[Cider Jim]

He avoids the paint as if it contained an infectious disease.

Sometimes, ESPN is just mean.

[LUconn]

Anyone want to make a wager that his number of *'s drop on rivals and scout next time since he signed with us. Tends to happen quite a bit when a higher ranked recruit commits or verbals to a quote "small" school

This can't be emphasized enough. His "stock" amongst the recruiting sites has just dropped like a rock.

[jinxy]

i agree completly, back when were a dumpster fire and I had to watch UVA to watch decent basketball it even happened to them since they are not regarded as a highly respected respected basketball school. Singletary, Landesberg, and Brandenburg all dropped significantly once they signed with UVA. Baird will probably go way down in the rankings now that he has chosen us.

[coolhandluke]

i agree completly, back when were a dumpster fire and I had to watch UVA to watch decent basketball it even happened to them since they are not regarded as a highly respected respected basketball school. Singletary, Landesberg, and Brandenburg all dropped significantly once they signed with UVA. Baird will probably go way down in the rankings now that he has chosen us.

Who cares if his stars or ratings drop? We know this is a big time signing. If this kid pans out, with JC (I like those initials for him) coming in, plus all the talent we already have... We could be a scary team in a few years!

[BJWilliams]

I agree wholeheartedly...its amusing how a kid is a cant miss bigtime prospect but if he signs with LU or WU or really anybody that isnt a top 25 program then the'yre gonna jump off the bandwagon like its on fire. This could be a VERY good team in the coming years as has already been said

[flamesbball84]

hopefully he stays longer than some of the people in the 08-09 stud freshman class.

[LUconn]

thanks for your concerns.

[Liberty4Life]

I don’t know how accurate this is, but I just ran across this in a simple google search for Stephen:

Liberty received a commitment from Stephen Baird in the Class of 2010.

http://community.foxsports.com/goodmano ... on_rundown

I dunno, I would bet that guy has connections with Coach, if he's been working the MWC for very long... and even if not, he had a story about Longwood's coach, so maybe he has some random connection to Virginia...

Either way, I would take this with a little more than a grain of salt, but not much more.

It's on the front page of ESPN recruiting:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/

Direct link here:
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiti ... eason=2010

Gotta love that developing Texas pipeline of ours. Thanks, Sly.

[Sly Fox]

[GoEagles]

Great signing for LU, congratulations. I'm excited that BSC recruiting is getting better.

[jinxy]

hahaha, hopefully he stays longer??? If he hangs around as long as you have on this board I'll take it

[Sly Fox]

Just found out an interesting bit of info the past couple of days that I confirmed this morning at my son's HCYA Sports day. Stephen has transferred to play alongside John Caleb at HCYA. That means they'll get a full year to build on-court chemistry before they arrive in Lynchburg together next fall.

They open their fall season tomorrow in a tourney of Houston's top schools made up primarily of 5A powerhouses along with Charlie Ward's Westbury Christian squad and the HCYA Warriors. The good news is the tourney is about 15 minutes from my house. The bad news is that the games are in the morning while I am on a campout with my son.

We may have to slide out of the campout festivities a few minutes early.

[SumItUp]

Just found out an interesting bit of info the past couple of days that I confirmed this morning at my son's HCYA Sports day. Stephen has transferred to play alongside John Caleb at HCYA. That means they'll get a full year to build on-court chemistry before they arrive in Lynchburg together next fall.

They open their fall season tomorrow in a tourney of Houston's top schools made up primarily of 5A powerhouses along with Charlie Ward's Westbury Christian squad and the HCYA Warriors. The good news is the tourney is about 15 minutes from my house. The bad news is that the games are in the morning while I am on a campout with my son.

We may have to slide out of the campout festivities a few minutes early.

Sly, there is nothing wrong with leaving the campout early to go to the game IF you take your son with you.

[Note to self: Must make a trip to Houston this winter to watch the boys play]

[Sly Fox]

Actually HCYA usually plays in several tourneys every year in OKC & Tulsa.

And yes, my son is down with HCYA Hoops games. I just don't want him to miss out on any merit badges with his buddies if at all possible.

[Sly Fox]

I'll have more Stephen later. Look who we stumbled across in the parking lot today.

[LUconn]

He's already pimping us with his shirt. I love him.

[jcmanson]

He's already pimping us with his shirt. I love him.

+1

[Sly Fox]

From Saturday ...

[youtube]

[/youtube]
#44 Stephen Baird

[Sly Fox]

And a few quick ones of Stephen from Saturday (and the quality of these isn't any better) ...







Chatted with Stephen briefly after the game. His family just moved across town in San Antonio to the NW side and he is planning on homeschooling his senior year right now. He is giving it a try at commuting back and forth to Houston for hoops. But it is a good 3-hour drive back & forth.

He clearly wasn't accustomed to playing with the HCYA guys and didn't really get in sync offensively. He was a beast on the defensive boards and disrupted or blocked a slew of the shots from 5A powerhouse school they were playing (some have Seven Lakes #1 in Houston preseason).

The kid clearly has game and there was buzz around the three gyms that Stephen was now playing John Caleb and the Warriors.

[Hold My Own]

That's a good sight....nice to see him playing some ball....when I first saw him I had doubts on if he's as good as advertised b/c he's so nice....apparently he his!


Sly find out what the NCAA rules are against me buying HCYA all the same shorts...they need them...

[Sly Fox]

This was a preseason tourney so teams generally wore their practice gear.

There was a clinic associated with the event today for parents of prospects to help them learn what was acceptable in the recruiting process. Coach Layer was one of a handful of coaches who spoke.

[UNCA Alum]

Sanders and Baird both look really solid. I imagine they will be contributors as soon as they step on campus.

We have a commitment from 6'6" VA PF Toles Hartman.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/highschool/wb/220630

We will probably pick up another big man in the early signing period and then call it a wrap for 2010.

[Keenan]

Sanders and Baird both look really solid. I imagine they will be contributors as soon as they step on campus.

We have a commitment from 6'6" VA PF Toles Hartman.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/highschool/wb/220630

We will probably pick up another big man in the early signing period and then call it a wrap for 2010.

I love it! A UNCA fan posts a link about their "BIG" signing in which you have to scroll past the LU football recruit Sigmon! LOL! Congratulations guys! I can't believe you beat out Gardening School for this guy!

[Cider Jim]

Sly, it must be hard for a Texan to make the "U" sign with the index finger and pinky without thinking "hook 'em horns."

[Sly Fox]