him an offer?

TENNIS:

Jan Kristian Silva is a tennis pro and he is only 5 years old. His parents pay nearly $140,000 a year to send him to a French tennis complex where he strives to improve his game. At a whopping 4-foot tall and 60 pounds, this kid can slam and return serves with many adults. He can also play the net like a 6 footer.

FUTBOL:

Rhain Davis is a 9-year-old Australian “whiz kid” who has been snatched up by Manchester United. The child moved 11,000 miles to Britain to join the Red Devils Academy and compete in the beautiful game. There he excelled and caught the eyes of Man U, where they offered him a scholarship. Under the contract he will train with Manchester daily and cannot sign a professional contract until the age of 16 years.

GOLF:

Kyle Logrosso is more than your typical 5 year old boy. Shortly after birth, it was discovered that he had cancer in both eyes, requiring months of chemotherapy and his left eye to be removed. Since then Kyle has fell in love with the game of golf. Like many child prodigy golfers before his time (i.e. Tiger Woods), Kyle enjoys being in the spotlight and showcasing his skills. And get this, his best game in 9 holes is a 46 . . . how many adults can claim this in their golf game?

Without a doubt, the most dominating dunk in the playoffs thus far was made by King James last night against the Celtics. And not any Celtics player, but superstar PF/C Kevin Garnett. Garnett is known for his outstanding size, speed, strength, and ability to get to the rim and block shots. However, last night Lebron James made him look like a 12 year old school boy with his thumb in his mouth. I’ve never been a Lebron fan, but it kind of reminded me of a Vince Carter dunk 2 years ago. Let’s compare:

Both players, Garnett and Alonzo are of similar height, speed, and defensive presence. Both players, Vince and Lebron are known for their speed, jumping abilities, and fantastic dunks. They both approached the rim from the side, however, Garnett knew what was coming and ducked off to the side. Alonzo tried to block Vince, but was overpowered by the much smaller player. Perhaps Lebron could have pulled it off, but I would have liked to have seen it happen. Lebron > Vince . . . still.