Sosa’s ready for March Madness
2009 March Madness, who’s going to step up. Last year, Kansas point guard Mario Chalmers put his head in the rim and knocked down clutch jumpers. This year, three guards with strong NYC playground backgrounds look poised to bring their teams to Final Four action. The Bronx’s Corey “Guy” Fisher, Long Island’s A.J Price, and Dyckman’s Edgar Sosa are children of the hood, pressurized and zip-locked performers, ready to throw the ‘dro at their opponents. All three knockdown open jumpers, all three know how to distribute the ball, they have won on the high school level, and each have hood passes with championship tags in top-level grassroots events in the city. Winning chips under pressure is what is respected on the street and these three guards have what it takes to lead their teams to the Final Four. I know a few of you are going to get mad at me for not giving Lavance Fields some light on this list. While I love Pitt’s defense and Lavance is no joke, I don’t think they have enough offense to reach the Final Four. Read why I feel these three will see the Final Four:
1. Edgar Sosa: Edgar has the athleticism and the jumper to make the tough shot at the right moment. He also has a knack of finding the open space to shoot his jumper uncontested. Although Louisville is looked at as an athletic team with dynamic fast-break ability to dominate over the rim, they possess the discipline to execute offensively in the clutch. Sosa is the key. He has Chalmers-like ability on offense and is ready to dominate.
Corey Fisher highlights
2. Corey Fisher: Fisher on the break is dynamic. His finishing ability is above-average even though his hops are not bungee. He knocks the three down and has a way to find the ball on defense for key steals. Timing is everything with Corey, and if he plays like he did this summer on the playground, Villanova has Final Four written all over them despite an early projected 2nd Round match-up with UCLA.
AJ Price’s off the dribble 3 to send a game into OT vs Gonzaga
3. AJ Price: With Dyson gone, Price is back to his precision ball handling, laser-quick decision making self. Price isn’t ultra-athletic, but he is sudden with the ball and sure on the handle. He can make a shot without a screen and understands how to draw fouls in key situations. UCONN is a real threat when AJ looks to score first. He has to because the team’s outside shooting threat, Craig Austrie, hasn’t been consistent. If AJ gets on a run and Craig gets hot, they could win it all.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
kenny Patt says:
Don’t think Sosa is going to play much in crunch time. He seems to be on a short leash. Cards are my pick to win it all though.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
dcardoni says:
Love all the columns, but sometimes the NYC hype machine gets juiced, perhaps, a bit too high. Edgar Sosa is the key to the Ville? He averages 7 points and 2 assists. “Ready to dominate”? Really?
And three Big East teams in the Final Four – could happen – but that’s a pretty interesting bracket. I actually don’t think Louisville has been tested enough (escaped playing both UConn and Pitt on the road or even a neutral court) to make it there – but who knows. I also think Wake is the sleeper in that region (but I’m an ACC guy, not a Big East one).
March 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Sean Couch says:
D Cardoni –
Good points, Sosa isn’t averaging alot of points but he has the ability to close games and make big shots. I feel this could be the year he gets on a big scoriing run. I love Wake’s guards but i don’t think their big men are enough to carry them all the way to the final four.
Kenny –
Pitino does yo-yo him but he is aware of Sosa’s big-play ability and he’s going to need it this tournament.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Elliot Rosado says:
You can’t forget Kemba Walker. Probably the best out the group.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Trevor Kapp says:
i like edgar a lot and think he’s exciting to watch but louisville really doesn’t need him and he’s definitely not the key– earl clark is. edgar barely cracked double digit minutes in the big east tournament and averaged about 4 ppg and louisville won it pretty easily.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Blk Caesar says:
I like Sosa, but comparing him to Chalmers is a bit of a stretch.. I don’t think he can dominate, but if he can play good D and hit the open shot when its there he should help.. I love Corey (as an alumni of St. Pat’s)but he really needs to be aggressive offensively. I have a love/hate relationship with AJ price (alumni of UCONN also). He can shoot us in or completely out of games.. Our offense and perimeter D really misses Jerome Dyson. I do agree with you that he has to look to score though b/c we just don’t have the shooters right now to balance getting the ball into Thabeet or Adrien.. However, the X factor for us is how much Stanley Robinson can step up.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
sure says:
Edgar is a very talented player. Problem was he was 2 good 2 soon. He maybe got a little ahead of himself(Maybe). He hits that 3 at the buzzer years past in the tournament. He had 30 as a freshman. I think Pitino has been a little to hard on him. Same as calhoun he can reign a player to tight. Kemba is so scared to make a mistake he can’t play his game(That’s a problem) A la taliek brown, Marcus Williams to the point you cant see there true abilities. He did it with C.Villaneuva. A lot of times coaches hold players back which sometimes works but alot of times hurts in the long run. Villanova Jay Wright w/ Corey Fisher. U got to let him play to see his true greatness. His an actual magician with the ball and he’s maybe 75-80 percent with tendinitis in his knee. If he was 100% Ask O.J. MAYO what he thinks about C Price(37 and 11) The talent there believe it. The hype machine isnt. That goes to I think Scottie Reynolds who alike to Dominic James have been overly hyped and in turn ruined there games. I believe they weren’t that good in the 1st place. Remember Jay lost Malcom Grant who is going to be a monster at Miami next year. He has a patty mills game. Boehiem did it With Josh Wright. He tries to stagnate Flynn. and definitely killed Paul Harris game. I agree the coaches above are great at what they do. I also believe they could do a better job alike to a Calipari or Bobby Gonzalez as to letting the players go. It seems sometimes they have them on a horse leash. Above coaches. Again look out for Terrell Holloway from Xavier-from Hempstead game similar to Eric”E-Star Ferguson(1 of Long Island’s best ever) former L.I. panther. Committed to Villanova and Went to Arkansas where they stagnated his game.
