interesting article by Dan Wetzel on yahoo sports about our old friend Tommy!
I am technology challenged and not inclined to go do it myself but if someone could go share the article on here it's a great article about what has always been one of the very best recruiters in college basketball.
His hiring to me was the beginning of Coach Valvanos rise and eventually his fall.
Tommy was a unique individual and would have recruited Charles Manson out of prison if he thought he could be a big time player.
My most favorite memory of Tommy was when Joe Hull, Stu Coman,Richard Sykes ,and myself went to Elon to the I think 'Prep Stars" all star tournament to see among others Chucky Brown who we were recruiting.
At that time we must have been in a dead Period where coaches could not have direct conversations with recruits.
So, in typical Tommy Abatemarco style to gain an edge and not be denied, Tommy stationed himself directly under the basket where Chuck and other recruits were doing layups.
After every single layup by Chucky, Tommy would mumble out loud to no one in particular NC State,NC State,NC State.
Tommy would do it every time until the drills were finished and never said a single other word to anyone else that entire night !
I loved Tommy, but I think even Jim feared or at least didn't want to know at the end what or how Tommy was doing his duties.
I would add with Coach Sykes retiring that was one of the funniest night I have ever participated in.
We stopped in a Waffle House on the way back and Richard and the waitress who I would probably rate a 1-2 on a scale of 10 were innocently flirting with each other and we all laughed until I thought my sides would burst.
Richard Sykes is a great person and by far the very best value and under appreciated Coach in the history of NC State for the money we budgeted his program and paid him!
NC State will never ever get as good a deal as they had from Richard Sykes and we all will miss him!
I am technology challenged and not inclined to go do it myself but if someone could go share the article on here it's a great article about what has always been one of the very best recruiters in college basketball.
His hiring to me was the beginning of Coach Valvanos rise and eventually his fall.
Tommy was a unique individual and would have recruited Charles Manson out of prison if he thought he could be a big time player.
My most favorite memory of Tommy was when Joe Hull, Stu Coman,Richard Sykes ,and myself went to Elon to the I think 'Prep Stars" all star tournament to see among others Chucky Brown who we were recruiting.
At that time we must have been in a dead Period where coaches could not have direct conversations with recruits.
So, in typical Tommy Abatemarco style to gain an edge and not be denied, Tommy stationed himself directly under the basket where Chuck and other recruits were doing layups.
After every single layup by Chucky, Tommy would mumble out loud to no one in particular NC State,NC State,NC State.
Tommy would do it every time until the drills were finished and never said a single other word to anyone else that entire night !
I loved Tommy, but I think even Jim feared or at least didn't want to know at the end what or how Tommy was doing his duties.
I would add with Coach Sykes retiring that was one of the funniest night I have ever participated in.
We stopped in a Waffle House on the way back and Richard and the waitress who I would probably rate a 1-2 on a scale of 10 were innocently flirting with each other and we all laughed until I thought my sides would burst.
Richard Sykes is a great person and by far the very best value and under appreciated Coach in the history of NC State for the money we budgeted his program and paid him!
NC State will never ever get as good a deal as they had from Richard Sykes and we all will miss him!
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