Posts Tagged ‘Mahamoud Jabbi’
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
The America East has seen some remarkable walk-ons over the years. From Marques Cox’s constant effort on the defensive end, to Sean Regan’s grit and toughness, to Dan Daccarett’s constant energy and enthusiasm and Joe Campbell’s work ethic, there has been no shortage of great players who gave everything they had in a true “all guts, no glory” tradition.
This award, which recognizes the top America East walk-on, is named in honor of former walk-ons Chris Brown (New Hampshire ’02) and Mahamoud Jabbi (Binghamton ’11). Both players began their college careers as walk-ons before blossoming into All-Conference players. Furthermore, they displayed tremendous enthusiasm, work ethic, and dedication to their teammates, with each serving as the heart and soul of their respective teams.
Jabbi did not begin playing basketball until high school, and after a stint playing Division-III ball, made the Bearcats out of an open tryout. He would go on to earn All-Conference Third-Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Brown walked on at UNH, and as a senior was named to the First-Team All-Conference, the only former walk-on in America East history to achieve such an honor.
Vermont sophomore Clancy Rugg was a strong candidate for the award, excelling in a strong supporting role for a conference contender. However, Ryan Cook’s production and numbers were impossible to ignore.
(And yes, the name of the award is awkward. We also find it strangely endearing, probably for that exact reason. Kind of like walk-ons. Just roll with it.)
Ryan Cook, R-Jr., G, UMBC: Cook began his career as a Division-II walk-on at Chestnut Hill College in suburban Philadelphia. This year – his first eligible at UMBC – he established himself as the Retrievers’ second-best player (behind only Chase Plummer). “Flyin’ Ryan” started 20 of the 24 games in which he played for the Retrievers, scoring 12.4 points per game overall and 12 points per game in conference play, good for 13th and 16th, respectively, on the conference leader board. 6’2” (maybe) in his shoes, Cook shot .854 (70-of-82) from the charity stripe, good for fourth in the league, and also pulled down four rebounds per game while throwing down some eye-opening dunks. Despite playing for a conference bottom-feeder, he played with great energy, effort, and enthusiasm, constantly encouraging teammates while never taking a play off. Cook broke the 20-point mark three times during the season, including a career-high 28 in a head-to-head matchup with Albany star Gerardo Suero. Against Suero, Cook nearly matched arguably the most talented player in the league – and the conference’s leading scorer – shot-for-shot.
Tags: Chris Brown, Clancy Rugg, Dan Daccarett, Joe Campbell, Mahamoud Jabbi, Marques Cox, Ryan Cook, Sean Regan
Posted in Awards | Comments Off
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
Sam’s countdown of the top 100 America East dunks of the past season continues, as Air Brenton Airlines takes flight, the America East throws down on the game’s biggest stage, a wide load rattles the backboard and a lay-up line superstar gets his moment to shine.
(more…)
Tags: Albany, Bearcats, Binghamton, BU, Catamounts, Chaz Carr, Corey Lowe, Dan Daccarett, Germain Mopa-Njila, Huskies, Jason Siggers, Kirsten Zoellner, Mahamoud Jabbi, Marqus Blakely, Orangemen, Seawolves, Stony Brook, Syracuse, Terriers, Tommy Brenton, Trevor Goode, Upset, Vermont
Posted in Feature | Comments Off
Sunday, March 6th, 2011
For 33 minutes, the No. 9 Binghamton Bearcats gave the class of the conference, the No. 1 Vermont Catamounts, everything it could handle and then some. Less than seven minutes remained, the Bearcats had the ball, a chance to pull within 1 or even tie, and a noticeably pro-Vermont crowd on edge.
And then, in a flash, the game (and the season) were over.