It’s funny it took 2 years to realize Corey Fisher was better suited at the 1 rather than 2. He was a pg in high school and they moved him to push scottie as a one. Reminiscent of Daryll Hill and Elijah Ingram. Corey reminds me of Showtime Daryll Hill. Ny guards are a thing of beauty. Brandon Jennings 09 draft. I apologize for being all over the place. Marcus Williams-New York Knicks pleaseeeeeeeeeee. Ship Duhon Outtttttttta here
March 19th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Sean Couch says:
Edgar’s scoring prowess has been sacrificed for the greater good of the team which is admirable, but he has ice water in his veins and you have to pay attention to his ability to step up in the clutch. All these players have the ability to still their minds and get winning looks at the rim and convert. Numbers mean something but I wouldn’t be surprised if Sosa and Fisher are asked to look to score more if their teams are down in the tournament.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
sure says:
It’s funny how solid and good Levance fields is. And they never really publicize or talk about him being from New York. Once a kid has a stereotyped attitude or does bad he automically is reminded by the media NY NY NY. Bassy in Minn under the radar is having a very strong year. He could easily of helped the Blazers or even the Knicks make the playoff easily. NY STAND UP. All of sudden If you don’t have League Pass or watch NBA TV. You’d forgotten his in the league.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
sure says:
Rememer great players can perform with or without the coach. The coach cant win w/out his players. Make them better automatically they help themselves 1st and then then team. Duke- Your job is to have them ready for the next level of playing not just coaching LOL. I’m actually an undercover Duke and Coach K fan shhhhh.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
sure says:
Coach
I think your saying that and being politically correct and optimistic. They can and I hope they’re able to turn the switch on or revert to there craft. It’s hard when the coach doesn’t give you that confidence is all I’m saying. I think it’s there job to get the best out of each individual. They haven’t. Both coaches have made the players 2nd guess themselves aside from challenging them to get better. That’s where I have a problem. You said it right. In the long run the coaches know they need them but it’s possible it won’t come. Different situations or systems or maybe coaches and the talent of Kemba,Sosa and a Fisher could of been the best and better statiscally at there respected schools. I’m a fan of them all as they’re truly blessed and have a little old soul in their games. They all are exceptionally good just missing the ACC hype machine-Bilas,Digger, and all the other ACC analysts out there LOL. They hate to see the Big East dominate. They’re lucky ND fell of the face of the map. I aslo shed a tear for St.Johns. They’re the Knicks of college.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
40 cal says:
Edgar might win a NCAA chip this year with the way Louisville has played but I think Villanova is going to be upset maybe in the sweet 16
March 19th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Randy Millard says:
Levance Fields runs his team.Their only flaw is when Dejuan Blair gets in foul trouble.Offensively they are good with Brad Wannamaker and Ashton Gibbs off the bench and also Sam Young,Jermaine Dixon and the athleticism of Gilbert Brown.Remember Levance Fields is the same player who hit a trey ball in Greg Paulas eye in the Garden.He can shoot it now,he’s just a pass first guard.He takes over at any point of the game.
March 20th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Sean Couch says:
Lavance is very good at screen and roll and Pitt can grind you to the pieces on every possession. They can screen you to death on offense and get real physical with you on “D” – real UCLA, real grown-man style, but you need that guard that can be super-athletic and create a shot under pressure and hit in the clutch shot with a hand in the face. Can Lavance do that? He did hit the clutch trey on Duke so he has it in em, but Fields has to be able to finish over bigger defenders at the rim. Does he have that floater or the ability to bang it on the 6′9″ shot blocker. If he brings that this March then Pitt has an extra 8 to 12 points in the backcourt and that makes them real hard to beat.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
eb says:
levance is a sold pass first guard who can and will step up. i believe cory will be the best of this group hes got to work out and get busy this summer he has 2 years left after this i think next year will be his coming out party.I think Aj is league material and i think kemba walker is doing great as a freshman and hes going to be a monster next year hell add a solid jumper and hopefully approve on his one on one ball handling
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
dcardoni says:
Wake? What was I thinking – they got trounced by Cleveland St. Not the same Wake I saw beat Duke, UNC, Clemson twice, FSU. Good forecasting Sean. And Price was just nasty yesterday.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Sean Couch says:
D
Coming out with the next round in a few, I see Pitt in the final 8 but stalling out. If Lavance gets his head in the rim and continues to knock down big shost then he could put my forecasting career on the shelf for a game. I hope he does it, I want him to do well.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
I heard Sam Young had one heckuva pump fake early on against Okie St.
Pitt’s inbounds play with 1:30 to play in the 2nd Period was BUTTER. Young or Blair (I can’t remember which) caught the rock, flipped it back to the inbounder, (Fields)who stepped behind the 3pt. line in the corner and scored a crucial bucket. Simple, beautiful, effective…
March 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Sean Couch says:
Back in the day, I remember all teams in the park had inbounds plays. A good inbounder can give a team 4 to 6
crucial points that can win games.