Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Texan set to visit

By Gary Bedore

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J'Mison Morgan, one of the top basketball players in Texas and the No. 23-ranked player in the country, will be on Kansas University's campus this weekend for an official recruiting visit.

Another Texan who was slated to make his visit to KU with Morgan, however, won't be coming to town.

Phillip McDonald, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Cypress Springs outside of Houston, orally committed to the University of New Mexico late Tuesday night over KU, Oregon, Oklahoma and UConn.

The commitment was reported on the Internet edition of the Albuquerque Tribune newspaper.

"Coach Alford has been recruiting me for a long time, and he has done the things I want to do as a player," McDonald told the paper, referring to former Indiana guard Steve Alford, in his first year at UNM.

"I just knew in my heart that New Mexico was the right place for me, and I wanted to be a Lobo."

He visited New Mexico's campus last weekend.

"I talked to a lot of coaches and no one else told me I would be the face of their program," McDonald, Rivals.com's No. 87-rated player, said.

Meanwhile, Morgan scheduled his trip to Kansas during Monday's in-home visit with Jayhawk coach Bill Self. He trekked to LSU last weekend and also has Kentucky, Alabama, UCLA and Louisville on his list.

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Little to visit K-State: Mario Little, a 6-5 sophomore from Chipola (Fla.) Junior College, will visit Kansas State this weekend, Chipola coach Greg Heiar said Tuesday night.

Little also is scheduled to visit Illinois on Sept. 28.

Little had said he might cancel all other trips following last weekend's "great" visit to KU.

"Mario really likes Kansas, but it's only fair he takes the visit to Kansas State and let coach (Frank) Martin show him the campus and his program," Heiar said. "Coach Martin has been here several times. Kansas State has recruited him awhile, and he will go ahead with his plans to visit."

Little, who attended Washington High in Chicago, already has made an unofficial visit to Illinois.

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On the road: KU coach Self traveled to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., on Tuesday to check in on Willie Warren, a 6-3 guard considering KU, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas and others. He has yet to finalize a visit date to KU.

Comments

jaybate (anonymous) says...

It is mind boggling that a young man would choose a college, because his coach said he would be the face of the program. Phillip, you deserve UNM.

September 12, 2007 at 6:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

flipborder02 (anonymous) says...

Morgan is going to KU I just no it. On rivals it said that Self and Manny watched xavier henry practice all thou they couldnt talk to him they stoped by his highschool he is planning ti vist memphis again and he said he will visit north carolina when the b ball season starts and i take it that he will take a trip to kansas all so. I feel that Ku and memphis are the two teams to beat for Henry but Ku you has a slight edge.

September 12, 2007 at 7:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

aeroku (anonymous) says...

I just had a seizure from reading flipborder02's post.

September 12, 2007 at 7:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Wow. Spelling and grammar took a backseat there.

September 12, 2007 at 7:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

palewhale (anonymous) says...

Mybee he wth-out koffee this mroning

September 12, 2007 at 8:05 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LHS1980 (anonymous) says...

That good 'ol Kansas education..

September 12, 2007 at 8:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbegert (anonymous) says...

I'm pretty sure McDonald only had a conditional offer from KU; basically, if nobody else at your position signs with us (Little, Warren, Mookie Jones, Tyshawn Taylor), then we'd love to have you.

I'm glad he picked UNM because now Self doesn't have to pay attention to him and can focus on getting two of those previously mentioned four.

September 12, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

justanotherfan (anonymous) says...

This is a big visit. Morgan determines whether this recruiting class will be exceptional or just solid, IMO.

If you add Morgan to Releford and possibly Little, along with hopefully Q. Thomas, Taylor and either the Joneses or the Morrises. That would give us seven if we got everyone on that list, which would probably offset the losses to graduation and NBA.

Not so much surprised by the loss of McDonald. With Little being so high on KU of late (and probably more likely to be ready to contribute immediately after two years of high level juco - I say this without having seen him play, but knowing the level of juco ball is quite a bit higher than people realize) McDonald probably saw the writing on the wall and opted to move on.

Then there is Willie Warren. Obviously landing him would vault this group into one of the top three classes if he commits along with Travis, J'Mison and any combination of the others. I don't know where Warren fits here, but he is talented so I'm sure Coach Self can find a spot for him.

September 12, 2007 at 8:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Willie Warning. I'm just sayin...

September 12, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dbegert (anonymous) says...

Willie's not a bad kid, he's just cocky. I don't think he has any character problems per say, but I also don't think he is a total class act like Monroe. If I had to chose one or the other, I'd take Monroe, but I certainly wouldn't turn Warren away.

