Spoke (very) briefly to Lasan Kromah today. He said his transfer to UConn isn't official yet, but it's what he's hoping to do.

It seems Kromah's decision to transfer had as much to do with the fact that, under NCAA guidelines, he can do so without having to sit out a year as it does anything else. Obviously, he was recruited by current UConn assistant Karl Hobbs and played for Hobbs his first two years (though he sat out his sophomore season with an injury), so that figured to be an attraction.

GWU assistant coach Pete Strickland said that he hasn't been made aware of where Kromah is heading to, but hasn't spoken to him in a couple of days. (Colonials head coach Mike Lonergan is away at the A-10 meetings).

Here's what Strickland said about Kromah as a player:

"He definitely has the ability to score the ball. He has a very instinctive ability to get to the rim. He doesn't really fit a type -- he's not a 'classic' anything -- he just has a unique ability to get to the rim. He's got great length to him and a nice nose for the basket."

Strickland said that Kromah was considering transferring to UConn, Indiana and Xavier, among others. He noted that the 6-foot-5 Kromah has "plus-four" length. In other words, he's got a 6-9 wingspan.

"Defensively, because of his length, he's kind of disarming," Strickland said. "He had nine steals in a game (on Dec. 28, 2011, against UAB) that set a school record. He just kind of unfolds. You think you have a pass ... now you don't."

As for Kromah off the court: "He's an upbeat kid. I think he really likes Karl. I think that's probably a good fit."

*** Also, Rodney Purvis has been invited to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team training camp. Here's the press release sent out by UConn:

Rodney Purvis (Raleigh, N.C.), who has transferred into the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program, is one of 24 players who have accepted invitations to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team training camp.

Purvis, a 6-4 guard, and the rest of the invitees will travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to participate in the training camp, which begins on June 14. The final 12-man team will be selected during training camp and will train in Colorado until June 19, continue training in Washington D.C., through June 22, then leave for Prague, Czech Republic, to compete in the June 27-July 7 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Purvis, a former McDonald’s All-American, played his freshman season at North Carolina State in 2012-13, appearing in 35 games, starting 23. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, shot 44.2 percent overall and 38.5 percent from three-point range. As per NCAA transfer rules, he must sit out the 2013-14 season, although he can practice with the Huskies. Beginning with the 2014-15 season, he will have three years of eligibility remaining for UConn.

Besides Purvis, the rest of the invited players include: Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova University/Langhorne, Pa.); Bryce Alford (La Cueva H.S./Albuquerque, N.M.); Brandon Ashley (University of Arizona/San Francisco, Calif.); Robert Carter (Georgia Tech/Thomasville, Ga.); Damyean Dotson (University of Oregon/Houston, Texas); Kris Dunn (Providence College/Oakdale, Conn.); Javan Felix (University of Texas/New Orleans, La.); Michael Frazier (University of Florida/Tampa, Fla.); Marcus Georges-Hunt (Georgia Tech/College Park, Ga.); Shaq Goodwin (University of Memphis/Atlanta, Ga.); Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty H.S./San Jose, Calif.); Jerami Grant (Syracuse University/Bowie, Md.); Montrezl Harrell (University of Louisville/Tarboro, N.C.); Rondaé Hollis-Jefferson (Chester H.S./Chester, Pa.); Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.); James Robinson (University of Pittsburgh/Mitchellville, Md.); Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State University/Flower Mound, Texas); Jarnell Stokes (University of Tennessee/Memphis, Tenn.); Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke University/Houston, Texas); Devin Thomas (Wake Forest University/Harrisburg, Pa.); Mike Tobey (University of Virginia/Monroe, N.Y.); Nigel Williams-Goss (Findlay Prep/Happy Valley, Ore.); and Justise Winslow (St. Johns H.S./Houston, Texas).

The USA U19 World Championship Team will be led by Florida head coach Billy Donovan, who will be assisted by Virginia’s Tony Bennett and VCU’s Shaka Smart. The player selections for the team will be made by the 2013-2016 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.

Purvis is one of 16 of the invited players who has previous USA Basketball experience. He was a member of the 2012 U18 USA National Team that won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and qualified the U.S. team for the FIBA U19 World Championship.

*** Finally, this from the American Athletic Conference:

In its first full meeting as the American Athletic Conference, the league made important strategic decisions and addressed many pertinent issues as its membership moves forward together in the reinvented Conference.

The Conference’s Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Head Football Coaches and Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches participated in the meetings.

“I am pleased and proud to be a part of a group that is dedicated, optimistic and effective,” said Commissioner Michael Aresco. “We have accomplished a great deal and are moving ahead with great confidence. We have a strong new name that has been well-received. Our soon-to-be-released new logo will support our new name. The American is going to be a prominent force in college athletics.”

Among the subjects addressed by the league’s Presidents and Athletic Directors:

Agreed on a financial distribution plan for the member institutions
Approved a new conference logo, which will be revealed in the near future
Further developed a branding, marketing and public relations strategy
Narrowed the search for men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournament venues
Discussed plans for a digital network
Met with television partners to discuss scheduling and promotional plans
Discussed The American’s position in the College Football Playoff
Agreed to pursue the creation of its own bowl game and maintain an outstanding Conference bowl lineup





























The Conference Presidents chose R. Gerald Turner, President of Southern Methodist University, as their new Chair. Susan Herbst, President of the University of Connecticut, will serve as Vice-Chair. Outgoing Chair Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, will remain on the Executive Committee, ensuring continuity in governance. Genshaft provided outstanding leadership in the transformation of the Conference.






“The American Athletic Conference has tremendous institutions that are committed to excellence in academics and athletics,” said Genshaft. “We are moving forward as a Conference with great resolve.”






“I am honored to help shape the future of the American Athletic Conference,” said Turner. “Everyone is excited about our extremely bright future and working together.”






"We are moving quickly on all fronts and I am so pleased with the progress,” said Herbst. “UConn is proud to be building this new league and thrilled to be part of all the excitement that comes with creating a bold new vision for student-athletes and our fans. Our exposure will be greater than ever, and we look forward to showing our championship ways to even broader audiences."






The American has television agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports, two of the most prestigious media organizations in sports. The contracts will provide unprecedented national coverage for the league. All football and men’s basketball conference games will be televised.