At Bowling Green, Jay Larranaga set the school record for most 3s made in a game (9)./Toledo Blade

Jay Larranaga still has the school record for most 3-pointers made in a game at Bowling Green: Nine against Akron on Feb. 8, 1997.

Larranaga can still launch it from deep.

After today’s practice at Penn State Behrend, Larranaga hoisted up 79 shots from 3-point range in a 5-minute span.

He made 59. He also made a point to his players watching.

“I want to show the guys how many shots you can get up,” Larranaga said. “We did it the first time and guys are taking their time. The rebounder is not hustling after the rebound. One our guys went 35 for 60 and was happy with it. Shot over 60 percent. It’s good, but I said ‘You’ve got to get up 75 shots. You got to make it game-like,’ and I don’t think they believe you unless you see someone do it. They see they’re old, out-of-shape coach be able to get up 79 shots, it says to them, I got to go faster.”

First off, 36 is not old.

Second, the Junker Center does not have a 3-point line, but Larranaga was shooting from a strip of blue tape put down on the court to indicate an NBA 3-point shot.

“You should get up 80,” he added. “I’m older. It’s different. It’s an NBA three so it’s not really a jump shot. It’s a set shot you’ve got to get up quick.”

Working up a good sweat, Larranaga said this is a good way to get in a good workout.

Still launching.

Here’s what LeBron  James had to say before tonight’s game between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

This is the second time James has played in Cleveland for the Heat since he decided to leave the Cavaliers last summer to play in Miami. The Heat beat the Cavaliers, 118-90, Dec. 2 and James had 38 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

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First-round pick Ivan Johnson gives the Erie BayHawks an inside scoring presence.

The Erie BayHawks enter their third training camp with a new coach in Jay Larranaga, who approached the 2010 D-League Draft with three main objectives:

1. Get bigs.

2. Get guards who can shoot and exude toughness

3. Get guys who aren’t coming straight out of college.

After Monday’s draft, Larranaga feels as if he accomplished those goals in the eight-round draft. That remains to be seen, but for now, let’s take a look at who he picked.

1. Ivan Johnson (6-8, 230, PF, Ca. St.-San Bernadino). He played 45 games in the D-League and averaged 13.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 2007-08. Big guy. Inside presence, but while playing overseas in Korea this past season, he got kicked out of a pro league for swearing and delivering an obscene gesture to a referee. Now apparently it was the final game of a championship series his team lost, but you can look at this two ways. One, that’s poor sportsmanship, but two, his team was in the championship series and I’m sure he had something to do with that, too. What Erie is getting is a guy who at age 26 is likely making his last push to get in the NBA. So he should be driven.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers was the sixth and final team to meet with LeBron James last week and they made sure it was memorable with this video presentation.

OK. OK.

LeBron James showed for his appreciation day in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, on Saturday – late. Spoke for no more than 30 seconds and bounced.

Don’t know what to make of it.

We’ve all tried to interpret the guy’s every move since the Boston Celtics eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in stunning fashion in the Eastern Conference semifinals this season.

So I’m not going to determine anything based on a short speech.

Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? Here’s what I got out that.

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On the wait to play in the playoffs: “It’s seemed pretty long, but it’s here now. I’m excited. It’s the best time of the year for basketball in this league. It’s an exciting time for myself and our team. … This is what I’ve waited for. I’ve been quoted the last few days. It’s what we play for in the regular season to prepare for this moment. It’s here.”

On finally having a full team: “It’s been a while. We’ve haven’t a full team for a while, honestly. Guys have been in and out of the line ups. Big players have been in and out of the lineup. So it’s great to finally have everybody healthy. This is the right time to have everybody healthy in the playoffs.”

On how Shaquille O’Neal looks basketball-wise: “He’s looked good. We’ve had a few practices and he’s got an opportunity to practice the last week. He looks pretty good an he’s ready to go.”

On expecting Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose to raise their level of play: “I expect everyone to raise the game. It’s the postseason. As far as raise their game, I don’t quite understand the question you’re asking, but it’s the postseason. They have no choice but to raise their game.”

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Forward Ivan Harris has shaved his head since last season with Erie and no longer rocks the braids.

The Erie BayHawks have to make their final two cuts by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to get their roster down to 10 players for the season opener Friday at Fort Wayne.

On Monday night, the BayHawks had a controlled scrimmage at East High School that revealed quite a bit about each of the remaining 12 players. The White team consisted of guards Cedric Jackson, Oliver Lafayette, Rod Wilmont, forwards Ivan Harris, Kyle Goldcamp and center John Bryant.

That team beat the Black team, 34-32. The black team consistead of first-round pick, guard Donell Taylor, guards Zach Sowers and forwards Jackie Manuel, Martin Zeno, Alade Aminu and Jarvis Gunter.

Very competitive game, but here’s what I noticed about each player in the scrimmage.

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LeBron James is officially the NBA’s best player this year.

LeBron James won his first NBA MVP award today. It likely won't be the last in his pro career.

Earlier today, James was named the league’s 2008-09 Most Valuable Player. James had the press conference announcement at his old high school of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.

It is going to be some scene in Cleveland tomorrow when the top-seeded Cavaliers open their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks at Quicken Loans Arena.

NBA commissioner David Stern will be in town to present James the MVP trophy.

In following James these last four years since I started working in Erie, he always gives off this calm demeanor.

He’ll likely do the same before Tuesday’s game, but trust me, James will have butterflies bigger than sledgehammers in his stomach.

Having that moment in which you’re holding the trophy before your hometown fans and receiving a standing ovation that is sure to last at least five minutes will tingle even the calmest individual.

There’s no way to prepare for that moment.