This from the Jackson Clarion Ledger:

Phillip Jones
Piney Woods, Forward, 6-6, Senior

Athletic forward helped Piney Woods win the Class 2A state championship last season, averaging 11.9 points and nine rebounds ... three blocks and nine rebounds ... Scored season-high 21 points against Bailey ... Had 19 points and 13 rebounds in handing 5A champ Wayne County its only loss ...
Drawing strong interest from Jackson State, Texas-San Antonio, Southern Illinois, South Alabama, and Louisiana Lafayette ... "Phillip made the big difference in us winning the state championship last year," says Piney Woods coach Lemuel Jones. "He does a lot well. He can score and he just does
whatever I ask him to do. He definitely changes things on defense." ... Jones is the fourth Piney Woods player to be named Dandy Dozen and first since 1997. He joins former Piney Woods standouts Torrey Harris ('94), Brian Adams ('95), Rahim Lockhart ('96) and Harold Boston ('97).

Here's a good article about him from a UTSA website. They just extended an offer.
Link

We some better size than 6'6. Is that all we can get?

Could be a good pick-up. Just one question, though. How many slots will (do) we have open. I like the post where you discuss some young men who are 6'9", 6'10", and 6'11". We need some height to go with our agile smaller athletes.

I'm sure we all agree that if our choices come down to a big guy who looks like a stiff or another Michael Ammons, we should go with the MA clone.
I'd like a big guy too, but he's got to be able to play.

Ronnie still says he plans on signing a true point guard.

AJ. Most big men can't move like a mid six foot player. What do they have to show you so that you would think they merit a scholorship. Movement like a guard.

Really. If we are to be anything like a Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State and the many big time teams out there, we're going to have to be able to recruit better than 6'6" team members. Until we have some big men, we will be relegated to be a Middle of the Sun Belt team. And, as fans, we will be constantly complaining about the coach for his not doing what he was hired to do. Win big time games against our scheduled USM and UAB's.

By a big stiff, I meant in relation to other big men, not smaller players.
I'd like a good big man as much as the next fan, but they aren't necessary to win. Bill Musselman didn't need giants to win ball games and when NCAA time rolls around we're going to see some really good mid-majors challenge or beat much more heralded teams while being outsized.
Good guards you can't win without, big men you can.

The numbers on the 3 men you have mentioned (in another post) don't indicate that they are stiff's. Maybe they are.... However, I'm not sure that they would fit RA style of play (and who among us believes his style is that of a winner). But, I bet they will figure in some schools plans.

BTW. Tell me how many Universities you know that have had teams advance beyond the second round of the NCAA tournament without having at least one; possibly two big men.

Sure, a team with what we have on this years team might get past the first round....if lucky. But; then there's my question above? Name the teams.

I wasn't saying those guys were stiffs, just that it would be better to take a good small player than a player of lesser quality just because he was big, unless he can provide something special for you (i.e shotblocker, rebounder, etc).
Off the top of my head I can't think of an Elite Eight team that fits your description. I believe the WKU team that made it to the Sweet 16 in 2009 didn't have a real contributor any bigger than our guys and they played UCLA very tough in the next round as well.
I know I should be dreaming of national championships, but I'm willing to settle for our first Sweet 16 team for now.

(12-10-2011 11:14 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  I wasn't saying those guys were stiffs, just that it would be better to take a good small player than a player of lesser quality just because he was big, unless he can provide something special for you (i.e shotblocker, rebounder, etc).
Off the top of my head I can't think of an Elite Eight team that fits your description. I believe the WKU team that made it to the Sweet 16 in 2009 didn't have a real contributor any bigger than our guys and they played UCLA very tough in the next round as well.
I know I should be dreaming of national championships, but I'm willing to settle for our first Sweet 16 team for now.

One step at a time.

And you think RA and 6'6" players will get us there?

To a Sweet 16? Possibly. I certainly am optimistic by the way this year's team seems to be a more coachable bunch.
My point remains that I'll take the more talented player, regardless of size or position when it comes to handing out the last scholarship. I certainly see the sense in adding a good prep point guard to start developing a player at the most important position.
I think your point is that you don't believe CRA is the right coach for USA and his choices in recruiting are one of the reasons why.
We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Then we agree to disagree.

BTW, I've never been against RA.

Just those among us who think you can win with just "guard type players". If that were the case we could be recruiting nothing but 6' to 6'4" guys because they all have good ball skills, can still a pass when playing defense, and can run the court...fast.

Great for basketball skills. But, those players will never take us where we want to go. And, I hope you want us to go to the top......to be the BEST we can be? Just as I do.

And, to do that......I'm sorry. We need some BIG MEN! And, I'm not speaking of Big waisted men. I mean height wise. Hopefully, with basic talents, so that they will have the potential to be coached up.

Darn. I could keep explaining myself. But I hope, with what I've offered, you can understand my frustrations with always seeking out talented smaller men. We'll never get to be the BEST with that approach.