Casper College Jamboree Set For The 19th & 20th of October

Casper College basketball fans will be happy to know that the 4^th annual Casper College Jamboree is just right around the corner. On October 19^th and 20^th Joel Davidson and his team will host yet another jamboree which includes 16 teams. Games will be played all day starting at 1:30 pm in the Liesinger Hall Gym and the “Swede”.  Your Casper College men will tip off as follows:

Friday the 19^th

1:30 PM vs. Western Nebraska in Liesinger Hall Gym

4:05 PM vs. LCCC in Thunderbird “Swede” Gym

7:50 PM vs. CSI in Thunderbird “Swede” Gym

Saturday the 20^th

9:00 AM vs. Lamar in Thunderbird “Swede” Gym

11:30 AM vs. Williston State in Thunderbird “Swede” Gym

2:00 PM vs. McCook in Thunderbird “Swede” Gym

There will be schedules in the Thunderbird Gym Lobby for all spectators.

The Price of admission is free!!! Come out and support Joel Davidson and the Casper College Thunderbirds as they prepare to start off their season with fall scrimmages to get ready for their first official game of the 2012-2013 season against Eastern Wyoming on November 1^st.  Hope to see everyone there.

Thunderbird Men's Schedule Is Set For 2012-2013

The Casper College Men’s Basketball program is headed for another tough non-conference season as they play two past NJCAA National Champions in the last 5 years and several other top 25 teams. Joel Davidson and staff will be preparing their players with another tough schedule but with their eyes set for March. The 2012-2013 T-bird schedule is headlined with programs such as the College of Southern Idaho, Salt Lake Community College and Cloud County out of Kansas.

College of Southern Idaho was the NJCAA national champions in 2011 and Salt Lake Community College won their national championship on 2009.

Casper College will open their season against Eastern Wyoming and Snow College in the Tip-off classic November 1^st and 2^nd. The Thanksgiving Classic on November 22^nd through the 24^th includes Raleigh’s Finest Sports Academy out of Oklahoma City, OK, Cloud County from Kansas and Lamar College.

Davidson hopes the tough schedule prepares his young team for conference play as well as region IX tournament play in March. There will be 17 home games for the T-birds at the “Swede” this season. This year the Thunderbirds have a chance to host the tournament as this year it is the winner of the North region who will host.

Click the link to view the 2012-2013 schedule.

  http://www.tbirds.cc/mbb/index.html

Official Practice Has Begun for the T-Birds

As the Thunderbirds’ approach the upcoming season with the first official practice October 1^st, they have hit the court with a purpose to get back to the region IX championship game. Although, with a different outcome to follow.  Joel Davidson and staff are now preparing for the season tip-off against the Eastern Wyoming Lancers on November 1^st in Casper, Wyoming.

Here is a look at the 2012-2013 Thunderbirds:

Number	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Class	Hometown/High School
0	Corey Spence	Guard	5'10	180	Sophomore	Baltimore, MD (South Plains JC)
1	Demetrius Lee	Wing	6'4	210	RS-Sophomore	Oakland, CA (St. Mary's Prep)
2	Nate McGinley	Guard	6'3	185	Freshman	Boulder, CO (Centaurus HS)
3	Remi Dibo	Forward	6'9	220	RS-Sophomore	Paris, France (Mtn. State Academy)
4	Austin Kofoed	Wing	6'4	195	RS-Sophomore	Evanston, WY (Evanston HS)
5	Juwan Starks	Wing	6'4	175	Freshman	Aurora, IL (West Aurora HS)
11	Dominique Lee	Wing	6'5	220	RS-Sophomore	Oakland, CA (University of Utah)
12	Jonathan Blythers	Guard	6'2	180	Freshman	Rochester, NY (Edison-Tech HS)
15	Richard Smith	Forward	6'7	235	Freshman	Richmond, VA (Chesterfield HS)
20	Khalid Banks	Guard	6'1	175	Freshman	Las Vegas, NV (Cheyenne HS)
21	Mantas Adomaitas	Forward	6'8	230	Freshman	Hornchurch, United Kingdom
22	Ryan Madsen	Guard	6'2	180	Freshman	Wheatland, WY (Wheatland HS)
23	Lew Evans	Forward	6'10	230	Freshman	Salt Lake City, UT (New Hampton Prep)
24	Jake Johnson	Forward	6'10	215	Freshman	Reno, NV (Reno)
32	Trahmier Burrell	Guard	6'4	185	Freshman	Albany, NY (Troy)
RS	Chase Riley	Guard	6'1	190	Freshman	Rock Springs, WY (Rock Springs)

