The Scoop
What's Really Going On

Letang Not Le Man…Yet

Penguins' minor league defenseman Kris Letang was counted on to beef up the team's defensive corps this season, but the 20-year old didn't make the team out of camp and is currently playing with the Baby Pens in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Letang, who was said to be extremely cocky during his brief stint in Pittsburgh early last season, captained Canada's junior team to the World Junior Championships last year and the Penguins' brass were hopeful he had left any attitude issues behind. The youngster got off to a relatively quick start with 6 points in his first 6 games, but he was recently a healthy scratch, and he does not appear close to joining the parent club, unless he is forced to do so in the event of an injury.

Mainline Florida

If you are a basketball recruiting nut, get out your map and check out Miami-Dade College, a juco program in southern Florida. Coached by Matt Eisele, who attended Pitt, the Sharks have a talented roster loaded with local connections. The Sharks have another Pitt connection in freshman Darnell Dodson, who was set to play for Jamie Dixon's squad this season but was not cleared academically by the NCAA. Dodson will likely spend two seasons at the junior college before his is eligible to return to a Division 1 school. In addition to Dodson, other Miami-Dade players of interest include sophomore Steven Toyloy, a 6'8" forward who has caught the eye of new West Virginia boss Bob Huggins; 6'11" center Tyronne McNeal, heavily recruited by Duquesne's Ron Everhart among others; and freshman wing Kashiff Carr out of Philly, who has caught Pitt's eye. Perhaps the best prospect on the team is incoming freshman William Coleman, a 6'9" forward out of Georgia.