D1 Nation Makes Noise On NCAA Opening Night

The 2011-2012 NCAA College Basketball season is underway. Best of luck to all competitors, especially those who have worn the uniforms of the D1 Ambassadors and have the D1 Nation bloodlines flowing through their veins. The D1 Ambassadors, a National club team with a legacy like no other!

Look no further than the Carrier Classic as Round Rock (TX) 6'10" Junior, John Henson of North Carolina led the Tar Heels to an opening win with a dominant 12 point, 7 rebounds and 9 blocked shot performance. It's this kind of defensive presence that will have Henson go in the 1st round of the NBA Draft next June.

Henson, circa May 2007 as Texas D1 rocked the throwback UTEP jerseys

Henson's summer team mate with the Texas D1 Ambassadors in 2007 was 6'10" Cory Jefferson of Killeen (TX). The twin towers burst on the scene solidifying their national reputation at the now defunct Arizona Cactus Classic on the campus of the University of Arizona. It was there that they both earned their invite to both the Nike and Reebok camps. Since that time Jefferson RS-Soph has been patiently biding his time working on both his skills and body. He is now ripped and considerably more skilled. Last night in 19 minutes Jefferson registered the first of what should be many double doubles. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.

Jefferson's turn is coming with the Baylor Bears. He's a defensive difference maker.

Daniel Alexander RS-Freshman F 6'9" Dripping Springs (TX) Texas A&M
Alexander scored his first bucket of his college career for the Aggies in 6 minutes.

Mark Nwakamma Freshman F 6'6" Leander (TX) Hartford
Nwakamma got his feet wet with 9 minutes, 4 rebounds in his college debut.

Joel Smith Junior G 6'4" Leander (TX) Northeastern
Smith who is expected to earn all league honors this year led Northeastern to an OT victory with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists.

Justin Brickman Sophomore G 5'11" San Antonio Clark (TX) Long Island
Now the starter at PG for the Blackbirds, Brickman had 11 points, 5 assists and 3 steals

Brandon Thompson Junior G 6'1" San Antonio Stevens (TX) Long Island
Welcome Brandon back to the D1 ranks. After transferring from Arizona State and spending a year at South Plains JC he should make the Blackbirds a better club.

Jordan Brickman Junior G 5'10" San Antonio Clark (TX) Navy
Welcome Jordan back to basketball. After signing with the Naval Academy he made a decision to stop playing basketball the past two seasons. Once the new staff was hired Mrs. Brickman asked if I could put a word in for Jordan to resume his career. He's obviously taking care of business and after his two year hiatus he played 9 minutes last night scoring 2 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

J.J. Avila Sophomore F 6'7" McAllen (TX) Navy
Last year Freshman Avila was the Newcomer of the Year in the Patriot League. He started his soph campaign where he left off by scoring 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the opener.

Jake Kocher Freshman G 6'2" Austin St. Michael's (TX) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Kocher logged 21 minutes scoring 4 points and getting 4 rebounds. He and summer team mate Brian Williams of Oklahoma State briefly guarded each other until Williams encountered early foul trouble.

How about that Austin/San Antonio backcourt Converse Judson's Soph G 6'5" Jordan Clarkson and Freshman G 6'4" Eric McClellan of Austin Stephen F Austin (TX)? Tulsa Head Coach Doug Wojcik knows tha the area has excellent talent supported by a good public school system in the communities and makes Austin/San Antonio a staple of his recruiting strategy.

Jordan Clarkson Sophomore G 6'5" Converse Judson (TX) Tulsa
Clarkson had 15 points and 4 rebounds in the opening win.

Eric McClellan Freshman G 6'4" Austin (TX) Tulsa
True freshman McClellan had 5 points and 2 assists in his first college game.

Osas Ebomwonyi Sophomore P 6'9" Pflugerville (TX) Lamar
In only 7 minutes, Ebomwonti had 4 rebounds. Hopefully this will provide a springboard for new Coach Pat Knight to recognize the impact he can have on a game defensively.

Travis Jones Senior G 6'6" Georgetown (TX) Texas State
Sharpshooting Jones had 13 points to begin his senior year in San Marcos.

A.J. Hardeman Senior F 6'8" Del Valle (TX) New Mexico
Hardeman begins his senior year with a nice effort, with 13 points and 7 rebounds in only 18 minutes of their blowout win. I'll look forward to seeing him when I attend the New Mexico-Arizona State gaem in Tempe. AZ next Friday.

Trevante Drye Freshman F 6'7" Baton Rouge Glen Oaks (LA) Tulane
Drye made a cameo appearance and notched his first college bucket for the Green Wave.

Cody Doolin Sophomore G 6'2" Austin Westlake (TX) San Francisco
Doolin had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in the opener a shocking home upset for his Dons dampers the stat line but Doolin who averaged over 30 mpg as a freshman played 34 minutes.

Jalen Harris Freshman G 5'10" Pflugerville Hendrickson (TX) Army
Harris scored a bucket and logged 19 minutes in his college debut.

Royce O'Neale Freshman G 6'3" Harker Heights (TX) Denver
O'Neale came out of the gate with 6 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He'll have a great career in the Mile High City.

Andre Roberson Sophomore F 6'7" Converse Judson (TX) Colorado
Roberson came out with guns blazing dropping 13 points and adding 15 rebounds for the Buffs. He is anticipated to be the #5 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Mock Draft.

Big Props also go out to former Cen Tex stars Freshman G Marshall Harris of San Antonio Taft who had 11 points and 9 assists for the Citadel and Freshman G Yolonzo Moore of Hartford who had 12 points in his opener.