[Chris Lang]

Lang dropped a hint that some letters would be coming in early, so I'm really hoping we'll hear something today.

I don't see that as a hint as much as an "I'll check it tomorrow to see if anything came in" type of thing. It's a signing period, not a day.

Exactly. I asked some people when to expect letters. One person told me maybe on the first day. Another told me Thursday. More will trickle in throughout the period, I'm sure.

[JK37]

SJs probably the most inside on this board besides Lang (and maybe HMO) at this point.

Be careful...

[LUconn]

man, how did I miss that. I love BJ.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I am feeling really good about this recruiting class and the future of LU Basketball. The combination of size and caliber of player has got to make this one of our best classes. I can't wait to watch them develop next year. We seem to now have some depth at every position and won't have to play "small ball" unless we want to. Great Job coach! Save those extra 'ships for next year. Your work is done.

[olldflame]

I'm pretty much with you about the remaining schollies ALA. We can use one for Tyler if he gets a 6th year and hang onto the other one. I personally don't think it's a healthy situation to go into a recruiting season where you have no scholarships, which is where we would be next year since we will not have any seniors.

It also just occurred to me that it would be very cool if we could give a schollie to James Spencer for his Senior year as a reward for all the contributions he made as a 3 year walkon.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Now our Roster looks something like this

1 & 2 Guards
Sanders
JC Sanders
Gordon
Anderson

3
Minaya?
Johnson

4
Burrus
Baird
Sommy
Baker?

5
JVP
Carter

Obviously some guys can move from 4 to 3 or from 2 to 3 depending on the match-ups and situation but our depth at each position is better than it has been in recent years. No one should have to play out of position. It will be interesting to watch this team gel.

[LUconn]

Weaver is still a question mark. And I really really don't think Baker is going to get another year.

[olldflame]

Why don't you think Tyler will get another year? Not that I necessarily trust the geniuses at the NCAA to do the right thing, but I think you would have a hard time inventing a scenario which fit the profile for granting a medical hardship year better than Tyler's. If he doesn't get one, they might as well just do away with it.

I really don't know about Weaver either. Hadn't heard a word about him leaving til a couple of days ago.

[Carter4prez]

weaver is definitely gone I know im not really a reliable source since im fairly new on here but im almost 100% sure he is gone.

[jcmanson]

I’m thinking Baird is a definite redshirt. The signing of Sommy finalized that.

You’ll see Jesse, JC, and Evan getting all the minutes at the 1 & 2.
Johnson/Anderson at the 3
Burrus/Sommy at the 4
Carter/JVP/Baker (if eligible) at the 5

That’s at least 9 solid players.

[Rooster Cogburn]

So for now the rhetorical question is where does that team finish in the BS conf.?

[olldflame]

I think it's way too soon to say Baird will be redshirted. We're talking about a player who a few months ago was touted as the most highly rated recruit we had ever signed. Redshirting freshmen in college basketball just doesn't happen that often any more. I'm thinking that if Steven shows up this summer to work out with the other players here in Lynchburg, he can probably get himself in shape and make a contribution this year. As a 6'8" forward who can shoot the 3 he gives us a skill that Burrus and Sommy don't.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I think it's way too soon to say Baird will be redshirted. We're talking about a player who a few months ago was touted as the most highly rated recruit we had ever signed. Redshirting freshmen in college basketball just doesn't happen that often any more. I'm thinking that if Steven shows up this summer to work out with the other players here in Lynchburg, he can probably get himself in shape and make a contribution this year. As a 6'8" forward who can shoot the 3 he gives us a skill that Burrus and Sommy don't.

Also you have to think that if he was getting tired of high school and basketball after 3 years what makes you think we can keep him focused for 5 years of college?

[SuperJon]

So for now the rhetorical question is where does that team finish in the BS conf.?

Top four with a loss in the semifinals of the tournament is what I am expecting.

[olldflame]

I think it's way too soon to say Baird will be redshirted. We're talking about a player who a few months ago was touted as the most highly rated recruit we had ever signed. Redshirting freshmen in college basketball just doesn't happen that often any more. I'm thinking that if Steven shows up this summer to work out with the other players here in Lynchburg, he can probably get himself in shape and make a contribution this year. As a 6'8" forward who can shoot the 3 he gives us a skill that Burrus and Sommy don't.

Also you have to think that if he was getting tired of high school and basketball after 3 years what makes you think we can keep him focused for 5 years of college?

I think one year away from competition is bad enough. Players do come back after injuries or a transfer and play well after missing a year. Not so much after 2.

