Remembering When They Were Just High School Seniors...

Above, Cornell's Ryan Wittman (left) is defended by Pete Reynolds (right) during Cornell's 2005 Red-White Game. At the time, Wittman and Reynolds were both freshmen. This Friday, Wittman, Reynolds and the rest of the class of '10 begins their senior season. Below, we take a little stroll into the past as we post some archived news articles chronicling the recruitment, commitments, and high school accomplishments of Cornell's current seniors, the class of 2010.

MN Shooter Gets Mid Major Interest

CollegeBasketballNews.com
July 21, 2005

Ryan Wittman, a 6-foot-4 guard from Eden Prairie (MN) High, is getting looks from many mid major and Ivy League programs. The son of former former Indiana and NBA guard Randy Wittman, Ryan led Eden Prairie to 20-7 mark as a junior, losing to eventual state champion Minnetonka (MN) Hopkins in the Section 2, Class AAAA finals. His father Randy, who was recently named as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, said that his son is hearing most from Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Marshall, Eastern Kentucky and Furman.

Wittman is expected to play with Minnesota Select in Las Vegas in the Main Event July 22-26 and the Las Vegas Classic July 27-31, after suffering a deep thigh bruise at the Hoosier Shootout. Wittman is an excellent student, who scored a 30 on his ACT.

MN Shooter Gets First Offer

CollegeBasketballNews.com
July 21, 2005

Ryan Wittman, a 6-foot-4 guard from Eden Prairie (MN) High, received his first scholarship offer from Eastern Kentucky. The son of former former Indiana and NBA guard Randy Wittman, Ryan led Eden Prairie to 20-7 mark as a junior, losing to eventual state champion Minnetonka (MN) Hopkins in the Section 2, Class AAAA finals. His father Randy, who was recently named as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, said that his son is hearing most from Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Marshall, Eastern Kentucky and Furman.

Wittman asveraged 13.0 points per game in six contests for Minnesota Select in Las Vegas in the Main Event, leading the team to a 5-1 mark. They will play in the Las Vegas Classic July 27-31. Wittman had been hampered after suffering a deep thigh bruise at the Hoosier Shootout and Kentucky Hoopfest. Wittman is an excellent student, who scored a 30 on his ACT.

Ryan Wittman Commits to Cornell

MinnesotaPreps.com
November 12, 2005

Ryan Wittman, a 6-6 forward from Eden Prairie, has committed to Cornell University to play basketball after his senior year with the Eagles.

Wittman lead his team to the section final last year where the Eagles lost a 3 point game to eventual state champion, Hopkins. Eden Prairie is being tabbed as one of the favorites to win the Lake Conference this season even though they will be lacking the big man in the middle.

Wittman played for Minnesota Select last summer and lead that team in scoring despite missing 8 games with a severe thigh injury. Ryan had interests from Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Richmond, Valapariso, among others, but was very impressed with the campus, coaches and the educational opportunities that Cornell had to offer.

His father, Randy Wittman, a former All-American at Indiana, is currently serving as an assistant coach with Orlando Magic.

Top senior basketball players to be honored Mr. Basketball Award

Pioneer Press
April 30, 2006

It's no slam dunk who will win the Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards this year. The honor, given to Minnesota's top senior basketball players, will be announced during a ceremony today at the Minneapolis Marriott West in St. Louis Park.

The boys finalists: Braham's Isaiah Dahlman, Duluth East's Cory Johnson, DeLaSalle's Cameron Rundles, St. Thomas Academy's Bryce Webster and Eden Prairie's Ryan Wittman. The girls finalists: Hermantown's Anna Bjorlin, Holy Angels' Jessie Miller, Breck's Kelly Jo Mullaney, Hopkins' Jillian Schurle and Bloomington Kennedy's Jenna Smith.

FINALISTS

Isaiah Dahlman, Braham:Led Braham to three consecutive Class AA championships. Michigan State recruit averaged 33.6 points a gameas a senior. Finished high school career as Minnesota's all-time leading scorer with 3,366 points.

Cory Johnson, Duluth East: Averaged 27 points a game. Iowa State recruit finished career with 2,930 points, fourth in state history.

Cameron Rundles, DeLaSalle: Montana recruit averaged 15 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Finished with more than 1,500 points.

Bryce Webster, St. Thomas Academy: The 6-foot-9 Gophers recruit made 68 percent of his field-goal attempts this season and 69 percent of his free throws while averaging 21 points. lso pulled down 12 rebounds a game.

Ryan Wittman, Eden Prairie: Cornell recruit averaged 20.3 points. Made 50 percent of his three-point attempts (61 of 122) and 84.1 percent of his free throws (111 of 132).

