Go ahead and book a trip to next year's Final Four... Hook 'Em LA No NBA Yet For LaMarcus; Aldridge Texas-Bound By Stacey Dean Big 12/Texas Recruitng Analyst Date: Apr 2, 2004 Finally, it may be safe to call UT's stellar recruiting class the Fab Five. LaMarcus Aldridge, who considered a high school-to-NBA jump, announced Friday his intention to instead join Rick Barnes' Texas hoops program for at least a year. "I made a decision today and I’m going to school," Lamarcus Aldridge told IT. "I’m going to go to Texas and win a national championship." Aldridge verbally committed to the Horns almost a year ago but did not sign an LOI in last fall's basketball signing period. He told Inside Texas today that he will make it official later this month during the spring signing period. Aldridge was projected as a late first round pick in the Draft, but most scouts agreed that the 6-10, 215-pound forward needed some college seasoning before being ready to make an impact at the professional level. Fellow McDonald's All-Americans Daniel Gibson and Mike Williams plus Texas high schoolers Connor Atchley and Dion Dowell are the other four members of incoming class that recruiting analysts have called one of, if not the, best class in the nation. All five class members are ranked by TheInsidersHoops.com as among the top 100 prospects in the nation -- Seagoville's Aldridge (No. 6), 6-3, 180-pound Houston Jones PG Gibson (No. 15), 6-7, 215-pound Camden, AL PF Williams (No. 18), 6-7, 190-pound Texas City SF Dowell (No. 41) and 6-10, 220-pound Clear Lake C Atchley (No. 89). "After hanging around with Daniel and Mike all weekend and hearing them say how we can win a championship, I talked to my mom about it and she said maybe I should be patient. She said I could go to the NBA now or win a national championship with Dion, Daniel, Connor and Mike and go later." That decision, an extremely difficult one to make, has now been made. Can you now exhale? "Yes, it’s was a lot of pressure and it feels good to get that off of me now." The personable Aldridge said some have already shared their personal thoughts with him about his decision to forgo what was expected to be late first round money and everyone said he did the right thing. But did the Chris Bosh-like talent feel the same? "Yeah, I do," Aldridge quipped. "Because I’m going to win a national championship and get stronger with Coach Barnes and Coach Todd Wright." And folks, the Fab Five was born. For exclusive interviews from Oklahoma City at the McDonald's All-American game with Aldridge, Gibson and Williams, see this week's Inside Texas Inside Scoop. http://texas.theinsiders.com/2/248609.html
I feel bad that some of our dumbass fans think a national championship or repeat final four is a lock. It's not. I'm glad he's coming since there aren't many big men in college now. What little I saw of him, he didn't look anywhere near ready. Not as good as Bosh was. He probably could use 2 years in college.
Book your trip to the Final Four, he looked great in the Mickey D's game... Just face it. He's no good in the state of Oklahoma.
Who said he looked great at the all-star game? NIT. BTW, any of you watching the USA vs the world game on foxsw? Williams looks like a beast.
Big men have little to no impact in the college game. Mainly because of the fact that PGs in college cannot execute simple passes into the post, if there's any kind of defensive pressure at all.
Hell yeah! Now if only Sydmill Harris can return to form next year we'll be set. I have heard it said that Aldridge will saty for 2 years to bulk up...
No way! I used to play ball with him all the time at the rec center in TC...I don't think a player from Texas City has ever gone to a D-1 school in basketball...
They should be getting the ball more than they do. My point is that guys like Shaq, Mourning, etc. in the last few years haven't won in the tourney because they lack guards who can give them enough touches. Most big men in college are considered "lazy" to where if they don't get the ball early and often, they just don't put forth the effort to establish inside position, if they aren't going to get the ball. And 3/4th of the points that Okafor and Schescher score are off drive and dishes. There aren't too many set plays for both guys. That is my overall point.
An overhyped Texas Longhorn recruiting class? Please tell me you people have learned something from your football team.
