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(RNS) Mourning in America, a sendup of Ronald Reagans famous 1984 Morning in America spot by the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Republican group, has garnered 1.5 million YouTube views in two days and evoked a Twitter rant from the president. Why?

Watch them both.

The Reagan-era original Morning in America creates a halcyon portrait of America before Vietnam, before Watergate, before the oil crisis and the Iran hostage crisis and stagflation and the Carter malaise. It is, in a word, restorationist, with a dimension of the religious restorationism note the church scene that President Reagan acquired growing up as a member of the Disciples of Christ. The Disciples, who endowed Reagan with what historian Joe Creech calls their unashamed city-on-the-hill patriotism, were founded in antebellum America with the goal of restoring primitive Christianity.

Thanks to Reagan, restorationism became core Republican ideology and a constant campaign theme, above all when a Democratic president needed replacing. In 1996, Bob Dole campaigned on restoring the American Dream. In 2000, George W. Bush pledged to restore honor and dignity to the presidency and to restore morale in our military.

In the 2012 election cycle, restorationist messaging by GOP presidential wannabes was everywhere. Newt Gingrichs campaign book asked readers to join us in this effort to restore America as a nation like no other. Rick Perry wanted to restore the nations principles. Ron Pauls cry was Restore America Now; his agenda, the Restore America Plan.

Amazon had on offer a Michele Bachmann for President pin that read, Restoring constitutional conservative values. Mitt Romneys super PAC was named Restore Our Future. Nor should we overlook the 2012 Republican Party platform, which employs restore and its cognates no fewer than 21 times.

But the apotheosis of Republican restorationism occurred in 2016, when candidate Trump appropriated Reagans Lets make America great again slogan and all but patented it under the now ubiquitous MAGA acronym.

Of course, Trump has advanced an America First conception of greatness that bears little resemblance to what Reagan had in mind when he regularly invoked John Winthrops extension of Jesus city on a hill metaphorto stand for American leadership in the world.

If you want to put it in theological terms, Reagans restorationism expressed the optimistic postmillennial ideal of his Disciples youth: Use this time to prepare the way for Christ to return to the best place possible. Trumps restorationism is akin to the premillennial nightmare of the Left Behind book series: We are a beleaguered few who can make it through the end times only by decontamination and walling ourselves off.

But so long as the pre-COVID economy persisted, it retained an aura of Reaganism.

Mourning in America destroys that aura. Instead of becoming prouder and stronger and better, America has become weaker and sicker and poorer. No longer able to point to a boffo stock market and ever lower unemployment, the Republican candidate for reelection signifies economic devastation and worry.

Where Morning in America portrayed Reagan as the messianic agent of restoration, Mourning in America casts Trump as the Anti-Reagan, who has to be defeated. Would we ever want to relive what his past four years have brought us?

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The mythic punch of the Lincoln Project's 'Mourning in America' - Religion News Service

Despite his anti-Trump credentials, Politico.com thinks its unclear whether Amash woulddo more damage to Biden or Trump. Showing the potential for conservative support, theWashington Examiners Brad Polumbo championed Amash against what he sees as the incompetent, fundamentally indecent Trump and the frail, too-leftist Biden.

Amash is also free of the sexual misconduct accusations against the two major party candidates which they deny.

Religion reporters will note that Amash is one of only five Eastern Orthodox members of Congress. His Palestinian father and Syrian mother came to the U.S. as immigrants thanks to sponsorship by a pastor in Muskegon. He attended Grand Rapids Christian High School, where he met his wife Kara, later an alumna of the Christian Reformed Churchs Calvin University.

On the religiously contested abortion issue, Amashs pro-life stand agrees with Orthodox Church teaching, and the National Right to Life Committee gives him a 100 percent rating. That clashes with the Libertarians pro-choice platform, but Amash plans to emphasize banning of public funding, on which his new party agrees.

Amash holds a bachelors degree in economics and a law degree, both from the University of Michigan. He was an attorney for the familys industrial tool company and at a young age 28 won a state House of Representatives seat in 2008. Also winning that year was the legislatures first Muslim woman, also of Palestinian background, Detroits Democratic firebrand Rashida Tlaib.

Just two years later, Amash won his first U.S. House race, boosted by the Tea Party wave and Amways Richard and Betsy DeVos, and madeTimemagazines 40 under 40 list. Tlaib followed him into the U.S. House in 2018. A stalwart of the Republicans libertarian faction and a disciple of economist F.A. Hayek, Amash founded the House Liberty Caucus and backed Ron Paul for the 2012 presidential nomination.

Reporters will certainly quiz a Palestinian-American on policy toward Israel and the Mideast, since his party wants the U.S. to shun foreign entanglements. It would also be appropriate to ask just how a small-government conservative like Amash would handle the massive coronavirus crisis. FYI, click here for the pieces of legislation Amash has sponsored.

Note: The filing deadline for Amashs House district, at the heart of western Michigans Bible Belt, occurs tomorrow, May 8. Amash professed confidence hed win re-election as an Independent but his district is solidly Republican and went for Trump. Predecessors in this seat included future President Gerald Ford and the late Paul Henry, former Calvin professor and son of Christianity Todaymagazines founding editor Carl F. H. Henry.

