Around the Block: April 23

A new segment I will be doing on a weekly basis, Around the Block will feature news, notes, and other info for everything VMI basketball, as well as from around the Southern Conference.

Apr. 22

• As has been rumored since shortly after Duggar left for The Citadel, and been "semi-official" for several weeks, VMI assistants Daniel Willis and Ryan Mattocks will be joining their head coach in Charleston. Willis was the only one of Duggar's assistants that had been with him since his hiring as head coach back in 2005, and Mattocks had finished up his third season on post. Willis will continue to fulfill the role of associate head coach. He took over HC duties for 7 games back in 2005-06, with Duggar ailing from heart problems. Mattocks, who started with VMI as a video coordinator, did great work with our guys late in the season on three-point shooting, as the team went through a four-game stretch of 44.2% (69 for 156) from behind the arc in mid-February. We will retain Ben Thompson, the only other assistant, so Coach Earl has some work to do in the upcoming weeks.

Apr. 20

• Much to my disappointment, Duggar has managed to snag Quayson Williams '19 to play for him at The Citadel. Quayson is a 6-2 guard who initially committed to VMI last February, but decided this week to follow in the footsteps of the man who recruited him. Big loss for us - and by the way, his earlier commit, 6-7 wingman Connor Schroeder, had also committed to play for VMI before Duggar departed. The man is snatching away our coaches and players left and right...

Apr. 13

• Speaking of Citadel assistants - Duggar also hired Willie Bell, former VMI standout and most recently the head coach of Warwick High School in Newport News. Bell was the captain of our '08-09 team that went 24-8 and reached the Big South Conference championship game, and is ninth on the all-time VMI steals list.

Apr. 12

• Chattanooga has hired Florida assistant Matt McCall, replacing the departed Will Wade who left for VCU. With four seasons under the tutelage of head coach Billy Donovan, the Mocs are primed to compete for a SoCon crown once again, with Casey Jones, Tre McLean, and Justin Tuoyo all returning.

Apr. 11

• Possibly good news for Keydets fans: Mercer forward Ike Nwamu will be transferring from the school. He led the Bears with 15.1 PPG on 43% FG shooting. It is the second time that Nwamu has transferred, having gone from Cleveland State to Mercer following the 2011-12 season.
• Additionally, sophomore forward Nnamdi Enechionyia of Samford will be transferring after this season, as will 6-10 freshman center Tucker Thompson of Western Carolina.