As he comes to the Prudential Center Monday night for a nonconference game with Bobby Gonzalez and Seton Hall, UMass coach Derek Kellogg is very high on two Pirates whom he recruited while an assistant to John Calipari at Memphis.
Kellogg recruited Seton Hall forward Herb Pope out of high school, but Pope ultimately landed at New Mexico State before transferring to the Big East school.
Kellogg also successfully recruited Jeff Robinson out of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick to Memphis.
“I watched Herb Pope a lot in high school,” Kellogg said Monday by phone from his Newark hotel. “We recruited him a lot at Memphis, a 6-9 kid who can do all things that he can do. He scores around the basket. He steps out to the mid-range. He brings a physical presence and toughness to their team. That’s been really helpful to them this year and why they’re off to such a good start (6-0).”
Pope is averaging 13.3 points and 11.2 boards and was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll this week after averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 boards in two wins last week.
Kellong believes Pope has a future in the NBA.
“I think so,” he said. “I’ll probably know a little more as the season goes along. He definitely has NBA talent. The NBA is a tough league to make it in. He’ll have to continue to perform at the level he has and they have to win.”
Robinson transferred to Seton Hall a year ago primarily because of lack of playing time under Calipari and won’t be eligible until Dec. 19. That’s the same day junior guard Keon Lawrence comes back from his suspension related to an automobile accident while driving the wrong way on the Garden State Parkway.
“[Robinson] brings another really athletic, tough player who is multiple-position guy,” Kellogg said. “He can play anywhere from the 2 to the 4. He’s a kid who works hard and is going to compete on every possession.
“He’s a hybrid forward who brings a level of toughness, kind of what Herb Pope brings to them, which is going to be really helfpul in the rugged Big East.”
As for his own squad, UMass is 4-4 in Kellogg’s second season since departing Memphis.
Ricky Harris leads the Minutemen at 18 points per game and Anthony Gurley contributes 17.8.
“Like a lot of teams around the country, we’re relying on our veterans and our older players,” Kellogg said. “Ricky Harris and Anthony Gurley are my only senior and one of my few juniors. Those guys have played very well this season. They’re good role model for my young guys.”
UMass also features 6-10 redshirt junior forward Hashim “Big City” Bailey, a Paterson, N.J. native who transferred from Memphis to UMass and become eligible this year.
Bailey missed three games with a groin injury but is averaging 1.2 points and 4.4 rebounds so far.
“I’m just looking for a guy that’s going to take up space,” Kellogg said of Bailey. “Especially for defensive rebounds, and be a presence on the defensive end of the floor. He’s still not in the type of shape that he’ll be in at the end of the sason. He’s probably about 270 and I want him to get to 260, just get in better shape.”
SETON HALL FREE THROWS
Seton Hall 2011 commit DaShaun Wiggins dropped in a season-high 30 points in a loss to New Hampton Prep and is averaging 15 points for Bridgton (Me.) Academy, which is 4-4.
“I feel it’s more competition,” said Wiggins, who transferred from Wings Academy in New York. “I’ve been doing good. I think I’m getting more confidence in my game. Since I’m on a higher level of competition, my confidence is rising even more. ”
“I hope he keeps improving,” Bridgton coach Whit Lesure said. “He’s got to keep going to class on time.”
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