Official signing day thread: Discuss it all in here

[Vega]

Expected to sign today are:

PG/SG Shedrick Showtime Haynes

SG/SF Hugh Robertson

SG/SF Jawanza Poland

Are hopeful of getting Davante "Ox" Gardner

Please if anybody gets something first put it in this thread. Once we know about our class then I would like to discuss it my fellow basketball fans. 

[Mama_Bull]

I hope you don't mind me posting this Oracle article in this thread. It seemed relevant:

The Oracle

Spring signing period begins

By Phil Neary, SPORTS EDITOR

Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Coach Stan Heath is expecting at least three signed letters of intent today.

Though some of its top talent is departing, the time for the men’s basketball program to look toward the future is now.

Today marks the beginning of the early signing period — the first of two when players eligible for the 2010-11 season can sign on the dotted line.

The Bulls, with verbal commitments from five players in the 2010 recruiting class, expect three signings during the period.

USF’s most recent verbal, 6-foot-4 Jawanza Poland, who’s ranked as one of the top junior college players in the nation, is expected to sign a letter of intent today after giving his verbal commitment Monday.

All three players expected to sign are from the junior college ranks, with shooting guard Hugh Robertson, who’s ranked among the top five junior college guards, and point guard Shedrick Haynes joining Poland.

Center Waverly Austin, ranked a two-star recruit by rivals.com, and point guard LaVonte Dority, ranked three stars by Rivals, are also USF commits. Davante Gardner, a 6-foot-9 center from Virginia, is expected to choose between Marquette and USF.

USF loses all three starters from its backcourt, with seniors Mike Mercer and Chris Howard — who played significant roles last season — graduating and junior Dominique Jones saying he plans to enter the NBA draft.

USF, which made its first NIT appearance in nearly 10 years last season, returns just seven scholarship players, only three of which played meaningful minutes.

However, the Bulls return strong talent in the frontcourt, as center Jarrid Famous will be a senior, forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick will be a sophomore and forward Augustus Gilchrist will be a junior. Gilchrist and Famous combined to average 23.8 points per game last season.

...Thoughts on Jones

Jones has received mixed reviews from scouting services after declaring for the NBA draft.

Probasketballtalk.com said this of Jones, who is expected to be taken anywhere from the late first to early second round:

“Slashing two guard who can get to the rim and finish. But, he has a questionable outside shot (31 percent from three this season) and there are doubts he is athletic enough for the Association. But he has an NBA body and will get a look from somebody. Everybody will take a chance on a scorer.â€

Jones and USF received praise from ESPN college basketball analyst **** Vitale, who said that the Bulls had a “great stretch†in late January and early February, when they won four straight, including a road win against then-No. 8 Georgetown and a home win against then-No.18 Pittsburgh. 

Vitale also said that Jones, who averaged 35 points per game during that stretch, was “brilliant†and “got great basketball publicity at the national level.â€

http://www.usforacle.com/spring-signing-period-begins-1.2221922?DB_OEM_ID=7700

[DELdaBull]

Ox would make our class really good. All needs would be filled.

[IHuckItDeep]

wait so did we still get dority and austin?

[Vega]

Shedrick Haynes made history this morning when he became the first person in Manatee County history to sign a basketball scholarship with the University of South Florida.

“It feels great. I am ready to go to work and help them get to the (NCAA) tournament,†Haynes said from Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania. “I talked to assistant coach (Jeremy) Cox and he told me to get ready to win (a Big East Conference) championship, and I told him I am willing to do whatever it takes.â€

The six-foot combo guard, who was one of the top 3-point shooters in junior college last season, played two years for Palmetto High and one year at then-Manatee Community College. He averaged 19.1 points per game last season and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc, drilling 98 three-pointers.

He fills a big need for the USF, which has only one returning experienced guard from last season. It lost three starters from its backcourt, including star Dominque Jones, who announced who was coming out for the NBA draft.

Today is signing day for high school and other athletes hoping to gain college scholarships.

Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2010/04/14/2205215/usf-signs-former-palmetto-high.html#ixzz0l5x4Re69

[Vega]

wait so did we still get dority and austin?

They are already signed. Did so back in November.

On a side note remember when we were after 5* SG Justin Coleman? Well he did end up committing to Louisville over us but word out of the ville is that he is not expected to qualify. If this is the case then Pitino's program will be in more trouble then they already are because 6-10 Gorgui Dieng who is a teammate of Coleman might not want to go there if is buddy can't get the grades. Dieng was suppose to commit to Louisville sometime ago but maybe the reason why he hasn't is because of the uncertainty of Coleman getting eligible. Now I honestly expect Louisville to MAKE SURE Coleman qualifies and Dieng to sign there. No way does UL allow their program to sink towards the bottom of the Big East.

[Mama_Bull]

April 14, 2010

Combo guard Haynes signs with USF basketball

The spring signing period officially started today, and USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath has his first official signee for the spring in Shedrick Haynes, a combo guard from Sarasota who played this season at Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania.

Haynes committed to USF back in January, and he'll be a key part of a rebranded Bulls backcourt, which lost senior point guard Chris Howard, senior guard Mike Mercer and junior Dominique Jones, who left early for the NBA draft.

