Chris Massie

11/16: SIGNED WITH MEMPHIS

1/11: "has returned to the squad. I've spoken with Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star - and Joe has been right on top of this from the beginning. He told me that Massie has returned, he attended yesterday's practice but did not dress out. However, we do expect Massie to rejoin his teammates on the court soon, although he may have to sit out another game or two as punishment for his late return." - MidSouth Hoops

1/8/01: "was recently suspended indefinitely from the Condors basketball team by Head Coach Ron McClurkin. Massie, who signed early with Memphis, did not make it back from the Christmas break in time to play in the L.A. City Egg Nog Classic, which was held from Dec. 27-29 in Los Angeles. Although Massie is Oxnard's top player and widely considered as the top power forward prospect in the junior college ranks, McClurkin felt compelled to discipline his star player for missing the three games. "After the last game was over at L.A. City, I met with the guys on the team, and I asked them if they felt if Chris deserved to be on the team," the coach said. "Some kids said no, but others said that he has to understand that it is a team -- he is not playing golf or tennis or running track -- where it's an individual thing. When you are a team, you have people counting on you, and you are supposed to be accountable for certain things." Massie informed McClurkin that inclement weather prevented him from making it back to Southern California on time. Massie is from the Houston, Tex. area, and the state of Texas was hit with unusually severe winter weather in late December. "We had other players who made it back from the break," McClurkin said. "You do what you have to do to get back on time, even if you have to re-route your flight." So now Massie must wait to make his return to action for Oxnard -- when and if that time comes. The indefinite suspension is just that, so it remains to be seen if he will even play again this season. "I've put it all on him," McClurkin explained. "I told him that I need him to do certain things to prove to yourself, to your teammates and to your coaches that you deserve to be on the basketball team. If you can do those things, we can use you. If you can't do those things, we can't use you. Well I can't anyway." Massie was averaging about 19 points and 17 rebounds per contest in the first part of season, before missing the entire L.A. City Tournament." - Juco Junction

10/17: "gave an ORAL COMMITMENT TO MEMPHIS and coach John Calipari on Sunday. Massie had narrowed his choices to UC and Memphis, but selected the Tigers because of the proximity to his home in Houston, said Darryl Henry, Massie's cousin. ''I think he felt he would be more comfortable at Memphis,'' Henry said. ''Memphis has a small-town feel.'' Massie also has expressed interest in jumping directly to the NBA out of Oxnard, but that decision won't be made until the spring. Massie, who averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds per game last season, hasn't visited Memphis but plans to do so within the next two weeks, Henry said." - Cincy Post

10/15: "According to ASR's Roy & Harv Schmidt, Chris Massie a 6-8, 255 lb., power forward who attends Oxnard Junior College in Oxnard, California has committed to Memphis. He had also received interest from Fresno State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, USC, Washington, Washington State, as well as a number of others. The Tigers were looking for another bruising power player who can rebound and be a defensive intimidator in the post." - All Star Report

10/12: "Because of a scheduling conflict, power forward Chris Massie will not be able to visit the University of Cincinnati this weekend, his cousin said Wednesday. Massie, considered by many as the nation's No. 1 junior-college prospect, wasn't able to clear his schedule, said Darryl Henry, Massie's cousin, but he hopes to make an official visit within the next two weeks." - Cincy Post

10/9: "Power forward Chris Massie , the No. 1-rated junior college prospect from Oxnard, Calif., is tentatively scheduled to visit UC this weekend." - Cincy Post

10/5/00: "Last year, the University of Cincinnati had to fend off the NBA to land DerMarr Johnson, and it may have to do the same if it wants to sign power forward Chris Massie, regarded by many as the nation's No. 1 junior-college prospect. UC is among a host of schools recruiting the 6-foot-8, 260-pound Oxnard (Calif.) Community College player, who has been compared to Knicks forward Larry Johnson and former Iowa State All-America Marcus Fizer. Massie has tentatively scheduled an official visit to Cincinnati next week for Midnight Madness, if he can clear up his class and practice schedule, said Darryl Henry, Massie's cousin. Henry said Massie has been contacted by nearly every school in the ACC, Pac-10 and Conference USA, and Memphis coach John Calipari was at Oxnard on Wednesday. Massie has already officially visited San Diego State. Still, the NBA has known about Massie for more than a year. Last year, NBA scouts from the Los Angles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks came to watch Massie, said Oxnard coach Ron McClurkin, who added there is a possibility that Massie may enter the 2001 NBA draft. The Lakers, McClurkin said, sent both Jerry West and Mitch Kupchak to scout Massie. "We're going to determine that at the end of the season,'' Henry said. ''Right now, he's preparing to go to school." Whatever the future holds, Massie is an intriguing prospect. Originally from Houston, Massie, 23, never played high school basketball and instead elected to hone his skills at a recreation center next door to his home. "That's where he became a gym rat," Henry said. ''He's got great skills. He can handle the ball with either hand, can play down low or face the basket. He can dribble and shoot threes. He's got a nice game." One of McClurkin's former players saw Massie playing pickup at the park and recreation center and contacted McClurkin, who was in the market for a big man. At Oxnard last season, Massie averaged 19 points and 15 rebounds per game. "Chris posts up like mad," McClurkin said. "Last year when I was watching Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament, I saw Marcus Fizer and I said, "Chris plays like him.' Actually, Fizer plays like Chris and Chris is more skilled." - Cincy Post

10/00: Named Fourth Team, Pre-Season JUCO All American - Street & Smith Magazine

8/10/00: Chris Massie, a 6-8, 255 pound power forward from Oxnard J.C. in Oxnard, Calif., will be one of the top sophomores in the junior college ranks this winter. According to Oxnard Head Coach Ron McClurkin, several Division I programs have been in touch with him recently to inquire about Massie, though Massie may have other ideas in mind. McClurkin said he has been contacted by Oklahoma, Texas, Southern California, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Fresno State, Memphis and Texas A&M regarding Massie. But Massie, who turns 23 shortly, has told McClurkin that he is mulling a jump to the NBA." - Juco Junction