Hoops Recruiting (2007-2008)

So, we got our first fall commitment, eh? Well, I'll say this. It's the safety commitment, and one that I said we needed. Storm might have been the safety signing, but instead we get Harris, more of a project, but an Atlantic Celtic. Honestly, I'm glad and relieved, but not quite ready to exclaim this as something to jump for joy on. One, Harris (who is doing the right thing by redshirting) probably feels like he's not physically ready for the SEC, and sees what Johnson and Rolle had to go through, as 6'10" sub 200 ish forwards in this league, so he's not going to help this team immediately. It remains to be seen even how much Johnson will help us this year... he hasn't gained the weight. I'm hoping for the best, but I'm still skeptical until I see the guy not get pushed around underneath the goal.

That being said, it's an important verbal. It's the first legitimate evidence of the influence of Coach Dollar, it's a key Atlantic AAU pipeline that's opening, AND it's another potential project of the LSU hoops program to take a 2-3 star big man and make him into something. From what I read on this guy, Dennis has some potential... and, you can't teach 6'10". The keys on this kid will be will his body be able to add mass, and will LSU continue to run offensive schemes to support a 6'10" guy shooting from the outside.

I also see Harris signing first as very versatile--sign the 6'10" guy who can develop as a swing, power forward or center, leaving some room for Monroe or Morgan. Hopefully, it solidifies Graham as well.

Let's get on that roll, Tigers! :thumb:

:geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A FAN.

 

Tigers Fan!! DON'T WORRY YOU JUST GOT ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS
IN CLASS 2008 PLEASE DON'T THE STAR'S FOOL YOU!!:nope:

THIS KID CAN GET IT DONE!!!! WHY DO YOU THINK HE TURN-DOWN THE BIG EAST AND THE ACC. don't worry His Bud Graham is coming..... stay tune OK!!

DENNIS HARRIS CAN SCORE ANYWHERE ON THE COURT YOU DO WANT THE BALL TO GO INTO THE NETS RIGHT! THAT'S HOW YOU WIN GAMES!!

HE AVG: 21PTS 4BLKS PER GAME 10 REB A GAME AND RUNS THE COURT LIKE A DEER:thumb:

I TOLD YOU GUYS ON MONDAY THAT HARRIS WAS GOING TO BE A TIGER!
I WILL TELL YOU ON WEN. GRAHAM IS NEXT!! STAY TUNE............

 

First of all, nice call on that one. Hopefully, you're right about Graham as well.

How good is Harris at shooting 3's? And of Graham ends up at LSU, too, are Singleton and Jordan going to consider LSU more?

 

I agree with you, there. This was a pretty impressive pick-up, considering that the coaches went and got a commitment from a good player that would rather sit out a year at LSU than play right away at a mid-major.

Hopefully, Graham and Morgan are next.

 

:geauxtige:geauxtige:geauxtige

Sure hope you're right. I'm pretty psyched about the Harris commitment, but Graham would be a HUGE addition also. Do you think it'll happen pretty soon?

 

Quoted from the Advocate today:

Another Celtics player, Delwan Graham, is scheduled to visit LSU on Oct. 6 and may not be far behind Harris in committing. Two more Celtics are considering LSU as well: Forward Chris Singleton and point guard Pierre Jordan.

Graham is a 6-5, 180-pound swingman considered one of the more athletic players in the Class of 2008. He averaged 15 points, six rebounds and four blocks a game over the summer and according to Jordan can jump high enough to tough the top of the box on the backboard.

“Delwan is real serious about LSU,” Jordan said.

“He’d be a great fit for them, too.”

Graham is also considering Ole Miss, Auburn and South Carolina. Harris reduced his final list to LSU, Rice and Central Florida, and had been pursued heavily by Auburn, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Morgan ‘impressed’

Dallas center J’Mison Morgan’s visit to LSU last weekend made a big impression, according to his AAU coach, Greg “Jazzy” Hartwell.

Morgan (6-10, 275), nicknamed “Bobo,” attended the LSU-Virginia Tech game and met former Tigers stars Shaquille O’Neal and Tyrus Thomas.

He has hosted in-home visits this week from Alabama, Kansas, LSU and Kentucky and Cincinnati coaches will be in Dallas on Friday. Morgan will take an official visit to Kansas this weekend.

“Bobo was very, very impressed with what he saw at LSU,” said Hartwell, a Baton Rouge native. “He couldn’t stop talking about the atmosphere at the game and meeting Tyrus and Shaq really had an impact on him.

 

it's just a matter of "TIME" MAYBE TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!!

 

It's really starting to look like this class can be real special.

 

Hopefully we can close with Graham, Morgan, and Monroe.

 

Don't want to count your chickens before they hatch here. There are some positive things going on here, but so far, only a redshirt with potential has committed. I agree that his commitment is really valuable to potentially open the door with another of his AAU teammates, but alot can still happen.

The good news is that it seems that there's been enough "activity" to warrant some optimism, and some avenues this team can go as we wait for Monroe to make his decision. A class with Harris, Graham and Morgan is regardless a very good class--it gives you a very nice athletic 6'5 SF, a 6'10" versatile PF, and a 6'10" true center. You throw a Singleton or Monroe or Henry into that mix, and you've got a very nice class. If you fall back on a nice 3-star point guard, Jordan, that already knows your other players, that's also a very nice, underrated signing.

The next couple of months will be very interesting. At the same time, the LSU team will have also started to play, which will also give these guys some things to think about since this will be a different kind of Brady team. I wonder if the "new look" Tigers might not also have an influence on these wing players like Graham and Harris that might be looking for an up tempo game.

Oh, and last of all, kudos to Shaq and T-Train. Being there to talk to Bobo last weekend was huge, and it shows him a glimpse of what he could become in the purple and gold.

:geauxtige :bball: :champs: LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE A FAN.