Dollar banking on area talent at Seattle U
Posted: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 9:52 PM
Filed Under:
Coaches, Mid-majors
Just last spring Cameron Dollar was touted as one of the country’s top assistants.
So what’s he doing as the head coach of Seattle University? The Redhawks aren’t eligible for the NCAA tournament until 2013 and don’t belong to any conference. They’re still making the transition back to D-I status. Sounds like a thankless, under-the-radar job.
After all, it’s been a long time since Elgin Baylor tore it up at Seattle U. The guy averaged 30 and 20 in two seasons and took Seattle U to the 1958 NCAA tournament title game.
Dollar doesn’t see it that way. He spent the last seven years at Washington recruiting the area’s massive talent base and tells the Seattle Times he couldn’t be more excited.
"One of the things that make this really, really special is that there is no ceiling," Dollar said. "Being in Seattle, one of only two D-I schools in this area and the talent of the kids in this area, playing at KeyArena [where Seattle U will play all of its home games] — you have the potential to develop and grow outside the box."
It’s not new that the Seattle-Tacoma area produces a fair share of elite players, but it would be new for a small school like Seattle U to snag one.
In the last five years, guys like Terrence Williams, Jon Brockman, Brandon Roy, Marvin Williams, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams and Aaron Brooks hailed from the area. Current players like Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Abdul Gaddy and coveted prospects like Josh Smith and Tony Wroten are all garnering plenty of attention.
And that’s just the stars. There’s even more talent when it comes to supporting players. It’s a similar tact to what Florida International and South Florida have tried in football. The state produces more than enough D-I players than Florida, Florida State and Miami can handle.
All it’ll take is one star or a couple three-star prospects for Dollar to make his mark. It’s a longshot, but one worth taking.
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