The Catamounts reeled off a decisive 8-0 run to extend their slim one-possession lead to an 11-point margin. From there, Vermont simply maintained their lead and ran off the final few minutes of the clock to secure a 57-46 victory and advance to the America East semifinals. The win was Vermont’s fourth consecutive in the America East Tournament. (more…)
Tags: Binghamton, Brendan Bald, Evan Fjeld, Greer Wright, Mahamoud Jabbi, Mark Macon, Marqus Blakely, Mike Lonergan, Vermont
Posted in Recap | Comments Off
Friday, March 4th, 2011
“We just ran into a buzz saw,” remarked UMBC head coach Randy Monroe following the Retrievers 91-65 loss to Binghamton in the play-in game of the America East conference tournament.
“The first two inches of the banana have all the sugar. The rest is just good food,” remarked Binghamton head coach Mark Macon. “We got the sugar going early, and just played good the rest of the night.”
Binghamton’s offensive performance was beyond words like “buzz saw,” “bombardment” and “beat down – phrases like that don’t do justice the shooting display the Bearcats unleashed before a mostly empty arena Thursday night. The final score was lopsided. Reality? That was more lopsided. (more…)
Tags: America East Tournament, Binghamton, Greer Wright, Justin Fry, Laurence Jolicoeur, Mahamoud Jabbi, Mark Macon, Moussa Camara, Randy Monroe, Travis King, UMBC
Posted in Recap | Comments Off
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
After a quick but relatively decisive shakeup at the top of the conference, the pecking order among the league’s top three teams is relatively clear, at least for now. But look below them – yes, there’s a gap, keep going – and the race for position is furious, if not exactly fast. The gap between Albany, currently in 4th place at 5-6 in conference play, and UMBC and Stony Brook, deadlocked at 4-7, is just a single game. And while 4th and 5th place are essentially identical for seeding purposes, each of the seeds that follow will have a very different experience come tournament time. Who has the edge over whom as the AE gears up for its stretch run? Here’s how we see it in the newest edition of our America East Power Rankings:
1. Vermont Catamounts (19-5, 10-2 AE)
Last week: Won vs. New Hampshire, 63-49, on Monday; Won at Hartford, 61-47, on Thursday; Won vs. Stony Brook, 65-42, on Sunday
This week: Wednesday vs. UMBC, Saturday at Binghamton
Remember earlier in the year, back when Vermont was turning out wins in bunches, but by relatively modest margins? Yeah… about those margins. They’re not modest anymore. Seven of the Catamounts’ 10 conference victories have been by 10 points or more, including five of their last six games. Vermont has won seven straight and now has the chance to really put the pressure on the two teams remaining in pursuit by winning the next two games against the bottom of the conference. Vermont finds itself in an enviable position. What year is this, again? (more…)
Tags: Chris De La Rosa, Gerald McLemore, John Holland, Luke Devlin, Mahamoud Jabbi, Troy Barnies
Posted in Week in review | Comments Off
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Postseason awards are a funny and fickle thing in the America East. The culmination of the season, they are often the highlight of the careers of players toiling in small-conference obscurity, many of whom will never experience the bright lights of March Madness.
Sadly, many times, the most deserving players don’t win the awards their play on the court should have earned. Awards are supposed to be based on merit, but the AE coaches and athletic directors often take other factors into account. Some of these factors are born from good intentions – the desire to give graduating seniors, many whom have previously been snubbed, one last piece for their trophy cases, one last “hurrah,” among them. But many elements that factor into the voting, sadly, fly in the face of what college basketball – and the America East – is all about. Grudges against opposing coaches and players, attempts to avenge previous players who were wronged, and trying to make a statement to 18-to-20 year old kids who are too outspoken are among the dozens of petty – not to mention stupid – reasons that have influenced the AE’s behind-closed-doors voting and contributed to countless snubs.