[jcmanson]

I think it's way too soon to say Baird will be redshirted. We're talking about a player who a few months ago was touted as the most highly rated recruit we had ever signed. Redshirting freshmen in college basketball just doesn't happen that often any more. I'm thinking that if Steven shows up this summer to work out with the other players here in Lynchburg, he can probably get himself in shape and make a contribution this year. As a 6'8" forward who can shoot the 3 he gives us a skill that Burrus and Sommy don't.

Also you have to think that if he was getting tired of high school and basketball after 3 years what makes you think we can keep him focused for 5 years of college?

haha, so we shouldn't redshirt him because he's gonna get tired of bball! If that's the case he doesn't deserve a scholly.

[ALAFlamesFan]

haha, so we shouldn't redshirt him because he's gonna get tired of bball! If that's the case he doesn't deserve a scholly.

He has already gotten burned out on basketball. Since we already have given him a scholly I am saying we should try and reignite that passion and use him while it is fresh. If he already has senioritis after three years of high school what happens if we redshirt him he gets through 4 years of school but still has another year of basketball left...

[From the class of 09]

I think it's way too soon to say Baird will be redshirted. We're talking about a player who a few months ago was touted as the most highly rated recruit we had ever signed. Redshirting freshmen in college basketball just doesn't happen that often any more. I'm thinking that if Steven shows up this summer to work out with the other players here in Lynchburg, he can probably get himself in shape and make a contribution this year. As a 6'8" forward who can shoot the 3 he gives us a skill that Burrus and Sommy don't.

Agreed basketball is one of those sports where the red-shirt isn't nearly as important as say football. While a red-shirt might be ideal you can't expect someone as talented as Baird to come to a mid-major expecting to sit out a year. If he wanted to do that he could have went to a bigger school.

While nothing is guaranteed as it’s up to the coaching staff, I doubt Baird red-shirts unless there is an injury involved.

[Hold My Own]

There is no talk right now that he will be. So if he is, it's simply because they cannot seem him shaking off the rust in a season.

[Sly Fox]

OK, for those who haven't heard me state this before ... he grew up as a homeschooler and only played a couple of seasons at San Antonio Madison. His family moved so he would have had to go through a transition to another high school in the SA area his senior season. He chose to finish up as a homeschooler and prepare for his college experience at Liberty.

With no solid homeschool program in San Antonio, he briefly attempted to play with HCYA here in Houston alongside John Caleb. The travel was just too much (over 3.5 hours each way) so he was left without a team to play alongside. In Texas, homeschoolers are not allowed to play at public schools like they can many other states like Pennsylvania. So he is limited to pickup action and the much discussed rec league.

This is not about being burned out. This is not about him losing interest in the game. It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that has resulted in him avoiding injury for about 9 months.

I don't think it is cool at all for some of you to be cracking on his mindset or attitude. You can question his decision-making but to dismiss him from next year already is shortsighted. I fully expect him to come in excited to play for the Flames and to be looking to make an impact ASAP.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I fully expect him to come in excited to play for the Flames and to be looking to make an impact ASAP.

Great news and what I fully expect also!

My comments concerning his mindset above were based on quotes in this article. Obviously you are much closer to the situation. Looking forward to next year!

He said he's viewed basketball as a business, and his goal was to earn a college scholarship.

The only problem with the philosophy is that the game felt like a job.

Baird was burnt out after years of going from high school to AAU basketball. The day before school started in August, his father, Mike, called Madison coach John Valenzuela to tell him Baird withdrew from high school.

“This was Stephen's decision, and we support him,” Mike Baird said. “Sometimes, you have to step away from something so you can enjoy it again.”

“We all get senioritis,” said former Madison teammate Tyler Wood. “I think Stephen got the worst case of it.”

Baird has attended about five Madison games this season. He gets asked why he's in the stands and not on the court.

“I'm about to play for four more years,” Baird said. “When I decided to sit out, I didn't know what basketball meant to me.”

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high ... g_out.html

[Sly Fox]

I saw the article but my chats with Stephen were in reference the 12-month rut of summerball & high school hoops. He's not lost his passion from the game ... but stepping away for a short reminded him how much he loved the sport. I realize it is a subtle difference but it is a distinction.

[Sly Fox]

John Brown's letter is in. It looks like our class is complete.

[LUconn]

who?

[ALAFlamesFan]

Nice Job, Coach! I like the juco pickups. It gives us some maturity and balances out the classes a bit. Our team will look very different (in a good way) next year!