JeeberD
05-23-2005, 02:19 PM
Last fall, UTEP was recruiting two basketball players from the same team in Philadelphia, SG Stefon Jackson and PF Maurice Thomas. Miners coach Doc Sadler worked hard on the two talented recruits, and just before the early signing period they both verbally commit to UTEP.
Fast forward to the early signing period. The Miners got their LOI from Jackson, but one never showed up from Thomas. After a few day, it became apparent that Jackson and Thomas had a falling out of some sort. It turned out the problem was a girl. Apparently one of them banged the other's girl or something. So Thomas never signed with UTEP and re-opened his recruiting.
Jackson and Thomas were playing out their senior season while Thomas was being courted by other schools, when suddenly Thomas and UNLV became infatuated with each other. Thomas gave the Rebels his verbal commitment, but at the last minute UNLV decides for some reason to withdraw their offer to him.
"It was a mix-up," said Thomas, who averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game last season. "They withdrew their offer. I'm mad about it, but I just have to get over it."
Since the late signing period was getting awfully close, and North Carolina had lost just about all of their players, they decided to give Thomas a looksie and invited him to town. He also visited Tennessee, though, and decided that UT was the place for him. So as soon as the late signing period started, he sent in his LOI. Problem was, UT decided all of a sudden that they didn't want him.
Thomas obviously needed to find somewhere to sign, and fast. Apparently a couple of the schools in the Phily area were interested, but they were much too close for Maurice. So guess where Big Mo decide to turn his attention? Back to his original suitor, UTEP!
With a couple of days left in the late signing period, Thomas' high school coach announced that Maurice had faxed a LOI to the Miners...only problem is that the Miners had already signed a PG and have no schollys left to hand out. UTEP's coach, Doc Sadler, refused to say anything about the situation, and the late signing period ended with no new news.
So yesterday, an El Paso TV station announced on their news that the Miners would be getting a "surprise addition" to the roster, but that details would follow in a day or two. Today the Miners announced that they signed Thomas to a LOI...even though they have no room on the roster and despite the fact that the kid is obviosly a flake.
The UTEP message board has been back and forth on this issue for weeks now. Is it fair for the Miners to give a scholly to Thomas, who spurned us once and came back to us as a last resort, and boot a kid that's been loyal to the program? What price do you have to pay to get a talented yet troubled player? Also, when did Thomas sign his LOI? If it was after the 18th then it's not binding and he could leave us again if he feels like it...
Anyways, this is one of the craziest recruiting stories that I've ever seen, and I just had to share it with you guys. Hopefully he'll turn out to be a smart and talented player, but as of right now I really have my doubts about the kid...
Fast forward to the early signing period. The Miners got their LOI from Jackson, but one never showed up from Thomas. After a few day, it became apparent that Jackson and Thomas had a falling out of some sort. It turned out the problem was a girl. Apparently one of them banged the other's girl or something. So Thomas never signed with UTEP and re-opened his recruiting.
Jackson and Thomas were playing out their senior season while Thomas was being courted by other schools, when suddenly Thomas and UNLV became infatuated with each other. Thomas gave the Rebels his verbal commitment, but at the last minute UNLV decides for some reason to withdraw their offer to him.
"It was a mix-up," said Thomas, who averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game last season. "They withdrew their offer. I'm mad about it, but I just have to get over it."
Since the late signing period was getting awfully close, and North Carolina had lost just about all of their players, they decided to give Thomas a looksie and invited him to town. He also visited Tennessee, though, and decided that UT was the place for him. So as soon as the late signing period started, he sent in his LOI. Problem was, UT decided all of a sudden that they didn't want him.
Thomas obviously needed to find somewhere to sign, and fast. Apparently a couple of the schools in the Phily area were interested, but they were much too close for Maurice. So guess where Big Mo decide to turn his attention? Back to his original suitor, UTEP!
With a couple of days left in the late signing period, Thomas' high school coach announced that Maurice had faxed a LOI to the Miners...only problem is that the Miners had already signed a PG and have no schollys left to hand out. UTEP's coach, Doc Sadler, refused to say anything about the situation, and the late signing period ended with no new news.
So yesterday, an El Paso TV station announced on their news that the Miners would be getting a "surprise addition" to the roster, but that details would follow in a day or two. Today the Miners announced that they signed Thomas to a LOI...even though they have no room on the roster and despite the fact that the kid is obviosly a flake.
The UTEP message board has been back and forth on this issue for weeks now. Is it fair for the Miners to give a scholly to Thomas, who spurned us once and came back to us as a last resort, and boot a kid that's been loyal to the program? What price do you have to pay to get a talented yet troubled player? Also, when did Thomas sign his LOI? If it was after the 18th then it's not binding and he could leave us again if he feels like it...
Anyways, this is one of the craziest recruiting stories that I've ever seen, and I just had to share it with you guys. Hopefully he'll turn out to be a smart and talented player, but as of right now I really have my doubts about the kid...