My awards are based solely on merit and merit alone. I don’t care what class someone belongs to – a fifth-year senior who has never won an award competes on equal footing with a first-year freshman. These are not “lifetime achievement” awards. Rather, these awards are simply based on my opinion about who has been the best player – or players – this season. I will update my rankings at the conclusion of the final regular season game of the America East slate for my final picks, but if the season were to end today, here’s how I think the awards should play out: (more…)
Tags: Alasdair Fraser, Brendan Bald, Brian Benson, Brian Voelkel, Chris De La Rosa, D.J. Irving, Darryl Partin, DeAndray Buckley, Evan Fjeld, Gerald McLemore, John Holland, Logan Aronhalt, Luke Apfeld, Luke Devlin, Mahamoud Jabbi, Mike Lonergan, Milton Burton, Morgan Sabia, Patrick Hazel, Tim Ambrose, Troy Barnies, Tyrone Conley
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Thursday, January 27th, 2011
It was a glass half-full, glass half-empty kind of game for both Boston University and Binghamton Wednesday night at the Agganis Arena.
Darryl Partin scored 20 points and John Holland added 16, including six key free throws during the Terriers comeback, to lead Boston University to a 71-66 win. Mahamoud Jabbi was brilliant in defeat, scoring 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and a steal.
The game had a “Twilight Zone” feel, tipping off at 9:30, as the second part of a men’s/women’s double-header, inside a nearly empty state-of-the art arena as a snowstorm raged outside. (more…)
Tags: Binghamton, Boston University, Darryl Partin, Dominic Morris, Don Anderson, Javon Ralling, Jimmy Gray, John Holland, Kyrie Sutton, Mahamoud Jabbi, Mark Macon, Mike Gordon, Moussa Camara, Pat Chambers
Posted in Recap | Comments Off
Monday, January 24th, 2011
In yesterday’s action: UMBC reverted to form, and Vermont made the Bearcats look like, well, the Bearcats.
New Hampshire 80 UMBC 60
The Wildcats seem to always be good for one 3-point barrage a season, and they got their annual explosion at as good a time as any, as New Hampshire (8-11, 2-5 AE) buried 14-of-27 attempts from deep (51.9 percent) to leave an upstart Retrievers (3-17, 2-5 AE) squad in the dust.
New Hampshire was paced by Tyrone Conley, who scored 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from behind the arc, dished out seven assists without a turnover, and added six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. Chandler Rhoads contributed 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting from downtown, and Brian Benson had a monster game, picking up his first career double-double with 15 points and 16 boards to go along with 5 blocks. (more…)
Tags: Alvin Abreu, Bill Herrion, Binghamton, Brendan Bald, Brian Benson, Brian Voelkel, Chandler Rhoads, Chris De La Rosa, Dane DiLiegro, Evan Fjeld, Ferg Myrick, Joey Accaoui, Luke Apfeld, Mahamoud Jabbi, New Hampshire, Tyrone Conley, UMBC, Vermont
Posted in AE Daily | Comments Off
Friday, January 21st, 2011
In last night’s action: UMBC decides it likes this whole ‘winning’ thing, Binghamton sinks farther into the abyss, Vermont overcomes its traditional stumbling block, and BU bounces back on its home court
UMBC 74, Hartford 70 (2OT)
You are Hartford (6-12, 3-2 AE). You are at home. Your opponent is UMBC (3-16, 2-4 AE), one of the worst teams in Division-I by any reasonable standard. You hold your opponent’s four starters not named Justin Fry to 3-of-26 shooting, including 1-of-13 from star point guard Chris De La Rosa. You have a nine-point lead with seven minutes to play in regulation. And somehow, some way, you end up losing this game in double overtime? As has become standard operating procedure, the Hawks let this one get away late. That being said, credit Fry’s 10 rebounds and 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, as well as Brian Neller‘s 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting coming off the bench, which was easily the best performance of the sophomore’s career. Morgan Sabia had 17 relatively inefficient points (not that impressive) to go with 17 rebounds (very impressive) for Hartford in the loss. (more…)
Tags: Albany, Binghamton, Boston University, Brian Neller, Chandler Rhoads, Chris De La Rosa, D.J. Irving, Dallis Joyner, Dane DiLiegro, Hartford, John Holland, Justin Fry, Mahamoud Jabbi, Morgan Sabia, New Hampshire, Stony Brook, Tyrone Conley, UMBC, Vermont
Posted in AE Daily | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
In last night’s action: Binghamton maintained its position atop the AE standings, while Maine solidified its stance as a conference contender.
