Cloud County trio looking at next level

After an up-and-down opening half of the season, Cloud County (KS) coach Kevin Muff couldn't wait to get his team back on the court. But then the first game of 2005 was iced out.

"I'm anxious to play," Muff said. "I think once we get on the floor and get against differen competition, I'm anxious to see how well we respond. I'm kind of excited about it and these guys are definitely ready to play. I know not playing last night wasn't good."

No one is more anxious to get on the floor than 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Adam Vogelsburg. Vogelsburg, a second-team all-Jayhawk Conference player a year ago, broke his foot in the second game of the season.

"We've had him back at practice and he's coming along well. I'd say he's probably 85 or 90 percent," Muff said. "He can get better every day, get back in the flow."

We asked Muff about Vogelsburg's game.

"The kid can flat out shoot it," the coach said. "He's just a smart player. He can get himself open and it's nice to have that scorer out on the perimeter."

Some of the schools showing interest are Fresno State, Pacific and Charlotte.

There are two more sophomores on Cloud County's roster who could go D1 next year, a big man and a little one.

6-foot-8 Frenchman Manorou Gakou is getting some looks.

"He's a commodity simply because there aren't many big men," Muff said. "He's strictly a back to the basket post man, averaging about 12 points, eight rebounds, shooting 63-64 percent from the floor...We play to his strengths. He can really run the floor, for a big guy he's very mobile, light on his feet, a quick leaper. But he loves to bang, he's not afraid to get in and mix it up. I really like his game, and so do a lot of other people."

Muff says Gakou is probably a mid-major type of player, as is the T-Birds point guard, 5-foot-10 Keddric Mays.

"One of his priorities is wanting to get back closer to home," Muff said of the Livingston, Texas native. "Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, somewhere down in there, that's something that is important to him."

Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and North Texas are some of the schools courting Mays.

Keep an eye on Cloud County in 2006 as well. The T-Birds have a talented group of freshmen.

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