Ricky Jean-Francois still undecided?

[Papa_Bull]

This article says he hasn't made a decision yet:

Posted on Wed, Feb. 02, 2005

 

A day familiar for drama

Carol City star Ricky Jean-Francois stunned everyone by not showing up for his signing, and five of the top 10 Dade recruits chose to stay home at UM.

BY MANNY NAVARRO

mnavarro@herald.com

Playing up the drama has become a time-honored tradition on national signing day in Miami-Dade County.

Wednesday, Carol City defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois pulled what could be the county's most dramatic signing day moment when he didn't show up for the ceremony at all.

Jean-Francois, a blue-chip All-American defensive end and The Herald's co-Athlete of the Year in Miami-Dade last year, never made it to campus, coaches said, despite telling them repeatedly he was on his way.

Jean-Francois could not be reached for comment Wednesday night, but his mother, Zora Jones, said her son would not be making a decision on college until ``later.''

''He's not making a decision yet,'' Jones said. ``He's going to think things through. You have to talk to him to ask him why. He's not going to be home this evening.''

Carol City coach Walt Frazier said Jean-Francois had two scholarships -- one from LSU and another from South Florida -- waiting for him on a desk in the library. Neither of those programs had Jean-Francois on its list of signees released late Wednesday.

''As far as I know, he was supposed to be here,'' Walt Frazier said. ``He called and indicated to me he was on the way this morning. I'm not sure where he is, but I told him if he needed an extra day to decide, all he had to do was let us know.''

Jean-Francois was only one of only five recruits on Rivals.com's national top 100 list who had yet to sign Wednesday night.

Frazier said Jean-Francois had recently received an improved test score and ''only needed to raise his GPA a few points'' to reach NCAA admissions standards.

Jean-Francois' teammate, All-American safety Kenny Phillips, didn't take long to make his much-anticipated announcement Wednesday morning. Phillips walked in with a University of Miami hat tucked underneath a Tennessee hat. After a few minutes, he walked up to the podium, delivered a short speech to announce he was headed to Miami as he put on a Hurricanes cap.

The moment lacked the suspense surrounding the decisions of two of the county's past three top-rated recruits.

In 2002, North Miami Beach offensive tackle Max Jean-Gilles kept TV cameras in suspense when he hid the baseball caps of the schools he was considering under a table before yanking out his final choice -- Georgia. Last year, Carol City linebacker Willie Williams, the nation's No. 1 linebacker, took the drama a step further. First, he tried on a Florida State jersey before taking it off and putting on a Miami jersey and announcing, ``UM was the right fit.''

UM was the right fit for more than Phillips this year.

Four other top 10 Dade recruits -- Norland defensive end Richard Gordon, Northwestern offensive tackle Christopher Barney, Coral Gables linebacker Daryl Sharpton and Coral Reef linebacker Eric Houston -- signed with the Hurricanes, who along with Western Michigan, led I-A schools with the most Dade signees.

In all, 45 Dade players signed with Division I-A schools and 38 others earned some form of scholarship.

Central led the county with the most signees, regardless of class, with 14. Booker T. was second with 10. Northwestern, Coral Reef and Norland led the county with six Division I-A signees each.

CHANGE OF HEART

Norland's Gordon, the state's No. 10 recruit, was one of those six. For the past two weeks, he said he was sold on going to Florida.

But late Tuesday night, after talking with friends and family, Gordon said he changed his mind.

''Two weeks ago, when [uF recruiter] Doc Holliday came down with Coach [urban] Meyer, they convinced me to go to UF,'' Gordon said. ``I had Miami on my mind for a long time before they came along. I've always loved the Hurricanes. They're the right fit for me.''

Gordon said he missed Norland's first five games this past season after a failed physical because of high blood pressure. Gordon said it took a month for him to schedule an EKG exam, but once he passed, he was cleared to play.

''I don't have high blood pressure,'' Gordon said. ``I think when I took the test, I was just a little nervous.''

Gordon said his sister, Chanivia Broussard, who played on Miami's women's basketball team, and former UM tackle Bryant McKinnie helped convinced him to sign with the Hurricanes.