Contacts: The Amash family attends St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church(also on Facebook) in the Grand Rapids suburb of Kentwood, led by the Very. Rev. Michael Nasser (616-954-2700). Amashs Washington office: 202) 226-3831. Grand Rapids office: 616-451-8383. Also see: AmashForAmerica.com and his congressional home page.

Read more from the original source:
There are religion angles with a presidential run by Michigan Libertarian Justin Amash - GetReligion

This offseason is the most important in Dwayne Haskins' football career. The 23-year-old has a new head coach that he trusts, and that new head coach is trusting him to be the starter in their first year together.

How the passer handles these next few months, and the games that follow, could largely determine his future in the league.

But due to Coronavirus, this offseason is also the weirdest in Dwayne Haskins' football career. How does an up-and-coming QB assert himself and make his presence known in the building things that every pundit says someone in Haskins' position must do when there is literally no building to go to?

Well, according to what Haskins told JP Finlay in a one-on-one interview with theRedskins Talkpodcast, one way to make up for the loss of in-person interactions is to rely on the phone. A lot.

"I still call Derrius, I call Landon, I call Big Mo,AP shoots me a text," Haskins said."It's not the same, not being in the building, but I miss my guys, so I always try to reach out to them, give them a FaceTime call or something, let them know I'm thinking about them."

Those small gestures could mean quite a bit to Haskins' teammates, who all watched him go through an adversity-filled rookie campaign where much went wrong. Together, thecalls and texts show a more aware player, someone who's taking this next opportunity seriously, as he should.

Haskins, though, doesn't just have to check in on his fellow Redskins these days. There's also the matter of him learning a new system, one that's being taught by a new coordinator in Scott Turner and a new position coach in Ken Zampese.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW

Yet Haskins isoptimistic he'll be able to accomplish that difficult task thanks to having gone through the process as a pro once already.

"It's not necessarily as hard to pick it up," he said."It definitely helps having learned an NFL offense prior to it, to grasp it faster."

Haskins explained that there are meetings to install plays with Turner and Zampese four times a week. Beyond that, there are sessions where he, the other signal callers andthe centers go over protections. He also talks with receivers to further familiarize himself with the terms and concepts he'll be asked to know through and through whenever the regular season commences.

As for his on-field work, he's ensuring he stays as sharp as possible. Haskins has been throwing outside constantly, and even toldRedskins Talkhe's been able to link up with targets like Kelvin Harmon, Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims for some of those workouts.

In all, Haskins appeared and sounded confident, despite circumstances that are complicating an already pressure-packed job. That stems from knowing that this is his chance.

Now, the chance definitely doesn't lookthe way he envisioned it. No one could have really envisioned this.But regardless, it's still his.

"Really looking forward to being the guy," he said.

Stay connected to the Capitals and Wizards with the MyTeams app.Click hereto download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.

MORE REDSKINS NEWS

Trusting Ron: It worked for Dwayne

Read more here:
Rivera asked Haskins to trust him and 'it worked out' - NBCSports.com

Some of the content in this weeks article revisits some information I shared with you about 24 months ago. I have added a little more information, and I believe the content is even more relevant today.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the privilege of growing up and living in Michigan. Some of my earliest and fondest memories include time spent outdoors with my parents and seven siblings. Both of my parents were English teachers, and each foray into the woods was a learning experience. While fishing, hunting, hiking, or canoeing, my parents took advantage of every opportunity to enrich our education.

My parents shared their love of learning with their eight children, included exposure to the great storytellers, both current and past. I remember listening to Garrison Keillor and the Prairie Home Companion on public radio and Paul Harvey on radio station WKLA. Both were great orators; however, I especially enjoyed Paul Harvey and The Rest of the Story. Mr. Harvey had a voice that was captivating and pleasant. His stories usually began with a narration that would evoke some emotion and challenge my thought process. As he weaved his story, he would lead in one direction, and then, without missing a beat, he would deliver an entirely different perspective. He would end each broadcast with, Im Paul Harvey, and there you have the rest of the story.

During the past 25 years, the American education system has encountered some interesting obstacles and challenges, some of which are systemic and others that are societal. I want to focus your attention on the talk, the truth, and a crucial conversation about our K-12 public schools.

Malcolm Gladwells book Outliers suggests how education in the United States is backward. He writes schools do an outstanding job of educating students between September and June.

But Gladwell writes that isnt enough.

The only problem with school, for the kids who arent achieving is that there isnt enough of it, he wrote.

Suddenly the causes of Asian math superiority become even more apparent. Students in Asian schools do not have long summer vacations. Why would they? Cultures that believe the route to success lies in rising before dawn 360 days a year is scarcely going to give their children three straight months off in the summer.

The school year in the United States, on average, is 180 days long. The South Korean school year is 220 days long. The Japanese school year is 243 days long. Asian students are not smarter than their American counterparts are; instead, they spend more time in school.

We live in an information and service society, yet unlike other countries, we educate our students based on an agricultural calendar. In addition to the time on task issues, several duties and responsibilities have shifted from parents and society to public schools.

