PonyFans.com

50's PONY wrote:Tomasa Kwiatkowski Scout.com Headlines:
Center Visits Valpo Today
-by Scout.com Feb 15, 2007

Ht: 7-1 Wt: 250
Position: C
Birthplace:
Poland
Year: Class of 2007
High School: Lee Academy
(Lee, ME)


Schools of Interest:
School Interest Level Offer? Visit Date Signed LOI?
SMU Med Interest Yes None
UNLV Med Interest Yes None
Valparaiso Med Interest Yes 02/16/2007
Virginia Med Interest Yes 11/10/2006
Baylor No Interest Yes None
Rhode Island No Interest Yes None

One of the most coveted positions in college basketball recruiting is the center position. Toss in the fact that the center is a 7-footer, and coaches around the nation start salivating. UNLV had just such a player on campus recently in Lee (Maine) Academy center Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

The three-star recruit has also visited Virginia and is planning a trip to Northwestern as well. Other schools interested include George Washington, Rhode Island, Baylor, Georgetown and Tennessee.



He really enjoyed his trips to UNLV and Virginia," said Lee Academy head coach Carl Parker. "They are two top-flight programs, and he is very excited."

Kwiatkowski was very impressed with the coaches at UNLV.

"Coach [Lon] Krueger is a great coach and has NBA experience, and that impressed Kwiatkowski," said Parker.

It also helped UNLV's cause that the Rebels are in the Top-25 right now.

"Being in the Top-25 made an impact," said Parker. "Plus, he really liked the facilities and the campus."

At 7-foot and 235 pounds, Kwiatkowski definitely has room to fill out his jersey.

"He can easily add another 40 pounds to his frame," said Parker. "And he is a hard worker, so I don't see that as being a problem."

Parker has found Kwiatkowski to be a hard worker on the court as well as very coachable.

"He has a great willingness to learn," said the coach. "And he can take a little butt-chewing as well — he's a great kid."

Parker stressed hard work when he described Kwiatkowski in the classroom as well.

"The kid scored 820 on the SAT without taking the TOEFL exam," Parker added.

Being from Poland and having not been in the United States very long has not been a problem for the young center either.

"He speaks English well enough right now, and he has only been here a couple of months," said Parker. "He also uses e-mail and other technology with no problem."

Even with a high IQ and good raw athletic ability, the young center still has plenty he can to work on.

"He is more of a passer in the post than a scorer right now," said Parker. "But he wants to learn and get better. That is important, especially because big men mature a little slower."

With the slower development of big men in mind and his adjustment to the U.S. style of play, Kwiatkowski may need some extra time to adjust to the next level.

"I could see him redshirting his first year," said Parker. "But I'm not one of the coaches recruiting him, so I don't know what they're thinking."

Even with some cultural hurdles to leap, the Polish player has tons of potential.

"If someone worked with him and stuck with him as he develops, I could see him possibly in the NBA," said Parker. "You never know."

Kwiatkowski has no timetable to make a decision, but Coach Parker believes it will be some time in early March.

"He's going to take a couple more visits and then let it all settle down a little before he makes a decision."

EastStang wrote:You know the world is getting very scary right now. A kids facebook gets viewed to determine his choice of college. Guys do something stupid and it ends up on YouTube. An singer gets out of her car and someone photographs her nether-regions and spreads it on the internet. A U.S. Senator calls a heckler a name and it ends up on YouTube and then ABC. Of course the heckler's two weeks of constant heckling does not end up on YouTube. There are guys with their video phones following legislators around to see what they do in Committees and in the streets after dark. But you see my point. Nothing is private anymore. We're entering the new puritanism where despite the fact that anything goes, it doesn't because you might end up on the 11 news. Be careful little brother is watching!!!

EastStang wrote:You know the world is getting very scary right now. A kids facebook gets viewed to determine his choice of college. Guys do something stupid and it ends up on YouTube. An singer gets out of her car and someone photographs her nether-regions and spreads it on the internet. A U.S. Senator calls a heckler a name and it ends up on YouTube and then ABC. Of course the heckler's two weeks of constant heckling does not end up on YouTube. There are guys with their video phones following legislators around to see what they do in Committees and in the streets after dark. But you see my point. Nothing is private anymore. We're entering the new puritanism where despite the fact that anything goes, it doesn't because you might end up on the 11 news. Be careful little brother is watching!!!

EastStang wrote:Just remember an eating program got Tubbs in trouble.