To put Montana Highschool sports in Perspective.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:39 pm

I am listening to the John Thompson (former Georgetown coach) Radio show out of Washington DC. A gentleman just came on to promote a High school basketball tourney in the District of Columbia. While we hope to produce 1 or 2 d-1 Basketball a year. The four team in the tourney have 15 player who have committed to D-1 program this year. That does not include any future possible D-1 Junior, sophomore or Freshmen. The colleges these kids are going to are Duke, North Carolina, Texas ect. ect..

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:15 am

For all of us who were raised in Montana and had to leave because of the economy (or whatever reason) during the late 70s through the 90s, I'm surprised at what all has happened during the years I was gone. Growing up in the Gallatin, there was always a tournament going on in the fieldhouse. Seemed to be a big void for several years as to MSUs hosting tournaments (coincidental to our athletic program's decline and overall interest in our school?)

Coming back, it bothers me that our kids and high schools really aren't supposed to participate in the AAU camps and that the MHSA has watered down the competitive nature of our high schools. We have a ton of kids get overlooked because they don't get a chance to participate in these camps, but I understand the intent of this thread, MslaCat. Walking into a high school gym in Georgia for the first time in the mid-80s was an absolute shock after watching the way the game is played here. However, we still have kids all over the state that can flat out shoot the ball who will never get any exposure because they'll never attend a McDonald's or AAU tournament. Shooting--that's the upside, in my opinion, of playing high school basketball in Montana (although every game I've watched this year it appears all our coaches are teaching and producing rhythm shooters). What inevitably happens to a rhythm shooter at the collegiate level--suffice it say that when their rhythm gets broken they'll go extended periods and games and not be able to hit the backboard and by the end of their sophmore years their productivity is gone and they'd be better served playing at the NAIA level where they're slower athletes with no defense and they play as much zone as our high schools.

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:42 pm

Just curious. Are there any Montana highschool grads in the NBA? NFL? MLB?

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:15 pm

raincat wrote:Just curious. Are there any Montana highschool grads in the NBA? NFL? MLB?

Mitch Donahue was a graduate of Billings West. He played DE for the 49ers and the Broncos.
Dave McNally is from Billings as well and I believe was a graduate of Billings Senior. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles from 1962-1975.

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:25 pm

Thanks Longhorn. I should have been more specific. I meant are there any in the pros at the present time? I know there have been several in previous years.

rollo_tumasi · Post by **rollo_tumasi** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:34 pm

Casey Fitzsimmons-Lions-Shelby??
Dwan Edwards-Raven-Columbus

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:38 pm

rollo_tumasi wrote:Casey Fitzsimmons-Lions-Shelby??
Dwan Edwards-Raven-Columbus

I forgot about Casey. Another one I can think of Nate Weidenaar from Bozeman. He got drafted by the Braves in last years draft and I'm pretty sure he is their minor league system right now. I know it's the minors but its still professional baseball.