The list of added responsibilities does not include the addition of multiple, specialized topics within each of the traditional subjects. It also does not have the explosion of standardized testing and test prep activities, or any of the onerous reporting requirements imposed by the federal government. All of these have occurred without adding a single minute, hour, or day to our school year.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has created a new challenge. Schools across our nation are doing something unprecedented in the history of education, which is to provide remote or home-based education to all students. Ionia Public Schools has offered virtual school programs to secondary school students for years. However, delivering home-based learning to every student is convoluted and compounded by the fact that 1/3 of our students do not have reliable internet access or technology at home.

Our schools are doing good job-preparing students to work in an industrialized society using an agricultural calendar. The problem is, we are no longer an industrialized society, and our children need to be competitive in a global economy. We can and must improve our education system to give our students the education they will need to be competitive in the worldwide economy. However, this cannot occur without expanding our school year. And now you have the rest of the story!

Ron Wilson is superintendent of Ionia Public Schools. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of Ionia school elected officials, employees or students. You may contact Ron by email at nimsob321@gmail.com.

Read this article:
Ron Wilson: The rest of the COVID-19 story - Sentinel-Standard

Here are four races that deserve more attention in the coming months.

US Senate race in Maine

The marquee race in New England this year will be in Maine, where Republican Susan Collins, seeking her fifth term, is facing a very real battle. Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and for years has been seen by voters as a perfect fit for the states once-moderate political temperament. But like everywhere else in the country, politics in Maine has become very polarized.

That stratification has to do with the national political environment, but also with former governor Paul LePage, who left office last year. For Collins, however, the main issue has been Trump. Indeed, polling suggests that no Republican in the country has been hurt more by Trump being in office. She was once among the countrys most popular senators. In the Trump era, she now ranks as one of the least popular.

Democrats recruited Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon to challenge Collins and national Democrats have helped her out-raise Collins. (Gideon faces a July 14 primary, but she is widely assumed to win.)

Part of what is helping fuel Democratic anger at Collins was her support for Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court and her vote to not remove Trump from office after he was impeached. Republicans nationally have come to her aid, but conservatives in Maine are still not happy with her 2017 vote with Democrats to not scrap Obamacare.

There havent been a lot of public, independent polls in this race, but those that have been released show the race basically tied.

Lets be clear: the party that wins in Maine could easily decide who controls the Senate next year. It is almost impossible for Democrats to flip the four seats they need to flip (should Trump win reelection) without winning Maine. Its one of the reasons it is expected to be the most expensive race in state history.

New Hampshires First Congressional District

For some time, New Hampshires First Congressional District was known as the swingiest swing district in the country. From 2006 to 2016 the seat changed parties five times in six elections.

In 2018, Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter retired and Democrats kept the seat when Chris Pappas, now 39, won a crowded Democratic primary before cruising to victory with a nearly 9-point win in the general election. In so doing, he became the first openly gay person to win major office in the states history.

While New Hampshire has been trending Democratic in the last few decades, Trump narrowly won this district in 2016. That said, Republicans initially struggled with who to put up in this election against Pappas. But now there are two Republicans facing-off in the September primary. One, former Trump administration staffer Matt Mowers, raised more money than any non-incumbent Republican in history in the first three months of 2020. The other, Matt Mayberry, a former vice-chairman of the state Republican Party, has the backing of a few former governors.

National pundits say this race leans Democratic. But if the Trump campaign follows through on its talk to make a big play in this state, it could have big implications in this race.

Maines Second Congressional District

Along with New Hampshires First District, Maines Second Congressional is an area where a Democratic freshman member of Congress represents a district Trump won. To win that district in 2016, Trump visited twice and put in a lot of resources. It is unclear whether he will do that this time.

Democrat Jared Golden, 37, ousted a Republican incumbent in 2018. (A fun fact: Golden used to be a congressional aide to Collins.)

There are three Republicans seeking the nomination, including a former LePage spokeswoman. But if the amount of money raised so far is any indication, then former state senator Eric Brakey is widely leading the contest. Brakey is a former actor who moved to Maine to work on Ron Pauls 2012 presidential campaign. He was the 2018 Republican nominee for US Senate against incumbent independent Angus King, who easily defeated Brakey.

Massachusetts US Senate

While this contest wont really be decided in November (spoiler: a Democrat will win), the Sept. 1 primary is one of the most important Massachusetts elections in a long time and is worth mentioning. Incumbent Senator Ed Markey, 73, is seeking reelection but is being challenged by US Representative Joe Kennedy III, who is 39.

The contest was expected to be a blockbuster featuring a generational divide and, well, a Kennedy on a Massachusetts statewide ballot. While the race will heat up, it is unclear how campaigning in the coronavirus era will change things exactly.

The stakes: if Kennedy wins, he may turn around to run for president soon thereafter. If Markey wins, it is hard to see how he doesnt have the seat for life.

James Pindell can be reached at james.pindell@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jamespindell.

