D Pop and A Dotson are gone! Johnson Reviews Basketball Season, Looks Forward - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics D Pop is no surprise to me but Dotson kinda got me of guard!
Dotson left because he wants to be closer to his mom who has cancer. I can't say that's a bad decision. It would be nice if they found a loophole to have it count as some kind of hardship for him and so that he wouldn't have to sit out a year.
Hard to blame Populist either. Johnson said that the walk-on was going to get some scholarship offers elsewhere.
Yes, if you're the optimist, you say that this is a sign that the LSU program IS improving players' skills. Daron Populist is now parlaying that experience on LSU's team into a scholarship offer at another school (Like Kinsley before him). Well, Dotson is leaving probably for the "wrong" reason, in that he has to for family reasons that are trying. He had only good things to say about Trent and the LSU program, as did Populist. I know folks on chatter boards probably don't put credence in this, but I do put stock in words, attitude, demeanor, and character. Both of these kids were clearly appreciative of time with Trent's program (unlike perhaps the prior regime?), and that does mean something long term... for recruits, for families of recruits. In Trent we Trust. I wouldn't be surprised if Dotson, once he gets clear of injuries and emotional issues, shows that he was a pretty damn good player. It kills me that folks on boards are harsh on a kid from Seattle (recruited also by Rick Pitino at Louisville) who gambled and took a chance on LSU/Trent Johnson, as a sophomore who improved in nearly every statistic from year one to two. You can't have it both ways, right? Can't wonder why LSU doesn't have a national recruiting brand, and then blast kids who come here, right? I wish both of these kids the best and thanks for their time, efforts and hard work. Now Trent clearly has to deliver on filling one or two spots in the spring signing period. There are three guards LSU is targeting... :thumb:
