Quick hits: Hoops recruit, pitching, Ice

Just got back from Wednesday's baseball practice and have a few quick tidbits of info I'd like to share with you from all three sports:

- Frank Haith's basketball program has picked up another player who will be part of the 2009 class, 6-8, 205-pound power forward Donnovan Kirk. Scout.com's Dave Telep reported it this afternoon. Kirk, a Scout.com Top 100 junior from Detroit County Day, picked UM over Michigan State, USC and South Florida. Rivals.com rates Kirk 56th in its Top 100. Telep reported UM got in early on Kirk and swayed him from the hometown Spartans. Assuming Kirk sticks to his word, he becomes the second member of the 2009 class, joining Villanova transfer Malcolm Grant. Miami has four seniors heading into next season and likely two more scholarships available to use in '09. I've got a call into Kirk's high school coach and hopefully will have more for you later tonight.

- Baseball coach Jim Morris said Wednesday he's going to leave freshman Chris Hernandez in the Friday night starter role instead of going back to now fully healthy sophomore Eric Erickson. Hernandez was named Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) on Tuesday. The former Monsignor Pace standout matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts in a career-long eight innings to lead No. 1 Miami to a series-opening 1-0 shutout of No. 16 Virginia last Friday. He improved to 7-0 on the season with a 2.77 ERA. I caught up with Hernandez this afternoon and will have a Q&A later this week for you.

- Booker T. Washington football coach Tim "Ice" Harris told our Andre Fernandez today he will indeed be leaving the Tornadoes to work at UM. Harris is waiting until after his team competes in the Class 3A state track and field championships this week to formally announce it. He'll be following his son Brandon, a star cornerback and '08 recruit. Rumor is the job Harris will be taking is Community Liaison. Harris led Booker T. to the state football championship this past December and won last year's state track title. UM coach Randy Shannon has been friends with Ice for years and I'm told UM is very much interested in letting him coach down the line.

Comments

[DZ8]

1st

[DadeCountyCane]

Great post manny...i think that Haith is doing a great job recruiting and will lead that team to another great season. I would love to see Ice coaching at Um it would be a huge recruiting boost.

[Loco]

great work manny

[Canesjunkie]

I was wondering when 'Ice' was going to end up at UM. Not exactly the most ethical hire considering Brandon just signed with us. However, a good hire if it helps with recruiting.

[vince]

Thanks for the information manny. Canesjunkie this stuff happens more than we relize but it helps us to continue building that recruiting wall around south fl.

[86Cane]

Great stuff Manny! Let us know about the baseball Q&A when U post it. Canes fans have the baseball fever. U gonna be at The UM-UNC series? Jax for the ACC championships?

[86Cane]

Canes baseball:

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/042908aab.html

[86Cane]

More Canes baseball:

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/042808aac.html

[bg1906]

Thanks for that good nfo Manny!

[Hurricane Moe]

Thanks Manny for the info. Interesting that you stated Grant joins the 09 class and we only have 2 schollis left available. I thought Grant was the last scholli for this year? Does that mean we still have an open scholli this year? and 2 for next year or none this year and 3 next year?????

[New Jersey Hurricane]

Hey Manny, What's going on? August can't get here quick enough! I was just wondering how Colin McCarthy's shoulder was doing? I haven't heard anything? just curious! It certainly won't hurt having him back next year! Anybody have any info on McCarthy?

[Mando_hater]

Good Job Manny, keep on bring more news to us. We're thristy of UM news.

See if you can teach Armando Salguiero on how to run a Blog spot. He has become a Dolphin hater, and all he does is talk crap about the Dolphins and doesn't provide any news.

[Jason]

Manny, you're probably the only reason I read the Herald. Shandel does an awesome job at the Sentinal, but you're in a league of your own. Sorry you have to work next to the retreads like Cote and Salguero...friggin jokes they are.

[Cane360]

Welcome Coach Harris! The U will take care of U! Tell you youngest son to hurry up and get his butt at the U. Good luck with the track and field championship.

[RICK TRUTH SPEAKER]

THANKS FOR THE GREAT MOMENTS AT BOTH MIAMI NORTHWESTERN AND BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. I FIND IT A PLEASURE TO READ ABOUT A DESERVING PERSON GETTING A DESERVING POSITION. I HAVE NO DOUBT, YOU WILL DO GREAT FOR A GREAT TEAM. COACH SHANNON IS A CLASS ACT AND HE IS GETTING A CLASS ACT. THIS WILL ONLY ENHANCE THIS PROGRAM. THANK GOD FOR QUALITY DECISIONS. PSALMS 129

[Canes1]

It may look bad for UM to hire the father of its top recruit after he commits to the school; but Mr. Harris has a proven track record as a high school coach and I hope he will ultimately end up coaching the team in some capacity. GO CANES.