Originally posted here:
Susan Collins high-stakes reelection fight and other New England races to watch - The Boston Globe

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As the collective basketball community awaits when the NBA will resume its season due to the coronavirus pandemic, many teams used the downtime to familiarize themselves with top prospects from all levels.

With so much uncertainty surrounding this year's draft, teams are also looking ahead to the 2021 NBA Draft. Now that the early entry deadline has passed, there is a better sense of what college basketball will look like next season. Additionally, teams are beginning to get a better idea of where some key prospects will suit up next year with most commitments finalized.

Based on research conducted by USA TODAY Sports Media Group's Rookie Wire, this is the average classification of NBA players selected in the past four drafts: Freshmen (16), sophomores (11.8), juniors (9), seniors (12.3), international (9.3) and others (1.3).

This mock draft includes 16 freshmen, 15 sophomores, eight juniors, nine seniors and nine international prospects. There are also three players we project to go from the G League Select Team into the 2021 NBA Draft.

Jan 28, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ron Harper Jr. (24) dribbles the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC).(Photo: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

We included more sophomores than usual due to the fact that many freshmen returned to school for another year rather including themselves in the 2020 NBA Draft, which is surrounded by uncertainty due to the coronavirus shutdown.

There are also more players in the "other" category than normal because the G League Select Team is becoming a more viable option for top prospects to play professionally instead of the more traditional path of the NCAA.

Note that all underclassmen who declared early entry for the 2020 NBA Draft (such as Iowa's Luka Garza) were excluded from this list. So, too, was Jonathan Kuminga. The 6-foot-8 forward from The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, likely would be a lottery pick in 2021, but he has not yet officially reclassified to forgo his senior year of high school.

All player projections for the 2020-21 season are from BartTorvik.com.

Guard, 6-foot-6, Freshman

Cade Cunningham is considered one of the best recruits in the country. He committed to Oklahoma State.(Photo: Catalina Fragoso, USA TODAY Sports)

Cade Cunningham was the anchor for Montverde Academy, which was touted as the best high school team of all-time. The point forward averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 assists per 36 minutes at the U19 World Cup in 2019, trailing just one player for total assists (40) during the tournament.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Big, 6-foot-11, Freshman

Evan Mobley was 2019s Gatorade Player of the Year in California and came into the summer as the highest-rated player on RSCI, which compiles the rankings from major recruiting sites such as 247 Sports and Rivals. The versatile big boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan with a 40-inch vertical leap, a rare measurement combination.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, G League

Jalen Green is going to be the face of the inaugural G League Select Team. The prospect took home tournament MVP honors during the U17 World Cup in 2018, leading the United States to the gold medal behind 15.7 points per game. He also averaged 7.7 3-pointers per 40 minutes, showing he is a fearless shooter.

Guard, 6-foot-7, Freshman

Terrence Clarke averaged 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for Expressions Elite, his AAU team. Clarke already has participated at the NBPA Top 100 Camp (2018 and 2019), Pangos All-American Camp (2019), CP3 Elite Guard Camp (2019) and the Nike Skills Academy (2019).

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Big, 6-foot-8, Spanish ACB

Usman Garuba led Spain to the gold medal at the U18 tournament in 2019. His points (15.6 ppg), rebounds (12.9 rpg) and blocks (2.1 bpg) were all exciting marks for NBA scouts. He boasted the second-best defensive rating (70.0) and third-best player efficiency rating (33.3) among all participants.

Forward, 6-foot-8, Freshman

Scottie Barnes has a point-forward mentality, which was an especially attractive trait for Team USA in the U19 World Cup, where he was a strong facilitator from the elbow. Barnes assisted on 16.8% of scores for his team when he was on the floor despite never acting as his offense's primary playmaker.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.5 points. 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Forward, 6-foot-5, Junior

Keyontae Johnson was described as one of the most athletic players in the 2018 recruiting class, recording a 41.5-inch vertical even before arriving on campus. He then was introduced to "strong man" workouts during his first offseason with the Gators and added eight pounds of muscle to his 7-foot-2 wingspan. His sophomore season in 2019-20 saw better marks in every possible statistic in terms of output and efficiency.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Big, 6-foot-9, Sophomore

Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (4) shoots over Penn State forward Seth Lundy (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Bloomington, Indiana on Feb. 23, 2020.(Photo: Michael Conroy/ AP)

Trayce Jackson-Davis was one of the most underrated players in the nation this past season. He averaged 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game as a freshman. His block rate (7.8%) ranked fourth-best among all high-major freshmen. His offensive rebound rate (11.8%), defensive rebound rate (23.2%) and free-throw rate (59.8%) all ranked among the top 10 among all high-major freshmen as well.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Freshman

Jalen Suggs averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on the AAU circuit for Grassroots Sizzle. The guard showcased his elite skills for Team USA during the U19 World Cup where he flashed serious 3-and-D potential, averaging 1.3 threes and 2.4 steals per game.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Freshman

Josh Christopher is a tailor-made scorer capable of getting the ball in the hoop from anywhere on the court. His scoring average (29.4 points) ranked among the top 30 of all high school seniors in the nation. He also has experience with the USA Basketball junior national team minicamp.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists

Forward, 6-foot-8, Freshman

Jalen Johnson was dominant for Phenom University on the AAU circuit in 2019, averaging team-high marks in points (17.0), rebounds (9.2) and blocks (1.6) per game. As noted by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Johnson also averaged 5.8 assists per game at 17 EYBL and Peach Jam games.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Guard, 6-foot-6, Freshman

BJ Boston is more than capable of creating his own shot, which will help him shine when playing at Kentucky. The senior wing exploded during the Hoophall Tournament for a huge dunk over Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest brother of reigning NBA MVP Giannis. He is also an advanced playmaker for someone his size and should be evaluated as a viable player on both offense and defense.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Sophomore

Louisville's David Johnson passes against Virginia Tech on Mar. 1, 2020.(Photo: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal)

Louisville's David Johnson missed the beginning of his freshman season due to injury but eventually provided a huge boost to his team. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.7 steals per 36 minutes from the beginning of January to season's end. Johnson had an assist rate (41.7%) that ranked No. 2 overall among all prospects who played at least 10 games against top-100 competition.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-3, Freshman

Caleb Love put up 16.1 points per game for AAU team Brad Beal Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit, leading his team with 22 three-pointers. The guard added 5.6 assists per game, though it is worth noting that turnovers were a problem for him. On the defensive end of the floor, meanwhile, he averaged an impressive 1.9 steals per game.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists

Big, 6-foot-9, Belgium-Scooore League

Amar Sylla had some NBA interest leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft but has decided to return for one more year of international basketball. He started all 31 games this past season for Belgian pro team Telenet BC Oostende, playing far more competitive minutes than other comparable prospects. Sylla averaged 14.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per 40 minutes at the U19 World Cup in 2019.

Big, 6-foot-9, Croatian A-1 Liga

Roko Prkacin led Croatia to the gold medal at the U16 Euro Championships in 2018, winning MVP at the tournament. He averaged 22.8 points and 13.4 rebounds to go with 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per 40 minutes during the competition. Prkacin also averaged 20.0 points and 14.9 rebounds per 40 minutes in his four games at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Valencia, Spain, earlier this year.

Guard, 6-foot-2, Junior

Marcus Zegarowski, younger brother of former NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, shot 41.9% on 3-pointers as a sophomore in 2019-20, which ranked fifth-best among all underclassmen with as many opportunities. He shot 45.8% on dribble jumpers, showing he is more than capable of creating his own offense. He played an essential role in helping Creighton secure the third-best offense in Division I this past season.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Guard, 6-foot-2, Sophomore

Miles McBride was an efficient scorer out of the pick-and-roll during his freshman campaign in 2019-20. West Virginia also had the third-best defense in the country, per KenPom, aided by his 1.1 steals per game. His defensive box plus-minus ranked third-best among all high-major freshmen.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Wing, 6-foot-7, Freshman

Ziaire Williams led his AAU team (which also briefly included 2021 projected lottery pick Jalen Green) in points, rebounds and assists per game on the U17 circuit. The Sierra Canyon alum has shown he is an above-average finisher near the rim, which will be important to his continued development considering The Stepien's Ross Homan also believes Williams can become the best shooter in this class.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-5, Senior

Marcus Garrett was a crucial part of the Jayhawks' gritty identity this past season, winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. He averaged 1.8 steals per game but made a bigger impact as a team defender. According to Bart Torvik, his defensive box plus-minus (4.5) and adjusted defensive rating (85.1) ranked among the top five of all players 6-foot-5 or shorter.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists

Guard, 6-foot-1, Junior

Antoine Davis, who led the NCAA in 3-pointers attempted last season, is one of the biggest sleepers in the nation. The guard scored 7.5 points per game in isolation, according to Synergy, the best mark among all Division I players in 2019-20. He also led all D-I players in points per game (7.7) off the dribble jumper. Meanwhile, his assist rate (32.9%) ranked in the top 10 among mid-major underclassmen. His free-throw percentage (90.1%) was fifth-best among all D-I underclassmen, too, which suggests his accuracy on jump shots could improve as well.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists

Big, 6-foot-11, Spanish LEB Silver

Khalifa Diop exploded for 28.6 points and 20.5 rebounds per 40 minutes in his four games at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Valencia, Spain, earlier this year. Diop also put up 20.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per 40 during the U19 World Cup in 2019.

