DRC Mean Green Blog
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July 6, 2009
A look back at SBC hoops signing classes
8:35 PM Mon, Jul 06, 2009
Brett Vito

I was meaning to get to this a long time ago, but the Sun Belt's signing classes are set in basketball. It's time to look at who came away with the best recruits.

It's not like this is a surprise, but Western Kentucky landed what is supposed to be the best class. Forwards Terrence Boyd and Jordan Swing are ranked No. 64 and No. 141 in Rivals Top 150 ranking for the class. The Hilltoppers have three three-star players and picked up Caden Dickerson from Argyle. UNT is hoping Dickerson doesn't turn out to be an all-conference player and thorn in its side.

Middle Tennessee reloaded with a big class that includes three three-star players -- Javarres Jefferson, David Murray and Jantavous Sulton. The Blue Raiders always have a ton of talent, but never seem to put it together.

John Brady fared well at Arkansas State by landing three-star players Brandon Peterson and Brandon Reed.

South Alabama landed two pretty good players in Martino Brock and Augustin Rubit, a power forward who had an offer from UNT.

Florida Atlantic also picked up a nice player in Demonte Simpson, a forward with an offer from Virginia Tech.

UNT didn't come away with a class that looks as good on paper, but it didn't need to. The Mean Green is loaded with Josh White and Eric Tramiel, not to mention Tristan Thompson.

UNT was looking to plug a couple of holes and make a run at the NCAA Tournament. That is exactly what the Mean Green did while signing Shannon Shorter and Richard Thomas. The Mean Green's coaches wanted to get bigger on the wings and better defensively. Shorter and Thomas should help UNT in that regard.

UNT also landed a top high school player in Jacob Holmen, who is ranked among the top 35 players in his class in Texas to highlight a four player class that also included Alzee Williams. The former Dallas area standout came out of left field (the Mississippi prep school ranks), but could be an option at the point in the future.

In the end, UNT's class could be a big win, if it helps the Mean Green push what is supposed to be a team that should contend for the Sun Belt title over the top, or at least to another 20-win season.

(07-06-2009 09:18 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  ...Middle Tennessee reloaded with a big class that includes three three-star players -- Javarres Jefferson, David Murray and Jantavous Sulton. The Blue Raiders always have a ton of talent, but never seem to put it together.....

Actually Jefferson (BTW, it's Tavarres, not Javarres) was signed by Coach Stockstill in February for Football.

Middle Tennessee reloaded with a big class that includes three three-star players -- Javarres Jefferson, David Murray and Jantavous Sulton. The Blue Raiders always have a ton of talent, but never seem to put it together.


Truer words have never been said.

It should be noted that WKU was after Martino Brock as well. We think USA got a good one there!

However, we're uber-excited about our recruiting class. If this team comes together like last year's, then the rest of the Sun Belt will just be playing for 2nd place.

Truthfully, I'm hoping the Sun Belt has enough talent, and it looks like it does, to put several good teams on the court every night, so that when March Madness comes around we'll have 2 or maybe even 3 teams representin' the Belt.

The thing that has to happen is smart scheduling. Our teams need to schedule games they can win, without getting the bottom of the barrel teams. I know its tough getting decent teams to come to our gyms, but we can't settle for the bottom 20 RPI teams. Also, WIN THE GAMES WE SCHEDULE!