Blair basketball star Reynolds picks Cornell

Washington County Pilot Tribune & Enterprise
October 28, 2005

Pete Reynolds, one of the top Class B basketball players in the state, said last Wednesday that he has orally committed to Cornell University.

Reynolds, who will study civil engineering at the prestigious Ivy League institution, will also become the first Blair graduate to play college basketball at a Division I school.

“Playing basketball at college will be an added bonus,” Reynolds said. “The atmosphere, the quality of the schooling, and Cornell’s reputation are what convinced me to go there.”

The 6-foot-8 senior post player chose Cornell over several local and out of state schools offering scholarships.

That list included the University of Buffalo, North Dakota and Wayne State.

“I looked at some in- state schools,” Reynolds said, “but, ultimately, I feel like I’ve found a place that fits me well.”

Reynolds, a four-year letter winner and three-year starter, averaged almost 15 points and eight rebounds last season for the Bears.

The All-Eastern Midlands Conference selection assisted the 2004 Blair basketball team to the Class B state tournament.

He has played the past four years for the High Five AAU team where he competed in an average of 10 national tourneys a year.

“That was the most important part of the recruiting process for me,” Reynolds said. “All the coaches that I’ve talked to saw me play in the summer. My AAU team gave me a lot of exposure.”

Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, is rated as the 11th best University in the world, according to The Economist magazine. It is also rated as one of the Top 5 Engineering schools in the United States.

After scoring a 29 on his ACT’s, Reynolds said he was highly recruited by some of the top research institutions in the country, including the University of Chicago, the University of Washington at St. Louis and Case Western Reserve.

“I am only going to play basketball for four more years,” Reynolds said. “I wanted to make sure I went to a very good school with a great reputation."

Bright future beckons Tyler

The Herald-Mail
January 31, 2006

The foundation was laid as a youth growing up in the north end of Hagerstown.

The walls were built during his early prep years at Clear Spring High School.

As the walls were completed with a transfer, the roof has been applied with his final two years at Mercersburg Academy.

Alex Tyler turns 18 on Tuesday with a bright future staring him in the eyes. Following graduation, he'll have a busy summer preparing for the next step in his journey when he becomes at freshman at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

"(Cornell) fits me well, I think," Tyler said. "I always had hoped to be able to go to college and Ivy League schools are the best. There's better basketball than the Ivy, but this is what I want to do."

Usually, whatever Tyler has wanted to achieve, he has.

As a junior at Clear Spring in the 2003-04 season, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Tyler averaged 22 points per game. His growth at a young age gave him fits with aching knees, but he had the desire to further develop his potential.

He hit the weight room and transferred to Mercersburg Academy, where he repeated his junior year scholastically.

"I was playing AAU ball in a league Buck Hoffmaster was running," said Tyler. "He knew Coach (Mark) Cubit and eventually we talked about Mercersburg. I knew I could only move forward playing against tougher competition.

"I really didn't even make the decision to go to Mercersburg until late spring," said Tyler. "I hated to leave Clear Spring. ... I loved the school. But I was going to get an education for down the road. My family supported me and came up with ideas to finance and it was a good package."

In addition to his academic growth, Tyler sprouted another two inches and put on 20 pounds from increased workouts. Despite the nagging knee problems, Tyler averaged a double-double last year at Mercersburg.

This season, he's averaging 15.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as the Blue Storm ride the wave of their No. 1 ranking locally with an 18-0 record.

"Alex is a great player in the sense that he makes everyone else better with his passing," said coach Mark Cubit. "His footwork has improved and that has improved his rebounding and shotblocking. He is near a guarantee close to the basket as you can ask at this level. He can run, shoot, pass and rebound and his defensive mindset is growing all the time."

Getting the choice of a college out of the way might have helped Tyler's performance this season.

"I visited, worked out and really liked what I saw of the campus," said Tyler. "When I made the decision, I think it let me go out and have some fun this year."

Mercersburg Academy does not release its students' GPAs, but Tyler's acceptance at Cornell certainly indicates he's not your average high school student. in fact, he skipped the second grade to move forward in studies.

Since Tyler has not graduated high school, he is not considered a postgraduate at Mercersburg. He is getting a taste of what dorm life will be like, though.

"As a senior, you live on campus, and Josh (Davis, a teammate) and I room together," said Tyler. "We're in the freshman wing and we make sure they are in their study hall, in their rooms at night and make bed checks."

Tyler plans to study applied economics management at Cornell with an emphasis on business.

"I won't be slacking," he said. "But I think I can go in and help as a freshman and get playing time."