Haynes and freshman LaVonte Dority, who signed in November, will challenge rising junior Anthony Crater for playing time at point guard, and Haynes could get minutes at shooting guard as well, where the Bulls have four other players competing for two spots at guard and small forward.

We'll have more on USF's recruiting class later -- two more junior college standouts, Jawanza Poland and Hugh Robertson, are expected to sign today. The AAU coach for Virginia center Davante Gardner said Tuesday night that he likely will need a few more days before making a decision between USF and Marquette.

(Thanks to Lackawanna College for the signing-day picture of Haynes).

April 14, 2010

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2010/04/combo-guard-haynes-signs-with-usf-basketball.html

[Mama_Bull]

Hugh Robertson also sent in his LOI.

Heath Adds Two More Recruits to 2010-11 Roster 

Courtesy: USF

Release: 04/14/2010

 

TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's basketball program has announced the signing of Shedrick Haynes and Hugh Robertson to National Letters of Intent, head coach Stan Heath announced Wednesday afternoon on the opening day of signing period.

The junior college transfers will join the team in the fall of 2010, each will have two years of eligibility with the Bulls.

Shedrick Haynes, out of Bradenton, Fla., averaged 18.5 points per game and had 105 rebounds, 71 assists and 36 steals for Lackawanna JC in Scranton, Pa., last season. The 6-0, 185-pound guard was named to the Region XIX Division II All-Region First Team and was one of the country's top Ju-Co 3-point shooters, hitting 98 treys at a 42 percent clip in his sophomore season with the Falcons. He also participated in the Top 120 Jerry Mullen All-American Camp in July 2009.

The guard with a 42-inch vertical leap was a standout at Palmetto High School in both basketball and football, and started his collegiate career at Manatee Community College in the fall of 2008. As a freshman at MCC, he averaged 13 points, four assists and three steals per game and was named to the SunCoast All-Conference Team.

"We are excited about Shedrick joining the Bulls," said Coach Heath. "He was at Lackawanna College last season, but is originally from the Bradenton area. He will help us as a point guard, not only to run the team as a point guard, but also to shoot the ball from that position. He is a good communicator on the floor and is excited to be a Bull."

Hugh Robertson, who ranks as the nation's No. 2 junior college prospect at the shooting guard/small forward position, joins the Bulls after two seasons at Tallahassee CC. The 6-5, 195-pound shooting guard averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31 games, leading the Eagles to the 2010 FCCAA Championship game and a 25-6 overall record. For his efforts, he was named to the 2010 FCCAA All-Tournament Team. He shot 48.3 percent from the field and hit 38.3 of his shots from long range in his sophomore campaign at TCC. As a rookie, he earned honorable mention All-Panhandle Conference after averaging 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor. He was also named to the Panhandle Conference All-Academic Team.

The native of Macon, Ga., played his prep ball at Northeast High School, where he garnered Bibb County Player of the Year honors, as well as All-Bibb County and second team Preseason All-Middle Georgia accolades. In high school, he averaged 18.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

"Hugh is a very important player for us, especially with our needs at the wing positions," said Heath. "He brings experience to the Bulls, he is athletic and has good basketball skills. We are looking forward to his two years at USF."

The two signees join point guard LaVonte Dority and center Waverly Austin on the 2010-11 roster, a pair of commitments from the November signing period. Read more about Dority and Austin here: 

http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=204831423&SPID=2923&SPSID=36686

http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=204928701

[Vega]

Alright 2 more to go hopefully. Poland and Gardner are very important to our future. Come on guys be Bulls.

[Mama_Bull]

TCC’s Hugh Robertson signs with the University of South Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 14, 2010) – Tallahassee Community College men’s basketball standout Hugh Robertson signed a national letter of intent with the University of South Florida on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s spring signing period.

The Bulls compete in the 16-member Big East Conference, where they finished the 2009-10 season with a 9-9 record. South Florida finished 20-13 overall and earned an invitation to the postseason NIT.

Widely considered by many coaches as the Eagles’ best all-around player, Robertson, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound shooting guard from Macon, Ga., did his part to live up to those expectations during TCC’s 25-6 season in 2009-10. He averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists to earn a first-team all-Panhandle Conference nod by league coaches and second-team honors by league media.

He also earned a spot on the FCCAA All-Tournament Team, helping lead the Eagles to a berth in the FCCAA Championship Game.

Robertson was the only player on TCC’s roster to start all 59 games over the last two seasons.

“He’s just one of those naturally athletic guys who can influence a game with his athleticism,†said TCC head coach Eddie Barnes. “We talk about freak athletes, and he’s right there. He doesn’t know how high he can go or how fast he can go.

“I think he (Robertson) is ready to turn the corner. He brings a pretty good package as a player.â€

Robertson’s 2009-10 season followed a freshman campaign that saw him earn honorable mention all-PC honors after averaging 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

Robertson is the third member of TCC’s 2009-10 squad to sign with a “BCS school,†joining Bernard James (Florida State University) and Marvell Waithe (University of Arkansas).

http://www.tcc.fl.edu/about_tcc/athletics/athletic_archives/2010/april_2010/tcc_s_hugh_robertson_signs_with_the_university_of_south_florida