KEEPING IT SECRET

Northwestern's Barney, meanwhile, said he needed no convincing to go with the Hurricanes -- just someone who could keep it secret.

''I've known since my visit to Miami [two weeks ago] that I was going there,'' Barney said as he turned down North Carolina State. ``I told Coach [Larry] Coker I was going to be a Hurricane. But I also asked him to keep it secret for me. He was cool with it.

``Hey, man, you need to keep people on the edge.''

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/colleges/10796875.htm?1c

[S p e n c e]

So we still have an outside chance of signing RJS and Eldra Buckley?  That's it right, outside of a walk-on in spring practice.

[Papa_Bull]

I don't think that's it.

There are MANY players who will be available over the next several months. Having an extra scholarship or two gives us some latitude. Last year we had to pass on some guys who we wanted who qualified late, like Vince Wilson, because we didn't have any scholarships to give out.

There probably will be at least one signee who won't qualify, and that is most likely Ishmeal Gant.

[beastiebull]

Do we really want a guy who "just didn't show up" to an event  that most of us, if we were in their position, would give our left arm to be able to be a part of?  Just doesn't seem right.  Stop playing games and pick a school and get to work.  

[Papa_Bull]

Do we really want a guy who "just didn't show up" to an event  that most of us, if we were in their position, would give our left arm to be able to be a part of?  Just doesn't seem right.  Stop playing games and pick a school and get to work.  

Evidently, you haven't read yet the latest story in the Tampa Trib.

He didn't show up because he was mired in a controversy with his parents about which school to attend.

THEY want him to go to USF and feel that the LSU people brainwashed him. He supposedly has recovered his senses and is "expected" to sign with USF today or tomorrow.

[beastiebull]

Oh OK.  Good....lol, how did they brainwash him?  I know there's a lot of that voodoo stuff that goes on in LA.....

[Papa_Bull]

And those Haitians, which I suspect Ricky and his family are, KNOW about VOODOO.  

Here is the passage on him from the Trib article this morning:

The Bulls also expect to add one of the nation's top defensive ends today or Friday. Miami Carol City's Ricky Jean- Francois will sign with the Bulls over LSU, his father said late Wednesday night.  

He is rated the state's sixth- best player and nation's No. 3 defensive end by Rivals.com.  

``Me and his mom don't want him to go to LSU,'' said his father, Celhomme Jean- Francois. ``Ricky was happy with South Florida. Those people [at LSU] washed his brain. That's not going to work. They make a mistake.  

``We want him to go to South Florida. We want him to stay home in Florida. We want him to go where he's safe. South Florida has nothing to worry about.''  

The addition of Jean-Francois would give the Bulls their biggest-caliber offensive (Hill) and defensive recruits in school history - in the same class.

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBNGDKGQ4E.html

[Guest S.  Bien]

Do we really want a guy who "just didn't show up" to an event  that most of us, if we were in their position, would give our left arm to be able to be a part of?  Just doesn't seem right.  Stop playing games and pick a school and get to work.  

Yeah and maybe FSU should tell Fred Rouse to take a hike for playing mind games with them, or LSU and Perrilloux, or Antone Smith and FSU, or UMiami should tell Richard Gordon to take a hike for playing a dirty trick like that.

Welcome to the new world of recruiting where these websites have over-hyped these kids and some have learned to enjoy the treatment.  Not to mention coaches spend nights trying to convince these guys to change their decisions.

RJF is simply a confused young man.  He was sure about USF the past two weeks, but he went to LSU, and the allure of SEC, and all they expose you to on their visits got him all caught up in the moment (he visited LSU this past weekend).  His parents want him to think about it for a day or two before jumping in with LSU based on a fun weekend.

I think it's only fair and considering how important this decision is in his life I imagine we all owe RJF the time to make the right choice for he and his family.

[sdgukhsdgl]

whats the rush for him?  there is absolutely no difference in him signing yesterday or signing in a week or so.  Its not like training camp and he is holding out.  

[bulls96go]

wahoo!