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New LSU coach caught off guard by recruit’s disenchantment

Associated Press
Originally published 02:57 p.m., May 8, 2008
Updated 02:57 p.m., May 8, 2008

ALEXANDRIA, La. — LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson said he was caught off guard when he learned prized recruit J’Mison Morgan wanted to be released from his commitment to the Tigers so he could instead attempt to play for UCLA.

Morgan was recruited by former LSU coach John Brady and assistant Butch Pierre, who later served as interim coach late last season before Johnson was given the job full-time.

The 6-foot-10 Morgan, a star at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, had committed to LSU before the regime change in the basketball program, though Johnson did pay Morgan visit at Oak Cliff and his home two weeks ago, returning to Baton Rouge with the impression that Morgan still intended to play for the Tigers.

“When I was at the high school and visited with the coach and the kid, and when I went into his home, he said he wanted to come here,” Johnson said during a visit to Alexandria for an LSU promotion. “Any time you have a coaching change anywhere, though, this is what goes on.”

Johnson said he spoke to Morgan’s mother, Bianca Morgan, on Wednesday, and she had not changed her mind since making published comments that LSU was not the right place for her son. She suggested Johnson hadn’t shown enough interest in her son.

“I was shocked,” Johnson said of his initial response to Bianca Morgan’s comments. “He’s a very neat kid. On the other hand, this is not my first rodeo. There is no state of panic.”

Johnson said he made repeated attempts since April 22 to contact Morgan and his mother, but calls were not returned.

He said he would try to get to the bottom of the issue, but did not intend to force Morgan to abide by his commitment to the Tigers if Morgan cannot be persuaded to come to Baton Rouge in a good frame of mind.

“I want guys who want to be here,” Johnson said. “This is LSU. This is the first time I’ve been in a situation where the recruiting pool is this large. I’m building a program, and I want to do so with guys who want to be here.”

© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

       17 Comments

Posted by jhayes1911 on May 8, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Who cares...but it is messed up how the fired the head coach. Karma is a beast!

Posted by HotlantaVol on May 8, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How does one begin to try to pronounce 'J’Mison'?

Posted by jhayes1911 on May 8, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I blame his mom...she gave it to him.

Posted by RussellP on May 8, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't even know why KNS wastes space with EllisSue news. Who cares?

Posted by rusty_shackleford on May 8, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

RussellP, because of tuscaloosa john.

Posted by kaplan on May 8, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's called SEC news and is a subgroup of news for govolsxtra.

Posted by knoxsingle on May 8, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He could have sent Pokey Chatman after the recruit. Oh, wait.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on May 8, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I too sometimes laugh at some of the "headlines", but think about it...It's May. Basketball season is long over and football season is still in the distance. That leaves Baseball/Softball and other summer sports. There are plenty of articles under that category, Face it, Tennessee is a Football school and basketball is a close second with the Lady Vols and men's teams so successful. We want to read about our favorite sports. Problem is, at this point in the year an interview with the equipment manager or a report on the training table menu would be the most exciting "filler", so what's wrong with periodic news from around the conference? I personally appreciate getting a heads up on the other teams strengths/weaknesses.

Posted by auttat on May 8, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Once again, Kaplan fires back with a chip on his shoulder. I wonder if it ever crossed his mind...Maybe we shouldn't run an article that calls for the Head Football Coach's head? To me, it's classless for the local paper to do that. I mean, this site is "GO"Vols, right? And, it is a big part of the KNS, correct?

That said, I like reading about other schools and former coaches and players and anything else related to the school or the SEC or sports in general.

HotlantaVol, My best attempt at spelling how I said it...JaMycen

Posted by chas_turner on May 8, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fire Johnson! Fire Miles! Oh, I forgot it's all Fulmer's fault.

Posted by spam247buster on May 8, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rusty_shackleford-- why do you call him Tuscaloosa John instead of Baton Rouge John? (Or maybe John Redstick)

Posted by rusty_shackleford on May 8, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

little johnny redstick would be good! Someone else (sorry I can't give credit where credit is due) coined the phrase "tuscaloosa john" after his visit to Finebaum's radio show. I use lower case letters to denote lack of respect.

Posted by Bigger_Al on May 8, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tuscaloosa John is in the same vein as Hanoi Jane, when Jane Fonda went on North Vietnamese radio to denounce the United States.

Posted by Bigger_Al on May 8, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The beauty of "J'Mison" is that you cannot pronounce it. A la Prince, he will evolve into "The Big Man Formerly Known as Committed to LSU".

Posted by General_Fritter on May 8, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Heh, with Duke Crews gone, we need a big man. Maybe we can get this kid too?

Posted by WD40plusVol on May 9, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Kaplan has a chip on his shoulder? Not any more than others that post here. This article doesn't take up much space and only adds a coupla pounds to my computer screen window. Electrons are cheap.

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