Early Signing Period

[mustangbill67]

Does anyone know if we are supposed to sign anyone during the early period that begins today?

[True Colors]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 77bf4.html

UT men's basketball class gets better

Longhorns sign one of nation's top basketball recruits

By KATE HAIROPOULOS
The Dallas Morning News
09:34 PM CST on Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Kevin Durant admits Texas is still a bit of a mystery to him.

The Longhorns' top national basketball recruit said the only time he has been to the state is when he visited UT before committing in June. The Suitland, Md. native is planning on a longer stay.

Durant, whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 2 player in the country, signed a national letter of intent to play for Texas on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA early-signing period.

Durant, one of five players who signed Wednesday with Rick Barnes' program, is a big reason Rivals.com ranks the Longhorns' class No. 5 nationally. UT is still expecting a letter from point guard D.J. Augustin of Missouri City Hightower.

Durant, 6-9, 200 pounds, donned a UT hat during a ceremony at his school, Montrose Christian. He said he still gets asked why he picked Texas instead of a more traditional power out East.

"I'm just happy to tell them why I picked them," Durant said. "Coach Barnes is a great guy. When I get there, I can make my mark. Our team could be one of the greatest teams."

Durant said he will stay at Texas "however long it takes to get to the next level." A new NBA rule requires players to be at least one year out of high school before enrolling in the NBA draft.

Oklahoma signed five players to a class Rivals.com ranks No. 4 in the nation. The class includes Nacogdoches' 6-8 Damion James, whom TexasHoops.com ranks No. 1 in the state, and Irving MacArthur's Jeremy Mayfield (6-10), who is attending Houston's Gulf Shores Academy to improve his academic standing.

Texas A&M received four signatures, including Plano's Joseph Fulce (6-8) and Seagoville guards Derrick Roland and Donald Sloan.

"It's very important to try to establish recruiting power in our home state," A&M coach Billy Gillispie said. "You have to start in Houston and Dallas and go from there."

Baylor signed 5-10 guard Demond Carter out of LaPlace, La., and Boerne 7-1 center Josh Lomers. Rivals.com ranks Carter the No. 10 point guard nationally and Lomers the No. 6 center.

Lincoln's 6-8 Gary Flowers, playing at Genesis One (Miss.) to improve his grades, said he signed with Oklahoma State. Flowers had originally orally committed to A&M but said he rushed into a decision and is looking forward to playing with Lincoln teammate Byron Eaton in Stillwater.

SMU coach Jimmy Tubbs, who is often seen visiting Dallas ISD hoops powerhouses, didn't sign any players Wednesday.

South Oak Cliff's 6-9 Darrell Arthur and Grand Prairie's 6-9 Bryan Davis, the state's No. 2- and No. 3-ranked seniors by TexasHoops.com, have not committed.

[StangEsq]

As long as we land Arthur and Davis, I won't complain.

[DickerJames]

SMU coach Jimmy Tubbs, who is often seen visiting Dallas ISD hoops powerhouses, didn't sign any players Wednesday.

He might sign a DISD stud this year, but I firmly believe the man will eventually be able to sign the players needed to get this program over the hump. Reading that he is often seen visiting the local hoops powerhouses is reason for hope.

[PonySnob]

He might sign a DISD stud this year, but I firmly believe the man will eventually be able to sign the players needed to get this program over the hump. Reading that he is often seen visiting the local hoops powerhouses is reason for hope.

If he can't sign them this year, how would he be able to in the future?

[Hoop Fan]

I don't like being shut out on signing day. Thats not what anybody wants. However, I prefer waiting until spring or holding scholarships rather than just signing warm bodies. I know we are holding out some hopes on Darrell Arthur, but I think the more likely hope is that we end up with someone who emerges during the season either in high school or juco.

[jtstang]

If he can't sign them this year, how would he be able to in the future?

Because he has recruited DISD succesfully in the past for both SMU and OU, and in his second year as head coach he's had us on the radar of more top tier local talent than we've seen sniffing at SMU since we were paying them to sniff in the '80s. Granted, he needs to show some results on the floor to help the effort, but I like his defense-first style and I think in time that will make us successful on the court.

