Morgan Granted Released From NLI By LSU
By Bruin Basketball Report
South Oak Cliff High School senior J'Mison Morgan was officially granted a release from his national letter of intent with LSU, Tiger head basketball coach Trent Johnson announced today.
Last November Morgan chose LSU over a host of top schools, including UCLA, and signed on with the Tigers. However, Morgan and his family began to waver on the commitment when John Brady was fired as head coach after the season.
Despite numerous meetings with Coach Trent Johnson, Morgan felt the situation had changed at LSU and decided to pursue his release.
“The bottom line with me will always be that I want players here who want to play for LSU,” Johnson said. “There is some closure with this decision, but no player will ever be bigger than the program.”
With his release granted by LSU, Morgan can now choose from numerous suitors to play college basketball next season. He stated earlier that UCLA was his favorite although it wouldn't be surprising if other schools begin to step up their efforts to recruit Morgan during this period.
With the graduation of senior Lorenzo Mata-Real and likely departure of Kevin Love to the NBA, the Bruins are in need of depth at the low post.
Morgan, a 6'10 265lb skilled big man, does not need to sign a letter of intent with a new school, instead he'd be offered a scholarship. Interestingly, the scholarship offer would not bind him to the school, his eligibility status is impacted only once he officially enrolls for his freshman year.
(photo credit: Dallas Morning News)
Labels: Recruiting Misc News
BBR :: Article Link :: 11:00 AM ::
32 comments
32 Comments:
DeMar DeRozan's father and brother are saying that DeMar would consider a release from USC if they get put on probation for the O.J. Mayo allegations. The latimes.com reported earlier today that UCLA, North Carolina, Kansas and Memphis have recently inquired about DeRozan's availability. These 4 powerhouses wanted to make sure if anything happened not to forget about them. I'm sure Howland could find room for DeMar. It's a dream but if we got "Bobo" Morgan and DeRozan could you guys imagine the first "Fab 6"??? Wow!
I am definitely happy we may be getting a much needed big man, but is anyone concerned about a guy that is 6'11" who only averaged 13 points a game his senior year in high school? It seems at nearly seven feet, he should have averaged at least 20 points/game, no matter how raw his offensive skills. Should we look at him as more of a defensive player/shot blocker?
Either way, welcome home J'Mison, we are glad to have you!
and is it pronounced Jamison (like the Irish whiskey) or Jahmeeson?
I've also wondered about how his name is properly pronounced. What say you, BBR? But I can handle BoBo with ease.
We need defense and rebounding from our bigs, there's plenty of scoring firepower from the smaller guys. Aside from Love, who's a one in a million, we've never depended on scoring from our bigs in recent times.
Truth is he is a bit raw but with lots of upside. A unfair to judge a big post player in high school because some guards (even at the college level - grin) do not understand the concept of the entry pass. My only concern would be his weight and his ability to pop out on defense consistently. If I'm not mistaken - he is one of the heaviest players in his class. So perhaps a little conditioning and toning up over the summer will do him wonders. Offensively - at the moment he is a work in progress. Probably needs to work on a few post moves and his footwork. I would consider him not quite as polished as Mata-Real but with greater upside - and I mean that with a lot of respect for Mata-Real who just happened to play behind an All-American his senior year and wasn't quite able to showcase some of the things he really does well in this type of offense/defense. He was a big part of us going to the finals - keep that in mind. I'm going to miss him. Morgan won't come in immediately and produce at that level but the potential is nice for years 2 and 3.
J'mison = Jamison
I_am_Bruin....Hey Buddy...we had MATA the first two years we went to the Final Four...love ya Mata...u r a true Bruin...
Add Morgan to the mix and he will swat the SH** out of the ball AND rebound....while scoring 10 points...our smalls will take care of it...Mbah and Shipp will be back....
Howland will groom him...
Believe in the Bruin Program...
Coach, Ben Howland, once you land this recruit...I want you to get another contract extension...ok fine, u need to win the title first....pressure starts once he signs w/ UCLA coach BH
DC - 1st team All Amercian
Holiday - Top 3 Frosh recruit in the US
Morgan - #6 best Frosh center in US
Shipp - Experienced, practiced everything all summer
Mbah - Experienced, practiced mid range all summer
Lee - NBA prospect - wing span
Anderson - Highlights in HS all star games
Roll - can stroke it
Keefe - improving, we believe in you
Gordon - Top 50 power forward Frosh
Dragovic - learn to play D or transfer
Who am I missing??? assuming Love, Westbrook, Mata and Aboya are gone
OUR 2ND TEAM WILL SMOKE PEOPLE
Our last scholarship if I am not mistaken goes to:
Sign the 7 foot Spaniard or Australian just in case....more height!!...or DEROZAN....awwww sh**
SWEEEET Get your Season tix....or
Try to date Holand's daughter....
