News and Notes: Thursday Edition

Below, news and notes for Thursday...

• In the NBA D-League, Jeff Foote (Cornell '10) and his Springfield Armor (New Jersey Nets affiliate) are 25-19 and a half game back of Canton in the Eastern Division standings. The Armor are next back in action tonight, Thursday, March 29 at 7 pm in a home game against Sioux Falls. All NBA D-League games are available to view online at no charge via the D-League's Futurecast. Foote is averaging 14.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the D-League after being named a starter at the D-League's All-Star Game during February. As of today, Foote is ranked 5th in the D-League in double-doubles. He averaged 1.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 4 games for the New Orleans Hornets during a 10-day contract between March 9 and March 19.

• After the New Jersey Nets called up Armor forward Dennis Horner last night, RidiculousUpside.com writes, " Along with Horner, Jerry Smith and Jeff Foote have both been earned NBA call-ups this season [from the Armor]." ESPN's NetsAreScoring.com also writes, "The carousel of players going and leaving for the Armor continue. Jerry Smith and Jeff Foote have both returned from 10-day stints with New Jersey and New Orleans." The Nets could be planning on adding another D-Leaguer to the roster reports multiple sources. The New York Post writes, "Indications were the Nets did not want to tamper with the Springfield Armor — for a guard Jerry Smith makes sense while Jeff Foote is a big who had a call-up with the Hornets — because of the upcoming D-League playoffs. Now all bets could be off. The Nets leave today for a four-game West Coast trip."

• Committed Cornell recruit, Nolan Cressler (Plum HS) Plum, PA, 6-4, G was selected to the Roundball Classic All Star Game to be held April 21, 2012 at Geneva College. Cressler also played on March 24, 2012 in the Cager Classic All Star Game at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights (PA) where he set the all-star game's 16-year single game scoring record with a 38 point performance. The Plum Advance Leader and The Pittsburgh Post Gazette both recap the Cager Classic. The Leader notes, "Cressler didn't disappoint. He poured in a record 38 points to lead the East team, and his effort earned him East MVP honors. He dunked and drained several 3-pointers." The Monroeville Times Express previews the Roundball Classic and notes Cressler's selection and writes, "Cressler led all of Quad-A in scoring this season at 25 points per game." Meanwhile, a Pittsburgh Post Gazette writer has selected Nolan Cressler as his Pittsburgh area Player of the Year. The Gazette EastXtra blog writes, "Boys player of the year: Nolan Cressler, Plum. Cressler's 25.8 points per game accounted for 43.3 percent of Plum's offense this season. A senior, he scored a season-high 35 points in the Mustangs' 70-46 win against North Hills Dec. 27 and finished second in the WPIAL scoring race this season, behind only Highlands' Micah Mason. Cressler also led Plum to impressive conference victories against Woodland Hills and Gateway. Saturday, he set a Cager Classic record with 38 points in the all-star showdown. He will play basketball at Cornell University next fall."

• The Daily Princetonian examines the best home court advantages in the Ivy League.