BEVERLY HILLS (MI) — This year, the 4th of July fell on a Thursday which presented a minor dilemma of sorts: to take Friday off and make it a four day pass or pocket the PTO and enjoy what amounts to a one day weekend.

I chose the latter.

The onset of July brings another slate of AAU ball and evaluations by college coaches for HS prospects. Here is what’s shakin’:

— Rivals released their Top 150 for the Class of 2014 and there are lots of Flyer targets on it:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/rankings/rank-2993

Among the guys who currently have UD on their lists are:

38. Terry Larrier
54. Angel Delgado
86. Vic Law
91. Vince Edwards
100. Martin Geben
126. J.P. Macura
128. Justin Bibbs
141. Sean O’Mara

There was a bunch of Twitter action this week concerning Chicagoan Vic Law. Supposedly Law had narrowed his list down to VCU, Northwestern and UD and he was gonna pop any day…still waiting to see if that is so.

— He probably just missed making the Rivals Top 150, but here is an in-depth piece on Gahanna Lincoln HS’s Javon Bess, courtesy of JJ Huddle. Javon has been offered by UD:

http://www.jjhuddle.com/news/articles/2013/5/10/bess-gahannas-best

— Archie has also extended offers to a couple of 2015 prospects:

Javon Bess’ Gahanna Lincoln teammate Matthew Moyer

http://verbalcommits.com/players/matthew-moyer

Louisville Trinity HS PF Raymond Spalding:

http://verbalcommits.com/players/raymond-spalding

— This is something every HS prospect should keep in mind — the difference between exposure and getting exposed:

http://www.strongerteam.com/2013/07/01/exposure-vs-getting-exposed/

— Nuthin’ will get you pumped for the upcoming Flyer campaign faster than this “Ultimate Game Day Experience” video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCy0WW5jYRg&feature=player_embedded

— Devin Oliver and Jordan Sibert talk up what the Flyer game day experience will be like — at the 2013 EA Sports Maui Invitational in November:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkX3BL6JGNY&feature=share&list=PL453630A93F04CAF8

— 116 Flyer student/athletes made the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Well done, ladies and gentlemen:

http://www.daytonflyers.com/mens/basketball/news/?article_id=9994

— You gotta love seeing Kevin Dillard on the Washington Wizards’ Summer League squad:

http://www.nba.com/wizards/kevin-dillard-profile

— As well as having Chris Wright on the Indiana Pacers 2013 Rookie/Free Agents camp roster:

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/pacers-announce-2013-rookiefree-agent-camp-roster

— Brian Roberts’ status with the New Orleans Pelicans should be determined soon, now that the NBA Draft has taken place. NOLA has a team option for BRob for this season for which they have yet to pull the trigger.

— Chris Johnson will be playing for the NBADL All-Stars in the NBA Summer League but I can’t find any linky goodness to confirm that fact, other than a tweet by UD Assistant DOBO Eric Farrell.

— No word on if/when Devin Searcy will appear in the NBA Summer League. DS played in Russia this past season for BC Triumph Lyubertsy.

— Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports New York takes a look at the A-10 and pegs UD as “the sleeper”:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/01/jon-rothsteins-atlantic-10-offseason-notebook/

— Meanwhile, the Big East remains “a circus that rolls on” according to Dana O’Neil at ESPN.com:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9420767/the-new-big-east-remains-state-confusion-college-basketball

— “Bubble Soccer” looks like it would be an absolute hoot:

http://www.thatvideosite.com/v/9761/bubble-soccer-looks-like-the-greatest-thing-ever

— DWade’s son Zaire is one of the best 5th grade hoopsters in the country:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/dwyane-wade-son-zaire-one-nation-top-fifth-101514122.html;_ylt=AoOxnZJLvj_cqe7wNChMXceqYMp_;_ylu=X3oDMTRxcDVyOGlmBGNjb2RlA3ZzaGFyZWFnMnVwcmVzdARtaXQDTWl4ZWQgTGlzdCBOZXdzIEZvciBZb3UEcGtnAzQ4ZjI5OW

— It seems that baseball cards are no longer the big deal they were when I was a kid:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/sports/baseball/fewer-are-investing-hearts-and-money-into-collecting-baseball-cards.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=baseball&

— Ironically, the one city in America that has banned automobiles is located in the State of Michigan:

http://www.treehugger.com/culture/one-city-in-america-where-cars-have-been-banned-1898.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

If you have never been to Mackinac Island, make it a point to get there and stay at the Grand Hotel. You will not be disappointed.

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
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