You forgot AA, but also Matt Lee and Mustafa Abdul-Hamid.
BruinFan, do you assume Aboya's gone given that Morgan's here, or just that Aboya's gone?
assume Aboya just would rather pursue other things...as he graduated....just my opinion...
Look at our top 11 guys....WoW oh WoW
Larry, I did mention Aboya is gone...
BruinFan, my bad... you did mention AA.
we forgot Stanback...so did Howlland...
Recap, assuming Morgan comes in..our top 11 are sweet....there is room for one more....Final Four...I smell it
La Times/SportsIllustrated.com TODAY:
99% chance UCLA is his school according to his Mom...an announcement may come as soon as today
Hey BBR,
Do we have 13 scholarships for 08/09 season?
Looking at the 07-08 roster, we had 16 players in uniform.
Scholarships
1. Collison
2. Shipp
3. Keefe
4. Roll
5. Mbah A Moute
6. Dragovic
7. Aboya
8. Gordon
9. Anderson
10. Lee
11. Holiday
12. Morgan?
13. Mustafa Abdul-Hamid
14. DeAndre Robinson
15. David McGrath
16. Joey Ellis
17. Matt Lee
Departures to NBA
Love
Westbrook
Transfers
Stanback
Am I missing anything?
Swoop
If both Love and Westbrook leave as expected then UCLA will have 11 scholarship players in 2008.
Abdul-Hamid and Lee were walkons. Moreover, Lee was a senior and graduated this year.
- BBR
BBR, is it your understanding that other than Morgan, we are done with 2008? even if we have that extra scholie? This 2008 class is very good and varied which is a huge strength. Hopefully no one and done's....
If Morgan comes, they're done.
You never know who will be a one and done. With UCLA going deep into the tourney every year, the exposure the players receive is invaluable. Farmar, Afflalo, Westbrook, and even Ryan Hollins, benefited from the Bruins' extended FF runs.
Just ask J'Mison Morgan.
- BBR
Seek release and that you were given,
Westwood bound you will be driven,
Fab Five is the name to be chosen,
make that six if we add DeRozan
Howland reached into his hat,
pulled out Bobo imagine that
somethin' up his sleeve alright,
never under estimate the coach and his might
the Tigers didn't have what the kid wanted,
come to Hollywood so you can flaunt it
High Profile and a storied program,
while crosstown the new word is scam
No Mayo over here just caviar,
Since the days of Lavin we've come so far
the South is too humid,
the East is too cold,
the North is too sparse,
time for some California gold
this be place the kid needs to go,
Jabbar, Walton, Love and now...Bobo!
smooth like butter
Brui Master: That was great.
Nice job Brui Master!!!
If Morgan comes, ship Dragovic overseas to make room for Derozan...right?
BBR, any word from UCLA on Morgan????
Yeah, send Dragovic back to Serbia so we can get DeRozan and have the "Fab 6"!
UCLA can not comment on the Morgan recruitment situation until Morgan actually signs a grant in aid with the school. After he signs, then the school has officially committed to him. On the other hand, Morgan will not be committed to UCLA until he actually enrolls at the school.
More than likely however, if Morgan is serious about UCLA he'll be on campus/summer league preparing with his teammates over the summer.
- BBR
Brui master, I toast every line you rap with my favorite cold one!
Guys, maybe we won't have to give up Dragovic. If he can improve his "D" (which we know Howland is capable of doing to a player) then having a sharp shooter with select minutes is always a plus.
Remember how much we missed the outside threat once Shipp took a mental vacation...like for the last 15 games! I don't think we can expect to put everything on Roll's shoulders.
Sign Morgan already...while he is still hot to be a Bruin....the suspense is killin me....
http://northcarolina.scout.com/a.z?s=78&p=2&c=755363
Check out this report on Alex Stepheson from UNC this could be huge.
Regarding the DeMar comment, it actually said... two of the final four teams, which include UCLA, Kansas, Memphis, UNC... I don't see why UCLA would do it. My guess is that it was Kansas and Memphis.
Your right Roy, I misread the report. Sorry everyone, my bad.
Good Find Bruin2005... Things might start fallin together here real quick
Bruin Nation...we can't have everybody...I was going to delete the rest but....Nachos, Brews, Final Four, Partyin in Vegas, made me say hello to you all......
Coach Howland....we all love the guy...Coach Holwand will get contract extensions until Wooden Dies...Honestly, there is no better COACH out there. He teaches the fundamentals. He takes average high schoolers to PROS......
Guys, u have my back???????......
Dynasty is Brewin Bitc***
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