T-Birds out in the Community with AC Green

The Casper College Men's basketball squad teamed up with AC Green and the Uprising/Leadership basketball clinic this past Saturday at the Boys and Girls Club. Casper Youth for Christ presents the Uprising Music Fest, a live festival with music, basketball clinics, skateboarding demonstrations and more. Musical lineup includes the Small Town America’s Tour with Seventh Day Slumber, Beautiful Refrain and Blank Pages. Regional bands include Cleanzed Soul, Matt Earle, The Surge, Gifted Wings and Written in Red. NBA Iron Man and Los Angeles Lakers legend A.C. Green will host a basketball clinic and speak at the festival. The Denver Skate Church will be entertaining with skateboarding demos and competitions throughout the day. The Casper Boxing Club will host a show and clinic.
The event is also presented by Natrona County School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming and the Churches of Casper. The Thunderbirds were great with the kids at the clinic. Thank you to the Casper community for putting on such a great event.

Davidson Snags New York Guard Late

The Casper College Men’s basketball staff has finally wrapped up their 2012 summer recruiting class with just inside 10 days left before school starts. The T-Birds are known for tough guard play and have added a very tough guard to their 2012 recruiting class.  Trahmier Burrell, of upstate New York, fits the bill with the toughness at that position.  The 6’4” 180 pound guard, who played the point guard position at his high school (Troy High School) in New York, has tenacity and the ability to put the ball on the floor to create for others and himself which is hard to find.

As a senior, Trahmier racked up 362 points to lead his team this season, averaging 17.2 points per game, including a season-high 29 against Albany in January. Burrell was also excellent on the defensive end of the court, recording an average of 2.3 steals over 21 games. He was named the Big 10 Player of the Year while leading his team to its first Big 10 title in more than a decade. While averaging 7 rebounds and 6 assists a game, he was also named to the All-City First Team.

“While Coach Russell was recruiting Burrell there were a lot of attractive things I noticed of the big guard. His toughness and motor on the floor were at a very high level. That was something we wanted to address in this recruiting class.” Coach Davidson said of the new addition to the Thunderbird roster. “He is a jack of all trades and can do a little bit of everything but him being a 6’4” point guard that can go off the dribble, finish at the rim and also is a great passer with a good feel for the game is hard to find.”

Junior College came into play late for Trahmier as he had been waiting to hear from the NCAA clearinghouse. He was being recruited by Virginia Tech, St. Johns, Rutgers, Rhode Island, DePaul, UAB, Seton Hall, Niagara, Northeastern, Delaware and Austin Peay.

Nevada Big Inks with Casper College Basketball

Casper College basketball coach Joel Davidson and his staff announced today that they have signed another highly regarded frontcourt player. The new signee, Jake Johnson of Reno, Nev., should help fill the void at the postposition left by Georgia State signee, Deninson Burguillos. Johnson is a 6-10, 225-pound big man from Reno High School. This past season, Johnson was an All-High Desert League 2nd Team selection, averaging 15 points per game, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks per contest for the Huskies. He was voted to the All-North First Team and the Reno Senior All-Star Game. The three-year varsity player was also on the Nevada Wolverines AAU program, which includes top 100 player (class of 2013) Hunter Myers.

"The thing that really caught my eye while recruiting Jake was his motor and how hard he plays," Davidson says of the 18 year-old who he says is still growing. "His ability to change shots with his long arms and his jumping ability at 6-10 makes him a pretty high commodity. He has some room to grow but he is fluent on the block and is really good facing up to the basket off the block. His athleticism at his size will give most other post players problems."
T-Bird Assistant Coach Dan Russell established a good relationship with Johnson and his AAU coach Garry Hill-Thomas after visiting the school, according to Davidson. "Jake thought that was the deciding factor in him choosing Casper College over Salt Lake Community College, Southeastern Illinois, and North Idaho."

Before deciding that the junior college ranks was the right direction, Johnson was being sought after by several Division 1 basketball programs including Montana, Nevada, Weber State, Northern Arizona, and Sacramento State. He will have a tremendous impact on the T-Bird program this upcoming season "because of how hard he competes every possession" according to Davidson.

Johnson will add depth and competition to an already talented frontcourt stable for the T-Birds. Remi Dibo returns for his sophomore season and incoming freshman Lew Evans 6-10 (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Mantas Adomaitis 6-9 (London, England) give Casper great size going into the new campaign. Davidson says he expects to add two more frontcourt players to this recruiting class.