Guard, 6-foot-3, Sophomore

Nah'shon Hyland shot 43.4% from 3-point range this past season, second-best among freshmen who had as many opportunities last year. He averaged 1.3 points per possession on jumpers in a set offense, per Synergy, which ranked in the 98th percentile among all Division I players in 2019-20.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists

Wing, 6-foot-5, Junior

Will Richardson shot 46.9% from 3-point range as a sophomore, which was the best mark among underclassmen with at least 80 attempts. He also averaged 1.5 points per possession on catch-and-shoot jumpers in a set offense, according to Synergy, which ranked in the 99th percentile among all Division I players. Richardson shot 26-for-51 (50.9%) on his 3-pointers off the catch.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Guard, 6-foot-6, Sophomore

Terrence Shannon was a fantastic one-on-one scorer during his freshman campaign at Texas Tech. He averaged 1.16 points per possession on these opportunities, per Synergy, which ranked in the 95th percentile this past season. His jumper needs improvement, but his free-throw percentage (82.9%) suggests he has the right form to take that leap.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Guard, 6-foot-3, Freshman

Cam Thomas was named EYBL Offensive Player of the Year on the Nike D1 Circuit, scoring 29.5 points per game. He has kept that momentum on the prep circuit for Oak Hill Academy, averaging 33.4 points per game while shooting 44.2% on 43 attempts from three-point range. The guard also has the second-most made 3-pointers (19) among all players on the prep circuit.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists

Guard, 6-foot-0, Junior

Quade Green, who played at the University of Kentucky before transferring to Washington, was forced to miss significant time last season due to academic ineligibility. When he was on the court, his assist rate (35.2%) ranked eighth-best among all high-major underclassmen. Green also shot 13-for-25 (52.0%) on his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, and he hit all five of those attempts from the corner.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 15.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists

Forward, 6-foot-6, Junior

Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. celebrates after defeating Ohio State 64-61 during an NCAA college basketball game,(Photo: Julio Cortez, AP)

Ron Harper Jr., son of the five-time NBA champion guard, averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this past season. Rutgers had a much better offensive rating when he was on the floor (110.1) compared to when he was off (96.4) in 2019-20, via Pivot Analysis. While he mostly played at the four, he finished more than 50 possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. Meanwhile, his low turnover rate (10.5%) ranked among the top 10 among underclassmen 6-foot-6 or taller. He also averaged 1.68 points per possession when cutting to the basket, per Synergy, which ranked in the 96th percentile among all Division I players.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Big, 6-foot-10, Sophomore

Drew Timme is an efficient scorer who averaged 1.11 points per possession in a set offense as a freshman, per Synergy, which ranked in the 97th percentile among Division I players. He was 16-for-21 (76.2%) on pick-and-roll opportunities, which should help his game translate to the next level. Timme also shot 33-for-67 (49.3%) from midrange, which was fifth-best among all freshmen with as many opportunities.

Prediction (via Bart Torvik): 10.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Guard, 6-foot-0, Freshman

Sharife Cooper was named the USA TODAY High School Sports All-USA Player of the Year as a junior in April 2019. He became the first non-senior to ever win MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, leading McEachern High to an undefeated season and a Georgia state title in 2018-19. He also made First Team All-EYBL on the D1 Circuit while playing for the AOT Running Rebels, averaging 25.5 points with 4.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.

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Rutgers basketball: Where Ron Harper Jr. ranks among top 2021 NBA Draft prospects - Asbury Park Press

6-Banner Sunday is Inside the Halls weekly newsletter in partnership withThe Assembly Call. More than 7,000 Indiana fans receive the newsletter each week. In addition to appearing each week on the site, you can also opt to receive 6-Banner Sunday by email. A form to subscribe via email is available at the bottom of this weeks 6-Banner Sunday.

Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.

This weekend should have featured graduation festivities across the IU-Bloomington campus, and at colleges and universities all across the country.

So it seems fitting that on a weekend meant for honoring seniors and the graduating class of 2020, Indiana basketballs main four-year representatives took center stage.

DeRon Davis and Devonte Green both spoke last week about their IU careers as a whole and the untimely way in which they ended, while also discussing their immediate basketball plans for the future.

Elsewhere, an insightful interview with Indiana fan favorite Collin Hartman, and a check-in with former IU greats now displaying their talents in the NBA helped round out the week in IU basketball news.

DeRon Davis reflects on his four-year IU career Devonte Green talks time at IU, preparation for the NBA Collin Hartman goes in-depth about life as an IU basketball player Catching up with former Hoosiers now in the NBA Indiana in the recruiting hunt for elite combo guard Skyy Clark Hoosier Sports Roundup

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DeRon Davis reflects on his four-year IU career

Its been an eventful four years in Bloomington for DeRon Davis.

From the promise he flashed early in his IU career, to a coaching change and then the devastating injury that stopped him in his tracks, followed by the recovery from it, Davis has had to overcome plenty of challenges during his college career.

In the weeks and months following the abrupt end to his time with IU, Davis has spoken about his experience with the Indiana program and what lies next for him in life. Last week, he discussed those same items and more with Alex Bozich of Inside The Hall.

Time didnt really go by fast, if you think about it, Davis told Bozich. Maybe it was just my mindset, but my freshman year was a long time ago.

Davis hopes to continue playing basketball overseas in the near future, but he also took some time to praise coach Archie Miller and hint at what could be a special season for IU in the 2020-21 campaign.

With us not being able to play in the tournament, I feel like it left an emptiness, Davis said. I feel like this season left a lot of guys hungry.

The offseason story line of what Indiana basketball will look like next season was also touched on by Bozich and Zach Osterman of The Indianapolis Star on this weeks edition of Podcast on the Brink, as well as by the trio of Jerod, Ryan and Coach on this weeks edition of Assembly Call Radio.