Binghamton 83, UMBC 75
Don’t look now, but the Binghamton Bearcats (6-10, 3-0 AE) – the same team that looked like it would struggle to win in a rec league at times earlier this year, and which has only seven scholarship players on it’s roster – now sit alone atop the America East standings. After going into the half tied at 33, the Bearcats pulled away in the second half over the hapless – not to mention winless in conference play – Retrievers. Walk-ons Jimmy Gray and Mahamoud Jabbi walked tall for Binghamton, with Gray scoring a team and career-high 23 points and Jabbi ripping down a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with 17 points. Chris De La Rosa continued to excel for the Retrievers – and continued to get little help from anyone – dropping a game-high 31 points to go with five assists, but also committed eight turnovers. The Retrievers played hard and didn’t look like the trainwreck they’ve been for much of the season, but couldn’t pull it out.
The game featured a terrific one-on-one battle between De La Rosa and Gray, with each putting on a dribbling display that would have made And1 Productions proud. The win was especially impressive for the Bearcats, who were playing without leading scorer Greer Wright, although it is worth noting that the Bearcats have appeared more cohesive without their star as of late. The next six games will determine if the Bearcats are a true conference contender, or simply a flash in the pan benefiting from an easy start to their schedule. Binghamton will play conference contenders Maine (twice), Boston University, Vermont, Albany and Hartford.
Maine 66, Albany 64
Throw the records out the window – these two teams will be fighting at the top of the conference come America East tournament time. This game was nothing short of a war. Maine guard Gerald McLemore scored a game high 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc and hit two key free throws to tie the game with 34 seconds left. Raheem Singleton dished out 10 assists and hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left to win the game for the Black Bears. Troy Barnies continued his stellar senior year for the Black Bears, scoring 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and pulling down seven rebounds.
Albany was led by point guard Mike Black, who scored 18 points, and also got 12 points from Tim Ambrose and 10 from Luke Devlin. The Great Danes returned home after two tough road losses to conference contender Vermont and a hot shooting Hartford squad, and looked to rebound against the Black Bears, but could not overcome cold shooting from top scorers Ambrose (5-of-17) and Logan Aronhalt (3-of-8).
All America East teams are idle today and tomorrow. America East play will resume on Saturday with four games: New Hampshire at Stony Brook (1 PM), UMBC at Vermont (1 PM), Binghamton at Maine (3:30 PM), and Boston University at Albany (7 PM).
Tags: Albany, Binghamton, Chris De La Rosa, Gerald McLemore, Greer Wright, Jimmy Gray, Logan Aronhalt, Luke Devlin, Mahamoud Jabbi, Maine, Mike Black, Raheem Singleton, Tim Ambrose, Troy Barnies, UMBC
Posted in AE Daily | 2 Comments »
Ryan Cook, R-Jr., G, UMBC: Cook began his career as a Division-II walk-on at Chestnut Hill College in suburban Philadelphia. This year – his first eligible at UMBC – he established himself as the Retrievers’ second-best player (behind only Chase Plummer). “Flyin’ Ryan” started 20 of the 24 games in which he played for the Retrievers, scoring 12.4 points per game overall and 12 points per game in conference play, good for 13th and 16th, respectively, on the conference leader board. 6’2” (maybe) in his shoes, Cook shot .854 (70-of-82) from the charity stripe, good for fourth in the league, and also pulled down four rebounds per game while throwing down some eye-opening dunks. Despite playing for a conference bottom-feeder, he played with great energy, effort, and enthusiasm, constantly encouraging teammates while never taking a play off. Cook broke the 20-point mark three times during the season, including a career-high 28 in a head-to-head matchup with Albany star Gerardo Suero. Against Suero, Cook nearly matched arguably the most talented player in the league – and the conference’s leading scorer – shot-for-shot.