Jake Johnson Highlights

New York Guard Signs National Letter of Intent with Casper College

Casper College has inked another perimeter player, coach Joel Davidson announced Tuesday.  Jonathan Blythers, a 6’2 185 pound “dynamic” guard from Rochester, N.Y., has signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Thunderbirds next season. 

Blythers played his high school basketball at Edison-Tech High School in Rochester and was a three year starter for the Inventors. Davidson says the “super athletic and phenomenal shooter” was a member of the 2011-2012 All-Greater Rochester Team.

This past season, Blythers produced 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game for the Inventors (13-9). He scored 41 points against Gates Chili High School, which was part of a triple-double credited to the third-year starter. His team finished in the semi-finals of the city sectional tournament.

Along with being named to the first team All-Greater Rochester squad he was also named MVP of annual Rochester Ronald McDonald House all-star game. In the game, the explosive guard topped all scorers with 25 points in the win. In a career at Edison-Tech High School, Blythers scored 1,006 points which is second in school history.

“Jonathan is a guy that is perfect for what we are trying to do here at Casper College,” Davidson says. “He is really athletic, plays with a motor, and attacks the rim fearlessly. He is a great three point shooter as well as having a solid mid-range jumper.”

“I love his game and I think he has a chance to be a great player here at Casper College and continue the long list of great guards to have come through here and move on to the Division 1 level,” the T-Bird coach adds.

Blythers will be joining some talented players on the perimeter in Juwan Starks 6’4 (Chicago, IL), Khalid Banks 6’1 (Las Vegas, NV), Ryan Madsen 6’2 (Wheatland, WY), Nate McGinley 6’3 (Boulder, CO), and Corey Spence 5’10 (Baltimore, MD). Davidson says he and his staff know “it’s a guards world” and they feel they have a very talented group of guards. He hopes Blythers can continue the tradition of great guards at Casper.

 

Jonathan Blythers Junior Year Highlights

 

Davidson Inks Transfer Point Guard From Baltimore

Corey Spence from Baltimore, Maryland is the latest signee for Coach Joel Davidson and his program. Spence spent last season with the national championship team, South Plains College, who went 36-0 on the season. Spence saw a lot of playing time during their national championship run at Hutchinson, Kansas. The 5’10 180-pound point guard had a significant role in helping the Texans win the national championship game and came up with big plays in the semi-finals as well. He will now bring his winning pedigree to the T-Bird line-up to help them get back to Hutch.

In high school, Spence helped Dunbar HS to the 2010 Maryland 1A state championship. At Bridgton Academy in 2010-11, he averaged 14 points per game and led the team in steals and assists. Spence will be filling the role of Denzel Douglas, a two-year T-Bird starter who has moved on to play at the University of Idaho in the Western Athletic Conference. While he will be wreaking havoc in the back court defending the opponents’ point guards, the new Casper College point guard also has the ability to get into the lane and create, according to Davidson.

Davidson added that while Spence is nearly impossible to keep in front because of his quickness, he will be a threat to opponents with his ability to pass the ball and score at the rim using his bulky frame. “His quickness with the ball and ability to defend are going to be big for us this upcoming season.” Davidson says. “I really like his feel for the game, his quickness and strength, as well as his leadership qualities. He will give us a big boost at the point guard position and I love how hard he plays.”

The new addition to the T-Bird program will enroll in classes this summer at Casper College starting in June. He will be working out with the coaching staff as well as other signees and returners preparing for the fall. Before choosing Casper College, Spence was being recruited by College of Southern Idaho, Monroe College, and Trinity Valley CC.

Corey Spence High School Highlights

2012 Thunderbird Basketball Camp

Sign up for the 2012 T-Bird Summer Boys' Basketball Camp June 18-20 at the "Swede" Erickson Thunderbird Gym, Casper College Grades 1-9.

Session 1

June 18-20, Monday-Wednesday at 10 a.m. to noon - Grades 1-4

Session 2

Each Camper will receive a t-shirt and camp basketball as a part of the registration fee

Check-in:
30 minutes prior to the start of camp

What to bring:

Basketball shoes and a GREAT attitude. Be ready to learn and compete.

Come by the athletics office for registration forms and sign up. You must hurry, camp spots are filling up fast!!!

Make checks payable to: Casper College Boys' Basketball CampJune 18-20, Monday-Wednesday at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Grades 5-9Cost:$ 75

CLICK HERE to register for camp!!!

