Turner let go

Citing a lack of maturity, the Halifax Rainmen squad has released Josiah Turner. As Kurt Vonnegut wrote in "Slaugherhouse Five," so it goes.

Swafford was prescient

It was back in March 2010 but Sacramento High Coach Derek Swafford hit the proverbial nail on the head with these quotes in a Josiah Turner article by Bill Paterson:

"...For a player who already has gotten at least 10 college scholarship offers, Turner needs to fine-tune his academic game and help prepare his Sac High teammates for a state title run next season, says Swafford.
"I don't think he has to go all over the country and play all these different people to be seen," Swafford said. "I think the coaches know who Josiah is."
He also hopes Turner will keep an open mind about college as the calls and offers continue to flood in.
"A D-I basketball factory may not be right for him," Swafford said. "Maybe a smaller program, like s St. Mary's, could be a better fit. You want to surround yourself with people who want the best for you, want you to graduate and get that degree. There are too many horror stories.
"I want him to realize success is how you complete yourself, not how people define you..."

Let's hope Turner is doing well up in Halifax and surrounding himself with good people.

Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/archives/2010/03/when-it-comes-t.html#storylink=cpy

Josiah Turner resurfaces

It's the Halifax Rainmen (National Basketball League of Canada) for Josiah Turner right now.

Here's a look at the roster he is joining.

Damon Powell was a Halifax-er at one point, at least in training camp.

Blow this opportunity and Turner's done -- use it as a jumping off point, keep working up level to level and The League isn't out of the equation.

It will be fascinating to watch.

Josiah Turner asks to be let go

Wendell Maxey has the latest on Josiah Turner's stay in Hungary.

More on Josiah Turner

Bill Paterson adds more on the Josiah Turner move to Hungary.

Here's Wendell Maxey on Turner.

Turner to Hungary

Rob Dauster writes about Josiah Turner's decision to play-for-pay in Hungary.

Josiah Turner & Kiwi Gardner

Kiwi Gardner and Josiah Turner. Josiah Turner and Kiwi Gardner.

What's with the scorn and the I-told-you-so's? Is such a behavioral reaction providing some degree of warped satisfaction?

Jeez.

Two young men, regardless of basketball-playing capabilities, are stumbling and struggling in life.

It's a situation which calls for empathy, understanding, a willingness to help with a steady and sturdy hand and a reasonable mindset.

Yes, a DUI is a deadly serious matter.

And tossing a basketball in the face of an opponent is a blasphemy on the game but, more so, an outright act of cruelty. 

But wishing for woe or taking some sort of glee from personal difficulties is not exactly getting your mail at a high moral address.

Don't get it wrong -- absolution isn't being offered here.

That would be inappropriate.

First, both young men need to earn their way back into respectability, beginning with their selves.

However, don't forget it's also a number of the adults in the life equations of these individuals who have come up short. You know them -- the card-carrying what's-in-it-for-me crowd who either cannot see beyond the moment or could care less.

Is it really too much for adults who invite themselves into the lives of kids to look out for the long term healthiness of the youngsters in their orbit?

Some are providing aid to the pair at this moment. Call them the actual adults, the ones who can see and act beyond the me-me-me and focus on concern for building the fabric of a life because it, in turn, will also benefit community.

That's really what is at stake here -- not simply basketball-playing futures.

With both consistent and appropriate guidance and a willingness to change their respective mindsets and decision-making processes, Turner and Gardner can turn it around, on and off the court.

That should be what everyone is wishing to see.

More on Josiah Turner

Joe Davidson writes about Josiah Turner.

Here's hoping the young man has turned the proverbial corner -- time will tell as he now has even less daily structure. Gotta start listening to the adult adults in his life.

Josiah Turner to play for pay

Jeff Eisenberg breaks the news that Josiah Turner has decided to move on to the play-for-pay level.

It's official: Turner to SMU

Josiah Turner has committed to Coach Larry Brown and SMU as Adam Zagoria reports.

More on JT

Per Bruce Pascoe, Josiah Turner charged with extreme DUI, 0.15 and 0.16. Adam Zagoria writes that Larry Brown @ SMU is interested in the services of Turner.

Josiah Turner arrested for DUI suspicion

Bruce Pascoe has the details.

Adam Zagoria writes that it all won't matter.

Josiah Turner & St. John's

Adam Zagoria reports on the recruitment of former Arizona backcourter Josiah Turner by St. John's.

Josiah Turner leaving Arizona

The PointGuardU site has the news on Turner's departure. Nobody knows the reality of the situation but those on the inside -- however, a fresh start seems like the best road for all parties to take.

Staying or going?

Arizona lost to Colorado 53-51 in the championship game of the Pac-12 tournament on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Josiah Turner didn't travel with the team, having been suspended indefinitely by Coach Sean Miller for a violation of team rules. Would his presence have made a difference?

The answer, of course, is impossible to determine.

What is known is that in the matchup with Colorado, Kyle Fogg scored 14 points on 4-11 shooting, Nick Johnson totaled five on 2-10 shooting and Jordin Mayes went scoreless in 23 minutes, accounting for the Wildcat backcourt starters. Subbing in was one guard, Brandon Lavender, who added six points in 29 minutes.

As background information: in 27 minutes a game, Turner averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a contest, plus a team-leading 49 assists and 23 steals, all in 18 games.

So the proverbial elephant in the living room is what does Arizona Coach Sean Miller do now?

Does he allow Turner to return? For the record, in lieu of the Field of 64, the Wildcats landed in the NIT and lost at home last night 65-54 to Bucknell.

Does Miller make the decision himself or put Turner's status to a polling of his teammates, or both?

The answer must be determined in this context: Turner let down his teammates, to the point of 'possibly' costing them a Pac-12 conference championship and therefore a spot in the Big Dance.

That's major league.

At the level of requiring some sort of major penance if not an outright loss of scholarship.

The point can be made that we are talking a young person here, that some degree and number of mistakes are inevitable and such is accurate.

But do note that this is Turner's second suspension this season and another 'I'm more important than the team' display.

No, this is not meant as any sort of vendetta against Turner. The hope here is that he swiftly gains maturity and perspective and that he eventually actualizes his dream to make it to the National Basketball Association. It's also worthy to note that Turner was named as an honorable mention to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team for his on-court efforts this season.

Josiah Turner suspended

One day after being the focus of a nice feature in the Sacramento Bee, out comes the news of Josiah Turner's suspension. Talk about letting down your teammates, especially so in this crucial time period.

Clair Wyant reports.

Rob Dauster reports.

Josiah Turner's freshman year

Jack Magruder checks out former Sacramento prep star Josiah Turner, now a frosh at Arizona.

Arizona has no trouble with USC

Josiah Turner posted 15 points and six assists (no turnovers) in Arizona's 70-54 triumph over USC.

Arizona nine better than Utah

Arizona outlasted Utah 70-61, with the northern California highlight being seven assists versus zero turnovers for Josiah Turner.

A Josiah Turner update

Here's an update on Josiah Turner, who now seems to be settling in at Arizona.