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Devonte Green talks time at IU, preparation for the NBA

Davis wasnt the only senior member of the 2019-20 Indiana team to reflect on his time with the Hoosiers this week though, as Devonte Green did the same.

Green appeared as a radio guest Thursday afternoon on ESPN 1380 in Fort Wayne, which marked the first time Green had spoken to the media since the college basketball season came to an abrupt end.

Inside The Halls Dylan Wallace recapped Greens comments, which included an open and honest assessment by Green of his struggles at IU.

Definitely one my biggest flaws was my consistency, Green said. It took me awhile to learn how to come into the game and have an impact without forcing it.

Like Davis, Green was a member of Indianas 2016 recruiting class and remained with the program during the coaching transition from Tom Crean to Archie Miller. Green finished his IU career with 954 career points, and has spent the past few weeks staying in shape and preparing for this summers NBA Draft.

Regarding feedback from NBA scouts, Green said his 3-point shooting has been listed as a strength, while consistency and off-ball defense have been pointed out as weaknesses.

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Collin Hartman goes in-depth about life as an IU basketball player

In one of the most candid interviews featured on Inside The Hall, former IU basketball player Collin Hartman discussed his lengthy time with the program and the pros and cons that go along with representing the Hoosiers on the hardwood.

From his commitment to Indiana out of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis to the injury struggles and team chemistry issues that came to the surface during his time in Bloomington, Hartman was candid and honest in a two-part interview with Alex Bozich.

He also shared insight from a players perspective about the social media criticism that often plagues Indiana players following poor performances on the court.

I always ask IU fans, do you have kids? Just imagine if you had thousands and thousands of people just destroying that persons personal identity not just as a player, but them as a person, Hartman explained. Destroying them on the most public of platforms, how would you feel for that person? Its hard because people are irrational and dont understand that.

Part one of the interview featuring topics like Hartmans new life in Houston, Texas, and his choice to come to Indiana can be found here.

Part two of the interview featuring Hartmans complete answer on IU basketball social media criticism and his thoughts on Archie Miller can be found here.

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Catching up with former Hoosiers now in the NBA

In similar fashion to Inside The Halls annual Thats A Wrap series that focuses on current IU players at the end of the season, myself, Dylan and Alex have expanded the endeavor this offseason to also include former Hoosiers now in the NBA.

While the NBA season is technically still ongoing, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the feasibility of the NBA to restart anytime soon.

So with that in mind the nine-part series called Hoosiers in the NBA, one part for each former Hoosier now in the NBA, kicked off last week.

The first three players featured in the series were Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers, Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets, and Cody Zeller of the Charlotte Hornets.

Assembly Calls Aaron Shifron also did an interview and feature story when Zeller was in Indianapolis for the February 25 Pacers Hornets game earlier this year.

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Indiana in the recruiting hunt for elite combo guard Skyy Clark

Few college basketball recruits are as interesting off the court as Skyy Clark, and even fewer are as dominant on the court as he is.

The elite combo guard became the latest Class of 2022 recruit to be offered a scholarship by Indiana when Archie Miller and Tom Ostrom extended one his way in late April.

The scoring numbers from Clarks two seasons at the Heritage Christian School in Los Angeles, along with his summer on the EYBL circuit playing with Bronny James (LeBron James son) support this. While Clark has chosen to transfer to Brentwood Academy in Tennessee for his final two years of high school, I thought it was still worthwhile to get in touch with those at Heritage Christian who saw Skyy become the player and person he is today.

My conversation with Heritage Christian coach Paul Tait touched on a number of interesting topics, from Skyys fame on social media apps Instagram and TikTok to his devastating ability to score on all three levels while also playing lock down defense.

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Hoosier Sports Roundup

By Aaron Shifron

The big story this week was that of graduation, which marked the end of many careers for current Hoosiers. Although the ongoing pandemic prevented any in-person ceremony like usual, Indiana still honored many athletes.

74 IU athletes graduated with degrees.

IU also inducted 47 Hoosiers into the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society.

Football had availability with Kevin Peoples and Jovan Swann this week.

Mens Soccer debuted the long awaited documentary Worth The Wait as part of an all IU sports day on Big Ten Network.

Softball associate coach Chanda Bell made the Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.

Swimming and Divings Max Scott and Track and Fields Princess Brinkley were honored for their academic achievements.

Swimming and Diving also announced the loss of former athlete David Tanner. Wrestling added another recruit.

This weeks Q and As were with Volleyballs Kamryn Malloy, Rowings Ruby Leverington, Baseballs Collin Hopkins and Water Polos Lauren Etnyre.

Thanks for your continued support for The Assembly Call. Well be back next weekend with a new roundup.

Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.

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6-Banner Sunday: De'Ron Davis and Devonte Green reflect on their time at IU - Inside the Hall

JULY 15, 1970: ...All-Stars At Riverfront Stadium.(Photo: Enquirer file)

While many considered Cincinnatis and Hamilton Countys commitment to building Riverfront Stadium crucial to keeping the Reds in Cincinnati, theres no doubt that the city would not have landed a National Football League franchise without it.