Elite Big Man From England Joins The Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds welcomed a big addition to their program early this week by signing one of the top big men prospects from London, England.  Mantas Adomaitas will join the T-bird program this coming fall after signing the National Letter of Intent to play for Coach Joel Davidson. The 6’8 skilled forward led his national league team­ (Newham Youngbloods) through to the playoffs of his league averaging 31 points and 13 rebounds a contest. He was also named the MVP of his team this year and the Most Improved Player last year.

For his team in London, Mantas did a little bit of everything as he won the Most Valuable Player at the London CVL tournament, averaging 24 points and 15 rebounds. His versatility and toughness will be a great addition to what is stacking up to be one of the better front courts that Davidson has put together since he has been at Casper College. 

Adomaitas also made the United Kingdom Elite team this year to compete in a world championship tournament in France. Prior to that, his London Leopards team (div1 men) were the National Cup Winners, League winners, as well as later on becoming the champions. He was recruited by several junior colleges in the United States and a few division 1 programs as well.

“Mantas will be a great addition to our front court and he will be able to add a rebounding presence that we are excited about having here at Casper College.” Head coach Joel Davidson says of Adomaitas. “He moves really well which helps him on the perimeter and has a toughness about him that allows him to score it on the block," Davidson says. "He is a very, very talented and tough player.”

With Remi Dibo (France) returning to the lineup for the T-Birds and the addition of (6’10) Lew Evans from Salt Lake City, UT and Richard Smith (6’7) From Richmond, VA, the talented forward will add depth to a front court that is shaping up to be a solid crew. Davidson and staff will be signing one more big man to add to the roster in the coming months.

Mantas Adomaitas Highlights

Las Vegas Pipeline Continues With New Point Guard Addition

Joel Davidson and the Thunderbirds are happy to announce signing of Las Vegas point guard Khalid Banks from Cheyenne High School.  Banks is the first point guard to sign with the T-Birds this off-season and is another in a line of highly-touted athletes to commit this spring to Joel Davidson and Casper College.  T-Bird assistant coach Dan Russell has been very high on the 6’ 175-pound scoring point guard and made him a priority.  

Banks is one of the more promising point guard prospects in the West Coast class of 2012. He is a natural leader and he does a good job of communicating with his teammates, according to Davidson. “He is very difficult to stop off the dribble and is crafty finishing at the rim,” Davidson says. “His passing ability is great, especially in transition, and shoots it well from 3-point range.” 

At Cheyenne High School, Banks averaged 14 points per game, 3.4 assists, and 3.3 steals per contest. He was named to the 2nd Team All-Sunset Northwest Division. Banks was considered one of the top players in the City. Banks was a first-team All-Northwest League pick last season as a junior while averaging 18 points per game.

“Khalid will be a great addition to our team this upcoming season because he gives us added depth at the guard position and because of his skill set and scoring/shooting ability we can slide him over to play the 2-guard spot for us as well.” Davidson said of the next Las Vegas guard in line at Casper College. “We hang our hats on signing good guards and that’s something we will always do here at Casper. Khalid fits the mold and has a chance to be very successful here and at the next level.  Coach Russell did a great job recruiting a fine student-athlete who will be a great fit on our campus.”

Khalid Banks Sophomore Year Highligts

Utah Native Signs To Play Hoops For Casper College

Joel Davidson and staff are happy to announce the signing of 6’10 230 pound big man Lew Evans from Salt Lake City, Utah.  A year ago Lew played his high school basketball at Highlands High School in the Salt Lake area and was the state tournament MVP while averaging.  With his ability to stretch the floor and his skills on the perimeter give Coach Davidson exactly what he is looking for at that position. 

Lew was a Salt Lake Tribune first-team 4A basketball all-state selection as well as leading the Rams in scoring and rebounding at the 4A state tournament. Evans finished the season averaging 14 points per game and 9 rebounds a contest. He led his team to a state championship title and was 1^st team all-state as a senior.
“Lew will be a big part of what we are doing next season because his position is an intrical part of what we do defensively and offensively.” Said Davidson of the big man from Salt Lake City. “We have been told by doctors and his parents that Lew still has 4 to 5 more inches left in growth and has already grown an inch in the last year.”
Casper College will be getting a very good player in Evans this fall for the 2012-2013 season. “He can do just about everything and is a very smart defender for his size” Davidson said. “He does a great job rebounding and shooting the ball and that’s what we need him to do for us.”

At New Hampton Prep which is one of the top prep schools on the east coast Lew averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds a game playing against some of the top talent in the country. The former Utah Pump-N-Run player had several division 1 offers from schools back east including New Hampshire, Hartford, Vermont, and Tulsa but wanted to have a better chance at playing division 1 basketball on the west coast.

Lew Evans High School Highlights