Should've Listened To Me Gordon

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Reviewing the 2008 Basketball Recruits and Next Year

Lets put a nice little bow on the 2008 class.

Romero Osby
Ht: 6'8" Wt: 230
Scout	**** #20 PF #69 overall
Rivals	**** #20 PF #57 overall
ESPN	90 #16 PF #51 overall

The first real gem of the class, Osby will be looking to fill the shoes left by Charles Rhodes and he definitely has the talent to do so. I just don't think it'll be as a freshman. He has the ability to score from anywhere on the court and the strength to overpower the defender when needed. His weaknesses is reportedly his defensive intensity, which is exactly why I'm not expecting much from him as a freshman. If you can't play defense, Stansbury won't play you, as we saw with Kodi Augustus last year. He'll probably get a handful of minutes per game, maybe 5, until he picks it up on the defensive side of things. By the time he is a sophomore though, he should be starting.

Dee Bost
Ht: 6'1" Wt: 170
Scout	**** in 2006: #20 SG #95 overall, ****in 2007: #4 post graduate
Rivals	**** #19 SG #83 overall
ESPN	80

This is the second gem of the class. If Osby is going to be Rhodes' replacement, then Bost would have to be viewed as Gordon's replacement. Don't get me wrong, his game is nothing like Gordon's. Gordon was all about muscling his way past people while Bost's strength is his quickness. No, I'm talking in terms of pure talent. He'll get a chance to play the point but if that doesn't workout he should fit nicely into the 2 spot. Bost can put up the points in bunches, both with the three pointer and by driving the lane. I'd say there is a very good chance he will be counted on to start from the word go. There is a huge hole at one of the guard spots (depending on where Stewart ends up) that I don't think anyone on the team right now can fill. Similar to Osby, Bost has the raw talent to fill that hole. He'll just be a freshman though and that inevitably means costly freshman mistakes.

Antiquawn Beckham
Ht: 6'4" Wt: 180
Scout	** in 2006; *** in 2007: #15 post-grad
Rivals	*** NR
ESPN	N/A

Since I already talked about Beckham just a couple of weeks ago when he signed, I'll keep this short. Beckham is more of a distributor than a scorer and as such I would assume he will be competing with Bost for the PG spot. Beckham at the 1 could be a perfect compliment to Bost at the 2 in future years. As I've said I like this signing especially given how late it was. I'm not expecting much from Beckham this upcoming year outside of mop up minutes though. That is based solely upon the fact that I am hopeful he won't be needed rather than me thinking he isn't good enough.

Jacquiese Holcombe
Ht: 6'7" Wt:200
Scout	N/A
Rivals	** NR
ESPN	N/A

The last member of the 2008 class and once again I just talked about him a couple of weeks ago. This one came out of nowhere and honestly I can't say too much about it. There is just next to nothing out there on this guy. He'll be pushing Ravern Johnson for minutes at SF. I can't see him being a starter but he might be able to give a few minutes off the bench.


OVERALL: 7/10

Had Hopson stayed we're looking at 9/10 probably. In any case, Osby and Bost are two players you can really build a team around, or at least that is the hope. Beckham should wind up being a solid role player and could take over the PG duties in a year or two. Holcombe is a head scratcher to be honest, but then so was Barry Stewart and that has worked out alright. We'll see what he can do come November.


Next year: Starting 5

Tough question. Well, we know two spots are already locked up. Barry Stewart and Jarvis Varnado have already been written into the starting line-up in ink. Ravern Johnson was one of the few bench players to see the floor last year and you could really see improvement as the year went on. He isn't a lock, but darn close to it. After that it gets dicey. I'll say this is what we'll see in the first game.

PG Barry Stewart
SG Phil Turner
SF Ravern Johnson
PF Brian Johnson
C Jarvis Varnado

Alright, like I said Stewart, R. Johnson, and Varnado are obvious. Stansbury loves the upperclassmen, heck he tried to start Stelmach for a couple of games as a senior. This is why I'm confident the only senior on the team, B. Johnson, will start at first. The final guard spot is up for grabs between the two freshman, Turner, and Benock. Again, Stansbury loves the experience and Turner isn't afraid to shoot so Turner it is. I'm thinking at some point though it turns into this.

