Montana BB Center Eric Van Vliet

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:15 am

I have not commented on this either here or on Egriz until now. About a week and 1/2 former Montana Basketball 6-10 player Eric Van Vliet Got in to some problems and was charged with Assault in Missoula. The charges are related to Eric and another person beating up a fellow student. Since then addition charges of theft have been mentioned as possibly be added to the charges. The victim was pretty beat up with broken teeth etc.. Last I heard it was not clear as to whether Van Vleit of his acoplist (may be not the correct word) was the aggressor or visa versa. Last night I heard that Larry K was seriously considering pulling his Scholarship. Remember VanVliet was/is a Rivals and Scout 3 star basketball player out of high school. He had great potential if he could recover from a knee operation from about 18 months back.
Over on Egriz Swilly is indicating that his scholarship has been pulled. Bold and impressive move by Larry K.. It does send a message to the rest of the team about expected behavior.

OOPs Moderators could you move this to the College board?

grizwhiz · Post by **grizwhiz** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:50 am

I have no idea if Eric's scholarship is in danger or not. It seems a little early unless he has admitted guilt regarding this incident. Cat-have you heard this from sources other than Swilly?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:56 pm

grizwhiz wrote:I have no idea if Eric's scholarship is in danger or not. It seems a little early unless he has admitted guilt regarding this incident. Cat-have you heard this from sources other than Swilly?

No confirmation that it was pulled only that it was under consideration depending on the facts of the case. I have not followed the legal preceedins, but they seem to be taking a seriuos turn. I had heard though, a week or so back, that Eric may just have been in the wrong place at the wrong time but things appear to be getting seriuos.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:32 am

Question for my Griz buddies:

If Van Vleit has been cut, would you favor Krysco going out to try to sign a nother player this spring (remember pickings are getting a little slim right now) or give his scholie to Mike Chavez?

anacondagriz · Post by **anacondagriz** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:57 am

mslacat wrote:Question for my Griz buddies:

If Van Vleit has been cut, would you favor Krysco going out to try to sign a nother player this spring (remember pickings are getting a little slim right now) or give his scholie to Mike Chavez?

1st of all Mslacat I wouldn't really take anything Swilly says to the bank. But if I am not mistaken isn't Chavez on some sort of tribal scholarship? As long as he is already taken care of then I would like to see Krysko go out & get another player, but if big Mike is paying his own way by all means get him a schollie.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:27 am

anacondagriz wrote:
mslacat wrote:Question for my Griz buddies:

If Van Vleit has been cut, would you favor Krysco going out to try to sign a nother player this spring (remember pickings are getting a little slim right now) or give his scholie to Mike Chavez?
1st of all Mslacat I wouldn't really take anything Swilly says to the bank. But if I am not mistaken isn't Chavez on some sort of tribal scholarship? As long as he is already taken care of then I would like to see Krysko go out & get another player, but if big Mike is paying his own way by all means get him a schollie.

I did not know Chavez had a tribal scholarship. Thats pretty cool

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:14 pm

I have it from a good source that Eric Van Vliet is now an ex-Griz

grizwhiz · Post by **grizwhiz** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:24 pm

mslacat wrote:I have it from a good source that Eric Van Vliet is now an ex-Griz

"Good source" and Swilly are mutually exclusive, right? In other words, your source is not Swilly, correct? Given the fact that no felony charges are being filed, this is a suprising development.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:32 pm

grizwhiz wrote:
mslacat wrote:I have it from a good source that Eric Van Vliet is now an ex-Griz
"Good source" and Swilly are mutually exclusive, right? In other words, your source is not Swilly, correct? Given the fact that no felony charges are being filed, this is a suprising development.

A Very Good source. As a matter of fact any JC coaches interest in signing a 6-11 center with all 4 years of elligiblity should call Vliets AAU coach in California.

grizwhiz · Post by **grizwhiz** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:24 pm

mslacat wrote:
grizwhiz wrote:
mslacat wrote:I have it from a good source that Eric Van Vliet is now an ex-Griz
"Good source" and Swilly are mutually exclusive, right? In other words, your source is not Swilly, correct? Given the fact that no felony charges are being filed, this is a suprising development.
A Very Good source. As a matter of fact any JC coaches interest in signing a 6-11 center with all 4 years of elligiblity should call Vliets AAU coach in California.

Am I correct in assuming that the recent incident led to the change in Eric's Griz status, or was something else involved?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:33 pm

grizwhiz wrote:
mslacat wrote:
grizwhiz wrote:
mslacat wrote:I have it from a good source that Eric Van Vliet is now an ex-Griz
"Good source" and Swilly are mutually exclusive, right? In other words, your source is not Swilly, correct? Given the fact that no felony charges are being filed, this is a suprising development.
A Very Good source. As a matter of fact any JC coaches interest in signing a 6-11 center with all 4 years of elligiblity should call Vliets AAU coach in California.
Am I correct in assuming that the recent incident led to the change in Eric's Griz status, or was something else involved?

I don't have all of the details. This last incident played a very major role, but I think there maybe a little more to it, although I am not privy to what that might have been. People inside and out of the athletic Department were frustrated with Eric and as cold as it may seem I think he became expendable. Look for the Griz to sign a D-1 transfer or wait till the fall to sign a new athlete unless someone falls into his lap.

BR GRIZ · Post by **BR GRIZ** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:50 pm

mslacat wrote:Question for my Griz buddies:

If Van Vleit has been cut, would you favor Krysco going out to try to sign a nother player this spring (remember pickings are getting a little slim right now) or give his scholie to Mike Chavez?

I really like Chavez, but even if he does not have a tribal scholarship, I think the Griz need to get another center in the program. Andrew Strait did a fantastic job last year at center after Seyfert got hurt, but I believe he should move back to his natural position of forward. After Van Vliet also got hurt the Griz had a hard time with teams (for example the Cats) that had a good big man with no one to guard him. Chavez is one of my favorite players, but after going through last year without a true center, I don't like the idea of leaving it all on the Aussie freshman and Strait.

As you note though, the pickings are slim, and Krysko may not have many alternatives.