"Alex is a fine young man from a great family," said Mark Cubit. "He has a strong foundation that is reflected in his humble nature."

Altamont basketball star headed to Cornell

Birmingham News
June 18, 2006

With averages of 16 points, six rebounds and five assists per game, senior guard Louis Dale was bound to play college basketball. With a grade-point average of 3.8 at a school like Altamont, Dale was bound to land at a top notch academic school as well.

His work on the court caught the eye of Cornell University basketball coach Steve Donahue. His work in the classroom got him into the school.

Dale is a prime example of the 2,443 junior and senior student-athletes from across the state who earned a spot on The Birmingham News' 2006 All State Academic Team honoring excellence in both athletics and academics. Dale, who also competed in the AHSAA state track championships, is one of 885 athletes on The News' team who played at least two sports while in high school.

''I decided on an Ivy League school early,'' said Dale, who reports to Cornell next week. He plans to take a couple of courses in summer school to get a jump on the fall. ''It's a great opportunity to get to play in the NCAA tourney and with the type of team (Cornell) has, it fits perfectly. And after you graduate (from college), it opens up the job market.''

By his own admission, and with Altamont boys basketball coach Barry Bearden confirming, Dale is a gym rat. Call his cell phone and you'll hear a message proclaiming he's either asleep, eating or playing basketball. But that's not all he does. '

'It's not too difficult to get good grades if you have good time management, prepare for tests and do homework,'' said Dale, whose father Louis delivers auto parts and whose mother, Willette, is a nurse at the Veterans Administration hospital in Birmingham.

''The work comes easy if you work hard at it.'' At some high schools, a 3.8 GPA wouldn't get you a sniff at an Ivy school and wouldn't put you among the tops in your class. ''We have low grades. We don't give high grades here,'' said Altamont Headmaster Thomas Wheelock. ''We don't keep a class rank. When you have 50 kids, that's meaningless in a class that small. Cornell understood that. (Dale) is a very solid student.''

His hoops aren't too shabby, either. Dale led Altamont to the area title this past season and played in the Southwest Regional final two years in a row. He also helped the Knights reach the Final Four in 2004 for the only time in school history.

''He's a good athlete for our level,'' said Donahue, whose team finished third in the Ivy League at 8-6 (13-15 overall). He can find the open man, he likes to spread the floor and we like to have our point guards create the play and go in and score.''

As much as he'd like to be able to draw from a talent pool like the power conferences have, Donahue knows that the only SEC most of his kids will deal with in life is the Securities and Exchange Commission.

''The Ivy League is not for every kid out there,'' Donahue said. ''You have a small pool you can draw from. They have to have the ability to do the work, the desire to do the work and make the sacrifice to play Division I (basketball) and get an education. That eliminates a lot of people.''

Shrine Bowl could be Burlington star's farewell

Wichita Eagle
July 29, 2006

Geoff Reeves nearly played his final football game four years ago. After spending his freshman season as a junior varsity tailback, Reeves had reservations about continuing the sport. "

Just me being so small, I wasn't having much fun," said Reeves, who graduated from Burlington High in the spring. But a change in position to wide receiver changed his outlook. "Not running up the middle, getting hit every play, that was much better," Reeves said.

He also grew to 6-foot-4, becoming an All-Class 3A receiver by his senior year. Four years later, Reeves might again be facing the end of his football career. After he suits up for the East squad in today's 33rd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl, Reeves will head to college. But unlike many of his Shrine Bowl teammates, Reeves' immediate collegiate career doesn't include football. Reeves signed to play basketball at Cornell, where he will be a swingman.

"I've always considered myself a basketball player," Reeves said. "But I'm honored I was selected (to the Shrine Bowl). I know there's a lot of great players here and not everyone gets this chance."

For three years, Reeves was part of a Burlington basketball team that was one of the top small-class schools in the state. After winning the 3A title his sophomore season with a 26-0 record, Reeves and his teammates lost twice in his career for a mark of 71-2. Averaging 23.6 points, Reeves was chosen third-team All-State after his senior season. Point guard Tyrel Reed, who was a grade behind Reeves, will be of the state's top recruits this season. Having a future Ivy League student on the Shrine Bowl roster has worked out well for Lawrence Free State's Bob Lisher, who is coaching the East squad.

"Mainly we just keep throwing stuff at the kids, until the point where we don't think they can absorb it anymore," said Lisher of the game's playbook. "Geoff -- a Cornell kid -- he's got it down pretty well."

Lisher hopes to utilize Reeves' jumping at the flanker position.

