In the paint

BY RODERICK BOONE

While at Shea Stadium last night, I was surfing the Web checking out a few things when I saw a headline for a story. It said something to the effect of "Donovan loses another."

I was curious about this for two reasons. First, Florida is my halfmamater because I spent two years at UF before finishing up my degree at Auburn University Montgomery. Second, Billy Donovan is a Rockville Centre guy and I wanted to see what was going on with him.

So I clicked on it to see that it was former Mr. New York Basketball Jonathan Mitchell of Mount Vernon that was bolting Gainesville. Can't say that surprised me because Mitchell has been riding the pine mostly in his two seasons down in beautiful Central Florida. Despite the Gators losing most of their team to the NBA Draft last June, Mitchell hasn't benefitted. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged just 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds during his sophomore season and has started only one game in his career at the college located just off I-75.

I wanted to do a little more investigating so I checked out the Gainesville Sun. This is where Hofstra comes into the picture. In the story, Hofstra was mentioned as a possible destination for Mitchell. Herb Mitchell, Jonathan's uncle who's handling his transfer, apparently laughed when Hofstra was brought up by the reporter and said that's the first time he's heard Hofstra mentioned.

I can tell you after speaking with several people in the know today that J-Mitch won't be wearing a Hofstra uniform after he sits out his mandatory one-year residency requirement. So let's just squash that rumor right now. It's almost a given, I was told, that Mitchell is headed to Rutgers. Former high school teammate Michael Coburn is already there and Fred Hill has a good relationship with Bob Cimmino, Mitchell's high school coach at Mount Vernon. Either way, Mitchell won't be in Hempstead -- unless somehow Rutgers plays the Pride at Mack Sports Complex within the next three seasons.

Also, there have been a few rumblings that Middle Village's Larry Davis has Hofstra on his radar as he looks to transfer out of Seton Hall. Davis played in all 61 Seton Hall games over the last two seasons and averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his Pirates' career.

Davis coming to Hofstra is a long shot at best and there's a better chance he'll land at a school on the West Coast, such as Loyola Marymount. Never say never. There's always the chance I can wake up tomorrow and be bald. But in the meantime, we'll put that baby to bed, too.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

The best softball player in Hofstra history (and arguably all of Long Island) gets her due this weekend when Crystal Boyd’s No. 13 will be retired. A two-time All-American, Boyd led the nation in hitting with a .514 average as a sophomore in 1992. She graduated in 1994 with 24 school records. Boyd led Hofstra to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993 and helped her teams to a combined record of 135 wins and 48 losses in her four seasons. She went from one Pride to the other by playing with the Georgia Pride of the Women’s Professional Softball League until 1999. She currently teaches in the Garden City school district and is an avid tennis player.

BY STEVEN MARCUS

Women’s tennis is hot at Hofstra. The team has won four straight and the eight overall for teh season is the most since the 1999-2000 squad won nine matches. Towson was the latest victim. In a match shortened to singles because of rain, Hofstra won all five completed singles matches in straight sets.

Lauren Clifton, Stacey Kent, Morganne Downing and Valerie McDonald all won for Hofstra. Hofstra hopes to play today in Virginia in a conference round robin against UNC Wilmington.

Coaching salaries in mid-major (sorry, guys, that’s what it is) basketball will undoubtedly spike now that George Mason coach Jim Larranaga has turned down big money (5 years, $4.25 million) from Big East Providence. Larranaga now becomes the first CAA coach to average $1 million in salary.
Larranaga made an excellent move by staying put. He can make the NCAA Tournament five or six times in a decade from the Colonial Athletic Association. Providence, meanwhile, is a second tier Big East program that will not see the NCAA’s any time soon.
This also means Hofstra coach Tom Pecora can look for another raise if he can propel Hofstra back into NCAA Tournament contention.