Varez Ward commits to Texas!!!

1. I don't think some of you realize how good J'Covan is going to be.

2. Balby is basically in this class also. He is better than most of you realize.

3. If Ward is like Mason, I don't know how anyone couldn't be excited.

Now, starting a backcourt with two freshmen is scary, but I think you will like what you see from Balby and Brown. Brown is a scoring machine.

Starting Lineup:
Balby
Brown
Mason
James
Connor A.

Our days of going big and slowing the pace down are over. Maybe in spurts of games, but not for the whole game, all season.
 
I think Gary Johnson starts, with a three guard lineup being used somewhat, but not nearly as extensively as we have seen the last two years.
 
yea, our lack of guards is going to make James a near permanent 3 iMO.

Balbay/Mason
Mason/Brown/Ward
James/Brown/Ward
Johnson/Chapman/Wangmene
Atchley/Pittman/Hill
 
I'm just happy we've got some basketball discussion going on!!!!

Welcome to Texas, Mr. Ward
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IMO it will be

Balbay / Ward or Brown to early to call
Mason / Brown or Ward to early to call. Both can play the #1

James / Johnson/ Brown who can create and score
Johnson / Hill / Wangmene
Atchley / Dexter/ Chapman/Hill

The first big in the 4-5 spot will enter the game depending on who is doing well in practise.
I expect if we go three guards Brown will be the one as he can score inside and outside l.
 
1. J'Covan Brown as a prospect is probably more comparable to Augustin or Gibson than guys like Abrams, Mason, Royal Ivey, etc. If he qualifies and gets his attitude in order, he could make an impact as a freshman.

2. I said last fall that I would be disappointed if we ended up scrambling for JUCO players and/or second tier prospects to fill out our class in the spring when we could have had Landesberg or Anthony Jones early on (assuming it was true that we dropped them instead of the other way around). Varez Ward seems like a pretty good recruit for this late in the game, but I don't see any way to rationalize him being a better fit than Jones or Landesberg. Both of those guys are better players than Ward, and I find it very unlikely that either would scare off an elite 2009 player like Hamilton. The 2009 guys are more highly rated and would still reasonably expect to play a lot as freshman if they came to Texas. If Jones/Landesberg turned out to be a total stud who could scare someone off, it still wouldn't matter because:

A. Most recruits sign early in the fall, and thus wouldn't be influenced by Jones's or Landesberg's play as college freshman

B. All this would mean is that we signed our stud player a year earlier than expected. Even if they did scare someone off, so what?

3. I don't know what to expect from Balbay. Considering he's coming off a knee injury and will likely be suspended for the first part of the season, I think Mason will probably start out at PG and we will see this starting lineup if Abrams leaves:

PG - Mason
SG - Brown
SF - James
PF - Johnson
C - Atchley

4. I agree that the conference race looks pretty wide open and should come down to Texas, OU, Baylor, and Kansas, with all of those teams having a legitimate chance to win the conference. Kansas will probably be the weakest of that group, but they will still be pretty good and will be helped out by the scheduling advantage that comes with playing in the Big 12 North. If I had to handicap it right now, I would predict OU winning the conference, Texas second, and then Kansas and Baylor rounding out the top four.
 
Blake Griffin and Willie Warren might be the two most talented players in the conference, and Griffin has the potential to be a lot better this season than he was last year when he was already very good. He is a top 5 NBA draft pick if his knees hold up, and Warren has lottery pick ability, too.

They also have some decent supporting players in Tony Crocker, Taylor Griffin, and Austin Johnson. I don't think coaching is an issue for them, either. Capel did a decent enough job in his first two years there when you take into account how many players transferred and/or decommitted at the end of Sampson's tenure.

Whether Warren plays PG or on the wing, their perimeter play should be much better than it was this past season when it was their Achilles' heel. Throw Griffin into the mix, and they could be an elite team next season.
 
I'd say that OU will contend because Blake Griffin is pretty good. Actually, I think he's either the #1 or #2 player in the league, so that makes him a bit better than pretty good.
 
I tell you one thing that was encouraging in a game against OU last year was Pittman. Griffin was just killing us inside and RB put big Dex in for about 5 minutes and completely put the lid on Griffin. If Dex can improve and play more minutes this year, I think he helps big time against the gooners!
 
If Abrams comes back and Balbay is considered a sophomore, then I think Texas is the favorite. If not it is wide open.

I discount Baylor based on the coaching alone. OU has not played as well in the latter half of the conference season for the past two years. I think it's the inexperience of Capel in priming them to play well at the end of the season.

KU fans overrate Aldridge due to his one game against Hansborough. Hansborough was shut down more by the scheme put together by Self, although Aldridge did a terrific job in that game. Kansas will be a lot like they were three years ago, but with much less talent. Outstanding coaching and a north schedule will get them 2nd.

I'll go with OU third and Baylor 4th. OSU will surprise with a 5th and A&M/Missou finishes sixth.
 
The only reason he is a three star is because he was not well known until he went to prep school. You don't know how much of a steal this is. He played head to head against Brandon Jennings last summer and he put up better numbers around the board, held him to just 11 points, and his team also won. Every team he has been on has been successful. His junior year his team won the 6A state championship, his senior year, his team were runner-ups, and his prep school team finished 32-1 and were ranked #1 in the nation this year. He has the potential to be better than Mason and Abrams. We'll just have to wait and see.
 
There is a lot to like about Varez Ward, especially the description of him being a hard worker. He seems tailor made to excel in Barnes program which rewards hard work (see Ivy, Mason, James, Augustin, Atchley) .

Competing against Mason everyday for two years will make him a better player as well.

Count me in as one who is excited to see Varez at Texas and looking forward to his accomplishments. And if he is considered a steal, then he won't be the first one nor the last in a Barnes program.
 
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