Basketball adds Malik Morgan
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| John Curtis shooting guard commits to LSU Wednesday night
LSU Coach Trent Johnson picked up his first verbal commitment in the recruiting Class of 2012 Wednesday evening (photo by Maggie Bowles).
By BEN LOVE
Tiger Rag Editor
Shooting guard Malik Morgan became the LSU basketball program’s first verbal commitment in the Class of 2012 Wednesday night.
The John Curtis player, who said he’s at about 6-4 and 180 pounds, called Head Coach Trent Johnson and Assistant Coach Brent Scott, who’s been handling Morgan’s recruitment, and gave them the news over the phone.
“It was tonight,” Morgan told Tiger Rag, talking about the timing of his decision and phone call. “I mean they were excited. Coach Johnson sounded like he was about to do a split.”
The one word Morgan used more than any other when talking about why he landed on LSU was “family,” saying that’s been the point of emphasis between he and Scott - “a family atmosphere.”
Morgan joined the purple-and-gold family Wednesday, just two days after perimeter player Matt Derenbecker, the one player Morgan mentioned he probably knew better than any other Tiger from the 2010-11 season, left the squad.
Still, Morgan felt pretty confident that he was joining a program on the rise, saying of LSU’s prospects in the upcoming 2011-12 campaign: “I think they’re going to have a big leap forward.”
The River Ridge native, who had offers from Boston College, Tulane and UTEP, will boster the Tigers’ backcourt, adding to the athleticism that the Class of 2011 recruiting duo (point guard Anthony Hickey and shooting guard/small forward John Isaac) brings.
“I can score as much as possible, but I also like to get my teammates involved and help set people up,” explained Morgan of his game. “I know if I have to I can get 40, but that’s not what I’d prefer to do if I don’t have to.”
Morgan proved he could fill it up as a junior, averaging 28.9 points per game for the Patriots.
The current LSU backcourt also includes second-year players Ralston Turner and Andre Stringer, both of whom will be juniors when Morgan steps on campus, and Chris Bass, a back-up point guard who will play his last season this spring.
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Editor Ben Love is Tiger Rag’s lead reporter on LSU men’s basketball. Reach him at ben@tigerrag.com.
TJ is canned after this season. They jumped on this kid because they lost the last 2 recruits. Him and his staff have no chance. Every kid they bring in thinks they are going to be The MAN>>>!!! That wont work!
Why do people who consider themselves LSU fans come on these sites and say crap like this above comment?!?!
The basketball team picked up a talented, in-state player. Malik Morgan deserves at least one night to enjoy a positive reaction from the Tiger faithful to his big decision.
Amen to not judging a kid or a program before there has been one minute of basketball played. Yeah he sounded cocky and the quote about getting forty any time he wanted was a little out of line but hey, he will learn what SEC basketball is all about and either he will adjust or not play. But at least give him a chance to prove himself before blasting him with negativity.
If the kid can get 40, let him get 40! I wish all the recruits
thought they could get 40!
Jt
I agree completely Real and Tom. There are some who consider themselves Tiger fans who are just negative people. They whine and moan about everything all day and go around bringing other people down. I wish they would keep their miserable attitude to themselves; but they have to spread their venom I guess. The best thing is to just try to ignore them; but sometimes you just can’t help calling them out when they write something exceptionally stupid (Yeah, you Tora). And taking a dump on this 16 -17 year old kid and using his commitment as an excuse to dump on Johnson is exceptionally stupid. Lord knows there are plenty of other reasons to question whether Johnson can get it done…but getting a commitment from a good La player isn’t one of them.
Really hope that Coach Johnson will still be around next season. If he can just get the players, and get them to stay, then this team will be good. He’s proven himself at Nevada and Stanford. The man can coach.