"He gives us that athletic ability at wide receiver," Lisher said. "We can send him to do a jump ball." That's something with which Reeves is familiar. "I think playing 3A, in the Tri-Valley League, we threw a lot of fades," Reeves said. "Against big-school kids, I'm not sure how many times we'll get away with that."

Although Reeves signed to play basketball, he hasn't ruled out playing football again. "Just with basketball and school, I know I'm not going to have time for it," he said. "Maybe after freshman year. "If this is my last football game, I game I'm happy with it. This will be a good ending."

Reeves settled on Cornell late last October, after visiting the school following one of Burlington's football games. "I really had my heart set on the Ivy League," he said. "The academic prestige was very important. That was much more important than basketball. "I know I'm not going to play that forever." Or football, for that matter.

Cornell fills needs for '06-'07 season

The Ithaca Journal
June 21, 2006

ITHACA - Cornell men's basketball coach Steve Donahue addressed his two most pressing needs - at small forward and point guard - with a recruiting class of six freshmen for the upcoming 2006-2007 season. The Big Red, which has beaten every Ivy League opponent over the last two years but the University of Pennsylvania, said goodbye to four-year starter and all-league performer Lenny Collins, and versatile forward Ryan Rourke.

Those two departures leave a gaping vacancy at small forward. But between the top recruiting tandem of Ryan Wittman and Geoff Reeves, along with returning combo guard Jason Battle and 6-foot-7 forward Brian Kreefer, Donahue now has several options to work with.

"I think when you lose two guys like Rourke and Collins, replacing them was obviously a concern," he said. "(Wittman and Reeves) have the ability to come in and help us. They're talented enough to come in our league and be good very quickly."

Wittman, a 6-6 slasher who shot 50 percent from 3-point land as a senior at Eden Prairie High School (Minn.), comes from good basketball stock. Wittman is the son of Randy Wittman, the former Big Ten Player of the Year at Indiana in 1983 and current assistant coach for the Minnesota Timber-wolves. Ryan Wittman was one of five finalists for the Minnesota Mr. Basketball Award.

Reeves, who arrives at East Hill with a reputation as a dangerous outside shooter and a capable scorer, said he chose the Big Red over the likes of Dartmouth and Yale because of the feel he got when he first visited. "I love Coach Donahue and what he's done there," Reeves said. "I loved the campus and the University and it just felt like it was right."

The second most glaring need - point guard - was also addressed. Returning senior Graham Dow had struggled with injuries for most of the last two seasons, and recently had surgery to repair what Dow termed a "sports hernia." In addition, the program received a blow when Khaliq Gant suffered a severe neck injury at practice in late January. Gant's versatility allowed Donahue the luxury of playing him at either guard spot. With that luxury taken away, and with the uncertainty of Dow's status, Donahue went out and signed highly-regarded Louis Dale, Jr., of the Altamont School in Alabama.

Dale, a two-sport star who won the Alabama state triple jump title and finished second in the high jump this spring, should provide a major spark in the "athleticism" department that Cornell sorely lacked last year. And while Dale - who compared his game to NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Paul - decided early on to seriously consider an Ivy League institution, the talented point guard has one goal in mind.

"I think we have a very good chance of making it to the tournament, and I want to help them get there," said Dale, who picked the Big Red over the University of Alabama-Birmingham, a 2006 NCAA tournament team. "I don't think it was that difficult of a choice. I just think it was the best opportunity for me."

The other three newcomers all measure in at around 6-7, but boast different playing styles. Pete Reynolds, a native of Blair, Neb., once blocked a school-record 14 shots in a single game. Alex Tyler, a 240-pound bulldog from Mercersburg Academy in Clear Spring, Md., could develop into a threat on the post. And Jon Jaques, who hails from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, can play both inside and outside.

"I feel good about the fact that five of these kids (except Dale) committed early, and they were five kids we targeted early," Donahue said. "Our (recent success in the Ivy League) has helped us attract kids we could not be in the mix with before. "To add Louis in the end, that was a nice piece of the puzzle that we added."

The biggest hole left to be filled comes at the center position. Both Jason Hartford and Andrew Naeve, returning seniors, stand above 6-9, but their replacements have yet to be signed. "That's our priority for this year," Donahue admitted. The Big Red finished last season in third place in Ivy play with a record of 8-6. They were 13-15 overall. Next season's schedule includes trips to Iowa, Binghamton and Northwestern and home games against 2006 NCAA tournament participants Bucknell and Albany, Donahue said. The Big Red will also renew its neighborhood rivalry with Ithaca College. The two schools didn't meet this past season because of scheduling conflicts.

(edited 10.14.09)