[flameshaw]

I am not saying this is the case with Braxton, but its crazy how much entitlement and NBA free agency decisions have filtered down to HS and College hoops. There were more transfers last year than any other year in NCAA history. The grass is sometimes greener, but not always.

Don't come on here and act like it's all on the players. Coaches are notorious liars in recruiting, promising kids they are going to get playing time right away, going to do this and that, then they get there and it turns out it's all a bunch of BS.

That is absolutely true and some of our previous BB coaches have unfortunately gone down that trail. However, I don't see Layer doing that at all.
Hoping it is just homesickness and Braxton will be back soon.

[pop]

Please accept my heartfelt apologies in this. I haven't posted re: it until it was announced and made public as I felt that was appropriate. None of you are as disappointed as I am....well maybe his grandmother. We were so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the LU experience as it reflects our values and social dogma. It is hard to admit disappointment in a family member you love so deeply but I do! Maybe Braxton committed to LU due to the excitement the family showed but that was no excuse for him to wait until he was enrolled and going to class to decide he did not want to be there. For this I apologize to each of you and especially to Coach Layer.....which I have done so personally. Coach Layer is a fine man and did a great job recruiting Braxton. He has my families' respect and was very straight forward and honest throughout the process. Because of him and Omar Mance I will forever be an LU fan. I offer no excuse for this happening other than distance from home and the reality of being a student at a Christian university....which is what everyone thought he wanted. I have no idea what the future holds for the young man, probably enrolling somewhere and walking on but I doubt he will ever find the opportunity he has walked away from again. You can probably tell Pop is disappointed and upset but also ashamed of how this whole thing came about and was handled by Braxton. I apologize to the board, your great university, and most of all to Coach Layer.

[CinciFlame]

If you follow him on Twitter it leads me to believe he was homesick. Several posts about missing his boys and almost every other post is about his girl. Summer session is tough for freshman.

[flamehunter]

Please accept my heartfelt apologies in this. I haven't posted re: it until it was announced and made public as I felt that was appropriate. None of you are as disappointed as I am....well maybe his grandmother. We were so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the LU experience as it reflects our values and social dogma. It is hard to admit disappointment in a family member you love so deeply but I do! Maybe Braxton committed to LU due to the excitement the family showed but that was no excuse for him to wait until he was enrolled and going to class to decide he did not want to be there. For this I apologize to each of you and especially to Coach Layer.....which I have done so personally. Coach Layer is a fine man and did a great job recruiting Braxton. He has my families' respect and was very straight forward and honest throughout the process. Because of him and Omar Mance I will forever be an LU fan. I offer no excuse for this happening other than distance from home and the reality of being a student at a Christian university....which is what everyone thought he wanted. I have no idea what the future holds for the young man, probably enrolling somewhere and walking on but I doubt he will ever find the opportunity he has walked away from again. You can probably tell Pop is disappointed and upset but also ashamed of how this whole thing came about and was handled by Braxton. I apologize to the board, your great university, and most of all to Coach Layer.

That is about as classy as it gets. Thanks for the post and please feel free to continue to follow the Flames here.

[flameshaw]

Pop, no apology needed. Sometimes things don't work out and sometimes they do. As a long-time Flame fan, I am disappointed that he will not be attending LU and playing ball for us. But the most important thing, is that he does what is best for him. He is still young and a good student.
Thanks for the kind words regarding Coach Layer. He seems to be an outstanding man. We are all hoping he can take us to the level on the court, that we expect/hope he can.
I hope Braxton will reconsider but regardless, wish him future success.

[BJWilliams]

It is disappointing...but for a lot of these kids (just like with any other freshman), it is their first time being away from home. When you wake up in the morning and instead of smelling fresh bacon and pancakes mom is cooking in the kitchen wafting up the stairs, you smell your roommate (if you even have one there) making something on the George Foreman or you have to walk to the dining hall for breakfast. When the only way you can hook up with your friends is on the phone instead of walking (or driving) to your boy's house to play XBox or play a pickup game. When the only way you can spend quality time with "your girl" (if you have one) is on Skype.

[R i]

"Im coming home" - Lebron, Braxton

Thanks Pop for the insight. Ditto exactly what Flameshaw said.

[thepostman]

When you are 18 years old your world is very small. It is disappointing to say the least but these things happen. Thanks for the heartfelt apology pop but it isn't needed. I have appreciated the insight you have brought here. Good luck to your grandson in the future. Maybe he will have a change of heart but if not it is better for this I happen now than later. For both parties.

[flameshaw]

Hear he may be headed a bit South from his home in TN.

[olldflame]

I thought about doing this by PM, but since the subject was brought up openly I will address it openly. I assume the "creepy" comments refer to my calling Braxton's GF a "cutie". First of all, if you haven't followed this recruiting class and Braxton closely like I have, you should know that it doesn't take a stalker to know what his GF looks like. 10 seconds on his twitter is plenty. What have we come to when paying a young lady a compliment in the most innocent, non-sexualized way possible is considered "creepy"? If you are creeped out, take a look in the mirror. Sounds like a you problem to me. Maybe it's because I have been living the past 3 years in a culture where complimenting a woman's appearance (often in MUCH more blatant terms) is accepted and appreciated, but I have to say I'm surprised by the response.

[Bigsouthking]

Nothing like blowing a full athletic scholarship for being homesick or even worse if true, a girl!!
thats the type of kid that will get you beat anyway. put the whole program in a pickle now, where do they go get a guard in July??

[bluejacket]

Nothing like blowing a full athletic scholarship for being homesick or even worse if true, a girl!!
thats the type of kid that will get you beat anyway. put the whole program in a pickle now, where do they go get a guard in July??

This is someone who lacks perspective.

[SuperJon]

Pop - you're a good dude.

[SuperJon]

It's interesting that now that this news is out, Braxton's Twitter is private.

[pop]

Pop - you're a good dude.

Thanks.......... but heart broken! Go Flames!

[Rooster Cogburn]

Pop, you a class. Thanks for the heartfelt response. I wish you and Braxton nothing but the best. I do wish we could have seen him play here, but it's better that it happened now and not later for a transfer.

[BJWilliams]

youre a standup dude pop...would have loved to meet you at a home game this fall...know here and now that youre always welcome on the mountain big guy

[Purple Haize]

Please accept my heartfelt apologies in this. I haven't posted re: it until it was announced and made public as I felt that was appropriate. None of you are as disappointed as I am....well maybe his grandmother. We were so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the LU experience as it reflects our values and social dogma. It is hard to admit disappointment in a family member you love so deeply but I do! Maybe Braxton committed to LU due to the excitement the family showed but that was no excuse for him to wait until he was enrolled and going to class to decide he did not want to be there. For this I apologize to each of you and especially to Coach Layer.....which I have done so personally. Coach Layer is a fine man and did a great job recruiting Braxton. He has my families' respect and was very straight forward and honest throughout the process. Because of him and Omar Mance I will forever be an LU fan. I offer no excuse for this happening other than distance from home and the reality of being a student at a Christian university....which is what everyone thought he wanted. I have no idea what the future holds for the young man, probably enrolling somewhere and walking on but I doubt he will ever find the opportunity he has walked away from again. You can probably tell Pop is disappointed and upset but also ashamed of how this whole thing came about and was handled by Braxton. I apologize to the board, your great university, and most of all to Coach Layer.

That is about as classy as it gets. Thanks for the post and please feel free to continue to follow the Flames here.

I dunno. Can this board really handle this type of classy? This sort of stuff keeps up and this place might become respectable! We can't have that can we

As for Braxton.....unfortunately I could probably write out his future for the next 5 years. I won't be as nice as pop (it would ruin my reputation) this kid flat out made a huge mistake and SOMEONE in his life should have put their foot down. I'm sure pop did, but someone he listens too. I'm not saying its a mistake because its LU. I'm saying its a mistake period.

[Purple Haize]

Nothing like blowing a full athletic scholarship for being homesick or even worse if true, a girl!!
thats the type of kid that will get you beat anyway. put the whole program in a pickle now, where do they go get a guard in July??

This is someone who lacks perspective.

How so? I think he nails it pretty good. Especially the 'where do they get a guard in July' thing.

[R i]

If Im reading the rules correctly, Layer could release Bonds and he could sign on full scholly and play next season. Im not sure thats the likely option, but its an option for him.

[Purple Haize]

I thought about doing this by PM, but since the subject was brought up openly I will address it openly. I assume the "creepy" comments refer to my calling Braxton's GF a "cutie". First of all, if you haven't followed this recruiting class and Braxton closely like I have, you should know that it doesn't take a stalker to know what his GF looks like. 10 seconds on his twitter is plenty. What have we come to when paying a young lady a compliment in the most innocent, non-sexualized way possible is considered "creepy"? If you are creeped out, take a look in the mirror. Sounds like a you problem to me. Maybe it's because I have been living the past 3 years in a culture where complimenting a woman's appearance (often in MUCH more blatant terms) is accepted and appreciated, but I have to say I'm surprised by the response.

I was mostly joking, bc I know you didn't mean anything by it. I do, however question the decision for an adult male to make any comment at all about the looks of a possibly underage girl in a forum like this. Just opens up the possibility of being called "creepy" and whatnot.

You want creepy? Try being in your 40's and going to Van Halen and other concerts by yourself

[olldflame]

I wonder where Braxton's mom stands on this. If he is my kid and after making a commitment does a 180 and walks away from a full ride at the school I want him to go to because he is homesick or doesn't like rules, he would not be getting a dime to pay for school next year. Welcome to the real world, where decisions have consequences. We had another recruit, Jarrod Polson, who turned down a schollie from us to walk on at Kentucky, but that was done with the prior approval of mom and dad, who I believe were KU alum. and things worked out pretty well for him.

[jcmanson]

If Im reading the rules correctly, Layer could release Bonds and he could sign on full scholly and play next season. Im not sure thats the likely option, but its an option for him.

That is correct, but Layer has no obligation to release him.

[jcmanson]

One thing to remember, Braxton had several D1 options to choose from when he selected us. It's not like he won't be wanted elsewhere, and from what I hear he could be moving UP.

[jcmanson]

Also, this guy could factor into where BB ends up http://espn.go.com/college-sports/baske ... -blackwell