Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Texas building elite recruiting class

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Avery Bradley, a 6-3 guard who can both score and defend, has orally committed to play basketball at the University of Texas. "Arguably the best defender in the whole country who also has the best mid-range game," his AAU coach Garry Ward said. "I've been coaching AAU ball for nine years and he's the best competitor I've ever coached." Both Rivals and Scout rank Bradley in their top 10 national recruits for 2009 and both rate him the third-best guard overall. Texas has also received a commitment from Duncanville winger Shaun Williams, who some regard as the top high school player in the state of Texas. Already with two standout recruits, the Longhorns could leap into the elite category for this class if they get a commitment from 6-7 forward Jordan Hamilton of Compton, Calif. He is ranked No.5 nationally by Rivals. Hamilton told Rivals this week that after visiting USC last weekend for the football game against Ohio State that the Trojans were among his final top three along with UT and Connecticut.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Rick Barnes, Andy Lyons/Getty Images Rick Barnes, Andy Lyons/Getty Images
September 19, 2008  08:02 AM ET

They've still never won anything and never will.

September 19, 2008  08:51 AM ET

KingFootball, interesting name since Football is King in Texas. And Texas won a share of the concerence championship, so stop hating.

This program has come a long way under Rick Barnes. He's taken a Football STATE, and is making a lot of people UT basketball fans.

September 19, 2008  08:51 AM ET

^^*conference

September 19, 2008  09:14 AM ET

National, sliq, national. Nothing has been won. You still have terrible facilities anyway.

A share of the conference championship? Is that the claim to fame? Wow!

September 19, 2008  09:14 AM ET

I am not hating, I am making fun.

September 19, 2008  11:02 AM ET

yeah king your right we havent won it all yet, but you have to admit its not bad for texas. we are a football and (gag) baseball state. alot of basketball states should be so lucky to have a school as good as us. maybe we will win it all in the next ten-fifteen years or so, but maybe not

September 19, 2008  11:12 AM ET

You never know. He certainly has put it on the map. The problem with recruiting these stud blue chippers is that they leave early. College basketball truly is just a farm system for the NBA.

September 19, 2008  12:10 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

yeah king your right we havent won it all yet, but you have to admit its not bad for texas. we are a football and (gag) baseball state. alot of basketball states should be so lucky to have a school as good as us. maybe we will win it all in the next ten-fifteen years or so, but maybe not

I'm not a big burnt orange fan but I must say that Texas basketball has come a helluva way in a relatively short period of time, give credit where credit's due. Hell did UT even have a baskeball team when the Tyler Rose was playing football for them? I'd say "yes" but damned if I can remember anyone on the team.

September 19, 2008  12:22 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

They've still never won anything and never will.

Texas has been a top ten team - consistently for the last few years...
that's DAMN good

It took dean smith, Roy Williams, Boeheim, Bill Self, etc...... YEARS to get it done

Winning a title takes more than coaching- it takes RECRUITING- which he is great at- a stable athletic department & LUCK.

September 19, 2008  12:24 PM ET

"I've been coaching AAU ball for nine years and he's the best competitor I've ever coached."


I interpret that as he's the best competitor that he's ever had play on one of his teams. AAU coaches don't coach, they recruit & assemble talent and take them to tournaments. Let's be honest about this.

September 19, 2008  01:21 PM ET

I'm not too sure if AAU coaches "coach" either. There may be some that do, but not most of them.

September 19, 2008  03:26 PM ET

I played with most of the new b's coming and I have to say I'm impressed... if they can learn team ball... everyone better watch out

September 19, 2008  03:32 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I'm not a big burnt orange fan but I must say that Texas basketball has come a helluva way in a relatively short period of time, give credit where credit's due. Hell did UT even have a baskeball team when the Tyler Rose was playing football for them? I'd say "yes" but damned if I can remember anyone on the team.

LaSalle Thompson.

September 19, 2008  04:26 PM ET

KingFootball, stop being such a prissy little queen. And, if your domain is football, you may want to stick with talking about what you know. Rick Barnes has built up a heck of a program. He knows how to coach elite talent, which is why they go to him. To 'make fun' you have to 'be funny'. You're not; stop hating.

September 19, 2008  05:03 PM ET

Thanks, I always cherish advice from someone who lives in Brooklyn. Go mug someone.

September 19, 2008  05:32 PM ET

I still remember "Sweet" Tom Penders.

September 19, 2008  10:16 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

You never know. He certainly has put it on the map. The problem with recruiting these stud blue chippers is that they leave early. College basketball truly is just a farm system for the NBA.

yeah that always chaps my butt. they dont learn a thing and are too young and dumb to run around with that kind of money (see D-minus arthur and micheal weasly) but who am i to say that i wouldnt skip out early before getting injured for a few measly million. (scoff) im just fine being a bank teller (sob!) as in crying not s.o.b.

September 19, 2008  10:19 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I'm not a big burnt orange fan but I must say that Texas basketball has come a helluva way in a relatively short period of time, give credit where credit's due. Hell did UT even have a baskeball team when the Tyler Rose was playing football for them? I'd say "yes" but damned if I can remember anyone on the team.

id say "no" or "maybe" cuz i have no idea who tyler rose is. i didnt care about college sports until a few years ago and only really got into it a year ago...:) im too young maybe? lol

September 20, 2008  09:09 AM ET

Earl Campbell

 
September 20, 2008  09:19 AM ET

Looks like he is singing the Aria from " The Magic Flute"

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