Submitted for your approval, without commentary, this gem from Maryland blog Testudo Times.
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Finally, a bit of positive news for Texas basketball fans. ESPN is reporting that Cory Joseph committed to Texas this afternoon, giving Rick Barnes a scoring point guard to compliment the defensive-minded Dogus Bablay. Joseph, tabbed by Rivals as the 3rd-best 2010 PG in the nation, joins his Findlay Prep teammate Tristan Thompson in the Longhorns’ small, but talented recruiting class. We’ll explore next year’s lineup in more depth once the May 8th early-entry withdrawal deadline has passed. |
The rosters for the McDonald’s All-American game were released this afternoon, and once again a future Longhorn snagged the prestigious honor. 2010 commit Tristan Thompson was named to the West squad, along with his Findlay Prep teammate Cory Joseph. Thompson and Joseph are closely following the footsteps of Texas freshman Avery Bradley, who also attended Findlay, was a McDonald’s All-American, and won the All-American Jam Session. If Texas lands Joseph — who is also considering Villanova, UNLV, UConn, and Minnesota — it will be the first time since 2006 that the Longhorns have secured commitments from two All-Americans in the same class. That year, Texas brought both D.J. Augustin and Kevin Durant to the Forty Acres. Duncanville’s Perry Jones, a Baylor commit, will represent the East, along with point guard Josh Selby, who is still considering Kansas. When all is said and done, the Jayhawks could actually land two McD’s All-Americans, as forward Doron Lamb still has KU in the mix. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN, and is set to tip at 8 P.M. ET on March 31st. |
The first piece of the 2009-10 Longhorn lineup puzzle has fallen into place, as Dexter Pittman announced his decision to return for his senior season in an April Fools Day press conference. Despite joking about being courted by football coach Mack Brown at the start of the presser, Pittman was completely serious in discussing the progress he still hopes to make with strength coach Todd Wright. “This season was only me scratching the surface,” the big man told reporters. With freshmen Jordan Hamilton, Shawn Williams, and Avery Bradley joining the team next season along with transfer Jai Lucas, one Longhorn will have to leave the team or play without a scholarship. Now that Pittman has announced his decision, that leaves only Damion James as an early-entry candidate for the NBA. On a side note, Texas fans who want a glimpse of the future can see Bradley in tonight’s McDonald’s All-American Game at 7 P.M. CDT on ESPN2. |
Bill Self might be in trouble for saying hello to recruit John Wall. Really? AAU coaches and family members of recruits are hired on staffs or paid to speak at camps and clinics, and this is what catches the NCAA’s attention? Basketball recruiting needs some cleaning up, but this kind of crap is not what they should be focusing on. Hell, if the Dallas Morning News could dig up the dirt on the Big 12, then certainly the NCAA could do some actual good instead of policing interactions like the one Self and Wall had. Andy Glockner debuted his Bubble Watch this week, with seven Big 12 teams worthy of consideration in the field of sixty-five. OU is his only lock thus far, but Baylor and Texas sit just outside that coveted circle at the moment. Don’t look now, but St. Joseph’s might be hitting its stride as A-10 play kicks off. The Hawks certainly aren’t a candidate for an NCAA at-large bid at this point, but they’ve opened league play at 3-0 and are helping Texas’ computer numbers with every win. The Atlantic 10+4 is clearly Xavier’s to lose, but St. Joe’s has the luxury of only having to play the Muskies once in the league’s unbalanced round robin — and the Hawks get to host the game at their temporary home, The Palestra. |
