Frogs Go Juco Route

[50's PONY]

Getting right to point of matter



By Jeff Wilson
The national letters of intent have been faxed in, and the four recruits who make up the class of 2007 for the TCU men's basketball team are working their way toward Fort Worth.
Their arrivals are eagerly anticipated, and some will be on campus within a month. While no one is heaping expectations on the group, each is expected to make an impact in what stands to be a critical season for coach Neil Dougherty.

At the very least, Dougherty believes the recruits will make TCU a deeper, more athletic and higher-scoring team when the season opens in November.

"I'm really happy with them," said Dougherty, who is 61-92 in five seasons at TCU. "We addressed a lot of needs. We've added ability and depth. Collectively, that group is going to help elevate us."

The class includes three junior-college transfers and a 20-year-old freshman, who spent the past two years at a Philadelphia prep school. Dougherty admits he prefers signing high school prospects, but said the Frogs stand to benefit more from two-year players.

Each stands to play significant minutes, and some could jump into a starting lineup that is certain to include junior forward Kevin Langford and senior guard Brent Hackett.

TCU, 13-17 last season, might benefit most from Henry Salter, a third-team JUCO All-American who was the only junior-college player nationally to rank in the top 10 in points and rebounds.

At 6-foot-4, he gives TCU a piece that was missing last season -- a scorer who creates matchup problems and can get his points in a variety of ways.

His presence could help open the perimeter for Hackett, the Frogs' top outside shooter.

Brandon Stores (6-9) and John Ortiz (6-8) will give TCU more bodies and more athletic ability inside. Stores showed last season that he is the scorer of the two, averaging 13.6 points, and Dougherty also expects 6-11 Luke Tauscher to make an impact as a redshirt freshman after missing last season with a back injury.

The most intriguing player, though, is point guard Mike Scott. He graduated high school in 2004 but spent the past two seasons working to support his family and honing his game at Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy.

Dougherty said sophomores Jason Ebie and Martiese Morones are capable, but neither received enough playing time as freshmen to stake a claim to the starting job. Ryan Wall can play the point, but coaches like him better as a full-time shooting guard.

Scott is a good shooter, but likes to push the tempo and get the ball in the right hands. Dougherty said the class should allow TCU to play at a faster pace.

"I know that [Dougherty] has scorers and he's bringing in scorers," Scott said. "I just want to add to it whenever those guys are off, and when they get back on, I'll just wait my turn."

ONLINE: gofrogs.com

FANTASTIC FOUR?

G Mike Scott 6-0, Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy, Well-seasoned freshman (20 years old) likes to push tempo

G Henry Salter 6-4, Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College, Third-team JUCO All-American

F Brandon Stores 6-9, College of Southern Idaho, Seven 20-point games and shot 54 percent

F John Ortiz 6-8, Colby (Kan.) Community College, Versatile enough to defend on the perimeter

[EastStang]

Is Philadelphia Lutheran one of those grade mills?

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Is Philadelphia Lutheran one of those grade mills?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01733.html

[SMU Football Blog]

I thought last year was JuCo year at TCU. I guess I was wrong.

I can't believe Dougherty still has a job. Most of my TCU friends can't either.

[FroggieFever]

I thought last year was JuCo year at TCU. I guess I was wrong.

I can't believe Dougherty still has a job. Most of my TCU friends can't either.

If you want, you can add me to your TCU friend's list that can't believe it either...

[PonyPride]

.... and a 20-year-old freshman ....

A freshman at 20? Church mission? Military?

[Terry Webster]

Poor grades.

[The XtC]

[quote="Terry Webster"]Poor grades.[/quote]

Actually the Frogs are saying his grades are fine, that he was eligible when he finished high school. Which means for the last 2 years he's just been kind of hanging around this "school" and playing basketball.

Lutheran CHristian doesnt actually exist as far as anything beyond their basketball team. Two years ago I asked a friend in Philadelphia to go check them out because they came out of nowhere and had alot of top talent. He told me that the address listed for the school was actually a grocery store.

[mrydel]

He told me that the address listed for the school was actually a grocery store.

It's a shame that Bamba did not go there.