Since our biggest needs will be SF (replacing Rush) and PF (replacing Arthur), I would be ecstatic if Bill could somehow pull off the miracle and get both. He almost certainly won't, however, so I'll hold out hope that we get one of them and then sign a Juco (Little at SF, or Keller at PF) for the other spot. The Morris twins could then be signed to back up the forward positions (Marcus at SF, Markeiff at PF), and Morgan could back up Aldrich. The seventh and final schollie could go to Henry if we want another forward or Taylor if we want another guard.

September 12, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

Couldnt agree more Jay.

September 12, 2007 at 10:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

What does it say about your program when you want the 87th best player to be it's face?

Does that mean you are aspiring to be the 87th best D-I team?

Best of luck UNM, best of luck... =)

September 12, 2007 at 11:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

voygr1 (anonymous) says...

Folks the man we want is Greg Monroe and Willie Warren
Dont forget the Morrises add Morgan and Travis and we are top recruiting class. Understand Terrance Henry is still available as well. Let Bill work his magic!!

September 12, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

soapboxstew (anonymous) says...

I never wanted this McDonald kid. Million dollar belief in himself with .20 cent skills. He will be the face of UNM, and they will suck. The "face" of their program couldn't start at KU if he was the only player at his position.
I would go after J'Mision with everything we have, land, sea, and air. Don't have him slated at the C spot (the 5) dbegert, have him in the starting line-up with Cole at the 5 and Morgan at the 4 (PF). That is beef up front with those two. More than 320 lbs to deal with and 13 feet and 10 inches of blocking, rebounding, and dunking.
If we do get Greg Monroe, the player that I want more than any other player, then he will start next to Cole. Monroe will wait until the spring to sign (like a lot of likely KU recruits), and he will see the void at his position with the 99% chance that DA will leave for the NBA. How can he deny us at that point? LSU is close to home, but they will be bottom dwellers in the SEC, and he won't make it to the tourney in the only year that Monroe will be there. Duke is his other school right now. It seems that Duke has gained the upper-hand right now in his recruiting, but they have the PF spot in spades. He will sit the bench if he plays at Duke, and he will start if he came to KU. The choice is a no-brainer if you ask me; go to KU, get taught the game by one of the best PF's of all time (Manning), start for the best team in the Big 12, win the conference, go to the tourney, and then go to the NBA. Monroe is happy, I'm happy, everybody is happy!

September 12, 2007 at 12:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...

A poster saying he wants Monroe over Warren doesn't make sense. They don't even come CLOSE playing the same position so making that statement is clueless.

Also, obviously many of you do not know but Georgetown is very much in the mix for Monroe. In fact they may be slightly ahead. This coming from Scout.Com recruiting.

September 12, 2007 at 1:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

Different people have different aspirations. UNM will probably be a decent program, with a shot at winning their conference, while pulling off some upsets of major programs, and McD will be happy as a leader on that team. If that is what he aspires to and makes him happy while getting a college education - go and be happy. The aspirations of the players/fans that come to KU are different.

September 12, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jujubean (anonymous) says...

We're unlikely to get Monroe. And just a little more likely to get Warren, but won't surprise me if we get neither. For the record, Warren isn't a bad kid regardless of how it sounds or looks to some. McDonald going to UNM is no big loss. That was expected ever since Alford hired his former AAU coach, wasn't it? "Face of the program"? Give me a break. I agree with justanotherfan that we need to get Morgan. Not so much that he's destined for greatness, but rather he's the only true center in the class we're working on unless there's a JC kid looming somewhere.

September 12, 2007 at 11:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmkjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Two reasons it would be great to get Monroe:

1) He's the #1 player in the class.
2) KSU fans have been rubbing it in everyone's faces that they got Beasley (even though it appears to me the guy doesn't even want to be here). And getting Monroe would be awesome, but getting Monroe and then getting Xavier Henry (I know he's #2 right now, but I believe the head honcho of rivals.com "sees him moving into the top spot by next spring") would be even better. Not that I expect to get two #1 recruits in a row, but we can all fantasize, right?

September 13, 2007 at 1:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lee3022 (anonymous) says...

Coach Self and his staff will land some good recruits and several of those will be in the national NBA spotlight in their 2nd or 3rd year. There is no correlation between the rating services at #87 and #75. They may get 8 of the top 10 playing as top 10 but so much depends upon the coaching and the opportunity to play before a national audience. KU is blessed with both. Add the best academic program in the Midwest and an amazing campus and the best college history and a deeply committed national fan base and recruiting is not going to be a problem. It is those men fortunate enough to actually come to KU that are our guys forever.

September 13, 2007 at 3:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

okjhok (anonymous) says...

lee, liked most of your comments, and let me preface by saying that I'm a proud alum, but "best academic program in the Midwest"? KU certainly has earned its merits within certain disciplines, and I'm not sure what you are considering Midwest (northeast KS?), but you must be joking.

