Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Cone's college of choice

It's time to end some speculation and settle at least one argument that's raged on The Tribune' High School Sports Blog for a couple weeks.

David Cone is playing college basketball. But it won't be at a junior college OR an NCAA school — though he said he had options a few of both.

I caught up with the Paso Robles senior big man online Wednesday, and he confirmed that he has given a verbal commitment to play basketball in La Mirada next year at NAIA Division I school Biola University.

"I was getting recruited by a slew of schools," Cone said in an online message. "All the way from Washington St, all the Ivy league schools, Colgate in New York, Seattle University who is going from D2 to D1 next season, to JC's."

In the end, he said he's choosing Biola for his comfort with 27-year coach Dave Holmquist — who reminds Cone of Paso Robles 30-year coach Scott Larson — and his chance at playing substantial minutes early in his career.

Cone led the Bearcats to a 19-10 overall record (9-3 PAC 7) as Paso Robles improved vastly on a 2-21 record last season.

By notching team highs in both points per game (14.8) and rebounds per game (11), Cone led the Bearcats to a second-place league finish and helped get the team to the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II-A playoffs.

"After talking with other schools, and those close to me I decided that Biola would be the best for me because they focus on the 'big man'," Cone said, "the Coaching is great, and I could go in and play substantial minutes including a good opportunity to start next season.

"Call me crazy for passing up D1 chances, but I really am happy with my decision, and I think it will be a great fit."

Some of you are sure to think he's crazy. Giving up a shot to play bigtime basketball for the inelegant NAIA circuit?

Especially still in the wake of Derrick Jasper-to-Kentycky era, this choice may seem small-fryish.

But Logan Budd told me way back when that he'd rather play football at FCS school Cal Poly than at FBS school San Jose State. Some people like the smaller pond, and it's no knock on you if you do.

College choices aren't always about sports. They're as much about happiness and comfort as anything else. And Cone seems pretty happy about Biola.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

A lot of times, it's also about the strength of the school's program in your particular major... proximity to home could play a factor too, as well as religious beliefs. All of those things could have come into play or none of them could have.

Anonymous said...

hey i say congrats to the kid whether or not i think he's the player of the year

Anonymous said...

Good job. I am proud of that young man, I think everyone should be.

Anonymous said...

that's good news for him. Biola has produced some real good big men. And if he develops better than the competition the program can provide, maybe he'll come over to Poly in a couple of years.

Anonymous said...

Just like Jeremy Long the schools DO like big guys.

Way to go Cone....................

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Joshua D. Scroggin said...

Please, anonymous 2:20 p.m., no name-calling of the other posters. That was over the line.

Anonymous 8 a.m., you may have meant Jerome Long.

Anonymous said...

biola is a great school for basketball my dad played there-rob wrage- they werent too bad they went 33-2 point guard just doing work. looks like im going to play at the naia level gsac next year too, well hopefully-D. Wrage

Anonymous said...

the kid is terrible... if i had his size there would be no stoping me

Anonymous said...

But you don't have his SIZE.
That is the whole point........

Anonymous said...

Ok, keep believing you would be a monster. When got those huge feet, you gotta move them too. You would be stuck in the mud. You are in a fantasy world man.

Anonymous said...

But for real this years senior class is kinda of wack. Basketball was alot better a couple years ago. So i bring up the question who is better David Coone or Cole Craghead from SLO 2 years ago. My money is on Cole.

Anonymous said...

Haha No no no.