Early Basketball Recruiting Watch

So, this LSU Tiger's mens' basketball team is (finally) getting respect of the fans and basketball pundits nationwide. And, the missing link? A point guard that can bring it all to the floor (and I'm not knocking Tack or Ben... Ben's going to improve and Tack, well, he's going to have to prove himself again, but ...).

With one schollie left to use, the question is whether Brady and Butch try to sign someone, or save up the schollie for a key '06-'07 recruiting season.

Here's an early name to watch Bo Spencer of Glen Oaks... seems to be a candidate for a guard spot...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/preps/featured/2212466.html

LaDarius Dunn a 6'4" PG already has committed to.... BAYLOR. Perhaps Tim Bush and Demond Carter (2 LA kids playing and to play in Waco) are whispering in the kid's ear... But, c'mon. Perhaps good LA players should start looking at the Terry Martin Jr. story and how good the Tigers ARE again, and rethink these choices. Why play for a second tier Big 12 school when you can play for the elite of the SEC?

:geauxtige :bball: :bball: :bball: Think! Hoops is back in the PMAC!

 

To continue my thought from my other post, BR folks should keep a close eye on Josh White, a lightning quick 5-9" junior point guard at Christian Life. Again, another local point guard looking at various schools in the Big 12 (of note, his brother was Quannas White, who starred at Oklahoma).

I thought LSU was recruiting him, but he may not be seriously considering the Tigers.

Bball fans can check out Josh in the PMAC in a couple of weeks...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/2212431.html

Perhaps this season will enlighten these kids! :geauxtige

 

Another guy to watch ...

Jerome Meyinesse is a 6-8 senior playing at Mckinley... question is whether Brady and Butch need another big low post player, and want to use their one scholarship on Jerome. Given that they were able to "sign" Terry Martin Jr. and bolster the guard ranks, do they go for another big man?

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/preps/2228591.html

 

i think you always need to strongly consider great talent. especially when you have two great talents at the same position that may only stick around another year.

 

More local hoops news. Another player LSU is following closely is 6-8 junior Elgin Bailey. A post player that plays at local Bellaire. Especially with Glen Davis and Tyrus with NBA dreams in their heads (almost, sadly to say, Tyrus getting more looks, and who knows, might be gone after this year? :dis: ), I do think Brady and Butch's primary recruiting goals should be a legit PG and frontcourt depth. I think that Rolle will be a good player for us at PF in the years to come, but we need to think about a big guy on the blocks who can rebound and block shots...

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/preps/featured/2246606.html

As a side note, Bo Spencer of Glen Oaks scores 9 in this game.

 

Keep an eye on what happens with the LB transfer from Tulane, Ace Foyil. He is petitioning the NCAA for immediate eligibility because Tulane has at least temporarily canceled his degree program following Katrina. That is key because I'm being told that Bo McCaleb, UNO PG, is interested in LSU if he can gain immediate eligibility for next season. Apparently, UNO has canceled his degree program also. McCaleb is injured this year - he played 4 games and averaged 19+ points before the injury. Add him in with Tac back from his injury and suddenly you have solid PG depth. The feeling is that Foyil will win his appeal, so that could be big news for LSU basketball.

 

Well, Baylor has got a great recruiter for them in Scott Drew. The fact he has been able to recruit like he has given Baylor just received the harshest sanctions from the NCAA ever given to a basketball program is unbelievable. Drew will continue to get good Louisiana recruits if his class turns into something next year. So far he has three recruits for 2006 and his class is ranked in the top 25 in the nation. Not bad for a 2nd tier program.....Brady would love to get a haul like that, especially a very good PG in Tweety Carter.

 

Interesting stuff. Thanks for the updates.

Now, what a weird irony would it be if we have M & M come in, gain one more guard... and lose Davis or Thomas to the NBA. We'd go from a heavily front court dominant team to a heavily back court dominant team.

 

Indeed. Great updates.

The McCaleb update is particularly interesting. I don't know anything about Bo, but I very much agree that with an "impact" PG on our team, I think we instantly jump from a team that is talented but struggles with consistency to a team that is really dangerous. I've always felt that a good solid PG who can lead the team AND be an offensive threat was what Brady missed on the floor. Let's hope that Bo can make a move like this, b/c I"m not sure who's on Butch's and Brady's board at PG right now. That's good stuff on Baylor's recruitment. I was bummed that we didn't even seem "in the game" on Tweety Carter or Dunn, which just surprises me... hopefully that trend reverses after this season. What the McCaleb transfer says to me, again, is that LA kids who might have not come to LSU in the past b/c of the perceived "cloud" over LSU with Brady are turning the corner. They see the great chemistry on this team, the comraderie with the kids and this coaching staff, and the fact that we ARE the elite in the SEC again, and good things are happening. If this happens it will be three significant transfers TO LSU, and that will help recruiting.

I think I for one would welcome a more guard oriented line-up, although balance is so key. I think with one more solid PG, we're set in the backcourt, b/c Mason, Martin and Temple are all solid 6-4"-6-5" big guards that bring athleticism and skills to the backcourt that have been missing for a while. That will lead to versatility to go small and play "small ball" and go for 3 point firepower. However, I don't think that LSU will all of the sudden lose focus away from the frontcourt, as long as Brady is here. I think even if we lose one of Baby or TTime, you have Magnum Rolle to step up (he's going to develop well I think) and Chris Johnson who has some height. Next year's recruiting haul will need to focus somewhat on big men, tho'.

It's EXCITING what kind of team we could become, no doubt.:geauxtige

 

For what it's worth, just tried to look up Bo's stats...

He's a junior PG, who seems to score alot of points, but isn't necessarily the most efficient of PGs (low shooting %, and not a lot of assists). Not sure what he adds other than scoring at the PG position at the potential expense of getting the ball to other good scoring options on our team. Also, with him being a Jr., he adds just maybe a year to year and a half of PT? I guess if Tack is out next year too for whatever reason, Bo's a nice insurance, but I wonder if the team's better off finding a good long term recruit... something to watch and debate, I guess.

http://www.midmajority.com/player.php?p=7984