PG Dee Bost
SG Barry Stewart
SF Ravern Johnson
PF Kodi Augustus
C Jarvis Varnado

Unless he improves, I don't like Stewart at the point. That really only leaves Bost and Beckham, Bost is more talented so I'm going with him. I like B. Johnson and what he brings, I just don't think his knees will allow him to play 25+ minutes a game. He will have to come off the bench. If Osby can defend, he'll likely start at the 4 but I'm skeptical. That leaves Augustus and Bailey. Bailey is adequate on defense but is no threat on offense. You need somebody to be able to score on the inside and the Bailey/Varnado combination, while a defensive juggernaut, will intimidate absolutely nobody on the offensive side of things. B. Johnson, Turner, and Bailey would be the first 3 off the bench in this scenario


I see lots of promise with both lineups. I see lots of weaknesses too. Some people are really going to have to step up their games this year. I could see this team making it back to the NCAAs, I really could. NIT seems more likely at this point though. We'll see how they look a couple of games in.

Two More Players Leave Football Team

First of all, RS SR. wide receiver Ryan Mason is leaving the team. He is going to stay and finish up his degree though. He hasn't made a reception yet and has only seen time on special teams. The prognosis for this year was more of the same in all likelihood. He was going to be the 5th WR at very best, and that is being optimistic. I have a feeling he knew he wasn't going to be seeing the field much in his final year and decided going through brutal practices just wasn't worth it. No real loss.

Secondly, RS Fr. fullback Ethan Stockett will also be leaving the team. The only explanation was "personal reasons". This might not be terribly significant this year as he was third string behind Hoskins and Hart. Even so, there are only 2 FBs on the roster now. Admittedly FB isn't the most crucial position, but it is a heck of a lot more important in this offense than most (Fullbacks contributed 16 receptions for 106 yards, 1 rush for 4 yards, and 1 TD last year. Not to mention their role as a lead blocker). I'd just feel more comfortable with at least 3 FB's, but as long as Hoskins and Hart stay healthy this won't have an impact this year. However, next year is a different story. As of now, there will be 0 FBs on the roster next year. Unless Croom plans on changing the offense, that won't work. Might have to pick up a JUCO unless a walk on steps up over the summer ala Eric Hoskins.

Scholarship Breakdown (Football by Position)

2018

Position	Incoming	Freshman	Sophomores	Juniors	Seniors
QB(3)	G. Shrader	J. Mayden	K. Thompson		N. Fitzgerald
RB(6)		L. Webb	K. Hill	A. Murphy N. Gibson	D. Lee A. Williams
FB(0)
WR(14)	K. Pruitt Q. Torbor	A. Williams M. Heath C. Gardner N. Watson J. Patterson D. Jason	O. Mitchell R. Todd	M. Dear D. Thomas K. Mixon J. Couch S. Guidry	J. Jackson
TE(7)		P. Warren B. Cumbest G. Spivey	C. Roberson D. Jones	F. Green	J. Johnson
OL(13)	M. Richardson D. Washington B. Cunningham	C. Suggs K. Johnson K. Jones	D. Parker G. Eiland S. Reese	T. Champion T. Phillips D. Williams M. Story	D. Calhoun E. Jenkins R. Cochran
DE(9)	J. Harris A. Izuchukwu D. Russell C. Moore N. Pickering	A. Odom J. Crumedy	K. Jones	K. Jones C. Rivers F. Adams M. Spencer	G. Green M. Sweat
DT(9)		J. Jackson C. Young D. Robinson F. Lovett		L. Autry J. Simmons	B. Hoyett G. Harris C. Thomas
LB(7)		T. Dunning J. Johnson	E. Thompson W. Gay	T. Washington L. Lewis S. Kilby-Lane
CB(8)	M. Emerson DJ James G. Brooks	L. Guidry E. Furdge J. Reed	C. Dantzler C.J. Morgan	M. Smitherman	C. Rayford J. Peters
S(10)	J. Purvis J. Jones	T. Williams M. Murphy S. Preston A. Brule	K. Charles	B. Cole J. Landrews	B. Bryant M. Mclaurin J. Abram
P/K(1)			T. Day

Players that have redshirted in italics.



