Secret Agent Bulldog 001 Reports

Now that I’ve finished my Dawg biscuits and Dixie beer for lunch, I think we can move forward with the state of MSU Basketball – today. Most of you have probably already read about Coach Stansbury’s report in the Southeastern Conference’s teleconference.
So let’s look at some of the things reported and some that were not covered. First, let’s look at this season’s roster. Charles Rhodes (Sr.), Jamont Gordon (Jr.), Ben Hansbrough (So.), Barry Stewart (So.), Jarvis Varnado (So.), Brian Johnson (Jr. with 3 years of eligibility), Phil Turner (RS Fr.) Billy Begley (Sr.), Ravern Johnson (Fr.), Riley Binoch (Fr.), Kodi Augustus (Fr., after cleared by clearinghouse), Elgin Bailey (Fr., after cleared by clearinghouse), John Harris (Fr. Walk on) and Brandon Bolen (Fr. Walk on). This list adds up to 12 Scholarship players and 3 walk ons, and leaving 1 open Scholarship. Now next year we lose Rhodes, Begley and presumably Gordon. Those 3 schollies will be filled by incoming commits: Scotty Hopson, Romero Osby and Dee Bost. That still leaves the 1 Scholarship. Don’t expect it to be filled until 2009. That’s when we will experience our biggest turnover.

Now some tid-bits on some of the above mentioned players. Not all, but most, are in summer school and are undergoing strength and conditioning training as well as participating in pick up games at the Sanderson Center. Brian Johnson is doing very well in his S & C training and will become a horse as he gains experience from playing time this season. Jarvis Varnado is doing exactly what a lot of fans want him to do. He is putting on weight, but it is muscle weight. He’s now up to 210 and still gaining. Should really help him this season. Barry Stewart has added 10 pounds and its all muscle. Looks good in his arms and chest. What more can I say about Jamont, Charles and Ben. You know what they accomplished last year and this year they will only be better. Ravern Johnson is everything you’ve heard about him. He is the real deal and you will see him getting a lot of PT this season. And last but not least is Phil Turner. He continues to get better and better. Either he or Ben will back up Jamont at PG this year. Kodi Augustus has all of his paper work at the clearinghouse. Just waiting on them, but he should not have any problems getting here for the fall semester. Elgin's work has been done and he only awaits the clearinghouse. The staff feels he will be ready for the fall semester. Except for the players mentioned above, don’t expect any surprise announcements for upcoming players. The staff is working on now are holding onto the commitments and scouting rising HS Juniors. I have it from pretty good sources that some of the HS players the fans have been speculating on recently (L. Williams and R. Harris) could have trouble making it through the clearinghouse.

As announced, no coaching changes or new hires will be announced until August or September. One thing that some of you may or may not know is that Marcus Grant started helping floor coach last year and will do the same again this year. Maybe we should expect some one within the present program to move up to help do a lot of what Grant has been doing in the past. And no, I’m not talking about Shane Power.

GO DAWGS!!!!