Still, the fledgling Bengals had to wait two years before playing in their new home. Of course, founder and coach Paul Brown used those two years wisely, transforming the team from a collection of other teams castoff veterans to a roster full of young, vibrant talent.

The teams first season, 1968, featured running back Paul Robinson. The Arizona product, known as "The Cactus Comet,"led the American Football League in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns on his way to being named Rookie of the Year and helping the Bengals go 3-11.

DECEMBER 20, 1970: Proud players carried Paul Brown off the field after the last game at Riverfront Stadium when the Bengals beat the Boston Patriots for the AFL Central title.(Photo: The Enquirer/Allan Kain)

If picking Robinson in the third round of his first Bengals draft was impressive, Browns first-round pick in 1969 was nothing short of inspired. Picking fifth, he pounced on record-setting University of Cincinnati quarterback Greg Cook, a charismatic, 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander who had "prototype NFL quarterback"written all over him.

Cook was everything for which Brown hoped. Playing on the familiar playing surface of UCs Nippert Stadium, he threw for exactly 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the Bengals to season-opening wins over Miami, San Diego and a Kansas City team that would go on to win the Super Bowl.

1969: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio.(Photo: The Enquirer/Fred Straub)

"He was just phenomenal,"recalled cornerback Ken "Rattler"Riley, a rookie that season. "He was an unbelievable football player. I was a quarterback coming out of high school. I could throw the ball and run, but Greg had all those tools. The best thing is he could throw the long ball. There just wasnt anybody like him until (Ken Anderson) came along.

"I know youve heard this from everybody, but he was just a phenomenal talent, said center Bob Johnson, the Tennessee product who owns the distinction of being Browns first-ever college draft pick with the Bengals. Big, strong, fast, accurate, touch he had everything."

While Johnson was among the legion of Cook admirers, he also wasnt alone in noticing the developing dynamic between the authoritative Brown and free-spirited Cook, who was among other things an aspiring artist.

"You have to wonder if Paul Brown and Greg Cook could have co-existed,"Johnson said. "They were not exactly the same kind of people."

JUNE 1970: Riverfront Stadium, downtown Cincinnati.(Photo: File)

"(Cook) drove (Brown) crazy, because he was so damn good,"said tight end Bob Trumpy, another emerging talent whod been named first-team all-league in his second season. "Wed never seen Greg in a pressure situation. I dont know how he would have responded. I do know that when he played at UC, he was in a bunch of pressure situations and handled it beautifully, but wed never been in a must-win situation with him, so there were a lot of parts of him that none of us really knew, but physically? Extraordinary."

Brown made another move to improve the offense by trading defensive linemen Bill Staley and Harry Gunner to the Chicago Bears for 6-5, 260-pound offensive tackle Rufus Mayes, whod played on Ohio States 1968 national championship team. Not only did that further solidify the offense, it also opened up spots on the defense for more talented players, holes Brown worked on filling through the draft.

That years 17-round session started on January 26, and Browns choice with the seventh overall pick was Maxwell Award-winning Penn State defensive tackle Mike Reid like Cook, a talented football player with an artistic side. The 6-3, 255-pounder leaned toward music, performing and writing.

"That was our first choice, even if we had drafted first,"Brown said.

The Bengals seemed to be Reids first choice, too.

"If Id had a choice, Cincinnati probably wouldve been the team Id take,"he told The Enquirer. "Ive been thinking a lot about it and consider it a team with a young organization on the upswing with a great coach the kind of team I like. Thats the Bengals."

Browns second pick was 6-4, 261-pound defensive tackle Ron Carpenter out of North Carolina State, who was expected to team with Reid to form a formidable inside defensive presence with 6-4, 243-pound middle linebacker Bill Bergey, Cincinnatis second pick behind Cook in the previous years draft. Bergey had been named by The Sporting News and the Associated Press as the AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and played in the same AFL All-Star Game from which Trumpy was sent home with a fractured ankle.

Brown used 12 of Cincinnatis 17 picks on defense, including one that was somewhat overlooked at No. 6 defensive back Lemar Parrish out of Lincoln University in Missouri, who would make immediate, electrifying contributions.

"Weve done pretty much what we wanted to do,"Brown said. "We have some outstanding early selections, no doubt about it. When you get toward the end, youre not nearly as familiar with the players, but everyone is in the same boat. Every year, a few teams come up with some outstanding players in the late rounds. We took Bob Trumpy in the 12th round two years ago, and he was All-Pro this year."

The draft was one part of a busy day both for the Bengals and the NFL. Besides picking college players, Brown picked up free-agent punter Dave Lewis from the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Lewis, a Stanford product who would dabble at quarterback, would spend the next four seasons with the Bengals.

Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle picked the first day of the draft to also finalize talks with television networks on a groundbreaking deal. He completed four-year deals with CBS and NBC to go along with the three-year, $7.5 million deal hed put together with newcomer ABC the previous June. The combined revenue from the three contracts was $130 million.

Monday Night Football was coming to the NFL.

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Rockin' the Riverfront in 1970: As Riverfront Stadium takes shape, so do the Bengals - The Cincinnati Enquirer