Tech's Way/SMU Mentioned
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:00 pmTech men's basketball program has high hopes for tall recruits
BY JEFF WALKER
Bob Knight welcomed his biggest class of recruits a year ago, but this year's class is expected to be bigger - not in numbers but in size.
The Red Raiders received four national letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period. The paperwork for three of the four athletes was finalized Thursday.
Heading the class is 7-foot center Esmir Rizvic of Gulf Coast Community College, who is expected to have his paperwork finalized today. He is joined by teammate Jay Mitchell, a 6-8 forward who signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia Tech out of high school before opting to play professional baseball in the Colorado Rockies' minor-league system.
Tech also welcomes a pair of 6-6 players, one from junior college (Rogderick Craig of San Jose City College, son of former NFL running back Roger Craig) and one from high school (Decensae White of Serra High School in California).
These four players join Howard College's Charlie Burgess, who signed his letter of intent during the fall signing period.
"On paper, this is probably our best class," Tech head coach designate Pat Knight said. "You never know, though, until they actually play some basketball. If you believe the hype, though, this is the best and this should fill a lot of holes that we had."
The influx of new players leaves Tech with more athletes than available scholarships (13), but two players, Dazz Thornton and Jeremy Buttell, have been given permission by coaches to talk with other schools.
Thornton, who played in 10 of 32 games, averaged 1.2 points and 7.7 minutes per contest. He has been given permission to speak to at least four schools, including Denver, James Madison, Loyola (Md.) and Akron.
Buttell played in 19 games and averaged 1.3 points and 5.2 minutes per outing. He has been given permission to speak to at least 15 schools, among them Colorado State, Rice, Richmond, SMU, Tulane, Houston, North Texas and Valparaiso.
Pat Knight declined to comment on the scholarship situation and head coach Bob Knight was out of the office.
Pat Knight did say that this year's class should improve next year's team for a variety of reasons.
"It's going to give us more size, but it's also going to give us some leverage with our other players," he said. "You had some guys that knew they were going to play and weren't pushed. Now, they're going to be pushed and our (starting) team will be better in practice because they'll have guys pushing them more. At least, that's what we're hoping is going to happen."
The Raiders didn't lose any seniors from this year's team that finished 15-17, so Tech should have plenty of options with the new bodies and returning players, including first-team all-Big 12 honoree Jay Jackson. Damir Suljagic also will be back after using this year as a redshirt season after he suffered a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in June. Justin Wilkerson also used last year as a redshirt season, his first at the collegiate level, and he is expected to fight for playing time, as well.
Texas Tech men's basketball's incoming class
Player Pos. Height Class* School
Decensae White G/F 6-6 Fr. Serra (Calif.) HS
Rogdrick Craig G/F 6-6 So. San Jose City College
Esmir Rizvic C 7-0 Jr. Gulf Coast Community College
Jay Mitchell F 6-8 So. Gulf Coast Community College
Charlie Burgess G 6-1 Jr. Howard College
*Classification of player next fall
BY JEFF WALKER
Bob Knight welcomed his biggest class of recruits a year ago, but this year's class is expected to be bigger - not in numbers but in size.
The Red Raiders received four national letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period. The paperwork for three of the four athletes was finalized Thursday.
Heading the class is 7-foot center Esmir Rizvic of Gulf Coast Community College, who is expected to have his paperwork finalized today. He is joined by teammate Jay Mitchell, a 6-8 forward who signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia Tech out of high school before opting to play professional baseball in the Colorado Rockies' minor-league system.
Tech also welcomes a pair of 6-6 players, one from junior college (Rogderick Craig of San Jose City College, son of former NFL running back Roger Craig) and one from high school (Decensae White of Serra High School in California).
These four players join Howard College's Charlie Burgess, who signed his letter of intent during the fall signing period.
"On paper, this is probably our best class," Tech head coach designate Pat Knight said. "You never know, though, until they actually play some basketball. If you believe the hype, though, this is the best and this should fill a lot of holes that we had."
The influx of new players leaves Tech with more athletes than available scholarships (13), but two players, Dazz Thornton and Jeremy Buttell, have been given permission by coaches to talk with other schools.
Thornton, who played in 10 of 32 games, averaged 1.2 points and 7.7 minutes per contest. He has been given permission to speak to at least four schools, including Denver, James Madison, Loyola (Md.) and Akron.
Buttell played in 19 games and averaged 1.3 points and 5.2 minutes per outing. He has been given permission to speak to at least 15 schools, among them Colorado State, Rice, Richmond, SMU, Tulane, Houston, North Texas and Valparaiso.
Pat Knight declined to comment on the scholarship situation and head coach Bob Knight was out of the office.
Pat Knight did say that this year's class should improve next year's team for a variety of reasons.
"It's going to give us more size, but it's also going to give us some leverage with our other players," he said. "You had some guys that knew they were going to play and weren't pushed. Now, they're going to be pushed and our (starting) team will be better in practice because they'll have guys pushing them more. At least, that's what we're hoping is going to happen."
The Raiders didn't lose any seniors from this year's team that finished 15-17, so Tech should have plenty of options with the new bodies and returning players, including first-team all-Big 12 honoree Jay Jackson. Damir Suljagic also will be back after using this year as a redshirt season after he suffered a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in June. Justin Wilkerson also used last year as a redshirt season, his first at the collegiate level, and he is expected to fight for playing time, as well.
Texas Tech men's basketball's incoming class
Player Pos. Height Class* School
Decensae White G/F 6-6 Fr. Serra (Calif.) HS
Rogdrick Craig G/F 6-6 So. San Jose City College
Esmir Rizvic C 7-0 Jr. Gulf Coast Community College
Jay Mitchell F 6-8 So. Gulf Coast Community College
Charlie Burgess G 6-1 Jr. Howard College
*Classification of player next fall