You have to trust Trent, especially with the news coming about Sidney's academic questions and fathers' association. We all wondered why LSU backed off in that instance. His decisions about players will be what's best for the program.
Deek, I'm certainly going to give you and Trent the benefit of the doubt here. I'm all for getting the best character guys... as long as some of them are also impact players. This comes right on the heels of our SEC rival, Mississippi State, picking up none other than Renardo Sidney. His signing with the Bulldogs just in yesterday (of course, who knows what "other trouble" he will bring to MSU :shock. http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=941610 So, as Kentucky brings in McD AAs left and right, and now our SEC rival adds a Renardo Sidney to play along side Varnardo and MSU's young, good nucleus, Trent's recruiting is the only semi-question I have about his future success at LSU. No doubt, he's going to bring in good players, "his" type of players--Jalen Courtney, John Isaac are proof of that. But, we need to see some more chips fall and hopefully soon. Good news is that word is Tas' is "leaning" towards coming back for his senior year. :grin: :geauxtige
LSU's APR would take a major hit with a one-and-done kid like Sidney who will undoubtedly come in and just do enough to stay eligible for the Spring semester. Look, you have to know that there is some smoke to the fire if USC is willing to cut bait.
Look I realize Trent inherited some APR issues, and I'm not really saying that I want Sidney, but MSU is obviously taking the risk to win now. We are going to be facing some beefed up SEC teams next year, and I'd like to see a little more fired up kids about LSU all things considered. "Backing off" Langston is a curious predicament. I trust that Trent knows what he's doing, but Galloway and Williams are key targets of his, and there seems to be lukewarm feelings all around. Is that b/c Trent actually sees something better he should be focusing on, or something else?
Hey , I haven't really followed the UNO situation or season ; but does anyone know who on their team might be worth scooping up now that the students voted to give up athletics? Maybe they have someting we're missing in baseball too! UNO News, Schedule, Pictures & Players - NOLA.com
On cue, Laney from the Advocate writes on this topic in today's sports edition: 2theadvocate.com | Sports | Gary Laney for May 2, 2009 — Baton Rouge, LA It certainly explains some of Trent's thinking on signing academic-minded players who are likely to stay and not be one-and-dones. I just hope that it doesn't diminish our ability to win big and win quickly. Don't get me wrong, I love the coach and think that building a program the right way is the best thing for this program. I'm more concerned with what is the "real scoop" behind some of the "laissez faire" attitude of some of these LA kids. Perhaps it's "I want to see the world, get out of LA" or it's the premadonna in them that wants Trent calling them every week. But, it's an uneasy feeling as Louisiana Select is on the circuit and more and more colleges are visiting Galloway, Derenbecker and Williams and making them offers. You'd like to see the kids that DO have offers step up, or at least say they are still very interested in our program. That said, it also says to me that kids that want to be at LSU will get the benefit of learning from Trent and becoming better players. Funny how recently, it seems that LSU has opened up a little bit of a pipeline back into Mississippi. Andre Stringer is a name that now intrigues me more and more. The difficultly with Langston is that he's a tweener--an undersized SG, and a oversized, perhaps not quick enough PG. He's a good scorer at 6'2"-6'3", but do you really relish him over Brian Williams at an athletic 6'5" who may have more upside? Andre Stringer, at a 5'10" who can score and play PG, who has openly said he's focusing on LSU and 'Bama, may have taken away some of Trent's attention? He clearly sees that Trent runs a good open offense where the PG is very central in that strategy. I think if he's comparing coaches, Trent is a proven commodity versus Grant who still has some learning to do. Any takers on who's going to be the next 2010 to commit?
Yes, Langston in the article gives a narrow margin to St. Joes b/c of the uncle, but apparently b/c much of his mom's family is from the NE. He does say that LSU is still very much in the mix... Brent Scott put in a call this week. The other interesting tidbit on Rivals, is who else LSU is recruiting. Ralston Turner is a AL SG who at 6'4-5" and 190 lb sports 4 stars and is a higher ranked prospect according to Rivals. http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=942258 He lists LSU, 'Bama, Ole Miss and GA as his leaders, and has already taken an unofficial to LSU and is likely to follow up with an official later this year. Again, the interesting dilemma for Trent is who is going to be the SG for this class? Galloway, Williams, Turner? Langston is sold as a "combo" guy, but where does he really want to play in college? He's likely more suited to try to make the SG position work, but at an undersized 6'2", is LSU better off with a bigger Williams or Turner at that spot? :shock: :geauxtige:geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. BE PART OF THE TRENT JOHNSON ERA.