Back on the main subject, I don't think many of the posters realize what a talent Warren is. I'm willing to say that outside of Paul Pierce, KU has never had a player of that ability on the wing. Go get him coach. I think we'd be lucky to get Monroe at this point, and I think Morgan is almost ours, but am concerned about his weight and his motor. I've heard he seems somewhat disinterested during games.

September 13, 2007 at 5:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yovoy (anonymous) says...

why do we report on ksu recruits? i guess i'll join the fun: chris babb, warren's t.t. teammate is visiting ksu this weekend as well. i'm not sure how WE missed him, but that's okay. he only made 17 or 18 in a row (whilst in flip-flops) against coach alford during his visit to unm.

not sure warren wants to come here. he's more of a "limelight" player. he'd be in it here, but it seems to me that he thinks he should be in a city on a coast - ny or la.

we'll get what we need.

September 13, 2007 at 4:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

I too hope we get Jamison Morgan. I guess I am not too worried about his weight or motor or the 'at times disinterested in games', as in a national spotlight and TV games that is KU, and with the transition, pass-happy (or the half court hi-low) offenses we run, he will get lots of action as a big man, and a true opportunity to show his versatility in all the above. Frankly, the only recent KU player that seemed 'disinterested' at times was Jeff Graves, then other times he played hard. I would also consider that when a recruit (Aldrich, for example) actually signs with a program, now it becomes more obvious to them what style of ball they need to mentally and physically prepare for. One of our bloggers here observed that Aldrich (for example) didnt seem to be the fleetest of foot, and later I see a story about Aldrich saying he "has lost weight, getting in shape for KU". See the motivation of a highly touted recruit (McD AA) coming to a 'spotlight' program, and the sudden? awareness of not wanting to look bad in performance...or so I theorize...Not that any of these players/recruits ever read these comments of ours (except maybe Padgett..) Jamison Morgan will do fine here, and we sure would love to have someone like him.

September 13, 2007 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...

Hello LHS1980. There is no proof here that flipborder is a product of Kansas education. Let us pray that he isn't.
Here is a nugget. I have long felt KSU had the worst fans. Sometimes MU stole that spotlight. KU did not help itself with the muck fizzou shirts... no class... we should never see those again. But I was at KSU last week. When San Jose State players appeared at the edge of the field, many KSU student boys began screaming F U at them and giving them their one fingered salute, no shame among them. It was appalling...maybe too appalling even for Jerry Springer and his following. As if that wasn't enough, many more joined in with a chant that included the F word. Any and all sportsmanship seems to be gone. Social graces have no chance. It amazed me even more that San Jose inspired this attack? Did they do something I don't know about, or is this just the KSU juvenile boy standard? I would very much like to see a return to the days when people at least talked about sportsmanship as a virtue. This one should have been the one on youtube. It would take the cake. At least coach had a point. This one by bad fans had only the goal of expressing extreme apparent hatred and scorn. If anyone doubts this, go to the northeast corner this week before the game. 100 to 1 the punks repeat the performance for those ogres from the east, Missouri State? Anyone who acts like that should probably be expelled from college. I might carry on that way for some people elsewhere in the world who would like to kill us, but for San Jose State? For American football players? What an absolute disgrace.

September 14, 2007 at 8:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

Hawkman,
Very well said. I personally would never engage in such, even when I was in college. And showing the bigger picture about a visiting fellow Div1 football team, and the lack of hospitality shown by the KSU 'rowdies' certainly highlights their lack of refinement. In the South, there is the expression 'southern hospitality', and these country bumpkins @ KSU showed they lack even that...Personally, I do think there is a level of difference with the "muck fizzou" shirts. My 19yr old daughter (WSU student, prepharmacy, will finish out at KU Pharm) actually wears one (along with other royal blue Ts like 'new york, new york #3', and 'superMario', etc...). I sorta do wish it only said "fizzou" (implying fizzle-out). KU is actually trying to block the sale of shirts like this at a certain Lawrence store on Mass St., eventhough there is no official KU logo on the shirts. I actually understand and support to some degree their contention of trying to maintain a higher moral ground, but the actual legal battle may be a tougher, separate issue. It may also reflect the times: profanity is pervasive as ever, but maybe KU students are thinking their display of 'school spirit' is quite restrained (by comparison), since they are not yelling it? Anyway, it makes me sad as a lifelong Kansan to read what those KSU students did! I often see people wearing ksu, osu, ou, tx colors and always have a 'BigXII family' sort of approach & a smile, because after all, we shall kick their a** on the hardwood (or gridiron), which is where the serious battle ought to be fought!

September 15, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )