Vincent Askew This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN: Prep Sports

   www.gomemphis.com/mca/prep_spo - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/2/2004   Last Visited: 12/2/2004

   With his players cheering his exit, Elliston Baptist Academy boys basketball coach Vincent Askew agreed Wednesday to leave the program, apparently at the insistence of players and Elliston athletic director Tommy Morgan.
   ...
   Askew -- the first-year coach of a Raiders program under investigation by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association for alleged recruiting violations and the use of ineligible players -- received word of what Morgan called his "impending termination" in a speakerphone conversation Wednesday that included Elliston headmaster Floyd Simmons and all but three players from the Raiders basketball team.
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   "(The players) requested a meeting with the headmaster and they expressed to him that they did not want to play for (Askew) anymore," Morgan said.
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   Morgan said a decision was then made to call Askew and have his players express their feelings.
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   Askew, a former NBA veteran and standout at Memphis State, said Wednesday he'd already quit the job on Monday, though he did acknowledge speaking with the Elliston players on Wednesday.
   
   "It was definitely my choice," said Askew, who was absent from the Elliston sideline Monday and Tuesday for games against Lighthouse Christian and Treadwell. "It's hard to fire someone who was doing something for free.
   
   "I want to be in the college ranks anyway. As you know, I can go get kids, and colleges can use that."
   
   Morgan insists Askew was fired Wednesday for his use of several ineligible players in five Elliston games this season.
   ...
   Askew said he was bothered by the recruiting allegations against him.
   
   "It was a problem, but I don't want the kids to be in any kind of trouble because of me," he said.

2. 2. commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN: Prep Sports

   www.gomemphis.com/mca/prep_spo - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/1/2004   Last Visited: 12/1/2004

   Elliston coach Vincent Askew, a former University of Memphis standout and NBA veteran, said Tuesday that Rice has not played since scoring 15 points in the Raiders' 68-57 loss to East.

3. 3. commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN: Prep Sports

   www.gomemphis.com/mca/prep_spo - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/10/2004   Last Visited: 11/11/2004

   TSSAA interested in Elliston, Askew
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   New Elliston Baptist Academy basketball coach Vincent Askew says his experience at the University of Memphis and in the NBA is enough to attract talent to the small southeast Memphis private school.
   
   But interviews with Elliston's players and parents, as well as opposing coaches, suggest Askew has been aggressively pursuing players in a bid to turn the Raiders into a winner.
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   Since Askew was hired in May, students from Bolton, Cordova, East, Kingsbury, Overton, Trezevant and Wooddale have transferred to Elliston.
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   Simmons also said Askew had been warned about recruiting.
   
   "I don't know how many (transfers) have come in, but they're all here because of Vince as far as I know," Simmons said.
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   We've talked to (Askew) about recruiting and he says he's not. If he is, he'll have to answer to that."
   
   Askew says Elliston's new arrivals all came to play for him, not because he asked them to switch schools.
   
   "If I was recruiting, I wouldn't have these guys," Askew said. "People all over the city want to come play for Vincent Askew.
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   So complete has been the talent overhaul under Askew that only two holdovers remain.
   
   Some of Elliston's new arrivals, having not made the cut at their previous schools, said they were just looking for a place to play. With no athletic records at their previous schools, they figured to be eligible immediately.
   
   Kenneth Faulkner, whose son Ken, transferred from Cordova after being cut, said the chance to play for Askew was too good to pass up.
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   We called up Vincent and he said, 'Let me have a look at him.' Then he said, 'Bring him back,'" Kenneth Faulkner said.
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   "Vincent did not recruit my son; he got cut and he wanted an opportunity to play."
   
   Others said Askew, who coached the Bartlett Grizzlies AAU team last summer, came to summer games and recruited them to Elliston.
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   Unhappy with his opportunities at Wooddale, Jerry Woods, a junior point guard, was eager to play for Askew, who spent nine years with eight NBA teams from 1988-98.
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   David Little said his son, a 6-8 senior, transferred from Cordova to Elliston at the behest of Askew, who saw the player in an AAU game.
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   I didn't know anything about Vincent Askew."
   
   Little's son has since transferred back to Cordova.
   
   First-year Cordova coach Mike Moore said Askew has tried to recruit other players from the school.
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   I don't know Vincent Askew, but I do know some of the things he does. I'm not happy about him recruiting my players."
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   Askew, who faced allegations of recruiting last year while at Rossville Christian, denies using what the TSSAA describes as "undue influence" to lure players to Elliston.
   
   But new Dyer County coach Pete Froedden, previously the coach at Harding Academy, said Askew has developed a reputation in the coaching community as an aggressive recruiter.
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   Froedden turned Askew in to the TSSAA and the Mississippi Private School Association last season after two Harding sophomore players left for Rossville.
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   "When you're Vincent Askew, former Memphis State star and NBA guy, it's attractive," Froedden said.
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   Askew denied recruiting players from Harding to Rossville.
   
   "Of course he'd say that. If they don't like me, so what?" Askew said.
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   Carter said statements from players and parents regarding Askew's alleged recruiting would likely result in an investigation.