2019

Position	Incoming	Freshman	Sophomores	Juniors	Seniors
QB(3)	J. Jones	K. Thompson J. Mayden			N. Fitzgerald
RB(6)		K. Hill L. Webb		A. Murphy N. Gibson	D. Lee A. Williams
FB(0)
WR(15)		A. Williams M. Heath C. Gardner N. Watson J. Patterson D. Jason	O. Mitchell R. Todd	K. Mixon D. Thomas J. Couch S. Guidry	J. Jackson J. Johnson M. Dear
TE(6)		P. Warren  B. Cumbest G. Spivey	C. Roberson D. Jones	F. Green
OL(13)		C. Suggs K. Johnson K. Jones	D. Parker G. Eiland S. Reese	D. Williams M. Story	D. Calhoun E. Jenkins R. Cochran T. Champion T. Phillips
DE(7)	C. Moore D. Porter	A. Odom J. Crumedy	K. Jones	K. Jones M. Spencer J. Simmons	M. Sweat
DT(10)		J. Jackson F. Lovett D. Robinson C. Young		F. Adams	B. Hoyett G. Harris C. Thomas L. Autry C. Rivers
LB(8)		T. Dunning W. Gay J. Johnson	E. Thompson	T. Washington L. Lewis S. Kilby-Lane	G. Green
CB(8)		L. Guidry E. Furdge J. Reed	C.J. Morgan  C. Dantzler	M. Smitherman	C. Rayford J. Peters
S(10)		T. Williams  M. Murphy S. Preston A. Brule	K. Charles		B. Bryant M. McLaurin B. Cole J. Landrews J. Abram
P/K(1)		T. Day

Players that have redshirted in italics.

Three T.V Times Set

We already know that you'll be able to see at least 3 Mississippi State football games this fall.

The opening game at Louisiana Tech will kickoff at 6:45 ET on ESPN 2.
Two weeks later, they'll play Auburn at 7:00 ET, again on ESPN 2.

Finally, MSU vs. Ole Miss will be on Raycom at 12:30 ET.

All Signs Point to John Cohen

I feel safe in announcing that MSU alum and former UK head coach, John Cohen, is our new baseball coach. It hasn't been officially announced, but it isn't hard to connect the dots. Earlier this afternoon, Mississippi State informs us of a press conference tomorrow to announce the new baseball coach. Soon after, UK announces they have a new coach after John Cohen had resigned to take another job.

Cohen turned UK from a doormat to a team that expects regionals. I'm happy with the hire, as is about 95% of the fanbase. I'd say Byrne did a pretty good job with his first hire. Thank you for not caving in to Polk's demands.

Now the only question is, will Polk have a total meltdown? Lets see where his loyalties truly lie, Mississippi State or Raffo.

Mississippi State Gets a Late Signee

Jacquiese Holcombe has signed with Mississippi State, finishing off the 2008 class. Holcombe is a 6'6 205 junior college transfer. He actually redshirted due to injury while in junior college so he'll have just 2 years to play 2. Scout and ESPN never rated him and he is a 2 star on rivals. Holcombe had offers from Seton Hall and UAB.

Holcombe averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds as a high school senior. His JUCO numbers aren't quite so impressive. He averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds as a freshman and 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a redshirt sophomore. He was a second-team All American last year so he must have been doing something right, although I admit I don't know how prestigious the JUCO All American team is.

I have to say, this one is a bit of a head scratcher. The lack of information on this guy and his ratings, or lack of, by recruiting sites doesn't really inspire excitement. I know there were only 11 players on scholarship so maybe that factored into the decision to bring him on board. Plus there was really only one SF on the roster, Ravern Johnson, so I'm sure the coaches wanted to add someone to back him up. Some have speculated Holcombe's strength is his defense and rebounding. If so, he would fit perfectly into the Stansbury mold.

Frankly I would have preferred to just save the scholarship for next year. MSU already has a good shot at about 3 or 4 very high level players in the 2009 class. With Holcombe on board MSU will only have 2 scholarships to offer next year. Of course, history says at least one player will transfer leaving MSU with 3 scholarships, so this might end up being a non-issue.

We'll see how it plays out. If Holcombe can give the team about 7-8 minutes at the SF position behind Johnson, I'll be satisfied.