Posted January 4, 2011    

•Tyus Jones

•Al Nuness

•Toby Gerhart

•Ron Gardenhire

•Tracy Claeys

Apple Valley Star Point Guard Still Sidelined

Highly publicized Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones will wait at least another three weeks to resume playing.  His mother, Debbie Jones, told Sports Headliners that earlier this week her son was informed by a doctor that his lacerated kidney needs additional time to heal. 

The Apple Valley ninth grader, among the most talked about prep athletes in the state after a breakout varsity season in 2009-2010, was injured in the Eagles first game of the season on December 7.  He was hopeful about receiving clearance to play this week.  A busy team schedule includes a game Friday night against Lakeville South and the Eagles play Iowa’s Linn-Mar Lions in the last game of the Timberwolves Shootout on Saturday night at Target Center.

Jones can work on conditioning and shooting during the next few weeks but will avoid contact, according to his mother who said she and her son will look at his abbreviated season as a life lesson.  “Definitely ups and downs, unfortunately,” she said.  “He was so looking forward to having a great season and now it’s just shortened a little bit. …”

Jones, 14, has received national attention after impressing with his scoring, playmaking and court intelligence not only last season with the Eagles, but in AAU summer basketball.  He’s already received a scholarship offer from the University of Iowa.

His mother said her son likes all the Big Ten teams including Minnesota and Michigan State.  “I don’t know if one sticks out over the other,” she said. 

She also said Tyus knows college prospect Marcus Paige, a highly rated junior guard from Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa). “They played against each other in the summer,” she said.  “He was really looking forward to matching up and playing, but it’s just one of those setbacks that you gotta work hard now and come back from.”  

At 14 and in ninth grade there would seem to be another Timberwolves Shootout in his future. 

 

Worth Noting

Four former Gophers were named to the 50^th anniversary Proviso West Holiday Tournament all-time team.  Jim Brewer, Tom Kondla, Al Nuness and Townsend Orr were among 50 players honored last week. 

The prestigious Chicago area tournament has a proud tradition and its 50 member all-time team includes some of the most recognizable names in basketball history.  Among those who played in the tournament as preps are Kevin Garnett, Isiah Thomas, Doc Rivers, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard, Mark Aguirre, Corey Maggette, Jeff Hornacek, Evan Turner, Dee Brown, Shannon Brown and Jon Scheyer. 

Kondla and Nuness played together with the Gophers during the 1967-68 season.  Kondla was an All-American center in 1967 while Nuness captained the 1968-69 team and averaged 16.4 points per game as a guard.    

Brewer was also an All-American center for the Gophers and one of Minnesota’s best defensive players ever when he helped lead the team to the 1972 Big Ten championship.  Orr was a high energy guard on coach Clem Haskins’ teams in the 1990s.  http://pwhoops.com/ 

I’ve been scratching my head since last month trying to figure out how Joe Kapp isn’t included among the top vote getters for the 50 greatest Vikings.  Kapp was one of the franchise’s most inspirational players ever and led the Vikings to their first Super Bowl.  On his Facebook page Kapp writes that he’s the only quarterback ever to start in Rose Bowl, Grey Cup and Super Bowl games.  

Also on Facebook the former University of California quarterback writes: “My sacrifice is I gave up tequila until Cal wins the Rose Bowl.” 

Vikings rookie running back Toby Gerhart plans to “relax” for a short while back home in Norco, California now that the season is over.  The Southern California town is located about 20 minutes from the Pacific Ocean.  “It’s nice,” Gerhart said. “It’s different, a little country western town.  A lot of horses, no sidewalks, no street lights. Horse trails and hitching posts and stuff like that.”

 

Notes Plus

Vikings rookie guard Chris DeGeare plans to vacation soon with his fiancé in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.   

Politicians have been against the legislative approval of slot machines at Canterbury Park and Running Aces on the argument they’re opposed to the expansion of gambling.  With Native American operated casinos, gambling at two area race tracks, pull-tabs at bars and lottery tickets for sale at stores, gambling is already well established in the state.  This year may provide the best possibility yet for approval of slots at Canterbury and Running Aces, with a possible tie to funding a Vikings stadium.  

The second episode of the FOX Sports North series “Unscripted: Coaches/Manager” airs Thursday night at 9 p.m.  The series provides conversations with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis, Wild head Todd Richards and Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith.  The final episode airs Saturday at 9 p.m. 

The Twins relief pitching will look different without late inning specialists Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier but don’t expect the front office to spend big money to replace them.  The seventh inning specialist could be Jose Mijares, with Matt Capps in the eighth and Joe Nathan in the ninth.  The Twins have to be hoping former contributors Pat Neshek and Glen Perkins can pitch in 2011 with the efficiency they showed a few years ago.  Both could help in bullpen roles. 

General manager Bill Smith said on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle on Sunday that the best news about first baseman Justin Morneau is doctors have told him to “work through” any concussion symptoms. 

Tracy Claeys, the Gophers new defensive coordinator, will be the speaker at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon on Thursday, January 13.  Gophers broadcaster Dave Mona will introduce Claeys.  C.O.R.E.S members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.  

The Senior Bowl, to be played January 29 in Mobile, Alabama, has announced a partial roster for the game including four quarterbacks, TCU’s Andy Dalton, Alabama’s Greg McElroy, Florida State’s Christian Ponder and Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi.  No Gophers are expected to be chosen for the game which is a scouting showcase for the NFL.

 

 Todd Richards

Tubby Smith