[friarwolf]

I repeat - go to Darrell Arthur and tell him he is your 3 for how ever many years he wants to try to become a face the basket small forward. Go hire an assistant coach or coaches - full time, part time whatever who can focus on helping Darrell achieve that dream. What is Mark Aguirre, Otis Birdsong, Thomas Hill - hell, all of them, doing? Hill can teach him to dribble and pass, Birdsong can work on shooting, and Aguirre in the off season can teach him how to use his butt down low. If we are to land studs, we need to offer them something since we can't offer air time.

[mrydel]

I repeat - go to Darrell Arthur and tell him he is your 3 for how ever many years he wants to try to become a face the basket small forward. Go hire an assistant coach or coaches - full time, part time whatever who can focus on helping Darrell achieve that dream. What is Mark Aguirre, Otis Birdsong, Thomas Hill - hell, all of them, doing? Hill can teach him to dribble and pass, Birdsong can work on shooting, and Aguirre in the off season can teach him how to use his butt down low. If we are to land studs, we need to offer them something since we can't offer air time.

Add the line that Moody renovation or new BB facility can be know forever more as "the house that Walker built" as the Cotton Bowl is known for Doak. Surely if we sign someone of high caliber and he performs we can justify better facilities. I am willing to give up the request for the funds to be used for special teams football.

[DickerJames]

If he can't sign them this year, how would he be able to in the future?

Because he has recruited DISD succesfully in the past for both SMU and OU, and in his second year as head coach he's had us on the radar of more top tier local talent than we've seen sniffing at SMU since we were paying them to sniff in the '80s. Granted, he needs to show some results on the floor to help the effort, but I like his defense-first style and I think in time that will make us successful on the court.

You answered the question perfectly in my opinion. All of us would love for Coach Tubbs to pull a rabbit out of his hat this year, but my hopes aren't real high on Arthur passing on Kansas or Indiana for SMU this year. Sure hope I'm wrong. We really need to have some good fortune smile on us this season with injuries and hopefully get in the NIT.

[friarwolf]

I would love to see a new basketball facility or have Moody remodeled along the lines of what OSU did in Stillwater but....................I don't think we are going to have a prayer of seeing something done as long as Copeland is here. He is a football guy through and through and I don't think he will lift a finger to help basketball. I hope I am wrong but I don't think so................

[Hoop Fan]

I would love to see a new basketball facility or have Moody remodeled along the lines of what OSU did in Stillwater but....................I don't think we are going to have a prayer of seeing something done as long as Copeland is here. He is a football guy through and through and I don't think he will lift a finger to help basketball. I hope I am wrong but I don't think so................

Thats probably the case because its absurd how little momentum this has gotten since it was first talked about 6 or 7 years ago.

[Stallion]

did everybody notice that Gary Flowers finally got his grades up but slipped out of College Station at the last moment and signed with The University of Texas at Stillwater. Geez have they dominated Texas recruiting lately.

[Hoop Fan]

did everybody notice that Gary Flowers finally got his grades up but slipped out of College Station at the last moment and signed with The University of Texas at Stillwater. Geez have they dominated Texas recruiting lately.

yep, some controversy regarding his AAU coach from the Dallas Mustangs club. Apparently his AAU coach wasnt consulted on his shift in plans. I note this because of the threads regarding Hartwells influence over Arthur. The difference might be Flowers was away at prep school and out of the shadow of his coach.

[Nacho]

My wife and I live with my 17 year old son who is a high school senior. I can tell you from first hand experience that the college they choose may have nothing to do with what you want but rather what they want. You know I think he made a geat choice based on what he wants to major in. First son chosse SMU, found a group he loved and enjoyed the experience very much.

This thing about kids choosing colleges is very hard to predict even if that person is in your immediate family. Good luck to Arthur. May he go where he feels comfortable and hopefully base his decision on what he wants to do and not what someone else is telling him to do. It's his life. He is the one who has to live it.