The announcement that combo guard J’Covan Brown has finally gained eligibility and will enroll at
But this is no small item where Longhorn basketball is concerned.
Already judged a Final Four contender for the upcoming season,
What he’s gone through to gain academic qualification since the spring of 2008 speaks well of his dedication and perserverance. It also is a strong hint that he’s conquered some personal demons that led to his being branded a hothead and his dismissal from his Port Arthur Memorial team halfway through his senior season.
“I really respect the kid willing to stick through it,” UT coach Rick Barnes said Tuesday. “He always wanted to come to
“I’m happy that he did.”
No kidding.
Brown thus becomes the newest member of what was already regarded as a stellar recruiting class that included nationally coveted guard Avery Bradley and 6-7 small forward Hamilton (likely to be the leading scorer on a balanced team), plus Duncanville small forward Shawn Williams.
From a guard-poor team a year ago, Barnes suddenly has a real stable.
Though it remains to be seen, it appears that guard depth may allow Barnes to roll senior Damion James back inside to alternate with Gary Johnson--with big Dexter Pittman (reportedly down to less than 290 pounds) and athletic Alexis Wangmene (off a medical redshirt) alternating at the post.
If the new guards are as advertised--and those who saw Brown play some pickup this summer with Barnes guys while he was in town visiting his brother (a student at Huston-Tillotson) say he may be better offensively than any of them--Longhorns fans are in for a treat.
This should be Barnes’ best and deepest team since the Final Four bunch of 2003.--Mike Jones.
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